cc.iceberg-第32章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　could　hardly　be　classed　as　revolutionary。　Every　government　has　its　think　tanks。
　
　The　space　systems　devised　for　our　rocketry　and　moon　projects　have　been　utilized　for　everything　from　diagnosing　crime　reports　to　improving　surgical　procedures。　Programming　a　puter　to　select　a　country　or　geographic　location　that　is　ripe　for　a　controlled　and　developed　utopian　atmosphere　and　the　method　to　achieve　that　goal　is　not　as　farfetched　as　any　of　you　might　think。　〃It's　sheet　science　fiction。〃
　〃In　this　day　and　age　we　all　deal　in　science　fiction；　do　we　not'？〃　Kelly　answered。　〃Consider　this；　gentlemen。
　
　Of　all　the　nations　of　the　world；　the　nations　of　Latin　America　are　the　most　vulnerable　to　outside　penetration；　primarily　because　they　have　not　had　to　face　foreign　encroachment　in　well　over　a　hundred　years。　They　were　protected　by　a　wall；　a　wall　built　by　the　United　States　and　called　the　Monroe　Doctrine。〃
　〃The　American　government　will　take　a　very　dim　view　of　your　grandiose　scheme；〃　said　a　tall　man　with　white　hair；　white　eyebrows　and　solemn　eye。
　〃By　the　time　their　agents　have　penetrated　Hermit　Limited's　organization　we　will　have　proven　our　intentions　with　solid　acplishments；〃　Kelly　said。　〃They　will　not　bother　us。　in　fact；　I　predict　they　Will　discreetly　give　us　a　green　light　and　provide　whatever　aid　they　consider　possible　without　international　repercussion。〃
　〃I　take　it　you　don't　intend　to　go　it　alone；〃　Pitt　probed。
　〃No；〃　Kelly　tersely　answered。　〃After　I　satisfied　myself　that　the　program　was　sound　and　had　every　chance　to　succeed；　I　approached　Marks；　Von　Hummel；　Boyle　and　the　other　gentlemen　you　see　here　who　possessed　the　financial　means　to　make　it　a　reality。　They　thought　as　I　did。　Money　is　to　be　used　for　the；　mon　good　of　all。　Why　die　and　leave　nothing　but　a　large　bank　account　or　a　few　corporations　that　soon　forget　who　Planted　their　seed　and　nourished　them　to　financial　maturity？　We　then　met　and　formed　Hermit　Limited。　Each　Of　us　owns　equal　shares　of　stock　and　has　an　equal　voice　on　the　board　of　directors。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　one　or　more　Of　Your　partners　in　crime　won't　get　greedy？〃　Pitt　smiled　faintly。　〃They　may　swindle　a　couple　or　two　for　themselves。〃
　〃The　puter　hose　well；〃　Kelly　said；　undaunted。
　〃Look　at　us。　No　one　is　under　the　age　of　sixty…five。
　
　What　do　we　have　left？　One；　two；　maybe　with　luck　ten　years。　We　are　all　childless。　Therefore；　no　heirs。　What　does　any　one　of　us　have　to　gain　by　excessive　avarice？
　
　The　answer　is　simple。　Nothing。〃
　
　The　Russian　shook　his　head　incredulously。　〃Your　scheme　is　absurd。
　
　Even　my　own　government　would　never　consider　such　drastic　and　reckless　action。〃
　〃No　government　would；〃　Kelly　said　in　patient　explanation。　〃But　there　lies　the　difference。　You　think　only　in　political　terms。　In　the　history　of　man；　no　nation　or　civilization　has　ever　fallen　except　by　internal　revolution　or　by　foreign　invasion。　I　intend　to　write　a　new　chapter　by　acplishing　the　impossible　by　adhering　to　strict　business　principles。〃
　〃I　can't　say　as　I　recall　murder　being　taught　as　a　required　course　in　business　administration　school；〃　Pitt　said；　easily；　lighting　a　cigarette。
　〃An　unfortunate　but　necessary　part　of　the　plan；〃　returned　Kelly。　〃Methodical　assassination　is　perhaps　a　more　fitting　term。〃　He　turned　to　the　Russian。　〃You　should　have　your　KGB　agents　read　the　Ismailians；　rade　Tamareztov。　It　goes　into　great　detail　concerning　the　methods　used　by　a　Persian　sect　of　fanatics　that　spread　terror　through　the　Mohammedan　world　in　1090　A。D。　The　word　Assassin　is　their　dark　memorial　to　the　ages。〃
　〃You're　as　mad　as　they　were；〃　the　Frenchman　said　severely。
　〃If　you　believe　that；〃　Kelly　said　slowly；　〃you're　very　naive。〃
　
