alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第1章

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　 mander　James　D。　Swanson　of　the　U。S。　Navy　was　short；　plump　and　crowding　forty。　He　had　jet…black　hair　topping　a　pink；　cherubic　face；　and　with　the　deep　permanent　creases　of　laughter　lines　radiating　from　his　eyes　and　curving　around　his　mouth；　he　was　a　dead　ringer　for　the　cheerful；　happy…golucky　extrovert　who　is　the　life　and　soul　of　the　party　where　the　guests　park　their　brains　along　with　their　hats　and　coats。　That；　anyway；　was　how　he　struck　me　at　first　glance；　but　on　the　reasonable　assumption　that　I　might　very　likely　find　some　other　qualities　in　the　man　picked　to　mand　the　latest　and　most　powerful　nuclear　submarine　afloat　I　took　a　second　and　closer　look　at　him　and　this　time　I　saw　what　I　should　have　seen　the　first　time　if　the　dank　gray　fog　and　winter　dusk　settling　down　over　the　Firth　of　Clyde　hadn't　made　seeing　so　difficult。　His　eyes。　Whatever　his　eyes　were；　they　weren't　those　of　the　glad…handing；　wisecracking　〃bon　vivant〃。　They　were　the　coolest；　clearest　gray　eyes　I'd　ever　seen；　eyes　that　he　used　as　a　dentist　might　his　probe；　a　surgeon　his　lancet；　or　a　scientist　his　electronic　microscope。　Measuring　eyes。　They　measured　first　me　and　then　the　paper　he　held　in　his　hand　but　gave　no　clue　at　all　as　to　the　conclusions　arrived　at　on　the　basis　of　measurements　made。
　 〃I'm　sorry；　Dr。　Carpenter。〃　The　south…of…the…Mason…Dixonline　voice　was　quiet　and　courteous；　but　without　any　genuine　regret　that　I　could　detect；　as　he　folded　the　telegram　back　into　its　envelope　and　handed　it　to　me。　〃I　can　accept　neither　this　telegram　as　sufficient　authorization　nor　yourself　as　a　passenger。　Nothing　personal；　you　know　that：　but　I　have　my　orders。〃
　 〃Not　sufficient　authorization？〃　I　pulled　the　telegram　from　its　envelope　and　pointed　to　the　signature。　〃Who　do　you　think　this　isthe　resident　window　cleaner　at　the　Admiralty？〃
　 It　wasn't　funny；　and　as　I　looked　at　him　in　the　failing　light　I　thought　maybe　I'd　overestimated　the　depth　of　the　laughter　lines　in　the　face。　He　said　precisely；　〃Admiral　Hewson　is　mander　of　the　Nato　Eastern　Division。　On　Nato　exercises　I　e　under　his　mand。　At　all　other　times　I　am　responsible　only　to　Washington。　This　is　one　of　those　other　times。　I'm　Sorry。　And　I　must　point　out；　Dr。　Carpenter；　that　you　could　have　arranged　for　anyone　in　London　to　send　this　telegram。　It's　not　even　on　a　naval　message　form。〃
　 He　didn't　miss　much；　that　was　a　fact；　but　he　was　being　suspicious　about　nothing。　I　said：　〃You　could　call　him　up　by　radio　telephone；　mander。〃
　 〃So　I　could；〃　he　agreed。　〃And　it　would　make　no　difference。　Only　accredited　American　nationals　are　allowed　aboard　this　vesseland　the　authority　must　e　from　Washington。〃
　 〃From　the　Director　of　Underseas　Warfare　or　mander　Atlantic　Submarines？〃　He　nodded；　slowly；　speculatively；　and　I　went　on：　〃Please　radio　them　and　ask　them　to　contact　Admiral　Hewson。　Time　is　very　short；　mander。〃　I　might　have　added　that　it　was　beginning　to　snow　and　that　I　was　getting　colder　by　the　minute；　but　I　refrained。
　 He　thought　for　a　moment；　nodded；　turned　and　walked　a　few　feet　to　a　portable　dock…side　telephone　that　was　connected　by　a　looping　wire　to　the　long；　dark　shape　lying　at　our　feet。　He　spoke　briefly；　keeping　his　voice　low；　and　hung　up。　He　barely　had　time　to　rejoin　me　when　three　duffel…coated　figtires　came　hurrying　up　an　adjacent　gangway；　turned　in　our　direction　and　stopped　when　they　reached　us。　The　tallest　of　the　three　tall　men；　a　lean；　rangy　character　with　wheat…colored　hair　and　the　definite　look　of　a　man　who　ought　to　have　had　a　horse　between　his　legs；　stood　slightly　in　advance　of　the　other　two。　mander　Swanson　gestured　toward　him。
　 〃Lieutenant　Hansen；　my　executive　officer。　He'll　look　after　you　till　I　get　back。〃　The　mander　certainly　knew　how　to　choose　his　words。
