cc.themediterraneancaper2-第54章

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　〃No　thanks。〃　Pitt　answered；　mildly　surprised　at　the　look　of　genuine　concern　on　Woodson's　otherwise　expressionless　face。　〃I'm　OK。　Zac　here　is　going　to　take　me　to　a　hospital　full　of　nymphomaniac　nurses；　right　Zac？〃
　〃Sorry；〃　Zacynthus　smiled。　〃Not　unless　the　Air　Force　has　changed　its　enlistment　policy。　I'm　afraid　the　base　hospital　at　Brady　Field　has　the　only　decent　facilities　on　the　island　for　plugging　bullet　holes。〃
　The　litter…bearers　arrived　and　immediately　eased　Pitt　onto　the　stretcher。　〃Oh　well；〃　he　said；　〃at　least　I　travel　first　class。〃　Then　he　sat　up。　〃Damn！　I　almost　forgot。　One　last　thing。　Where's　Spencer？〃
　〃Here；　Major。　right　here；〃　The　red…bearded　marine　biologist　stepped　from　behind　Woodson。　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃
　〃Relay　my　pliments　to　mander　Gunn　and　give　him　a　present　for　me。〃
　Spencer　paled　visibly　at　the　sight　of　Pitt's　bloody　leg。　〃Consider　it　done。〃
　Pitt　leaned　over　the　side　of　the　stretcher　and　rested　on　one　elbow。　〃In　the　outer　cavern；　twenty　feet　down；　there　are　several　small　fissures　along　the　base　of　the　north　wall。　One　has　a　flat　rock　over　the　entrance。　If　he　hasn't　already　muscled　his　way　out；　you'll　find　a　Teaser　inside。〃
　Spencer's　face　registered　total　surprise。　〃A　Teaser！
　Are　you　serious；　Major？〃
　〃I　ought　to　know　a　Tearer　when　I　see　one；〃　Pitt　replied　jokingly。　〃See　to　it　that　you　don't　drop　him。〃
　Spencer　let　out　a　long　whistle。　〃Well　what　do　you　know。　I　was　beginning　to　think　no　such　creature　existed。〃　He　paused　a　moment。　deep　in　thought。　〃Christ；　I　don't　dare　damage　him　with　a　spear　shaft。　A　net　bag；　if　only　I'd　carried　a　net　bag。〃
　〃There's　only　one　way　to　catch　a　Teaser；〃　Pitt　grinned。　〃Grab　him　by　the　fin。〃
　The　pain　was　going　away　now。　Pitt's　leg　felt　like　it　was　no　longer　part　of　him。　The　floodlights　fused　together　in　one　massive　blur；　hurting　his　eyes。　Everything　seemed　to　slow　down。　and　the　voices　became　far　away。　Then　the　stretcher　bearers　picked　Pitt　up　from　the　dock；　moving。　it　seemed　to　him；　as　though　they　were　wading　through　glue。　He　raised　his　head　for　the　last　time　that　day。
　〃Zac。　one　more　request。〃　Pitt's　voice　was　down　to　a　bare　murmur。　〃What　is　the　girl's　real　name？〃
　Zac　looked　down　at　Pitt　and　smiled　with　his　eyes。　〃Her　name　is　Amy。〃
　〃Amy。〃　Pitt　repeated。　〃Never　knew　a　girl　by　the　name　of　Amy　before。〃　He　relaxed　and　fell　back　against　the　stretcher。　closing　his　eyes。　The　last　thing　he　remembered　before　the　soothing　blanket　of　darkness　fully　covered　him　was　the　sound　of　a　single　shot；　echoing　from　somewhere　within　the　depths　of　the　labyrinth。
　　　TALLY
　　The　sky　was　a　brilliant　ceiling　of　blue　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。　The　summer　air　was　hot　and　dripping　with　unseen　humidity　encouraged　by　burning　waves　from　the　blazing　sun。　In　blinding　radiance；　tall　white　buildings　stood　like　small　chiseled　mountains　and　reflected　the　heat　onto　the　black　asphalt　pavement　below；　the　traffic　was　heavy；　and　the　sidewalks　were　crowded　with　scurrying　office　workers　on　lunch　break　as　Pitt　pushed　aside　the　wide　glass　doors　and　limped　stiffly　into　the　air　conditioned　lobby　of　the　Bureau　of　Narcotics　building。
　For　a　bachelor；　he　thought；　one　of　the　wonderful　things　about　Washington；　D。C。　is　the　overabundance　of　girls。　They　e　in　every　size；　age；　and　disposition　and　swarm　like　chattering　locusts　throughout　every　government　office　in　the　city；　providing　the　hungry　male　with　all　the　advantages　of　a　rich　kid　running　amok　in　a　candy　store。　Pitt　selected　his　most　charming。　devil…may…care　smile　and　offered　it　to　a　trio　of　giggling　secretaries　who　exited　the　elevator。　They　returned　his　smile；　acpanied　with　the　usual　bination　of　cursory　and　demure　glances　that　women　are　prone　to　allow　for　strange　men；　and　then　wiggled　past　him　into　the　lobby；　sneaking　an　additional　peek　at　him　over　their　shoulders。
　A　moment　later；　playing　the　role　of　the　wounded　Warrior　to　perfection；　Pitt　leaned　heavily　on　his　cane　and　limped　from　the　elevator　onto　the　thick　carpet　of　the　eighth　floor。　In　the　center　of　the　anteroom　a　dozen　girls；　displaying　an　unrestricted　forest　of　nyloned　legs；　sat　at　a　dozen　desks　and　furiously　assaulted　a　dozen　typewriters；　never　once　hesitating　to　look　up　at　him。　He　moved　slowly　over　to　a　well…bosomed　blond　whose　desk　top　contained　a　small　rectangular　sign：　〃Information。〃　Then　for　a　moment　he　stared　down　at　her；　admiring　the　view。
