p&c.icelimit-第45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！


g　blown　to　bits。　We've　got　more　data　than　we　can　even　begin　to　analyze；　and　it's　all　contradictory。〃
　〃What　about　the　way　our　radios　were　knocked　out　after　the　explosion？　Any　connection？〃
　〃Yes。　It　seems　that　after　the　discharge；　the　meteorite　was　in　an　excited　state；　emitting　radio　waves　…　long…wavelength　electromagnetic　radiation。　That　accounts　for　the　interference　with　radio　munication。　Over　time；　it　died　down；　but　in　its　immediate　vicinity　…　say；　inside　the　tunnel　…　the　meteorite　was　still　throwing　off　enough　radio　noise　to　defeat　radio　traffic　for　several　hours；　at　least。〃
　〃And　now？〃
　〃It's　settled　down。　At　least　until　the　next　explosion。〃
　Glinn　puffed　silently；　savoring　the　cigarette　as　McFarlane　watched。　Then　he　gestured　toward　the　shore；　and　the　rickety　shack　that　concealed　the　meteorite。　〃In　a　few　hours；　that　thing　will　be　in　the　tank。　If　you　have　any　last　reservations；　I　need　to　know　now。　Our　lives　at　sea　depend　on　it。〃
　McFarlane　said　nothing。　He　could　almost　feel　the　burden　of　the　question　settling　on　his　shoulders。　〃I　simply　can't　predict　what's　going　to　happen；〃　he　said。
　Glinn　smoked。　〃I'm　not　asking　for　a　prediction；　only　an　educated　guess。〃
　〃We've　had　the　chance　to　observe　it；　under　various　conditions；　for　almost　two　weeks。　Except　for　the　electrical　discharge　apparently　caused　by　human　touch；　it　seems　pletely　inert。　It　doesn't　react　to　metal　touching　it；　or　even　a　high…powered　electron　microprobe。　As　long　as　our　safety　precautions　are　kept　rigidly　in　place；　I　can't　think　of　any　reason　why　it　should　act　differently　in　the　holding　tank　of　the　Rolvaag。〃　
　McFarlane　hesitated；　wondering　if　his　own　fascination　with　the　meteorite　was　causing　him　to　lose　his　objectivity。　The　idea　of　leaving　it　behind　was。。。　unthinkable。　He　changed　the　subject。　〃Lloyd's　been　on　the　satellite　phone　almost　hourly；　and　he's　desperate　for　news。〃
　Glinn　inhaled　blissfully；　his　eyes　half　closed；　like　a　Buddha。　〃In　thirty　minutes；　as　soon　as　it's　fully　dark；　we　bring　the　ship　up　against　the　bluff　and　begin　loading　the　meteorite　on　a　tower　built　out　of　the　tank。　It　will　be　in　the　tank　by　three　A。M。；　and　by　dawn　we'll　be　a　good　way　to　international　waters。　You　can　relate　that　to　Mr。　Lloyd。　Everything　is　under　control。　Garza　and　Stonecipher　will　be　running　the　operation。　I　won't　even　be　needed　until　the　final　stage。〃
　〃What　about　that？〃　McFarlane　nodded　toward　the　destroyer。　〃Once　you　start　lowering　the　rock　into　the　tank；　it's　going　to　be　exposed　for　all　to　see。　The　Rolvaag　will　be　a　sitting　duck。〃
　〃We　will　work　under　cover　of　darkness　and　a　predicted　fog。　Nevertheless；　I　will　be　paying　a　call　on　andante　Vallenar　during　the　critical　period。〃
　McFarlane　was　not　sure　he　had　heard　correctly。　〃You'll　be　doing　what？〃　
　〃It　will　distract　him。〃　Then；　more　quietly；　〃And　it　will　serve　other　purposes　as　well。〃
　〃That's　insane。　He　might　arrest　you；　or　even　kill　you。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　so。　By　all　accounts；　andante　Vallenar　is　a　brutal　man。　But　he　is　not　crazy。〃
　〃In　case　you　hadn't　noticed；　he's　blocking　our　only　exit。〃　Night　had　fallen；　and　a　cloak　of　darkness　had　settled　over　the　island。　Glinn　checked　his　gold　watch；　then　pulled　a　radio　out　of　his　pocket。　〃Manuel？　You　may　mence。〃
　Almost　instantaneously；　the　bluff　was　lit　up　by　banks　of　brilliant　lights；　bathing　the　bleak　landscape　in　a　cold　illumination。　A　swarm　of　workers　appeared　as　if　out　of　nowhere。　Heavy　machinery　growled。
　〃Jesus；　why　don't　you　put　up　a　billboard　saying：　‘Here　it　is'？〃　asked　McFarlane。
