cc.iceberg-第20章

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　〃The　admiral's　extrasensory　perception　must　be　working　overtime。〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　mean　the　admiral。〃
　Pitt　frowned　quizzically。
　〃A　Dr。　Jonsson　from　a　little　vilage　to　the　north　called　and　gave　the　consulate　very　explicit　instructions　regarding　your　convalescence。〃
　〃Convalescence；　crap！〃　Pitt　snapped。　〃Which　reminds　me。　What　in　hell　are　you　doing　in　my　bedroom？〃
　She　looked　hurt。　〃I　volunteered。〃
　〃Volunteered？〃
　〃To　sit　with　you　while　you　slept；〃　she　said。　〃Dr。　Jonsson　insisted。　There's　been　a　consulate　staff　member　sitting　in　this　room　every　minute　since　you　closed　your　eyes　last　evening。〃　Our　〃What　time　is　it？　〃A　few　minutes　past　ten…A。m。　I　might　add。〃
　〃God；　I've　wasted　Nearly　fourteen　hours。　What　happened　to　my　clothes？〃
　〃Thrown　out　in　the　trash；　I　should　imagine。　They　weren't　fit　for　rags。　You'll　have　to　borrow　some　from　a　staff　member。〃
　〃In　that　case；　how　about　rounding　up　something　casual　while　I　take　a　quick　shower　and　shave。〃　He　tossed　her　his　bite…is…worse…than…bark　look　and　said；　〃OK；　dearheart；　face　the　wall。〃
　She　remained　facing　the　bed。　〃I've　always　wondered　what　it　would　be　like　to　see　you　wake　up　in　the　morning。〃
　
　He　shrugged　and　threw　back　the　covers。　He　was　halfway　through　the　motion　of　pushing　himself　to　his　feet　when　three　things　happened：　his　eyes　suddenly　saw　three　Tidis；　the　room　swayed　as　though　it　was　made　of　rubber；　and　his　head　began　to　ache　with　the　mother　of　all　aches。
　
　Tidi　stepped　forward　abruptly　and　clutched　his　right　arm；　her　face　reflecting　the　Florence　Nightingale　concern　again。　〃Please；　Dirk；　your　head　isn't　ready　for　your　feet　yet。〃
　〃Nothing；　it's　nothing。　I　stood　up　too　fast。〃　He　made　it　to　his　feet　and　lurched　into　her　arms。　〃You'd　make　a　lousy　nurse；　Tidi。　you　get　too　involved　with　Your　patients。〃
　
　He　held　onto　her　for　several　moments　until　the　triplets　became　one　and　the　bedroom　stood　at　rigid　attention；　only　the　ache　in　his　head　refused　to　diminish。
　〃You're　the　one　Patient　I'd　love　to　get　involved　With；　Dirk。〃　She　held　onto　him　tightly　and　made　no　attempt　to　remove　her　arms。　〃But　you　never　seem　to　entice　me。　You'd　stand　next　to　me　in　an　empty　elevator　and　never　recognize　me　at　all。
　
　There　are　times　when　I　doubt　whether　you　know　I　exist。〃
　〃Oh；　I　know　you　exist　all　right。〃　He　pushed　himself　away　and　started　slowly　for　the　bathroom；　refraining　from　facing　her　as　he　talked。　〃Your　vital　statistics　are　five　foot　seven；　one　hundred　thirty…five　pounds；　thirty…six　inches　around　the　hips；　an　astonishing　twenty…three　inches　at　the　waist；　and　the　bust；　a　probable　thirty…six；　C…cup。　All　in　all；　a　figure　that　belongs　on　the　centerspread　of　Playboy。　There　is　also　the　light…brown　hair　framing　an　eager；　bright　face　enhanced　by　sparkling　brown　eyes；　a　pert　little　nose；　a　perfectly　formed　mouth　flanked　by　two　dimples　that　only　show　when　you　smile。　Oh；　yes；　I　almost　forgot。　Two　moles　behind　the　left　ear　and；　at　this　moment；　your　heart　is　beating　at　approximately　one　hundred　and　five　thumps　per　minute。〃
　
　She　stood　there　like　a　stunned　winner　on　a　TV　quiz　show　momentarily　at　a　loss　for　words。　She　reached　up　and　touched　the　two　moles。　〃Like　wow！　I　can't　believe　I　heard　you。　It's　unreal。　You　like　me…you　really　care　for　me。〃
　〃Don't　get　carried　away。〃　Pitt　hesitated　in　the　bathroom　doorway　and　faced　her。　〃I'm　very　attracted　to　you；　as　any　man　would　be　to　a　pretty　girl；　but　I'm　not　in　love　with　you。〃
　〃You　。　。　。　you　never　gave　me　any　indication。　You've　never　even　asked　me　for　a　date。〃
　〃Sorry；　Tidi。　You're　the　admiral's　personal　secretary。　I　make　it　a　rule　never　to　play　games　that　close　to　him。〃　Pitt　leaned　against　the　doorframe　for　support。　〃I　respect　that　old　guy；　he's　much　more　than　just　a　friend　or　boss。　I　won't　cause　plications　behind　his　back。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　she　said　humbly。　〃But　I　certainly　didn't　figure　you　for　the　modest　hero　who　sacrifices　the　heroine　to　a　typewriter。〃
　〃The　rejected　virgin　who　throws　herself　into　a　convent　isn't　exactly　your　bag　either。〃
　〃Must　we　get　nasty？〃
