alistairmaclean.seawitch-第29章

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　In　the　fifth　hour　of　his　sleep　he　would　not　have　been　smiling　quite　so　happily　if　he　had　been　aware　of　certain　strange　activities　that　were　taking　place　in　a　remote　Louisiana　motel；　one　exclusively　owned　by　Lord　Worth　himself。　Here　it　was　that　the　Seawitch's　relief　crews　spent　their　time　off　in　the　strictest　seclusion。　In　addition　to　abundant　food；　drink；　films；　TV　and　a　high…class　bordello；　it　offered　every　amenity　off…duty　oil…rig　men　could　ever　have　wished　for。　Not　that　any　of　them　would　have　wanted　to　leave　the　pound　gates　anyway：　nine　out　of　ten　of　them　were　wanted　by　the　law；　and　total　privacy　was　a　paramount　requirement。
　The　intruders；　some　twenty　in　all；　arrived　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　They　were　led　by　a　man　named　Gregson：　of　all　Cronkite's　associates；　he　was　by　far　the　most　dangerous　and　lethal　and　was　possessed　of　the　morality　and　instincts　of　a　fer…de…lance　with　a　toothache。　The　motel　staff　were　all　asleep　and　were　chloroformed　before　they　had　any　opportunity　of　regaining　consciousness。
　The　rig　relief　crew；　also；　were　all　asleep　but　in　a　somewhat　different　fashion　and　for　different　reasons。　Liquor　is　forbidden　on　oil　rigs；　and　the　relief　crews　on　the　night　before　returning　to　duty　generally　made　the　best　of　their　last　chance。　Their　dormant　states　ranged　from　the　merely　befuddled　to　the　paralytic。　The　rounding　up　of　them；　most　of　whom　remained　still　asleep　on　their　feet；　took　no　more　than　five　minutes。　The　only　two　relatively　sober　members　of　the　relief　crew　tried　to　offer　resistance。　Gregson；　with　a　silenced　Beretta；　gunned　them　down　as　if　they　had　been　wild　dogs。
　The　captives　were　transported　in　a　pletely　standard；　albeit　temporarily　purloined；　moving　van　to　an　abandoned　and　very　isolated　warehouse　on　the　outskirts　of　town。　Somewhat　less　than　salubrious；　it　was　perfectly　fitted　for　Gregson's　purpose。　The　prisoners　were　neither　bound　nor　gagged；　which　would　have　been　pointless　in　the　presence　of　two　armed　guards　who　carried　the　customary　intimidating　machine　carbines。　In　point　of　fact；　the　carbines　too　were　superfluous：　the　besotted　captives　had　already　drifted　off　into　a　dreamless　slumber。
　It　was　in　the　sixth　hour　of　Lord　Worth's　equally　dreamless　slumber　that　Gregson　and　his　men　lifted　off　in　one　of　Lord　Worth's　helicopters。　The　two　pilots　had　been　reluctant　to　accept　them　as　passengers；　but　Schmeissers　are　powerfully　persuasive　agents。
　It　was　in　the　seventh　hour　of　Lord　Worth's　slumber　that　Mulhooney　and　his　two　colleagues　touched　down　on　the　empty　helipad　of　the　Georgia。　As　Cronkite's　own　helicopter　was　temporarily　marooned　on　the　Seawitch；　he　had　no　punction　in　impounding　both　the　helicopter　and　its　hapless　pilot。
　At　almost　exactly　the　same　moment　another
　helicopter　touched　down　on　the　Seawitch　and　a　solitary　passenger　and　pilot　emerged。　The　passenger　was　Dr。　Greenshaw；　and　he　looked；　and　was；　a　very　tired　elderly　man。　He　went　straight　to　the　sick　bay　and；　without　even　trying　to　remove　his　clothes；　lay　down　on　one　of　the　cots　and　posed　himself　for　sleep。　He　should；　he　supposed；　have　reported　to　Lord　Worth　that　his　daughter　Melinda　and　John　Roomer　were　in　good　hands　and　good　shape；　but　good　news　could　wait。
　On　the　eighth　hour；　with　the　dawn　in　the　sky；　Lord　Worth；　a　man　who　enjoyed　his　sleep；　awoke；　stretched　himself　luxuriously；　pulled　on　his　splendidly　embroidered　dressing　gown　and　strolled　out　onto　the　platform。　The　rain　had　stopped；　the　sun　was　tipping　the　horizon　and　there　was　every　promise　of　a　beautiful　day　to　e。　Privately　congratulating　himself　on　his　prescience　that　no　trouble　would　occur　during　the　night；　he　retired　to　his　quarters　to　perform　his　customary　and　leisurely　morning　ablutions。
