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m； haven't the capital to gain financial control of the entire continent in one fell swoop。〃
〃True； Sam； even our bined resources can only go so far。 But we can make Bolivia； for example； into an orcanized and fruitful society。 Try and imagine it； with no corruption at the administrative level； the military； except for a token force； eliminated； the agriculture and the industry all geared toward providing a better life for the people； the； consumers。〃 The intensity in Kelly's voice began to rise。 〃Again business principle； sink every nickel and dime into growth。 None goes to profit。 Then； when Bolivia is established as the utopian prototype the envy of all the peoples on the continent； then we shall annex her neighboring countries； one by one。〃
〃The poor and the hungry waiting breathlessly to be swept into paradise；〃 the Frenchman said contemptuously。 〃Is that it？〃
〃You think you exaggerate；〃 Kelly said indifferently； 〃but you hit the truth closer than' you intended。
Yes； the poor and the hungry will be eager to snatch at any straw that guarantees an immensely higher standard of living。〃
〃The domino theory impelled by noble thoughts；〃 Pitt added。
Kelly nodded。 〃As you say； noble thoughts。 And why not？ Western civilization has a constant history of rebirths impregnated by noble thoughts。 We businessmen； as perhaps the largest and most powerful influence of the last two hundred years； now have a golden opportunity to determine whether another brilliant rebirth shall occur or whether a civilization that lies in the gutter shall remain there and stop breathing forever。
〃At this point I must admit to being a stick…in…the…mud。 I hold a number of doctrines that have been poohpoohed by the best academic minds of higher learning。 I entertain the thought that organization is better than confusion。 I prefer profit to loss； strong means to gentle persuasion to acplish a goal。 And I'm dead certain that sound business rules are more valuable than political ideologies。〃
〃Your grand design has a flaw；〃 Pitt said； helping himself to another brandy。 〃A deviation that could easily screw up the works。〃 Kelly stared at Pitt speculatively。 〃Your brain against the most advanced techniques of puter science？ e now； Major。 We've spent months programming every possibility； every abnormality。 You're merely Playing games。〃
〃Am I？〃 Pitt downed the brandy as if it were water and said to Kelly： 〃How do you explain Rondheim and Miss Fyrie？ They hardly pass the age requirements for executive material of Hermit Limited。 Rondheim is short by twenty years。 Miss Fyrie 。 。 。 well； ah 。 。 。 she doesn't even e close。〃
〃NEss Fyrie's brother； Kristjan； was an idealist； like myself； a man who was searching for a way to raise people from the mud of poverty and misery。 His acts of generosity in Africa and other parts of the world where his business transpired led us to make an exception。
Unlike most hardheaded businessmen； he used his wealth for the mon good。 When he tragically lost his life； we； the board of directors of Hermit Limited；〃 he bowed to the men seated around him； 〃voted to elect Miss Fyrie in his place。〃
〃And Rondheim？〃
〃A fortunate contingency we had hoped for； but not counted on。 'enough his extensive fishing faculties appeared an enticing asset toward developing the fishing industry of South America； it was his hidden talents and useful connections that swung the pendulum in his favor。〃
〃The superintendent of your liquidation department？〃 Pitt said grimly。 〃The leader of your private sect of Ismailians？〃
The men around Kelly looked at each other； then at Pitt。 They looked in silence with curiosity written on their faces。 Von Hummel wiped his brow for the fiftieth time and Sir Eric Marks rubbed his hand across his lips and nodded at Kelly； a movement that did not go unnoticed by Pitt。 Swinging the sash around his waist semiily； Pitt walked over to the table and poured himself another glass of the Rouche； a last drink for the road； because he knew Kelly never meant for him to leave the house through the front door。
