alistairmaclean.seawitch-第11章

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ing　coast…guard…cutter　captain　which　he　was　not。　Mulhooney　was　similarly　disguised。
　There　was　only　Captain　Thompson　and　an　idle　helmsman　on　the　bridge。　Cronkite　shook　the　captain's　hand。
　〃Good　morning。　Sorry　to　disturb　you　when　you　are　proceeding　about　your　lawful　business　and　all　that；　but　you　may　be　glad　we　stopped　you。　First；　where　is　your　radio　room？〃　Captain　Thompson　nodded　to　a　door　set　in　back　of　the　bridge。　〃Fd　like　my　lieutenant　to　check　on　the　radio　silence。　This　is　imperative。〃　Again；　Captain　Thompson；　now　feeling　distinctly　uneasy；　nodded。　Cronkite　looked　at　Mulhooney。　〃Go　check；　Dixon；　will　you？〃
　Mulhooney　passed　through　into　the　radio　room；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　The　radio　operator　looked　up　from　his　transceiver　with　an　air　of　mild　surprise。
　〃Sorry　to　disturb。〃　Mulhooney　sounded　almost　genial；　a　remarkable　feat　for　a　man　totally　devoid　of　geniality。　〃I'm　from　the　Coast　Guard　cutter　alongside。　The　captain　told　you　to　keep　radio　silence？〃
　〃That's　just　what　I'm　doing。〃
　〃Made　any　radio　calls　since　leaving　the　Sea…witch？〃
　〃Only　the　routine　half…hourly　on…course；　on…time　calls。'*
　〃Do　they　acknowledge　those？　I　have　my　reasons　for　asking。〃　Mulhooney　carefully　refrained　from　saying　what　his　reasons　were。
　〃No。　Well；　just　the　usual　'roger　and　out'　business。〃
　Allstair　
　〃What's　the　call…up　frequency？〃
　The　operator　pointed　to　the　console。　〃Preset。〃
　Mulhooney　nodded　and　walked　casually　behind　the　operator。　Just　to　make　sure　that　the　operator　kept　on　maintaining　radio　silence；　Mulhooney　clipped　him　over　the　right　ear　with　his　pistol。　He　then　returned　to　the　bridge；　where　he　found　Captain　Thompson　in　a　state　of　considerable　and　understandable　perturbation。
　Captain　Thompson；　a　deep　anxiety　pounded　by　a　self…defensive　disbelief；　said：　〃What　you're　telling　me　in　effect　is　that　the　Torbello　is　a　floating　time　bomb。〃
　〃A　bomb；　certainly。　Maybe　lots　of　bombs。　Not　only　possible　but　almost　certain。　Our　sources　of　information…sorry；　Fm　not　at　liberty　to　divulge　those…are　as　nearly　perfect　as　can　be。〃
　〃God's　sake；　man；　no　one　would　be　so　crazy　as　to　cause　a　huge　oil　slick　in　the　Gulf。〃
　Cronkite　said：　〃It's　your　assumption；　not　mine；　that　we're　dealing　with　sane　minds。　Who　but　a　crazy　man　would　have　endangered　Galveston　by　blowing　up　your　sister　tanker　there？〃
　The　captain　fell　silent　and　pondered　the　question　gloomily。
　Cronkite　went　on：　〃Anyway；　it's　my　intention…with　your　consent；　of　course…to　search　the　engine　room；　living　acmodations　and　every　storage　space　on　the　ship。　With　the　kind　of　search　crew　I　have　it　shouldn't　take　more　than　half　an　hour。〃
　Seawitch
　〃What　kind　of　preset　time　bomb　do　you　think　it　might　be？〃
　〃I　don't　think　it's　a　time　bomb…or　bombs…　at　all。　I　think　that　the　detonator…or　detonators　…will　be　a　certain　radioactivated　device　that　can　be　triggered　by　any　nearby　craft；　plane　or　helicopter。　But　I　don't　think　it's　fixing　to　happen　till　you're　close　to　the　U。S。　coast。〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃So　we'll　have　maximum　pollution　along　the　shores。　There'll　be　a　national　holler　against　Lord　Worth　and　the　safety　standards　aboard　Ms…　ah…rather　superannuated　tankers；　maybe　resulting　in　closing　down　the　Seawitch　or　the　seizing　of　any　of　Worth's　tankers　that　might　enter　American　territorial　waters。〃　In　addition　to　his　many　other　specialized　qualifications；　Cronkite　was　a　consummate　liar。　〃Okay　if　I　call　my　men？〃　Captain　Thompson　nodded　without　any　noticeable　enthusiasm。
