cc.fireice-第4章

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　〃Captain　Tovrov。　I　am　master　of　this　vessel。〃
　〃Tell　me　what　has　happened。　What　is　all　that　noise？〃
　〃Your　guards　are　all　dead。　The　ship　is　under　attack。　We　must　abandon　it。〃
　
　She　glanced　at　the　girls　and　seemed　to　gain　renewed　courage。　〃Captain　Tovrov；　if　you　guide　me　and　my　family　to　safety；　great　rewards　await　you。〃
　〃I　will　do　my　best；　Madame。
　
　She　nodded。　〃Go；　and　we　will　follow。〃
　
　Tovrov　checked　to　see　if　the　way　was　clear；　then　held　the　door　open　for　the　family　and　led　the　way　across　the　deck　away　from　the　fire。　The　Star　tilted　at　a　pronounced　angle　and　they　had　to　climb　up　a　slanting　slippery　metal　surface。　They　fell；　helped　one　another　up　and　pushed　on。
　
　The　crew　was　piling　into　the　lifeboat；　struggling　to　work　the　davits。　Taking　control；　the　captain　ordered　the　men　to　help　the　family。　When　everyone　was　in　the　boat；　he　told　the　crewmen　to　look　smart　and　lower　the　boat。　He　was　worried　that　the　ship　was　at　such　an　angle　that　the　davits　would　not　work；　but　the　boat　began　to　descend；　although　it　bumped　against　the　slanting　hull。
　
　The　lifeboat　was　a　few　yards　above　the　water　when　one　of　the　men　shouted。　The　fishing　boat　had　e　around　from　the　other　side　and　the　deck　gun　was　leveled　directly　at　the　lifeboat。　The　gun　fired　and　the　shell　smashed　through　one　end　of　the　boat；　and　then　the　air　was　filled　with　flying　splinters　of　wood；　hot　steel　and　body　parts。
　
　Tovrov　had　stretched　his　arm　around　the　girl　nearest　to　him。　He　still　had　his　arm　around　her　when　he　came　to　in　the　freezing　water；　calling　out　the　name　of　his　long…lost　daughter。　Spotting　a　wooden　hatch　cover　floating　nearby；　and　moving　slowly　so　as　not　to　alert　the　attackers；　he　swam　toward　the　debris；　hauling　the　semiconscious　girl　behind　him。
　
　He　helped　her　climb　aboard　the　precarious　raft；　gave　it　a　shove；　and　the　cover　and　its　cargo　drifted　away　from　the　light　of　the　dying　ship　and　merged　with　the　darkness。　Then；　frozen　and　exhausted；　with　nothing　to　keep　him　afloat；　Tovrov　slipped　beneath　the　embracing　waters；　taking　with　him　his　dream　of　a　cottage　by　the　sea。
　
　…1…
　OFF　THE　MAINE　COAST；　THE　PRESENT
　
　LEROY　JENKINS　WAS　hauling　in　a　barnacle…　encrusted　lobster　trap　aboard　his　boat；　The　Kestrel；　when　he　looked　up　and　saw　the　giant　ship　on　the　horizon。　He　gingerly　extracted　a　fat　pair　of　angry　crustaceans　from　the　trap；　pegged　the　claws　and　tossed　the　lobsters　into　a　holding　tank；　then　he　rebaited　the　trap　with　a　fish　head；　pushed　the　wire　cage　over　the　side　and　went　into　the　pilothouse　for　his　binoculars。　He　peered　through　the　lenses　and　silently　mouthed　the　word　〃Wow！〃
　
　The　ship　was　huge。　Jenkins　examined　the　vessel　from　stem　to　stem　with　an　expert　eye。　Before　retiring　to　take　up　lobster…fishing；　he　had　taught　oceanography　for　years　at　the　University　of　Maine；　and　he　had　spent　many　summer　breaks　on　survey　ships　…　but　this　vessel　was　like　nothing　he　had　ever　seen。　He　estimated　its　length　at　about　six　hundred　feet。　Derricks　and　cranes　sprouted　from　its　deck。　Jenkins　guessed　it　was　some　sort　of　ocean　mining　or　exploration　vessel。　He　watched　until　the　ship　vanished　from　sight；　then　went　back　to　pull　the　rest　of　the　string　of　pots。
　
　Jenkins　was　a　tall；　rangy　man　in　his　sixties；　whose　rugged　features　mirrored　the　rockbound　coast　of　his　native　Maine。　A　smile　crossed　his　deeply　tanned　face　as　he　hauled　in　the　last　trap。　It　had　been　an　exceptionally　good　day。　He　had　found　the　honey　hole　by　accident　a　couple　of　months　earlier。　The　spot　produced　an　endless　supply　of　lobsters；　and　he　kept　ing　back　even　though　he　had　to　go　farther　from　land　than　normal。　Fortunately；　his　thirty…six…foot　wooden　boat　was　seaworthy　even　with　a　full　load。　Setting　a　course　for　land；　he　put　the　boat　on　autopilot　and　went　below　to　reward　himself　with　what　they　used　to　call　a　Dagwood　sandwich　when　he　was　a　kid。　He　had　just　layered　in　another　slice　of　baloney　on　top　of　the　pile　of　ham；　cheese　and　salami　when　he　heard　a　muffled〃　Boom！〃　It　sounded　like　a　thunderclap；　but　it　seemed　to　e　from　below。
