alistairmaclean.seawitch-第2章

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　from　no　motive　of　spurious　self…justification…if　the　governments　of　the　world　do　not　intervene；　then　it　is　imperative　that　we　should。　As　the　governments　show　no　sign　of　intervention；　then　I　suggest　that　the　burden　lies　upon　us。　This　madman　must　be　stopped。　I　think　you　gentlemen　would　agree　that　only　we　realize　the　full　implications　of　all　of　this　and　that　only　we　have　the　technical　expertise　to　stop　him。〃
　There　were　murmurs　of　approval　from　around　the　room。　A　sincere　and　disinterested　concern　for　the　good　of　mankind　was　a　much　more　morally　justifiable　reason　for　action　than　the　protection　of　one's　own　selfish　interest。　Patinos；　the　man　from　Venezuela；　looked　at　Benson　with　a　smile　of　mild　cynicism　on　his　face。　The　smile　signified　nothing。　Patinos；　a　sincere　and　devout　Catholic；　wore　the　same　expression　when　he　passed　through　the　doors　of　his　church。
　〃You　seem　very　sure　of　this；　Mr。　Benson？〃
　〃Tve　given　quite　some　thought　to　it。〃
　Borosoff　said：　〃And　just　how　do　you　propose　to　stop　this　madman；　Mr。　Benson？〃
　A'l　don't　know。〃
　〃You　don't　know？〃　One　of　the　others　at　the　table　lifted　his　eyebrows　a　millimeter…for　him　a　sign　of　plete　disapproval。　〃Then　why　did　you　summon　us　all　this　distance？〃
　〃I　didn't　summon　you。　I　asked　you。　I　asked　you　to　approve　whatever　course　of　action　we　might　take。〃
　'This　course　of　action　being…〃
　〃Again；　I　don't　know。〃
　The　eyebrows　returned　to　normal。　A　twitch　of　the　man's　lip　showed　that　he　was　contemplating　smiling。
　〃This…ah…third　party？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃He　has　a　name？〃
　〃Cronkite。　John　Cronkite。〃
　A　hush　descended　upon　the　pany。　Them　open　objections　had　turned　into　pensive　hesitation　which　in　turn　gave　way　to　a　nodding　acceptance。　Benson　apart；　no　one　there　had　ever　met　Cronkite；　but　his　name　was　a　household　word　to　all　of　them。　In　the　oil　business　that　name　had　long　been　a　legend；　although　at　times　a　far　from　savory　one。　They　all　knew　that　any　of　them　might　require　his　inparable　services　at　any　time；　while　at　the　same　time　hoping　that　that　day　would　never　e。
　When　it　came　to　the　capping　of　blazing　gushers；　Cronkite　was　without　peer。　Wherever　in　the　world　a　gusher　blew　fire　no　one　even　considered　putting　it　out　themselves；　they　just　sent　for　Cronkite。　To　wincing　observers　his　modus　operandi　seemed　nothing　short　of　Draconian；　but　Cronkite　would　blasphemously　brook　no　interference。　Despite　the　extortionate　fees　he　charged；　it　was　more　mon　than　not　for　a　four…engined　jet　to　be　put　at　his　disposal　to　get　him　to　the　scene　of　the　disaster　as　quickly　as　possible。　Cronkite　always　delivered。　He　also　knew　all　there　was　to　know　about　the　oil　business。　And　he　was；　hardly　surprisingly；　extremely　tough　and　utterly　ruthless。
　Henderson；　who　represented　oil　interests　in　Honduras；　said：　〃Why　should　a　man　with　his　extraordinary　qualifications；　the　world's　number；　one；　as　we　all　know；　choose　to　engage　himself　in…ah…an　enterprise　of　this　nature？　From　his　reputation　I　would　hardly　have　thought　that　he　was　one　to　be　concerned　about　the　woes　of　suffering　mankind。〃
　〃He　isn't。　Money。　Cronkite　es　very　high。　A　fresh　challenge…the　man's　a　born　adventurer。　But；　basically；　it's　because　he　hates　Lord　Worth's　guts。〃
　Henderson　said：　〃Not　an　unmon　sentiment；　it　seems。　Why？〃
　〃Lord　Worth　sent　his　own　private　Boeing　for　him　to　e　cap　a　blazing　gusher　in　the　Middle　East。　By　the　time　Cronkite　arrived；　Lord　Worth's　own　men　had　capped　it。　This；　alone；　Cronkite　regarded　as　a　mortal　insult。　He　then　made　the　mistake　of　demanding　the　full　fee　for　his　services。　Lord　Worth　has　a　reputation　for　notorious　Scottish　meanness；　which；　while　an　insult　to　the　Scots；　is　more　than　justified　in　his　case。　He　refused；　and　said　that　he　would　pay　him　for　his　time；　no　more。　Cronkite　then　pounded　his　error　by　taking　him　to　court。　With　the　kind　of　lawyers　Lord　Worth　can　afford；　Cronkite　never　had　a　chance。　Not　only　did　he　lose　but　he　had　to　pay　the　costs。〃
