p&c.icelimit-第52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！


r　the　twin　reports；　barely　seven　seconds　later。　He　watched　as　the　destroyer　began　to　swing　broadside　to　the　swell。
　With　both　screws　stripped；　andante　Vallenar　would　swiftly　end　up　on　the　rocks。　Glinn　wondered；　with　faint　amusement；　how　Vallenar　would　now　explain　the　loss　of　his　ship。　Assuming　he　survived；　of　course。
　There　was　a　report　from　the　destroyer；　and　then　another：　it　was　firing　its　four…inch　guns　again。　Then　the　reports　were　punctuated　with　the　higher　sound　of　40…millimeter　cannon。　In　a　moment；　all　the　ship's　guns　were　firing　in　a　furious　gesture　of　impotent　rage；　the　cluster　of　flashes　like　manic　strobes　against　the　velvety　darkness　of　the　sea。　But　with　the　Almirante　Ramirez's　radar　useless；　their　steerage　gone；　their　ship　wallowing　broadside　to　a　heavy　sea；　and　the　Rolvaag　in　blackout；　slipping　away　into　the　dark　night　on　a　new　course；　their　shots　were；　naturally；　going　wild。
　〃A　touch　more　to　the　left　there；　guv；〃　said　Puppup；　stroking　one　mustache；　squinting　into　the　darkness。
　〃Left　five　degrees　rudder；〃　said　Britton　to　the　helmsman；　without　waiting　for　Howell。
　The　ship　changed　course　almost　imperceptibly。
　Puppup　peered　out　intently。　The　minutes　ticked　on。　Then　he　bent　his　head　toward　Glinn。　〃We're　out　of　it。〃
　Britton　watched　him　retreat　again　to　the　far　shadows　of　the　bridge。　〃Steady　as　she　goes；〃　she　said。　〃All　ahead　flank。〃
　The　massive　reports　continued　to　echo　crazily　among　the　mountain　peaks　and　silent　glaciers；　rolling　and　booming；　gradually　growing　fainter。　Soon　they　were　heading　into　the　open　ocean。
　Thirty　minutes　later；　on　the　west　side　of　Horn　Island；　they　slowed　just　long　enough　to　make　a　running　recovery　of　the　tender。
　Then　Britton　spoke：　〃Take　her　round　the　Horn；　Mr。　Howell。〃
　Cabo　de　Hornos　came　dimly　into　view　and　the　sound　of　firing　finally　disappeared；　swallowed　by　the　howl　of　the　wind　and　the　thunder　of　the　sea　along　the　hull。　It　was　over。　Glinn　had　never　once　looked　back　at　Desolation　Island　…　at　the　bright　lights　of　its　works；　at　the　machines　that　still　raced　furiously　on　their　imaginary　errands。　Now；　with　the　op　pleted；　he　felt　his　breathing　pick　up；　his　heart　rate　begin　to　increase　again。
　〃Mr。　Glinn？〃
　It　was　Britton。　She　was　looking　at　him；　her　eyes　luminous　and　intense。
　〃Yes？〃
　〃How　are　you　going　to　explain　the　sinking　of　a　warship　of　a　foreign　nation？〃
　〃They　fired　first。　We　acted　in　self…defense。　Besides；　our　charges　only　knocked　out　their　steerage。　The　panteonero　will　sink　them。〃
　〃That　isn't　going　to　cut　it。　We'll　be　lucky　not　to　spend　the　rest　of　our　lives　in　prison。〃
　〃I　respectfully　disagree；　Captain。　Everything　we've　done　has　been　legal。　Everything。　We　were　a　legal　mining　operation。　We　recovered　an　ore　body；　a　meteorite；　it　so　happens；　which　fell　well　within　the　legal　language　of　our　mining　contract　with　Chile。　From　the　very　beginning；　we　were　harassed；　forced　to　pay　bribes；　and　threatened。　One　of　our　men　was　murdered。　Finally；　as　we　departed；　we　were　fired　upon　by　a　freelancing　warship。　And　yet；　during　this　entire　period；　there　was　no　warning　to　us　from　the　Chilean　government；　no　official　munication　whatsoever。　I　assure　you；　we're　going　to　lodge　the　strongest　possible　protest　with　the　State　Department　on　our　return。　We've　been　treated　outrageously。〃　He　paused；　then　added　with　the　faintest　of　smiles；　〃You　don't　really　think　our　government　will　see　it　any　other　way；　do　you？〃
　Britton　continued　regarding　him；　her　eyes　quite　beautifully　green；　for　what　seemed　a　long　time。　Now　she　came　close　and　spoke　in　his　ear。
　〃You　know　what？〃　she　whispered。　〃I　think　you're　certifiable。〃
　There　was；　Glinn　thought；　a　note　of　admiration　in　her　voice。
　
　Rolvaag；
　4：00　A。M。
　