〃You guessed that？〃 Kelly said in an even voice。
〃Hardly；〃 Pitt said。 〃After you've had three attempts on your life； you kind of get to know these things。〃
〃The hydroplane！〃 Rondheim snapped savagely。
〃You know what happened to it？〃
Pitt sat down and sipped the brandy。 If he had to die； at least he had the satisfaction of knowing he held the stage at the end。
〃Terribly sloppy of you； my dear Oskar； or should I say the late captain of your last boat。 You should have seen the look on his face just before my Molotov cocktail hit him。〃
〃You damned queer！〃 Rondheim said； his voice shaking with fury。 〃You lying faggot！〃
〃Sticks and stones； my dear Oskar；〃 Pitt said carelessly。 〃Think what you may。 One thing is certain。 Due to your negligence； you'll never see your hydroplane and crew again。〃
〃Can't you see what he's trying to do？〃 Rondheim took a step toward Pitt。 〃He's trying to turn us against each other。〃
〃That will do！〃 Kelly's tone was cold； his eyes manding。 〃Please go on； Major。〃
〃You're very kind。〃 Pitt downed his brandy and poured another。 What the hell； he thought； might as well deaden whatever pain。 that was ing。 〃Poor Oskar also bumbled the second attempt。 I don't have to go into the sorry details； but I'm sure you're aware that his two feeble…brained assassins are talking like women on a party line right this minute to agents of the National Intelligence Agency。〃
〃Damn！〃 Kelly spun around to Rondheim。 〃is that true？〃
〃My men never talk。〃 Rondheim glared at Pitt。
〃They know what will happen to their relatives if they do。 Besides； they know nothing。〃
〃Let us hope you're right；〃 Kelly said heavily。 He came and stood over Pitt； staring with a strangely expressionless gaze that was more disturbing than any display of animosity could ever have been。 〃This game has gone far enough； Major。〃
〃Too bad。 I was just getting warmed up； just getting to the good part。〃
〃It isn't necessary。〃
〃Neither was killing Dr。 Hunnewell；〃 Pitt said。 His voice was unnaturally calm。 〃A terrible； terrible mistake； a sad miscalculation。 Doubly so； since the good doctor was a key member of Hermit Limited。〃
Chapter 15
For perhaps ten shocked； incredulous seconds Pitt let his words soak in as he sat nonchalantly in an armchair； cigarette in one hand； glass in the other； the very picture of relaxed boredom。 Not so Rondheim and the other members of Hermit Limited。 Their faces were as unprehending as if each had just e home and found his wife in bed with another man。 Kelly's eyes widened and his breath seemed to stop。 Then slowly he began to gain control again； calm； quiet； the professional businessman； saying nothing until the right words formed in his mind。
〃Your puters must have blown a fuse；〃 Pitt continued。 〃Admiral Sandecker and I were on to Dr。 Hunnewell right from the start。〃 Pitt lied； knowing there was no way Kelly or Rondheim could prove otherwise。 〃You wouldn't be interested in how or why。〃
〃You are mistaken； Major；〃 Kelly said impatiently。
〃We would be most interested。〃
Pitt took a deep breath and made the plunge；。 〃Actually our first tipoff came when Dr。 Len Matajic was rescued…〃
〃No！ That cannot be；〃 Rondheim gasped。
Pitt gave silent thanks to Sandecker for his wild plan to resurrect the ghosts of Matajic and O'Riley。 The opportunity was handed to him on a silver platter； and he could see no reason not to use it to kill time。
〃Pick up the phone and ask the overseas operator for Room 409 at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington。 I suggest you request person…to…person； your call will go through faster。〃
〃That will not be necessary；〃 Kelly said。 〃I have no reason to doubt you。〃
〃Suit yourself；〃 Pitt said carelessly； fighting to keep a straight face； laying his bluff successfully。 〃As I started to say； when Dr。 Matajic was rescued； he described the Lax and its crew in vivid detail。
He wasn't fooled for a minute by the alterations to the superstructure。 But； of course； you know all this。 Your people monitored his message to Admiral Sandecker。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Don't you see？ The rest was simple deduction。
