p&c.icelimit-第7章

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ered　into　a　conference　room。　Low…ceilinged　and　austerely　furnished；　it　was　as　understated　as　Palmer　Lloyd's　had　been　lavish。　There　were　no　windows；　no　prints　on　the　walls　…　only　a　circular　table　made　out　of　an　exotic　wood；　and　a　darkened　screen　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。
　Two　people　were　seated　at　the　table；　staring　at　him；　evaluating　him　with　their　eyes。　The　closest　was　a　black…haired　young　woman；　dressed　in　Farmer　Brown…style　bib　overalls。　She　was　not　exactly　pretty；　but　her　brown　eyes　were　quick　and　had　glimmers　of　gold　in　their　depths。　They　lingered　over　him　in　a　sardonic　way　that　McFarlane　found　unsettling。　She　was　of　average　size；　slender；　unremarkable；　with　a　healthy　tan　browning　her　cheekbones　and　nose。　She　had　very　long　hands　with　longer　fingers；　currently　busy　cracking　a　peanut　into　a　large　ashtray　on　the　table　in　front　of　her。　She　looked　like　an　overgrown　tomboy。
　The　man　beyond　her　was　dressed　in　a　white　lab　coat。　He　was　blade　thin；　with　a　badly　razor…burned　face。　One　eyelid　seemed　to　droop　slightly；　giving　the　eye　a　jocular　look；　as　if　it　was　about　to　wink。　But　there　was　nothing　jocular　about　the　rest　of　the　man：　he　looked　humorless；　pinched；　as　tense　as　catgut。　He　fidgeted　restlessly　with　a　mechanical　pencil；　turning　it　over　and　over。
　Glinn　nodded。　〃This　is　Eugene　Rochefort；　manager　of　engineering。　He　specializes　in　one…of…a…kind　engineering　designs。〃
　Rochefort　accepted　the　pliment　with　a　purse　of　his　lips；　the　pressure　briefly　turning　them　white。
　〃And　this　is　Dr。　Rachel　Amira。　She　started　out　as　a　physicist　with　us；　but　we　soon　began　to　exploit　her　rare　gifts　as　a　mathematician。　If　you　have　a　problem；　she　will　give　you　an　equation。　Rachel；　Gene；　please　wele　Dr。　Sam　McFarlane。　Meteorite　hunter。〃
　They　nodded　in　reply。　McFarlane　felt　their　eyes　on　him　as　he　busied　himself　with　opening　the　portfolio　case　and　distributing　folders。　He　felt　the　tension　return。
　Glinn　accepted　his　folder。　〃I'd　like　to　go　over　the　general　outline　of　the　problem；　and　then　open　the　floor　for　discussion。〃
　〃Sure　thing；〃　said　McFarlane；　settling　into　a　chair。
　Glinn　glanced　around；　his　gray　eyes　unreadable。　Then　he　withdrew　a　sheaf　of　notes　from　inside　his　jacket。　〃First；　some　general　information。　The　target　area　is　a　small　island；　known　as　Isla　Desolacion；　off　the　southern　tip　of　South　America　in　the　Cape　Horn　islands。　It　lies　in　Chilean　national　territory。　It　is　about　eight　miles　long　and　three　miles　wide。〃
　He　paused　and　looked　around。
　〃Our　client；　Palmer　Lloyd；　insists　upon　moving　ahead　with　the　utmost　possible　speed。　He　is　concerned　about　possible　petition　from　other　museums。　That　means　working　in　the　depths　of　the　South　American　winter。　In　the　Cape　Horn　islands；　temperatures　in　July　range　from　above　freezing　to　as　much　as　thirty　below　zero；　Fahrenheit。　Cape　Horn　is　the　southernmost　major　landmass　outside　of　Antarctica　itself；　more　than　a　thousand　miles　closer　to　the　South　Pole　than　Africa's　Cape　of　Good　Hope。　During　the　target　month；　we　can　expect　five　hours　of　daylight。
　〃Isle　Desolacion　is　not　a　hospitable　place。　It　is　barren；　windswept；　mostly　volcanic　with　some　Tertiary　sedimentary　basins。　The　island　is　bisected　by　a　large　snowfield；　and　there　is　an　old　volcanic　plug　toward　the　north　end。　The　tides　range　from　thirty　to　thirty…five　vertical　feet；　and　a　reversing　sixknot　current　sweeps　the　island　group。〃
　〃Lovely　conditions　for　a　picnic；〃　Garza　muttered。
　〃The　closest　human　settlement　is　on　Navarino　Island；　in　the　Beagle　Channel；　about　forty　miles　north　of　the　Cape　Horn　islands。　It　is　a　Chilean　naval　base　called　Puerto　Williams；　with　a　small　mestizo　Indian　shantytown　attached　to　it。〃
　〃Puerto　Williams？〃　Garza　said。　〃I　thought　this　was　Chile　we　were　talking　about。〃