　PALMER　LLOYD　sat　in　his　study；　slouched　deep　in　the　lone　upright　wing　chair；　his　broad　back　to　the　door。　His　custommade　English　shoes；　now　dry；　had　nudged　the　useless　phone　and　laptop　to　one　er　of　the　small　table。　Outside　the　bank　of　windows；　a　faint　phosphorescence　lay　across　the　violent　surface　of　the　ocean；　throwing　rippling　patterns　of　green　light　around　the　darkened　study；　giving　the　impression　that　the　room　lay　on　the　bottom　of　the　sea。
　Lloyd　gazed　out　motionlessly　at　that　faint　light。　He　had　sat　motionless　through　it　all：　the　firing　of　the　guns；　the　brief　chase　with　the　Chilean　destroyer；　the　explosions；　the　tempestuous　trip　around　the　Cape。
　With　a　soft　click；　the　lights　in　the　study　came　on；　instantly　turning　the　stormscape　beyond　the　windows　to　an　indistinct　black。　In　the　private　office　beyond；　the　wall　of　television　sets　lit　up；　suddenly　crowded　with　dozens　of　silent　talking　heads。　Further；　in　the　suite　of　offices；　a　telephone　rang；　then　another；　and　another。　Still　Palmer　Lloyd　did　not　move。
　Even　Lloyd　could　not　say　precisely　what　was　going　through　his　mind。　Over　the　dark　hours；　there　had　been　anger；　of　course；　there　had　been　frustration；　humiliation；　denial。　All　these　feelings　he　understood。　Glinn　had　summarily　removed　him　from　the　bridge；　clipped　his　wings；　left　him　powerless。　Such　a　thing　had　never　happened　to　him　before。　What　he　could　not　quite　understand　…　what　he　could　not　explain　…　was　the　growing　feeling　of　joy　that　shot　through　all　these　other　feelings；　suffusing　them　like　light　through　a　screen。　The　loading　of　the　rock；　the　disabling　of　the　Chilean　ship；　had　been　a　magnificent　piece　of　work。
　Under　the　unexpected　glare　of　self…examination；　Lloyd　realized　that　Glinn　had　been　correct　to　send　him　away。　His　own　bull…in…a…china…shop　methods　would　have　been　disastrous　alongside　such　a　carefully　balanced　scheme。　And　now　the　lights　were　back　on。　Glinn's　message　to　him　was　crystal　clear。
　He　remained　still；　a　fixed　spot　at　the　center　of　freshly　renewed　activity；　and　thought　about　his　past　successes。　This；　too；　would　be　a　success。　Thanks　to　Glinn。
　And　who　had　hired　Glinn？　Who　had　chosen　the　right　man　…　the　only　man　…　for　the　job？　Despite　the　humiliation；　Lloyd　congratulated　himself　on　his　choice。　He　had　chosen　well。　He　had　succeeded。　The　meteorite　was　safely　aboard。　With　the　destroyer　out　of　action；　nothing　could　stop　them。　Soon；　they　would　be　in　international　waters。　And　then　it　was　a　straight　shot　to　New　York。　There　would　be　an　uproar；　of　course；　when　they　returned　to　the　States。　But　he　relished　a　good　fight　…　especially　when　he　was　in　the　right。
　He　inhaled　deeply；　as　the　feeling　of　joy　continued　to　swell。　The　phone　on　his　desk　began　to　ring；　but　still　he　ignored　it。　There　was　a　tapping　at　the　door；　no　doubt　Penfold；　he　ignored　that　too。　A　violent　gust　shook　the　windows；　splattering　them　with　rain　and　sleet。　And　then　at　last　Lloyd　stood　up；　dusted　himself　off；　and　squared　his　shoulders。　Not　yet；　but　soon　…　very　soon　…　it　would　be　time　to　return　to　the　bridge　and　congratulate　Glinn　on　his　…　on　their　…　success。
　
　Almirante　Ramirez；
　4：10　A。M。
　
　ANDANTE　VALLENAR　stared　into　the　blackness　of　the　Cape　Horn　night；　gripping　the　engine…room　telegraph；　steadying　himself　against　the　steep　rolling　of　the　ship。　It　was　all　too　clear　what　had　happened。。。　and　why。
　Pushing　the　fury　to　the　back　of　his　consciousness；　he　concentrated　on　a　mental　calculation。　In　the　sixty…knot　panteonero；　the　destroyer's　windage　would　produce　a　two…knot　drift；　bine　that　with　the　two…knot　easterly　set　of　the　current；　and　he　had　about　one　hour　before　his　ship　was　thrust　onto　the　reefs　beyond　Isla　Deceit。
　Behind　him；　he　could　feel　the　silence　of　his　officers。　They　were　awaiting　the　orders　to　abandon　ship。　They　were　going　to　be　disappointed。
