alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　our　goggles。　We　stared　out　over　those　shifting　ice　sands　until　our　eyes　ached。　But　that　was　all　we　had　for　it：　just　aching　eyes。　We　saw　nothing；　nothing　at　all。　The　ice　cap　remained　empty　of　all　signs　of　life。　Dead。
　 When　our　relief　came；　Rawlings　and　I　got　below　with　all　the　speed　our　frozen　and　stiffened　limbs　would　allow。　I　found　mander　Swanson　sitting　on　a　canvas　stool　outside　the　radio　room；　I　stripped　off　Outer　clothes；　face　coverings；　and　goggles；　took　a　steaming　mug　of　coffee　that　had　appeared　from　nowhere；　and　tried　not　to　hop　around　too　much　as　the　blood　came　…　pounding　back　into　my　arms　and　legs。
　 〃How　did　you　cut　yourself　like　that？〃　Swanson　asked；　concern　in　his　voice。　〃You've　a　half…inch　streak　of　blood　right　across　your　forehead。〃
　 〃Flying　ice；　it　just　looks　bad。〃　I　felt　tired　and　pretty　low。　〃We're　wasting　our　time　transmitting。　If　the　men　on　Zebra　were　without　any　shelter；　it's　no　wonder　all　signals　ceased　long　ago。　Without　food　and　shelter；　no　one　could　last　more　than　a　few　hours　in　that　place。　Neither　Rawlings　nor　I　is　a　wilting　hot…house　flower　but　after　half　an　hour　up　there　we've　both　just　about　had　it。〃
　 〃I　don't　know；〃　Swanson　said　thoughtfully。　〃Look　at　Amundsen。　Look　at　Scott；　at　Peary。　They　〃walked〃　all　the　way　to　the　Poles。〃
　 〃A　different　breed　of　men；　Captain。　Either　that　or　the　sun　shone　for　them。　All　I　know　is　that　half　an　hour　is　too　long　to　be　up　there。　Fifteen　minutes　is　enough　for　anyone。〃
　 〃Fifteen　minutes　it　shall　be。〃　He　looked　at　me；　his　face　carefully　devoid　of　all　expression。　〃You　haven't　much　hope？〃
　 〃If　they're　without　shelter；　I've　none。〃
　 〃You　told　me　they　had　an　emergency　power　pack　of　Nife　cells　for　powering　their　transmitter；〃　he　murmured。　〃You　also　said　those　batteries　will　retain　their　charge　indefinitelyyears；　if　necessaryirrespective　of　the　weather　conditions　under　which　they　are　stored。　They　must　have　been　using　that　battery　a　few　days　ago　when　they　sent　out　their　first　S。O。S。　It　wouldn't　be　finished　already。〃
　 His　point　was　so　obvious　that　I　didn't　answer。　The　battery　Wasn't　finished；　the　men　were。
　 〃I　agree　with　you；〃　he　went　on　quietly。　〃We're　wasting　our　time。　Maybe　we　should　just　pack　up　and　go　home。　If　we　can't　raise　them；　we'll　never　find　them。〃
　 〃Maybe　not。　But　you're　forgetting　your　directive　from　Washington；　mander。〃　…
　 〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　 〃Remember？　I'm　to　be　extended　every　facility　and　all　aid　short　of　actually　endangering　the　safety　of　the　submarine　and　the　lives　of　the　crew。　At　the　present　moment　we're　doing　neither。　If　we　fail　to　raise　them；　I'm　prepared　for　a　twentymile　sweep　on　foot　arouna　this　spot　in　the　hope　of　locating　them。　If　that　fails；　we　could　move　to　another　polynya　and　repeat　the　search。　The　search　area　isn't　all　that　big；　there's　a　fair　chance；　but　a　chance；　that　we　might　locate　the　station　eventually。　I'm　prepared　to　stay　up　here　all　winter　till　we　do　find　them。〃　
　 〃You　don't　call　that　endangering　the　lives　of　my　men？　Making　extended　searches　of　the　ice　cap；　on　foot；　in　midwinter？〃　
　 〃Nobody　said　anything　about　endangering　the　lives　of　your　men。〃　…
　 〃You　meanyou　mean　you'd　go　it　alone？〃　Swanson　stared　down　at　the　deck　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　know　what　to　think。　I　don't　know　whether　to　say　you're　crazy　or　whether　to　say　I'm　beginning　to　understand　why　they　whoever　'they'　may　bepicked　you　for　the　job；　Dr。　Carpenter。〃　He　sighed；　then　regarded　me　thoughtfully。　〃One　moment　you　say　there's　no　hope；　the　next　that　you're　prepared　to　spend　the　winter　here；　searching。　If　you　don't　mind　my　saying　so；　Doctor；　it　just　doesn't　make　sense。〃
　 〃Stiff…necked　pride；〃　I　said。　〃I　don't　like　throwing　my　hand　in　on　a　job　before　I've　even　started　it。　I　don't　know　what　the　attitude　of　the　U。　S。　Navy　is　on　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　 He　gave　me　another　speculative　glance；　I　could　see　that　he　believed　me　the　way　a　fly　believes　the　spider　on　the　web　who　has　just　offered　him　safe　acmodation　for　the　night。　He　smiled。　He　said：　〃The　U。　S。　Navy　doesn't　take　offense　all　that　easily；　Dr。　Carpenter。　I　suggest　you　catch　a　couple　of　hours'　sleep　while　you　can。　You'll　need　it　if　you're　going　to　start　walking　toward　the　North　Pole。〃
