alistairmaclean.seawitch-第4章

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　〃A　fair　chance。　Nothing　more。〃
　Lord　Worth　put　on　his　resigned　expression。　〃All　right；　how　much？〃
　〃Nothing。　Money　won't　buy　Benson。〃　Corral　shook　his　head　hi　disbelief。　〃Extraordinary；　in　this　day　and　age；　but　Benson　is　not　a　mercenary　man。　But　he　does　owe　me　some　favors；　one　of　them　being　that；　without　me；　he　wouldn't　be　the　president　of　the　oil　pany　that　he　is　now。〃　Corral　paused。　〃I'm　surprised　you　haven't　asked　me　the　identities　of　the　two　men　Cronkite　took　aside。〃
　〃So　am　I。〃
　〃Borosoff　of　the　Soviet　Union　and　Patinos　of　Venezuela。〃　Lord　Worth　appeared　to　lapse　into　a　trance。　〃That　mean　anything　to　you？〃
　Lord　Worth　bestirred　himself。　〃Yes。　Units　of　the　Russian　Navy　are　making　a　so…called　'goodwill　tour'　of　the　Caribbean。　They　are；　inevitably；　based　in　Cuba。　Of　the　ten；　those　are　the　only　two　that　could　bring　swift…ah…naval　intervention　to　bear　against　the　Seawitch。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Diabolical。　Utterly　diabolical。〃
　〃My　way　of　thinking　too；　sir。　There's　no　knowing。　But　I'll　check　as　soon　as　possible　and　hope　to　get　results；〃
　〃And　I　shall　take　immediate　precautions。〃　Both　men　rose。　〃Corral；　we　shall　have　to　give　serious　consideration　to　the　question　of　increasing　this　paltry　retainer　of　yours。〃
　〃We　try　to　be　of　service；　Lord　Worth。〃
　Lord　Worth's　private　radio　room　bore　more　than　a　passing　resemblance　to　the　flight　deck　of　his　private　707。　The　variety　of　knobs；　switches；　buttons　and　dials　was　bewildering。　Lord　Worth　seemed　perfectly　at　home　with　them　all；　and　proceeded　to　make　a　number　of　calls。
　The　first　were　to　his　four　helicopter　pilots；　instructing　them　to　have　his　two　largest　helicopters…never　a　man　to　do　things　by　halves；　Lord　Worth　owned　no　fewer　than　six　of　these　machines…ready　at　his　own　private　airfield　shortly　before　dawn。　The　next　four　were　to　people　of　whose　existence　his　fellow　directors　were　totally　unaware。　The　first　of　these　calls　was　to　Cuba；　the　second　to　Venezuela。　Lord　Worth's　worldwide　range　of　contacts…employees；　rather…was　vast。　The　instructions　to　both　were　simple　and　explicit。　A　constant　monitoring　watch　was　to　be　kept　on　the　naval　bases　in　both　countries；　and　any　sudden　departures　of　any　naval　vessels；　and　their　type；　was　to　be　reported　to　him　immediately。
　The　third；　to　a　person　who　lived　not　too　many　miles　away；　was　addressed　to　a　certain　Giuseppe　Palermo；　whose　name　sounded　as　if　he　might　be　a　member　of　the　Mafia；　but　who　definitely　wasn't：　the　Mafia　Palermo　despised　as　a　mollycoddling　organization　which　had　bee　so　ludicrously　gentle　in　its　methods　of　persuasion　as　to　be　in　imminent　danger　of　being　respectable。　The　next　call　was　to　Baton　Rouge　in　Louisiana；　where　lived　a　person　who　called　himself　only　〃Conde〃　and　whose　main　claim　to　fame　lay　in　the　fact　that　he　was　the　highest…ranking　naval　officer　to　have　been　court…martialed　and　dishonorably　discharged　since　World　War　。　He；　like　the　others；　received　very　explicit　instructions。　Not　only　was　Lord　Worth　a　master　organizer；　but　the　efficiency　he　displayed　was　matched　only　by　his　speed　in　operation。
　The　noble　Lord；　who　would　have　stoutly　maintained…if　anyone　had　the　temerity　to　accuse　him；　which　no　one　ever　had…that　he　was　no　criminal；　was　about　to　bee　just　that。　Even　this　he　would　have　strongly　denied；　and　that　on　three　grounds。　The　Constitution　upheld　the　right　of　every　citizen　to　bear　arms；　every　man　had　the　right　to　defend　himself　and　his　property　against　criminal　attack　by　whatever　means　lay　to　hand；　and　the　only　way　to　fight　fire　was　with　fire。
　The　final　call　Lord　Worth　put　through；　and　this　time　with　total　confidence；　was　to　his　tried　and　trusted　lieutenant；　mander　Larsen。
　mander　Larsen　was　the　captain　of　the　Seawitch。
