p&c.icelimit-第31章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Sighing　deeply；　Vallenar　came　around　the　desk　and　perched　on　the　edge　closest　to　the　merchant。　He　smiled　at　the　man；　feeling　the　shaving　cream　drying　on　his　skin。　The　merchant　nodded　his　head　with　a　conspiratorial　wink。　As　he　did　so；　he　rubbed　his　thumb　and　forefinger　together　in　the　universal　gesture；　laying　the　other　manicured　palm　on　the　table。
　As　quick　as　a　striking　snake；　the　andante's　hand　shot　forward。　With　a　sharp；　digging　movement；　he　sank　the　twin　blades　of　the　razor　into　the　moon　end　of　the　merchant's　middle　fingernail。　The　man　drew　in　his　breath　sharply。　Terrified　eyes　stared　up　at　the　andante；　who　met　his　gaze　with　perfect　impassivity。　Then　the　andante　gave　a　brutal　tug　and　the　man　shrieked　as　the　fingernail　was　torn　away。
　Vallenar　shook　the　razor；　flicking　the　bloody　nail　out　the　porthole。　Then　he　turned　to　the　mirror　and　resumed　shaving。　For　a　moment；　the　only　sounds　in　the　small　cabin　were　the　scrape　of　the　blades　against　skin　and　the　loud　moaning　of　the　merchant。　Vallenar　noticed；　with　faint　interest；　that　the　razor　was　leaving　an　unshaven　stripe　on　his　face；　a　piece　of　matter　must　have　remained　stuck　between　the　blades。
　He　rinsed　the　blade　again　and　finished　shaving。　Then；　patting　and　drying　his　face；　he　turned　to　the　merchant。　The　man　had　risen　to　his　feet　and　was　standing　before　the　desk；　swaying　and　moaning；　and　clutching　his　dripping　finger。
　Vallenar　leaned　over　the　desk；　tugged　a　handkerchief　out　of　his　pocket；　and　gently　wrapped　it　around　the　man's　wounded　finger。　〃Please；　sit　down；〃　he　said。
　The　merchant　sat；　whimpering　softly；　his　jowls　quivering　with　fright。
　〃You　will　do　us　both　a　service　if　you　answer　my　questions　quickly　and　precisely。　Now；　did　you　purchase　a　device　such　as　I　described？〃
　〃Yes；　I　did；〃　the　man　said　instantly。　〃I　did　have　an　instrument　like　that；　andante。〃
　〃And　who　bought　it　from　you？〃
　〃An　American　artist。〃　He　cradled　his　wounded　finger。
　〃An　artist？〃
　〃A　sculptor。　He　wanted　to　make　a　modern　sculpture　out　of　it　to　show　in　New　York。　It　was　rusted；　useless　for　anything　else。〃
　Vallenar　smiled。　〃An　American　sculptor。　What　was　his　name？〃
　〃He　did　not　give　me　his　name。〃
　Vallenar　nodded；　still　smiling。　The　man　was　now　so　very　eager　to　tell　the　truth。　〃Of　course　not。　And　now　tell　me；　senor　…　but　I　realize　I　have　not　asked　your　name。　How　inconsiderate　of　me。〃
　〃Tornero；　mi　andante。　Rafael　Tornero　Perea。〃
　〃Senor　Tornero；　tell　me；　from　whom　did　you　purchase　the　instrument？〃
　〃A　mestizo。〃
　Vallenar　paused。　〃A　mestizo？　What　was　his　name？〃
　〃I　am　sorry。。。　I　do　not　know。〃
　Vallenar　frowned。　〃You　don't　know　his　name？　There　are　very　few　mestizos　left；　and　fewer　still　e　to　Punta　Arenas。〃