　〃Which　wouldn't　be　low？〃　Henderson　said。
　〃Medium…high　to　massive。　I　don't　know。　All　J　know　is　that　Cronkite　has　done　quite　a　bit　of　brooding　about　it　ever　since。〃
　〃Such　a　man　would　not　have　to　be　sworn　to　secrecy？〃
　〃A　man　can　swear　a　hundred　different　oaths　and　break　them　all。　Besides；　because　of　the　exorbitant　fees　Cronkite　charges；　his　feelings　toward　Lord　Worth　and　the　fact　that　he　might　just　have　to　step　outside　the　law；　his　silence　is　ensured。〃
　It　was　the　turn　of　another　of　those　grouped　round　the　table　to　raise　his　eyebrows。　〃Outside　the　law？　We　cannot　risk　being　involved…〃
　〃　'Might；'　I　said。　For　us；　the　element　of　risk　does　not　exist。〃
　〃May　we　see　this　man？〃　Benson　nodded；　rose；　went　to　a　door　and　admitted　Cronkite。
　Cronkite　was　a　Texan。　In　height；　build　and　cragginess　of　features　he　bore　a　remarkable　resemblance　to　John　Wayne。　Unlike　Wayne；　he　never　smiled。　His　face　was　of　a　peculiarly　yellow　plexion；　typical　of　those　who　have　had　an　overdose　of　antimalarial　tablets；　which　was　just　what　had　happened　to　Cronkite。　Mepacrine　does　not　make　for　a　peaches…and…cream　plexion…　not　that　Cronkite's　had　ever　remotely　resembled　that。　He　was　newly　returned　from　Indonesia；　where　he　had　inevitably　maintained　his　100　percent　record。
　〃Mr。　Cronkite；〃　Benson　said。　〃Mr。　Cronkite；　this　is…〃
　Cronkite　was　brusque。　In　a　gravelly　voice　he　said：　〃I　don't　want　to　know　their　names。〃
　In　spite　of　the　abruptness　of　his　tone；　several　of　the　oilmen　round　the　table　almost　beamed。
　Here　was　a　man　of　discretion；　a　man　after　their　own　hearts。
　Cronkite　went　on：　〃All　I　understand　from　Mr。　Benson　is　that　I　am　required　to　attend　to　a　matter　involving　Lord　Worth　and　the　Seawitch；　Mr。　Benson　has　given　me　a　pretty　full　briefing。　I　know　the　background。　I　would　like；　first　of　all；　to　hear　any　suggestions　you　gentlemen　may　have　to　offer。〃　Cronkite　sat　down；　lit　what　proved　to　be　a　very　foul…smelling　cigar；　and　waited　expectantly。
　He　kept　silent　during　the　following　half…hour　discussion。　For　ten　of　the　world's　top　businessmen；　they　proved　to　be　an　extraordinarily　inept；　not　to　say　inane；　lot。　They　talked　in　an　ever…narrowing　series　of　concentric　circles。
　Henderson　said：　〃First　of　all；　there　must　be　no　violence　used。　Is　that　agreed？〃
　Everybody　nodded　agreement。　Each　of　them　was　a　pillar　of　business　respectability　who　could　not　afford　to　have　his　reputation　besmirched　in　any　way。　No　one　appeared　to　notice　that；　except　for　lifting　a　hand　to　his　cigar　and　puffing　out　increasingly　vile　clouds　of　smoke；　Cronkite　did　not　move　throughout　the　discussion。　He　also　remained　totally　silent。
　After　agreeing　that　there　should　be　no　violence；　the　meeting　of　ten　agreed　on　nothing。
　Finally　Patinos　spoke　up。　〃Why　don't　you…　one　of　you　four　Americans；　I　mean…approach　your　Congress　to　pass　an　emergency　law　banning　offshore　drilling　in　extraterritorial　waters？〃
　Benson　looked　at　him　with　something　akin　to　pity。　〃I　am　afraid；　sir；　that　you　do　not　quite　understand　the　relations　between　the　American　majors　and　Congress。　On　the　few　occasions　we　have　met　with　them…something　to　do　with　too　much　profits　and　too　little　tax…I'm　afraid　we　have　treated　them　in　so…ah…cavalier　a　fashion　that　nothing　would　give　them　greater　pleasure　than　to　refuse　any　request　we　might　make。〃
　One　of　the　others；　known　simply　as　〃Mr。　A；〃　said：　〃How　about　an　approach　to　that　international　legal　ombudsman；　The　Hague？　After　all；　this　is　an　international　matter。〃