　Lord　Worth's　self…congratulations　on　his　prescience　were　entirely　premature。　Fifteen　minutes　earlier　the　radio　operator；　newly　returned　to　duty；　had　picked　up　a　news　broadcast　that　he　didn't　like　at　all　and　gone　straight　to　MitchelTs　room。　Like　every　man　on　board；　even　including　Larsen　and　Palermo；　he　knew　that　the　man　to　contact　in　an　emergency　was　Mitchell：　the　thought　of　alerting　Lord　Worth　never　entered　his　head。
　He　found　Mitchell　shaving。　Mitchell　looked　tired…less　than　surprising；　as　he　had　spent　most　of　the　night　awake。　Mitchell　said：　〃No　more　trouble；　I　hope？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃　He　handed　Mitchell　a　strip　of　teletype。　It　read：　〃Two　tactical　nuclear　weapons　stolen　from　the　Netley　Rowan　Arsenal　yesterday　afternoon。　Intelligence　suspects　they　are　being　flown　or　helicoptered　south　over　Gulf　of　Mexico　to　an　unknown　destination。　A　worldwide　alert　has　been　issued。　Anyone　able　to　provide　information　should…〃
　〃Jesus！　Get　hold　of　this　arsenal　any　way　you　can。　Use　Lord　Worth's　name。　Be　with　you　in　a　minute。〃
　Mitchell　was　with　him　in　half　a　minute。　The　operator　said：　〃I'm　through　already。　Not　much　co…operation；　though。〃
　〃Give　me　that　phone。　My　name's　Mitchell　Who's　speaking；　please？〃
　〃Colonel　Pryce。〃　The　tone　wasn't　exactly　distant；　just　a　senior　officer　talking　to　a　civilian。
　〃I　work　for　Lord　Worth。　You　can　check　that　with　the　Fort　Lauderdale　Police；　the　Pentagon　or　the　Secretary　of　State。〃　He　said　to　the　operator　but　loudly　enough　that　Pryce　could　hear：　〃Get　Lord　Worth　here。　I　don't　care　if　he's　in　Ms　damned　bath；　just　get　him　here　now。〃　Back　on　the　phone；　he　said：　〃Colonel　Pryce；　an　officer　of　your　grade　should　know　that　Lord　Worth's　daughters　have　been　kidnaped。　I　was　hired　to　recover　them　and　I　did　so。　More　important；　this　oil　rig；　the　Seawitch；　is　now　under　threat　of　destruction。　Two　attempts　have　already　been　made。　They　were　unsuccessful。　The　Pentagon　will　confirm　that　they've　stopped　three　foreign　warships　headed　here　for　the　purpose　of　destroying　the　Seawitch。　I　believe　those　nukes　weapons　are　heading　this　way。　I　want　full　information　about　them　and　Til　warn　you　that　Worth　will　interpret　any　failure　to　provide　this　information　as　a　gross　dereliction　of　duty。　And　you　know　the　clout　that　Lord　Worth　has。〃
　There　was　a　far　from　subtle　change　in　Colonel　Pryce's　tone。　〃It's　quite　unnecessary　to　threaten　me。〃
　〃Just　a　minute。　Lord　Worth's　just　arrived。〃　Mitchell　gave　a　brief　resume　of　his　phone　conversation；　making　sure　that　Pryce　could　hear　every　word。
　〃Nuclear　bloody　bombs！　That's　why　Cronkite　said　he　could　blast　us　out　of　the　water！〃　Lord　Worth　snatched　the　phone　from　Mitchell。　〃Worth　here。　I　have　a　hotline　to　the　Secretary　of　State；　Dr。　Benton。　I　could　patch　him　in　in　fifteen　seconds。　Do　you　want　me　to　do　that？〃
　〃That　will　not　be　necessary；　Lord　Worth。〃
　〃Then　give　us　a　detailed　description　of　those　damned　things　and　tell　us　how　they　work。〃
　Pryce；　almost　eagerly；　gave　the　description。　It　was　almost　precisely　similar　to　the　one　that　Captain　Martin　had　given　to　the　bogus　Colonel　Farquharson。　〃But　Martin　was　a　new　officer　and　shaky　on　his　details。　The　nuclear　devices…you　can　hardly　call　them　bombs…are　probably　twice　as　effective　as　he　said。　They　took　the　wrong　type　…those　devices　have　no　black　button　to　shut　off　in　emergency。　And　they　have　a　ninety…minute　setting；　not　sixty。　And　they　can　be　radio…activated。〃
　〃Something　plicated？　I　mean；　a　VHP　number　or　something　of　the　kind？〃
　〃Something　very　unplicated。　You　can't　expect　a　soldier　in　the　heat　of　battle　to　remember　abstruse　numbers。　It's　simply　a　pear…shaped　device　with　a　plastic　seal。　Strip　that　off　and　turn　a　black　switch　through　three　hundred　and　sixty　degrees。　It's　important　to　remember　that　turning　this　switch　off　will　deactivate　the　detonating　mechanism　in　the　device。　It　can　be　turned　on　again　at　any　time。〃
