alistairmaclean.seawitch-第22章

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　〃Yes。　Remember…you've　never　seen　them　before。〃
　〃We'll　remember；〃　the　girls　said　almost　in　chorus。　Their　faces　were　transformed。　Marina　said：　〃But　they'll　be　in　great　danger。　Why　are　they　here？〃
　〃Something　to　do；　I　understand；　with　then…stated　intent　of　taking　you　back　home。〃
　〃How…are　they　going　to　do　that？〃
　Again　Lord　Worth　was　frank。　〃I　don't　know。　H　they　know；　they　wouldn't　tell　me。　They've　bee　bossy；　very　bossy。　Watch　me　like　a　hawk：　Won't　even　let　me　near　my　own　blasted　phone。〃　The　girls　refrained　from　smiling；　principally　because　Lord　Worth　didn't　seem　particularly　perturbed。　〃Mitchell；　especially；　seems　in　a　very　tetchy　mood。〃　Lord　Worth　spoke　with　some　relish。　〃Near　as　a　whisker　killed　Durand　inside　the　first　minute。　Would　have；　too；　if　you　weren't　being　held　hostage。　Well；　let's　go　to　my　suite。　I've　been　to　Washington　and　back。　Long　tiring　day。　I　need　refreshment。〃
　Durand　went　into　the　radio　room；　told　the　regular　operator　that　his　services　would　not　be　required　until　further　notice　and　that　he　was　to　return　to　his　quarters　and　remain　there。　The　operator　left。　Durand；　himself　an　expert　radio　operator；　raised　the　Georgia　within　a　minute　and　was　speaking　to　Cronkite　thirty　seconds　later。
　〃Everything　under　control　on　the　Seawitch。　We　have　the　two　girls　here　and　Lord　Worth　himself。〃
　〃Excellent。〃　Cronkite　was　pleased。　Everything　was　going　his　way；　but；　then；　he　had　expected　nothing　else。　〃Lord　Worth　bring　anyone　with　him？〃
　〃The　pilot　and　three　other　people。　A　doctor…　surgeon；　he　says；　and　he　seems　on　the　level。　Worth　seems　to　have　expected　some　blood　to　be　spilled。　I'll　check　his　credentials　in　Florida　in　a　few　minutes。　Also；　two　technicians…seismologists；　or　something　like　them。　Genuine　and　harmless…the　sight　of　a　machine　pistol　gives　them　St。　Virus's　Dance。　They're　unarmed。〃
　〃So　no　worries？〃
　〃Well；　three。　Worth　has　a　squad　of　about　twenty　men　aboard。　They　look　like　trained　killers　and　I'm　pretty　sure　they're　all　ex…military。　They　have　to　be　because　of　my　second　worry…Worth　has　eight　dual…purpose　antiaircraft　guns　bolted　to　the　platform。〃
　〃The　hell　he　has！〃
　〃Yeah…also　piles　of　mines　on　the　sides　of　the　platform。　Now　we　know　who　heisted　the　Mississippi　naval　arsenal　last　night。　And　the　third　problem　is　that　we're　far　too　thin　on　the　ground。　There's　only　me　and　four　others　to　watch　everybody。　Some　of　us　have　to　sleep　sometimes。　I　need　reinforcements　and　I　need　'em　fast。〃
　〃You'll　have　over　twenty　arriving　at　dawn　tomorrow　morning。　The　relief　rig　crew　are　due　in　then。　A　man　named　Gregson…you'll　recognize　him　by　the　biggest　red　beard　you　ever　saw…will　be　in　charge。〃
　〃I　can't　wait　that　long。　I　need　reinforcements　now。　You　have　your　chopper　on　the　Georgia。〃
　〃What　do　you　think　I　carry　on　the　Georgia；　an　army　of　reinforcements？〃　Cronkite　paused；　then　went　on　reluctantly：　〃I　can　spare　eight　men；　no　more。〃
　〃They　have　radar　aboard。〃
　〃So　they　have　radar。　What　difference　does　it　make？　You're　hi　mand。〃
　〃Yeah；　Mr。　Cronkite。　But　your　own　golden　rule…never　take　a　chance。〃
　〃When　you　hear　our　helicopter　has　taken　off；　neutralize　it〃
　〃Destroy　the　radar　cabin？〃
　〃No。　We're　going　to　want　to　use　it　when　we've　pletely　taken　over。　The　scanner　will　be　on　top　of　the　drilling　derrick。　Right？〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃It's　a　simple　mechanical　job　to　stop　it　from　turning。　All　you　need　is　someone　with　a　wrench　and　a　head　for　heights。　Now　tell　me　exactly　where　Worth's　men　are　quartered。　Gregson　will　need　this　information。〃
　Durand　told　him　what　he　wanted　to　know　and　hung　up。
