p&c.icelimit-第64章

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　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　think　the　thing　shifted　slightly；　but　it　came　back　into　place。〃
　Glinn　almost　smiled。　〃Manuel；　do　you　see　how　you're　overreacting？　Don't　panic。　Focus　on　the　critical　points　and　let　the　others　go。　Triage　the　situation。　There's　a　tremendous　amount　of　redundancy　built　into　that　web。　Double　overage。　Remember　that。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　The　ship　began　another　roll；　a　slow；　screeching；　agonizing　motion。　Again　she　felt　the　pause；　and　then　she　felt　something　new；　different　in　the　motion。。。　Something　ugly。　Britton　looked　at　Glinn；　then　at　Lloyd。　She　could　see　that　they　hadn't　noticed。　When　the　meteorite　had　moved；　she　could　feel　how　it　affected　the　entire　ship。　The　massive　Rolvaag　had　almost　pivoted　on　the　crest　of　that　last　wave。　She　wondered　if　it　was　her　imagination。　She　waited　while　the　ship　sank　down　into　the　unnatural　peace　of　the　trough；　then　began　to　rise　again。　She　turned　on　the　maindeck　lights　and　sealights：　she　wanted　to　see　the　conformation　of　the　ship　on　the　water。　It　was　rising；　shuddering　as　if　to　shake　off　its　burden；　the　heavy　black　water　surging　off　its　sides　and　out　the　scuppers。　As　they　came　up　the　thing　in　the　hold　began　to　groan　again；　slowly；　the　ship　reared　up　the　long　face　of　the　wave；　shivering　as　it　rose　into　the　wind。　The　bow　broke　through　the　topmost　b　of　water；　and　the　groaning　became　a　shriek　of　protesting　metal　and　timber；　echoing　through　the　bones　of　the　ship。　There　it　was：　the　Rolvaag　made　that　same　ugly　motion　at　the　top；　a　yaw　that　almost　became　a　pivot；　then　a　lying　back　down　in　the　water。　There　was　a　hesitation　before　it　recovered　…　and　that　was　the　worst　of　all。
　Once；　on　a　terrible　storm　off　the　Grand　Banks；　she　had　seen　a　ship　break　its　back。　The　hull　had　e　apart　with　a　horrific　noise；　black　water　had　boiled　in；　instantly　flooding　the　ship's　deepest　partments。　Nobody　had　a　chance　to　get　off：　all　were　sucked　down　into　the　deep。　It　was　a　sight　that　still　disturbed　her　sleep　to　this　day。
　She　glanced　at　Howell。　He　had　noticed　the　slow　recovery；　too：　he　was　staring　at　her；　frame　rigid；　round　eyes　white　in　a　deathly　pale　face。　She　had　never　seen　him　so　frightened。　〃Captain。。。〃　he　began；　his　voice　breaking。
　She　gestured　him　silent。　She　knew　what　he　was　going　to　say。　It　was　her　duty　to　say　it。
　She　glanced　at　Glinn。　His　face　remained　strangely　confident　and　serene。　She　had　to　look　away。　For　all　his　knowledge；　the　man　did　not　know　the　feel　of　a　ship。
　The　Rolvaag　was　on　the　verge　of　breaking　up。
　They　began　to　subside　into　another　trough；　the　wind　abruptly　dropping　to　zero。　She　took　the　opportunity　to　look　around　the　bridge：　Lloyd；　McFarlane；　Amira；　Glinn；　Howell；　Banks；　the　other　officers　of　the　watch。　All　silent。　All　watching　her。　All　waiting　for　her　to　do　something；　to　keep　them　alive。
　〃Mr。　Lloyd；〃　she　said。
　〃Yes？〃　He　stepped　over；　eager　to　help。
　This　was　going　to　be　hard。
　A　hideous　shudder　rattled　the　consoles　and　windows　as　the　ship　took　a　major　cross…swell。　When　the　sound　eased　as　the　ship　slipped　back　down；　Britton　could　breathe　again。
　〃Mr。　Lloyd；〃　she　said　again。　〃The　meteorite　must　go。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　7：00　P。M。
　
　ON　THESE　words；　McFarlane　felt　a　queer　feeling　in　his　gut。　A　galvanic　charge　seemed　to　spread　through　his　body。　Never。　It　was　impossible。　He　tried　to　shake　off　the　seasickness　and　fear　of　the　last　harrowing　minutes。
　〃Absolutely　not；〃　he　heard　Lloyd　say。　The　words　were　quiet；　barely　audible　above　the　roar　of　the　sea。　Nevertheless；　they　carried　a　tremendous　force　of　conviction。　A　hush　fell　on　the　bridge　as　the　ship　went　deeper　into　the　preternatural　calm　of　the　trough。