　〃The　bluff　is　not　visible　from　Vallenar's　ship；〃　Glinn　said。　〃It's　blocked　by　that　headland。　If　Vallenar　wants　to　see　what　this　new　activity　is　about　…　and　he　will　…　he'll　have　to　move　the　destroyer　back　up　to　the　northern　end　of　the　channel。　Sometimes　the　best　disguise　is　no　disguise　at　all。　Vallenar；　you　see；　won't　be　expecting　our　departure。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Because　we　will　also　continue　the　decoy　mining　operation　all　night　long。　All　the　heavy　equipment；　and　two　dozen　men；　will　remain　on　the　island；　working　at　a　feverish　pace。　There　will　be　occasional　explosions；　naturally；　and　lots　of　radio　traffic。　Just　before　dawn；　something　will　be　found。　Or　at　least　it　will　look　that　way　to　the　Almirante　Ramirez。　There　will　be　great　excitement。　The　workmen　will　take　a　break　to　discuss　the　discovery。〃　He　flicked　the　butt　away；　watching　it　sail　into　the　darkness。　〃The　Rolvaag's　tender　is　hidden　on　the　far　side　of　the　island。　As　soon　as　we　depart；　the　tender　will　load　up　the　men　and　meet　us　behind　Horn　Island。　Everything　else　will　be　left　behind。〃
　〃Everything？〃　McFarlane　let　his　mind　run　over　the　shacks　full　of　equipment；　the　dozers；　the　container　labs；　the　huge　yellow　haulers。
　〃Yes。　The　generators　will　be　running；　all　the　lights　will　be　left　on。　Millions　of　dollars'　worth　of　heavy　equipment　will　be　left　on　the　island　in　plain　view。　When　Vallenar　sees　us　move；　he'll　assume　we're　ing　back。〃
　〃He　won't　give　chase？〃
　Glinn　did　not　respond　for　a　moment。　〃He　might〃
　〃What　then？〃
　Glinn　smiled。　〃Every　path　has　been　analyzed；　every　contingency　planned　for。〃　He　raised　his　radio　again。　〃Bring　the　vessel　in　toward　the　bluff。〃
　After　a　pause；　McFarlane　could　feel　the　vibration　of　the　big　engines。　Slowly；　very　slowly；　the　great　ship　began　to　turn。
　Glinn　looked　back　toward　McFarlane。　〃You　have　a　critical　role　in　this；　Sam。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　〃Me？〃
　Glinn　nodded。　〃I　want　you　to　stay　in　munication　with　Lloyd。　Keep　him　informed；　keep　him　calm；　and；　above　all；　keep　him　where　he　is。　It　might　be　disastrous　if　he　came　down　now。　And　now；　farewell。　I　must　prepare　for　my　meeting　with　our　Chilean　friend。〃　He　paused　and　looked　McFarlane　steadily　in　the　face。　〃I　owe　you　an　apology。〃
　〃What　for？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　〃You　know　very　well　what　for。　I　couldn't　have　wished　for　a　more　consistent　or　reliable　scientist。　At　the　conclusion　of　the　expedition；　our　file　on　you　will　be　destroyed。〃
　McFarlane　didn't　quite　know　what　to　make　of　this　confession。　It　seemed　sincere；　but　then；　everything　about　the　man　was　so　calculated　that　he　wondered　if　even　this　admission　was　intended　to　do　double；　or　even　triple　duty；　in　Glinn's　grand　scheme。
　Glinn　held　out　his　hand。　McFarlane　took　it；　and　laid　his　other　hand　on　Glinn's　shoulder。
　In　a　moment　Glinn　was　gone。
　It　was　only　later　that　McFarlane　realized　the　thick　padding　he'd　felt　under　his　fingers　was　not　a　heavy　coat　but　a　flak　vest。
　
　Franklin　Channel；
　8：40　P。M。
　
　GLINN　STOOD　at　the　bow　of　the　small　launch；　weling　the　frigid　air　that　streamed　across　his　face。　The　four　men　who　were　part　of　the　operation　sat　on　the　deck　of　the　dark　pilothouse；　suited　up；　silent　and　out　of　sight。　Directly　ahead；　the　lights　of　the　destroyer　wavered　in　the　calm　waters　of　the　sound。　As　he　predicted；　it　had　moved　up　channel。
　He　glanced　back　toward　the　island　itself。　An　immense　cluster　of　lights　surrounded　the　feverish　mining　activity。　Heavy　equipment　rumbled　back　and　forth。　As　he　watched；　the　faint　crump　of　a　distant　explosion　rolled　through　the　air。　By　parison；　the　real　work　taking　place　on　the　bluff　looked　incidental。　The　movement　of　the　Rolvaag　had　been　presented；　through　radio　traffic；　as　a　precaution　against　another　storm　…　the　big　ship　would　be　moving　into　the　lee　of　the　island　and　stringing　cables　to　shore。