　〃The　entire　area　was　originally　mapped　by　Englishmen。〃　Glinn　placed　the　notes　on　the　table。　〃Dr。　McFarlane；　I　understand　you've　been　in　Chile。〃
　McFarlane　nodded。
　〃What　can　you　tell　us　about　their　navy？〃
　〃Charming　fellows。〃
　There　was　a　silence。　Rochefort；　the　engineer；　began　tapping　his　pencil　on　the　table　in　an　irritated　tattoo。　The　door　opened；　and　a　waiter　began　serving　sandwiches　and　coffee。
　〃They　belligerently　patrol　the　coastal　waters；〃　McFarlane　went　on；　〃especially　in　the　south；　along　the　border　with　Argentina。　The　two　countries　have　a　long…running　border　dispute；　as　you　probably　know。〃
　〃Can　you　add　anything　to　what　I've　said　about　the　climate？〃
　〃I　once　spent　time　in　Punta　Arenas　in　late　fall。　Blizzards；　sleet　storms；　and　fog　are　mon。　Not　to　mention　williwaws。〃
　〃Williwaws？〃　Rochefort　asked　in　a　tremulous；　reed…thin　voice。
　〃Basically　a　microburst　of　wind。　It　lasts　only　a　minute　or　two；　but　it　can　peak　at　about　a　hundred　and　fifty　knots。〃
　〃What　about　decent　anchorages？〃　Garza　asked。
　〃I've　been　told　there　are　no　decent　anchorages。　In　fact；　from　what　I've　heard；　there's　no　good　holding　ground　for　a　ship　anywhere　in　the　Cape　Horn　islands。〃
　〃We　like　a　challenge；〃　said　Garza。
　Glinn　collected　the　papers；　folded　them　carefully；　and　returned　them　to　his　jacket　pocket。　Somehow；　McFarlane　felt　the　man　had　already　known　the　answers　to　his　own　questions。
　〃Clearly；〃　Glinn　said；　〃we　have　a　plex　problem；　even　without　considering　the　meteorite。　But　let's　consider　it　now。　Rachel；　I　believe　you　have　some　questions　about　the　data？〃
　〃I　have　a　ment　about　the　data。〃　Amira's　eyes　glanced　at　a　folder　before　her；　then　hovered　on　McFarlane　with　faint　amusement。　She　had　a　superior　attitude　that　McFarlane　found　annoying。
　〃Yes？〃　said　McFarlane。
　〃I　don't　believe　a　word　of　it。〃
　〃What　exactly　don't　you　believe？〃
　She　waved　her　hand　over　his　portfolio。　〃You're　the　meteorite　expert；　right？　Then　you　know　why　no　one　has　ever　found　a　meteorite　larger　than　sixty　tons。　Any　larger；　and　the　force　of　impact　causes　the　meteorite　to　shatter。　Above　two　hundred　tons；　meteorites　vaporize　from　the　impact。　So　how　could　a　monster　like　this　still　be　intact？〃
　〃I　can't　…　〃　McFarlane　began。
　But　Amira　interrupted。　〃The　second　thing　is　that　iron　meteorites　rust。　It　only　takes　about　five　thousand　years　to　rust　even　the　biggest　one　into　a　pile　of　scale。　So　if　it　somehow　did　survive　the　impact；　why　is　it　still　there？　How　do　you　explain　this　geological　report　that　says　it　fell　thirty　million　years　ago；　was　buried　in　sediment；　and　is　only　now　being　exposed　through　erosion？〃
　McFarlane　settled　back　in　his　chair。　She　waited；　raising　her　eyebrows　quizzically。
　〃Have　you　ever　read　Sherlock　Holmes？〃　McFarlane　asked　with　a　smile　of　his　own。
　Amira　rolled　her　eyes。　〃You're　not　going　to　quote　that　old　saw　about　how　once　you've　eliminated　the　impossible；　whatever　remains；　no　matter　how　improbable；　must　be　the　truth　…　are　you？〃
　McFarlane　shot　a　surprised　glance　at　her。　〃Well；　isn't　it　true？〃
　Amira　smirked　her　triumph；　while　Rochefort　shook　his　head。
　〃So；　Dr。　McFarlane；〃　Amira　said　brightly；　〃is　that　your　source　of　scientific　authority？　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle？〃
　McFarlane　exhaled　slowly。　〃Someone　else　collected　the　base　data。　I　can't　vouch　for　it。　All　I　can　say　is；　if　that　data's　accurate；　there's　no　other　explanation：　it's　a　meteorite。〃
　There　was　a　silence。　〃Someone　else's　data；〃　Amira　said；　cracking　another　shell　and　popping　the　nuts　into　her　mouth。　〃Would　that　be　a　Dr。　Masangkay；　by　chance？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You　knew　each　other；　I　believe？〃
　〃We　were　partners。〃
　〃Ah。〃　Amira　nodded；　as　if　hearing　this　for　the　first　time。　〃And　so；　if　Dr。　Masangkay　collected　this　data；　you　have　a　high　degree　of　confidence　in　it？　You　trust　him？〃
