cc.themediterraneancaper2-第39章

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　〃Such　as？〃
　〃I'm　no　expert　on　pigboats　so　I　can't　figure　how　one　could　play　baby　kangaroo　with　a　freighter　or　where　it　could　acmodate　two　hundred　and　sixty　thousand　pounds　of　drugs。〃
　〃Modifications　had　to　be　made；〃　Pitt　acknowledged。　〃But　it　wouldn't　take　any　great　engineering　feat　to　remove　the　conning　tower　and　other　projections　until　the　top　deck　fitted　flush　against　the　mother　ship's　keel。　The　average　fleet…type　sub　of　World　War　II　had　a　displacement　of　fifteen　hundred　tons；　a　length　of　over　three　hundred　feet；　a　hull　height　of　ten　feet；　and　a　beam　of　twenty…seven　feet…roughly　twice　the　size　of　a　suburban　house。　Once　the　torpedo　rooms；　the　eighty　man　crew　quarters　and　the　unnecessary　paraphernalia　were　cleared　out　there　would　be　more　than　ample　space　to　store　the　heroin。〃
　Pitt　saw　that　Zacynthus　was　regarding　him　in　a　very　peculiar　manner：　there　was　a　deep　look　of　contemplation　on　his　face。　Then　his　features　showed　the　first　traces　of　genuine　understanding。
　〃Tell　me；　Major；〃　he　asked。　〃What　speed　could　the　Queen　Artemisia　make　with　a　sub　fastened　to　her　hull？〃
　Pitt　thought　a　moment　〃I'd　say　about　twelve　knots。　Unencumbered；　however；　the　ship's　normal　cruising　speed　would　be　closer　to　fifteen　or　sixteen。〃
　Zacynthus　turned　to　Zeno。　〃It's　quite　possible　the　Major's　on　the　right　track。〃
　〃I　know　what　you　are　thinking；　my　inspector。〃　Zeno's　teeth　parted　beneath　the　great　moustache。　〃We　have　often　concerned　our　thoughts　with　the　puzzling　variance　of　the　cruising　speeds　among　Minerva　ships。〃
　Zacynthus'　eyes　came　back　to　Pitt　〃The　heroin　drop；　when　and　how　is　it　made？〃
　〃At　night　during　high　tide。　Too　risky　during　the　day。　The　sub　could　be　spotted　from　the　air…〃
　〃That　checks。〃　Zacynthus　interrupted。　〃Von　Till's　freighters　are　always　scheduled　to　reach　port　after　sunset。〃
　〃As　to　the　drop；〃　Pitt　hadn't　even　taken　notice　of　the　interruption。　〃The　sub　is　released　immediately　after　entering　port。　Without　a　conning　tower　or　periscope　It　must　be　guided　from　the　surface　by　a　small　craft。　Here；　the　only　real　chance　of　failure　es　in；　being　rammed　in　the　dark　by　an　unsuspecting　vessel。〃
　〃No　doubt　they'd　have　a　pilot　on　board　who　was　familiar　with　every　inch　of　the　harbor；〃　Zacynthus　said　thoughtfully。
　〃A　first　rate　harbor　pilot　is　an　absolute　necessity　for　an　operation　like　von　Till's；〃　Pitt　agreed。　〃Dodging　underwater　obstacles　over　a　shallow　bottom　in　the　dark　is　no　exercise　for　an　amateur　yachtsman。〃
　〃The　next　problem　on　the　agenda；〃　Zacynthus　said　slowly；　〃is　to　determine　the　location　where　the　sub　can　unload　and　distribute　the　heroin　without　fear　of　detection。〃
　〃How　about　a　deserted　warehouser　Giordino　volunteered。　His　eyes　were　closed　and　he　looked　like　he　was　dozing；　but　Pitt　knew　from　long　experience　that　he　hadn't　missed　a　word。
　Pitt　laughed。　〃The　evil　villain　who　slinks　around　deserted　warehouses　went　out　with　Sherlock　Holmes。　Waterfront　property　is　at　a　premium。　An　idle　building　would　only　arouse　instant　suspicion。　Besides；　as　Zac　here　can　tell　you；　a　warehouse　would　be　the　first　place　an　investigator　would　look。〃
　A　faint　smile　crossed　Zacynthus'　lips。　〃Major　Pitt　is　right　All　docks　and　warehouses　are　closely　watched　by　our　Bureau　and　Customs；　not　to　mention　the　County　Harbor　Patrols。　No；　whatever　the　method；　it　must　be　extremely　clever。　Clever　enough　to　have　worked　smoothly　and　successfully　all　these　years。〃
　There　was　a　long　pause；　then　he　went　on　quietly。
　〃Now　at　long　last　we　have　a　definite　lead。　It's　only　a　thread；　but　if　it's　attached　to　a　rope　and　the　rope　is　attached　to　a　chain；　then　with　a　bit　of　good　fortune　von　Till　will　be　found　at　the　other　end。〃
　〃If　you　wish　to　pursue　the　Major's　supposition；　It　is　vital　that　Darius　Inform　our　agents　in　Marseille。〃　Zeno's　tone　was　that　of　a　man　trying　to　convince　himself　of　something　that　was　not　a　positive　fact
　〃No；　the　less　they　know；　the　better；〃　Zacynthus　shook　his　head。　〃I　want　no　action　taken　that　might　put　a　bug　in　von　Till's　ear。　The　Queen　Artemisia　and　the　heroin　must　reach　Chicago　without　Interference。〃
