p&c.icelimit-第26章

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　The　empty　feeling　inside　McFarlane　vanished。　〃Screw　protocol；〃　he　said；　lowering　his　cup。　〃He　found　it；　not　you。　Or　me。　He　died　for　it。〃
　Lloyd　looked　back　at　him。　It's　a　little　too　late　now　for　an　attack　of　ethics；　his　gaze　seemed　to　say。　〃We'll　talk　about　this　later；〃　he　said　evenly。　〃Right　now；　let's　drink　to　it；　whatever　the　hell　its　name。〃
　They　tapped　their　plastic　cups　and　drank　the　hot　chocolate　down　in　a　single　gulp。　A　gull　passed　by　unseen；　its　forlorn　cry　lost　in　the　snow。　McFarlane　felt　the　wele　creep　of　warmth　in　his　gut；　and　the　sudden　anger　eased。　Already　the　light　was　beginning　to　dim；　and　the　borders　of　their　small　world　were　ringed　with　a　graying　whiteness。　Lloyd　retrieved　the　cups　and　placed　them　and　the　thermos　back　in　his　pack。　The　moment　had　a　certain　awkwardness；　perhaps；　McFarlane　thought；　all　such　self…consciously　historic　moments　did。
　And　there　was　another　reason　for　awkwardness。　They　still　hadn't　found　the　body。　McFarlane　found　himself　afraid　to　lift　his　eyes　from　the　ground；　for　fear　of　making　the　discovery；　afraid　to　turn　to　Puppup　and　ask　where　it　was。
　Lloyd　took　another　long　look　at　the　hole　before　his　feet；　then　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Let's　get　Puppup　to　take　a　picture。〃
　Dutifully；　McFarlane　stepped　up　beside　Lloyd　as　the　older　man　passed　his　camera　to　Puppup。
　As　the　shutter　clicked；　Lloyd　stiffened；　his　eyes　focusing　in　the　near　distance。　〃Look　over　there；〃　he　said；　pointing　over　Puppup's　shoulder　toward　a　dun…colored　jumble；　up　a　small　rise　about　a　hundred　yards　from　the　hole。
　They　approached　it。　The　skeletal　remains　lay　partially　covered　in　snow；　the　bones　shattered；　almost　unrecognizable　save　for　a　grinning；　lopsided　jaw。　Nearby　was　a　shovel　blade；　its　handle　missing。　One　of　the　feet　was　still　wearing　a　rotten　boot。
　〃Masangkay；〃　Lloyd　whispered。
　Beside　him；　McFarlane　was　silent。　They　had　been　through　so　much　together。　His　former　friend；　former　brother…in…law；　reduced　now　to　a　cold　jumble　of　broken　bones　at　the　bottom　of　the　world。　How　had　he　died？　Exposure？　Freak　heart　attack？　Clearly；　it　hadn't　been　starvation：　there　was　plenty　of　food　back　at　the　mules。　And　what　had　broken　up　and　scattered　the　bones？　Birds？　Animals？　The　island　seemed　devoid　of　life。　And　Puppup　had　not　even　bothered　to　bury　him。
　Lloyd　swiveled　toward　Puppup。　〃Do　you　have　any　idea　what　killed　him？〃
　Puppup　simply　sniffed。
　〃Let　me　guess。　Hanuxa。〃
　〃If　you　believe　the　legends；　guv；〃　Puppup　said。　〃And　as　I　said；　I　don't。〃
　Lloyd　looked　hard　at　Puppup　for　a　moment。　Then　he　sighed；　and　gave　McFarlane's　shoulder　a　squeeze。　〃I'm　sorry；　Sam；〃　he　said。　〃This　must　be　tough　for　you。〃
　They　stood　in　silence　a　moment　longer；　huddled　over　the　pathetic　remains。　Then　Lloyd　stirred。　〃Time　to　get　moving；〃　he　said。　〃Howell　said　three　P。M。　and　I'd　rather　not　spend　the　night　on　this　rock。〃
　〃In　a　moment；〃　McFarlane　said；　still　staring　down。　〃We　need　to　bury　him　first。〃
　Lloyd　hesitated。　McFarlane　steeled　himself；　waiting　for　the　protest。　But　the　big　man　nodded。　〃Of　course。〃
　While　Lloyd　collected　the　bone　fragments　into　a　small　pile；　McFarlane　hunted　up　boulders　in　the　deepening　snow；　prying　them　loose　from　the　frozen　ground　with　numb　fingers。　Together；　they　made　a　cairn　over　the　remains。　Puppup　stood　back；　watching。
　〃Aren't　you　going　to　help？〃　Lloyd　asked。
　〃Not　me。　Like　I　said；　I'm　a　Christian；　I　am。　It　says　in　the　Book；　let　the　dead　bury　the　dead。〃
　〃Weren't　too　Christian　to　empty　his　pockets；　though；　were　you？〃　McFarlane　said。
　Puppup　folded　his　arms；　a　silly；　guilty…looking　smile　on　his　face。
　McFarlane　went　back　to　work；　and　within　fifteen　minutes　they　were　done。　He　fashioned　a　rough　cross　from　two　sticks　and　planted　it　carefully　atop　the　low　pile　of　rocks。　Then　he　stepped　back；　dusting　the　snow　from　his　gloves。
