p&c.icelimit-第50章

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ying　to　calm　himself。
　Glinn　had　told　him　not　to　e；　McFarlane　had　told　him　not　to　e。　But　he　had　e　anyway。　Just　as　he　had　leapt　onto　the　meteorite　when　it　was　first　exposed。　He　thought　of　what　had　happened　to　the　man　named　Timmer；　and　he　shuddered。
　Perhaps　ing　down　again；　guns　blazing；　had　not　been　the　right　thing　to　do。　It　was　impulsive；　and　Lloyd　knew　enough　about　himself　to　know　he　was　not　normally　an　impulsive　man。　He　was　too　close　to　this：　it　had　bee　too　personal。　J。P。　Morgan　once　said；　〃If　you　want　something　too　much；　you　will　not　succeed　in　getting　it。〃　He　had　always　lived　by　that　philosophy：　he　had　never　been　afraid　to　walk　away　from　a　deal；　no　matter　how　lucrative。　The　ability　to　fold　a　hand；　even　with　four　aces；　had　been　his　most　valuable　business　asset。　Now；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　he　had　drawn　a　hand　that　he　could　not　fold。　He　was　in　the　game　to　the　finish；　win　or　lose。
　Lloyd　found　himself　fighting　an　unfamiliar　battle：　a　struggle　to　steady　his　mind。　He　considered　that　he　had　not　made　34　billion　by　being　unreasonable　and　hot…tempered。　He　had　always　avoided　second…guessing　his　hired　professionals。　In　this　terrible　moment　of　humiliation；　defeat；　and　self…reflection；　he　realized　that　Glinn　might；　in　fact；　have　been　acting　in　his　best　interests　by　sending　him　from　the　bridge　and　cutting　him　off　from　the　world。　But　even　this　thought　touched　off　another　wave　of　anger。　Best　interests　or　not；　the　man　had　been　arrogant　and　high…handed。　Glinn's　coolness；　his　unflappability；　his　assumption　of　leadership；　enraged　Lloyd。　He　had　been　humiliated　in　front　of　everyone；　and　he　would　never　forget　nor　forgive　it。　When　all　this　was　over；　there　would　be　a　reckoning　for　Glinn；　financial　and　otherwise。
　But　first　they　had　to　get　the　meteorite　the　hell　out　of　there。　And　Glinn　seemed　to　be　the　only　man　who　could　do　it。
　
　Rolvaag；
　3：40　A。M。
　
　CAPTAIN　BRITTON；　the　meteorite　will　be　inside　the　holding　tank　within　ten　minutes。　The　ship　will　be　yours；　and　we　can　depart。〃
　Glinn's　words　broke　the　long　hush　that　had　fallen　over　the　bridge。　Like　the　others；　McFarlane　had　been　staring　at　the　slow；　regular　progress　of　the　meteorite　into　the　belly　of　the　Rolvaag。
　For　another　minute；　maybe　two；　Britton　stood　unmoving；　statuesque；　staring　out　the　windows　of　the　bridge　as　she　had　ever　since　Lloyd's　departure。　At　last　she　turned　and　looked　directly　at　Glinn。　After　a　significant　moment　she　turned　toward　the　second　officer。　〃Wind　speed？〃
　〃Thirty　knots　from　the　southwest；　gusting　to　forty；　and　rising。〃
　〃Currents？〃
　The　murmured　exchange　continued；　while　Glinn　leaned　toward　his　man　at　the　puter　console：　〃Have　Puppup　and　Amira　report　to　me　here；　please。〃
　There　was　another　rapid　series　of　explosions。　The　ship　lurched；　and　the　ballast　pumps　rumbled　to　pensate。
　〃There's　a　weather　front　ing　in；〃　Howell　murmured。　〃We're　losing　our　fog。〃
　〃Visibility？〃　Britton　asked。
　〃Rising　to　five　hundred　yards。〃
　〃Position　of　the　warship？〃
　〃Unchanged　at　twenty…two　hundred　yards；　zero　five　one。〃
　A　gust　of　wind　hit　the　ship　hard。　Then　there　was　a　vast；　hollow　boom；　different　from　anything　McFarlane　had　felt　before；　and　a　shudder　seemed　to　run　through　the　very　spine　of　the　vessel。
　〃The　hull　just　hit　the　bluff；〃　said　Britton　quietly。
　〃We　can't　move　yet；〃　replied　Glinn。　〃Will　the　hull　stand　it？〃
　〃For　a　while；〃　Britton　answered　expressionlessly。　〃Perhaps。〃
　A　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　bridge　opened　and　Rachel　entered。　She　looked　around；　her　bright　alert　eyes　quickly　sizing　up　the　situation。　She　came　up　beside　McFarlane。　〃Garza　better　get　that　thing　in　the　tank　before　we're　holed；〃　she　muttered。
