cc.iceberg-第62章

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ched　on　the　wolf　mask。　Too　fir；　Pitt　had　pushed　his　luck　too　far。　He　had　caught　two　of　Rondheim's　men　before　they　knew　what　was　happening；　but　the　third　had　gained　sufficient　time　to　counter　Pitts　attack　and　catch　him　off　balance。
　
　Blindly　fending　off　the　lunging　thrusts；　staggering　backward　under　the　fury　of　the　other　man's　assault；　Pitt　hurled　himself　convulsively　sideways　and　over　the　parapet；　and　plunged　into　the　cool　water　of　the　canal。　Even　as　he　dived；　Pitt　had　heard　the　swish　of　the　pirate's　blade　as　it　hissed　through　the　empty　air　where　his　body　had　stood　only　an　instant　before。　And　then　there　was　the　sudden　shock　as　his　shoulder　collided　with　vicious　force　against　the　shallow　bottom　of　the　canal。　The　pain　exploded　in　him　and　everything　seemed　to　dissolve　and　stop。　3t　〃Yo　ho　ho；　sixteen　men　on　a　dead　man's　chest。
　
　God；　Pitt　thought　through　the　haze；　why　don't　those　mechanical　bastards　sing　something　else？　Like　a　diagnostic　specialist；　he　carefully　explored　his　bruised　body…the　areas　of　pain；　the　position　of　his　arms　and　legs　in　the　flame…sparkled　water。　His　ribs　felt　as　if　they　were　burning　inside　his　chest；　the　fire　spreading　into　his　back　and　shoulders。　Pulling　himself　onto　the　landing；　Pitt　stood　up　unsteadily；　swayed　and　only　kept　erect　by　using　the　cutlass　as　a　cane；　somewhat　bewildered　to　find　the　hilt　still　imbedded　tightly　in　his　right　hand。
　
　He　crouched　on　one　knee；　fighting　to　catch　his　breath；　waiting　for　his　heart　to　slow　down　to　a　reasonably　nominal　rate　and　scanned　the　make…believe　set；　his　eyes　trying　desperately　to　pierce　the　darkness　beyond　the　flaming　half　light。　The　bridge　was　empty；　the　third　pirate　was　gone；　and　the　boat　was　just　disappearing　around　a　curve　into　the　next　gallery。　He　turned　in　the　opposite　direction　just　in　time　to　see　another　sightseeing　boat　approaching　up　the　canal。
　
　All　these　things　he　noted　mechanically；　without　consciously　classifying　their　significance。　All　he　could　think　of　was　that　a　killer　was　somewhere　close　by；　disguised　as　one　of　the　pirates。　He　felt　helpless；　the　mannequins　all　began　to　look　alike；　and　the　action　on　the　bridge　had　happened　with　such　speed　that　he　hadn't　been　able　to　perceive　any　details　of　the　man's　costume。
　
　Almost　frantically；　he　tried　to　plan　the　next　step。
　
　There　was　no　more　chance　in　the　world　for　surprise　on　his　part…the　human　pirate　knew　what　Pitt　looked　like；　while　he　was　helpless　to　detect　the　real　from　the　fake　and　had　now　lost　the　opportunity　to　move　first。　Even　as　these　thoughts　flashed　through　Pitts　mind；　he　knew　he　must　act。
　
　A　second　later；　he　was　half　running；　half　stumbling　along　the　quay；　gasping　at　every　step　as　waves　of　pain　shot　through　every　tendon　of　his　body。　He　burst　through　a　black　curtain　and　into　the　next　stage　set。　It　had　a　huge　domed　chamber　dimly　lit　for　a　nighttime　scene。
　
　Built　into　the　far　wall；　a　scaled…down　version　of　a　pirate's　corsair　ship；　plete　with　dummy　crew　and　Jolly　Roger　rippling　in　a　breeze　urged　on　by　a　hidden　electric　fan；　fired　stimulated　broadsides　from　replica　cannon　across　fifty　feet　of　water　and　over　the　heads　of　the　people　in　the　excursion　boat　at　a　miniature　fortress　sitting　high　atop　a　jagged　cliff　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　cavernous　chamber。
　
　It　was　too　dark　to　make　out　any　details　on　the　excursion　boat。　Pitt　could　detect　no　movement　at　the　stern　and　he　felt　certain　that　Kippmann　and　Lazard　had　everything　under　their　mand。　Everything；　that　is；　that　was　within　their　reach。　As　his　eye；　began　to　penetrate　the　heavy　darkness；　of　the　simulated　nighttime　harbor　between　the　ship　and　the　fortress；　he　saw　that　the　bodies　in　the　boat　were　all　huddled　below　the　sides　of　the　hull。
　
　He　was　about　halfway　up　the　maintenance　ramp　to　the　deck　of　the　corsair　ship　when　he　knew　why；　when　he　heard　a　strange　sound；　the　almost　silent　thump　of　a　gun　with　a　silencer。　And　then　suddenly　he　was　standing　in　back　of　a　form　in　a　pirate　costume　who　was　holding　something　in　his　hand　and　pointing　it　at　the　little　boat　in　the　water。
　
