cc.iceberg-第31章

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　〃My　pliments。　Oskar。〃　Kelly　was　visibly　impressed。　〃You　rate　an　A　plus。〃
　
　Rondheim　looked　about　the　room；　a　smile　slowly　spreading　across　his　chiseled　face　as　a　familiar　figure　rose　in　the　back。　〃Do　you　wish　to　try　your　luck；　Major　Pitt？〃
　
　Pitt　looked　at　Rondheim　somberly。　〃I　can　only　offer　you　three　words。〃
　〃I　accept　the　challenge；〃　Rondheim　said　confidently。　〃Please　state　them。〃
　〃　'God　save　thee；'　〃　Pitt　said　very　slowly；　almost　as　if　he　were　skeptical　of　any　additional　tines。
　
　Rondheim　laughed。　〃Elementary；　Major。　You've　done　me　the　kindness　of　allowing　me　to　quote　from　my　favorite　verse。〃　The　contempt　in　Rondheim's　voice　was　there；　everyone　in　the　room　could　feel　it。〃　'God　save　thee；　ancient　Mariner；　From　the　fiends；　that　plague　thee　thus。　Why　look'st　thou　so？　With　my　crossbow　I　shot　the　albitross。　The　sun　now　rose　upon　the　right。　Out　on　the　sea　came　he；　Still　hid　in　mist；　and　on　the　left　went　cioN；n　into　the　sea。　And　the　good　south　wind　still　blew　behind；　But　no　sweet　bird　did　follow；　Nor　any　day　for　lo…；mid　or　Dlay　Came　to　the　mariners'　hollo。　And　I　had　done　a　hellish　time；　And　it　would　work　'em　woe。　For　all　averred　I　had　killed　the　bird　That　made　the　breeze　to　blow。'　〃　Then　suddenly　Rondheim　stopped；　looking　at　Pitt　curiously。　〃There's　little　need　to　continue。　It's　obvious　to　all　present　that　you　have　asked　me　to　quote　'The　Rime　of　the　Ancient　Mariner'　by　Samuel　Taylor　Coleridge。〃
　
　Pitt　began　to　breathe　a　little　easier。　The　light　suddenly　became　brighter　at　the　end　of　the　tunnel。　He　knew　something　that　he　hadn't　known　before。　It　wasn't　over　yet；　but　things　were　looking　up。　He　was　glad　now　that　he　had　played　the　proverbial　long　shot。　The　gamble　had　paid　off　in　unexpected　answers。　The　nightmare　of　Hunnewell's　death　would　never　trouble　his　sleep　again。
　
　A　satisfied　smile　touched　his　lips。　〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Rondheim。　Your　memory　serves　you　well。〃
　
　There　was　something　about　Pitts　tone　that　made　Rondheim　uneasy。　〃The　pleasure　is　mine；　Major。〃　He　didn't　like　the　smile　on　Pitt's　face…he　didn't　like　it　at　all。
　
　Chapter　14
　
　Pitt　suffered　for　another　half　hour　as　rondheim　continued　to　awe　the　audience　with　his　vast　repertoire　of　verse。　At　last　the　program　was　over。　The　doors　were　opened　and　the　crowded　room　drained　into　the　main　salon；　the　women　escorted　onto　the　terrace　to　engage　in　small　talk　and　sip　a　sweet　alcoholic　concoction　passed　about　by　the　servants；　the　men　directed　to　the　trophy　room　for　cigars　and　one　hundred…year…old　Rouche　brandy。
　
　The　cigars　were　carried　into　the　room　within　a　sterling　silver　case　and　presented　for　everyone's　selection　except　Pitt。　He　was　blithely　ignored。　After　the　lighting　ritual；　each　man　holding　his　cigar　over　a　candle；　warming　it　to　the　desired　temperature；　the　servants　passed　around　the　Rouche　brandy；　the　heavy；　yellowbrown　fluid　in　exotically　designed　snifter　glasses。　Again　Pitt　was　left　empty…handed。
　
　Apart　from　himself　and　Oskar　Rondheim；　Pitt　counted　thirty…two　men　gathered　around　the　flames　crackling　in　the　immense　fireplace　at　the　end　of　the　trophy　room。　The　reaction　to　Pitts　presence；　as　expressed　by　the　faces；　was　interesting。　No　one　even　noticed　him。
　
　For　a　fleeting　moment　he　pictured　himself　a　ghost　with　no　substance　that　had　just　walked　through　the　wall　and　was　waiting　for　a　sance　to　begin　so　that　he　could　put　a　spiritual　appearance。　Or　so　he　thought。　He　could　have　imagined　all　sorts　of　strange　scenes；　but　there　was　no　imagining　the　blunt；　circular　gun　barrel　that　was　pressing　into　his　spine。
　
　He　didn't　bother　to　see　whose　hand　held　the　gun。
　
　It　would　have　made　little　difference。　Rondheim　answered　any　doubt。
