p&c.icelimit-第48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！


ts　rotors　sending　billows　of　fine　spray　up　from　the　deck。　A　man　with　coned　flashlights　in　his　hands　maneuvered　the　bird　into　position。　It　was　a　routine　landing；　with　none　of　the　excitement　of　Lloyd's　arrival　during　their　stormy　rounding　of　Cape　Horn。
　Moodily；　he　watched　as　the　helicopter's　oversize　tires　sank　onto　the　pad。　Acting　as　a　gofer　between　Lloyd　and　Glinn　was　a　no…win　situation。　He　wasn't　a　liaison：　he　was　a　scientist。　This　wasn't　why　he　had　hired　on；　and　the　knowledge　made　him　angry。
　A　hatchway　in　the　helicopter's　belly　opened。　Lloyd　stood　within；　a　long　black　cashmere　coat　billowing　out　behind　him；　a　gray　fedora　in　one　hand。　Landing　lights　gleamed　off　his　wet　pate。　He　made　the　jump；　landing　gracefully　for　a　man　of　his　size；　and　then　strode　across　the　deck；　unbowed；　powerful；　oblivious　to　the　jumble　of　equipment　and　staff　that　streamed　out　of　the　chopper　on　the　hydraulic　ramp　deployed　behind　him。　He　grasped　McFarlane's　hand　in　his　steel　grip；　smiled　and　nodded；　and　continued　walking。　McFarlane　followed　him　across　the　windswept　deck　and　out　of　the　noise　of　the　blades。　Near　the　forward　railing；　Lloyd　stopped；　scanning　the　fantastical　tower　from　bottom　to　top。　〃Where's　Glinn？〃　he　shouted。
　〃He　should　be　back　on　the　bridge　by　now。〃
　〃Let's　go。〃
　
　The　bridge　was　alive　with　tension；　faces　drawn　in　the　pale　illumination。　Lloyd　paused　in　the　doorway　for　a　moment；　drinking　it　in。　Then　he　stepped　heavily　forward。
　Glinn　was　standing　at　the　EES　console；　speaking　in　hushed　tones　to　his　man　at　the　keyboard。　Lloyd　strode　toward　him；　enfolding　Glinn's　narrow　hand　in　his　own。　〃The　man　of　the　hour；〃　he　cried。　If　he　had　been　angry　on　the　plane；　he　seemed　to　have　recovered　his　high　spirits。　He　waved　one　hand　out　toward　the　structure　rising　out　of　the　tank。　〃Christ；　Eli；　that's　incredible。　Are　you　sure　it's　going　to　hold　a　twenty…five…thousand…ton　rock？〃
　〃Double　overage；〃　was　Glinn's　reply。
　〃I　should　have　known。　How　the　hell　is　it　supposed　to　work？〃
　〃Controlled　failure。〃
　〃What？　Failure？　From　your　mouth？　Heaven　forbid。〃
　〃We　move　the　rock　to　the　tower。　Then　we　set　off　a　series　of　explosive　charges。　These　will　cause　the　levels　of　the　tower　to　fail　in　sequence；　bringing　the　meteorite　down；　bit　by　bit；　into　the　holding　tank。〃
　Lloyd　gazed　at　the　structure。　〃Amazing；〃　he　said。　〃Has　it　ever　been　done　before？〃
　〃Not　in　quite　this　way。〃
　〃Are　you　sure　it'll　work？〃
　A　wry　smile　appeared　on　Glinn's　thin　lips。
　〃Sorry　I　asked。　All　that's　your　department；　Eli；　and　I'm　not　going　to　second…guess　you　on　it。　I'm　down　here　for　a　different　reason。〃　He　drew　himself　to　his　full　height　and　looked　around。　〃I'm　not　going　to　mince　words。　We've　got　a　problem　here；　and　it's　not　being　dealt　with。　We've　e　too　far　to　let　anything　stop　us　now。　So　I've　e　down　to　kick　ass　and　take　names。〃　He　pointed　out　into　the　dense　fog。　〃There's　a　warship　parked　right　off　our　bow。　It's　sent　in　spies。　They're　just　waiting　for　us　to　make　a　move。　And；　goddammit；　Eli；　you've　done　nothing　about　it。　Well；　there's　to　be　no　more　chickenshit　wavering。　Strong　action　is　what's　needed　here；　and　from　now　on　I'll　be　handling　it　personally。　I'm　traveling　back　to　New　York　with　you　onboard　the　ship。　But　first；　I'm　getting　the　Chilean　navy　to　recall　this　damn　cowboy。〃　He　turned　back　toward　the　door。　〃It'll　take　my　people　just　a　few　minutes　to　get　up　to　speed。　Eli；　I'll　expect　you　in　my　office　in　half　an　hour。　I'm　going　to　make　some　calls。　I've　dealt　with　this　kind　of　tinpot　political　situation　before。〃
　During　this　brief　speech；　Glinn　kept　his　deep　gray　eyes　trained　steadily　on　Lloyd。　Now　he　touched　his　brow　with　a　handkerchief　and　glanced　at　McFarlane。　As　usual；　it　was　almost　impossible　to　read　anything　into　his　gaze：　Weariness？　Disgust？　Nothing　at　all？
