p&c.icelimit-第65章

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　〃I　told　you；　the　charge　will　be　dispersed　through　the　seawater；〃　said　McFarlane。
　Glinn　pursed　his　lips。　〃So　you　think。　We　can't　risk　damaging　the　jettison　doors。　If　they　can't　be　closed；　the　tank　will　flood。〃
　Britton　spoke：　〃What's　certain　is　that　if　the　meteorite　isn't　jettisoned；　the　Rolvaag　will　go　down。　Eli；　don't　you　understand？　We　aren't　going　to　last　a　dozen　more　rolls。〃　
　The　ship　began　to　rise　on　the　next　wave。
　〃Sally；　you're　the　last　person　I'd　expect　to　panic。〃　Glinn's　voice　was　calm；　confident。　〃We　can　ride　this　out。〃
　Britton　took　an　audible　breath。　〃Eli；　I　know　my　ship。　It's　over；　for　God's　sake。　Can't　you　see　that？〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Glinn。　〃The　worst　has　passed。　Trust　me。〃
　The　word　trust　hung　in　the　air　as　the　ship　rolled　farther　and　farther。　The　bridge　seemed　to　have　been　shocked　into　paralysis；　every　eye　on　Glinn。　And　still　the　ship　rolled。
　Garza's　voice　came　on　the　speaker；　faint　now；　fading　in　and　out　〃Eli！　The　web　is　failing！　Did　you　hear　me？　Failing！〃　
　Glinn　wheeled　toward　the　microphone。　〃Stay　with　it；　man。　I'll　be　down　there　in　a　moment。〃
　〃Eli；　the　foundation　of　the　cradle　is　being　rocked　to　pieces。　There's　metal　everywhere。　I've　got　to　get　the　men　out　of　here。　〃
　〃Mr。　Garza！〃　Britton　spoke　into　the　ship's　inter。　〃This　is　the　captain　speaking。　Are　you　familiar　with　the　dead　man's　switch？〃
　〃I　built　it。〃
　〃Then　trigger　it。〃
　Glinn　stood；　impassive。　McFarlane　watched　him；　trying　to　understand　this　sudden　change。　Was　Glinn　right？　Could　the　ship　…　the　meteorite　…　survive？　Then　he　glanced　at　the　faces　of　the　officers。　The　abject　terror　in　their　eyes　told　him　a　different　story。　The　ship　poised　at　the　crest　of　the　wave；　twisted；　groaned；　sank　back　again。
　〃The　dead　man's　switch　must　be　initiated　from　the　EES　puter　on　the　bridge；〃　said　Garza。　〃Eli　has　the　codes。。〃
　〃Can　you　do　it　manually？〃　Britton　asked。
　〃No。　Eli！　For　God's　sake；　hurry。　We　don't　have　much　time　before　this　thing　rolls　right　through　the　side　of　the　ship。〃
　'Mr。　Garza；〃　Britton　said。　〃Order　your　men　to　their　abandon　stations。〃
　Glinn　spoke：　〃Garza；　I　contravene　that　order。　We　won't　fail。　Stay　at　your　work。〃
　〃No　way；　sir。　We're　evacuating。〃　The　radio　went　dead。
　Glinn　looked　pale。　He　glanced　around　the　bridge。　The　ship　subsided　into　a　trough；　and　silence　fell。
　Britton　stepped　toward　Glinn　and　put　her　hand　lightly　on　his　shoulder。　〃Eli；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　you　have　it　in　you　to　admit　failure。　I　know　you've　got　courage　enough　to　do　that。　Right　now　you're　the　only　one　with　the　power　to　save　us　and　this　ship。　Execute　the　dead　man's　switch；　please。〃　
　McFarlane　watched　as　she　stretched　out　her　other　hand　and　clasped　Glinn's。　He　seemed　to　waver。
　Suddenly；　silently；　Puppup　returned　to　the　bridge。　He　was　streaming　wet；　dressed　once　again　in　his　old　rags。　There　was　a　strange　excitement　in　his　face；　an　expectancy；　that　chilled　McFarlane。
　Glinn　smiled　and　squeezed　Britton's　hand。　〃What　nonsense。　Sally；　I　really　expected　more　of　you。　Don't　you　see　we　can't　fail？　We've　planned　far　too　carefully　for　that。　There's　no　need　to　invoke　the　dead　man's　switch。　In　fact；　under　the　circumstances；　it　would　be　dangerous　to　do　so。〃　He　looked　around。　〃I　don't　blame　any　of　you。　This　is　a　plex　situation；　and　fear　is　an　understandable　reaction。　But　you　have　to　consider　what　I've　just　brought　you　through；　virtually　single…handedly。　I　can　promise　you；　the　web　will　hold；　and　the　ship　will　weather　the　storm。　We're　certainly　not　going　to　end　it　here　…　not　because　of　a　regrettable　failure　of　nerve。〃
　McFarlane　wavered；　feeling　a　surge　of　hope。　Maybe　Glinn　was　right。　The　man　was　so　persuasive；　so　confident。　He　had　succeeded　under　the　most　unlikely　circumstances。　He　saw　that　Lloyd；　too；　looked　eager；　wanting　to　be　convinced。
