cc.themediterraneancaper2-第4章

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　his　body；　he　waited　　for　the　right　moment；　and　when　it　finally　arrived　he　was　ready。
　The　Albatros　managed　to　get　behind　and　slightly　above　the　Catalinia　Pitt　held　　his　speed　steady　and　the　other　pilot；　sensing　victory；　closed　to　within　fifty　　yards　of　the　flying　boat's　towering　tail　section。　But　before　the　two　machine　　guns　could　speak；　Pitt　pulled　the　throttle　back　and　lowered　the　flaps；　slowing　　the　big　craft　into　a　near　stall。　The　phantom　pilot；　taken　by　surprise；　overshot　　and　passed　the　PBY；　receiving　several　well　placed　rounds　In　the　Albatros'　engine　　as　the　carbine　spat　at　near　point…blank　range。　The　vintage　plane　banked　in　front　　of　Pitt's　bow；　and　he　watched　with　the　respect　one　brave　man　has　for　another　　when　the　occupant　in　the　open　cockpit　pushed　up　his　goggles　and　threw　a　curt　　salute。。　Then　the　yellow　Albatros　and　its　mysterious　pilot　turned　away　and　　headed　west　over　the　island；　trailing　a　black　streak　of　smoke　that　testified　to　　the　accuracy　of　Giordino's　marksmanship。
　The　Catalina　was　falling　out　of　its　stall　into　a　dive　now；　and　Pitt　fought　the　　controls　for　a　few　unnerving　seconds　before　he　regained　stable　flight。　Then　he　　began　a　sweeping；　upward　turn　in　the　sky。　At　five　thousand　feet　he　leveled　off　　and　searched　the　island　and　seascape；　but　no　trace　of　the　bright　yellow　plane　　with　the　maltese　cross　markings　was　visible。　It　had　vanished。　A　cold；　clammy　feeling　crept　over　Pitt。　The　yellow　Albatros　had　somehow　seemed　　familiar。　It　was　as　though　an　unremembered　ghost　from　the　past　had　returned　to　　haunt　him。　But　the　eerie　sensation　passed　as　quickly　as　it　had　arrived；　and　he　　gave　out　a　deep　sigh　as　the　tension　faded　away；　and　the　wele　fort　of　　relief　gently　soothed　his　mind。
　〃Well；　when　do　I　get　my　sharpshooter's　medal？　said　Giordino　from　the　cabin　　doorway。　He　was　grinning　despite　a　nasty　gash　in　his　scalp。　The　blood　streamed　　down　the　right　side　of　his　face；　staining　the　collar　of　a　loud；　flowered　print　　shirt。
　〃After　we　land　I'll　buy　you　a　drink　instead；〃　replied　Pitt　without　turning。　Giordino　slipped　into　the　co…pilot's　seat。　〃I　feel　like　I've　just　ridden　the　　roller　coaster　at　the　Long　Beach　Pike。〃
　Pitt　could　not　help　grinning。　He　relaxed；　leaning　back　against　the　back　rest；　　saying　nothing。　Then　he　turned　and　looked　at　Giordino；　and　his　eyes　squinted。　〃What　happened　to　you？　Were　you　hit？〃
　Giordino　gave　Pitt　a　mocking。　a　sorrowful　look。
　〃Who　ever　told　you　that　you　could　loop　a　PBY？〃
　〃It　seemed　like　the　thing　to　do　at　the　time；〃　said　Pitt；　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。
　〃Next　time；　warn　the　passengers。　I　bounced　around　the　main　cabin　like　a　basketball。〃
　〃What　did　you　hit　your　head　on？〃　Pitt　asked　quizzically。
　〃Did　you　have　to　ask？〃
　〃Well？〃
　Giordino　suddenly　became　embarrassed。　〃If　you　must　know；　it　was　the　door　handle　　on　the　john？
　Pitt　looked　startled　for　an　instant。　Then　he　flung　back　his　head　and　roared　with　　laughter。　The　mirth　was　contagious；　and　Giordino　soon　followed。　The　sound　rang　　through　the　cockpit　and　replaced　the　noise　of　the　engines。　Nearly　thirty　seconds　　passed　before　their　gaiety　quieted；　and　the　seriousness　of　the　present　situation　　returned。
　Pitt's　mind　was　clear；　but　exhaustion　was　slowly　seeping　in。　The　long　hours　of　　flight　and　the　strain　of　the　recent　bat　fell　on　him　heavily　and　soaked　his　　body　like　a　numbing；　damp　fog。　He　thought　about　the　sweet　smell　of　soap　in　a　　cold　shower　and　the　crispness　of　clean　sheets；　and　somehow　they　became　vitally　　important　to　him。　He　looked　out　the　cockpit　window　at　Brady　Field　and　recalled　　that　his　original　destination　was　the　First　Attempt；　but　a　dim　hunch；　or　call　it　　a　hindsight；　made　him　change　his　mind。
　〃Instead　of　landing　in　the　water　and　rendezvousing　alongside　of　the　First　　Attempt；　I　think　we'd　better　set　down　at　Brady　Field。　I　have　a　foreboding　　feeling　we　may　have　taken　a　few　bullets　in　our　hull。〃
　〃Good　idea；〃　Giordino　replied。　〃I'm　not　in　the　mood　for　bailing。〃
　The　big　flying　boat　made　its　final　approach　and　lined　up　on　the　wreckage　strewn　　runway。　It　settled　on　the　heat　baked　asphalt；　and　the　landing　gear　bumped　and　　emitted　an　audible　screech　of　rubber　that　signaled　the　touch…down。
