cc.themediterraneancaper2-第13章

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and　thank　you　for　your　invitation。　I　　hope　you'll　give　me　a　rain　check。〃　He　faced　Giordino。　〃Al；　let　me　know　the　　minute　the　Admiral's　reply　es　in。〃　Pitt　turned　and　opened　the　door　and　left　　the　room。
　Lewis　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃Is　he　bull…shitting　or　does　he　really　have　a　date　　with　a　girl？〃
　〃I've　never　known　Dirk　to　bull…shit　about　women；　sir；〃　said　Giordino。　He　was　　beginning　to　enjoy　Lewis'　state　of　shock。
　〃But　where　did　he　meet　her？　To　my　knowledge　he　hasn't　been　anywhere　except　the　　field　and　the　ship。
　Giordino　shrugged。　〃Beats　me。　But　knowing　Pitt　as　I　do；　It　wouldn't　surprise　me　　if　he　picked　up　a　girl　on　the　hundred　yards　between　the　main　gate　and　the　First　　Attempt's　loading　dock。〃
　Lewis'　booming　laugh　cracked　across　the　room。　〃Well　e　along；　Captain。　I'm　not　　a　sexy　girl　but　at　least　I　can　cook。　How　about　some　of　my　scallops？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　said　Giordino。　〃That's　the　best　offer　I've　had　all　afternoon。〃
　　　5
　The　furnace…like　atmosphere　cooled　slightly　as　the　fading　sun　fell　to　the　west　　beyond　the　Thasos　mountains。　Long　crooked　shadows　from　the　mountains'　tree…lined　　summits　had　moved　down　the　slopes　and　were　touching　the　seaward　edge　of　Brady　　Field　when　Pitt　passed　through　the　main　gate。　He　stopped　on　the　outer　road　and　　inhaled　the　pure　Mediterranean　air；　enjoying　the　inner　sensation　of　having　his　　lungs　tingle。　The　habitual　call　for　a　cigarette　tugged　at　his　mind；　but　he　　pushed　the　urge　aside　and　took　another　deep　breath；　looking　out　to　sea。　Beyond　　the　rolling　surf；　the　setting　sun　painted　the　First　Attempt　a　colorful　golden　　orange。　The　visibility　was　crystal　clear；　and　at　a　distance　of　two　miles　his　　eyes　could　pick　out　an　amazing　amount　of　detail　on　board　the　ship。　He　stood　　quiet　and　still　for　almost　a　full　two　minutes；　lost　in　the　beauty　of　the　scene。　　Then　he　glanced　about；　looking　for　the　car　that　Teri　promised　to　send　for　him。　It　was　there；　sitting　off　to　one　side　of　the　road　like　a　palatial　and　sumptuous　　yacht　resting　at　anchor。
　〃Well　I'll　be　damned；〃　Pitt　muttered；　spotting　the　car。　He　moved　closer　and　his　face　betrayed　an　admiration　for　fine　automobiles。　It　was　a　Maybach…Zepplin　town　car；　plete　with　a　sliding　glass　partition　　separating　the　enclosed　passenger　partment　from　the　driver；　who　sat　in　the　　open　exposed　to　the　sun。　Behind　the　large　double…M　ornament　on　the　radiator；　the　hood　stretched　back　six　feet　and　ended　at　a　low　split　windshield。　giving　the　car　　an　image　of　great　brutish　power。　The　long　flowing　fenders　and　running　boards　　gleamed　black　but　the　coachwork　was　painted　a　deep　multi…coated　silver。　It　was　a　　classic　among　classics：　superb　Teutonic　craftsmanship　evident　in　every　fitting；　　every　nut　and　every　bolt。　If　the　1936　Rolls…Royce　Phantom　III　typified　the　British　ideal　of　silence　and　distinguished　　mechanical　efficiency；　then　its　German　counterpart　was　found　in　the　1936　Maybach　　Zepplin。
　Pitt　stepped　up　beside　the　car　and　ran　his　right　hand　over　a　gargantuan　spare　　tire　that　sat　solidly　mounted　in　the　front　fender　well。　He　grinned　a　grin　of　　satisfaction　and　relief　as　he　noted　the　tire's　tread　was　deeply　grooved　in　a　　diamond…shaped　pattern。　He　patted　the　big　donut…like　tire　a　couple　of　times　and　　then　turned　and　looked　into　the　front　seat。
　The　driver　sat　slouched　behind　the　wheel；　idly　drumming　his　fingers　on　the　door　　frame。　He　not　only　looked　bored；　but　he　yawned　to　prove　it　He　was　dressed　in　a　　gray…green　tunic　that　strangely　resembled　the　uniform　of　a　World　War　II　Nazi　officer。　but　the　sleeves　and　shoulders　bore　　no　insignia。　A　high　brimmed　cap　covered　his　head；　and　the　blond　color　of　his　　hair　was　betrayed　by　the　brief　hint　of　his　sideburns。　Old　fashioned　　silver…rimmed　spectacles　covered　his　eyes　and　glinted　in　the　setting　sun。　A　long　　thin　cigarette　dangled　conceitedly　from　one　corner　of　a　curled　lip。　giving　the　　driver　an　aura　of　smugness　and　arrogance；　an　image　he　made　little　effort　to　　conceal。
　Pitt　Instantly　disliked　the　driver。　Putting　a　foot　on　the　running　board；　he　　stared　penetratingly　at　the　uniformed　figure　behind　the　steering　wheel。　〃I　think　　you're　waiting　for　me。　My　name　is　Pitt。〃
