p&c.icelimit-第8章

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　〃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　to　check　it　out；　and　get　some　better　data？〃
　McFarlane　glanced　at　Glinn；　who　was　listening　with　halflidded　eyes。　〃Mr。　Lloyd　and　I　trust　the　data　we　have　in　hand。　And　he　doesn't　want　to　draw　any　more　attention　to　the　site　than　he　has　already。　With　good　reason。〃
　Garza　suddenly　spoke　up。　〃Yeah；　and　that　brings　up　the　second　problem　we　need　to　discuss：　how　we're　going　to　get　whatever　it　is　out　of　Chile。　I　believe　you're　familiar　with　that　sort　of　…　shall　we　say　…　operation？〃　
　More　polite　than　calling　it　smuggling；　McFarlane　thought。　Aloud；　he　said；　〃More　or　less。〃
　〃And　your　thoughts？〃
　〃It's　metal。　It's　basically　an　ore　body。　It　doesn't　fall　under　the　laws　of　cultural　patrimony。　At　my　remendation；　Lloyd　created　a　pany　that　is　in　the　process　of　acquiring　mineral　leases　to　the　island。　I　suggested　that　we　go　down　there　as　a　mining　operation；　dig　it　up；　and　ship　it　home。　There's　nothing　illegal　in　it　…　according　to　the　lawyers。〃
　Amira　smiled　again。　〃But　if　the　government　of　Chile　realized　this　was　the　world's　largest　meteorite　and　not　just　some　ordinary　iron　deposit；　it　might　take　a　dim　view　of　your　operation。〃
　〃A　'dim　view'　is　an　understatement。　We　might　all　get　shot。〃
　〃A　fate　you　barely　escaped　smuggling　the　Atacama　tektites　out　of　the　country；　right？〃　Garza　asked。
　Throughout　the　meeting；　Garza　had　remained　friendly；　showing　none　of　Rochefort's　hostility　or　Amira's　sardonic　attitude。　Still；　McFarlane　found　himself　coloring。　〃We　took　a　few　chances。　It's　part　of　the　job。〃
　〃So　it　seems。〃　Garza　laughed；　turning　over　the　sheets　in　his　folder。　〃I'm　amazed　you'd　consider　going　back　there。　This　project　could　create　an　international　incident。〃
　〃Once　Lloyd　unveils　the　meteorite　in　his　new　museum；〃　McFarlane　replied；　〃I　can　guarantee　you　there　will　be　an　international　incident。〃
　〃The　point；〃　Glinn　interjected　smoothly；　〃is　that　this　must　be　carried　out　in　secrecy。　What　happens　after　we　conclude　our　part　of　the　business　is　up　to　Mr。　Lloyd。〃
　Nobody　spoke　for　a　moment。
　〃There　is　one　other　question；〃　Glinn　continued　at　last。　〃About　your　ex…partner；　Dr。　Masangkay。〃　
　Here　it　es；　McFarlane　thought。　He　steeled　himself。
　〃Any　idea　what　killed　him？〃
　McFarlane　hesitated。　This　was　not　the　question　he'd　expected。　〃No　idea；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃The　body　hasn't　been　recovered。　It　could　well　have　been　exposure　or　starvation。　That　climate　isn't　exactly　hospitable。〃
　〃But　there　were　no　medical　problems？　No　history　that　might　have　contributed？〃
　〃Malnutrition　as　a　kid。　Nothing　else。　Or　if　there　was；　I　didn't　know　about　it。　There　was　no　mention　of　illness　or　starvation　in　the　diary。〃
　McFarlane　watched　Glinn　page　through　his　folder。　The　meeting　seemed　to　be　over。　〃Lloyd　told　me　to　bring　back　an　answer；〃　he　said。
　Glinn　put　the　folder　aside。　〃It's　going　to　cost　a　million　dollars。〃
　McFarlane　was　momentarily　taken　aback。　The　amount　was　less　than　he　had　expected。　But　what　surprised　him　most　was　how　quickly　Glinn　had　arrived　at　it。　〃Naturally；　Mr。　Lloyd　will　have　to　sign　off；　but　that　seems　very　reasonable　…　〃
　Glinn　raised　his　hand。　〃I'm　afraid　you've　misunderstood。　It's　going　to　cost　a　million　dollars　to　determine　whether　we　can　undertake　this　project。〃
　McFarlane　stared　at　him。　〃You　mean　it's　going　to　cost　a　million　dollars　just　for　the　estimate？〃　
　〃Actually；　it's　worse　than　that；〃　Glinn　said。　〃We　might　e　back　and　tell　you　EES　can't　sign　on　at　all。〃
　McFarlane　shook　his　head。　〃Lloyd's　going　to　love　this。〃
