p&c.icelimit-第44章

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ng　and　grinding　of　unseen　machinery。　There　was　a　wink　of　headlights　in　the　distance；　then　some　kind　of　vehicle　made　its　way　around　the　meteorite　and　came　toward　him。　It　was　a　train　of　ore　carts；　full　of　glittering　blue　shards　of　ice。
　The　revelation　that　the　meteorite　could　kill　by　touch　had　startled　Glinn　more　than　he　cared　to　admit。　Despite　that　he　had　instituted　orders　never　to　touch　the　rock　directly；　he　had　always　considered　this　merely　a　judicious　precaution。　He　sensed　that　McFarlane　was　right：　the　touch　had　caused　the　explosion。　There　seemed　to　be　no　other　possible　answer。　A　strategic　recalculation　had　bee　necessary。　It　had　caused　yet　another　revision　in　his　failure…success　analysis　…　one　that　required　virtually　all　of　EES's　puter　capacity　back　in　New　York　to　process。
　Glinn　looked　once　again　at　the　red　rock；　sitting　like　a　huge　gemstone　on　its　bed　of　greenheart　oak。　This　was　the　thing　that　killed　Vallenar's　man；　killed　Rochefort　and　Evans；　killed　Masangkay。　Strange　that　it　had　not　killed　Lloyd。　It　was　undeniably　deadly。。。　but　the　fact　was；　they　were　still　ahead　of　schedule　on　fatalities。　The　volcano　project　had　cost　fourteen　lives；　including　one　meddling　government　minister　who　insisted　on　being　where　he　shouldn't　have　been。　Glinn　reminded　himself　that；　despite　the　strangeness　of　the　rock；　despite　the　problem　of　the　Chilean　destroyer；　this　remained　essentially　a　heavy　moving　job。
　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　McFarlane　and　Amira　would　be　on　time；　they　always　were。　And　he　could　see　them　now；　stepping　out　of　a　snowcat　at　the　mouth　of　the　ice　tunnel；　McFarlane　lugging　a　duffel　bag　full　of　instruments。　In　five　minutes　they　were　at　Glinn's　side。　He　turned　to　them。　〃You've　got　forty　minutes　until　the　tunnel　is　plete　and　the　meteorite　is　moved　again。　Make　good　use　of　it。〃
　〃We　intend　to；〃　said　Amira。
　He　watched　her　pulling　gear　out　of　the　duffel　and　setting　up　instruments；　while　McFarlane　silently　took　pictures　of　the　rock　with　a　digital　camera。　She　was　capable。　McFarlane　had　learned　about　her　reports；　as　he　had　expected。　This　had　had　the　desired　effect：　it　put　McFarlane　on　notice　that　his　behavior　was　being　scrutinized。　It　also　gave　Amira　an　ethical　dilemma　to　occupy　herself　with；　always　helpful　in　distracting　her　from　the　thornier　moral　questions　she　had　a　tendency　to　ask。　Moral　questions　that　had　no　place　in　a　cold…blooded　engineering　project。　McFarlane　had　taken　it　better　than　the　profile　predicted。　A　plicated　man；　and　one　who　had　proven　himself　unusually　useful。
　Glinn　noticed　another　cat　arriving；　also　with　a　passenger。　Sally　Britton　stepped　out；　a　long　coat　of　navy　blue　wool　billowing　out　behind　her。　Uncharacteristically；　there　was　no　officer's　cap　on　her　head；　and　her　wheat…colored　hair　gleamed　in　the　lights　of　the　tunnel。　Glinn　smiled。　He　had　also　been　expecting　this；　ever　since　the　explosion　that　killed　the　Chilean　spy。　Expecting　it；　even　looking　forward　to　it。
　As　Britton　drew　near；　Glinn　turned　toward　her　with　a　genuinely　weling　smile。　He　took　her　hand。　〃Nice　to　see　you；　Captain。　What　brings　you　down　here？〃
　Britton　looked　around；　her　intelligent　green　eyes　taking　in　everything。　They　froze　when　they　saw　the　meteorite。
　〃Good　God；〃　she　said；　her　step　suddenly　faltering。
　Glinn　smiled。　〃It's　always　a　shock　at　first　sight。〃
　She　nodded　wordlessly。
　〃Nothing　great　can　happen　in　this　world；　Captain；　without　some　difficulty。〃　Glinn　spoke　quietly；　but　with　great　force。　〃It's　the　scientific　discovery　of　the　century。〃　Glinn　did　not　particularly　care　about　its　value　to　science；　his　interest　was　solely　in　the　engineering　aspects。　But　he　was　not　going　to　eschew　a　little　drama；　if　it　served　his　purposes。
　Britton　continued　staring。　〃They　said　it　was　red；　but　I　had　no　idea。。。〃