　The　Frenchman　looked　dazed。　〃I　do　not　understand。　How　can　you…〃
　〃How　can　my　associates　here　and　I　take　over　an　entire　continent？〃　Kelly　finished。　〃Basically；　it's　elementary。　Purely　a　problem　of　economics。　We　start　with　an　impoverished　country；　gain　control　of　its　monetary　resources；　discreetly　eliminate　its　key　leaders　and　buy　it　out。〃
　〃You　wax　lyrical；　James；〃　said　the　old　man。
　〃You'll　have　to　do　better。〃
　〃There　is　genius　in　simplicity；　Sam。　Take；　for　example；　Bolivia。　A　country　whose　people　are　close　to　starvation　。　。　。　in　many　cases　the　ine　per　family　barely　exceeding　twenty　dollars　a　year。　its　whole　economy　is　based　on　the　Peroza　copper　mines。　Gain　control　of　the　mines　and　you　gain　control　of　the　country。〃
　〃I　should　think　Bolivia's　army　will　have　something　to　Say　about　a　foreign…inspired　takeover；〃　Pitt　said；　Pouring　a　glass　to　the　brim　with　brandy。
　〃Quite　right；　Major　Pitts〃　Kelly　smiled；　then　said　briskly：　〃But　armies　have　to　be　paid。　Each　has　its　price；　particularly　its　generals。
　
　If　they　refuse　to　be　bought；　it　is　then　a　simple　matter　of　elimination。　Again；　a　business　principle。　In　order　to　build　a　more　efficient　organization；　you　discard　the　deadwood　and　replace　it　with　hardworking；　dedicated　individuals。〃　He　paused　a　moment；　unconsciously　smoothing　his　beard。　〃After　Hermit　Limited　assumes　the　administration　of　the　government；　the　army　shall　be　gradually　disbanded。　And　why　not？
　
　It　is　only　a　drain　on　the　economy。　Again；　you　could　pare　an　army　to　a　pany　that　is　losing　money。　The　obvious　solution　is　to　close　the　doors　and　write　it　off　as　a　tax　loss。〃
　〃Have　you　forgotten　the　people；　James？〃　It　was　SaM　who　spoke。　〃Do　you　truly　expect　them　to　stand　idly　while　you　turn　their　country　upside　down？〃
　〃Like　any　going　concern；　we　have　an　advertising　and　marketing　department。　As　with　a　new　product　about　to　be　introduced　on　the　market；　we　have　a　detailed　promotional　campaign　all　worked　out。　People　only　know　what　they　see　and　hear　in　the　media　to　which　they　have　access。　One　of　our　first　steps　was　to　purchase；　under　a　local　citizen's　name；　of　course；　whatever　newspapers；　radio　and　television　stations　that　were　available。〃
　
　Pitt　said：　〃I　assume　you　don't　envision　a　free　press　in　Your　Shangri…La？〃
　〃A　free　press　is　pushing　a　form　of　permissiveness；〃　Kelly　said　impatiently。　〃Look　what　it　has　done　to　the　United　States。　Print　anything　so　long　as　its　filthy；　scandalous；　sensational…anything　to　sell　more　papers　in　order　to　obtain　more　paid　advertising。　The　so…called　free　press　in　America　has　stripped　every　moral　fiber　from　a　once　great　nation　and　left　nothing　but　a　stagnant　pile　of　garbage　in　the　closets　of　the　people's　minds。〃
　〃Granted；　the　American　press　isn't　perfect；〃　Pitt　said。　〃But　they　at　least　make　an　effort　to　get　at　the　truth　and　expose　autocrats　like　yourself。〃
　
　Pitt　quickly　fell　silent；　surprised　at　himself　for　making　a　speech。　He　had　e　close　to　falling　out　of　character。　He　knew　now　that　if　there　was　a　slight　thread　of　hope　for　escape；　it　lay　in　his　continued　masquerade　as　one　of　the　gay　boys。　〃Goodness；　I　didn't　mean　to　get　carried　away。〃
　
　Frowning；　baffled；　Kelly　lifted　his　eyes　to　look　again　at　Rondheim。　His　silent　question　was　answered　with　a　disgusted　shrug。
　
　The　old　man　called　Sam　broke　the　silence。　〃After　you　buy　out　one　country；　James；　how　do　you　intend　to　take　over　the　rest？　Even　you　and　your　associates；　as　you　call　them；　haven't　the　capital　to　gain　financial　control　of　the　entire　continent　in　one　fell　swoop。〃