　〃There　are　many　unknowns　about　this　project；　not　the　least　of　which　is　what　we're　going　to　find　when　we　get　there。　There　are　political　problems；　engineering　problems；　scientific　problems。　To　analyze　them；　we'll　need　to　build　scale　models。　We'll　need　hours　of　time　on　a　superputer。　We'll　need　the　confidential　advice　of　physicists；　structural　engineers；　international　lawyers；　even　historians　and　political　scientists。　Mr。　Lloyd's　desire　for　speed　will　make　things　even　more　expensive。〃
　〃Okay；　okay。　So　when　will　we　get　our　answer？〃
　〃Within　seventy…two　hours　of　our　receipt　of　Mr。　Lloyd's　certified　check。〃
　McFarlane　licked　his　lips。　It　was　beginning　to　occur　to　him　that　he　himself　was　being　underpaid。　〃And　what　if　the　answer's　no？〃　he　asked。
　〃Then　Lloyd　will　at　least　have　the　consolation　of　knowing　the　project　is　impossible。　If　there's　a　way　to　retrieve　that　meteorite；　we'll　find　it。〃
　〃Have　you　ever　said　no　to　anyone？〃
　〃Often。〃
　〃Oh；　really？　Like　when？〃
　Glinn　coughed　slightly。　〃Just　last　month　a　certain　eastern　European　country　wanted　us　to　entomb　a　defunct　nuclear　reactor　in　concrete　and　move　it　across　an　international　border；　undetected；　for　a　neighboring　country　to　deal　with。〃
　〃You're　joking；〃　said　McFarlane。
　〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　had　to　turn　them　down；　of　course。〃
　〃Their　budget　was　insufficient；〃　said　Garza。
　McFarlane　shook　his　head　and　snapped　his　portfolio　shut。　〃If　you　show　me　to　a　phone；　I'll　relay　your　offer　to　Lloyd。〃
　Glinn　nodded　to　Garza；　who　stood　up。　〃e　this　way；　please；　Dr。　McFarlane；〃　said　Garza；　holding　open　the　door。
　
　As　the　door　hissed　shut；　Rochefort　let　out　another　sigh　of　irritation。　〃We　don't　really　have　to　work　with　him；　do　we？〃　He　flicked　a　clot　of　purple　jelly　from　his　lab　coat。　〃He's　not　a　scientist；　he's　a　scavenger。〃
　〃He　has　a　doctorate　in　planetary　geology；〃　said　Glinn。
　〃That　degree　died　long　ago　from　neglect。　But　I'm　not　just　talking　about　the　man's　ethics；　what　he　did　to　his　partner。　Look　at　this。〃　He　gestured　at　his　shirt。　〃The　man's　a　loose　cannon。　He's　unpredictable。〃
　〃There　is　no　such　thing　as　an　unpredictable　person；〃　Glinn　replied。　〃Only　a　person　we　don't　understand。〃　He　gazed　at　the　mess　on　his　fifty…thousand…dollar　Accawood　table。　〃Naturally；　we'll　make　it　our　business　to　understand　everything　about　Dr。　McFarlane。　Rachel？〃
　She　turned　to　him。
　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　a　very　special　assignment。〃　Amira　flashed　another　sardonic　smile　at　Rochefort。　〃Of　course；〃　she　said。
　〃You're　going　to　be　Dr。　McFarlane's　assistant。〃
　There　was　a　sudden　silence　as　the　smile　disappeared　from　Amira's　face。
　Glinn　went　on　smoothly；　without　giving　her　time　to　react。　〃You　will　keep　an　eye　on　him。　You　will　prepare　regular　reports　on　him　and　give　them　to　me。〃
　〃I'm　no　damn　shrink！〃　Amira　exploded。　〃And　I'm　sure　as　hell　no　rat！〃
　Now　it　was　Rochefort　whose　face　was　mottled　with　an　expression　that　might　have　passed　for　amusement；　if　it　had　not　been　so　laced　with　ill　will。
　〃Your　reports　will　be　strictly　observational；〃　Glinn　said。　〃They　will　be　thoroughly　evaluated　by　a　psychiatrist。　Rachel；　you're　a　shrewd　analyst；　of　human　beings　as　well　as　mathematics。　You　will；　of　course；　be　an　assistant　in　name　only。　As　for　your　being　a　rat；　that's　entirely　incorrect。　You　know　Dr。　McFarlane　has　a　checkered　past。　He　will　be　the　only　one　on　this　expedition　not　of　our　choosing。　We　must　keep　a　close　watch　on　him。〃
　〃Does　that　give　me　license　to　spy　on　him？〃
　〃Say　I　hadn't　asked　you　to　do　this。　If　you　were　to　catch　him　doing　anything　that　might　promise　the　expedition；　you'd　have　told　me　without　a　second　thought。　All　I'm　asking　you　to　do　is　formalize　the　process　a　little。〃
　Amira　flushed　and　was　silent。
　Glinn　gathered　up　his　papers；　and　they　swiftly　disappeared　into　the　folds　of　his　suit。　〃All　this　may　be　moot　if　the　project　turns　out　to　be　impossible。　There's　one　little　thing　I　have　to　look　into　first。〃