　〃No；〃　Pitt　said　approvingly。　〃Why　don't　you　be　a　good　girl　and　scrounge　me　up　a　change　of　clothes；　Let's　see　if　you're　as　observant　of　my　dimensions　as　I　am　of　yours。〃
　
　Tidi　said　nothing　in　reply；　just　stood　there　looking　forlorn　and　curious。　Finally　she　shook　her　head　'm　a　feminine　display　of　irritation　and　left。
　
　Exactly　two　hours　later；　clad　in　surprisingly　wellfitting　slacks　and　sport　shirt；　Pitt　sat　across　a　desk　from　Admiral　James　Sandecker。　The　admiral　looked　tired　and　old；　far　beyond　his　years。　His　red　hair　was　tousled　in　a　shaggy　unkempt　mane；　and　it　was　obvious　from　the　stubble　on　his　chin　and　cheeks　that　he　hadn't　shaved　for　at　least　two　days。　He　held　one　of　his　massive　cigars　casually　in　the　fingers　of　his　right　hand；　stared　at　the　long　cylindrical　shape　for　a　moment；　and　then　set　it　in　an　ashtray　without　lighting　the　end。　He　granted　something　about　being　glad　to　see　Pitt　alive　and　still　connected　in　all　the　right　places。　Then　the　weary；　bloodshot　eyes　studied　Pitt　intently。
　〃So　much　for　preliminaries。　Your　story；　Dirk。　Let's　have　it。〃
　
　Pitt　didn't　give　it　to　him。　Instead；　he　said：　〃I　just　spent　an　hour　writing　a　detailed　report　of　what　occurred　from　the　time　Hunnewell　and　I　lifted　off　from　the　NUMA　pad　at　Dulles　International　until　the　farmer　and　his　boy　brought　us　to　the　consulate。　I　also　included　my　personal　opinions　and　observations。
　
　Knowing　you；　Admiral；　I'venture　to　guess　you've　read　it　at　least　twice。　I　have　nothing　to　add。　All　I　can　do　now　is　answer　your　questions。〃
　
　What　little　of　Sander…ker's　face　was　open　for　expression　seemed　to　indicate　a　certain　interest；　if　not　downright　curiosity　at　Pitts　flagrant；　insubordinate　behavior。　He　stood　up；　all　five　foot　six　inches　of　him；　revealing　a　blue　suit　that　cried　out　for　a　pressing；　and　peered　down　at　Pitt；　a　favorite　tactic　when　he　was　ready　to　orate。
　〃Once　was　all　I　needed；　Major。〃　No　〃Dirk〃　this　time。　〃When　I　want　sarcastic　remarks；　I'll　book　Don　Rickles　or　Mort　Sahl　and　be　assured　of　a　professional　job。　I　appreciate　the　fact　that　you've　been　harassed　by　the　Coast　Guard　and　the　Russians；　had　your　butt　frozen　off　on　an　iceberg　looking　at　incinerated　cadavers；　not　to　mention　getting　shot　at；　crashing　in　the　Atlantic　Ocean；　and　having　a　man　die　in　your　arms　since　I　pulled　you　off　that　nice　warm　beach　in　California　just　seventy…two　hours　ago。　But　that　does　not　give　you　the　unmitigated　right　to　hard…ass　your　superior。〃
　〃I　apologize　for　the　disrespect；　sir。〃　The　words　were　there；　but　the　tone　was　sadly　lacking。　〃If　I　seem　a　bit　testy；　it's　simply　because　I　smell　a　put…on。　I　have　the　distinct　impression　that　you　dropped　me　into　an　intricate　maze　without　benefit　of　a　road　map。〃
　〃So？〃　An　eighth　of　an　inch　lift　of　the　heavy　red　eyebrows。
　〃To　begin　with；　Hunnewell　and　I　were　on　damn　thin　ice　when　we　swindled　the　Coast　Guard　into　using　its　finest　cutter　for　a　refueling　base；　or　at　least　I　thought　we　were。　Not　Hunnewell。　He　knew　the　whole　setup　was　fixed　from　beginning　to　end。　I　thought　we'd　bought　a　jail　cell　when　mander　Koski　signaled　Coast　Guard　mand　in　Washington　for　confirmation　of　our　presence。　I　studied　Hunnewell；　he　pored　over　his　charts　as　if　nothing　was　happening。　No　quiver　of　the　hand；　no　indication　of　sweat　on　the　brow。　He　was　pletely　at　ease　with　the　situation；　knowing　that　you　had　taken　care　of　everything　before　we　left　Dulles。〃
　〃Not　quite。〃　Sandecker　picked　up　the　cigar　and　lit　it　and　gave　Pitt　a　shrewd　look。　〃The　mandant　was　inspecting　a　damn　hurricane　warning　facility　in　Florida。
　You　were　already　crossing　Novascotia　before　I　could　get　to　them。〃　He　blew　a　huge　cloud　of　smoke　toward　the　ceiling。　〃Please　continue。〃
　
　Pitt　slouched　back　in　his　chair。　〃A　dim；　nearly　undistinguishable　outline　of　a　ship　turns　up　in　an　iceberg。
　
　The　Coast　Guard　doesn't　have　the　slightest　idea　what　registry　it　is。　Yet　four　days　go　by　and　there　is　no　investigation。　The　Catawaba　is　only　hours　away　but　is　never　notified　of　the　sighting。　Why？　Somebody　in　the　capitol　with　the　authority；　high　authority；　ordered　hands　off；　that's　why。〃
　
　Sandecker　toyed　with　the　cigar。　〃I　suppose　you　know　what　you're　talking　about；　Major？〃
　〃Hell；