　The　ship　rose。　It　heeled。　All　talk　ceased　as　everyone　clung　for　their　lives　to　whatever　handholds　they　could　find。　The　screeching　chorus　of　warping；　tearing　metal　began　anew；　rising　in　volume　until　it　drowned　out　even　the　rage　of　the　storm。　At　that　moment；　McFarlane　realized；　utterly　and　pletely；　just　how　wrong　Glinn　was。　At　the　crest；　the　ship　shook　as　if　it　were　in　an　earthquake；　the　emergency　lights　flickered。
　After　an　agonizing　moment；　the　ship　righted　itself　and　fell　over　the　crest　of　the　wave。　The　wind　howled　once　about　the　bridge　and　was　cut　off。
　〃You're　wrong　this　time；　Glinn；　you　son　of　a　bitch；〃　said　Lloyd；　terror　back　in　full　force。　〃Throw　the　switch。〃
　Glinn　smiled；　almost　to　the　point　of　sneering。　〃Sorry；　Mr。　Lloyd。　I'm　the　only　one　who　has　the　codes；　and　once　again　I　will　save　your　meteorite　for　you；　despite　yourself。〃
　Suddenly　Lloyd　rushed　at　Glinn；　a　strangled　cry　rising　in　his　throat。　Glinn　sidestepped　him　lightly；　and　with　the　briefest　flick　of　the　heel　of　one　hand　sent　Lloyd　crashing　to　the　deck；　gasping　heavily。
　McFarlane　took　a　step　toward　Glinn。　The　man　turned　on　him　lightly；　poised。　His　eyes　remained　as　impenetrable；　as　opaque；　as　ever。　McFarlane　realized　that　Glinn　wasn't　going　to　change　his　mind。　He　was　a　man　who　couldn't　fail；　and　he　would　die　proving　it。
　Britton　glanced　toward　the　chief　mate。　One　look　at　her　face　told　McFarlane　she　had　reached　the　same　decision。
　〃Mr。　Howell；〃　she　said。　〃All　hands　to　abandon　stations。　We　will　abandon　ship。〃
　Glinn's　eyes　narrowed　slightly　in　surprise；　but　he　remained　silent。
　Howell　turned　to　Glinn。　〃You're　giving　us　a　death　sentence；　forcing　us　out　in　that　storm　in　lifeboats；　you　crazy　bastard。〃
　〃I　may　be　the　only　sane　one　left　on　the　bridge。〃
　Lloyd　pulled　himself　painfully　from　the　deck　as　the　ship　struggled　once　again　to　rise。　He　did　not　look　at　Glinn。　Glinn　turned　and；　without　another　word；　left　the　slanting　bridge。
　〃Mr。　Howell；〃　Britton　said。　〃Initiate　a　406　MHz　beacon；　and　get　all　hands　to　the　boats。　If　I'm　not　back　in　five　minutes；　you　will　assume　the　duties　of　master。〃
　Then　she；　too；　turned　and　vanished。
　
　Rolvaag；
　7：35　P。M。
　
　ELI　GLINN　stood　on　the　iron　catwalk　above　number　three　center　tank。　He　heard　a　clanging　noise　as　Puppup　dogged　the　hatch　of　the　access　corridor　shut。　He　felt　a　small　twinge　of　gratitude　for　the　Indian。　He　had　been　loyal　to　the　last；　when　everyone　else　…　even　Sally　…　had　failed　him。
　The　hysteria　he　had　witnessed　on　the　bridge　was　very　disturbing。　He　had　succeeded　at　every　turn；　and　they　should　have　trusted　him。　A　claxon　horn　was　blowing　in　some　faraway；　echoing　space：　an　eerie；　unpleasant　noise。　In　the　ing　hours；　many　would　die　in　the　rough　seas。　It　was　all　so　unnecessary。　The　great　Rolvaag　would　survive；　of　that　he　was　sure。　It　would　survive；　with　its　cargo；　and　those　who　remained　with　it。　And　at　dawn；　with　the　storm　just　a　memory；　they　would　be　met　by　the　towships　from　South　Georgia。　The　Rolvaag　would　return　to　New　York　with　the　meteorite。　It　was　a　pity　that　so　many　others　would　not。
　He　thought　of　Britton　again。　A　magnificent　woman。　He　felt　a　great　sadness　when　he　reflected　on　her　unwillingness　to　trust　him　at　the　end。　He　would　never　find　another　like　her；　that　he　knew。　He　would　save　her　ship　for　her；　but　any　question　of　a　personal　relationship　was　now　dead。　He　leaned　against　the　longitudinal　bulkhead；　distantly　surprised　at　how　long　it　was　taking　to　regain　his　breath。　He　clung　as　the　ship　heeled；　an　alarming　angle；　admittedly；　but　still　beneath　the　critical　limit　of　thirty…five　degrees。　He　could　hear　the　slippage　of　chains；　the　protests　of　metal；　below　his　feet。　At　last；　the　ship　began　to　right　itself　with　a　groan。　A　tragedy；　that　after　all　he　had　done　…　the　quite　extraordinary　successes　he　had　engineered　…　they　were　not　willing　to　trust　him　this　one　last　time。　All　but　Puppup。　He　glanced　toward　the　old　man。
