alistairmaclean.seawitch-第26章

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clenched。　Roomer　smiled。　〃I　know。　But　you're　too　late。　How　deep's　the　water　here？〃
　〃Nine　hundred　feet。〃
　〃Then　you'd　need　a　diving　bell　to　get　your　hands　round　the　throats　of　those　responsible。　And　how　are　things　with　you；　mander　Larsen？　You　can　see　how　things　are　with　us。〃
　〃I've　been　resting。　Mitchell　has　been　more　active。　Besides　the　three　men　at　the　bottom　of　the　Gulf；　he's　also　deprived　me　of　the　pleasure　of　beating　the　hell　out　of　Durand。　Aaron　isn't　feeling　too　well　either。〃
　Roomer　said　apologetically：　〃He　doesn't　go　in　much　for　diplomacy。　So　the　Seawitch　is　in　our　hands？〃
　〃For　the　moment〃
　〃For　the　moment？〃
　〃Do　you　expect　a　man　like　Cronkite　to　give　up？　So　ke's　lost　five　men　and　is　probably　about　to　lose　another　eight　or　nine。　What's　that　for　a　man　with　ten　million　to　play　around　with？　And　he's　got　his　personal　vendetta　against　Lord　Worth。　If　he　has　to　cripple　or　even　destroy　the　Seawitch；　including　everybody　aboard…well；　it　isn't　going　to　bother　Cronkite's　conscience　for　long。〃　He　turned　to　Dr。　Greenshaw。　〃I　think　it's　time　you　got　busy　with　the　stretchers。　Can　you　spare　four　of　your　drilling　crew；　mander；　to　help　transfer　them　to　the　stretchers　and　then　across　to　the　helicopter？　I'm　afraid；　John；　you're　going　to　have　some　unpleasant　pany　on　the　trip。　Durand　and　Aaron。　Tied　up　like　chickens；　of　course。〃
　〃Well；　thank　you　very　much。〃
　〃I　can…occasionally…be　as　leery　as　you。　I　wouldn't　put　it　past　Cronkite　to　get　aboard　the　Seawitch。　How；　I　haven't　the　faintest　idea；　but　with　a　highly　devious　mind　a　driven　man　can　acplish　most　anything。　If　he　succeeded　I　don't　want　Durand　and　Aaron　blowing　the　whistle　on　me。　I　want　to　stay　an　inconspicuous　and　harmless　seismologist。〃
　Larsen　gave　a　few　orders　on　the　phone；　then　he　and　Mitchell　went　through　to　Lord　Worth's　room。　Lord　Worth　was　on　the　phone；　listening　and　scowling。　Marina　looked　at　Mitchell　with　an　expression　as　forbidding　as　her　father's。
　〃I　suppose　you've　been　Uttering　the　platform　with　a　few　more　dead　men？〃
　〃You　do　me　a　grave　injustice。　There's　no　one　left　to　kill。〃　She　gave　what　might　have　been　a　tiny　shudder　and　looked　away。
　Larsen　said：　〃The　ship　is　in　our　hands；　Miss　Marina。　We're　expecting　a　little　more　trouble　in　about　ten　minutes；　but　we　can　take　care　of　that。〃
　Lord　Worth　replaced　his　receiver。　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Cronkite　is　sending　some　reinforcements　by　helicopter。　Not　many…eight　or　nine。　They　won't　have　a　chance。　He's　under　the　Impression　that　Durand　is　still　in　charge　here。〃
　〃I　take　it　he's　not。〃
　〃He's　unconscious　and　tied　up。　So　is　Aaron。〃
　A　yearning　look　came　over　Lord　Worth's　face。　〃Is　Cronkite　ing　with　them？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃How　very　unfortunate。　And　I've　just　had　some　more　bad　news。　The　Torbello　has　broken　down。〃
　〃Sabotage？〃
　〃No。　The　main　fuel…supply　line　to　its　engine　has　fractured。　Just　a　temporary　stop；　though　it　may　take　some　hours　to　repair。　But　there's　no　cause　for　worry；　and　half…hourly　reports　on　the　state　of　repairs　should　be　forthing。〃
　Another　disturbing　point　had　arisen：　Lord　Worth　disclosed　that　no　major　marine…insurance　panies　or　Lloyd's　of　London　had　ever　heard　of　the　existence　of　the　Tiburon；　The　fact　was　less　than　surprising　if　one　knew　of　Mulhooney's　renaming　exploits…Hammond　to　Tiburon　to　Georgia。　The　vessel　had　virtually　ceased　to　exist　Even　more　disturbing；　however；　was　the　fact　that　the　Marine　Gulf　Corporation　had　reported　the　disappearance　of　its　seismological　survey　vessel　from　Freeport。　It　was　called　the　Hammond。
　The　U。　S。　Navy　had　two　points　of　cold　fort　to　offer。　What　the　United　States　did　with　its　obsolete　submarines　was　to　scrap　them　or　sell　them　to　foreign　governments：　none　had　ever　fallen　into　the　hands　of　mercial　panies　or　private　individuals。　Nor　were　there　any　Cous…teau…type　submersibles　along　the　Gulf　Coast
