cc.iceberg-第47章

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　Two　of　the　men　he　took　to　be　Kippmann's　agents。　Of　the　third　man；　the　one　slumped　head　downward　in　the　middle；　there　was　no　doubt；　it　was　F。　James　Kelly。
　
　Pitt　stood　there　blocking　their　way。　Kelly　slowly　lifted　his　head　and　stared　at　Pitt　vacantly；　unrecognizing。　Finally　Pitt　broke　the　uneasy　silence。
　〃I'm　almost　sorry　your　grand　scheme　failed；　Kelly。
　〃In　theory；　it　was　glorious。　In　execution；　it　was　impossible。〃
　
　Kelly's　eyes　widened　by　slow　degrees　and　the　color　drained　from　his　face。　〃My　God　。　。　。　is　that　you；　Major　Pitt？　But　no　。　。　。　you're　。　。　。〃
　〃Supposed　to　be　dead？〃　Pitt　finished；　as　if　it　no　longer　mattered　too　much　except　to　himself。
　〃Oskar　swore　he　killed　you。〃
　〃I　managed　to　leave　the　party　early；〃　Pitt　said　coldly。
　
　Kelly　shook　his　head　back　and　forth。　〃Now　I　understand　why　my　plan　failed。　It　seems；　Major；　that　fate　cast　you　in　the　role　of　my　avenging　nemesis。〃
　〃Purely　a　matter　of　my　being　at　the　wrong　place　at　the　wrong　time。〃
　
　Kelly　smiled　thinly　and　nodded　to　the　two　agents。　The　three　of　them　entered　the　waiting　elevator。
　
　Pitt　stood　aside；　then　suddenly　said；　〃Sam　left　you　a　message。〃
　
　Kelly　took　seconds　to　recover。　〃Is　Sam…〃
　〃Sam　died　out　on　the　tundra；〃　Pitt　finished。　〃Near　the　end　he　wanted　you　to　know　he　forgave　you。〃
　〃Oh；　God　。　。　。　oh；　Cod；〃　Kelly　moan　in　agony；　his　fingers　covering　his　eyes。　For　many　years　afterward；　Pitt　carried　the　mental　picture　of　Kelly's　face　just　before　the　elevator　door　closed…　The　stricken　lines；　the　dull；　lifeless　eyes；　the　ashen　skin。　It　was　the　face　of　a　man　who　looked　as　if　he　was　strangling。
　
　Pitt　tried　the　door　with　the　numerals　605。　It　was　locked。　He　walked　to　the　door　of　607　and　twisted　the　knob。　It　opened。　He　quietly　stepped　over　the　threshold　and　eased　the　door　closed。　The；　room　was　cool　and　dark。　The　smell　of　stale　cigar　butts　invaded　his　nostrils　before　he　passed　through　the　entry　hall。　The　odor　was　all　he　needed　to　know　it　was　Rondheim's　room。
　
　Moonlight　filtered　through　the　drapes；　casting　long　shapeless　shadows　as　he　searched　through　the　bedroom；　nothing　but　Rondheim's　clothes　and　luggage　was　undisturbed。　Kippmann　had　kept　his　word。　His　men　had　been　careful　not　to　alert　Kirsti　Fyrie　or　give　her　the　slightest　warning　of　Rondheim's　fate　or　the　sudden　demise　of　Hermit　Limited。
　
　He　moved　toward　a　shaft　of　yellow　light　that　split　the　half…open　door　to　the　adjoining　room。　He　entered；　treading　softly；　noiselessly　like　a　night　animal　ready　to　spring。　It　could　hardly　be　called　a　room；　a　plush　suite　would　have　been　a　fairer　description。　it　consisted　of　a　hall；　a　living　room　with　an　amply　stocked　bar；　a　bathroom　and　a　bedroom；　edged　on　one　side　by　a　large　sliding　glass　door　that　led　to　a　small　balcony。
　
　All　the　rooms　were　empty　except　the　bathroom；　the　sound　Of　running　water　told　him　that　Kirsti　was　in　the　shower。　Pitt　walked　over　to　the　bar；　casually　poured　himself　a　scotch　on　the　rocks　and　just　as　casually　eased　into　a　long　fortable　sofa。　Twenty　minutes　and　two　drinks　later；　Kirsti　emerged　from　the　bathroom。　She　was　wearing　a　green　silk　kimono；　loosely　sashed　at　the　waist。　Her　golden　hair　danced　around　her　head　like　a　silver…colored　halo。　She　looked　incredibly　fresh　and　lovely。
　
　She　walked　through　the　bedroom　into　the　living　room　and　was　in　the　midst　of　mixing　herself　a　drink　when　she　saw　Pitts　reflection　in　the　mirror　behind　the　bar。　She　stood　there　as　if　suddenly　struck　by　paralysis；　very　pale；　with　an　expression　of　uncertainty　on　her　face。
　〃I　suppose；〃　Pitt　said　quietly；　〃the　appropriate　thing　for　a　gentleman　to　say　when　a　beautiful　woman　leaves　her　bath　is；　Behold；　Venus　arises　from　the　waves。〃
　
　She　turned　and　the　look　of　uncertainty　slowly　turned　to　one　of　curiosity。　〃Do　I　know　you？〃
　〃We've　met。〃
　