　〃Absolutely。〃
　〃I　wonder　if　he'd　say　the　same　about　you；〃　Rochefort　said　in　his　quiet；　high；　clipped　voice。
　McFarlane　turned　his　head　and　looked　steadily　at　the　engineer。
　〃Let's　proceed；〃　Glinn　said。
　McFarlane　looked　away　from　Rochefort　and　tapped　his　portfolio　with　the　back　of　one　hand。　〃There's　an　enormous　circular　deposit　of　shocked　and　fused　coesite　on　that　island。　Right　in　the　center　is　a　dense　mass　of　ferromagnetic　material。〃
　〃A　natural　deposit　of　iron　ore；〃　said　Rochefort。
　〃The　flyover　indicates　a　reversal　of　the　sedimentary　strata　around　the　site。〃
　Amira　looked　puzzled。　〃A　what？〃
　〃Flipped　sedimentary　layers。〃
　Rochefort　sighed　heavily。　〃Signifying。。。　？〃
　〃When　a　large　meteorite　strikes　sedimentary　layers；　the　layers　get　reversed。〃
　Rochefort　continued　tapping　his　pencil。　〃How？　By　magic？〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　him　again；　longer　this　time。　〃Perhaps　Mr。　Rochefort　would　like　a　demonstration？〃
　〃I　would；〃　said　Rochefort。
　McFarlane　picked　up　his　sandwich。　He　examined　it；　smelled　it。　〃Peanut　butter　and　jelly？〃　He　made　a　face。
　〃May　we　just　have　the　demonstration；　please？〃　Rochefort　asked　in　a　tight；　exasperated　voice。
　〃Of　course。〃　McFarlane　placed　the　sandwich　on　the　table　between　himself　and　Rochefort。　Then　he　tilted　his　coffee　cup　and　carefully　poured　liquid　over　it。
　〃What　is　he　doing？〃　said　Rochefort；　turning　to　Glinn；　his　voice　high。　〃I　knew　this　was　a　mistake。　We　should　have　required　one　of　the　principals　to　e　in。〃
　McFarlane　held　up　his　hand。　〃Bear　with　me。　We're　just　preparing　our　sedimentary　deposit　here。〃　He　reached　for　another　sandwich　and　placed　it　on　top；　then　tipped　on　more　coffee　until　it　was　saturated。　〃There。　This　sandwich　is　the　sedimentary　deposit：　bread；　peanut　butter；　jelly；　more　bread；　in　layers。　And　my　fist〃　…　he　raised　his　hand　above　his　head　…　〃is　the　meteorite。〃
　He　brought　his　fist　down　on　the　sandwich　with　a　jarring　crash。
　〃For　Christ's　sake！〃　Rochefort　cried；　jumping　back；　his　shirt　splattered　with　peanut　butter。　He　stood　up；　flicking　bits　of　sodden　bread　from　his　arms。
　At　the　far　end　of　the　table；　Garza　sat　with　an　astonished　look　on　his　face。　Glinn　was　expressionless。
　〃Now；　let　us　examine　the　remains　of　the　sandwich　on　the　table；〃　McFarlane　continued　as　calmly　as　if　he　were　giving　a　college　lecture。　〃Please　note　that　all　the　pieces　have　been　flipped　over。　The　bottom　layer　of　bread　is　now　on　the　top；　the　peanut　butter　and　jelly　have　reversed　places；　and　the　top　layer　of　bread　is　now　on　the　bottom。　It's　what　a　meteorite　does　when　it　hits　sedimentary　rock：　it　pulverizes　the　layers；　flips　them　over；　and　lays　them　back　down　in　reversed　sequence。〃　He　glanced　at　Rochefort。　〃Any　further　questions　or　ments？〃
　〃This　is　outrageous；〃　said　Rochefort；　wiping　his　glasses　with　a　handkerchief。
　〃Sit　down；　please；　Mr。　Rochefort；〃　said　Glinn　quietly。　To　McFarlane's　surprise；　Amira　began　to　laugh：　a　deep；　smooth　laugh。　〃That　was　very　good；　Dr。　McFarlane。　Very　entertaining。　We　need　a　little　excitement　in　our　meetings。〃　She　turned　to　Rochefort。　〃If　you　had　ordered　club　sandwiches　like　I　suggested；　this　wouldn't　have　happened。〃
　Rochefort　scowled　as　he　returned　to　his　seat。
　〃Anyway；〃　said　McFarlane；　sitting　back　and　wiping　his　hand　with　a　napkin；　〃strata　reversal　means　only　one　thing：　a　massive　impact　crater。　Taken　together；　everything　points　to　a　meteorite　strike。　Now　if　you　have　a　better　explanation　for　what　is　down　there；　I'd　like　to　hear　it。〃
　He　waited。
　〃Perhaps　it's　an　alien　spaceship？〃　Garza　asked　hopefully。
　〃We　considered　that；　Manuel；〃　Amira　replied　dryly。
　〃And？〃
　〃Occam's　razor。　It　seemed　unlikely。〃
　Rochefort　was　still　cleaning　the　peanut　butter　from　his　glasses。　〃Speculation　is　useless。　Why　not　send　a　ground　party