　Henderson　shook　his　head。　〃Forget　it。　The　dilatoriness　of　that　august　body　is　so　legendary　that　　　all　　　present　　would　　　be　　　long　　　retired…or　worse…before　a　decision　is　made。　The　decision　would　just　as　likely　be　negative　anyway。〃　〃United　Nations？〃　Mr。　A　said。　〃That　talk…shop！〃　　Benson　　obviously　had　a　low　and　not　unmon　view　of　the　UN。　〃They　haven't　even　got　the　power　to　order　New　York　to　install　a　new　parking　meter　outside　their　front　door。〃
　The　next　revolutionary　idea　came　from　one　of　the　Americans。
　〃Why　shouldn't　we　all　agree；　for　an　unspecified　time…let's　see　how　it　goes…to　lower　our　price　below　that　of　North　Hudson？　In　that　case　no　one　would　want　to　buy　their　oil。〃
　This　proposal　was　met　with　stunned　disbelief。
　Corral　spoke　in　a　kind　voice。　〃Not　only　would　that　lead　to　vast　losses　to　the　major　oil　panies；　but　would　almost　certainly　and　immediately　lead　Lord　Worth　to　lower　his　prices　fractionally　below　their　new　ones。　The　man　has　sufficient　working　capital　to　keep　him　going　for　a　hundred　years　at　a　lossin　the　unlikely　event；　that　is；　of　his　running　at　a　loss　at　all。〃
　A　lengthy　silence　followed。　Cronkite　was　not　quite　as　immobile　as　he　had　been；　The　granitic　expression　on　his　face　remained　unchanged；　but　the　fingers　of　his　nonsmoking　hand　had　begun　to　drum　gently　on　the　armrest　of　his　chair。　For　Cronkite；　this　was　equivalent　to　throwing　a　fit　of　hysterics。
　It　was　during　this　period　that　all　thoughts　of　maintaining　high；　gentlemanly　and　ethical　standards　against　drilling　hi　international　waters　were　forgotten　by　the　ten。
　〃Why　not；〃　Mr。　A　said；　〃buy　him　out？〃　In　fairness　it　has　to　be　said　that　Mr。　A　did　not　appreciate　just　how　wealthy　Lord　Worth　was　and　that；　immensely　wealthy　though　he；　Mr。　A；　was；　Lord　Worth　could　have　bought　him　out　lock；　stock　and　barrel。　〃The　Seawitch　rights；　I　mean。　A　hundred　million　dollars。　Let's　be　generous；　two　hundred　million　dollars。　Why　not？〃
　Corral　looked　depressed。　'The　answer　to　〃Why　not？'　is　easy。　By　the　latest　reckoning；　Lord　Worth　is　one　of　the　world's　five　richest　men；　and　even　two　hundred　million　dollars　would　be　pennies　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。〃
　Now　Mr。　A　looked　depressed。
　Benson　said：　〃Sure　he'd　sell。〃
　Mr。　A　visibly　brightened。
　〃For　two　reasons　only。　In　the　first　place　he'd　make　a　quick　and　splendid　profit。　In　the　second　place；　for　less　than　half　the　selling　price；　he　could　build　another　Seawitch；　anchor　it　a　couple　of　miles　away　from　the　present　Seawitch…there　are　no　leasehold　rights　in　extraterritorial　waters…　and　start　sending　oil　ashore　at　his　same　old　price。〃
　A　temporarily　deflated　Mr。　A　slumped　back　in　his　armchair。
　〃A　partnership；　then；〃　Mr。　B　said。　His　tone　was　that　of　a　man　in　a　state　of　quiet　despair。
　〃Out　of　the　question。〃　Henderson　was　very　positive。　〃Like　all　very　rich　men；　Lord　Worth　is　a　born　loner。　He　wouldn't　have　a　bined　partnership　with　the　King　of　Saudi　Arabia　and　the　Shah　of　Iran；　even　if　it　were　offered　him　free。〃
　In　the　gloom　of　baffled　and　exhausted　silence　thoroughly　bored　and　hitherto　near…wordless；　John　Cronkite　rose。
　He　said　without　preamble：　〃My　personal　fee　will　be　one　million　dollars。　I　will　require　ten　million　dollars　for　operating　expenses。　Every　cent　of　this　will　be　accounted　for　and　any　unspent　balance　returned。　I　demand　a　pletely　free　hand　and　no　interference　from　any　of　you。　If　I　do　encounter　interference　I'll　retain　the　balance　of　the　expenses　and　abandon　the　mission。　I　refuse　to　disclose　what　my　plans　are…or　will　be　when　I　have　made　them。　Finally；　I　would　prefer　to　have　no　further　contact　with　any　of　you；　now　or　at　any　time。〃
　The　assurance　and　confidence　of　the　man　were　astonishing。　Agreement　among　the　mightily　relieved　ten　was　immediate　and　total。　The　ten　million　dollars…a　trifling　sum　to　those　accustomed　to　spending　as　much　in　bribes　every　month　or　so…would　be　delivered　within　twenty…four…　at　the　most；　forty…eight…hours　to　a　Cuban　numbe