cc.themediterraneancaper2-第29章

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he　thought；　it　was　still　true　today。
　And　then；　Darius　back…shifted　and　the　Mercedes　was　slowing　down。　It　turned　again；　this　time　leaving　the　highway；　its　tires　crunching　on　a　rough；　gravel…strewn　country　lane　that　led　upward　Into　a　wooded　ravine。
　Why　Darius　had　left　the　main　road　before　reaching　Panaghia　Pitt　could　not　guess；　any　more　than　he　could　guess　why　Zeno　acted　the　part　of　an　armed　undercover　agent　instead　of　a　friendly　tourist　guide。　That　old　feeling　of　danger　tapped　Pitt　on　the　shoulder　again；　and　he　felt　a　tinge　of　uncontrolled　anxiety。
　The　Mercedes　bumped　heavily　over　a　dip；　rose　steeply　up　a　long　ramp　and　entered　a　large　barn　like　building　through　a　doorway　that　had　been　designed　to　acmodate　heavy　trucks　requiring　high　roof　clearances。　The　weather…beaten　walls　of　the　wooden　structure　were　covered　with　the　remnants　of　gray…green　paint；　long　since　peeled　and　blistered　from　the　fierce　Aegean　sun。　An　instant　before　the　inside　gloom　enveloped　the　car；　Pitt　caught　a　glimpse　of　an　overhead　sign　whose　faded　black　letters　were　printed　in　German。　Then；　as　Darius　turned　off　the　ignition；　he　heard　the　sound　of　rusty　rollers　creaking　the　door　shut　behind　them。
　〃The　Greek　International　Tourist　Organization　must　work　under　a　damn　paltry　budget　if　this　is　the　best　they　can　scrape　up　for　an　office；〃　Pitt　said　caustically；　his　eyes　darting　about　the　vast；　deserted　floor。
　Zeno　merely　smiled。。　It　was　a　smile　that　left　Pitt's　heart　pounding　against　an　enormous　pressure；　as　if　something　was　holding　it；　constricting　Its　action。　An　inner　coldness　crept　over　him；　bringing　with　it　the　acknowledgment　of　failure；　the　acknowledgment　that　he　had　somehow　played　into　von　Till's　hands。
　Pitt　had　been　aware　all　along　that　G。N。T。O。　guides　do　not　carry　guns　or　have　the　authority　to　make　an　armed　arrest。　He　also　knew　that　the　guides　drove　around　the　island　in　boldly…advertised　and　gaily…colored　Volkswagen　buses；　not　black；　unmarked　Mercedes…Benz　sedans。　Time　was　getting　expensive。　He　and　Giordino　must　make　a　move；　and　make　it　soon。
　Zeno　opened　the　rear　door　and　stepped　back。　He　made　a　slight　bow　and　gestured　with　the　gun。
　〃Please　remember；〃　he　said；　his　tone　rock　hard。　〃No　foolishness。〃
　Pitt　climbed　from　the　car　and　turned；　offering　his　hand　to　Teri　through　the　open　front　door。　She　looked　up　at　him　seductively　for　a　moment　and；　squeezing　his　hand　gently；　slowly　uncoiled　from　her　sitting　position。
　Then　quickly；　before　Pitt　could　react；　she　threw　her
　arms　around　his　neck　and　pulled　his　head　down　to　her　level。　Both　pairs　of　eyes　were　open；　Pitt's　mostly　from　surprise；　as　she　brazenly　covered　his　sweating　face　with　kisses。
　It　never　fails；　Pitt　thought　in　detached　fascination；　no　matter　how　cool　or　sophisticated　they　act　toward　the　world；　show　a　woman　danger　and　adventure　and　they'll　always　turn　on。　It's　really　a　pity；　she's　ready　but　it's　the　wrong　time　and　the　wrong　place。　He　forced　her　back。
　〃Later；〃　he　murmured；　〃when　our　audience　has　gone　home。〃
　〃A　most　stimulating　little　scene；〃　said　Zeno　impatiently。　〃e　along；　Inspector　Zacynthus　rapidly　loses　all　passion　when　he　is　kept　waiting。〃
　Zeno　dropped　about　five　paces　behind　the　group；　holding　the　automatic　at　hip　level　Darius　then　escorted　them　across　the　football　field　length　of　the　building；　up　a　rickety　flight　of　wooden　stairs　that　led　to　a　hallway；　lined　on　both　sides　by　several　doors。　Darius　paused　at　the　second　door　on　the　Left　and　pushed　it　open；　motioning　Pitt　and　Giordino　inside。　Teri　started　to　follow　but　was　suddenly　halted　by　a　huge　barrel　of　an　arm。
　〃Not　you；〃　Darius　grunted。
　Pitt　whirled　around；　anger　clouding　his　face。　〃She　stays　with　us；〃　he　said　coldly。
　〃No　need　to　play　rescuing　hero；〃　Zeno　said　lightly；　reinforced　with　an　expression　of　seriousness。　〃I　promise　you；　no　harm　will　e　to　her。〃
　Pitt　studied　Zeno's　face　carefully；　finding　no　sign　of　treachery。　For　some　strange　reason　Pitt　experienced　a　marked　degree　of　trust　in　his　captor。
　〃I'll　take　you　at　your　word；〃　he　growled。
