p&c.brimstone-第93部分

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neurons　to　begin　firing；　jerking　his　limbs　spasmodically；　causing　him　to　fall　down　and　go　into　convulsions。　His　internal　temperature　is　soaring。　Within　a　few　more　seconds　he'll　be　thrashing　on　the　ground；　biting　off　or　swallowing　his　tongue。〃　
　Another　tick　of　the　dial。　Now　a　small　blister　appeared　on　the　skin　of　the　pumpkin。　It　seemed　to　soften；　sag　a　bit。　A　soft　pop；　and　the　pumpkin　split　open　from　top　to　bottom；　issuing　a　spurt　of　steam。　
　〃Now　our　victim　is　unconscious；　seconds　from　death。〃　
　There　was　a　muffled　boiling　sound　inside　the　pumpkin；　and　the　fissure　widened。　With　a　sudden　wet　noise；　a　jet　of　orange　slime　forced　itself　from　the　split；　oozing　over　the　floor　in　steaming　rivulets。　
　〃No　ment　necessary。　By　now；　our　victim　is　dead。　The　interesting　part；　however；　is　yet　to　e。〃　
　Blisters　began　swelling　all　over　the　surface　of　the　pumpkin；　some　popping　with　little　puffs　of　steam；　others　breaking　and　weeping　orange　fluid。　
　Another　tick　of　the　dial。　
　The　pumpkin　split　afresh；　with　a　second　rush　of　boiling　pulp　and　seeds　squeezing　out　in　a　hot　viscous　paste。　The　pumpkin　sagged　further　and　darkened；　the　stem　blackening　and　smoking；　more　fluid　and　seeds　oozed　from　the　cracks　along　with　jets　of　steam。　And　then　suddenly；　with　a　sharp　popping　sound；　the　seeds　began　to　explode。　The　pumpkin　seemed　to　harden；　the　room　filling　with　the　smell　of　burned　pumpkin　flesh；　then；　with　a　suddenpaff！　；　it　burst　into　flame。　
　〃Ecco！The　deed　is　done。　Our　victim　is　on　fire。　And　yet；　if　you　were　to　place　your　hand　on　the　stone　next　to　the　pumpkin；　you　would　find　it　barely　warm　to　the　touch。〃　
　Fosco　lowered　the　device。　The　pumpkin　continued　to　smolder；　a　flame　licking　the　stem；　sizzling　and　crackling　as　it　burned；　a　foul　black　smoke　rising　slowly。　
　〃Pinketts？〃　
　The　servant；　without　missing　a　beat；　picked　up　a　bottle　ofacqua　minerale　from　the　dinner　table　and　poured　it　over　the　pumpkin。　Then　he　gave　the　bubbling　remains　a　deft　kick　into　the　fire；　heaped　on　a　few　more　sticks；　and　retired　again　to　the　corner。　
　〃Marvelous；　don't　you　think？　And　yet　it's　much　more　dramatic　with　a　human　body；　I　can　assure　you。〃　
　〃You're　one　sick　fuck；　you　know　that？〃　said　D'Agosta。　
　〃This　man　of　yours；　Pendergast；　is　beginning　to　annoy　me。〃　
　〃Clearly　a　man　of　many　virtues；〃　Pendergast　replied。　〃But　I　think　this　has　gone　on　long　enough。　It　is　time　for　us　to　get　to　the　remaining　business　at　hand。〃　
　〃Quite；　quite。〃　
　〃I　have　e　here　to　offer　you　a　deal。〃　
　〃Naturally。〃　Fosco's　lip　curled　cynically。　
　Pendergast　glanced　at　the　count　a　moment；　his　looks　unreadable；　letting　the　silence　build。　〃You　will　write　out　and　sign　a　confession　of　all　that　you　have　told　us　tonight；　and　you　will　give　me　that　diabolical　machine　as　proof。　I　will　escort　you　to　the　carabinieri；　who　will　arrest　you。　You　will　be　tried　for　the　murders　of　Locke　Bullard　and　Carlo　Vanni；　and　as　an　acplice　in　the　murder　of　the　priest。　Italy　has　no　death　penalty；　and　you　will　probably　be　released　in　twenty…five　years；　at　the　age　of　eighty；　to　live　the　remainder　of　your　days　in　peace　and　quiet…if　you　manage　to　survive　prison。　This　is　your　side　of　the　bargain。〃　