　She　clutched　the　edge　of　the　bar；　silent；　her　eyes　searching　him。　〃Dirk！〃　she　whispered　softly。　〃It's　you。　It's　really　you。　Thank　God；　you're　still　alive。〃
　〃Your　concern　for　my　welfare　es　a　little　late。〃
　
　They　stared　at　each　other；　green　eyes　locked　on　violet。
　〃Elsa　Koch；　Bonny　Parker　and　Lucretia　Borgia；〃　he　said；　〃all　could　have　taken　lessons　from　you　on　how　to　kill　friends　and　influence　enemies。〃
　〃I　had　to　do　what　I've　done；〃　she　said　faintly'　〃But　I　swear　to　you　I　have　killed　no　one。　I　was　unwillingly　pulled　into　the　vortex　by　Oskar。　I　never　dreamed　that　his　association　with　Kelly　would　lead　to　death　for　so　many。〃
　〃You　say　you've　killed　no　one。〃
　〃Yes。
　〃You're　lying。〃
　
　She　gazed　at　him　oddly。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　〃You　killed　Kristjan　Fyrie！〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　now　as　if　he'd　gone　mad。　Her　lips　were　trembling；　and　her　eyes…those　lovely　violet　eyes…were　dark　with　fear。
　〃You　can't　mean　what　you're　saying；〃　she　gasped。
　〃Kristjan　died　on　the　Lax；　he　was　burned　。　。　。　burned　to　death。〃
　
　The　time　had　e；　Pitt　told　himself；　to　settle　the　account；　balance　the　entries；　tally　the　final　score。　He　leaned　forward。
　〃Kristjan　Fyrie　didn't　die　a　fiery　death　on　a　ship　in　the　North　Atlantic…he　died　under　a　surgeon's　scalpel　on　an　operating　table　in　Veracruz；　Mexico。〃
　
　Pitt　let　it　sink　in。　He　took　a　couple　of　sips　of　his　drink　and　lit　a　cigarette。　The　words　were　not　easy　for　him。　He　watched　her　without　speaking。
　
　Kirsti's　mouth　had　fallen　open。　She　closed　it　quickly　and　numbly　searched　for　something　to　say。　She　was　on　the　verge　of　tears　that　would　never　e。　Then　she　lowered　her　head　and　covered　her　face　with　her　hands。
　〃I　have　it　on　good　authority；〃　Pitt　continued。　〃The　operation　took　place　at　the　Sau　de　Sol　Hospital　and　the　surgeon　was　a　Dr。　Jesus　Ybarra。〃
　
　She　looked　up　with　an　expression　of　agony。　〃Then　you　know　everything。〃
　〃Almost。　There　are　still　a　couple　of　loose　ends。〃
　〃Why　do　you　torture　me　by　beating　around　the　bush？　Why　don't　you　e　out　and　say　it。〃
　
　Pitt　spoke　calmly。　〃Say　what？　That　you're　really　Kristjan　Fyrie？
　
　That　there　never　was　a　sister。　That　Kristjan　died　at　the　exact　moment　you　were　born？〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃What　difference　would　it　make？　As　Kristjan　you　weren't　willing　to　accept　the　sex　your　body　had　given　you　so　you　undertook　sex　conversion　surgery　and　became　Kirsti。　You　came　into　this　world　a　transsexual。　Your　genes　crossed　you　up。　You　weren't　satisfied　with　the　hand　nature　dealt　you　so　you　made　a　change。
　
　What　more　is　there？〃
　
　She　came　from　behind　the　bar　and　leaned　against　the　leather…padded　surface。　〃You　can　never　know；　Dirk。　You　can　never　know　what　it　is　to　lead　a　frustrating　and　plicated　existence；　playing　the　strong；　virile　male　adventurer　on　the　outside　while　inside　you　are　a　woman　longing　to　be　free。〃
　〃So　you　escaped　the　shell；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Slipped　away　to　Mexico　to　a　surgeon　who　specializes　in　conversions。　You　took　hormone　injections　and　silicone　implants　for　your　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　chest。　Then　you　soaked　up　the　sun　on　a　Veracruz　beach；　getting　a　tan　while　your　incision　healed。　Later；　at　the　appropriate　time；　you　showed　up　in　Iceland　claiming　to　be　your　long…lost　sister　from　New　Guinea。
　〃What　astonishing　confidence　you　must　have　had　to　think　you　could　get　away　with　it；〃　Pitt　continued。
　〃I've　met　a　few　slick　operators　in　my　short　life　span；　but　by　God；　Kirsti；　or　Kristjan；　or　whoever；　you've　got　to　be　the　shrewdest　bastard　。　。　。　or　rather；　bitch　that　ever　came　down　the　pike。　You　took　everyone。　You　conned　Admiral　Sandecker　into　thinking　you　were　going　to　turn　the　undersea　probe　over　to　our　government。　You　faked　a　thousand　men　and　their　ships　and　aircraft　into　a　wild…goose　chase；　searching　for　a　ship　that　was　never　missing。　You　beguiled　Dr。　Hunnewell；　an　old　friend；　into　identifying　a　charred　body　as　your　own。　You　used　Fyrie　Limited's　personnel…and　they　died　carrying　out　your　orders。　You　used　Rondheim。