　Cronkite　lifted　the　loud…hailer　and　ordered　the　search　party　aboard。　They　came　immediately；　fourteen　of　them；　all　of　them　wearing　stocking　masks；　all　of　them　carrying　machine　pistols。　Captain　Thompson　stared　at　them　in　stupefaction；　then　turned　and　stared　some　more　at　Cronkite　and　Mulhooney；　both　of　whom　had　pistols　leveled　at　him。　Cronkite　may　have　been　looking　satisfied　or　even　triumphant；　but　such　was　the　abundance　of　his　ersatz　facial　foliage　that　it　was　impossible　to　tell。
　
　Captain　Thompson；　in　a　stupefaction　that　was　slowly　turning　into　a　slow　burn；　said：　〃What　the　hell　goes？〃
　〃You　can　see　what　goes。　Hijack。　A　very　popular　pastime　nowadays。　I　agree　that　nobody's　ever　hijacked　a　tanker　before；　but　there　always　has　to　be　a　first　time。　Besides；　it's　not　really　something　new。　Piracy　on　the　high　seas。　They've　been　at　it　for　thousands　of　years。　Don't　try　anything　rash；　Captain；　and　please　don't　try　to　be　a　hero。　If　you　all　behave；　no　harm　will　e　to　you。　Anyway；　what　could　you　possibly　do　with　fourteen　submachine　guns　lined　up　against　you？〃
　Within　five　minutes　all　the　crew；　officers　and　men；　including　the　recovered　radio　operator　but　with　one　other　exception；　were　herded　into　the　crew's　mess　under　armed　guard。　Nobody　had　even　as　much　as　contemplated　offering　resistance。　The　exception　was　an　unhappy…looking　duty　engineer　in　the　engine　room。　There　are　few　people　who　don't　look　slightly　unhappy　when　staring　at　the　muzzle　of　a　Schmeisser　from　a　distance　of　five　feet。
　Cronkite　was　on　the　bridge　giving　Mulhooney　his　final　instructions。
　〃Keep　on　sending　the　Seawitch　its　half…hour　on…time；　on…course　reports。　Then　report　a　minor　breakdown　in　two　or　three　hours…a　fractured　fuel　line　or　something　of　the　sort…enough　that　would　keep　the　Torbello　immobilized　for　a　few
　Seawitch
　hours。　You're　due　in　Galveston　tonight　and　I　need　time　and　room　to　maneuver。　Rather；　you　need　time　and　room　to　maneuver。　When　it　gets　dark　keep　every　navigational　light　extinguished　…in　fact；　every　light　extinguished。　Let's　don't　underestimate　Lord　Worth。〃　Cronkite　was　speaking　with　an　unaccustomed　degree　of　bitterness；　doubtless　recalling　the　day　Lord　Worth　had　taken　him　to　the　cleaners　in　court。　〃He's　a　very　powerful　man；　and　it's　quite　in　the　cards　that　he　can　have　an　air…and…sea　search　mounted　for　his　missing　tanker。〃
　Cronkite　rejoined　the　Georgia；　cast　off　and　pulled　away。　Mulhooney；　too；　got　under　way；　but　altered　course　ninety　degrees　to　port　so　that　he　was　heading　southwest　instead　of　northwest。　On　the　first　half　hour　he　sent　the　reassuring　report　to　the　Seawitch…〃on　course；　on　time。〃
　Cronkite　waited　for　the　Starlight　to　join　him；　then　both　vessels　proceeded　together　in　a　generally　southeasterly　direction　until　they　were　about　thirty…five　nautical　miles　from　the　Seawitch；　safely　over　the　horizon　and　out　of　reach　of　the　Seawitch's　radar　and　sonar。　They　stopped　their　engines　and　settled　down　to　wait。
　The　big　Boeing　had　almost　halved　the　distance　between　Florida　and　Washington。　Lord　Worth；　in　his　luxurious　stateroom　immediately　abaft　the　flight　deck；　was　making　up　for　time　lost　during　the　previous　night　and；　blissfully　unaware　of　the　slings　and　arrows　that　were　ing　at　him　from　all　sides；　was　soundly　asleep。
　Mitchell　had　been　unusually　but　perhaps　not　unexpectedly　late　in　waking　that　morning。　He　showered；　shaved　and　dressed　while　the　coffee　percolated；　all　the　time　conscious　of　a　peculiar　and　unaccustomed　sense　of　unease。　He　paced　up　and　down　the　kitchen；　drinking　his　coffee；　then　abruptly　decided　to　put　his　unease　at　rest。　He　lifted　the　phone　and　dialed　Lord　Worth's　mansion。　The　other　end　rang；　rang　again　and　kept　on　ringing。　Mitchell　replaced　the　receiver；　then　tried　again　with　the　same　result。　He　finished　his　coffee；　went　across　to　Roomer's　house　and　let　himself　in　with　his　passkey。　He　went　into　the　bedroom　to　find　Roomer　still　asleep。　He　woke　him　up。　Roomer　regarded　him　with　disfavor。
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　waking　up　a　man　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃
