p&c.icelimit-第46章

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it。
　〃What　is　to　prevent　me　from　simply　reporting　this　to　the　authorities　in　Santiago？　They；　at　least；　have　not　been　bribed。〃
　〃You　are　free　to　report　it　to　anyone　you　wish；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　are　doing　nothing　illegal。〃　He　knew　Vallenar　would　never　report　it。　Vallenar　was　the　kind　of　man　who　would　settle　things　his　own　way。
　Vallenar　took　a　long　drag　on　the　cigar；　blowing　the　smoke　in　Glinn's　direction。　〃Tell　me；　senor。。。　Ishmael；　was　it　not？〃
　〃Actually；　my　name　is　Glinn。〃
　〃I　see。　So　tell　me；　Mr。　Glinn；　why　have　you　e　to　my　ship？〃
　Glinn　knew　he　had　to　answer　this　carefully。　〃I　was　hoping；　andante；　that　we　could　work　out　an　arrangement　with　you。〃
　He　saw　the　expected　anger　in　the　captain's　face；　and　pressed　on。　〃I　am　authorized　to　give　you　one　million　dollars；　gold；　for　your　cooperation。〃
　Vallenar　suddenly　smiled；　his　eyes　veiled。　〃You　have　it　on　you？〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃
　The　andante　lazily　puffed　on　the　puro。　〃Perhaps；　senor；　you　think　I　have　a　price　like　the　others。　Because　I　am　a　South　American；　a　dirty　Latin；　that　I　am　always　willing　to　cooperate　in　exchange　for　la　mordida。〃
　〃It　has　been　my　experience　that　no　one　is　incorruptible；〃　said　Glinn。　〃Americans　included。〃　He　watched　the　andante　carefully。　He　knew　he　would　refuse　the　bribe；　but　even　in　the　refusal　there　would　be　information。
　〃If　that　has　been　your　experience；　then　you　have　led　a　corrupt　life；　surrounding　yourself　with　whores；　degenerates；　and　homosexuals。　You　will　not　leave　Chile　with　this　meteorite。　I　request　you　to　take　your　gold；　senor；　and　fill　your　mother's　whorish　cono　with　it。〃
　Glinn　did　not　respond　to　this　strongest　of　Spanish　insults。　Vallenar　lowered　his　cigar。　〃There　is　another；　matter。　I　sent　a　man　over　to　make　a　reconnaissance　of　the　island；　and　he　has　not　returned。　His　name　is　Timmer。　He　is　my　oficial　de　unicaciones；　my　signal　officer。〃
　Glinn　was　faintly　surprised　at　this。　He　did　not　believe　the　andante　would　bring　up　the　subject；　let　alone　admit　the　man　was　on　a　spying　expedition。　After　all；　this　man　Timmer　had　failed；　and　Vallenar　was　clearly　someone　to　whom　failure　was　contemptible。
　〃He　slit　the　throat　of　one　of　our　men。　We　are　holding　him。
　The　andante's　eyes　narrowed；　and　for　a　moment　his　control　seemed　to　slip。　But　he　recovered　and　smiled　again。　〃You　will　return　him　to　me；　please。〃
　〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Glinn。　〃He　mitted　a　crime。〃
　〃You　will　return　him　to　me　at　once；　or　I　will　blow　your　ship　out　of　the　water；〃　Vallenar　said；　his　voice　rising。
　Again；　Glinn　felt　a　twinge　of　puzzlement。　This　rash　threat　was　far　out　of　proportion　to　the　situation。　A　signal　officer　was　easily　replaced；　not　of　high　rank。　There　was　something　more　here　than　met　the　eye。　His　mind　raced　over　the　possibilities　even　as　he　was　formulating　his　answer。　〃That　would　be　unwise；　since　your　man　is　in　the　ship's　brig。〃
　The　andante　stared　hard　at　Glinn。　When　he　spoke　again；　his　voice　was　even　once　more。　〃Give　me　back　Timmer；　and　I　may　consider　letting　you　take　the　meteorite。〃
　Glinn　knew　this　was　a　lie。　Vallenar　would　no　more　let　them　go　if　they　returned　Timmer　than　they　could　return　the　man。　The　andante；　he　understood　from　Puppup；　had　a　fanatically　loyal　crew。　Now；　perhaps；　he　could　understand　why：　Vallenar　returned　their　loyalty　just　as　fiercely。　Glinn　had　believed　the　andante　to　be　a　man　to　whom　other　people　were　dispensable。　This　was　a　side　of　Vallenar　that　he　had　not　anticipated。　It　didn't　fit　the　profile　that　his　people　back　in　New　York　had　drawn　up；　or　the　background　dossier　he　had　obtained。　Still；　it　was　useful。　He　would　have　to　reconsider　Vallenar。　At　any　rate；　he　now　had　the　information　he　needed：　he　knew　now　what　Vallenar　knew。　And　his　own　team　had　had　ample　time　to　do　what　needed　to　be　done。