　Vallenar　took　a　breath；　controlling　himself　with　an　iron　will。　When　he　spoke　to　the　officer　of　the　deck；　his　voice　was　steady；　without　quaver。　〃Damage　assessment；　Mr。　Santander。〃
　〃It　is　difficult　to　say；　andante。　Both　screws　appear　to　be　stripped。　Rudder　damaged　but　functional。　No　hull　breach　reported。　But　the　ship　has　lost　headway　and　steerage。　We　are　dead　in　the　water；　sir。〃
　〃Send　two　divers　over　the　side。　Report　specific　damage　to　the　screws。〃
　This　order　was　greeted　with　a　deeper　silence。　Vallenar　turned；　very　slowly；　raking　the　assembled　officers　with　his　eyes。
　〃Sir；　it　will　be　death　to　send　anyone　overboard　in　this　sea。〃　said　the　officer　of　the　deck。
　Vallenar　held　him　in　his　gaze。　Unlike　the　others；　Santander　was　relatively　new　to　his　mand：　a　mere　six　months　spent　here　at　the　bottom　of　the　world。　〃Yes；〃　said　Vallenar；　〃I　see　the　problem。　We　cannot　have　that。〃
　The　man　smiled。
　〃Send　a　team　of　six。　That　way；　at　least　one　should　survive　to　plete　the　job。〃
　The　smile　vanished。
　〃That's　a　direct　order。　Disobey；　and　you　will　be　leading　that　team。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　officer　of　the　deck。
　〃There　is　a　large　wooden　crate　in　along　the　starboard　side　of　Forward　Hold　C；　marked　‘40　mm　ordnance。'　Inside　is　a　spare　screw。〃　Vallenar　had　prepared　for　many　emergencies；　the　loss　of　a　screw　included。　Hiding　spare　parts　aboard　ship　was　a　good　way　to　get　around　the　corrupt　officials　of　the　Punta　Arenas　Navy　Yard。　〃After　documenting　the　damage；　you　will　cut　what　sections　you　need　from　the　spare　screw。　Divers　will　weld　these　sections　to　the　damaged　screws　to　give　us　propulsion。　We　will　be　on　the　shoals　of　Isla　Deceit　in　less　than　sixty　minutes。　There　will　be　no　order　given　to　abandon　ship。　There　will　be　no　distress　call。　You　will　either　give　me　propulsion；　or　all　hands　will　go　down　with　the　ship。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　officer　of　the　deck　in　a　near　whisper。　The　looks　of　the　other　bridge　officers　betrayed　what　they　thought　of　this　desperate　plan。　Vallenar　ignored　them。　He　did　not　care　what　they　thought：　he　cared　only　that　they　obeyed。　And　for　now；　they　were　obeying。
　
　Rolvaag；
　7：55　A。M。
　
　MANUEL　GARZA　stood　on　a　narrow　metal　catwalk；　peering　down　at　the　great　red　rock　that　lay　far　below　him。　From　this　height　it　looked　almost　small：　an　exotic　egg；　sitting　in　a　nest　of　steel　and　wood。　The　webbing　surrounding　it　was　a　fine　piece　of　work：　damn　fine；　perhaps　the　best　thing　he　had　done　in　his　life。　Marrying　brute　strength　to　pinpoint　precision　had　been　remarkably　difficult；　a　challenge　that　only　someone　like　Gene　Rochefort　could　appreciate。　Garza　found　himself　sorry　that　Rochefort　wasn't　here　to　see　it；　beautiful　engineering　was　one　of　the　few　things　that　had　brought　a　smile　to　the　man's　pinched　face。
　The　TIG　welding　crew　had　followed　him　down　the　access　tunnel　and　were　now　stepping　through　the　hatchway　onto　the　catwalk；　making　a　racket　in　their　heavy　rubber　boots。　They　were　a　colorful　bunch：　yellow　suits　and　gloves；　welding　diagrams　with　individual　jobs　colored　in　red。
　〃You've　got　your　assignments；〃　Garza　said。　〃You　know　what　to　do。　We　need　to　lock　that　son　of　a　bitch　into　place　and　we　need　to　do　it　before　the　seas　get　any　rougher。〃
　The　foreman　gave　Garza　a　mock　salute。　Everyone　seemed　to　be　in　high　spirits；　the　meteorite　was　in　the　hold；　the　Chilean　destroyer　was　out　of　the　picture；　and　they　were　on　their　way　home。
　〃Oh；　and　one　other　thing。　Try　not　to　touch　it。〃
　The　men　laughed　at　the　little　joke。　Someone　made　a　crack　about　Timmer's　ass　achieving　escape　velocity；　there　was　a　reference　to　being　mailed　home　in　Tupperware　containers。　But　nobody　moved　toward　the　elevator　cage　leading　to　the　bottom　of　the　tank。　Garza　could　see　that；　despite　the　humor　and　the　high　spirits；　there　was　a　deep　nervousness。　The　met