　There　was　another　series　of　explosions；　and　the　meteorite　dropped　farther。　Its　base　was　now　hidden　inside　the　frame　of　the　ship。
　〃Dr。　McFarlane；〃　Glinn　said　without　turning　around。　〃Once　the　meteorite　is　secured　in　the　tank；　it　bees　yours。　I　want　you　and　Amira　to　monitor　it　round　the　clock。　Let　me　know　if　there's　any　change　in　readings；　or　in　the　meteorite's　status。　I　don't　want　any　more　surprises　from　that　rock。〃
　〃Right。〃
　〃The　lab　is　ready；　and　there's　an　observation　platform　above　the　tank。　If　you　need　anything；　let　me　know。〃
　〃More　lightning　now；〃　the　second　officer　broke　in。　〃Ten　miles　out。〃
　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。
　〃Speed　this　up；〃　Britton　said　suddenly　to　Glinn。
　〃Can't；〃　murmured　Glinn；　almost　absentmindedly。
　〃Visibility　one　thousand　yards；〃　said　the　second　officer。　〃Wind　speed　increasing　to　forty　knots。〃
　McFarlane　swallowed。　Everything　had　been　moving　ahead　with　such　predictable；　clockwork　precision　that　he'd　almost　been　lulled　into　forgetting　the　danger。　He　remembered　Lloyd's　question：　So　how　are　you　going　to　deal　with　that　destroyer　out　there？　How　indeed？　He　wondered　what　Lloyd　was　doing；　down　in　his　darkened　staterooms。　He　thought；　with　surprisingly　little　regret；　about　the　probable　loss　of　his　750；000　fee；　given　what　he　had　said　to　Lloyd。　It　hardly　mattered　to　him　now　…　now　that　he　had　the　rock。
　Another　crackle　of　explosions；　and　titanium　struts　flashed　out；　bouncing　and　skidding　along　the　maindeck　and　ricocheting　off　the　rails。　He　could　hear　the　thunk　of　additional　struts　falling　away　into　the　tank。　There　were　occasional　ticks　of　gravel　on　the　bridge　windows　now；　picked　off　the　nearby　bluff　by　the　rising　wind。　The　panteonero　was　descending　in　earnest。
　Glinn's　radio　squawked。　〃Two　more　feet　and　we'll　have　clearance；〃　came　the　metallic　voice　of　Garza。
　〃Stay　on　this　channel。　I　want　you　to　call　out　each　drop。〃
　Puppup　opened　the　door　and　entered　the　bridge；　rubbing　his　eyes　and　yawning。
　〃Visibility　two　thousand　yards；〃　said　the　second　officer。　〃The　fog's　lifting　fast。　The　warship　will　have　visual　contact　with　us　at　any　moment。〃
　McFarlane　heard　a　rumble　of　thunder。　It　was　drowned　out　by　another　great　boom　as　the　vessel　made　contact　with　the　bluff　for　a　second　time。
　〃Increase　RPM　on　main　engines！〃　barked　Britton。　A　new　vibration　was　added　to　the　mix。
　〃Eighteen　inches　to　go；〃　came　Garza's　voice　from　the　maindeck。
　〃Lightning　at　five　miles。　Visibility　twenty…five　hundred　yards。〃
　〃Initiate　blackout；〃　Glinn　said。
　Instantly；　the　brilliantly　lit　deck　was　plunged　into　darkness　as　the　ship　went　black。　The　ambient　light　from　the　superstructure　cast　a　dull　glow　over　the　meteorite；　its　top　now　barely　visible。　The　whole　ship　was　shaking　…　whether　from　the　meteorite's　descent；　the　rollers　now　crashing　along　its　flank；　or　the　wind；　it　was　impossible　for　McFarlane　to　tell。　There　was　another　round　of　explosions；　and　the　meteorite　sank　still　lower。　Both　Britton　and　Glinn　were　calling　out　mands　now；　there　was　an　awkward　moment　in　which　the　ship　seemed　to　have　two　masters。　As　the　fog　rolled　back；　McFarlane　could　see　that　the　channel　was　a　turmoil　of　whitecaps；　heaved　up　and　down　by　bers。　His　eyes　remained　glued　to　the　nocturnal　seascape　beyond　the　windows；　waiting　for　the　sharp　prow　of　the　destroyer　to　materialize。
　〃Six　inches；〃　said　Garza　over　the　radio。
　〃Prepare　to　close　the　hatch；〃　Glinn　said。
　There　was　a　flash　of　lightning　to　the　southwest；　followed　shortly　by　a　faint　rumble。
　〃Visibility　four　thousand　yards。　Lightning　at　two　miles。〃
　McFarlane　became　aware　of　Rachel；　gripping　his　elbow　hard。　〃Jesus；　that's　too　close；〃　she　murmured。
　And　there　it　was：　the　destroyer　off　to　the　right；　a　dim　cluster　of　lights；　flickering　through　the　storm。　As　McFarlane　stared；　the　fog　peeled　away　from　the　destroyer。　It　was　stationary；　lights　ablaze；　as　if　flaunting　its　presence。　There　was　another　explosion；　another　shudder。
