cc.themediterraneancaper2-第16章

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ght　now　he's　mine。〃
　Von　Till　expertly　clicked　his　heels　and　bowed。　〃As　you　wish　my　dear。　For　the　next　hour　and　a　half；　you　shall　be　our　manding　officer。〃
　She　wrinkled　her　nose　at　von　Till。　〃That's　awfully　decent　of　you；　Uncle；　in　that　case　my　first　order　is　for　both　of　you　to　march　to　the　dinner　table。〃
　Teri　pulled　Pitt　out　to　the　terrace　and　led　him　down　a　sloping　stairway　that　ended　on　a　circular　overhanging　balcony。
　The　view　was　breathtaking。　Far　below　the　villa　the　lights　of　Liminas　were　blinking　on　house　by　house。　And　across　the　sea；　the　early　stars　began　to　poke　their　tips　into　a　spreading　blanket　of　black。　In　the　middle　of　the　balcony；　a　table　was　set　with　service　for　three。　A　large　yellow　globe　containing　six　candles　illuminated　the　setting　and　cast　an　intriguing　glow　over　the　table；　turning　the　silver　dinnerware　to　gold。
　Pitt　eased　Teri's　chair　back　for　her　and　whispered　in　her　ear。　〃You　better　be　careful。　You　know　how　stimulated　I　get　in　romantic　atmosphere。〃
　She　looked　up　at　him　and　her　eyes　smiled。　〃Why　do　you　think　I　planned　it　this　way。〃
　Before　Pitt　could　answer；　von　Till　walked　up　followed　by　the　giant　dog；　and　snapped　his　fingers。　Instantly；　a　young　girl　in　native　Greek　costume　materialized　and　set　down　an　appetizer　of　mixed　cheeses；　olives　and　cucumbers。　Next　came　a　chicken　soup；　flavored　with　lemon　and　egg　yokes。　Then　the　main　course；　baked　oysters　mixed　with　onions　and　minced　nuts。　Von　Till　uncorked　the　wine；…Retsinaa　fine　old　Greek　wine。
　It's　resin　flavor　reminded　Pitt　of　turpentine。　After　the　serving　girl　cleared　the　dishes；　she　brought　a　tray　of　fruit　and　then　poured　the　coffee　made　in　the　Turkish　manner；　the　powdered　beans　settling　like　silt　on　the　bottom　of　the　cup。
　Pitt　forced　down　the　strong　unsweetened　coffee　and　rubbed　knees　with：　Teri。　He　expected　a　girlish　grin　but　instead　she　looked　at　him　with　frightened　eyes。　It　seemed　she　was　trying　to　tell　him　something。
　〃Well。　Major；〃　said　von　Till　〃I　hope　you　enjoyed　our　little　repast。〃
　〃Yes；　thank　you；〃　replied　Pitt　〃It　was　excellent。〃
　Von　Till　stared　across　the　table　at　Teri。　His　face　had　set　like　stone；　and　his　voice　turned　to　ice。　〃I　would　like　to　be　alone　with　the　Major　for　a　little　while；　my　dear。　Why　don't　you　wait　in　the　study；　we　will　be　along　shortly。〃
　Teri　acted　surprised。　She　shuddered　faintly；　gripping　the　edge　of　the　table　before　she　answered　him。　〃Please；　Uncle　Bruno；　It's　too　early。　Can't　you　wait　and　have　your　little　talk　with　Dirk　later？〃
　Von　Till　shot　her　a　withering　look。　〃Do　as　your　Uncle　says。　I　have　a　few　important　matters　I　would　like　to　discuss　with　Major　Pitt。　I　am　sure　he　will　not　leave　before　seeing　you。〃
　Pitt　found　himself　being　angry。　Why　the　sudden　family　crisis？　he　wondered。　He　took　a　long　breath；　sensing　something　very　wrong。　An　odd　prickle　crept　up　his　back；　that　old　familiar　feeling　of　danger。　Like　an　old　and　trusted　friend；　it　always　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder　and　warned　him　when　a　nasty　situation　was　brewing。
　Unseen；　Pitt　slipped　a　paring　knife　off　the　plate　of　fruits　and　pushed　it　under　his　pant　leg　and　into　his　sock。
　Teri　looked　at　Pitt；　her　face　paling　〃Please　excuse　me；　Dirk。　I　don't　mean　to　be　a　ninny。〃
　He　smiled。　〃Don't　worry。　I　have　a　weakness　for　pretty　ninnies。〃
　〃You　never　seem　to　fail　to　say　the　right　thing；〃　she　murmured。
　He　squeezed　her　hand。　〃I'll　join　you　as　soon　as　I　can。〃
　〃I'll　be　waiting。〃　Suddenly　her　eyes　brimmed　with　tears　and　she　turned　away　and　ran　up　the　stairway。
　〃I　am　sorry　for　speaking　so　harshly　to　Teri；〃　the　old　German　apologized。　〃I　had　to　talk　to　you　privately　and　she　rarely　appreciates　my　desire　to　converse　without　feminine　interruption。　It　is　often　necessary　to　bee　firm　with　women。　Do　you　agree？〃
　Pitt　nodded。　He　could　think　of　nothing　worthwhile　to　say。
　Von　Till　inserted　a　cigarette　in　a　long　ivory　holder　and　lit　it。　〃I　am　extremely　interested　in　hearing　about　the　attack　yesterday　on　Brady　Field。　My　information　from　that　section　of　the　island　tells　me　it　was　a　very　old　and　unknown　type　of　airplane　that　struck　your　facility。〃