　〃Canticum　graduum　de　profundis　clamavi　ad　te　Domine；〃　he　said　under　his　breath。　〃Rest　easy；　partner。〃
　Then　he　nodded　to　Lloyd　and　they　turned　east；　heading　for　the　white　bulk　of　the　snowfield　as　the　sky　grew　still　darker　and　another　squall　gathered　at　their　backs。
　
　Isla　Desolacion；
　July　16；　8：42　A。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　LOOKED　out　over　the　new　gravel　road；　cut　through　the　brilliant　expanse　of　fresh　snow　like　a　black　snake。　He　shook　his　head；　smiling　to　himself　in　grudging　admiration。　In　the　three　days　since　his　first　visit；　the　island　had　been　transformed　almost　beyond　recognition。
　There　was　a　rough　lurch；　and　half　of　McFarlane's　coffee　splashed　from　his　cup　onto　his　snowpants。　〃Christ！〃　he　yelped；　holding　the　cup　at　arm's　length　and　swatting　at　his　pants。
　From　inside　the　cab；　the　driver；　a　burly　fellow　named　Evans；　smiled。　〃Sorry；〃　he　said。　These　Cats　don't　exactly　ride　like　Eldorados。〃
　Despite　its　massive　yellow　bulk；　and　tires　almost　twice　as　tall　as　a　man；　the　Cat　785's　cab　held　only　one　person；　and　McFarlane　had　ended　up　sitting；　cross…legged；　on　the　narrow　platform　beside　it。　Directly　beneath　him；　the　huge　diesel　engine　snarled。　He　didn't　mind。　Today　was　the　day。　Today　they　were　going　to　uncover　the　meteorite。
　He　thought　back　over　the　last　seventy…two　hours。　The　very　night　they　arrived；　Glinn　had　initiated　an　astonishing　process　of　unloading。　It　had　all　happened　with　ruthless　speed　and　efficiency。　By　morning；　the　most　incriminating　equipment　had　been　moved　by　heavy　equipment　to　prefab　hangars　on　the　island。　At　the　same　time；　EES　workers　under　Garza　and　Rochefort　had　blasted　and　leveled　the　beach　site；　built　jetties　and　breakwaters　with　riprap　and　steel；　and　graded　a　broad　road　from　the　landing　site　around　the　snowfield　to　the　meteorite　area　…　the　road　he　was　now　on。　The　EES　team　had　also　offloaded　some　of　the　portable　container　labs　and　workspaces　and　moved　them　to　the　staging　area；　where　they　had　been　arranged　among　rows　of　Quonset　huts。
　But　as　the　Caterpillar　785　Hauler　rounded　the　snowfield　and　approached　the　staging　area；　McFarlane　saw　that　the　most　astonishing　change　of　all　had　taken　place　on　an　escarpment　about　a　mile　away。　There；　an　army　of　workers　with　heavy　equipment　had　begun　gouging　out　an　open　pit。　A　dozen　huts　had　sprouted　up　along　its　verge。　Periodically；　McFarlane　could　hear　an　explosive　shudder；　and　clouds　of　dust　would　rise　into　the　sky　over　the　pit。　A　tailings　pile　was　growing　to　one　side；　and　a　leachpond　had　been　built　nearby。
　〃What's　going　on　over　there？〃　McFarlane　shouted　to　Evans　over　the　roar　of　the　engine；　pointing　to　the　escarpment。
　〃Mining。〃
　〃I　can　see　that。　But　what　are　they　mining？〃
　Evans　broke　into　a　grin。　〃Nada。〃
　McFarlane　had　to　laugh。　Glinn　was　amazing。　Anyone　looking　at　the　site　would　think　the　activity　on　the　escarpment　was　their　real　business；　the　staging　area　around　the　meteorite　looked　like　a　minor　supply　dump。
　He　turned　his　gaze　from　the　ersatz　mine　back　to　the　road　that　lay　ahead。　The　Hanuxa　snowfield　coruscated；　seeming　to　grab　the　light　and　draw　it　into　its　depths；　turning　it　to　infinite　hues　of　blue　and　turquoise。　The　Jaws　of　Hanuxa　stood　beyond；　their　grimness　softened　by　a　dusting　of　fresh　snow。
　McFarlane　hadn't　slept　at　all　the　night　before；　and　yet　he　felt　almost　too　wakeful。　In　less　than　an　hour；　they　would　know。　They　would　see　it。　They　would　touch　it。
　The　truck　lurched　again；　and　McFarlane　tightened　his　grip　on　the　metal　railing　with　one　hand　while　quickly　downing　his　coffee　with　the　other。　It　might　be　sunny　for　a　change；　but　it　was　also　hellishly　cold。　He　crushed　the　foam　cup　and　slid　it　into　a　pocket　of　his　parka。　The　big　Cat　was　only　slightly　less　shabby…looking　than　the　Rolvaag　itself；　but　McFarlane　could　see　that　this；　too；　was　an　illusion：　the　interior　of　the　cab　was　brand…new。