　He　smelled　the　moisture…laden　sea　air；　breathed　in　the　deceptive　calm。　A　big　storm　was　certainly　ing。　Its　precise　nature　was　a　secret　shared　only　by　Glinn；　Britton；　and　the　on…duty　officers　of　the　Rolvaag；　there　had　seemed　no　need　to　distract　the　crew　or　the　EES　engineers　at　such　a　critical　moment。　But　satellite　weather　analysis　indicated　it　might　develop　into　a　panteonero；　a　cemetery　wind；　kicking　up　as　early　as　dawn。　Such　a　wind　always　started　out　of　the　southwest　and　then　swung　around　to　the　northwest　as　it　gained　strength。　Such　winds　could　grow　to　Force　15。　But　if　the　Rolvaag　could　get　through　the　Strait　of　Le　Maire　by　noon；　they　would　be　in　the　lee　of　Tierra　del　Fuego　before　the　worst　of　the　wind　started。　And　it　would　be　at　their　backs：　ideal　for　a　large　tanker；　hellish　for　a　small　pursuer。
　He　knew　that　Vallenar　must　now　be　aware　of　his　approach。　The　launch　moved　slowly；　its　full　plement　of　running　lights　on。　Even　without　radar　it　would　be　conspicuous　against　the　black；　moonless　night　water。
　The　launch　drew　within　two　hundred　yards　of　the　ship。　Glinn　heard　a　faint　splash　behind　him　but　did　not　turn　around。　As　expected；　three　other　splashes　quickly　followed。　He　was　aware　of　a　preternatural　calmness；　a　sharpening　of　his　senses；　that　always　came　before　an　op。　It　had　been　a　long　time；　and　the　feeling　was　pleasant；　almost　nostalgic。
　A　spotlight　on　the　destroyer's　fantail　snapped　on　and　swiveled　toward　the　launch；　blinding　him　with　its　brilliance。　He　remained　motionless　in　the　bow　as　the　launch　slowed。　If　he　was　going　to　be　shot；　this　would　be　the　moment。　And　yet　he　felt　an　unwavering　conviction　that　the　destroyer's　gun　would　remain　silent。　He　breathed　in；　then　exhaled　slowly；　once；　twice。　The　critical　moment　passed。
　They　met　him　at　the　boarding　hatch　and　led　him　up　through　a　series　of　foul　passageways　and　slippery　metal　stairways。　At　the　entrance　to　the　puente；　the　bridge；　they　paused。　Except　for　the　deck　officer；　Vallenar　was　alone。　He　stood　at　the　forward　windows；　looking　out　at　the　island；　cigar　in　his　mouth；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　It　was　cold；　either　the　heating　system　did　not　work；　or　it　had　been　turned　off。　Like　the　rest　of　the　ship；　the　bridge　smelled　of　engine　oil；　bilgewater；　and　fish。
　Vallenar　did　not　turn。　Glinn　let　a　very　long　silence　ensue　before　he　began。
　〃andante；〃　he　said　in　polite；　measured　Spanish；　〃I　have　e　to　pay　you　my　respects。〃
　A　faint　noise　issued　from　Vallenar；　which　Glinn　took　for　amusement。　The　man　still　did　not　turn。　The　atmosphere　around　Glinn　seemed　charged　with　superhuman　clarity；　his　body　felt　light；　as　if　made　of　air。
　Vallenar　removed　a　letter　from　his　pocket；　unfolded　it；　and　paused。　Glinn　could　see　the　letterhead　of　a　well…known　Australian　university。　Vallenar　spoke　at　last。　〃It's　a　meteorite；〃　he　said；　his　voice　flat　and　dry。　
　So　he　knew。　It　had　seemed　the　most　unlikely　path　of　those　they　had　analyzed；　but　now　it　became　the　path　they　must　follow。
　〃Yes。〃
　Vallenar　turned。　His　heavy　woolen　coat　fell　back；　displaying　an　old　Luger　snugged　into　his　belt。
　〃You　are　stealing　a　meteorite　from　my　country。〃
　〃Not　stealing；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　are　within　international　law。〃
　Vallenar　barked　out　a　laugh；　hollow　on　the　nearly　deserted　bridge。　〃I　know。　You　are　a　mining　operation；　and　it　is　metal。　I　was　wrong　after　all：　you　did　e　down　here　for　iron。〃
　Glinn　said　nothing。　With　every　word　of　Vallenar's；　he　was　getting　priceless　information　about　the　man；　information　that　would　allow　him　to　make　ever　more　accurate　predictions　on　future　behavior。
　〃But　you；　senor；　are　outside　my　law。　The　law　of　andante　Vallenar。〃
　〃I　do　not　understand；〃　said　Glinn；　although　he　did。
　〃You　will　not　leave　Chile　with　this　meteorite。〃
　〃If　we　find　it；〃　said　Glinn。
　Vallenar　paused　ever　so　slightly；　and　in　that　pause　Glinn　saw　that　he　did　not；　in　fact；　know　they　had　found　it。
　〃What　is　to　prevent　me　from　simply　reporting　this　to　the　authorities　in　Santiago？　They；　at　le