　 〃I　don't　need　looking　after；〃　I　said　mildly。　〃I'm　all　grown　up　now　and　I　hardly　ever　feel　lonely。〃
　 〃I　shall　be　as　quick　as　I　can；　Dr。　Carpenter；〃　Swanson　said。　He　hurried　off　down　the　gangway；　and　I　gazed　thoughtfully　after　him。　I　put　out　of　my　mind　any　idea　I　might　have　had　about　the　mander　U。　S。　Atlantic　Submarines　picking　his　captains　from　the　benches　in　Central　Park。　I　had　tried　to　effect　an　entrance　aboard　Swanson's　ship；　and　if　such　an　entrace　was　unauthorized　he　didn't　want　me　taking　off　tifi　he'd　found　out　why。　Hansen　and　his　two　men；　I　guessed；　would　be　the　three　biggest　sailors　on　the　ship。
　 The　ship。　I　stared　down　at　the　great　black　shape　lying　almost　at　my　feet。　This　was　my　first　sight　of　a　nuclearengined　submarine；　and　the　〃Dolphin〃　was　like　no　submarine　I　had　ever　seen。　She　was　about　the　same　length　as　a　World　War　II　long…range　ocean…going　submarine；　but　there　all　resemblance　ceased。　Her　diameter　was　at　least　twice　that　of　any　conventional　submarine。　Instead　of　having　the　vaguely　boat…shaped　lines　of　her　predecessors；　the　〃Dolphin〃　was　almost　perfectly　cylindrical　in　design；　instead　of　the　usual　V…shaped　bows；　her　fore　end　was　pletely　hemispherical。　There　was　no　deck；　as　such：　the　rounded　sheer　of　sides　and　bows　rose　smoothly　to　the　top　of　the　hull　then　fell　as　smoothly　away　again；　leaving　only　a　very　narrow　fore　and　aft　working　space　so　treacherous　in　its　slippery　convexity　that　it　was　permanently　railed　off　in　harbor。　About　a　hundred　feet　back　from　the　bows　the　slender　yet　massive　conning　tower　reared　over　twenty　feet　above　the　deck；　for　all　the　world　like　the　great　dorsal　fin　of　some　monstrous　shark；　halfway　up　the　sides　of　the　conning　tower　and　thrust　out　stubbily　at　right　angles　were　the　swept…back　auxiliary　diving　planes　of　the　submarine。　I　tried　to　see　what　lay　further　aft　but　the　fog　and　the　thickening　snow　swirling　down　from　the　north　of　Loch　Long　defeated　me。　Anyway；　I　was　losing　interest。　I'd　only　a　thin　raincoat　over　my　clothes　and　I　could　feel　my　skin　start　to　gooseflesh　under　the　chili　fingers　of　that　winter　wind。
　 〃Nobody　said　anything　about　us　having　to　freeze　to　death；〃　I　said　to　Hansen。　〃That　naval　canteen　there。　WoUld　your　principles　prevent　you　from　accepting　a　cup　of　coffee　from　Dr。　Carpenter；　that　well…known　espionage　agent？〃
　 He　grinned　and　said：　〃In　the　matter　of　coffee；　friend；　I　have　no　principles。　Especially　tonight。　Someone　should　have　warned　us　about　those　Scottish　winters。〃　He　not　only　looked　like　a　cowboy；　he　talked　like　one。　I　was　an　expert　on　cowboys；　as　I　was　sometimes　too　tired　to　rise　to　switch　off　the　TV　set。　〃Rawlings；　go　tell　the　captain　that　we　are　sheltering　from　the　elements。〃
　 While　Rawlings　went　to　the　dock…side　phone　Hansen　led　the　way　to　the　nearby　neon…lit　canteen。　He　let　me　precede　him　through　the　door；　then　made　for　the　counter　while　the　other　sailor；　a　red…plexioned　character　about　the　size　and　shape　of　a　polar　bear；　nudged　me　gently　into　an　angled　bench　seat　in　one　corner　of　the　room。　They　weren't　taking　too　many　chances　with　me。　Hansen　came　and　sat　on　the　other　side　of　me；　and　when　Rawlings　returned　he　sat　squarely　in　front　of　me　across　the　table。
　 〃As　neat　a　job　of　corralling　as　I've　seen　for　a　long　time；〃　I　said　approvingly。　〃You've　got　nasty；　suspicious　minds；　haven't　you？〃
　 〃You　wrong　us；〃　Hansen　said　sadly。　〃We're　just　three　friendly　sociable　guys　carrying　out　our　orders。　It's　mander　Swanson　who　has　the　nasty；　suspicious　mind；　isn't　that　so；　Rawlings？〃
　 〃Yes　indeed；　Lieutenant；〃　Rawlings　said　gravely。　〃Very　security…minded；　the　captain　is。〃
　 I　tried　again。　〃Isn't　this　very　inconvenient　for　you？〃　I　asked。　〃I　mean；　I　should　have　thought　that　every　man　would　have　been　urgently　required　aboard　if　you're　due　to　sail　in　less　than　two　hours'　time。〃