　The　roar　of　heavy　machinery　echoed　down　the　ice　tunnel　as　she　stared：　one　minute；　then　two。　At　last；　with　obvious　effort；　she　took　a　breath；　pulled　her　eyes　away；　and　faced　him。
　〃Two　more　people　have　been　killed。　But　what　news　we've　had　from　you　has　been　slow　in　ing；　and　rumors　are　everywhere。　The　crew　are　nervous；　and　so　are　my　officers。　I　need　to　know　exactly　what　happened；　and　why。〃
　Glinn　nodded；　waiting。
　〃That　meteorite　is　not　ing　on　board　my　ship　until　I'm　convinced　it's　safe。〃　She　said　it　all　at　once　and　then　stood　firm；　her　slim；　small　form　planted　on　the　gravel。
　Glinn　smiled。　This　was　one　hundred　percent　Sally　Britton。　Every　day　he　admired　her　more。
　〃I　feel　exactly　the　same　way；〃　he　said。
　She　looked　at　him；　off　balance；　obviously　having　expected　resistance。
　〃Mr。　Glinn；　we　have　a　dead　Chilean　naval　officer　to　explain　to　the　authorities。　We　have　a　warship　out　there　somewhere；　a　destroyer　that　likes　to　train　its　guns　on　us。　Three　of　your　people　are　dead。　We　have　a　twenty…five…thousand…ton　rock　that；　when　it　isn't　crushing　people；　blows　them　to　bits；　and　you　want　to　put　it　inside　my　ship。〃　She　paused　a　moment；　then　continued；　her　voice　lower。　〃Even　the　best　crews　can　get　superstitious。　There's　been　a　lot　of　wild　talk。〃
　〃You　are　right　to　be　concerned。　Let　me　brief　you　on　what　happened。　I　apologize　for　not　ing　to　the　ship　myself；　but　as　you　know　we've　been　fighting　the　clock。〃
　She　waited。
　〃Two　nights　ago；　during　the　storm；　we　had　an　intruder　from　the　Chilean　ship。　He　was　killed　by　an　electrical　discharge　from　the　meteorite。　Unfortunately；　not　before　he　murdered　one　of　our　men。〃
　Britton　looked　at　him　sharply。　〃So　it's　true？　Lightning　shot　out　of　the　meteorite？　I　didn't　believe　it。　And　I　sure　as　hell　don't　understand　it。〃
　〃It's　actually　quite　simple。　It's　made　of　a　metal　that　is　a　superconductor　of　electricity。　The　human　body　…　human　skin　…　has　an　electrical　potential。　If　you　touch　the　meteorite；　the　meteorite　discharges　some　of　the　electricity　circulating　inside　it。　Like　a　blast　of　lightning；　only　greater。　McFarlane　has　explained　the　theory　to　me。　That's　what　we　believe　killed　the　Chilean；　as　well　as　Nestor　Masangkay；　the　man　who　first　discovered　the　meteorite。〃
　〃Why　does　it　do　that？〃
　〃McFarlane　and　Amira　are　working　on　that　question　now。　But　moving　the　rock　is　the　priority　now；　and　they　haven't　had　time　for　further　analysis。〃
　〃So　what's　to　prevent　this　from　happening　on　my　ship？〃
　〃Another　good　question。〃　Glinn　smiled。　〃We're　working　on　that　one　too。　We're　taking　great　precautions　to　make　sure　no　one　touches　it。　Indeed；　we　had　instituted　such　a　policy　even　before　we　realized　that　touch　could　trigger　an　explosion。〃
　〃I　see。　Where　does　the　electricity　e　from？〃
　Glinn's　hesitation　was　very　brief。　〃That's　one　of　the　things　that　Dr。　McFarlane　is　studying　right　now。〃
　Britton　did　not　respond。
　Quite　suddenly；　Glinn　took　her　hand。　He　felt　a　brief；　instinctive　resistance。　Then　she　relaxed。
　〃I　understand　your　concerns；　Captain；〃　he　said　gently。　〃That's　why　we　are　taking　all　possible　precautions。　But　you　must　believe　we　will　not　fail。　You　must　believe　in　me。　Just　as　I　believe　in　you　to　maintain　discipline　aboard　your　ship；　despite　the　nervousness　and　superstitions　of　the　crew。〃
　She　looked　at　him；　but　he　could　see　her　eyes　irresistibly　drawn　back　to　the　great　red　rock。
　〃Stay　a　while；〃　said　Glinn　softly；　smiling。　〃Stay　and　watch　us　bring　the　heaviest　object　ever　moved　by　mankind　to　your　ship。〃
　She　looked　from　the　rock　toward　him；　then　back　to　the　rock；　hesitating。
　A　radio　on　her　belt　chirped。　She　immediately　freed　herself　and　stepped　away。　〃This　is　Captain　Britton；〃　she　said。
　Watching　the　change　in　her　face；　Glinn　knew　precisely　what　she　must　be　hearing。
　She　replaced　the　radio。　〃The　destroyer。　It's　returned。〃