　Larsen…no　one　knew　why　he　called　himself　〃mander；〃　and　he　wasn't　the　kind　of　person　you　asked…was　a　rather　different　breed　of　man　from　his　employer。　Except　in　a　public　court　or　in　the　presence　of　a　law　officer；　he　would　cheerfully　admit　to　anyone　that　he　was　both　a　non…gentleman　and　a　criminal。　And　he　certainly　bore　no　resemblance　to　any　aristocrat；　alive　or　dead。　But　there　did　exist　a　genuine　rapport　and　mutual　respect　between　Lord　Worth　and　himself。　In　all　likelihood　they　were　simply　brothers　under　the　skin。
　As　a　criminal　and　non…aristocrat…and　casting　no　aspersions　on　honest　unfortunates　who　may　resemble　him…he　certainly　looked　the　part。　He　had　the　general　build　and　appearance　of　the　more　viciously　daunting　heavyweight　wrestler；　deep…set　black　eyes　that　peered　out　under　the　overhanging　foliage　of　hugely　bushy　eyebrows；　an　equally　bushy　black　beard；　a　hooked　nose；　and　a　face　that　looked　as　if　it　had　been　in　regular　contact　with　a　series　of　heavy　objects。　No　one；　with　the　possible　exception　of　Lord　Worth；　knew　who　he　was；　what　he　had　been；　or　from　where　he　had　e。　His　voice；　when　he　spoke；　came　as　a　positive　shock：　beneath　that　Neanderthalic　facade　was　the　voice　and　the　mind　of　an　educated　man。　It　really　ought　not　to　have　e　as　such　a　shock：　beneath　the　facade　of　many　an　exquisite　fop　lies　the　mind　of　a　retarded　fourth…grader。
　Larsen　was　in　the　radio　room　at　that　moment；　listening　attentively；　nodding　from　tune　to　time；　then　he　flicked　a　switch　that　put　the　ining　call　on　the　loudspeaker。
　He　said：　〃All　clear；　sir。　Everything　understood。　We'll　make　the　preparations。　But　haven't　you　overlooked　something；　sir？〃
　〃Overlooked　what？〃　Lord　Worth's　voice　over　the　telephone　carried　the　overtones　of　a　man　who　couldn't　possibly　have　overlooked　anything。
　〃You've　suggested　that　armed　surface　vessels　may　be　used　against　us。　If　they're　prepared　to　go　to　such　lengths；　isn't　it　feasible　that　they'll　go　to　any　lengths？〃
　〃Get　to　the　point；　man。〃
　〃The　point　is　that　it's　easy　enough　to　keep　an　eye　on　a　couple　of　naval　bases。　But　I　suggest　it's　a　bit　more　difficult　to　keep　an　eye　on　a　dozen；　maybe　two　dozen；　airfields。〃
　〃Good　God！〃　There　was　a　long　pause　during　which　the　rattle　of　cogs　and　the　meshing　of　gear　wheels　in　Lord　Worth's　brain　couldn't　be　heard。　〃Do　you　really　think…〃
　〃If　I　were　the　Seawitch；　Lord　Worth；　it　would　be　six　and　half…a…dozen　to　me　whether　I　was　clobbered　by　shells　or　bombs。　And　planes　could　get　away　from　the　scene　of　the　crime　a　damn　sight　faster　than　ships。　They　could　get　clean　away；　whereas　the　U。　S。　Navy　or　land…based　bombers　would　have　a　good　chance　of　intercepting　surface　vessels。　And　another　thing；　Lord　Worth…a　ship　could　stop　at　a　distance　of　a　hundred　miles。　No　distance　at　all　for　the　guided　missile：　I　believe　they　have　a　range　of　four　thousand　miles　these　days。　When　the　missile　was；　say；　twenty　miles　from　us；　they　could　switch　on　its　heat…source　tracking　device。　God　knows；　we're　the　only　heat　source　for　a　hundred　miles　around。〃
　Another　lengthy　pause；　then：　〃Any　more　encouraging　thoughts　occur　to　you；　mander　Larsen？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Just　one。　If　I　were　the　enemy…I　may　call　them　the　enemy…〃
　〃Call　the　devils　what　you　want。〃
　〃'If　I　were　the　enemy　Fd　use　a　submarine。　They　don't　even　have　to　break　the　surface　to　loose　off　a　missile。　Poof！　No　Seawitch。　No　signs　of　any　attacker。　Could　well　be　put　down　to　a　massive　explosion　aboard　the　Seawitch。　Far　from　impossible；　sir。〃
　〃You'll　be　telling　me　next　that　they'll　be　atomic…headed　missiles。〃
　'To　be　picked　up　by　a　dozen　seismological　stations？　I　should　think　it　hardly　likely；　sir。　But　that　may　just　be　wishful　thinking。　I；　personally；　have　no　wish　to　be　vaporized。〃
　〃I'll　see　you　hi　the　morning。〃　The　speaker　went　dead。