　Pitt　angled　clear　of　the　flames　and　taxied　to　the　far　side　of　the　apron。　When　　the　Catalina　stopped　rolling　he　clicked　off　the　Ignition　switches；　and　the　two　　silver　bladed　propellers　gradually　ceased　their　revolutions　and　came　to　rest；　　gleaming　in　the　Aegean　sun。　All　was　quiet。
　He　and　Giordino　sat　stone　still　for　a　few　moments　and　absorbed　the　first　　fortable　silence　to　penetrate　the　cockpit　after　thirteen　hours　of　noise　and　　vibration。
　Pitt　flipped　the　latch　on　his　side　window　and　pushed　it　open；　watching　with　　detached　interest　as　the　base　firemen　fought　the　inferno。　Hoses　were　lying　　everywhere；　like　highways　on　a　roadmap；　and　men　scurried　about　shouting；　adding　to　the　stage　of　confusion。　The　flames　on　the　F…105　jets　were　almost　contained；　　but　one　of　the　C…133　Cargomasters　still　burned　fiercely。
　〃Take　a　look　over　here；〃　said　Giordino　pointing；
　Pitt　leaned　over　the　instrument　panel　and　stared　out　of　Giordino's　window　at　a　　blue　Air　Force　stationwagon　that　careened　across　the　runway　in　the　direction　of　　the　PBY。　The　car　contained　several　officers　and　was　followed　by　thirty　or　forty　　wildly　cheering　enlisted　men　who　chased　after　it　like　a　pack　of　braying　hounds。
　〃Now　that's　what　I　call　one　hell　of　a　reception　mittee；〃　Pitt　said　amused　and　　broadly　smiling；
　Giordino　mopped　his　bleeding　cut　with　a　handkerchief。　When　the　cloth　was　soaked　　through　with　red　ooze　he　wadded　it　up　and　threw　it　out　of　the　window　to　the　　ground。　His　gaze　turned　toward　the　nearby　coastline　and　became　lost　in　the　　Infinity　of　thought　for　a　moment　Finally　he　turned　to　Pitt。　〃I　guess　you　know　　we're　pretty　damn　lucky　to　be　sitting　here。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　said　Pitt　woodenly。　〃There　were　a　couple　of　times　up　there　when　I　　thought　our　ghost　had　us〃
　〃I　wish　I　knew　who　the　hell　he　was　and　what　this　destruction　was　all　about？〃Pitt's　face　was　a　study　in　speculative　curiosity。
　〃The　only　clue　is　the　yellow　Albatros。〃
　Giordino　eyed　his　friend　questioningly。　〃What　possible　meaning　could　the　color　　of　that　old　flying　derelict　have？〃
　〃If　you'd　studied　your　aviation　history；〃　Pitt　said　with　a　touch　of　good…natured　　sarcasm；　〃You'd　remember　that　German　pilots　of　the　First　World　War　painted　their　　planes　with　personal；　but　sometimes　outlandish；　color　schemes。〃
　〃Save　the　history　lesson　for　later；〃　Giordino　growled。　〃Right　now　all　I　want　to　　do　is　get　out　of　this　sweat　box　and　collect　that　drink　you　owe　me。〃　He　rose　from　　his　scat　and　started　for　the　exit　hatch。
　The　blue　stationwagon　skidded　to　a　halt　beside　the　big　silver　flying　boat　and　　all　four　doors　burst　open。　The　occupants　leaped　out　shouting　and　began　pounding　　on　the　plane's　aluminum　hatch。　The　crowd　of　enlisted　men　soon　engulfed　the　　aircraft；　cheering　loudly　and　waving　at　the　cockpit。
　Pitt　remained　seated　and　waved　back　at　the　cheering　men　below　the　window。　His　　body　was　tired　and　numb　but　his　mind　was　still　active　and　running　at　full　　throttle。　A　title　kept　running　through　his　thoughts　until　finally　he　muttered　it　　aloud。　〃The　Hawk　of　Macedonia。〃
　Giordino　turned　from　the　doorway。　〃What　did　you　say？〃
　〃Oh　nothing；　nothing　at　all；〃　Pitt　let　his　breath　escape　in　a　long　audible　sigh。　〃e　on…I'll　buy　you　that　drink　now。〃
　　2
　When　Pitt　awoke；　it　was　still　dark。　He　did　not　know　how　long　he　had　slept。　Perhaps　he　just　dozed　off。　Perhaps　he　bad　been　lost　under　the　black　cloak　of　　sleep　for　hours。　He　did　not　know；　nor　did　he　care。　The　metal　springs　of　the　Air　　Force　cot　squeaked　as　he　rolled　over；　seeking　a　more　fortable　position。　But　　the　fort　of　deep　sleep　eluded　him。　His　conscious　mind　dimly　tried　to　analyze　　why。　Was　it　the　steady　humming　noise　of　the　air　conditioner；　he　asked　himself？　　He　was　used　to　drifting　off　under　the　loud　din　of　aircraft　engines；　so　that　　couldn't　be　it。　Maybe　it　was　the　scurrying　cockroaches。　God　knows　Thasos　was　　covered　with　them。　No；　it　was　something　else。　Then　he　knew。　The　answer　pierced　　the　fog　of　his　drowsy　brain。　It　was　his　other　mind；　the　unconscious　one　that　was　　keeping　him　awake。　Like　a　movie　projector；　it　flashed　pictur