　Glinn　nodded。　The　smile　had　not　left　his　face。　〃No　surprise；〃　he　said。　〃The　Almirante　Ramirez　has　lost　one　of　her　own。　Now　she's　e　to　get　him　back。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　July　24；　3：45　P。M。
　
　NIGHT　wAS　falling　over　Isla　Desolacion。　Coffee　cup　in　hand；　McFarlane　watched　the　twilight　gather　from　the　solitude　of　the　fly　deck。　It　was　a　perfect　evening：　clear；　cold；　windless。　In　the　distance；　there　were　some　remaining　streaks　of　clouds：　mare's　tails　of　pink　and　peach。　The　island　lay　etched　in　light；　unnaturally　clear　and　crisp。　Beyond；　the　glossy　waters　of　Franklin　Channel　reflected　the　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun。　Farther　still　lay　Vallenar's　destroyer；　gray；　malevolent；　the　name　Almirante　Ramirez　barely　legible　on　its　rust…streaked　sides。　That　afternoon　it　had　moved　in　closer；　nosing　into　place　at　the　entrance　to　Franklin　Channel　…　their　only　route　of　exit。　Now　it　looked　as　though　it　planned　to　stay。
　McFarlane　took　a　sip　of　coffee；　then　impulsively　poured　the　rest　over　the　side。　Caffeine　was　the　last　thing　he　needed　right　now。　There　was　already　a　tremendous　tension　in　his　gut。　He　wondered　just　how　Glinn　was　planning　to　deal　with　the　destroyer；　on　top　of　everything　else。　But　Glinn　had　seemed　calm　that　day；　exceptionally　calm。　He　wondered　if　the　man　was　having　a　nervous　breakdown。
　The　meteorite　had　been　moved　…　painfully；　centimeter　by　centimeter　…　through　the　icefield　and　down　the　sunken　roadway　to　the　edge　of　Isla　Desolacion。　It　had　finally　reached　a　bluff　overlooking　Franklin　Channel。　To　hide　it；　another　of　Glinn's　corrugated　metal　shacks　had　gone　up。　McFarlane　examined　the　shack　from　the　deck。　As　usual；　it　was　a　masterpiece　of　deception：　a　rusty　contraption　of　secondhand　metal　that　listed　dangerously。　Bald　tires　had　been　piled　in　front。　He　wondered　how　they　planned　to　lower　it　into　the　hold；　Glinn　had　been　exceptionally　cagey。　All　he　knew　was；　it　was　going　to　happen　in　a　single　night：　that　night。
　The　hatch　opened　and　McFarlane　turned　at　the　sound。　He　was　surprised　to　see　Glinn；　who　hadn't　been　on　board　the　ship；　as　far　as　he　could　tell；　for　almost　a　week。
　The　man　sauntered　over　casually。　Although　his　face　remained　gray；　there　was　an　easiness　to　his　movements。　〃Evening；〃　he　said。
　〃You　seem　awfully　calm。〃
　Instead　of　replying；　Glinn　removed　a　pack　of　cigarettes　and；　much　to　McFarlane's　surprise；　slid　one　into　his　mouth。　He　lit　it；　the　match　flaring　against　his　sallow　face；　and　took　a　long　drag。
　〃Didn't　know　you　smoked。　Out　of　costume；　anyway。〃
　Glinn　smiled。　〃I　allow　myself　twelve　cigarettes　a　year。　It's　my　one　foolishness。〃
　〃When　was　the　last　time　you　slept？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　Glinn　gazed　out　over　the　peaceful　waters。　〃I'm　not　sure。　Sleep　is　like　food：　after　the　first　few　days　you　stop　missing　it。〃
　He　smoked　in　silence　for　a　few　minutes。　〃Any　fresh　insights　from　your　time　in　the　ice　tunnel？〃　he　asked　at　last。
　〃Tantalizing　bits　and　pieces。　It　has　an　atomic　number　in　excess　of　four　hundred；　for　example。〃
　Glinn　nodded。
　〃Sound　travels　through　it　at　ten　percent　the　speed　of　light。　It　has　a　very　faint　internal　structure：　an　outer　layer　and　an　inner　layer；　with　a　small　inclusion　in　the　center。　Most　meteorites　e　from　the　breakup　of　a　larger　body。　This　one　is　just　the　opposite：　it　looks　like　it　grew　by　accretion；　probably　in　a　jet　of　plasma　from　a　hypernova。　Sort　of　like　a　pearl　around　a　grain　of　sand。　That's　why　it's　somewhat　symmetrical。〃
　〃Extraordinary。　And　the　electrical　discharge？〃
　〃Still　a　mystery。　We　don't　know　why　a　human　touch　should　trigger　it　when　nothing　else　seems　to。　We　also　don't　know　why　it　is　that　Lloyd；　alone；　escaped　getting　blown　to　bits。　We've　got　more　data　than　we　can　even　begin　to　analyze；　and　it's　all　contradictory。〃