　〃I　am　the　captain　of　this　ship；〃　Britton　said　quietly。　〃The　lives　of　my　crew　depend　on　it。　Mr。　Glinn；　I　order　you　to　trigger　the　dead　man's　switch。　I　order　it。〃
　After　the　briefest　of　hesitations；　Glinn　turned　toward　the　EES　console。　
　〃No！〃　screamed　Lloyd；　seizing　Glinn's　arm　in　a　powerful　grip。　〃You　touch　that　puter　and　I'll　kill　you　with　my　bare　hands。〃
　With　a　short；　sharp　motion；　Glinn　twisted　out　of　the　grip；　throwing　Lloyd　off　balance。　The　big　man　stumbled；　then　drew　himself　up；　panting。　The　ship　slanted　again　and　a　metallic　groan　ran　through　the　length　of　the　hull。　All　movement　stopped　as　everyone　clung　to　the　nearest　handhold。
　〃You　hear　that；　Mr。　Lloyd？〃　Britton　cried　over　the　sound　of　protesting　metal。　〃That　son　of　a　bitch　down　there　is　killing　my　ship！〃
　〃Glinn；　stay　away　from　that　keyboard。〃
　〃The　captain　has　given　an　order；〃　Howell　shouted；　his　voice　high。　
　〃No！　Only　Glinn　has　the　key；　and　he　won't　do　it！　He　can't；　not　without　my　permission！　Eli；　do　you　hear　me？　I　order　you　not　to　initiate　the　dead　man's　switch。〃　Lloyd　moved　suddenly　to　the　EES　puter；　blocking　it　with　his　body。
　Howell　turned。　〃Security！　Seize　this　man　and　remove　him　from　the　bridge。〃
　But　Britton　held　up　a　hand。　〃Mr。　Lloyd；　step　away　from　the　puter。　Mr。　Glinn；　execute　my　mand。〃　The　vessel　had　begun　to　heel　still　farther；　and　a　terrifying　crackle　shot　through　the　ship's　steel；　rising　in　pitch　to　a　muffled　howl　of　tearing　metal；　abruptly　cut　off　as　they　began　to　right。
　Lloyd　gripped　the　puter；　his　eyes　wild。　〃Sam！〃　he　cried；　his　wild　eyes　seizing　on　McFarlane。
　McFarlane　had　been　watching；　dumbstruck；　almost　paralyzed　with　conflicting　emotions：　terror　for　his　life；　desire　for　the　rock　and　its　boundless　mysteries。　He　would　rather　go　down　with　it　than　give　it　up　now。　Almost。
　〃Sam！〃　Lloyd　was　almost　pleading　now。　〃You're　the　scientist　here。　Tell　them　about　all　the　research　you　did；　the　island　of　stability；　the　new　element。。。〃　He　was　being　incoherent。　〃Tell　them　why　it's　so　important。　Tell　them　why　they　can't　dump　the　rock！〃
　McFarlane　felt　his　throat　constrict　…　and　realized；　for　the　first　time；　how　utterly　irresponsible　it　had　been　to　take　the　rock　to　sea。　If　it　sank　now；　it　would　drive　itself　deep　into　the　abyssal　mud　of　the　ocean　bottom；　two　miles　down；　never　to　be　seen　again。　The　loss　to　science　would　be　catastrophic。　It　was　unthinkable。
　He　found　his　voice。　〃Lloyd's　right。　It　might　be　the　most　important　scientific　discovery　ever　made。　You　can't　let　it　go。〃
　Britton　turned　to　him。　〃We　no　longer　have　a　choice。　The　meteorite　is　going　to　the　bottom　…　no　matter　what　we　do。　So　that　leaves　us　with　only　one　question。　Are　we　going　to　let　it　take　us　with　it？〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　7：10　P。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　LOOKED　at　the　faces　around　him：　Lloyd；　tense　and　expectant；　Glinn；　veiled　and　unreadable；　Rachel；　clearly　as　conflicted　as　he　was；　Britton；　an　expression　of　utter　conviction　on　her　face。　It　was　a　haggard　group；　ice　crystallizing　in　their　hair；　faces　raw　and　bleeding　with　the　cuts　of　the　flying　ice。
　〃We　can　abandon　ship　instead；〃　Lloyd　said；　his　voice　panicky。　〃Hell；　let　the　ship　drift　without　us。　It's　drifting　anyway。　Maybe　it'll　survive　on　its　own。　We　don't　have　to　jettison　the　rock。〃
　〃It's　close　to　suicide　to　launch　lifeboats　in　this　sea；〃　Britton　replied。　〃It's　below　zero　out　there；　for　God's　sake。〃　〃We　can't　just　drop　it；〃　Lloyd　continued；　desperate　now。　〃It　would　be　a　crime　against　science。　This　is　all　an　overreaction。　We've　already　been　through　so　much。　Glinn；　for　God's　sake；　tell　her　she's　overreacting。〃
　But　Glinn　said　nothing。
　〃I　know　my　ship；〃　was　all　Britton　said。