　The　dispensary…sick　bay　and　the　laboratory　were　next　to　each　other。　Mitchell　and　Roomer　were　helping　Dr。　Greenshaw　unpack　his　very　considerable　amount　of　medical　equipment。　They　were；　understandably；　not　unguarded；　but　Aaron　and　his　Schmeisser　were　on　watch　on　the　two　outside　doors；　and　Aaron　was　hardly　in　an　alert　or　trigger…ready　state　of　mind。　In　fact；　he　regarded　his　vigil　as　being　close　to　pointless。　He　had　been　present　when　the　three　men　disembarked　from　the　helicopter　and　had　formed　the　same　opinion　of　them　as　Durand。
　In　the　sick　bay　Dr。　Greenshaw　up…ended　and　removed　the　false　bottom　of　one　of　his　medical　supply　boxes。　With　a　gingerly　and　patently　nervous　apprehension；　he　took　out　two　belt　holsters；　two　Smith　&　Wesson　。38s；　two　silencers　and　two　spare　magazines。　Wordlessly；　Mitchell　and　Roomer　buckled　on　the　weaponry。　Dr。　Greenshaw；　a　man；　as　they　were　discovering；　of　a　genuinely　devout　turn　of　mind；　said：　〃I　only　hope　no　one　discovers　you　wearing　those　pistols。〃
　Roomer　said：　〃We　appreciate　your　concern；　Doctor。　But　don't　worry　about　us。〃
　〃I　wasn't　worrying　about　you。〃　Dr。　Greenshaw　assumed　his　most　somber　expression。　〃A　good　Christian　can　also　pray　for　the　souls　of　the　ungodly。〃
　A　long　distance　away　the　meeting　of　ten　was　again　assembled　at　Lake　Tahoe。　At　the　former　meeting　the　atmosphere　had　been　hopeful；　forceful　and　determined；　the　participants　confident　that　things　would　go　their　way；　spuriously　motivated　by　their　expressed　intent　to　avert　a　third　world　war。　On　this　evening　the　spirit…if　that　was　the　word…of　the　meeting　had　changed　about　by　180　degrees。　They　were　depressed；　vacillating；　uncertain　and　wholly　lacking　in　confidence；　especially　in　view　of　the　fact　that　their　allegedly　humanitarian　attempts　to　prevent　the　outbreak　of　war　seemed　to　be　having　precisely　the　opposite　effect。
　Again；　as　it　was　his　holiday　home；　Benson　was　hosting　the　meeting。　But　this　time　Benson　was　also　undoubtedly　the　man　in　charge。　Opening　the　discussion；　he　said：　〃Gentlemen；　we　are　in　trouble。　Not　just　simple；　plain　trouble；　but　enormous　trouble　that　could　bring　us　all　down。　It　stems　from　two　facts…we　underestimated　Lord　Worth's　extraordinary　power　and　we　overestimated　Cronkite's　ability　to　handle　the　situation　with　a　suitable　degree　of　discretion　and　tact。　I　admit　I　was　responsible　for　introducing　Cronkite　to　you；　but　on　the　other　hand；　you　were　unanimous　in　your　belief　that　Cronkite　was　the　only　man　to　handle　the　job。　And　we　were　not　aware　that　Cronkite's　detestation　of　Lord　Worth　ran　to　the　extent　of　a　virulent　and　irresponsible　hatred。
　〃I　have　friends　in　the　Pentagon；　not　important　ones　but　ones　that　matter。　The　Pentagon；　normally；　like　any　other　department　of　government；　leaks　secrets　like　a　broken　sieve。　This　time　I　had　to　pay　twenty　thousand　dollars　to　a　stenographer　and　the　same　to　a　cipher　clerk　which；　for　a　pair　of　paratively　lowly　paid　government　employees；　represents　a　pretty　fair　return　for　a　few　hours'　work。
　〃First；　everything　is　known　about　our　previous　meeting　here；　every　word　and　sentiment　that　was　expressed　and　the　identities　of　all　of　us。〃　Benson　paused　and　looked　round　the　room；　partly　to　allow　time　for　the　damning　enormity　of　this　information　to　sink　in；　partly　to　make　it　clear　that　he　expected　to　be　repensed　for　his　very　considerable　outlay。
　Mr。　A；　one　of　the　vastly　powerful　Arabian　Gulf　potentates；　said：　〃I　thought　our　security　was　one　hundred　per　cent。　How　could　anyone　have　known　of　our　presence？〃
　〃No　external　agency　was　involved；　I　have　good　friends　in　California　intelligence。　Their　interest　in　us　is　zero。　Nor　was　the　FBI　involved。　For　that　to　have　happened　we'd　have　had　to　mit　some　crime　and　then　cross　state　lines。
　
　Neither　of　those　have　we　done。　And　before　we　met　last　time　I　had　an　electronics　expert　in　to　check　not　only　this　room　but　the　entire　house　for　bugs。　There　were　none。〃
　Mr。　A　said：　'Terhaps　he　planted　a　bug？〃