　
　You　used　Kelly。　And　you　even　tried　to　use　me　in　the　hope　I　might　erase　Oskar。　Too　bad　the　bubble　had　to　burst。　The　first　step　to　all　frauds　is　to　cheat　oneself。　At　that　you　were　a　raving　success。〃
　
　Kirsti　had　moved　slowly　around　to　a　small　traveling　case　on　an　end　table；　lifted　out　a　tiny　Colt　twenty…five　automatic　and　leveled　it　on　Pitts　chest。　〃Your　accusations　are　not　nearly　as　neat　and　organized　as　you　think。　You're　groping；　Dirk；　you're　groping　in　the　dark　like　a　blind　man。〃
　
　Pitt　glanced　at　the　gun　and　then　nonchalantly　turned　away　and　ignored　it。　〃Suppose　you　show　me　the　light。〃
　
　She　looked　uncertainly　at　Pitt；　but　she　still　held　the　gun　as　steady　as　a　statue。　〃I　had　every　intention　of　turning　the　undersea　probe　over　to　your　country。　My　original　plan　was　to　put　my　scientists　and　engineers　on　board　the　Lax　and　send　them　to　Washington　for　the　presentation　ceremonies。　Then　on　the　voyage　across　the　North　Atlantic；　Kristjan　Fyrie　was　to　have　been　lost　overboard。〃
　〃In　the　meantime；　you　had　flown　to　Mexico　for　the　operation。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Kirsti　answered　softly。　〃But　the　totally　unexpected；　and　unforeseen　coincidence；　spelled　disaster　to　the　new　life　I　had　so　carefully　planned。　Dr。　Jesus　Ybarra　was　a　memberof　Hermit　Limited。））　9　〃So　he　blew　the　whistle　and　informed　Rondheim。
　
　Kirsti　nodded；　〃From　that　moment　on　I　was　Oskar's　slave。　He　threatened　to　expose　my　transition　to　the　world　if　I　didn't　turn　my　business　resources　over　to　him　and　Kelly。　I　had　no　choice。　If　my　secret　had　bee　known；　the　resulting　scandal　would　have　wrecked　Fyn'e　Limited　and　shattered　the　economy　of　my　country。〃
　〃Why　the　masquerade　with　the　Lax？〃
　〃Now　that　Oskar　and　Kelly　controlled　me；　they　were　not　about　to　let　the　sea　probe　out　of　their　hands。
　
　So　they　created　a　fraudulent　story　about　the　Lax's　disappearance。　You　must　admit；　it　was　an　efficient　situation。　To　the　world　the　sea　probe　was　lost　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea。〃
　〃And　so　was　Kristjan　Fyrie。〃
　〃Yes；　it　also　served　my　purpose。〃
　〃That　doesn't　explain　the　alteration　to　the　Lax's　Superstructure；〃　Pitt　persisted。　〃）〃y　wasn't　the　sea　probe　simply　removed　and　installed　on　another　ship？〃　For　the　first　time　she　smiled。　〃The　sea　probe　is　a　plicated　piece　of　equipment。　A　ship　must　literally　be　designed　around　it；　To　have　taken　it　from　the　Lax　and　reinstalled　it　in　a　nondescript　fishing　trawler　would　have　taken　months。　While　everyone　was　searching　for　her；　the　Lax　was　secretly　being　face…lifted　in　a　cove　on　the　eastern　coast　of　Greenland。〃
　〃And　Dr。　Hunnewell；　how　did　he　figure　in　the　picture？〃
　〃He　worked　with　me　in　developing　the　probe。〃
　〃I　know；　but　why　you？　Why　not　with　someone　in　his　own　country？〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　and　studied　his　face　for　a　long　moment。　〃I　paid　for　the　research　and　development　with　no　strings　attached。　The　technological　corporations　'm　the　United　States　wanted　to　tie　up　his　services　and　all　his　experimental　results。　Dr。　Hunnewell　despised　doing　anything　that　reeked　of　mercial　profit。〃
　〃Yet　he　became　associated　with　Kelly　and　Hermit　Limited。〃
　〃When　the　Lax　was　prospecting　the　sea　floor　off　Greenland；　the　probe　malfunctioned。　Dr。　Hunnewell　was　the　only　one　with　the　technical　knowledge　to　suggest　a　quick　repair。　Kelly　flew　him　there　from　California。　A　very　persuasive　talker；　that　F。　James　Kelly。　He　sold　Dr。　Hunnewell　on　jog　Hermit　Limited　to　save　the　world。　The　doctor　couldn't　resist。　He　was　always　what　you　Americans　call　a　do…gooder。〃　A　pained　expression