　
　Lloyd　Museum；
　June　7；　3：15　P。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　PACED　his　office　in　the　museum's　brand…new　administration　building；　moving　restlessly　from　wall　to　wall　like　a　caged　animal。　The　large　space　was　half　filled　with　unopened　boxes；　and　the　top　of　his　desk　was　littered　with　blueprints；　memos；　charts；　and　printouts。　He　had　only　bothered　to　tear　the　plastic　wrap　off　a　single　chair。　The　rest　of　the　furniture　remained　shrink…wrapped；　and　the　office　smelled　raw　with　new　carpeting　and　fresh　paint。　Outside　the　windows；　construction　continued　at　a　frantic　pace。　It　was　unsettling　to　see　so　much　money　being　spent　so　quickly。　But　if　anyone　could　afford　it；　he　supposed　Lloyd　could。　The　diversified　panies　that　made　up　Lloyd　Holdings　…　aero…space　engineering；　defense　contracting；　superputer　development；　electronic　data　systems　…　brought　in　enough　revenue　to　make　the　man　one　of　the　two　or　three　richest　in　the　world。
　Forcing　himself　to　sit　down；　McFarlane　shoved　the　papers　aside　to　clear　a　space；　opened　the　bottom　desk　drawer；　and　pulled　out　Masangkay's　moldy　diary。　Just　seeing　the　Tagalog　words　on　paper　had　brought　back　a　host　of　memories；　almost　all　of　them　bittersweet；　faded；　like　old　sepia…toned　photographs。
　He　opened　the　cover；　turned　the　pages；　and　gazed　again　at　the　strange；　crabbed　script　of　the　final　entry。　Masangkay　had　been　a　poor　diary　keeper。　Exactly　how　many　hours　or　days　passed　between　this　entry　and　his　death　was　impossible　to　know。
　Nakaupo　ako　at　nagpapausok　para　umalis　ang　mga　lintik　na　lamok。　Akala　ko　masama　na　ang　South　Greenland；　mas　grabe　pala　dito　sa　Isla　Desolacion。。。
　
　McFarlane　glanced　down　at　the　translation　he　had　written　out　for　Lloyd：
　I　am　sitting　by　my　fire；　in　the　smoke；　trying　to　keep　the　damned　mosquitoes　at　bay。　And　I　thought　South　Greenland　was　bad。　Isla　Desolacion：　good　name。　I　always　wondered　what　the　end　of　the　world　looked　like。　Now　I　know。
　It　looks　promising：　the　reversed　strata；　the　bizarre　vulcanism；　the　satellite　anomalies。　It　all　meshes　with　the　Yaghan　legends。　But　it　doesn't　make　sense。　It　must　have　e　in　damn　fast；　maybe　even　too　fast　for　an　elliptical　orbit。　I　keep　thinking　about　McFarlane's　crazy　theory。　Christ；　I　find　myself　almost　wishing　the　old　bastard　were　here　to　see　this。　But　if　he　was　here；　no　doubt　he'd　find　some　way　to　screw　things　up。
　Tomorrow；　I'll　start　the　quantitative　survey　of　the　valley。　If　it's　there；　even　deep；　I'll　find　it。　It　all　depends　on　tomorrow。
　
　And　that　was　it。　He　had　died；　all　alone；　in　one　of　the　remotest　places　on　earth。
　McFarlane　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　McFarlane　's　crazy　theory。。。　The　truth　was；　walang　kabalbalan　didn't　precisely　translate　as　〃crazy〃　…　it　meant　something　a　lot　more　unflattering　…　but　Lloyd　didn't　need　to　know　everything。
　But　that　was　beside　the　point。　The　point　was；　his　own　theory　had　been　crazy。　Now；　with　the　wisdom　of　hindsight；　he　wondered　why　he　had　held　on　to　it　so　tenaciously；　for　so　long；　and　at　such　a　terrible　price。
　All　known　meteorites　came　from　inside　the　solar　system。　His　theory　of　interstellar　meteorites　…　meteorites　that　originated　outside；　from　other　star　systems　…　appeared　ridiculous　in　hindsight。　To　think　that　a　rock　could　wander　across　the　vastness　of　the　space　between　the　stars　and　just　happen　to　land　on　Earth。　Mathematicians　always　said　the　probabilities　were　on　the　order　of　a　quintillion　to　one。　So　why　hadn't　he　left　it　at　that？　His　idea　that　someday　someone　…　preferably　himself　…　would　find　an　interstellar　meteorite　had　been　fanciful；　ridiculous；　even　arrogant。　And　what　was　more　to　the　point；　it　had　twisted　his　judgment　and；　ultimately；　messed　up　his　life　almost　beyond　redemption。
　How　strange　it　was　to　see　Masangkay　bringing