　Lloyd　veered　wildly　between　threats　and　pleas。　Now　he　turned　back　to　McFarlane。　〃There　must　be　something。　Some　way；　Sam！　Tell　them　again　about　the　value　to　science；　about　the　irreplaceable。。。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　Lloyd's　face。　It　was　ghastly　in　the　orange　emergency　lights。　He　struggled　against　his　own　nausea；　fear；　and　cold。　They　couldn't　let　it　go。　He　seemed　suspended：　he　thought　of　Nestor；　and　what　it　meant　to　die；　and　he　thought　of　sinking　in　the　cold　dark　bottomless　water　…　and　suddenly　he　was　very；　very　afraid　of　death。　The　fear　surged　over　him；　temporarily　usurping　the　intellectual　functioning　of　his　brain。
　〃Sam！　Jesus　Christ；　tell　them！〃
　McFarlane　tried　to　speak；　but　the　wind　had　risen　and　his　words　were　lost　in　the　howl。
　〃What？〃　Lloyd　cried。　〃Everyone；　listen　to　Sam！　Sam　…　〃
　〃Let　it　go；〃　McFarlane　said。
　An　incredulous　look　filled　Lloyd's　face；　and　he　was　temporarily　speechless。
　〃You　heard　her；〃　McFarlane　said。　〃It's　going　to　the　bottom　regardless。　The　fight's　over。〃　A　feeling　of　hopelessness　swept　over　him。　He　felt　a　warmth　at　the　corners　of　his　eyes　and　realized　it　was　tears。　Such　a　waste；　such　a　waste。。。
　Abruptly；　Lloyd　turned；　abandoning　McFarlane　for　Glinn。　〃Eli？　Eli！　You've　never　failed　me　before；　there's　always　been　something　in　that　bag　of　tricks。　Help　me　here；　I　beg　you。　Don't　let　them　drop　the　rock。〃
　His　voice　had　taken　on　a　pathetic；　beseeching　tone。　The　man　was　unraveling　before　their　eyes。
　Glinn　said　nothing　as　the　ship　began　to　roll　again。　McFarlane　followed　Britton's　eyes　to　the　inclinometer。　All　talk　ceased　as　the　wind　shrieked　through　the　broken　bridge　windows。　Then　the　terrible　sound　began　again。　The　Rolvaag　hesitated；　thirty　degrees　on　its　side；　everyone　clinging　desperately；　the　vessel　wallowing　broadside　to。　McFarlane　gripped　a　bulkhead　rail。　The　terror　he　felt　was　now　helping　to　clear　his　mind；　sweeping　away　his　regret。　All　he　wanted　to　do　was　get　rid　of　it。
　〃Recover；〃　he　heard　Britton　murmur。　〃Recover。〃　
　The　ship　remained　heeled　stubbornly　to　port。　The　bridge　hung　so　far　out　over　the　side　of　the　ship　that　McFarlane　could　see　nothing　but　black　water　below　the　windows。　He　was　swept　with　a　feeling　of　vertigo。　And　then；　with　an　immense　shudder；　it　gradually　began　to　right。
　As　soon　as　the　deck　leveled；　Lloyd　let　go　of　the　puter；　his　face　torn　with　a　mixture　of　horror；　rage；　and　frustration。　McFarlane　could　see　the　same　terror　working　in　him；　clearing　his　mind　as　well；　illuminating　the　sole　rational　course　left　them。
　〃All　right；〃　Lloyd　finally　said。　〃Let　it　go。〃　He　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。
　Britton　spoke　to　Glinn。　〃You　heard　him。　Get　rid　of　it；　now。〃　Relief　sounded　clearly　through　the　tension　in　her　voice。
　Slowly；　almost　mechanically；　Glinn　sat　down　at　the　EES　console。　He　placed　his　fingers　on　the　keyboard。　Then　he　glanced　at　McFarlane。　〃Tell　me；　Sam。　If　the　meteorite　reacts　to　salinity；　what　will　happen　when　it　hits　the　open　ocean　underneath　the　ship？〃
　McFarlane　started。　In　all　the　mayhem；　he　had　not　stopped　to　consider　this。　He　thought　quickly。
　〃Seawater　is　a　conductor；〃　he　replied。　〃The　meteorite's　discharge　will　be　attenuated　through　it。〃
　〃Are　you　sure　it　won't　blow　up　the　ship？〃
　McFarlane　hesitated。　〃No。〃
　Glinn　nodded。　〃I　see。〃
　They　waited。　There　was　no　sound　of　typing。　Glinn　sat　hunched　over　the　keyboard；　motionless。
　Silence　fell　again　as　the　ship　subsided　into　another　trough。
　Glinn　half　turned　his　head；　fingers　still　poised　over　the　keys。　〃This　is　an　unnecessary　step；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃And　it　is　also　too　dangerous。〃
　His　long　white　hands　fell　away　from　the　keys；　and　he　stood　up　slowly　to　face　them。　〃The　ship　will　survive。　Rochefort's　work　has　never　failed。　There　is　no　need　to　use　the　dead　man's　switch。　In　this　instance；　I　am　in　agreement　with　Mr。　Lloyd。〃
　There　was　a　moment　of　shocked　silence。
　〃When　the　meteorite　es　into　contact　with　seawater；　the　explosion　could　sink　the　ship；〃　Glinn　went　on。
　〃I　told　you；　the　charge　will　be　dispersed　through　the　seawater；〃　said　McFarlane。
　Glinn