　Fosco　listened；　an　incredulous　smile　developing　on　his　face。　〃Is　that　all？　And　what　will　you　give　me　in　exchange？〃　
　〃Your　life。〃　
　〃I　wasn't　aware　my　life　was　in　your　hands；　Mr。　Pendergast。　It　seems　to　me　it's　the　other　way　around。〃　
　D'Agosta　saw　a　movement　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　Pinketts　had　withdrawn　a　9mm　Beretta　and　had　it　trained　on　them。　D'Agosta's　hand　moved　toward　his　own　weapon；　unstrapped　the　keeper。　
　Pendergast　stopped　him　with　a　shake　of　his　head。　Then　he　removed　an　envelope　from　his　pocket。　〃A　letter　identical　to　this　one　has　been　placed　with　Prince　Corso　Maffei；　to　be　opened　in　twenty…four　hours　if　I　have　not　returned　to　reclaim　it。〃　
　At　the　name　of　Maffei；　Fosco　paled。　
　〃You　are　a　member　of　the　secret　society　known　as　the　itatus　Decimus；　the　pany　of　Ten。　As　a　member　of　this　society；　which　dates　back　to　the　Middle　Ages；　you　inherited　and　were　entrusted　with　certain　documents；　formulas；　and　manuscripts。　You　abused　that　trust；　in　particular　on　October　31；　1974；　when　you　went　through　a　mock　ceremony　using　those　same　instruments　to　frighten　a　group　of　American　students。　Then　you　pounded　it　with　these　killings。〃　
　The　paleness　had　given　way　to　mottled　fury。　〃Pendergast；　this　is　absurd。〃　
　〃You　know　better　than　I　it　is　not。　You　belong　to　this　secret　society　by　virtue　of　your　title。　You　had　no　choice　in　the　matter：　you　were　born　into　it。　You　didn't　take　it　seriously　as　a　young　man；　you　thought　it　a　joke。　Only　years　later　did　you　realize　the　severity　of　that　mistake。〃　
　〃This　is　all　bluster；　a　poor　attempt　to　save　your　own　skin。〃　
　〃It's　your　skin　you　should　be　concerned　about。　You　know　what　awaits　those　who　break　the　society's　seal　of　silence。　Remember　what　happened　to　the　marchese　Meucci？　The　ten　men　who　head　the　itatus　have　enormous　money；　power；　and　reach。　They　will　find　you；　Fosco…you　know　that。〃　
　Fosco　said　nothing；　simply　staring　back　at　Pendergast。　
　〃As　I　said；　I　will　give　you　your　life　back　by　retrieving　that　letter…but　only　after　I　have　received　your　signed　confession　and　escorted　you　to　the　carabinieri　headquarters。　The　violin　you　may　keep。　It　is　yours；　after　all。　A　fair　deal；　when　you　consider　it。〃　
　Fosco　tore　open　the　letter　with　a　fat　hand　and　began　to　read。　After　a　moment；　he　paused　and　looked　up。　〃This　is　infamy！〃　
　Pendergast　merely　watched　as　Fosco　returned　his　attention　to　the　document；　hands　visibly　shaking。　
　D'Agosta　observed　this　interchange　with　growing　prehension。　Now　he　understood　the　purpose　of　Pendergast's　stop　that　morning；　a　stop　he　had　referred　to　as　〃insurance。〃　He　had　been　depositing　the　copy　of　his　letter　with　this　Prince　Maffei。　How　Pendergast　had　put　all　this　together；　and　exactly　what　it　meant；　D'Agosta　didn't　know。　No　doubt　he　would　learn　in　time。　But　his　overwhelming　feeling　was　one　of　relief。　Once　again；　Pendergast　had　saved　their　asses。　
　The　count　lowered　the　document　abruptly。　His　face　had　gone　white。　
