p&c.brimstone-第67部分
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his life depended on it。〃
〃And？〃
〃He went to confession and right afterwards he packed up his belongings and left。〃
〃And the other American students？〃
〃I don't recall。 Every year they celebrate All Saints' Day； or rather the day before； which I believe you call Halloween。 It's an excuse to drink。〃
〃Do you know where they went that evening； or who they might have encountered？〃
〃I know nothing more than what I have told you。〃
The ring of a bell came from the front office。 〃I have guests to attend to；〃 she said。
〃One last question；signora； if you please；〃 Pendergast said。 〃The priest who heard the confession…is he still alive？〃
〃That would have been Father Zenobi。 Yes； Father Zenobi。 He is now living with the monks of La Verna。〃
She turned； then paused and slowly glanced back。 〃But if you think you can persuade him to break the sacred seal of the confessional； sir； you are sadly mistaken。〃
65
D'Agosta assumed that； upon leaving the palazzo； they wouldreturn directly to their hotel。 But instead； Pendergast lingered in the piazza： strolling； hands in his pockets； eyes glancing first left； then right。 After a few minutes； he turned to D'Agosta。
〃Gelato？ Some of the best in Florence； if I am not mistaken； can be found right here at Café Ricchi。〃
〃I've given up on ice cream。〃
〃I haven't。 Indulge me。〃
They entered the café and approached the bar。 Pendergast ordered his cone…tiramisu andcrème anglaise …while D'Agosta asked for an espresso。
〃I didn't know you had a sweet tooth；〃 D'Agosta said as they leaned against the bar。
〃I have something of a weakness for gelato。 But our main reason for stopping here is to learn his intentions。〃
〃Hisintentions？ Whose intentions？〃
〃The man who's following us。〃
D'Agosta straightened up。 〃What？〃
〃No…don't look。 He's nondescript； mid…thirties； wearing a blue shirt and dark pants。 Quite professional。〃
Pendergast's cone arrived and he took a dainty bite。 Then； suddenly； a change came over his face。
〃He's just entered thepensione ；〃 he said。 Abandoning his gelato； Pendergast dropped a few euros on the counter and strode out of the café； D'Agosta following。
〃Are you afraid for thesignora ？〃
〃Thesignora is perfectly safe。 It's the priest for whom I fear。〃
〃The priest…？〃 Suddenly； D'Agosta understood。 〃Then we can stop this guy when he leaves thepensione 。〃
〃That would serve no purpose but to embroil us in endless legalities。 Our best chance is the monastery itself。 e； Vincent： we haven't a moment to lose。〃
In twenty minutes； they were driving through the hills northeast of Florence； Pendergast at the wheel of their rented Fiat。 Although D'Agosta had done more than his share of high…speed driving…and though Pendergast was clearly an expert…D'Agosta's heart was beating at an unfortable rate。 The car was squealing around a series of hairpin curves； none of which had guardrails； at a terrifying clip。 With each climbing turn； a rising sea of mountains swam into view before them： the great spine of the Apennines。
〃I've been aware of surveillance for some time now；〃 Pendergast said。 〃Since we found Bullard's body； and perhaps even before。 At important moments…such as our trip to Cremona…I've managed to keep him at arm's length。 I haven't yet confronted our shadower； hoping instead to learn who's behind him。 I did not think he would take such a direct approach as he did just now in the piazza。 It means we are getting close to the truth。 It also means increased danger； for us and for those with crucial information…such as Father Zenobi。〃
The car squealed around another curve。 D'Agosta braced himself against the lateral g…forces； sweat breaking out on his brow。
〃I've seen you weasel information out of all kinds of people；〃 he said when it was safe to draw breath again。 〃But if you can convince a priest to reveal a thirty…year…old confession； I'll swim all the way back to Southampton。〃
Another long； screeching turn； the car hanging practically over the edge of a chasm。
This time； D'Agosta almost had to pry his fingers from the dashboard。 〃Do you think we might slow down？〃
〃I don't think so。〃 And Pendergast nodded over his shoulder。
The car made another semicontrolled skid around a corner； and as D'Agosta fell against the passenger window he got a terrifying glimpse back down the mountainside。 About three switchbacks below he could see a motorcycle； black and chrome； its angular chassis exposed and gleaming。 It was approaching fast。
〃There's a motorcycle on our tail！〃 he said。
Pendergast nodded。 〃A Ducati Monster； S4R model； if I'm not mistaken。 A four…valve twin； well over a hundred horsepower； light but very powerful。〃
D'Agosta glanced back again。 The rider was dressed in red leather； wearing a helmet with a smoked visor。
〃The man from the plaza？〃 he asked。
〃Either him or somebody allied with him。〃
〃He's after us？〃
〃No。 He's after the priest。〃
〃We sure as hell can't outrun him。〃
〃We can slow him down。 Get out your weapon。〃
〃And do what？〃
〃I'll leave that to your discretion。〃