　〃If　it　should　be　used　against　us　。。。　we　have　a　huge　oil…storage　tank　nearby。　Wouldn't　this　cause　a　massive　oil　slick？〃
　〃Sir…oil　is　by　nature　bustible　and　much　more　easily　vaporized　than　steel。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Seems　to　me　you　need　a　squadron　of　super…sonic　fighter…bombers　out　there。　I'll　relay　the　request；　but　they'll　have　to　get　Pentagon　permission　first。〃
　〃Thank　you　again。〃
　Lord　Worth　and　Mitchell　left　for　the　former's　quarters。　Lord　Worth　said：　〃Two　things。　We're　only　assuming；　although　it　would　be　dangerous　not　to　assume；　that　those　damned　things　are　meant　for　us。　Besides；　if　we　keep　our　radar；　sonar　and　sensory　posts　manned　I　don't　see　how　Cron…kite　could　approach　and　deliver　them。〃
　〃It's　hard　to　see　how。　But　then；　it's　harder　to　figure　out　that　bastard's　turn　of　mind。〃
　From　Lord　Worth's　helicopter　Gregson　made　contact　with　the　Georgia。　〃We're　fifteen　miles　out。〃
　Cronkite　himself　replied；　〃We'll　be　airborne　in　ten。〃
　A　wall　radio　crackled　in　Lord　Worth's　room。　〃Helicopter　approaching　from　the　northeast。〃
　〃No　sweat。　Relief　crew。〃
　Lord　Worth　had　gone　back　to　his　shower　when　the　relief　helicopter　touched　down。　Mitchell　was　in　his　laboratory；　looking　very　professional　in　his　white　coat　and　glasses。　Dr。　Greenshaw　was　still　asleep。
　Apart　from　gagging　and　manacling　the　pilots；　the　helicopter　passengers　had　offered　them　no　violence。　They　disembarked　in　quiet　and　orderly　fashion。　The　drill　duty　crew　observed　their　arrival　without　any　particular　interest。　They　had　been　well…trained　to　mind　their　own　business　and　had　highly　personal　reasons　for　not　fraternizing　with　unknowns。　And　the　new　arrivals　were　unknowns。　Off　the　coast　Lord　Worth　owned　no　fewer　than　nine　oil　rigs…all　legally　leased　and　paid　for…　and　for　reasons　best　known　to　his　devious　self　he　was　in　the　habit　of　regularly　rotating　his　drill　crews。　The　new　arrivals　carried　the　standard　shoulder…slung　clothesbags。　Those　bags　did　indeed　contain　a　minimal　amount　of　clothes；　but　not　clothing　designed　to　be　worn：　the　clothes　were　there　merely　to　conceal　and　muffle　the　shape　of　the　machine　pistols　and　other　more　deadly　weapons　in　the　bags。
　Thanks　to　the　instructions　he　had　received　from　Cronkite　via　Durand；　Gregson　knew　exactly　where　to　go。　He　noted　the　presence　of　two　idly　patrolling　guards　and　marked　them　down　for　death。
　He　led　his　men　to　the　oriental　quarters；　where　they　laid　their　bags　on　the　platform　and　unzipped　them。　Windows　were　smashed　and　what　followed　was　sheer　savage　massacre。　Within　half　a　dozen　seconds　of　machine…gun　fire；　bazooka　fire　and　incinerating　flamethrowers；　all　of　which　had　been　preceded　by　a　flurry　of　tear…gas　bombs；　all　screaming　inside　had　ceased。　The　two　advancing　guards　were　mown　down　even　as　they　drew　their　guns。　The　only　survivor　was　Larsen；　who　had　been　in　his　own　private　room　in　the　back：　Palermo　and　all　his　men　were　dead。
　Figures　appeared　almost　at　the　same　instant　from　the　quarters　at　the　end　of　the　block。　Soundproofed　though　those　quarters　were；　the　noise　outside　had　been　too　penetrating　not　to　be　heard。　There　were　four　of　them…two　men　in　white　coats；　a　man　in　a　Japanese　kimono　and　a　black…haired　guard　in　a　wrap。　One　of　Gregson's　men　fired　twice　at　the　nearest　white…coated　figure；　and　Mitchell　staggered　and　fell　backward　to　the　deck。　Gregson　brutally　smashed　the　wrist　of　the　man　who　had　fired；　who　screamed　in　agony　as　the　gun　fell　from　his　shattered　hand。
　〃You　bastard　idiot！〃　Gregson's　voice　was　as　vicious　as　his　appearance。　〃The　hard　men　only；　Mr。　Cronkite　said。〃
　Gregson　was　nothing　if　not　organized。　He　detailed　five　groups　of　two　men。　One　group　herded　the　drilling…rig　crew　into　the　occidental　quarters。　The　second；　third　and　fourth　went　respectively　to　the　sensory　room；　the　sonar