　〃I　can't　remember；　andante；　truly　I　can't。〃　The　man's　eyes　grew　frantic　as　he　searched　his　memory　in　desperation。　Sweat　trickled　from　the　pomaded　brow。　〃He　was　not　from　Punta　Arenas；　he　was　from　the　south。　It　was　a　strange　name。〃
　Suddenly；　a　flash　came　over　Vallenar。　〃Was　it　Puppup？　Juan　Puppup？〃
　〃Yes！　Thank　you；　thank　you；　andante；　for　refreshing　my　memory。　Puppup。　That　was　the　name。〃
　〃Did　he　say　where　he　found　it？〃
　〃Yes。　He　said　he　found　it　on　las　Islas　de　Hornos。　I　didn't　believe　him。　Why　would　anything　of　value　be　found　down　there？〃　The　man　was　babbling　urgently　now；　speaking　as　if　he　could　not　get　the　words　out　fast　enough。　〃I　thought　he　was　trying　to　get　a　better　price。〃　His　face　brightened。　〃And　now；　I　remember；　there　was　a　pick；　and　a　strange…looking　hammer；　too。　〃
　〃A　strange…looking　hammer？〃
　〃Yes。　One　end　was　long　and　curved。　And　there　was　a　leather　bag　of　rocks。　The　American　bought　all　those　things；　too。〃
　Vallenar　leaned　eagerly　across　the　desk。　〃Rocks？　Did　you　look　at　them？〃
　〃Yes；　sir；　I　certainly　did。　I　looked　at　them。〃
　〃Were　they　gold？〃
　〃Oh；　no。　They　had　no　value。〃
　〃Ah。　And　you　must　be　a　geologist；　of　course；　to　know　that　they　had　no　value？〃
　Though　Vallenar's　tone　was　mild；　the　man　cringed　in　the　chair。　〃andante；　I　showed　them　to　Senor　Alonso　Torres；　who　owns　the　rock　shop　on　Calle　Colinas。　I　thought　they　might　be　valuable　ores。　But　he　said　they　were　worthless。　He　said　I　should　throw　them　away。〃
　〃And　how　would　he　know？〃
　〃He　knows；　andante。　He　is　an　expert　in　rocks　and　minerals。〃
　Vallenar　walked　toward　the　single　porthole；　limed　and　rusted　from　years　of　salt　water。　〃Did　he　say　what　they　were？〃
　〃He　said　they　were　nothing。〃
　Vallenar　turned　back　to　the　merchant。　〃What　did　they　look　like？〃
　〃They　were　just　rocks。　Ugly　rocks。〃
　Vallenar　closed　his　eyes；　trying　hard　to　stem　the　anger　rising　within　him。　It　would　be　unseemly　to　lose　his　temper；　here　in　front　of　a　guest　on　his　own　ship。
　〃I　may　have　one　more　in　my　shop；　andante。〃
　Vallenar　opened　his　eyes　again。　〃You　may？〃
　〃Senor　Torres　kept　one　to　do　further　tests。　I　got　it　back　after　the　American　bought　the　instrument。　For　a　time；　I　used　it　as　a　paperweight。　I；　too；　hoped　it　might　be　valuable；　despite　what　Senor　Torres　said。　Perhaps　I　can　still　locate　it。〃
　andante　Vallenar　suddenly　smiled。　He　removed　the　unlit　cigar　from　his　mouth；　examined　the　tip；　and　lit　it　from　a　box　of　wooden　matches　on　his　desk。　〃I　should　like　to　purchase　this　rock　you　mention。〃
　〃You　are　interested　in　this　rock？　It　would　be　my　privilege　to　give　it　to　you。　Let　us　not　talk　of　purchase；　andante。〃
　Vallenar　bowed　slightly。　〃Then　I　would　be　pleased　to　acpany　you；　senor；　to　your　place　of　business；　to　accept　this　kind　gift。〃　Then　he　took　a　deep　drag　on　the　cigar　and；　with　the　greatest　of　courtesy；　ushered　the　merchant　out　of　the　cabin　and　into　the　foul　central　corridor　of　the　Almirante　Ramirez。
　
　Rolvaag；
　9：35　A。M。
　