　Glinn　spoke。　〃I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Lloyd。　Did　you　say　you　had　contacted　the　Chilean　authorities？〃
　〃No；　not　yet。　I　wanted　to　find　out　exactly　what　was　happening　here　first。　But　I've　got　powerful　friends　in　Chile；　including　the　vice　president　and　the　American　ambassador。〃
　Casually；　Glinn　took　a　step　closer　to　the　EES　console。　〃I'm　afraid　that　will　not　be　possible。〃
　〃What；　exactly；　will　not　be　possible？〃　Surprise　mingled　with　impatience　in　Lloyd's　tone。
　〃Your　involvement　in　any　aspect　of　this　operation。　You　would　have　done　better　to　stay　in　New　York。〃
　Lloyd's　voice　sharpened　with　anger。　〃Glinn；　don't　go　telling　me　what　I　can　and　can't　do。　I'll　leave　the　engineering　in　your　hands；　but　this　is　a　political　situation。〃
　〃I　assure　you　I　am　dealing　with　all　aspects　of　the　political　situation。〃
　Lloyd's　voice　trembled。　〃Oh　really？　And　what　about　that　destroyer　out　there？　It's　armed　to　the　teeth；　and　its　guns　are　pointing　at　us；　in　case　you　didn't　notice。　You've　not　done　a　damn　thing。　Nothing。〃　
　Hearing　this；　Captain　Britton　glanced　at　Howell；　and　then　…　more　significantly　…　at　Glinn。
　〃Mr。　Lloyd；　I　will　say　this　only　once。　You　gave　me　a　job　to　do。　I　am　doing　it。　Your　role　right　now　is　very　simple：　let　me　carry　out　my　plan。　This　is　no　time　for　drawn…out　explanations。〃
　Lloyd；　instead　of　responding；　turned　to　Penfold；　who　had　been　hovering　unhappily　in　the　door　to　the　bridge。　〃Get　Ambassador　Throckmorton　on　the　horn　and　conference　him　into　the　vice　president's　office　in　Santiago。　I'll　be　down　in　a　minute。〃
　Penfold　disappeared。
　〃Mr。　Lloyd；〃　said　Glinn　quietly。　〃You　may　remain　on　the　bridge　and　observe。　That　is　all。〃
　〃It's　way　too　late　for　that；　Glinn。〃
　Glinn　turned　quietly　and　spoke　to　his　man　at　the　black　puter。　〃Kill　the　power　in　the　Lloyd　Industries　suite；　and　suspend　ship…to…shore　munications　across　the　board。〃
　There　was　a　shocked　silence。　〃You　son　of　a　bitch；〃　Lloyd　roared；　recovering　quickly。　He　turned　to　Britton。　〃I　contravene　that　order。　Mr。　Glinn　is　relieved　of　authority。〃
　It　appeared　that　Glinn　hadn't　heard。　He　punched　in　another　frequency　on　his　radio。　〃Mr。　Garza？　I'll　take　that　report　now。〃
　He　listened　for　a　moment；　then　replied；　〃Excellent。　With　the　covering　fog；　let's　start　an　early　evacuation　of　the　island。　Order　all　nonessential　personnel　back　on　board。　But　follow　the　game　plan　precisely：　instruct　them　to　leave　the　lights　on　and　the　equipment　running。　I've　had　Rachel　set　the　radio　transmission　routines　to　automatic。　Bring　the　tender　around　the　rear　of　the　island；　but　be　careful　to　always　keep　it　within　the　radar　shadow　of　the　island　or　the　Rolvaag。〃　
　Lloyd　broke　in；　his　voice　shaking　with　rage。　〃Aren't　you　forgetting；　Glinn；　who's　ultimately　in　charge　of　this　operation？　On　top　of　firing　you；　I'm　stopping　all　payments　to　EES。〃　He　turned　to　Britton。　〃Restore　power　to　my　suite。〃
　It　again　appeared　for　several　moments　as　if　Glinn　had　still　not　heard　Lloyd。　Britton；　also；　made　no　move。　Glinn　continued　speaking　calmly　into　the　radio；　giving　orders；　checking　on　progress。　A　sudden　gust　of　wind　buffeted　the　bridge　windows；　sending　streamers　of　rain　down　the　Plexiglas。　Lloyd's　face　flushed　a　deep　purple　as　he　looked　around　at　the　captain　and　the　crew。　But　no　one　met　his　eyes。　The　work　of　the　bridge　went　on。
　〃Did　any　of　you　hear　me？〃　he　cried。
　And　then　at　last　Glinn　turned　back。　〃I　am　not　forgetting　that　you　are　ultimately　in　charge；　Mr。　Lloyd；〃　he　answered；　his　voice　suddenly　conciliatory；　even　friendly。
　Lloyd　took　a　deep　breath；　momentarily　thrown　off　balance。