　The　telephone　bell　jangled。　Lord　Worth　switched　on　the　wall　receivers。　The　radio　officer　was　succinct
　〃Helicopter；　flying　low；　due　northwest；　five　miles　out。〃
　〃Well；　now；〃　Larsen　said；　〃this　should　provide　a　diversion。　ing；　Mitchell？〃
　〃In　a　minute。　I　have　a　little　note　to　write。　Remember？〃
　〃The　note；　of　course。〃　Larsen　left。　Mitchell　penned　a　brief　note　in　neat　printed　script　that　left　no　room　for　misinterpretation；　folded　it　in　his　pocket　and　went　to　the　door。　Lord　Worth　said：　〃Mind　if　I　e　along？〃
　〃Well；　there　won't　be　any　danger；　but　I　think　you'd　do　better　to　listen　for　messages　from　radar；　radio；　sonar　and　so　forth。〃
　〃Agreed。　And　HI　call　up　the　Secretary　to　see　what　luck　he's　had　in　hauling　those　damned　warships　off　my　back。〃
　Marina　said　sweetly：　〃If　there's　no　danger　Fra　ing　with　you。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You　have　a　very　limited　vocabulary；　Mr。　Mitchell。〃
　〃Instead　of　trying　to　be　a　heroine　you　might　try　the　Florence　Nightingale　bit…there　are　two　very　sick　people　through　there　who　need　their　hands　held。〃
　〃You're　much　too　bossy；　Michael。〃
　〃As　they　say；　a　male　chauvinist　pig。〃
　〃Could　you　imagine　me　marrying　a　person　like　you？〃
　〃Your　imagination　is　your　own　business。　Besides；　I've　never　asked　you　to。〃　He　left。
　〃Well！〃　She　looked　suspiciously　at　her　father；　but　Lord　Worth　had　his　risibility　under　plete　control。　He　picked　up　a　phone　and　asked　that　the　Christmas　tree　be　opened　and　the　exploratory　drilling　restarted。
　The　helicopter　was　making　its　landing　approach　as　Mitchell　joined　Larsen　and　Palermo　and　his　men　in　the　deep　shadows　of　the　acmodation　area。　The　platform　light　had　been　dimmed　but　the　helipad　was　brightly　illuminated。　Palermo　had　six　portable　searchlights　in　position。　He　nodded　to　Mitchell；　then　made　his　unhurried　way　to　the　pad。　He　was　carrying　an　envelope　in　his　hand。
　The　helicopter　touched　down；　the　door　opened　and　men　with　a　discouraging　assortment　of^auto…matic　weapons　started　to　disembark。　Palermo　said：　〃I'm　Marino。　Who's　in　charge　here？
　〃Me。　Mortensen。〃　He　was　a　bulky　young　man　in　battle　fatigues；　looking　more　like　a　bright　young　lieutenant　than　the　thug　he　undoubtedly　was。　〃I　thought　Durand　was　in　charge　here。〃
　〃He　is。　Right　now　he's　having　a　talk　with　Lord　Worth。　He's　waiting　for　you　in　Worth's　quarters。〃
　〃Why　are　the　deck　lights　so　dim？〃
　〃Voltage　drop。　Being　fixed。　The　landing　pads　have　their　own　generators。〃　He　pointed。　〃Over　there。〃
　Mortensen　nodded　and　led　his　eight　men　away。　Palermo　said：　〃Be　with　you　in　a　minute。　Fve　got　a　private　message　for　the　pilot　from　Cronkite。〃
　Palermo　climbed　up　into　the　helicopter。　He　greeted　the　pilot　and　said：　〃I　got　a　message　here　for　you　from　Cronkite。〃
　The　pilot　registered　a　degree　of　surprise。　〃I　was　told　to　fly　straight　back。〃
　〃Won't　be　long。　Seems　Cronkite　is　anxious　to　see　Worth　and　his　daughters。〃
　The　pilot　grinned　and　took　the　envelope　from　Palermo。　He　opened　it；　examined　both　sides　of　a　blank　sheet　of　paper　and　said：　〃What　gives？〃
　〃This。〃　Palermo　showed　him　a　gun　about　the　size　of　a　small　cannon。　〃Don't　be　a　dead　hero。〃
　The　platform　lights　went　out　and　six　searchlights　came　on。　Larsen's　stentorian　voice　carried　clearly。　〃Throw　down　your　guns。　You　haven't　got　a　chance。〃
　One　of　Mortensen's　men　suicidally　thought　different　He　flung　himself　to　the　platform　deck；　loosed　off　a　burst　of　submachine　fire　and　successfully　killed　one　of　the　searchlights。　If　he　felt　any　sense　of　gratification　it　must　have　been　the　shortest　on　record；　for　he　was　dead　before　the　shattered　glass　stopped　tinkling　down　on　the　platform。　The　other　eight　men　threw　down　their　guns。