　〃I　will　relay　your　offer　to　our　captain；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　think　it　might　be　possible　to　arrange。　I　will　have　an　answer　for　you　by　noon。〃　Glinn　bowed　slightly。　〃And　now；　with　your　permission；　I　will　return　to　my　ship。〃
　Vallenar　smiled；　making　an　almost　successful　effort　to　cover　up　a　simmering　anger。　〃You　do　that；　senor。　Because　if　I　do　not　see　Timmer　with　my　own　eyes　by　noon；　then　I　will　know　that　he　is　dead。　And　your　lives　will　not　be　worth　dog　dirt　under　my　heel。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　11：50　P。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　TOOK　the　call　in　Lloyd's　suite　of　deserted　offices。　Outside　the　wide　span　of　windows；　a　breeze　had　sprung　up；　and　a　swell　was　rolling　in　from　the　west。　The　great　ship　stood　in　the　lee　of　the　sheer　basaltic　cliffs；　its　hawsers　strung　to　the　shore；　affixed　to　steel　bolts　in　the　bedrock　itself。　All　was　in　readiness；　awaiting　the　cloaking　fog　that　Glinn　said　was　predicted　for　midnight。
　The　phone　on　Lloyd's　desk　began　to　blink　angrily；　and　McFarlane　reached　for　it　with　a　sigh。　It　would　be　his　third　conversation　with　Lloyd　that　evening。　He　hated　this　new　role；　a　go…between；　a　secretary。　〃Mr。　Lloyd？〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　I'm　here。　Has　Glinn　returned？〃　There　was　that　same　loud；　continuous　noise　in　the　background　he　had　heard　during　their　last　conversation。　Idly；　McFarlane　wondered　where　Lloyd　was　calling　from。
　〃He　came　back　two　hours　ago。〃
　〃What　did　he　say？　Did　Vallenar　take　the　bribe？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Maybe　he　didn't　offer　enough　money。〃
　〃Glinn　seems　to　think　that　no　amount　of　money　would　make　a　difference。〃
　〃Jesus　Christ；　everyone　has　a　price！　I　suppose　it's　too　late　now；　but　I'd　pay　twenty　million。　You　tell　him　that。　Twenty　million　in　gold；　sent　anywhere　in　the　world。　And　American　passports　for　him　and　his　family。〃
　McFarlane　said　nothing。　Somehow；　he　didn't　think　Vallenar　would　be　interested　in　American　passports。
　〃So　what's　Glinn's　plan？〃
　McFarlane　swallowed。　He　hated　this　more　by　the　minute。　〃He　says　it's　foolproof；　but　he　can't　share　it　with　us　now。　He　says　confidentiality　is　critical　to　its　success　…　〃
　〃What　bullshit！　Put　him　on。　Now。〃
　〃I　tried　to　find　him　when　I　heard　you　were　calling。　Again。　He's　not　answering　his　page　or　radio。　No　one　seems　to　know　where　he　is。〃
　〃Damn　him！　I　knew　I　shouldn't　have　put　all　my…〃
　His　voice　was　drowned　out　by　a　roar　of　static。　It　returned；　a　little　fainter　than　before。　〃Sam？　Sam！〃　
　〃I'm　here。〃
　〃Listen。　You're　the　Lloyd　representative　down　there。　You　tell　Glinn　to　call　me　immediately；　and　tell　him　that's　an　order；　or　I'll　fire　his　ass　and　personally　throw　him　overboard。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　McFarlane　wearily。
　〃Are　you　in　my　office？　Can　you　see　the　meteorite？〃
　〃It's　still　hidden　on　the　bluff。〃
　〃When　will　it　be　moved　onto　the　ship？〃
　〃As　soon　as　the　fog　rolls　in。　I'm　told　it'll　take　a　few　hours　to　get　it　into　the　tank；　maybe　half　an　hour　to　secure　it；　and　then　we're　off。　We're　supposed　to　be　out　of　here　no　later　than　five　A。M。〃
　〃That's　cutting　it　close。　And　I　hear　there's　another　storm　ing；　bigger　than　the　last。〃
　〃Storm？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　The　only　answer　was　static。　He　waited；　but　the　line　was　dead。　After　a　minute　he　hung　up　the　phone　and　stared　out　the　window。　As　he　did　so；　he　heard　the　electronic　clock　on　Lloyd's　desk　chime　out　midnight。　
　I'll　personally　throw　him　overboard；　he'd　said。
　And　then　McFarlane　suddenly　understood　the　sound　he　had　heard　behind　Lloyd's　voice：　a　jet　engine。
　Lloyd　was　on　a　plane。
　
　Almirante　Ramirez；
　July　25；　Midnight
　
　ANDANTE　VALLENAR　stood　at　the　bridge；　staring　through　the　binocular　scope。　His　ship　lay　at　the　northern　end　of　the　channel；　where　he　had　an　unopposed　view　of　the　activity　on　shore。　It　was　a　revealing　sight　indeed。