　〃How　did　you　know　this？　Someone　must　have　already　broken　the　seal　of　the　itatus！　Someone　else　must　pay；　not　me！〃　
　〃I　learned　it　from　you；　and　nobody　else。　That　is　all　you　need　to　know。〃　
　Fosco　appeared　to　be　struggling　to　master　himself。　He　placed　the　letter　on　the　table；　faced　Pendergast。　〃Very　well。　I　had　expected　a　strong　opening　move；　but　this　one　does　you　credit。　Twenty…four　hours；　you　say？　Pinketts　will　escort　you　back　to　your　rooms　while　I　consider　my　riposte。〃　
　〃No　fucking　way；〃　said　D'Agosta。　〃We're　leaving。　You　can　telephone　our　hotel　when　you're　ready　to　hand　over　the　confession。〃　He　glanced　at　Pinketts；　who　had　his　gun　trained　on　them；　the　muzzle　moving　back　and　forth。　D'Agosta　figured　the　chances　were　pretty　good　that…if　he　timed　it　right…he　could　put　a　bullet　in　Pinketts　before　the　man　could　react。　
　〃You　will　go　to　your　quarters　and　await　my　answer；〃　the　count　said　imperiously。　
　When　nobody　moved；　he　gave　an　almost　imperceptible　nod　to　Pinketts。　
　All　it　took　was　a　faint　movement　in　the　man's　hand；　and　D'Agosta　had　dropped；　rolled；　and　fired　in　one　smooth；　endlessly　practiced　move。　Without　even　a　cry；　Pinketts　staggered　back　against　the　wall；　Beretta　still　in　hand；　firing　once　above　their　heads。　D'Agosta　rose　to　his　knee　and　fired　two　more　shots。　Pinketts　jerked；　the　gun　skidded　across　the　floor；　ing　to　rest　in　a　corner。　Pendergast　had　his　own　gun　out　and　was　now　aiming　at　the　count。　
　Slowly；　Fosco　raised　his　hands。　
　Suddenly；　men　appeared　in　the　doorways　leading　out　of　the　dining　room：　rough…looking　men　in　peasant　dress；　guns　in　hand；　faces　set。　They　came　in　orderly；　deliberately；　without　haste；　sure　of　themselves。　In　a　moment；　more　than　half　a　dozen　had　entered；　guns　aimed　at　Pendergast　and　D'Agosta。　
　There　was　a　long　silence；　interrupted　only　by　a　long；　gargling　rattle　from　Pinketts　that　wheezed　off　into　silence。　
　Fosco's　hands　were　still　raised。　〃We　seem　to　be　at　a　standoff；〃　he　said。　〃How　very　theatrical。　You　kill　me；　my　men　kill　you。〃　Though　the　words　sounded　light；　they　held　a　harsh；　chill　undertone。　
　〃Let　us　walk　out　of　here；〃　said　D'Agosta。　〃And　nobody'll　get　killed。〃　
　〃You've　already　killed　Pinketts；〃　Fosco　replied　crisply。　〃Here　you　are；　the　man　who　dared　lecture　me　on　the　sanctity　of　human　life。　Pinketts；　who　was　my　best　and　most　loyal　servant。〃　
　D'Agosta　took　a　step　toward　the　count。　
　〃Agent　Pendergast！〃　Fosco　said；　turning　and　raising　his　voice。　〃A　moment's　reflection　will　show　you　this　is　a　game　you　cannot　win。　At　the　count　of　three；　I　will　order　D'Agosta　killed。　I　will　die　too；　at　your　hand。You　；　on　the　other　hand；　will　live　to　ponder　how　you　brought　death　to　your　partner。　You　know　me　well　enough　to　know　it's　not　a　bluff。　Youwill　lay　down　the　gun…because　you　have　theletter　。〃　
　He　paused。　〃One。〃　
　〃It's　a　bluff！〃　D'Agosta　shouted。　〃Don't　fall　for　it！〃　
　〃Two。〃　
　Pendergast　laid　down　his　weapon。　
　The　count　paused　again；　hands　still　in　the　air。　〃Now；　Mr。　D'Agosta；　you　haven't　put　downyour　gun。　Do　I　need　to　say　that　last　number；　or　can　you　understand　the　situation　has　gone　against　you？　Even　with　your　remarkable　marksmanship；　you　will　not　succeed　in