　〃True；　Sam；　even　our　bined　resources　can　only　go　so　far。　But　we　can　make　Bolivia；　for　example；　into　an　orcanized　and　fruitful　society。　Try　and　imagine　it；　with　no　corruption　at　the　administrative　level；　the　military；　except　for　a　token　force；　eliminated；　the　agriculture　and　the　industry　all　geared　toward　providing　a　better　life　for　the　people；　the；　consumers。〃　The　intensity　in　Kelly's　voice　began　to　rise。　〃Again　business　principle；　sink　every　nickel　and　dime　into　growth。　None　goes　to　profit。　Then；　when　Bolivia　is　established　as　the　utopian　prototype　the　envy　of　all　the　peoples　on　the　continent；　then　we　shall　annex　her　neighboring　countries；　one　by　one。〃
　〃The　poor　and　the　hungry　waiting　breathlessly　to　be　swept　into　paradise；〃　the　Frenchman　said　contemptuously。　〃Is　that　it？〃
　〃You　think　you　exaggerate；〃　Kelly　said　indifferently；　〃but　you　hit　the　truth　closer　than'　you　intended。
　
　Yes；　the　poor　and　the　hungry　will　be　eager　to　snatch　at　any　straw　that　guarantees　an　immensely　higher　standard　of　living。〃
　〃The　domino　theory　impelled　by　noble　thoughts；〃　Pitt　added。
　
　Kelly　nodded。　〃As　you　say；　noble　thoughts。　And　why　not？　Western　civilization　has　a　constant　history　of　rebirths　impregnated　by　noble　thoughts。　We　businessmen；　as　perhaps　the　largest　and　most　powerful　influence　of　the　last　two　hundred　years；　now　have　a　golden　opportunity　to　determine　whether　another　brilliant　rebirth　shall　occur　or　whether　a　civilization　that　lies　in　the　gutter　shall　remain　there　and　stop　breathing　forever。
　〃At　this　point　I　must　admit　to　being　a　stick…in…the…mud。　I　hold　a　number　of　doctrines　that　have　been　poohpoohed　by　the　best　academic　minds　of　higher　learning。　I　entertain　the　thought　that　organization　is　better　than　confusion。　I　prefer　profit　to　loss；　strong　means　to　gentle　persuasion　to　acplish　a　goal。　And　I'm　dead　certain　that　sound　business　rules　are　more　valuable　than　political　ideologies。〃
　〃Your　grand　design　has　a　flaw；〃　Pitt　said；　helping　himself　to　another　brandy。　〃A　deviation　that　could　easily　screw　up　the　works。〃　Kelly　stared　at　Pitt　speculatively。　〃Your　brain　against　the　most　advanced　techniques　of　puter　science？　e　now；　Major。　We've　spent　months　programming　every　possibility；　every　abnormality。　You're　merely　Playing　games。〃
　〃Am　I？〃　Pitt　downed　the　brandy　as　if　it　were　water　and　said　to　Kelly：　〃How　do　you　explain　Rondheim　and　Miss　Fyrie？　They　hardly　pass　the　age　requirements　for　executive　material　of　Hermit　Limited。　Rondheim　is　short　by　twenty　years。　Miss　Fyrie　。　。　。　well；　ah　。　。　。　she　doesn't　even　e　close。〃
　〃NEss　Fyrie's　brother；　Kristjan；　was　an　idealist；　like　myself；　a　man　who　was　searching　for　a　way　to　raise　people　from　the　mud　of　poverty　and　misery。　His　acts　of　generosity　in　Africa　and　other　parts　of　the　world　where　his　business　transpired　led　us　to　make　an　exception。
　
　Unlike　most　hardheaded　businessmen；　he　used　his　wealth　for　the　mon　good。　When　he　tragically　lost　his　life；　we；　the　board　of　directors　of　Hermit　Limited；〃　he　bowed　to　the　men　seated　around　him；　〃voted　to　elect　Miss　Fyrie　in　his　place。〃
　〃And　Rondheim？〃
　〃A　fortunate　contingency　we　had　hoped　for；　but　not　counted　on。　'enough　his　extensive　fishing　faculties　appeared　an　enticing　asset　toward　developing　the　fishing　industry　of　South　America；　it　was　his　hidden　talents　and　useful　connections　that　swung　the　pendulum　in　his　favor。〃
　〃The　superintendent　of　your　liquidation　department？〃　Pitt　said　grimly。　〃The　leader　of　your　private　sect　of　Ismailians？〃
　
　The　men　around　Kelly　looked　at　each　other；　then　at　Pitt。　They　looked　in　silence　with　curiosity　written　on　their　faces。　Von　Hummel　wiped　his　brow　for　the　fiftieth　time　and　Sir　Eric　Marks　rubbed　his　hand　across　his　lips　and　nodded　at　Kelly；　a　movement　that　did　not　go　unnoticed　by　Pitt。　Swinging　the　sash　around　his　waist　semiily；　Pitt　walked　over　to　the　table　and　poured　himself　another　glass　of　the　Rouche；　a　last　drink　for　the　road；　because　he　knew　Kelly　never　meant　for　him　to　leave　the　house　through　the　front　door。
　〃You　guessed　that？〃　Kelly　said　in　an　even　voice。
　〃Hardly；〃　Pitt　said。