　Pitt　looked　at　him　curiously；　with　only　a　detached　sort　of　interest。　He　raised　the　cutlass　and　brought　the　flat　side　of　the　blade　down　on　the　pirate's　wrist。
　
　The　gun　dropped　from　the　man's　wristover　the　railing　and　into　the　water　below。　The　pirate　swung　around；　the　white　hair　falling　from　under　a　scarlet　bandanna　that　was　knotted　around　his　head；　the　cold　blue…gray　eyes　flashing　with　anger　and　frustration；　the　lines　about　the　mouth　deeply　etched。　He　searched　the　ical　figure　that　had　so　coolly　killed　two　of　his　rades。　His　voice　was　hard　and　metallic。
　〃It　seems　I　am　your　prisoner。〃
　
　Pitt　wasn't　fooled　for　an　instant。　The　words　were　only　a　stall；　a　curtain　to　shield　the　lighg　move　that　would　surely　e。　The　man　behind　the　voice　was　dangerous　and　he　was　playing　for　high　stakes。　But　Pitt　had　more　than　an　edged　weapon…he　had　a　newly　found　strength　that　was　suddenly　coursing　through　his　body　like　a　gathering　tidal　wave。　He　began　to　smile。
　〃Ah…so　it　is　you；　Oskar。〃
　
　Pitt　paused　significantly；　watching　Rondheim　like　a　cat。　Holding　Hermit　Limited's　chief　executioner　on　the　end　of　the　cutlass。　Pitt　pulled　off　the　rubber　wolf's　head。　Rondheim's　face　was　still　set　and　hard；　but　the　eyes　betrayed　total　inprehension。　Pitt　dropped　the　mask；　bracing　himself　for　the　moment　he　had　planned　for　but　never　really　believed　would　happen。　Slowly；　he　unwrapped　the　bandages　with　one　hand；　letting　the　gauze　fall　to　the　deck　in　little　unraveled　piles；　building　the　suspense。　When　he　finished；　he　gazed　steadily　at　Rondheim　and　stood　back。　Rondheim's　lips　began　to　work　in　a　half…formed　question　and　dazed　expression　spread　across　his　features。
　〃Sorry　you　can't　recall　the　face；　Oskar；〃　Pitt　said　quietly。　〃But　you　didn't　leave　a　great　deal　to　recognize。
　
　Rondheim　stared　at　the　swollen　eyes；　the　bruised　and　puffed　lips；　the　sutures　that　laced　the　cheekbones　and　eyebrows；　and　then　his　mouth　fell　open　and　in　a　whisper　he　breathed；　〃Pitt！〃
　
　Pitt　nodded。
　〃It's　not　possible；〃　Rondheim　gasped。
　
　Pitt　laughed。　〃I　apologize　for　ruining　your　day；　but　it　just　goes　to　prove　that　you　can't　always　trust　a　puter。〃
　
　Rondheim　looked　at　Pitt　long　and　searchingly。
　〃And　the　others？〃
　〃With　one　exception；　they're　all　alive　and　mending　the　broken　bones　you　so　generously　dispensed。〃　Pitt　focused　his　gaze　beyond　Rondheim's　shoulder　and　saw　that　the　excursion　boat　was　safely　entering　the　next　gallery。
　〃Then　it's　back　to　you　and　me　again；　Major。　Under　conditions　more　favorable　to　you　than　those　I　enjoyed　in　the　gym。　But　don't　get　your　hopes　up。〃　A　sort　of　smile　twisted　the　tight　lips。　〃fairies　are　no　match　for　men。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　Pitt　returned。　He　hurled　the　cutlass　over　Rondheim's　head　into　the　water　and　stood　back。　He　looked　down　and　examined　his　hands。　They　would　have　to　do　the　job。　He　took　several　slow　deep　breaths；　ran　his　hands　through　his　wet　hair；　rubbed　them　roughly　on　the　sides　of　his　costume　and　then　gave　a　final　flex　to　his　fingers。　He　was　ready。
　〃I　misled　you；　Oskar。　Round　one　was　an　unequal　contest。　You　had　the　numbers；　the　planning　and　the　initiative　from　the　beginning。　How　are　you　alone；　Oskar；　without　your　paid　help　to　prop　your　victims？　How　are　you　when　you're　on　strange　ground？　You　still　have　time　to　escape。　Nothing　stands　between　you　and　a　chance　for　freedom　except　me。
　
　But　there's　the　rub；　；　Oskar。　You　have　to　get　by　me。〃
　
　Rondheim's　teeth　showed。　〃I　don't　need　anyone　to　break　you；　Pitt。
　
　My　only　regret　is　that　I　don't　have　the　time　to　stretch　out　your　next　lesson　in　pain。〃
　〃Okay；　Oskar；　so　much　for　the　psychological　bullshit；〃　Pitt　said　calmly。　He　knew　exactly　what　he　was　going　to　do。　True；　he　was　still　weak　and　dead　tired；　but　that　was　more　than　canceled　out　by　the　selfdetermination；　the　invisible　figures　of　Lillie；　Tidi；　Sam　Kelly；　Hunnewell　and　the　rest　who　stood　at　his　side　giving　him　strength　he　could　have　never　possessed　alone。
　
　An　uncertain　smile　came　to　Rondheim's　mouth　as　he　crouched　in　a　karate　stance。　The　smile　didn't　last。
　
　Pitt　hit　him。　He　hit　Rondheim　with　a　right　cross；　a　perfectly　timed　punch　that　jerked　Rondheim's　head　sideways　and　staggered　him　into　the　ship's　main　mas