　〃Old　maybe；〃　said　Pitt；　〃but　not　unknown。〃
　〃Are　you　saying　you　have　determined　the　make　of
　airplane？〃
　Pitt　studied　von　Till's　face。　Silently　be　dawdled　with　a　fork；　then　slowly　laid　it　back　on　the　tablecloth。　〃The　aircraft　was　positively　identified　as　an　Albatros
　〃And　the　pilot？〃　The　words　came　slowly　from　Von　Till's　tight　mouth。　〃Do　you　know　the　Identity　of　the　pilot？〃
　〃Not　yet；　but　we　will　shortly。〃
　〃You　seem　confident　of　an　early　capture。〃
　Pitt　took　his　time　about　answering。　He　slowly　and　methodically　lit　a　cigarette。　〃Why　not。　It　shouldn't　be　difficult　to　trace　a　sixty　year　old　yellow　antique　aircraft　to　its　owner。〃
　A　smug　grin　crossed　von　Till's　face。　〃Macedonian　Greece　is　an　area　of　rugged　terrain　and　desolate　countryside。　There　are　many　thousands　of　square　miles　of　mountains；　valleys　and　eroded　plains　where　even　one　of　your　monstrous　jet　bombers　could　be　hidden　and　never　detected。〃
　Pitt　grinned　back。　〃Who　said　anything　about　searching　mountains　or　valleys？〃
　'Where　else　would　you　look？〃
　〃In　the　sea；〃　Pitt　said　pointing　at　the　black　water
　far　below。　〃Probably　in　the　same　spot　where　Kurt　Heibert　crashed　back　in　1918。〃
　Von　Till　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃Are　you　asking　me　to　believe　in　ghosts？〃
　Pitt　grinned。　〃When　we　were　little　boys　we　believed　in　Santa　Claus。　And　when　we　became　big　boys　we　believed　in　virgins。　Why　not　add　ghosts　to　the　list　also？〃
　〃No　thank　you；　Major。　I　find　cold　facts　and　figures　superior　to　superstition。〃
　Pitt's　voice　was　even　and　distinct。　〃That　leaves　us　with　another　avenue　to　explore。〃
　Von　Till　sat　erect；　his　eyes　squinting　at　Pitt。
　〃What　if　Kurt　Heibert　is　still　alive？〃
　Von　Till's　mouth　dropped　open。　Then　he　caught　himself　and　exhaled　a　cloud　of　cigarette　smoke。　〃That's　ridiculous。　If　Kurt　were　still　alive　he　would　be　over　seventy　years　old。　Look　at　me；　Major。　I　was　born　in　1899。　Do　you　think　a　man　of　my　age　could　fly　an　open　cockpit　plane；　not　to　mention　attacking　an　air　field？　No；　I　don't　think　so。〃
　〃The　facts　are　on　your　side；　of　course；〃　said　Pitt。　He　paused　a　moment；　running　his　long　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃Still；　I　can't　help　wondering　if　Heibert　isn't　connected　in　some　way。〃　His　eyes　shifted　from　the　old　German　to　the　great　white　dog　and　he　felt　a　vague　tension　grip　his　body。　Intrigue　hung　heavily　around　them。　He　came　to　the　villa　at　Teri's　invitation　expecting　only　to　enjoy　a　quiet　dinner。　Instead；　he　found　himself　engaged　In　a　battle　of　wits　with　her　uncle；　a　shrewd　old　Teuton　who；　Pitt　was　certain；　knew　more　about　the　raid　on　Brady　Field　than　he　was　telling。　It　was　time　to　cast　a　spear　and　the　hell　with　the　consequences。　He　locked　his　eyes　on　von　Till。　〃If　the　Hawk　of　Macedonia　really　did　vanish　sixty　years　ago　and　reappeared　yesterday；　the　interesting　question　is；　where　did　he　spend　his　time　between？　In　heaven；　in　hell。　。　。　or　on　Thasos？〃
　A　confused　look　replaced　von　Till's　arrogant　mask。　〃I　don't　quite　understand　what　you　mean。〃
　〃Mean　hell；〃　snarled　Pitt。　〃Either　you're　taking　me　for　a　plete　fool　or　else　you're　acting　like　one。　I　don't　think　I　should　be　telling　you　about　the　attack　on　Brady　Field；　but　rather　you　should　be　telling　me。〃　He　lingered　over　the　words；　enjoying　the　situation。
　Von　Till　was　on　his　feet　in　an　instant；　his　oval　face　contorted　with　anger。　〃You　have　probed　too　far　and　too　deep。　Major　Pitt；　into　areas　that　don't　concern　you。　I　shall　take　no　more　of　your　absurd　implications。　I　must　ask　you　to　leave　my　villa。〃
　A　look　of　contempt　crossed　Pitt's　face。　〃Whatever's　fair；〃　he　said　turning　to　the　stairway。
　Von　Till　glared　at　him　bitterly。　〃No　need　to　return　through　the　study；　Major；〃　he　said　pointing　to　a　small　doorway　that　clung　to　the　far　wall　of　the　balcony。　〃This　corridor　will　lead　you　to　the　front　entrance。〃
　〃I'd　like　to　see　Teri　before　I　leave。〃
　〃I　see　no　reason　to　prolong　your　presence。〃　Von　Till　blew　a　contemptuous　cloud　of　smoke　toward　Pitt's　face；　driving　home　the　angered　words。　〃I　also　demand　that　you　never　see　or　talk　to　my　niece　again。〃
　Pitt's　hand　clenched　into　fists。　〃And　if　I　do？'
　Von　Till　smiled　menacingly。　〃I　will　not　threaten　you；　Major。　If　you　persis