　〃Kirsti！〃　Rondheim　stared　behind　Pitt。　〃You　are　early。　I　didn't　expect　you　for　another　twenty　minutes。〃
　
　Von　Hummel　produced　a　handkerchief；　mopped　a　brow　that　soaked　the　monogrammed　linen　and　asked：　〃The　girl　he　arrived　with；　has　she　been　readied？〃
　〃Miss　Royal　has　been　made　quite　fortable；〃　Kirsti　said；　staring　right　through　Pitt。　There　was　something　in　her　tone　that　left　him　with　a　feeling　of　doubt。
　
　Rondheim　came　over　and　took　the　gun　from　her　hand　as　though　he　was　a　concerned　parent。　〃Guns　and　beauty　do　not　go　together；〃　he　scolded。　〃You　must　allow　a　man　to　guard　the　major。〃
　〃Oh；　I　rather　enjoyed　it；〃　she　said　in　a　throaty　tone。　〃It's　been　so　long　since　I've　held　one。〃
　〃I　see　no　reason　to　delay　any　further；〃　Jack　Boyle　said。　〃Our　timing　is　plex。　We　must　proceed　at　once。〃
　〃There　is　time；〃　Rondheim　said　tersely。
　
　A　Russian；　a　short；　stocky　man　with　thinning　hair；　brown　eyes　and　a　limping　gait；　stood　and　faced　Rondheim。　〃I　believe　you　owe　us　an　explanation；　Mr。　Rondheim。　Why　is　this　man；〃　he　nodded　in　Pitt's　direction；　〃being　treated　like　a　criminal？　You　told　myself　and　the　other　gentlemen　here　he　is　a　newspaperman　and　that　it　would　not　be　wise　to　speak　too　freely　with　him。　Yet；　that　is　the　fourth　or　fifth　time　tonight　you　have　referred　to　him　as　Major。〃
　
　Rondheim　studied　the　man　before　him；　then　set　down　his　glass　and　pushed　the　button　on　a　telephone。
　
　He　didn't　lift　the　receiver　or　talk　into　it；　only　picked　up　his　glass　and　sipped　at　the　remaining　contents。
　〃Before　your　questions　are　answered；　rade　Tamareztov；　I　suggest　you　look　behind　you。〃
　
　The　Russian　called　Tamaretov　swung　around。
　
　Everyone　swung　around　and　looked　to　their　rear。　Not　Pitt；　he　didn't　have　to。　He　kept　his　eyes　straight　ahead　at　a　mirror　that　betrayed　several；bar…looking；　expressionless　men　in　black　coveralls；　who　suddenly　materialized　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　room；　all…17　automatic　rifles　braced　in　the　firing　position。
　
　A　round…shouldered；　heavy　character　in　his　middle　seventies；　with　blue　knifing　eyes　deep　set　in　a　wizened　face；　grasped　F。　James　Kelly　by　the　arm。　〃You　invited　me　to　join　you　tonight；　James。　I　think　you　know　what　this　is　all　about。〃
　〃Yes；　I　do。〃　When　Kelly　spoke；　the　pained　look　in　his　eyes　was　plainly　visible。　Then　he　turned　away。
　
　Slowly；　very　slowly；　almost　unnoticed；　Kelly；　Rondheim；　Von　Hummel；　Marks　and　eight　other　men　had　grouped　themselves　on　one　side　of　the　fireplace；　leaving　Pitt　and　the　remaining　guests　standing　opposite　the　flames　in　utter　bewilderment。　Pitt　noted；　with　a　touch　of　uneasiness；　that　all　the　guns　were　aimed　at　his　group。
　〃I'm　waiting；　James；〃　the　old　blue…eyed　man　said；　his　voice　manding。
　
　Kelly　hedged；　looked　rather　sadly　at　Von　Hummel　and　Marks。　He　waited　expectantly。　They　finally　nodded　back；　assuring　him　of　their　approval。
　〃Have　any　of　you　heard　of　Hermit　Limited？〃
　
　The　silence　in　the　room　became　intense。　Nobody　spoke；　nobody　answered。　Pitt　was　coolly　calculating　the　chances　of　escape。　He　gave　up；　unable　to　bring　the　odds　of　success　below　fifty　to　one。
　〃Hermit　Limited；〃　Kelly　went　on；　〃is　international　in　scope；　but　you　won't　find　it　on　any　stock　exchange　because　it　is　vastly　different　in　administration　from　any　business　you're　familiar　with。　I　don't　have　time　to　go　into　all　the　details　of　its　operation；　so　just　let　me　say　that　Hermit's　main　goal　is　to　achieve　control　and　take　possession　of　South　and　of　Central　America。〃
　〃That's　impossible；〃　shouted　a　tall；　raven…haired　man　with　a　pronounced　French　accent。　〃Absolutely　unthinkable。〃
　〃It's　also　good　business　to　do　the　impossible；〃　Kelly　said　〃What　you've　suggested　is　not　business；　but　political　power　madness。〃　Kelly　shook　his　head。　〃Madness　maybe；　but　political　power　with　selfish　and　inhuman　motives；　no。〃　He　searched　the　faces　on　the　other　side　of　the　fireplace。