　Larsen　hung　up　his　phone　and　smiled　widely。　One　might　have　expected　this　action　to　reveal　a　set　of　yellowed　fangs：　instead；　it　revealed　a　perfect　set　of　gleamingjy　white　teeth。　He　turned　to　look　at　Scoffield；　his　head　driller　and　right…hand　man。
　Scoffield　was　a　large；　rubicund；　smiling　man；　apparently　the　easygoing　essence　of　good　nature。　To　the　fact　that　this　was　not　precisely　the　case；　any　member　of　his　drilling　crews　would　have　eagerly　and　blasphemously　testified。　Scoffield　was　a　very　tough　citizen　indeed；　and　one　could　assume　that　it　was　not　innate　modesty　that　made　him　conceal　the　fact：　much　more　probably　it　was　a　permanent　stricture　of　the　facial　muscles　caused　by　the　four　long　vertical　scars　on　his　cheeks；　two　on　either　side。　Clearly　he；　like　Larsen；　was　no　great　advocate　of　plastic　surgery。　He　looked　at　Larsen　with　understandable　〃curiosity。
　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃
　〃The　day　of　reckoning　is　at　hand。　Prepare　to　meet　thy　doom。　More　specifically；　his　lordship　is　beset　by　enemies。〃　Larsen　outlined　Lord　Worth's　plight。　〃He's　sending　what　sounds　like　a　battalion　of　hard　men　out　here　in　the　early　morning；　acpanied　by　suitable　weaponry。　Then　in　the　afternoon　we　are　to　expect　a　boat　of　some　sort；　loaded　with　even　heavier　weaponry。〃
　〃I　wonder　where　he's　getting　all　those　hard　men　and　weaponry　from。'*
　〃One　wonders。　One　does　not　ask。〃
　〃All　this　talk…your　talk…about　bombers　and　submarines　and　missiles。　Do　you　believe　that？〃
　〃No。　It's　just　that　it's　hard　to　pass　up　the　opportunity　to　ruffle　the　aristocratic　plumage。〃　He　paused；　then　said　thoughtfully：　〃At　least　I　hope　I　don't　believe　it。　e　on；　let　us　examine　our　defenses。〃
　〃You've　got　a　pistol。　I've　got　a　pistol。　That's　defenses？〃
　〃Well；　where　we'll　mount　the　defenses　when　they　arrive。　Fixed　large…bore　guns；　I　should　imagine。〃
　〃If　they　arrive。〃
　〃Give　the　devil　his　due。　Lord　Worth　delivers。〃
　〃From　his　own　private　armory；　I　suppose。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　surprise　me。〃
　〃What　do　you　really　think；　mander？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　All　I　know　is　that　if　Lord
　AHstair　
　Worth　is　even　halfway　right；　life　aboard　may　bee　slightly　less　monotonous　in　the　next　few　days。〃
　The　two　men　moved　out　into　the　gathering　dusk　on　the　platform。　The　Seawitch　was　moored　in　a　hundred　and　fifty　fathoms　of　waternine　hundred　feet；　which　was　well　within　the　tension…ing　cables*　capacities…safely　south　of　the　U。S。　mineral　leasing　blocks　and　the　great　east…west　fairway；　right　on　top　of　the　biggest　oil　reservoir　yet　discovered　around　the　shores　of　the　Gulf　of　Mexico。　The　two　men　paused　at　the　drilling　derrick　where　a　drill；　at　its　maximum　angled　capacity；　was　trying　to　determine　the　extent　of　the　oilfield。　The　crew　looked　at　them　without　any　particular　affection　but　not　with　hostility。　There　was　reason　for　the　lack　of　warmth。
　Before　any　laws　were　passed　making　such　drilling　illegal；　Lord　Worth　wanted　to　scrape　the　bottom　of　this　gigantic　barrel　of　oil。　Not　that　he　was　particularly　worried；　for　government　agencies　are　notoriously　slow　to　act：　but　there　was　always　the　possibility　that　they　might　bestir　themselves　this　time　and　that；　horror　of　horrors；　the　bonanza　might　turn　out　to　be　vastly　larger　than　estimated。
　Hence　the　present　attempt　to　discover　the　limits　of　the　strike　and　hence　the　lack　of　warmth。　Hence　the　reason　why　Larsen　and　Scoffield；　both　highly　gifted　slave　drivers；　born　centuries　out　of　their　time；　drove　their　men　day　and　night。　The　men　disliked　it；　but　not　to　the　point　of　rebellion。　They　were　highly　paid；　well…housed　and　well…fed。　True；　there　was　little　enough　in　the　way　of　wine；　women　and　song；　but　then；　after　an　exhausting　twelve…hour　shift；　those　frivolities　couldn't　hope　to　pete　with　the　attractions　of　a　massive　meal；　then　a　long；　deep　sleep。　More　importantly　and　most　unusually；　the　men　were　paid　a　bonus　on　every　thousand　barrels　o