　
　The　boat　shuddered　so　violently　the　jars　of　mustard　and　mayonnaise　rolled　off　the　counter。　Jenkins　tossed　his　knife　in　the　sink　and　sprang　up　to　the　deck。　He　wondered　if　the　propeller　had　broken　off　or　if　he　had　hit　a　floating　log；　but　nothing　seemed　amiss。　The　sea　was　calm　and　almost　flat。　Earlier；　the　blue　surface　had　reminded　him　of　a　Rothko　canvas。
　
　The　boat　had　stopped　vibrating；　and　he　took　a　wondering　look　around；　then；　shrugging；　went　below。　He　finished　making　his　sandwich；　cleaned　up　and　went　out　on　the　deck　to　eat。　Noticing　a　couple　of　lobster　traps　that　had　shifted；　he　secured　them　with　a　line；　then　as　he　stepped　back　into　the　wheelhouse；　he　experienced　a　sudden　unpleasant　stomach…sinking　sensation；　as　if　someone　had　pushed　the　Up　button　in　a　fast　elevator。　He　grabbed　onto　the　mechanical　hauler　to　keep　his　footing。　The　boat　plunged；　then　levitated　again；　higher　this　time；　plummeted　once　more　and　repeated　the　cycle　a　third　time　before　sinking　back　into　the　sea；　where　it　rocked　violently　from　side　to　side。
　
　After　a　few　minutes；　the　motion　stopped　and　the　boat　stabilized；　and　Jenkins　saw　a　flickering　movement　in　the　distance。　Retrieving　his　binoculars　from　the　wheelhouse；　he　swept　the　sea；　and　as　he　adjusted　the　focus　ring；　he　saw　three　dark　furrows　extending　from　north　to　south。　The　ranks　of　waves　were　moving　in　the　direction　of　the　coast。　A　long…dormant　alarm　bell　clanged　in　his　head。　It　can't　be。　His　mind　raced　back　to　that　July　day　in　1998　off　the　coast　of　Papua　New　Guinea。　He　had　been　on　a　ship；　making　a　survey；　when　there　had　been　a　mysterious　explosion　and　the　seismic　instruments　had　gone　crazy；　indicating　a　disturbance　on　the　seafloor。　Recognizing　the　symptoms　of　a　tsunami；　the　scientists　aboard　the　ship　had　tried　to　warn　the　coast；　but　many　of　the　villages　had　no　munication。　The　huge　waves　had　flattened　the　villages　like　a　giant　steamroller。　The　destruction　was　horrifying。　Jenkins　never　forgot　the　sight　of　bodies　impaled　on　mangrove　branches；　of　crocodiles　preying　on　the　dead。
　
　The　radio　crackled　with　a　chorus　of　hard…edged　Maine　accents　as　fishermen　set　the　airways　abuzz。　〃Whoa！〃　said　a　voice　Jenkins　recognized　as　that　of　his　neighbor；　Elwood　Smalley。　〃Hear　that　big　boomer？〃
　〃Sounded　like　a　jet　fighter；　only　underwater；〃　another　fisherman　said。
　
　〃Anyone　else　feel　those　big　seas？〃　said　a　third　man。
　
　〃Yup；〃　replied　a　laconic　veteran　lobsterman　named　Homer　Gudgeon。　〃Thought　for　a　time　there　I　was　on　a　roller　coaster！〃
　
　Jenkins　barely　heard　the　other　voices　chiming　in。　He　dug　a　pocket　calculator　out　of　a　drawer；　estimated　the　time　between　the　waves　and　their　height；　did　some　quick　calculations　and　glanced　with　disbelief　at　the　numbers。　Then　he　picked　up　the　cell　phone　he　used　when　he　didn't　want　personal　messages　to　go　over　the　marine　channel　and　punched　out　a　number。
　
　The　gravelly　voice　of　Charlie　Howes；　Rocky　Cove's　police　chief；　came　on　the　phone。
　
　〃Charlie；　thank　God　I　got　you！〃
　〃In　my　cruiser　on　my　way　to　the　station；　Roy。　You　calling　to　crow　about　whippin'　me　at　chess　last　night？〃
　〃Another　time；〃　Jenkins　said。　〃I'm　east　of　Rocky　Point。　Look；　Charlie；　we　don't　have　much　time。　There's　a　big　wave　heading　right　toward　town。〃
　
　He　heard　a　dry　chuckle　at　the　other　end。　〃Hell；　Roy；〃　the　chief　said；　〃town　like　ours　on　the　water　is　bound　to　get　lots　of　waves。〃
　〃Not　like　this　one。　You've　got　to　evacuate　the　people　from　near　the　harbor；　especially　the　new　motel。〃