　〃Impossible。　Apart　from　the　fact　that　he's　an　old　friend　of　immaculate　reputation；　I　was　with　him　all　the　time；　a　fact　that　did　not　prevent　me　from　calling　in　a　second　expert。〃
　Patinos；　the　Venezuelan；　said：　〃We　give　you　full　marks　for　security。　That　leaves　only　one　possibility。　One　of　us　here　is　a　traitor。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃I　have　no　idea。　We　shall　probably　never　know。〃
　Mr。　A　stroked　his　beard。　〃Mr。　Corral　here　lives　very　close　to　Lord　Worth；　no？〃
　Corral　said：　〃Thank　you　very　much。〃
　Benson　said：　〃Intelligent　men　don't　make　so　obvious　a　link。〃
　〃As　you　said　at　our　previous　meeting；　Fm　the　only　person　who　had　no　declared　interest　in　being　here。〃　Borosoff　seemed　quietly　relaxed。　〃I　could　be　your　man。〃
　〃It's　a　point；　but　one　which　I　don't　accept。　Whether　you　are　here　to　stir　up　trouble　between　the　United　States　and　Russia　may　or　may　not　be　the　case。　Again　it　es　down　to　the　factor　of　intelligence。〃　Benson　was　being　disarmingly　frank。　〃You　could　be；　and　probably　are；　a　Soviet　agent　But　top　agents　are　never　caught　in　the　role　of　agent　provocateur。　I　am　not　plimenting　you　on　your　unquestioned　intelligence。　I　prefer　to　rely　on　simple　mon　sense。〃　Benson；　who　appeared　to　have　developed　a　new　maturity　and　authority；　looked　around　the　pany。　〃Every　word　spoken　here　will　doubtless　be　relayed　to　either　Lord　Worth　or　the　State　Department；　It　no　longer　matters。　We　are　here　to　set　right　any　wrongs　for　which　we　may　have　been…however　unwittingly；　I　may　say…responsible。
　〃We　know　that　a　Russian　missile　naval　craft　and　a　Russian…built　Cuban　submarine　are　closing　in　on　the　Seawitch。　We　also　know　that　a　Venezuelan　destroyer　is　doing　the　same。　What　you　don't　know　is　that　countermeasures　are　being　taken。　My　information…and　the　source　is　impeccable…is　that　Lord　Worth　was　today　closeted　with　Benton；　the　Secretary　of　State；　in　Washington。　My　further　information　is　that　Benton　was　only　partially　convinced　by　Lord　Worth's　suspicions。　He　was；　unfortunately；　wholly　convinced　when　the　news　came　through　of　Cron…kite's　irresponsible　folly　in　kidnaping　Lord　Worth's　two　daughters。　As　a　result；　a　United　States　cruiser　and　destroyer；　both　armed　with　the　most　sophisticated　weaponry；　have　moved　out　into　the　Gulf　of　Mexico。　An　American　nuclear　submarine　is　already　patrolling　those　waters。　Another　American　vessel　is　already　shadowing　your　destroyer；　Mr。　Patinos：　your　destroyer；　with　its　vastly　inferior　detecting　equipment；　is　wholly　unaware　of　this。　Additionally；　at　a　Louisiana　air　base；　a　squadron　of　supersonic　fighter…bombers　is　on　instant　alert。
　〃The　Americans　are　no　longer　in　any　mood　to　play　around。　My　information　is　that　they　are　prepared　for　a　showdown　and　are　prepared　for　the　eyeball…to…eyeball　confrontation　which　John　Kennedy　had　with　Khrushchev　over　Cuba。　The　Russians；　clearly；　would　never　risk　a　local　nuclear　confrontation　where　the　home…territory　advantages　are　so　overwhelmingly　American。　Neither　side　would　dream　of　mounting　a　pre…emptive　strike　over　the　issue　of　a　few　pennies　on　a　barrel　of　oil。　But　if　the　hot　line　between　Washington　and　Moscow　begins　to　burn；　national　prestige　will　make　it　difficult　for　either　side　to　back　down　until　they　arrive　at　a　face…saving　formula；　which　could　take　quite　some　time　and　would；　much　worse；　generate　overwhelming　worldwide　publicity。　　This　would　inevitably　involve　us。　　So　I　would　advise　you；　Mr。　Borosoff　and　Mr。　Patinos；　to　call　off　your　dogs　of　war　before　that　hot　line　starts　burning。　That　way；　and　only　in　that　way；　can　we　survive　with　our　good　names　left　un…besmirched。　I　blame　neither　of　you　gentlemen。　You　may　have　given　the　nod　to　Cronkite；　but　you　did　not　reckon　on　the　possibility　that　Cronkite　　　would　　　carry　　　matters　　　to　　　such　　　ridiculous　lengths。　Please；　please　believe　me　that　the　Americans　will　not　hesitate　to　blast　your　ships　out