　The　yellow　haired　driver　did　not　bother　to　return　Pitt's　stare。　He　merely　　flipped　his　cigarette　over　Pitt's　shoulder　onto　the　road；　sat　up　straight　and　　turned　the　ignition　switch。　〃if　you　are　the　American　garbage　receiver；〃　he　said　　in　a　heavy　German　accent；　〃you　may　get　in。〃
　Pitt　grinned　and　his　eyes　hardened。　〃Up　front　with　the　foul　smelling　rabble　or　in　back　with　the　gentry？
　〃Wherever　you　choose；〃　the　driver　said。　His　face　turned　crimson　but　he　still　did　not　turn　or　look　up。
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Pitt　smoothly。　〃I'll　take　the　back。〃　He　pushed　down　on　a　huge　chrome　handle；　swung　the　vault…like　door　open　and　climbed　into　the　town　car。　An　old　roll　style　curtain　perched　over　the　partition　window　and　Pitt　pulled　it　down；　closing　off　all　sight　of　the　driver　In　front。　Then　be　settled　back　fortably　into　the　soft　and　luxurious　morocco　leather　upholstery；　lit　a　cigarette　and　prepared　to　enjoy　the　early　evening　ride　across　Thasos。
　The　Maybach's　engine　quietly　came　to　life　and　the　driver　shifted　through　the　whisper　silent　gears；　moving　the　Immense　car　over　the　road　in　the　direction　of　Liminas。
　Pitt　rolled　down　a　door　window　and　studied　the　fir　and　chestnut　trees　dotting　the　mountain　slopes；　and　the　age…old　olive　trees　lining　the　narrow　beaches。　Every　so　often；　small　fields　of　tobacco　and　wheat　broke　the　uneven　landscape　and　reminded　him　of　the　small　farms　he　had　often　seen　when　flying　over　the　southern　United　States。
　Soon　the　car　cruised　through　the　picturesque　village　of　Panaghia；　splashing　an　occasional　puddle　that　marred　the　elderly　cobbled　streets。　Most　of　the　houses　Were　painted　white　to　reflect　the　summer　heat。　The　roofs　rose　into　the　fading　sky　and　nearly　touched　as　their　eaves　leaned　toward　each　other　over　the　narrow　Streets。　In　a　few　minutes　Panaghia　was　left　behind　the　Liminas　soon　came　into　view。　Then　the　car　abruptly　turned；　skirting　the　main　section　of　the　little　city；　and　pointed　its　dinosaurian　hood　up　a　dusty　cliff　road。　The　incline　was　gradual　at　first；　but　quickly　wormed　into　a　series　of　steep　hairpin　curves。
　Pitt　could　sense　the　driver　struggling　at　the　wheel　of　the　Maybach；　the　lumbering　town　car　was　designed　more　for　casual　rides　on　the　Unter　den　Linden　than　spring…breaking　tours　up　mule　trails。　He　looked　over　sheer　precipices　at　the　sea　and　wondered　what　would　happen　if　another　car　came　from　the　opposite　direction。
　Then　he　could　see　it　ahead；　a　huge　white　square　against　the　darkening　gray　cliffs。　At　last　the　curves　ceased　and　the　big　diamond　treaded　tires　slid　smoothly　onto　the　hard　surface　of　a　drive。
　Pitt　was　adequately　impressed。　In　size；　the　villa　nearly　matched　the　splendor　of　a　Roman　Forum。　The　grounds　were　well　kept　and　there　was　an　atmosphere　of　wealth　and　good　taste。　The　entire　estate　nestled　in　a　valley　between　two　high　mountain　peaks　and　overlooked　a　sweeping　panorama　of　the　Aegean　Sea。　The　main　gate　of　a　high　wall　opened　mysteriously；　apparently　pulled　by　someone　unseen；　and　the　
　chauffeur　drove　up　a　neat　fir…lined　drive　without　ceremony　and　braked　at　a　flight　of　marble　steps。　In　the　center　of　the　stairway　a　large　archaic　statue　of　a　woman　carrying　a　child　stared　down　mutely；　greeting　Pitt　as　he　stepped　from　the　Maybach。
　He　started　to　climb　the　steps　when　he　stopped　suddenly　and　returned　to　the　car。
　〃I'm　sorry　driver；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　I　didn't　catch　your　name。〃
　The　driver　looked　up；　puzzled。　〃My　name　is　Willie。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃Willie。　my　friend；〃　Pitt　said　seriously；　〃I　must　tell　you　something。　Will　you　step　out　of　the　car　for　a　moment？〃
　Willie's　brows　wrinkled　but　he　shrugged　and　stepped　from　the　car；　facing　Pitt。　〃Now　Herr　Pitt；　what　do　you　wish　to　tell　me？〃
　〃I　see　you　wear　jackboots；　Willie。〃
　〃Ja；　I　wear　jackboots〃
　Pitt　flashed　his　best　used　car　salesman's　smile　〃And　jackboots　have　hobnails；　don't　they？〃
　〃Ja；　jackboots　have　hobnails。〃　said　Willie　irritably。　〃Why　do　you　waste　my　time　with　such　nonsense？　I　have　duties　to　perform。　What　is　it　you　wish　to　say？〃
　Pitt's　eyes　grew　hard。　〃My　friend；　I　felt　that　if　you　want　to　earn　your　peeping…Tom　merit　badge；　it's　my　duty　to　warn　y