　〃It's　not　the　middle　of　the　night。〃　He　pulled　open　the　drapes　and　the　bright　summer　sunlight　flooded　the　room。　〃It's　broad　daylight；　as　you　will　be　able　to　see　when　you　open　your　eyes。〃　'
　〃Your　house　on　fire　or　something；　then？〃
　〃I　wish　it　were　something　as　trivial　as　that。　Fm　worried；　John。　I　woke　up　feeling　bugged　by　something；　and　the　feeling　got　worse　and　worse。　Five　minutes　ago　I　called　up　Lord　Worth's　house。　I　tried　twice。　There　was　no　reply。　Must　have　been　at　least　eight　or　ten　people　in　that　house；　but　there　was　no　reply。〃
　〃What　do　you　think…〃
　〃You're　supposed　to　be　the　man　with　the　intuition。　Get　ready。　Til　go　make　some　coffee。〃
　Long　before　the　coffee　was　ready；　in　fact　less　than　ninety　seconds　later；　Roomer　was　in　the　kitchen。　He　had　of　course　neither　showered　nor　shaved　but　had　had　time　to　run　a　b　through　his　hair。　He　was　looking　the　same　way　the　expressionless　Mitchell　was　feeling。
　〃Never　mind　the　coffee。〃　Roomer　bore　an　almost　savage　expression　on　his　face；　but　Mitchell　knew　that　it　wasn't　directed　at　him。　〃Let's　get　up　to　the　house/'
　They　took　Roomer's　car；　it　was　nearer。
　Mitchell　said：　〃God；　we're　really　bright！　Hit　us　over　the　head　often　enough　and　maybe…just　maybe…we'll　begin　to　see　the　obvious。〃　He　held　on　to　his　seat　as　Roomer；　tires　screeching；　rounded　a　blind　corner。　〃Easy；　boy；　easy。　Too　late　to　lock　the　stable　now。〃
　With　what　was　a　clearly　conscious　effort　of　will；　Roomer　slowed　down。　He　said：　〃Yeah；　we're　real　clever。　Lord　Worth　used　a　threat　of　the　girls'　abduction　as　an　excuse　for　his　actions。　And　you　told　him　to　offer　the　threat　of　the　abduction　as　an　excuse　for　our　being　there　last　night。　And　it　never　occurred　to　either　of　our　staggering　intellects　that　their　kidnaping　would　be　both　logical　and　inevitable。　Worth　wasn't　exaggerating…he　has　enemies；　and　vicious　enemies　who　are　out　to　get　him。　Two　trump　cards…　and　what　trumps！　He's　powerless　now。　He'll　give　away　half　his　money　to　get　them　back。　Just　half。　He'll　use　the　other　half　to　hunt　those　people　down。　Money　can　buy　any　co…operation　in　the　world；　and　the　old　boy　has　all　the　money　in　the　world。〃
　Mitchell　now　seemed　relaxed；　fortable；　even　calm。　He　said：　〃But　we'll　get　to　them　first；　won't　we；　John？〃
　Roomer　stirred　unfortably　in　his　seat　as　they　swung　into　the　mansion's　driveway。　He　said：　'Tm　just　as　sore　as　you　are。　But　I　don't　like　it　when　you　start　talking　that　way。　You　know　that。〃
　〃I'm　expressing　an　intention…or　at　least　a　hope。〃　He　smiled。　〃We'll　see。〃
　Roomer　stopped　his　car　in　a　fashion　that　did　little　good　to　Lord　Worth's　immaculately　raked　gravel。　The　first　thing　that　caught　Mitchell's　eye　as　he　left　the　car　was　an　odd　movement　by　the　side　of　the　driveway　hi　a　clump　of　bushes。　He　took　out　his　gun　and　went　to　investigate；　then　put　his　gun　away；　opened　his　clasp　knife　and　sliced　through　MacPherson's　bonds。　The　head　gardener；　after　forty　years　in　Florida；　had　never　lost　a　trace　of　a　very　pronounced　Scottish　accent；　an　accent　that　tended　to　thicken　according　to　the　degree　of　mental　stress　he　was　undergoing。…On　this　occasion；　with　the　adhesive　removed；　his　language　was　wholly　indecipherable…which；　in　view　of　what　he　was　almost　certainly　trying　to　say；　was　probably　just　as　well。
　They　went　through　the　front　doorway。　Jen…kins；　apparently　taking　his　ease　in　a　fortable　armchair；　greeted　them　with　a　baleful　glare。　The　glare　was　in　no　way　intended　for　them；　Jenkins　was　just　in　a　baleful　mood；　a　mood　scarcely　bettered　by　Mitchell's　swift　and　painful　yanking　away　of　the　adhesive　from　his　lips。　Jenkins　took　a　deep　breath；　preparatory　to。　lodging　some　form　of　protest；　but　Mitchell　cut　in　before　he　could　speak。
　〃Where　does　Jim　sleep？〃　Jim　was　the　radio　operator。
　Jenkins　stared　at　him　in　astonishment。　Was　this　the　way　to　greet　a　man　who　had　been　through　a　living