　〃Very　sly；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃Using　von　Till's　cargo　to　attract　the　sharks。〃
　〃It's　not　difficult　to　guess；〃　Zacynthus　nodded。　〃Every　big　time　hood　and　every　underworld　organization　engaged　in　illegal　drug　traffic　will　be　on　hand　to　greet　that　sub。〃　He　paused　to　take　a　puff　on　his　pipe。　〃The　Bureau　of　Narcotics　will　be　more　than　happy　to　host　the　reception。〃
　〃Providing　you　can　find　the　drop　location；〃　Pitt　added。
　〃Well　find　it；〃　Zacynthus　said　confidently。　〃The　Queen　won't　enter　the　Great　Lakes　for　at　least　three　weeks。　That　will　give　us　time　enough　to　search　every　pier；　boat　yard　and　yacht　club　that　even　touches　the　shoreline。　Discreetly　of　
　course；　no　sense　in　blowing　the　whistle　and　losing　all　the　players。〃
　〃That　won't　be　easy。〃
　〃You　underestimate　the　Bureau；〃　Zacynthus　acted　hurt。　〃We　happen　to　be　experts　at　this　sort　of　thing。　To　put　your　mind　at　ease；　we　won't　attempt　to　pinpoint　the　exact　location；　only　the　general　area。　Radar　will　track　the　sub　to　its　final　destination。　At　the　opportune　moment　we　move　in。〃
　Pitt　looked　at　him　somberly。　〃You're　taking　a　great　deal　for　granted。〃
　Zacynthus　stared　back。　〃I'm　surprised　at　you；　Major。　It　was　you　who　gave　us　a　direction。　The　first　feasible　direction；　I　might　add；　that　INTERPOL　and　the　Bureau　have　had　in　twenty　years。　Can　it　be　you're　beginning　to　doubt　your　own　deductions？〃
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃No；　I'm　certain　I've　guessed　right　about　the　submarine。〃
　〃Then　what　is　your　problem？〃
　〃I　think　you're　putting　all　your　eggs　in　one　basket　by　concentrating　your　main　effort　in　Chicago。〃
　〃What　better　place　to　set　a　trap？〃
　Pitt　spoke　slowly　and　precisely。　〃A　hundred　and　one　things　could　happen　between　now　and　when　the　Queen　；Artemisia　is　boarded　by　Customs。　You　yourself　said　three　weeks　was　enough　time　to　search　the　city's　waterfront。　Why　rush　things？　I　strongly　suggest　that　you　want　and　do　a　little　more　fact　digging　before　you　fully　mit　yourself。〃
　Zacynthus　looked　at　Pitt　quizzically。　〃What　do　you　have　in　mind？〃
　Pitt　leaned　against　the　truck；　already　the　blue…coated　metal　was　hot　to　the　touch。　He　looked　out　toward　the　sea　again。　the　rugged　face　beneath　the　wavy　black　hair　intense　with　concentration。　He　breathed　deeply。　drawing　in　the　salt　scented　air　of　the　Aegean；　and　he　was　lost　for　long　seconds　at　the　wonder　of　the　intoxicating　sensation。　With　effort　he　shook　his　mind　back　to　the　cold　reality　of　the　moment；　and　when　he　spoke　he　knew　there　was　something　he　had　to　do。
　〃Zac；　I　need　ten　good　men　and　an　old　seadog　who　is　familiar　with　the　waters　around　Thasos。〃
　〃Why？'　Zacynthus　asked　simply。
　〃It　stands　to　reason　that　if　von　Till　carries　out　his　smuggling　activities　from　the　villa　and　municates　with　his　ships　under　water　he　must　have　a　hidden　base　of　operations　somewhere　along　this　coastline。〃
　〃And　it　is　your　intention　to　find　it〃
　〃That's　the　general　idea；〃　Pitt　stated　flatly。　He　looked　Zacynthus　straight　in　the　face。　〃Well？〃
　Zacynthus　thoughtfully　toyed　with　his　pipe　before　answering。　〃Impossible。〃　The　voice　was　firm。　〃I　cannot　allow　it。　You're　a　talented　man；　Major。　Up　to　now　your　judgment　rang　with　practical　logic。　And　nobody　appreciates　more　than　me　the　great　help　you　have　been　to　us。　However；　I　cannot　take　any　chances　of　alarming　von　Till。　I　repeat；　the　ship　and　the　heroin　must　reach　Chicago　without　interference。〃
　〃Von　Till　is　already　alarmed。〃　Pitt　was　Very　definite。　〃He　can't　help　but　be　wise　to　you。　The　British　destroyer　and　the　Turkish　aircraft　that　shadowed　the　Queen　Artemisia　from　Ceylon　to　the　Aegean　were　a　dead　give　away　that　INTERPOL　was　on　to　the　heroin。　I　say　stop　him　now；　before　anymore　of　his　ships　load　or　unload　Illegal　cargo！〃
　〃Until　that　ship　deviates　from　its　set　course；　and　not　before；　I　insist　on　a　hands　off　policy　regarding　von　Till〃　Zacynthus　broke　off　for　a　few　seconds；　then　he　went　on　quietly。　〃You　must　understand：　Colonel　Zeno；　Captain　Darius　and　myself　are　narcotics　men。　If　we　are　to　do　our　job　efficiently　we　cannot　concern　ourselves　with　white　slavery；　stolen　gold　or　illegal　transportation　of　known　criminals。　It　sounds　cruel　and　heartless；　I　admit；　but　INTERPOL　has　other　good　men　and　depar