　〃Heading　down　there；　guv？〃
　Glinn　nodded。　〃I'll　need　your　help。〃
　〃'At's　what　I'm　here　for。〃
　They　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　catwalk。　There　below　sat　the　rock；　the　top　of　its　surrounding　web　swathed　in　plastic　tarps。　The　emergency　lights　bathed　it　in　a　dim　light。　The　tank　was　still　holding　nicely；　staying　dry。　It　was　a　superb　ship。　The　triple　hulling　made　all　the　difference。　Even　covered　with　tarps　the　rock　looked　magnificent；　the　epicenter　of　their　terrors　and　hopes。　It　was　resting　in　its　cradle；　just　as　he　knew　it　would　be。
　Then　his　eyes　flickered　down　to　the　struts　and　braces。　There　was；　it　had　to　be　admitted；　a　great　deal　of　damage：　bent　spars；　pression　fractures；　sheared　metal。　The　transverse　web　brackets　along　the　bottom　of　the　tank　were　littered　with　broken　rivets；　snapped　chains；　and　splintered　wood。　He　could　hear　a　residual　creaking　and　groaning。　But　the　web　was　still　essentially　intact。
　The　elevator　was　broken；　however。　He　began　climbing　down。
　The　ship　rose；　heeling　again。
　Glinn　steadied　himself；　then　continued　descending。　It　took　longer　than　he　thought　it　would；　and　by　the　time　he　had　reached　the　bottom　he　felt　more　horizontal　than　vertical　…　splayed　upon；　rather　than　clinging　to；　the　ladder。　Hooking　an　elbow　to　it；　he　braced　himself；　waiting　it　out。　Now　he　could　see；　under　the　tarps；　the　red　flank　of　the　rock。　The　sounds　in　the　hold　were　growing；　like　some　infernal　symphony　of　metal；　but　they　signified　nothing。　Toward　the　top　of　the　roll　he　slipped　out　his　pocket　watch　and　held　it　at　arm's　length；　dangling　it　from　its　chain；　estimating　the　roll。　Twenty…five　degrees：　well　below　critical　value。
　He　heard　a　sudden　muttering；　groaning　noise；　and　the　massive　crimson　curve　of　the　meteorite　seemed　to　stir。　The　ship　heeled　farther；　the　meteorite　moved　with　it；　until　Glinn　was　not　sure　whether　the　ship　was　shifting　the　meteorite　or　vice　versa。　The　meteorite　now　seemed　poised　at　the　edge　of　its　cradle；　ready　to　tip　out。　There　was　a　crackling；　splintering　sound。　Twenty…seven　degrees。　Twentyeight。
　The　ship　shuddered；　paused；　then　began　to　right　itself。　Glinn　eased　out　a　breath。　Twenty…eight　degrees。　Well　within　tolerances。　The　meteorite　shifted　back　into　its　cradle　with　a　monstrous　shudder。　Abruptly；　the　screech　of　metal　stopped。　The　screaming　of　the　wind　and　water　outside　the　hull　abated　as　the　ship　sank　down。
　His　eyes　scanned　the　tank。　What　was　necessary　here　was　to　tighten　the　chains　closest　to　the　meteorite。　They　had　been　designed　so　that　one　person　could　do　it；　using　a　motor…assisted　〃e…along〃　anchored　to　each　tightening　point。　He　was　surprised　Garza　hadn't　done　this　already。
　Quickly；　he　scrambled　to　the　main　tightening　point　and　switched　on　the　key　motor…assist。　It　lit　up　…　in　perfect　working　order；　of　course。
　The　ship　continued　to　subside　into　the　oning　trough；　giving　him　some　peace　and　stability　in　which　to　work。
　Glinn　pulled　the　forward　lever　on　the　motor…assist；　and　was　pleased　to　see　the　big　rubber…coated　chains　that　had　e　loose　in　the　rocking　of　the　meteorite　tighten　again。　Why　hadn't　Garza　done　this？　The　reason　was　clear：　he　had　panicked。　Glinn　felt　a　momentary　disappointment　at　his　trusted　construction　manager。　This　wasn't　like　Garza；　not　like　him　at　all。　So　many　had　failed　him；　but　at　least　he　had　failed　no　one。
　The　chains　were　tightening　nicely；　and　he　turned　to　Puppup。　〃Take　this　toolbox；〃　he　said；　indicating　a　box　left　in　Garza's　retreat。
　The　ship　rose；　the　roll　began；　the　chains　began　to　strain。　And　then；　with　a　sharp　ratcheting　noise；　the　chains　loosened。　Glinn　peered　closely　in　the　dim　light。　He　saw　tha