cc.themediterraneancaper2-第12章

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　〃Sorry　to　break　in　on　you　like　this；〃　boomed　Lewis。　〃But　I'm　interested　in　　knowing　whether　or　not　you've　run　onto　anything　substantial　concerning　the　　attack　yesterday。〃
　Pitt　was　nude；　but　he　didn't　give　a　damn。　〃No；　nothing　positive。　I've　several　　hunches　and　a　couple　of　ideas；　but　very　few　absolute　facts　to　build　an　airtight　　case　with。〃
　〃I　was　hoping　you　might　have　stumbled　on　a　lead。　My　Air　Investigation　Squadron　　has　struck　out。〃
　〃Have　you　found　any　remains　of　the　Albatros？'　asked　Pitt。
　Lewis　rubbed　a　hand　across　his　sweaty　forehead。　〃If　that　old　crate　crashed　into　　the　sea；　it　left　no　trace；　not　even　a　small　oil　slick。　It　and　its　pilot　must　　have　vanished　into　thin　air。〃
　〃Maybe　it　reached　the　mainland；〃　said　Giordino。　〃Negative；〃　replied　Lewis。　〃We　　can't　find　a　soul　over　there　who　saw　it　going　or　ing。〃
　Giordino　nodded　in　agreement。　〃An　old　plane　painted　bright　yellow　with　a　top　　speed　of　only　one　hundred　and　three　miles　an　hour　couldn't　help　but　be　noticed　　if　it　crossed　over　the　strait　into　Macedonia。〃
　Lewis　took　out　a　package　of　cigarettes。　〃What　really　confuses　me　is　the　fact　　that　the　attack　was　well　planned　and　executed。　Whoever　raided　the　field　knew　no　　aircraft　were　scheduled　to　land　or　take　off　during　his　strafing　runs。〃
　Pitt　buttoned　his　shirt　and　adjusted　the　gold　oak　leaves　on　his　shoulders。　〃Obtaining　information　would　be　easy　since　everyone　on　Thasos　probably　knows　　that　Brady　Field　bees　a　ghost　town　on　Sundays。　Actually　this　whole　affair　is　　very　similar　in　strategy　to　the　attack　on　Pearl　Harbor　by　the　Japanese　down　to　the　detail　of　sneaking　in　through　a　pass　in　the　island　mountain　range。〃
　Lewis　lit　his　cigarette；　being　careful　not　to　singe　his　moustache。　〃You're　　right；　of　course　but　there's　no　doubt　that　your　unexpected　arrival　in　the　flying　　boat：　caught　our　attacker；　as　well　as　ourselves；　off　guard。　Our　own　radar　failed　　to　track　your　Catalina　because　you　flew　the　last　two　hundred　miles　on　the　deck。〃　　He　exhaled　a　cloud　of　smoke。　〃I　can't　begin　to　tell　you　what　a　wele　surprise　　it　was　to　see　your　old　bird　e　thundering　down　out　of　the　sun。〃
　〃It　must　have　surprised　our　friend　in　the　Albatros　too；〃　Giordino　grinned。　〃You　　should　have　seen　his　jaw　drop　when　he　turned　and　saw　us　for　the　first　time。〃Pitt　finished　knotting　his　tie。　〃No　one　expected　us　because　my　flight　plan　did　　not　include　Brady　Field。　I　originally　planned　to　set　down　in　the　sea　next　to　the　　First　Attempt。　That's　why　our　flying　ghost　and　Brady　Control　were　both　unaware　　of　our　ETA。〃　He　paused；　reflecting　as　he　looked　down　at　Lewis。　〃I　strongly　　suggest；　Colonel；　that　you　take　extreme　defensive　measures。　I've　a　feeling　we　　haven't　seen　the　last　of　the　yellow　Albatros。〃
　Lewis　stared　up　at　Pitt　curiously。　〃What　makes　you　so　certain　he'll　return？〃
　Pitt's　eyes　glinted。　〃He　had　a　definite　purpose　for　attacking　the　field；　and　it　　wasn't　to　kill　men　or　destroy　aircraft　belonging　to　the　United　States。　His　plan　　was　simply　to　throw　you　into　a　panic。〃
　〃What　would　he　gain　by　that？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃Stop　and　think　about　it　for　a　moment。〃　Pitt　glanced　at　his　watch；　then　to　　Lewis。　〃If　this　situation　looked　truly　threatening　and　perilous；　Colonel；　you'd　　have　to　evacuate　all　American　civilians　to　the　mainland。〃
　〃Yes；　that's　true；〃　admitted　Lewis。　〃But　at　the　moment　I　see　no　reason　to　take　　such　steps。　The　Greek　government　has　assured　me　they're　offering；　their　plete　　cooperation　in　finding　the　pilot　and　plane。〃
　〃But　if　you　thought　you　had　reason；〃　pressed　Pitt。　〃Wouldn't　you　also　order　　mander　Gunn　to　remove　the　First　Attempt　from　the　Thasos　area？〃
　Lewis'　eyes　narrowed。　〃As　a　safety　precaution；　of　course。　That　white　ship　makes　　one　hell　of　an　inviting　target　for　an　aerial　sniper。〃
　Pitt　flicked　his　Zippo　and　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Believe　It　or　not；　sir；　that's　your　　answer。〃
　Giordino　and　Lewis　looked　at　each　other　and　then　at　Pitt；　puzzled。