Now D'Agosta could hear the high…pitched whine of an engine in high gear； approaching from behind。 They tore around another corner； scattering clouds of dust as the Fiat slewed； first right； then left。 But already the motorcycle was biting into the same corner； leaning at an incredible angle； almost pegging the road。 The rider straightened quickly and began closing the gap； preparing to pass。
〃Hang on； Vincent。〃
The car swerved into the left lane just as the motorcycle came alongside； then swerved back with a shriek of rubber； cutting him off。 D'Agosta looked back and saw the motorcyclist dropping back； preparing to make another run past them。
〃He's ing on the right！〃 he shouted。
At the last minute； Pendergast jerked the car to the left again； correctly anticipating a feint； there was a screech of tires behind them as the motorcyclist dumped his rear brake and the bike rose in a reverse wheelie。 The rider straightened； recovered。 D'Agosta saw him reach into his jacket。
〃He's got a gun！〃
D'Agosta planted himself against the passenger door and waited； his own weapon at the ready。 He doubted that a man on a motorcycle； going eighty miles an hour on a winding mountain road； could fire with any accuracy…but he wasn't going to take any chances。
With a burst of speed； the motorcycle closed again； the gun leveling； steadying。 D'Agosta aimed his weapon。
〃Wait until he fires；〃 Pendergast murmured。
There was a bang and a blue puff； instantly whisked away； a simultaneous thump； and the back window went abruptly opaque； a web of cracks running away from a perfect 9mm hole。 An instant later Pendergast braked with terrifying suddenness； throwing D'Agosta forward against the seat belt； then swerved and accelerated again。
D'Agosta unbuckled the seat belt； jumped into the backseat； kicked away the sagging rear window； steadied his gun； and fired。 The cyclist swerved and dropped back behind a curve； kicking his way down through the gears。
〃The bastard…！〃
The car slid into the next corner； fishtailing on loose gravel and sliding perilously close to the cliff edge。 D'Agosta knelt in the rear seat； hardly daring to breathe； aiming through the ruined window； ready to fire as soon as the motorcycle reappeared。 As they ripped around another hillside； he saw the Ducati flash into view about a hundred yards back。
Pendergast downshifted； the engine screaming with the effort； the rpm needle redlining。 The car went into another long； sickening turn。
As they accelerated out of the curve； the road emerged onto a shoulder of a mountain； heading straight through a long； dark forest of pine trees； tunneling into shade。 A sign flashed past：Chiusi della Verna 13km。 Keeping watch on their rear； D'Agosta could see a whirlwind of dancing pine needles thrown up by their passage。
。 。 。 And there came the Ducati； swinging around the curve。 D'Agosta aimed but it was an impossible shot； two hundred yards back from a moving car。 He sat； awaiting his chance。
With a piercing whine； the motorcycle came surging forward； screaming into fifth； then sixth gear； approaching at ever…increasing speed。 The man had put away his gun； and both his gloved hands were on the handlebars； his head lowered。
〃He's going to try another run past us。〃
〃No doubt。〃 Pendergast stayed in the center of the road； accelerator floored。
But the car was no match for the Ducati。 It came straight up behind them； accelerating all the way。The thing must top out at a hundred and eighty ； D'Agosta thought。 He knew it would try to turn and dart past them at the last moment； and there would be no way for Pendergast to guess if the rider would veer to the right or the left。 He steadied his gun。 He had vastly improved his shooting from many sessions at the 27th Precinct range； but with the vibration； the motion of the car； the motion of the bike…it was going to be tough。 The bike was going at least twice their speed now； ing up on them fast 。 。 。
D'Agosta squeezed off a shot； aiming low at the machine； and missed。
The car made a violent motion to the right as the bike came blasting past on the left…dual silencers flashing； rider leaning so far forward he seemed draped over the front fork…and was gone around the next curve。
〃I lost that coin toss；〃 Pendergast said dryly。
They were now approaching the curve themselves； their speed beyond any possibility of controlling the turn。 Pendergast braked hard while simultaneously jamming on the gas pedal and twisting the wheel left。 The car spun violently around； twice； perhaps three times…D'Agosta was too shaken to be sure…before ing to rest on the very edge of the cliff。
They paused just a moment； the acrid smell of burned brake pads wafting over the car。
〃Fiat； for all its troubles； still knows how to make a decent vehicle；〃 said Pendergast。
〃Eurocar isn't going to like this；〃 D'Agosta replied。
Pendergast jammed on the gas； and the car screeched back onto the road； accelerating into the next turn。
They tore through the fir forest once again before mounting another series of steep switchbacks； wors
