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〃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