　
　Jenkins　thought　the　phone　had　gone　dead。　Then　came　Charlie　Howes's　famous　guffaw。　〃I　didn't　know　today　was　April　Fool's。〃
　〃Charlie；　this　is　no　joke；〃　Jenkins　said　in　exasperation。　〃That　wave　is　going　to　slam　into　the　harbor。　I　don't　know　how　strong　it　will　be；　because　there　are　lots　of　unknowns；　but　that　motel　is　right　in　its　path。〃
　
　The　chief　laughed　again。　〃Hell；　some　people　would　be　real　happy　to　see　the　Harbor　View　washed　into　the　sea。〃
　
　The　two…story　edifice　that　extended　into　the　harbor　on　stilts　had　been　a　source　of　controversy　for　months。　It　had　gone　up　only　after　a　bitter　fight；　an　expensive　lawsuit　filed　by　the　developers　and　what　many　suspected　were　bribes　to　officials。
　
　〃They're　going　to　get　their　wish；　but　you've　got　to　get　the　guests　out　first。〃
　〃Hell；　Roy；　there　must　be　a　hundred　people　staying　there。　I　can't　roust　them　out　for　no　reason。　I'll　lose　my　job。　Even　worse；　I'll　be　a　laughingstock。〃
　
　Jenkins　checked　his　watch　and　cursed　under　his　breath。　He　hadn't　wanted　to　panic　the　chief；　but　he　had　reached　the　end　of　his　self…control。
　
　〃Goddarnnit；　you　old　fool！　How　will　you　feel　if　a　hundred　people　die　because　you're　afraid　of　being　laughed　at？〃
　〃You're　not　kidding；　are　you；　Roy？〃
　〃You　know　what　I　did　before　I　took　up　lobstering。〃
　〃Yeah；　you　were　a　professor　at　the　university　up　at　Orono。〃
　〃That's　right。　I　headed　up　the　Oceanography　Department。　We　studied　wave　action。　You've　heard　of　the　Perfect　Storm？　You've　got　the　perfect　tidal　wave　heading　your　way。　I　calculate　it　will　hit　in　twenty…five　minutes。　I　don't　care　what　you　tell　those　motel　people。　Tell　them　there's　a　gas　leak；　a　bomb　threat；　anything。　Just　get　them　out　and　to　higher　ground。　And　do　it　now。〃
　〃Okay；　Roy。　Okay。〃
　〃Is　there　anything　open　on　Main　Street？〃
　〃Coffee　shop。　Jacoby　kid　is　on　the　night　shift。　I'll　have　him　swing　by；　then　check　out　the　fish　pier。〃
　〃Make　sure　everybody　is　out　of　the　area　in　fifteen　minutes。　That　goes　for　you　and　Ed　Jacoby。〃
　〃Will　do。　Thanks；　Roy。　I　think。　'Bye。〃
　
　Jenkins　was　almost　dizzy　with　tension。　He　pictured　Rocky　Point　in　his　mind。　The　town　of　twelve　hundred　was　built　like　the　seats　in　an　amphitheater；　its　houses　clustered　on　the　side　of　a　small　hill　overlooking　the　roughly　circular　harbor。　The　harbor　was　relatively　sheltered；　but　the　town's　inhabitants　had　learned　after　a　couple　of　hurricane…driven　storm　surges　to　build　back　from　the　water。　The　old　brick　maritime　buildings　on　the　main　street　bordering　the　harbor　had　been　given　over　to　shops　and　restaurants　that　served　tourists。　The　fish　pier　and　the　motel　dominated　the　harbor。　Jenkins　cranked　up　the　throttle　and　prayed　that　his　warning　had　arrived　in　time。
　

　
　CHIEF　HOWES　IMMEDIATELY　regretted　agreeing　to　Roy's　urgent　pleas；　and　was　overe　by　a　numbing　sense　of　uncertainty。　Damned　if　he　did；　damned　if　he　didn't。　He'd　known　Jenkins　since　they　were　kids　and　Roy　was　the　smartest　one　in　class。　He　had　never　known　him　to　fail　as　a　friend。　Still。　Oh　hell；　he　was　near　retirement　anyhow。
　
　Howes　switched　on　his　flasher；　nailed　the　accelerator　and；　with　a　smoky　screech　of　tires；　roared　toward　the　waterfront。　While　he　drove　the　short　distance；　he　got　the　deputy　on　the　radio　and　told　him　to　clear　out　the　coffee　shop　then　to　go　along　Main　Street　with　his　PA　system　blasting；　warning　people　to　get　to　high　ground。　The　chief　knew　the　diurnal　rhythms　of　his　town：　who　would　be　up；　who　would　be　walking　a　dog。　Luckily；　most　businesses　didn't　open　before　ten。
　
　The　motel　was　another　story。　Howes　pulled　over　two　empty　buses　on　their　way　to　pick　up　schoolchildren　and　told　the　drivers　to　follow　him。　The　cruiser　squealed　to　a　stop　beneath　the　motel's　canopy；　and　the　chief　huffed　his　way　to　the　front