　Pitt　continued。　〃As　you　know；　Colonel；　Admiral　Sandecker　ordered　Giordino　and　　myself　to　Thasos　to　investigate　the　strange　mishaps　that　have　occurred　during　　the　NUMA's　offshore　operations。　This　morning；　while　conversing　with　mander　　Gunn；　I　discovered　evidence　of　a　sabotage　which　leads　me　to　believe　that　there's　　a　definite　connection　between　the　raid　and　the　accidents　aboard　the　First　　Attempt。　Now；　if　we　take　this　assumption　one　step　further；　we　begin　to　see　that　　Brady　Field　was　not　the　main　objective　of　our　reincarnated　adversary。　The　raid　　was　only　an　indirect　means　of　removing　mander　Gunn　and　the　First　Attempt　from　　Thasos。〃
　Lewis　looked　at　Pitt　thoughtfully。　〃I　suppose　the　next　question　is　why？〃
　〃I　don't　have　an　answer　yet；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I'm　certain　our　mysterious　friend　　and　his　flair　for　dramatics　has　a　high　powered　reason　behind　his　game。　He　wouldn't　go　to　such　devious　lengths　for　penny　ante　stakes。　He's　most　likely　　hiding　something　of　great　value　and　the　NUMA　researchers　on　the　ship　are　in　a　　position　to　stumble　onto　it。〃
　〃That　something　you　speak　of　could　be　sunken　treasure；〃　Lewis'　lips　gleamed　wetly。
　Pitt　pulled　an　overseas　cap　out　of　his　suitcase　and　set　it　jauntily　on　his　head。　〃That's　one　obvious　conclusion。〃
　A　faraway　look　came　Into　Lewis'　eyes　and　he　said　softly；　〃I　wonder　what　it　could　　be　and　how　much　it's　worth？〃
　Pitt　turned　and　faced　Giordino。　〃Al；　contact　Admiral　Sandecker　and　ask　him　to　　research　all　possible　lost　or　sunken　treasure　troves　in　the　Aegean　Sea　within　　spitting　distance　of　Thasos　and　send　us　the　data　as　soon　as　possible。　Tell　him　　it's　urgent。〃
　〃Consider　it　done；〃　Giordino　said。　〃It's　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning　in　　Washington　so　we　should　have　an　answer　by　breakfast。〃
　〃Now　we're　getting　somewhere；〃　Lewis　boomed。
　〃The　sooner　I　get　answers；　the　sooner　I　can　get　the　Pentagon　off　my　back。　Is　　there　any　way　I　can　help？〃
　Pitt　glanced　at　his　watch　again。　〃As　the　Boy　Scouts　say…Be　Prepared。　That's　all　　we　can　do　for　the　present。　You　can　bet　Brady　Field　and　the　First　Attempt　are　　being　closely　observed。　When　it　es　apparent　no　one　is　being　evacuated　and　the　oceanography　ship　still　floats　out　there　on　the　Aegean；　we　can　expect　another　　visit　from　the　yellow　Albatros。　You've　had　your　fun；　Colonel　It's　my　guess　　mander　Gunn's　turn　is　next。〃
　〃Please　tell　the　mander；〃　said　Lewis；　〃I'll　give　him　whatever　assistance　I　　have　at　my　disposal。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I　don't　think　It　would　be　wise　to　warn　　mander　Gunn　just　yet。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　why　not？〃　gasped　Giordino。
　Pitt　grinned　coldly。　〃So　far；　all　of　this　is　pure　conjecture。　Besides；　any　　preparation　on　board　the　First　Attempt　would　be　a　dead　giveaway　of　our　　intentions。　No；　we've　got　to　bait　our　unknown　World　War　I　ghost　and　bring　him　　out　into　the　open。〃
　Giordino　looked　at　Pitt　evenly。　〃You　can't　risk　the　lives　of　the　scientists　and　　ship's　crew　without　giving　them　a　chance　to　defend　themselves。〃　〃Gunn　is　in　no　immediate　danger。　Our　ghost　pilot　will　undoubtedly　wait　at　least　　one　more　day　to　see　if　the　First　Attempt　departs　before　he　attacks　again。〃　Pitt　　smiled　until　the　mirth　lines　etched　into　the　sides　of　his　eyes。　〃In　the　　meantime；　I'll　put　my　creative　talents　to　work　on　a　plan　for　a　trap。〃
　Lewis　got　to　his　feet　and　faced　Pitt。　'For　the　sake　of　those　men　on　the　ship；　I　　hope　you　e　up　with　a　good　one。〃
　〃No　plan　is　considered　foolproof；　Colonel；〃　replied　Pitt；　〃until　after　it's　been　　applied。〃　Giordino　walked　toward　the　door。　〃I'll　run　over　to　Base　Operations　and　send　that　　message　to　the　Admiral。〃
　〃When　you've　finished；〃　said　Lewis；　〃drop　by　my　quarters　for　supper。〃　Twisting　　his　moustache；　he　turned　to　Pitt。　〃You're　invited　too。　I'll　give　you　men　a　real　　treat　and　whip　up　my　renowned　specialty：　scallops　with　mushrooms　in　white　wine　　sauce。〃
　〃It　sounds　very　appetizing；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I'm　afraid　I　must　decline。　I　have　a　　previous　dinner　engagement。　。　。　with　a　very　attractive　lady。〃
　Giordino　and　Lewis　could　only　gawk　at　him　in　dazed　amazement。　Pitt　tried　to　look　nonchalant。　〃She's　sending　a　car　to　pick　me　up　at　the　main　　gate　at　six。　I　have　just　two　minutes　and　thirty　seconds　to　get　there；　so　I'd　　best　be　leaving。　Good　evening；　Colonel；　and　thank　you　for　your　invitation。　I　　hope　you'll　give　me　a　rain　check。〃　He　f