　Palermo　sighed。　He　said　to　the　pilot：　〃See？　Dead　heroes　are　no　good　to　anyone。　e　on。〃
　Eight　of　the　nine　men；　including　the　pilot；　were　shepherded　into　a　windowless　storeroom　and　locked　inside。　The　ninth；　Mortensen；　was　taken　to　the　radio　room　where　he　was　shortly　joined　by　Mitchell。　For　the　occasion；　Mitchell　had　changed　into　a　boiler　suit　and　makeshift　hood；　which　not　only　effectively　masked　his　face　but　also　muffled　his　voice。　He　had　no　wish　to　be　identified。
　He　produced　the　paper　on　which　he　had　made　notes；　screwed　the　muzzle　of　his　。38　into　the　base　of　Mortensen's　neck；　told　him　to　contact　Cronkite　and　read　out　the　message　and　that　the　slightest　deviation　from　the　script　would　mean　a　shattered　brain。　Mortensen　was　no　fool　and　in　his　peculiar　line　of　trade　he　had　looked　into　the　face　of　death　more　than　once。　He　made　the　contact；　said　all　was　well；　that　he　and　Durand　were　in　plete　control　of　the　Seawitch；　but　that　it　might　be　several　hours　before　the　helicopter　could　return；　as　last…minute　engine　failure　had　damaged　the　undercarriage。　Cronkite　seemed　reasonably　satisfied　and　hung　up。
　When　Larsen　and　Mitchell　returned　to　Lord　Worth's　cabin　the　latter　seemed　in　a　more　cheerful　frame　of　mind。　The　Pentagon　had　reported　that　the　two　naval　vessels　from　Cuba　and　the　one　from　Venezuela　were　stopped　in　the　water　and　appeared　to　be　waiting　instructions。　The　Torbello　was　on　its　way　again　and　was　expected　to　arrive　in　Galveston　in　ninety　minutes。　Lord　Worth　might　have　felt　less　satisfied　if　he'd　known　that　the　Torbello；　shaking　hi　every　rivet；　seam　and　plate；　was　several　hundred　miles　from　Galveston；　traveling　southwest　in　calm　seas。　Mulhooney　was　in　no　mood　to　hang　around。
　Marina　said　accusingly：　〃I　heard　shots　being　fired　out　there。〃
　〃Just　warning　shots　in　the　air；〃　Mitchell　said；　〃Scares　the　hell　out　of　people。〃
　〃You　made　them　all　prisoner。〃
　Lord　Worth　said　irritably：　〃Don't　talk　nonsense。　Now　do　be　quiet。　The　mander　and　I　have　important　matters　to　discuss。〃
　〃We'll　leave；〃　Mitchell　said。　He　looked　at　Marina。　〃e　on…let's　see　the　patients　off。〃
　They　followed　the　two　stretchers　out　to　the　helicopter。　They　were　acpanied　by　Durand　and　Aaron…both　with　their　hands　tied　behind　their　backs　and　on　a　nine…inch　hobble…Dr。　Greenshaw　and　one　of　Palermo's　men；　a　menacing　individual　with　a　sawed…off　shotgun　who　was　to　ride　guard　on　the　captives　until　they　reached　the　mainland。
　Mitchell　said　to　Marina：　〃Last　chance。〃
　〃No。〃
　〃We're　going　to　make　a　great　couple；〃　Mitchell　said　gloomily。　〃Monosyllabic；　yet。〃
　They　said　their　goodbyes；　watched　the　helicopter　lift　off　and　made　their　way　back　to　Lord　Worth's　quarters。　Both　Worth　and　Larsen　were　on　separate　lines；　and　from　the　expressions　on　their　faces　it　was　clear　that　they　were　less　happy　with　life　than　they　might　have　been。　Both　men　were　trying；　with　zero　effect；　to　obtain　some　additional　tankerage。　There　were；　in　fact；　some　half…dozen　idle　tankers　on　the　south　and　east　coasts　in　the　50；000…ton　range；　but　all　belonged　to　the　major　oil　panies；　who　would　have　gone　to　the　stake　before　chartering　any　of　their　vessels　to　the　North　Hudson　Oil　pany。　The　nearest　tankers　of　the　required　tonnage　were　either　in　Britain；　Norway　or　the　Mediterranean；　and　to　have　brought　them　across　would　have　involved　an　intolerable　loss　of　time；　not　to　say　money…this　last　matter　lying　very　close　to　Lord　Worth's　heart。　He　and　Larsen　had　even　considered　bringing　one　of　their　supertankers　into　service；　but　had　decided　against　it。　Because　of　the　tankers'　huge　carrying　capacity；　the　loss　in　revenue　would　have　been　unbearably　high…and　what　had　happened　to　the　Crusader　might　happen　to　a　supertanker。　True；　they　were　insured　at　Lloyd's；　but　that　august　firm's　marine…accident　investigators　were　notoriously；　if　justifiably；　cagey；　prudent　and　cautious　men；　and　although　they　invariab