　 〃You　just　keep　on　talking；　Doc；〃　Hansen　said　encouragingly。　There　was　nothing　encouraging　about　his　cold　blue　Arctic　eyes。　〃I'm　a　right　good　listener。〃
　 〃Looking　forward　to　your　trip　up　to　the　ice　pack？〃　I　inquired　pleasantly。
　 They　operated　on　the　same　wave　length；　all　right。　They　didn't　even　look　at　one　another。　In　pefect　unison　they　all　hitched　themselves　a　couple　of　inches　closer　to　me；　and　there　was　nothing　imperceptible　about　the　way　they　did　it；　either；　Hansen　waited；　smiling　in　a　pleasantly　relaxed　fashion　until　the　waitress　had　deposited　four　steaming　mugs　of　coffee　on　the　table；　then　said　in　the　same　encouraging　tone：　〃e　again；　friend。　Nothing　we　like　to　hear　better　than　top…classified　information　being　bandied　about　in　canteens。　How　the　hell　do　〃you〃　know　where　we're　going？〃
　 I　reached　up　my　hand　beneath　my　coat　lapel　and　it　stayed　there；　my　right　wrist　locked　in　Hansen's　right　hand。
　 〃We're　not　suspicious　or　anything；〃　he　said　apologetically。　〃It's　just　that　we　submariners　are　very　nervous　on　account　of　the　dangerous　life　we　lead。　Also；　we've　a　very　fine　library　of　movies　aboard　the　〃Dolphin〃；　and　every　time　a　character　in　one　of　those　movies　reaches　up　under　his　coat　it's　always　for　the　same　reason；　and　that's　not　just　because　he's　checking　to　see　if　his　wallet's　still　there。〃
　 I　took　his　wrist　with　my　free　hand；　pulled　his　arm　away　and　pushed　it　down　on　the　table。　I'm　not　saying　it　was　easythe　U。　S。　Navy　clearly　fed　its　submariners　on　a　high…protein　dietbut　I　managed　it　without　bursting　a　blood　vessel。　I　pulled　a　folded　newspaper　out　from　under　my　coat　and　laid　it　down。　〃You　wanted　to　know　how　the　hell　I　knew　where　you　were　going；〃　I　said。　〃I　can　read；　that's　why。　That's　a　Glasgow　evening　paper　I　picked　up　in　Renfrew　airport　half　an　hour　ago。〃
　 Hansen　rubbed　his　wrist　thoughtfully；　then　grinned。　〃What　did　you　get　your　doctorate　in；　Doc？　Weight…lifting？　About　that　paperhow　could　you　have　got　it　in　Renfrew　half　an　hour　ago？〃
　 〃I　flew　down　here。　Helicopter。〃
　 〃A　whirly…bird；　eh？　I　heard　one　arriving　a　few　minutes　ago。　But　that　was　one　of　ours。〃
　 〃It　had　'U。　S。　Navy'　written　all　over　it　in　four…foot　letters；〃　I　conceded；　〃and　the　pilot　spent　all　his　time　chewing　gum　and　praying　out　loud　for　a　quick　return　to　California。〃
　 〃Did　you　tell　the　skipper　this？〃　Hansen　demanded。
　 〃He　didn't　give　me　the　chance　to　tell　him　anything。〃
　 〃He's　got　a　lot　on　his　mind　and　far　too　much　to　see　to；〃　Hansen　said。　He　unfolded　the　paper　and　looked　at　the　front　page。　He　didn't　have　far　to　look　to　find　what　he　wanted：　the　two…inch…banner　headlines　were　spread　over　seven　columns。
　 〃Well；　would　you　look　at　this。〃　Lieutenant　Hansen　made　no　attempt　to　conceal　his　irritation　and　chagrin。　〃Here　we　are；　pussy…footing　around　in　this　God…forsaken　dump；　tape　all　over　our　mouths；　sworn　to　eternal　secrecy　about　mission　and　destinationand　then　what？　I　pick　up　this　damned　limey　newspaper　and　here　are　all　the　top…secret　details　plastered　right　across　the　front　page。〃
　 〃You　are　kidding；　Lieutenant；〃　said　the　man　with　the　red　face　and　the　general　aspect　of　a　polar　bear。　His　voice　seemed　to　e　from　his　boots。
　 〃I　am　not　kidding；　Zabrinski；〃　Hansen　said　coldly；　〃as　you　would　appreciate　if　you　had　ever　learned　to　read。　'Nuclear　submarine　to　the　rescue；'　it　says。　'Dramatic　dash　to　the　North　Pole。'　God　help　us；　the　North　Pole。　And　a　picture　of　the　〃Dolphin〃。　And　of　the　skipper。　Good　God；　there's　even　a　picture　of　me。〃　
　 Rawhings　reached　out　a　hairy　paw　and　twisted　the　paper　to　have　a　better　look　at　the　blurred　and　smudged　representation　of　the　man　before　him。　〃So　there　is。　Not　very　flattering；　is　it；　Lieutenant？　But　a　speaking　likeness；　mind　you；　a　speaking　likeness。　The　photographer　has　caught　the　essentials　perf