　〃She's　in；〃　came　Garza's　voice。
　〃Close　the　mechanical　doors；〃　Britton　said　crisply。　〃Slip　cable；　Mr。　Howell。　Smartly。　Set　course　one　three　five。〃
　There　was　a　fresh　set　of　explosions；　and　the　great　hawsers　that　moored　the　ship　to　the　cliff　dropped　away；　swinging　lazily　toward　the　bluff。
　〃Right　fifteen　degrees　rudder；　steady　on　course　one　three　five；〃　said　Howell。
　
　Almirante　Ramirez；
　3：55　A。M。
　
　JUST　OVER　a　mile　away；　andante　Vallenar　paced　his　own　bridge。　It　was　unheated；　and；　as　he　preferred；　manned　with　the　minimum　plement。　He　stared　out　the　forward　windows　toward　the　ship's　castillo；　the　forecastle。　He　could　see　nothing　through　the　lightening　fog。　Then；　abruptly；　he　veered　toward　the　oficial　de　guardia　en　la　mer；　the　conning　officer；　who　was　standing　in　the　radar　alcove。　He　leaned　over　his　shoulder　to　scrutinize　the　forward…looking　infrared　radar。　The　tanker's　signature　showed　him　nothing　he　did　not　already　know；　and　answered　none　of　his　questions。　Why　was　the　ship　still　moored　to　the　shore？　In　the　gathering　storm；　it　had　bee　increasingly　dangerous　to　remain。　Could　they　be　attempting　to　move　the　meteorite　toward　the　ship？　No　…　before　the　fog　had　moved　in；　he'd　watched　them　struggling　ineffectively　with　it　in　the　island's　interior。　Even　now；　he　could　hear　the　frantic　grinding　of　machinery。　And　the　chatter　of　talk　over　the　shore　radio　was　continuing。　Still；　it　seemed　foolish　to　endanger　the　ship　by　leaving　it　strung　to　shore。　And　the　man　Glinn　was　no　fool。
　What；　then；　was　going　on？
　Earlier；　the　loud　thud　of　propeller　blades　had　sounded　over　the　wind　as　a　helicopter　hovered　nearby；　landed；　then　departed。　There　had　been　the　sound　of　nearby　explosions　…　much　smaller　than　those　from　the　island；　but　apparently　originating　from　the　vicinity　of　the　ship。　Or　perhaps　from　the　ship　itself。　Could　there　have　been　some　accident　on　board？　Were　there　casualties？　Had　Timmer　mandeered　a　weapon　and　tried　to　escape？
　He　turned　from　the　ancient　green　radar　screen　and　gazed　intently　into　the　darkness。　Through　the　flickering　tatters　of　fog　and　sleet；　he　thought　he　glimpsed　lights。　The　fog　was　lifting　and　he　would　soon　have　visual　contact　with　the　ship。　He　blinked　hard；　then　looked　again。　The　lights　were　gone。　Wind　whipped　against　the　ship；　whistling　and　crying。　Vallenar　had　heard　that　cry　before。　It　was　a　panteonero。
　He'd　already　ignored　several　orders　to　return　to　base；　each　more　urgent；　more　threatening；　than　the　last。　It　was　the　corruption；　the　bribed　officials；　calling　him　back。　By　the　Mother　of　God；　they　would　thank　him　in　the　end。
　He　could　feel　the　movement　of　his　ship　in　the　heavy　swell；　a　corkscrew　motion　that　he　did　not　like。　The　anchor　to　the　uncharted　underwater　ledge　held　…　the　best　anchorage；　the　only　anchorage；　in　the　Franklin　Channel。
　What　was　going　on？
　He　would　not　wait　for　noon　to　get　an　answer　about　Timmer。　At　first　light；　he　would　fire　a　few　four…inch　shells　high　into　their　bows　…　nothing　that　would　sink　the　ship；　of　course；　but　enough　to　disable　it　and　get　their　attention。　Then　he　would　deliver　an　ultimatum：　hand　over　Timmer　or　die。
　Something　flickered　through　the　parting　sheets　of　fog。　He　stared；　face　close　to　the　glass。　There　they　were　again：　lights；　no　doubt　of　it。　He　strained　into　the　darkness。　The　fog　and　sleet　whipped　past；　but　he　saw　it　again；　fleetingly；　and　then　again。　Now；　the　outline　of　the　great　ship　was　being　visible　in　the　lifting　murk。　He　raised　his　binoculars　…　and　the　ship　disappeared。　He　cursed　as　he　examined　the　blackness。　And　then；　again；　he　saw　lights：　one　light　now；　very　faint。
　The　bastards　had　darkened　ship。
　What　were　they　hiding？
　He　stepped　backward；　glancing　at　the　FLIR　scope；　trying　to　pul