　Glinn　continued　to　speak　softly；　persuasively；　even　kindly。　〃Mr。　Lloyd；　in　any　operation；　there　must　be　a　single　mander。　You　know　that　better　than　anyone。　In　our　contract；　I　made　you　a　promise。　I'm　not　going　to　break　that　promise。　If　I　seem　insubordinate；　please　know　that　I　am　doing　it　for　you。　If　you　had　contacted　the　Chilean　vice　president；　all　would　have　been　lost。　I　know　him　personally：　we　used　to　play　polo　together　on　his　Patagonian　ranch。　He　would　like　nothing　better　than　to　give　the　Americans　a　swift　poke　in　the　eye。〃
　Lloyd　faltered。　〃You　played　polo　with　…　？〃
　Glinn　went　on；　speaking　rapidly。　〃I　alone　have　all　the　facts。　I　alone　know　the　path　to　success。　I　am　not　being　secretive　for　the　sake　of　coyness；　Mr。　Lloyd。　There　is　a　vital　reason　for　this：　it　is　essential　to　prevent　second…guessing　and　freelance　decision　making。　Frankly；　the　meteorite　bears　no　intrinsic　interest　for　me。　But　I　promised　to　move　this　thing　from　point　A　to　point　B；　and　no　one；　no　one；　is　going　to　stop　me。　So　I　hope　you　understand　now　why　I　am　not　going　to　relinquish　control　of　this　operation；　or　share　with　you　explanations　and　prognostications。　As　for　you　withholding　payment；　we　can　settle　that　question　like　gentlemen　once　we　are　back　on　American　soil。〃
　〃Look　here；　Glinn；　that's　all　very　well　and　good　…　〃
　〃This　discussion　is　over；　and　now；　sir；　you　will　obey　me。〃　Glinn's　voice；　still　soft；　suddenly　took　on　a　steely　edge。　〃Whether　that　means　staying　here　quietly；　or　disappearing　into　your　office；　or　being　escorted　to　the　brig；　is　a　matter　of　indifference　to　me。〃
　Lloyd　stared　at　him；　dumbfounded。　〃You　think　you　could　put　me　in　the　brig；　you　arrogant　bastard？〃
　The　expression　on　Glinn's　face　provided　the　answer。
　Lloyd　was　silent　for　a　moment；　his　face　almost　purple　with　rage。　Then　he　turned　to　Britton。　〃And　who　are　you　working　for？〃
　But　Britton's　eyes；　deep　and　green　as　the　ocean；　were　still　on　Glinn。　〃I'm　working　for　the　man　with　the　keys　to　the　car；〃　she　said　at　last。
　Lloyd　stood　there；　swelling　in　fury。　But　he　did　not　immediately　react。　Instead；　he　made　a　slow　circuit　of　the　bridge；　his　creaking　wingtips　leaving　a　trail　of　water；　until　he　stopped　at　the　bridge　windows。　There　he　stood；　breathing　heavily　a　moment；　looking　out　at　nothing　in　particular。　〃Once　again；　I　order　that　power　and　munications　be　restored　to　my　suite。〃
　There　was　no　sound；　no　answer。　It　was　clear　that　no　one；　not　even　the　lowest　officer；　intended　to　obey　Lloyd。
　Lloyd　slowly　turned；　and　his　eyes　fell　square　on　McFarlane。　He　spoke　in　a　low　voice。　〃And　you；　Sam？〃
　Another　hard　gust　buffeted　the　windows。　McFarlane；　standing　in　suspension；　felt　the　shudder　in　the　air。　The　bridge　had　fallen　deathly　quiet。　He　had　a　decision　to　make　…　and　he　found　it　one　of　the　easiest　decisions　of　his　career。
　〃I'm　working　for　the　rock；〃　said　McFarlane　quietly。
　Lloyd　continued　looking　at　him；　his　eyes　black；　adamantine。　Then；　all　at　once；　he　seemed　to　crumple。　The　bull…like　power　seemed　to　drain　out　of　his　massive　frame；　his　shoulders　slumped；　his　face　lost　its　fiery　color。　He　turned；　hesitated；　then　walked　slowly　off　the　bridge　and　disappeared　out　the　door。
　After　a　moment；　Glinn　bent　once　again　toward　the　black　puter　and　murmured　to　his　man　at　the　keyboard。
　
　Rolvaag；
　1：45　A。M。
　
　CAPTAIN　BRITTON　stared　straight　ahead；　betraying　nothing　of　her　feelings。　She　tried　to　measure　her　breathing；　the　rhythm　of　her　heart　…　everything　…　to　the　pulse　of　the　ship。　Over　the　past　hours；　the　wind　had　been　picking　up　steadily；　and　it　moaned　and　rattled　about　the　ship。　It　was　raining　harder　now；　fat　drops　that　shot　out　of　the　fog　like　bullets。　The　panteonero　was　not　far　away。
　She　transferred　her　attention　to　the　spiderwebbed　tower　that　rose　out　of　the　ship's　tank。　It　was　still　well　below　the　level　of　the　bluff；　and　yet　it　seemed　to　be　plete。　She　had　no　idea　what　the　next　step　would　be。　It　was　unfortable；　even　humiliating；　not　knowing。　She　glanced　over　to