　THE　DRILL　bit　was　laid　out　on　an　examination　table；　its　scorched　head　resting　on　a　bed　of　white　plastic。　A　bank　of　overhead　lights　bathed　the　hulk　in　blue。　Sampling　instruments　were　lined　up　beside　it；　individually　sealed　in　plastic。　McFarlane；　dressed　in　scrubs；　fitted　a　surgical　mask　into　position　over　his　head。　The　channel　was　unusually　calm。　In　the　windowless　lab；　it　was　hard　to　believe　they　were　on　board　a　ship。
　〃Scalpel；　doctor？〃　Amira　asked；　her　voice　muffled　by　her　mask。
　McFarlane　shook　his　head。　〃Nurse；　I　think　we　lost　the　patient。〃
　Amira　clucked　in　sympathy。　Behind　her；　Eli　Glinn　watched；　arms　folded。
　McFarlane　moved　to　an　electronic　stereozoom　microscope　and　swiveled　it　into　position　over　the　table。　A　highly　magnified　picture　of　the　drill　head　flickered　into　view　on　a　nearby　workstation　screen：　a　landscape　of　Armageddon；　fused　canyons　and　melted　ridges。　〃Let's　burn　one；〃　he　said。
　〃Sure　thing；　doc；〃　Amira　said；　sliding　a　writeable　CD　into　the　drive　bay　of　the　machine。
　McFarlane　pulled　a　swivel　chair　toward　the　table；　sat　down　at　the　microscope；　and　snugged　the　twin　eyepieces　to　his　head。　Slowly；　he　moved　the　eyepieces；　scanning　the　crevasses；　hoping　the　drill　bit　might　have　removed　something；　no　matter　how　small；　from　the　surface　of　the　meteorite。　But　no　telltale　particles　of　red　gleamed　in　the　lunar　landscape；　even　when　he　switched　to　UV　light。　As　he　searched；　he　was　aware　that　Glinn　had　e　forward　and　was　staring　at　the　video　screen。
　After　several　fruitless　minutes；　McFarlane　sighed。　〃Go　to　120x。〃
　Amira　adjusted　the　machine。　The　landscape　leapt　forward；　looking　even　more　grotesque。　Again　McFarlane　scanned　it；　sector　by　sector。
　〃I　can't　believe　it；〃　said　Amira；　staring　at　the　screen。　〃It　should　have　picked　up　something。〃　
　McFarlane　sat　back　with　a　sigh。　〃If　it　did；　it's　beyond　the　power　of　this　microscope　to　see　it。〃
　〃That　suggests　the　meteorite　must　be　one　tenacious　crystal　lattice。〃
　〃It　sure　as　hell　isn't　a　normal　metal。〃　McFarlane　slapped　the　two　eyepieces　together　and　folded　them　back　into　the　machine。
　〃What　now？〃　said　Glinn；　his　voice　low。
　McFarlane　swiveled　in　his　chair。　He　pulled　down　the　mask　and　thought　for　a　moment。　〃There's　always　the　electron　microprobe。〃
　〃And　that　is。。。？〃　
　〃The　planetary　geologist's　favorite　tool。　We've　got　one　here。　You　put　a　sample　of　material　in　a　vacuum　chamber；　shoot　a　high…speed　beam　of　electrons　at　it。　Normally；　you　analyze　the　X　rays　it　produces；　but　you　can　heat　up　the　electron　beam　to　the　point　where　it'll　vaporize　a　tiny　amount　of　the　material；　which　will　condense　as　a　thin　film　on　a　gold　plate。　Voila；　your　sample。　Small；　but　viable。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　the　electron　beam　will　be　able　to　vaporize　a　bit　of　the　rock？〃　Glinn　asked。