　The　Americans　had　brought　the　big　tanker　in　against　the　bluff　and　strung　hawsers　to　shore。　Clearly；　the　captain　of　the　Rolvaag　knew　a　thing　or　two　about　Cape　Horn　weather。　They　could　not　know　of　the　uncharted　undersea　ledge　to　which　he　had　anchored　the　Almirante　Ramirez　So　instead　they　had　tethered　the　ship　in　the　lee　of　the　island；　hoping　to　protect　themselves　from　the　worst　fury　of　the　storm。　With　any　luck；　the　offshore　breeze　would　keep　the　ship　away　from　the　dangerous　rocks。　Still；　it　was　a　very　risky　maneuver　for　a　vessel　that　large；　particularly　a　ship　using　dynamic　positioning；　if　the　wind　should　change　suddenly。　It　would　have　been　much　safer　to　take　the　ship　away　from　land　altogether。　Something　pressing　was　keeping　them　nearby。
　And　he　did　not　have　far　to　look　for　it。　He　swiveled　the　scope　back　to　the　center　of　the　island　and　the　wide…scale　mining　operation；　taking　place　some　two　miles　from　the　Rolvaag。　He　had　been　scrutinizing　it　even　before　the　American；　Glinn；　had　arrived。　A　few　hours　before；　there　had　been　a　sudden　increase　in　activity：　explosions；　the　frantic　grinding　of　machinery；　workmen　dashing　here　and　there；　huge　lights　bathing　the　worksite。　The　intercepted　radio　traffic　indicated　the　work　crews　had　found　something。　Something　big。
　But　they　were　having　great　difficulty　with　this　find。　First；　they　broke　their　most　powerful　crane　trying　to　lift　it。　And　now　they　were　trying　to　drag　the　thing　with　heavy　machinery。　But　the　radio　chatter　made　it　clear　they　were　having　little　or　no　luck。　No　doubt　the　Rolvaag　was　staying　nearby　in　case　extra　men　or　equipment　was　needed。　Vallenar　smiled：　the　Americans　were　not　so　petent　after　all。　At　this　rate；　it　would　take　them　weeks　to　get　the　meteorite　on　board　the　ship。
　Of　course；　he　would　never　allow　that　to　happen。　Once　Timmer　was　safely　back；　Vallenar　would　disable　the　tanker　to　prevent　their　leaving；　and　then　municate　the　news　of　their　attempted　theft。　It　would　preserve　the　honor　of　his　country。　When　the　politicians　saw　the　meteorite　…　when　they　learned　how　the　Americans　had　tried　to　steal　it　…　they　would　understand。　With　that　meteorite；　he　might　even　be　promoted　out　of　Puerto　Williams。　It　would　be　the　corrupt　bastards　in　Punta　Arenas；　not　he；　who　would　suffer。　But　the　timing　was　everything。。。
　His　smile　faded　as　he　thought　of　Timmer；　locked　in　the　brig　of　that　tanker。　That　he　had　killed　someone　was　no　surprise；　young　Timmer　was　a　quick　thinker；　eager　to　impress。　What　surprised　Vallenar　was　that　he　had　been　caught。　He　looked　forward　to　the　debriefing。
　He　did　not　allow　himself　to　think　about　the　other　possibility：　that　the　American　had　lied；　and　Timmer　was　dead。　There　was　a　rustle；　and　the　oficial　de　guardia　came　up　behind　him。　〃andante？〃
　Vallenar　nodded　without　looking　at　him。
　〃We　have　received　a　second　order　to　return　to　base；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　said　nothing。　He　waited；　thinking。
　〃Sir？〃
　Vallenar　looked　back　out　into　the　darkness。　The　expected　fog　was　now　rolling　in。　〃Observe　radio　silence。　Acknowledge　nothing。〃
　There　was　a　faint　flickering　in　the　officer's　eyes　at　this　request；　but　the　man　was　far　too　well　trained　to　question　an　order。　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　watched　the　fog。　It　drifted　in　like　smoke；　creeping　out　of　nowhere　to　shroud　the　seascape。　The　lights　of　the　great　tanker　began　flickering　in　and　out；　blotted　by　patches　of　fog；　until　they　disappeared。　In　the　middle　of　the　island；　the　brilliant　light　of　the　worksite　gave　way　to　an　indistinct　glow；　then　yielded　pletely；　leaving　a　wall　of　darkness　before　the　bridge。　He　bent　his　head　toward　the　FLIR　scope；　where　the　ship　was　outlined　in　a　hazy　yellow。
　Vallenar　straightened；　then　stepped　back　from　the　scope。　He　thought　of　Glinn。　There　was　something　strange　about　him；　something　unreadable。　His　visit　to　the　Almirante　Ramirez　had　been　brazen。　It　had　taken　cojones。