　〃Quite　a　machine；〃　he　yelled　over　to　Evans。
　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　the　man　replied；　his　breath　smoking。
　The　roadbed　grew　smoother　and　the　Cat　sped　up。　As　they　trundled　along；　they　passed　another　hauler　and　a　bulldozer　headed　back　toward　the　shore；　and　the　drivers　waved　cheerfully　at　Evans。　McFarlane　realized　he　knew　nothing　about　the　men　and　women　wielding　all　the　heavy　equipment　…　who　they　were；　what　they　thought　about　such　a　strange　project。　〃You　guys　work　for　Glinn？〃　he　asked　Evans。
　Evans　nodded。　〃To　a　man。〃　He　seemed　to　wear　a　perpetual　smile　on　his　craggy　face；　overhung　with　two　bristly　eyebrows。　〃Not　full…time；　though。　Some　of　the　boys　are　roughnecks　on　oil　rigs；　some　build　bridges；　you　name　it。　We　even　have　a　crew　from　the　Big　Dig　in　Boston。　But　when　you　get　the　call　from　EES；　you　drop　everything　and　e　running。
　〃Why's　that？〃
　Evans's　smile　widened。　〃The　pay　is　five　times　scale；　that's　why。〃
　〃Guess　I'm　working　the　wrong　end　of　the　job；　then。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　sure　you're　doing　all　right　for　yourself；　Dr。　McFarlane。〃　Evans　throttled　down　to　let　a　grader　pass　them；　its　metal　blades　winking　in　the　brilliant　sunshine。
　〃Is　this　the　biggest　job　you've　seen　EES　take　on？〃
　〃Nope。〃　Evans　goosed　the　engine　and　they　lurched　forward　once　again。　〃Small　to　middling；　actually。〃
　The　snowfield　fell　behind　them。　Ahead；　McFarlane　could　now　see　a　broad　depression；　covering　perhaps　an　acre；　that　had　been　scraped　into　the　frozen　earth。　An　array　of　four　huge　infrared　dishes　surrounded　the　staging　area；　pointing　down。　Nearby　stood　a　row　of　graders；　lined　up　as　if　at　attention。　Engineers　and　other　workers　were　scattered　around；　huddled　together　over　plans；　taking　measurements；　speaking　into　radios。　In　the　distance；　a　snowcat　…　a　large；　trailerlike　vehicle　with　monstrous　metal　treads　…　was　crawling　toward　the　snowfield；　wielding　high…tech　instruments　held　out　on　booms。　Off　to　one　side；　small　and　forlorn；　was　the　cairn　he　and　Lloyd　had　built　over　Nestor　Masangkay's　remains。
　Evans　came　to　an　idle　at　the　edge　of　the　staging　area。　McFarlane　hopped　off　and　made　for　the　hut　marked　MISSARY。　Inside；　Lloyd　and　Glinn　sat　at　a　table　near　a　makeshift　kitchen；　deep　in　discussion。　Amira　was　standing　by　a　griddle；　loading　a　plate　with　food。　Nearby；　John　Puppup　was　curled　up；　napping。　The　room　smelled　of　coffee　and　bacon。
　〃About　time　you　got　here；〃　Amira　said　as　she　returned　to　the　table；　her　plate　heaped　with　at　least　a　dozen　slices　of　bacon。　〃Wallowing　in　your　bunk　until　all　hours。　You　should　be　making　an　example　for　your　assistant。〃　She　poured　a　cup　of　maple　syrup　over　the　mound　of　bacon；　stirred　it　around；　picked　up　a　dripping　piece；　and　folded　it　into　her　mouth。
　Lloyd　was　warming　his　hands　around　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃With　your　eating　habits；　Rachel；〃　he　said　good…humoredly；　〃you　should　be　dead　by　now。〃
　Amira　laughed。　〃The　brain　uses　more　calories　per　minute　thinking　than　the　body　does　jogging。　How　do　you　think　I　stay　so　svelte　and　sexy？〃　She　tapped　her　forehead。
　〃How　soon　until　we　uncover　the　rock？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　Glinn　sat　back；　slid　out　his　gold　pocket　watch；　and　flicked　it　open。　〃Half　an　hour。　We're　just　going　to　uncover　enough　of　the　surface　to　allow　you　to　perform　some　tests。
　Dr。　Amira　will　assist　you　with　testing　and　analyzing　the　data。〃
　McFarlane　nodded。　This　had　already　been　carefully　discussed；　but　Glinn　always　went　over　everything　twice。　Double　overage；　he　thought。
　〃We'll　have　to　christen　it；〃　Amira　said；　thrusting　another　piece　of　bacon　into　her　mouth。　〃Anybody　bring　the　champagne？〃
　Lloyd　frowned。　〃Unfortunately；　it's　more　like　a　Temperance　meeting　around　here　than　a　scientific　expedition。〃