　〃Don't　worry；　Dirk；〃　Teri　threw　an　icy　look　at　Zeno。　〃As　soon　as　this　stupid　inspector；　whoever　he　is；　finds　out　who　I　am；　we'll　all　be　free　of　these　wretched　people。〃
　Zeno　ignored　her　and　nodded　at　Darius。　〃Guard　our　friends　here；　guard　them　closely。　I　suspect　they're　very　cunning。〃
　〃I'll　be　alert；〃　Darius　promised　confidently。　He　waited　until　Zeno　and　Teri；　padding　the　dusty　floor　in　her　bare　feet；　were　gone。　Then　he　closed　the　door　and　leaned　lazily　against　it；　arms　folded　across　his　massive　chest。
　〃Personally　speaking；〃　Giordino　muttered；　for　the　first　time　since　the　ride　from　the　rains；　〃I　prefer　the　acmodations　at　the　Hotel　San　Quentin。〃　His　gaze　focused　on　Darius。　〃At　least　the　roaches　weren't　king　size。〃
　Pitt　grinned　at　Giordino's　insulting　ment　to　Darius　and　scanned　the　room；　taking　in　every　detail　of　Its　construction。　It　was　small；　no　larger　than　nine　by　ten　feet。　The　walls　consisted　of　warped　boards　nailed　crudely　to　warped　support　posts　that　stood　facing　inward　at　irregular　intervals；　in　rotted　and　barren　starkness。　The　room　was　void　of　any　furniture　and　windowless；　the　only　available　light　came　through　large　horizontal　cracks　in　the　walls　and　a　jagged　hole　in　the
　roof。
　〃If　I　was　to　guess；〃　said　Pitt。　〃I'd　say　this　place　was　a　deserted　warehouse。〃
　〃you're　close；〃　Darius　volunteered。　〃The　Germans　used　this　building　for　an　ordnance　depot　when
　they　occupied　the　island　in　forty…two。〃
　Pitt　pulled　out　a　cigarette　and　casually　lit　it。　To　offer　Darius　a　cigarette　would　have　immediately　put　the　brute　on　his　guard。　Instead；　Pitt　took　a　step　backward　and　began　tossing　the　lighter　in　the　air；　each　time　tossing　it　a　little　higher　till　he　noticed　Darius　following　it
　out　of　the　corner　of　one　eye。　Once；　twice；　four　times　the　lighter　sailed　into　the　air。　On　the　fifth　toss　it　fell　through　Pitt's　fingers　and　clattered　on　the　floor。　He　shrugged　stupidly　and　bent　down；　picking　it　up。
　Pitt　charged　Darius　harder　than　he　had　ever　charged　any　halfback；　any　quarterback；　in　his　Air　Force　academy　days。　Lunging　forward　from　a　football　crouch；　his　feet　dug　firmly　into　the　coarse　grained　wood　of　the　floor；　he　thrust　his　head　and　shoulders　like　a　battering　ram；　backed　with　every　driving　ounce　of　power　his　muscular　legs　and　one　hundred　and　ninety　pounds　could　muster。　At　the　instant　before　impact；　he　drove　upward；　catching　Darius　in　the　unprotected　stomach　just　above　the　beltline。　It　was　like　running　at　full　speed　into　a　brick　wall；　and　Pitt　gasped　at　the　shock：　it　felt　as　if　his　neck　was　broken。
　In　football　terminology　it　was　called　a　running　block；　a　vicious；　maiming　block；　and　it　would　have　put　most　unprepared　men　in　a　hospital　bed：　all　others　it　would　have　left　on　the　ground　in　momentary　stunned　helplessness…all　others；　that　is；　except　Darius。　The　giant　merely　grunted；　doubled　over　slightly　from　the　force　of　the　blow；　and　grabbed　Pitt　by　the　biceps；　lifting　him　off　the　floor。
　Pitt　went　numb。　The　shock　and　the　pain　that　erupted　from　his　arms　and　neck　gave　way　to　utter　surprise　that　any　man　could　not　only　take　such　a　charge　and　remain　standing　but　shake　it　off　like　a　love　tap。　Darius　pushed　him　against　the　wall；　slowly　bending　Pitt's　body；　like　a　vertical　pretzel；　around　an　upright　support　post。　The　pain　really　began　to　e　now。　Pitt　clenched　his　teeth　and　stared　into　Darius's　expressionless　face；　only　a　few　inches　away。　His　spine　felt　as　if　it　would　snap　at　any　second。　His　vision　began　to　fade。
　Darius　just　stood　there；　eyes　gleaming；　and　increased　the　pressure。
　Suddenly　the　pressure　stopped　and　Pitt　dimly　perceived　Darius　staring　back；　his　lips　working；　fighting　for　breath。　Mutely　Darius　mouthed　an　agonized　groan　and　sank　to　his　knees；　weaving　silently　from　side　to　side。
　Giordino；　blocked　by　Pitt's　frontal　assault；　was　forced　to　stand　by　helplessly　till　Darius　swung　sideways；　pinning　Pitt　to　the　wall。　Then；　without　hesitation；　he　hurled　himself　across　the　room；　his　legs　jackknifing　open；　his　feet　imbedded　in　Darius'　kidneys。　He　braced　himself；　half　expecting　the　giant's　body　to　absorb　most　of　the　force　from　the　violent　blow。　It　didn't　work　out　that　way。　It　was　if　a　handball　had　struck　a　backstop：
　Giordino　rebounded　off　Darius　with　a　too