　〃Excuse　me。〃
　She　didn't　hear　him　over　the　din　of　the　clacking　machines。
　〃Excuse　me；〃　Pitt　repeated　loudly。
　She　turned　and　noticed　him。　〃May　I　help　you？〃　The　voice　was　cool；　the　big　hazel　eyes　unfriendly。　Pitt　admitted　to　himself　that　he　had　to　go　along　with　her　icy　greeting。　The　white　turtleneck　sweater；　the　green　California　sport　coat；　the　handkerchief　casually　fluffed　from　the　breast　pocket　hardly　categorized　him　as　an　executive　or　important　Washington　bureaucrat。
　〃I　would　like　to　see　the　Director　of　the　Bureau。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said；　turning　back　to　her　typewriter。　〃The　Director　is　extremely　busy　and　cannot　see　anyone。〃
　Contempt　and　anger　began　to　mount　in　Pitt。　〃Inspector　Zacynthus　made　an　appointment　for　me…〃
　〃Inspector　Zacynthus'　office　is　on　the　fourth　floor；〃　the　girl　droned　mechanically。
　A　gunshot　couldn't　have　received　more　attention　than　the　resounding　bang　from　Pitt's　cane　as　he　slammed　it　on　top　of　the　receptionist's　desk。　The　typists'
　eyes　burst　wide；　and　their　hands　froze　above　keyboards；　sending　the　anteroom　into　a　sudden　dead　silence。　Her　face　drained　of　all　color；　the　large…cheated　blond　stared　up　at　Pitt。　a　fear　mushrooming　inside　her。
　〃OK；　dearheart。〃　Pitt　said　menacingly。　〃You　get　up　off　your　well…rounded　little　bottom　and　you　go　and　inform　the　Director　that　Major　Dirk　Pitt　is　waiting　to　keep　the　appointment　set　by　Inspector　Zacynthus。〃
　〃Pitt。　。　。　Major　Pitt　from　NUMA；〃　the　blond　gasped。　〃Oh　I'm　sorry；　sir。　But　I　thought…〃
　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　Pitt　offered。　〃I'm　out　of　uniform。〃
　The　blond　jumped　from　her　desk；　snagging　a　stocking　in　her　haste。　〃Right　this　way；　Major。　They're　expecting　you。〃
　Pitt　grinned　at　her；　grinned　at　the　other　girls　sitting　awed　in　their　chairs；　felt　self…satisfied　at　the　admiring　expressions　from　all　twenty…four　eyes；　the　bovine；　adoring　gaze　reserved　for　celebrities　and　movie　stars。　It　inflated　his　male　ego。
　〃Keep　typing　girls；〃　he　said　good…naturedly。
　〃Mustn't　keep　the　Bureau　waiting　for　all　those　letters　and　reports。〃
　The　blond　led　him　down　a　long　hallway；　slowing　her　pace　every　so　often　to　allow　him　to　catch　up。　She　halted　and　rapped　on　a　walnut　stained　door。　〃Major　Pitt；〃　she　announced；　and　then　stood　aside　to　let　him　pass　through。
　Three　men　rose　as　he　walked　into　the　room。　The　fourth；　Giordino；　remained　fortably　anchored　to　a　long　leather　couch。
　〃I　thought　I'd　never　see　the　day；〃　he　said。　〃Dirk　Pitt　hobbling　around　on　a　cane。〃
　〃Just　practicing　for　my　senile　years；〃　Pitt　retorted。
　A　short；　red…haired　man　with　a　zeppelin…shaped　cigar　stashed　jauntily　between　his　lips　came　over　and　shook　Pitt's；　hand。　〃Wele　back；　Dirk。　Congratulations　on　a　great　job　in　the　Aegean。〃
　Pitt　stared　into　the　griffin…featured　face　of　Admiral　James　Sandecker；　the　crusty　chief　of　the　National　Underwater　Marine　Agency。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Admiral。　Any　word　on　the　Teaser　yet？〃
　〃Only　that　it's　alive　and　still　swimming；〃　Sandecker　answered。　〃Since　Gunn　had　it　flown　over　last　week　in　a　special　tank；　I　haven't　been　able　to　get　near　the　goddamn　thing…a　horde　of　scientists　have　been　crowded　around　it；　ogling　their　damn　eyes　right　out　of　their　sockets。　They　promised　me　a　preliminary　report　by　morning。〃
　Zacynthus　came　across　to　greet　Pitt。　He　seemed　younger；　much　more　relaxed　than　when。　Pitt　had　last　seen　him；　three　weeks　previously。
　〃Good　to　see　you　walking　again；〃　Zacynthus　said　smiling。　〃You　look　as　mean　and　nasty　as　ever。〃
　He　took　Pitt　by　the　arm　and　led　him　over　to　a　tall　man　standing　by　the　window　and　introduced　them。　Pitt　studied　the　Director　of　the　Bureau　and　was　studied　in　return　by　hard　gray　eyes　that　peered　intently　from　a　high…checked。　pockmarked　face；　it　was　a　face　straight　out　of　a　police　lineup。　Pitt　amusingly　reflected　that　the　Director　looked　more　like　a　narcotics　smuggler　than　the　chief　administrator　of　several　thousand　federal　investigator