Thanks to Matajic's description； it didn't take any great effort to trace the ship's whereabouts from the time it disappeared with Kristjan Fyrie to when it moored on the iceberg where Matajic had his research station。〃 Pitt smiled。 〃Because of Dr。 Matajic's powers of observation…the crew's suntans hardly spelled a fishing trip in North Atlantic waters…Admiral Sandecker was able to figure the Lax's previous course along the South American coast。 He then began to suspect Dr。 Hunnewell。
Rather clever of the admiral now that I look back on it。） 〃Go on； go on；〃 Kelly urged。
〃Well； obviously the Lax had been utilizing the undersea probe to find new mineral deposits。 And just as obviously； with Fyrie and his engineers dead； Dr。 Hunnewell； the co…inventor of the probe； was the only one around who knew how to operate it。〃
〃You are exceedingly well informed；〃 Kelly said wryly。 〃But that hardly constitutes proof。〃
Pitt was on tricky ground。 So far he had been able to skirt around the National Intelligence Agency's involvement in Hermit Limited。 And Kelly had yet to be baited into offering any further information。 It's time； he amusedly told himself； to tell the truth。
〃Proof？〃 Okay； will you accept the words of a dying man；〃 Straight from the horse's mouth。 The man in question is Dr。 Hunnewell himself。〃
〃I don't believe it。〃
〃His last words before he died in my arms were： 'God save thee。' 〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 Rondheim shouted。
〃What are you trying to do？〃
〃I meant to thank you for that； Oskar；〃 Pitt said coldly。 〃Hunnewell knew who his murderer was…the man who gave the order for his death。 He tried to quote from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner。〃 It was all there； wasn't it？ You quoted it yourself： 'Why look'st thou so？ With my crossbow I shot the Albatross。' Your trademark； Oskar； the red albatross。 That's what Hunnewell meant。 'For all averr'd I had kill'd the bird That made the breeze to blow。' You killed the man who helped you probe the sea floor。〃 Pitt was feeling cocky now； the warmth from the brandy was spreading fortingly through his body。 〃I can't match your memory for quoting the verse verbatim； but if my memory serves me correctly； the Ancient Mariner and his ship of ghosts were met by a hermit near the end…another tie…in。 Yes； it was all in the verse。 Hunnewell pointed the finger of guilt with his dying breath and you； Oskar； stood up and unwittingly pleaded guilty。〃
〃You sent your arrow in the right direction； Major Pitt。〃 Kelly idly stared at the smoke from his cigar。 〃But you aimed at the wrong man。 I gave the order for Dr。 Hunnewell's death。 Oskar merely carried it through。〃
〃For what purpose？〃
〃Dr。 Hunnewell was beginning to have second thoughts about Hermit Limited's methods of operation…quite old…fashioned thoughts really： thou shall not kill and all that。 He threatened to expose our entire organization unless we closed down our assassination department。 A condition that was impossible to accept if we were to have any chance for ultimate success。 Therefore； Dr。 Hunnewell had to be discharged from the firm。〃
〃Another business principle； of course。〃
Kelly smiled。 is that。〃
〃An I had to be swept under the carpet because I was a witness。〃 Pitt said as if answering a question。
Kelly simply nodded。
〃But the undersea probe？〃 Pitt asked。 〃With Hunnewell and Fyrie…the goose who laid the golden egg is dead； who is left with the knowledge to build a secondgeneration model？〃
The confident look was back in Kelly's eyes。 〃No one；〃 he answered softly。 〃But then no one is required。
You see； our puters have now been programmed with the necessary information。 With proper analysis of the data； we should have a working model of the probe within ninety days。〃
For a brief moment； Pitt stood silent； caught unprepared by the unexpected disclosure。 Then he quickly shook off his surprise at Kelly's statement。 The brandy was beginning to get to him now； but his mind was still running with the smoothness of a generator。
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