　〃The　electrons　are　ejected　from　a　filament　at　extremely　high　speed。　You　can　ramp　it　up　almost　to　the　speed　of　light　and　focus　it　down　to　a　micrometer。　Believe　me；　it'll　knock　off　at　least　a　few　atoms。〃
　Glinn　was　silent；　clearly　weighing　in　his　mind　the　possible　danger　against　the　need　for　more　information。　〃Very　well；〃　he　said。　〃Proceed。　But　remember；　no　one　is　to　touch　the　meteorite　directly。〃
　McFarlane　frowned。　〃The　tricky　part　is　how　to　do　it。　Normally；　you　bring　the　sample　to　the　microprobe。　This　time　we'll　have　to　bring　the　microprobe　to　the　sample。　But　the　thing　isn't　portable　…　it　weighs　about　six　hundred　pounds。　And　we'll　have　to　jury…rig　some　sort　of　vacuum　chamber　over　its　surface。〃
　Glinn　removed　a　radio　from　his　belt。　〃Garza？　I　want　eight　men　up　on　the　maindeck　immediately。　We'll　need　to　get　a　sling　and　vehicle　big　enough　to　move　a　six…hundred…pound　instrument　on　the　first　morning　transport。〃
　〃Tell　him　we　need　a　major　power　source；　too；〃　McFarlane　added。
　〃And　have　a　cable　with　a　ground…fault　interrupt　able　to　carry　up　to　twenty　thousand　watts。〃
　McFarlane　gave　a　low　whistle。　〃That'll　do　it。〃
　〃You　have　one　hour　to　get　your　samples。　We　have　no　more　time。〃　These　words　were　spoken　very　slowly；　and　very　clearly。　〃Garza　will　be　here　shortly。　Be　ready。〃
　Glinn　rose　abruptly　and　left　the　lab；　the　door　sucking　in　a　gust　of　frigid　air　as　it　shut　behind　him。
　McFarlane　looked　at　Amira。　〃He's　getting　touchy。〃
　〃He　hates　not　knowing；〃　said　Amira。　〃Uncertainty　drives　him　around　the　bend。〃
　〃It　must　be　hard　to　live　life　like　that。〃
　A　distant　look　of　pain　crossed　her　face。　〃You　haven't　any　idea。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　her　curiously；　but　Amira　merely　pulled　down　her　mask　and　removed　her　gloves。　〃Let's　break　down　the　microprobe　for　transport；〃　she　said。
　
　Isla　Desolacion；
　1：45　P。M。
　
　BY　EARLY　afternoon；　the　staging　area　had　been　prepped　for　the　test。　Inside　the　little　shack；　the　light　was　brilliant；　the　air　suffocatingly　warm。　McFarlane　stood　over　the　hole；　looking　down　on　the　rich；　deep　red　surface。　Even　in　the　harsh　light　it　had　a　soft　luster。　The　microprobe；　a　long　cylinder　of　stainless　steel；　lay　on　a　padded　cradle。　Amira　was　arranging　the　other　equipment　McFarlane　had　ordered：　an　inch…thick　bell　jar　containing　a　filament　and　plug；　a　set　of　gold　disks　sealed　in　plastic；　and　an　electromagnet　for　focusing　the　electron　beam。
　〃I　need　one　square　foot　of　the　meteorite　cleaned　to　absolute　perfection；〃　McFarlane　said　to　Glinn；　who　was　standing　nearby。　〃Otherwise　we'll　get　contaminants。〃
　〃We'll　make　it　happen；〃　said　Glinn。　〃Once　we　get　the　samples；　what's　your　plan？〃
　〃We'll　run　a　series　of　tests　on　them。　With　any　luck；　we'll　be　able　to　determine　its　basic　electrical；　chemical；　and　physical　properties。〃
　〃How　long　will　that　take？〃
　〃Forty…eight　hours。　More；　if　we　eat　and　sleep。〃
　Glinn's　lips　pre