　
　They　were　all　blank　with　disbelief。
　〃I　am　F。　James　Kelly；〃　he　said　softly。　〃In　my　lifetime　I　have　amassed　over　two　billion　dollars　in　assets。〃
　
　No　one　present　doubted　him。　Whenever　the　Wall　Street　Journal　listed　the　one　hundred　wealthiest　men　in　the　world；　Kelly's　name　always　stood　at　the　top。
　〃Being　wealthy　carries　tremendous　responsibilities。
　
　As　many　as　two　hundred　thousand　people　depend　on　me　for　their　living。　If　I　was　to　fail　financially　tomorrow；　it　would　cause　a　recession　that　would　be　felt　from　one　end　of　the　United　States　to　the　other；　not　to　mention　the　many　countries　around　the　world　that　depend　upon　my　subsidiary　panies　for　a　high　percentage　of　their　local　economies。　Yet；　as　these　gentlemen　around　me　can　testify；　riches　do　not　guarantee　immortality。　Very　few　of　the　rich　are　remembered　in　the　history　books。〃
　
　Kelly　looked　almost　ill　as　he　paused。　No　one　in　the　room　did　anything　but　breathe　until　he　continued。
　〃Two　years　ago　I　began　thinking　about　what　I　would　leave　after　I　was　gone。　A　financial　empire　fought　over　by　parasitic　business　associates　and　relatives；　who　had　only　Counted　the　days　till　my　funeral　so　they　could　grab　the　spoils。　Believe　me；　gentlemen；　it　was　a　pretty　dismal　thought。　So　I　considered　methods　to　distribute　my　assets　in　ways　that　would　benefit　mankind。　But　how？　Andrew　Carnegie　built　libraries；　John　D。　Rockefeller　set　up　foundations　for　science　and　education。
　
　What　would　do　the　most　good　for　the　peoples　of　the　world　regardless　of　white；　black；　yellow；　red；　or　brown　skins？　Regardless　of　nationalities？　If　I　had　listened　to　my　human　emotions；　it　would　have　been　an　easy　decision　to　use　my　money　to　assist　the　Cancer　Crusade；　the　Red　Cross；　the　Salvation　Army　or　any　one　of　the　thousand　medical　centers　or　universities　around　the　country。
　
　But　was　it　really　enough？　Somehow　it　sounded　too　easy。
　
　I　decided　upon　a　different　direction…one　that　would　have　a　lasting　impact　on　miwons　of　people　for　hundreds　of　years。〃
　〃So　you　plotted　to　use　your　resources　to　bee　the　self…proclaimed　messiah　of　the　poverty…stricken　Latin　nations；〃　Pitt　said。
　
　Kelly　offered　Pitt　a　condescending　smile。　〃No；　you're　quite　mistaken；　Major…ah…〃
　〃Pitt；〃　Rondheim　provided。　〃Major　Dirk　Pitt。〃
　
　Kelly　gazed　at　Pitt　thoughtfully。　〃Are　you　by　chance　any　relation　to　Senator　George　Pitt？〃
　〃His　errant　son；〃　Pitt　acknowledged。
　
　Kelly　stood　like　a　wax　statue　for　a　moment。　He　turned　to　Rondheim　but　only　received　a　stone　face　in　return。　〃Your　father　is　a　good　friend；〃　he　said　woodenly。
　〃Was；〃　Pitt　said　coldly。
　
　Kelly　fought　to　keep　his　posure。　It　was　apparent　that　the　man　was　deeply　troubled　by　his　conscience。
　
　He　downed　his　brandy；　took　a　second　to　collect　his　thoughts；　and　went　on。
　〃It　has　never　been　my　intention　to　play　God。
　
　Whatever　path　I　chose　had　to　e　from　a　means　far　more　calculating；　far　less　emotional　than　the　human　mind。〃
　〃puters！〃　the　word　fell　from　the　lips　of　Kelly's　elderly　friend。　〃Hermit　Limited　was　the　project　you　programmed　into　the　puters　at　our　data　processing　division　nearly　two　years　ago。　I　remember　it　well；　James。　You　closed　down　the　entire　plex　for　three　months。　Gave　everyone　a　vacation　with　pay…a　display　of　generosity　that　you've　seldom　demonstrated　before　or　since。　Loaned　the　use　of　the　equipment；　you　said；　to　the　government　for　a　top　secret　military　project。〃
　
　I　was　afraid　even　then　you　might　have　guessed　my　intentions；　Sam。〃
　
　It　was　the　first　time　Kelly　had　called　the　old　gentleman　by　name。　〃But　systems　analysis　provided　the　only　efficient　solution　to　the　problem　I　presented　myself。　The　concept　could　hardly　be　classed　as　revolutionary。　Every　government　has　its　think　tan