　 〃How　about　yourself？　You　haven't　been　to　bed　at　all　tonight。〃
　 〃I　think　I'll　wait　a　while。〃　He　nodded　toward　the　door　of　the　radio　room。　〃Just　in　case　anything　es　through。〃
　 〃What　are　they　sending？　Just　the　call　sign？〃
　 〃Plus　request　for　position　and　a　rocket；　if　they　have　either。　I'll　let　you　know　immediately　anything　es　through。　Good　night；　Dr。　Carpenter。　Or；　rather；　good　morning。〃
　 I　rose　heavily　and　made　my　way　to　Hansen's　cabin。
　 The　atmosphere　around　the　8：00　a。m。　breakfast　table　in　the　wardroom　was　less　than　festive。　Apart　from　the　officer　on　deck　and　the　engineer　lieutenant　on　watch；　all　the　〃Dolphin's〃　officers　were　there；　some　just　risen　from　their　bunks；　some　just　heading　for　them；　none　of　them　talking　in　anything　more　than　monosyllables。　Even　the　ebullient　Dr。　Benson　was　remote　and　withdrawn。　It　seemed　pointless　to　ask　whether　any　contact　had　been　established　with　Drift　Station　Zebra；　it　was　painfully　obvious　that　it　hadn't。　And　that　after　almost　five　hours　of　continuous　sending。　The　sense　of　despondency　and　defeat；　the　unspoken　knowledge　that　time　had　run　out　for　the　survivors　of　Drift　Station　Zebra　hung　heavy　over　the　wardroom。
　 No　one　hurried　over　his　mealthere　was　nothing　to　hurry　forbut　by　and　by　they　rose　one　by　one　and　drifted　off；　Dr。　Benson　to　his　sick…bay　call；　the　young　torpedo　officer；　Lieutenant　Mills；　to　supervise　the　efforts　of　his　men　who　had　been　working　twelve　hours　a　day　for　the　past　two　days　to　iron　out　the　faults　in　the　suspect　torpedoes；　a　third　to　relieve　Hansen；　who　had　the　watch；　and　three　others　to　their　bunks。　That　left　only　Swanson；　Raeburn　and　myself。　Swanson；　I　knew；　hadn't　been　to　bed　at　all　the　previous　night；　but　for　all　that　he　had　the　rested；　clear…eyed　look　of　a　man　with　eight　solid　hours　behind　him。
　 The　steward；　Henry；　had　just　brought　in　a　fresh　pot　of　coffee　when　we　heard　the　sound　of　running　footsteps　in　the　passageway　outside　and　the　quartermaster　burst　into　the　wardroom。　He　didn't　quite　manage　to　take　the　door　off　its　hinges；　but　that　was　only　because　the　Electric　Boat　pany　put　good；　solid　hinges　on　the　doors　of　their　submarines。
　 〃We　got　it　made！〃　he　shouted；　and　then；　perhaps　recollectmg　that　enlisted　men　were　expected　to　conduct　themselves　with　rather　more　decorum　in　the　wardroom；　〃We've　raised　them；　Captain；　we've　raised　them！〃
　 〃What！〃　Swanson　could　move　twice　as　fast　as　his　fortable　figure　suggested；　and　he　was　already　half　out　of　his　chair。
　 〃We　are　in　radio　contact　with　Drift　Ice　Station　Zebra；　sir；〃　Ellis　said　formally。
　 mander　Swanson　got　to　the　radio　room　first；　but　only　because　he　had　a　head　start　on　Raeburn　and　myself。　Two　operators　were　on　watch；　both　leaning　forward　toward　their　transmitters；　one　with　his　head　bent　low；　the　other　with　his　cocked　to　one　side；　as　if　those　attitudes　of　concentrated　listening　helped　them　to　isolate　and　amplify　the　slightest　sound　ing　through　the　earphones　clamped　to　their　heads。　One　of　them　was　scribbling　away　mechanically　on　a　…message　pad。　〃DSY；〃　he　was　writing　down；　〃〃DSY〃〃　repeated　over　and　over　and　over　again。　DSY。　The　answering　call　sign　of　Drift　Station　Zebra。　He　stopped　writing　as　he　caught　sight　of　Swanson　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。
　 〃We've　got　'em；　Captain；　no　question。　Signal　very　weak　and　intermittent；　but〃
　 〃Never　mind　the　signal！〃　It　was　Raeburn　who　made　this　interruption　without　any　by…your…leave　from　Swanson。　He　tried；　and　failed；　to　keep　the　rising　note　of　excitement　out。　of　his　voice；　and　he　looked　more　than　ever　like　a　youngster　playing　hooky　from　high　school。　〃The　bearing？　Have　you　got　their　bearing？　That's　all　that　matters。〃
　 The　other　operator　swiveled　in　his　seat；　and　I　recognized　my　erstwhile　guard；　Zabrinski。　He　fixed　Raeburn　with　a　sad　and　reproachful　eye。　
　 〃Course　we　got　their　bearing；　Lieutenant。　First　thing　we　did。　Oh　forty…five；　give　or　take　a　whisker。　Northeast；　that　is。〃
　 〃Thank　you；　Zabrinski；〃　Swanson　said　dryly。　〃Oh　fortyfive　is　northeast。　The　navigating　officer　and　I　wouldn't　have　known。　Position？〃
　 Zabrinski　shrugged　and　turned　to　his　watchmate；　a　man　with　a　red　face；　leather　neck　and　a　shining；　polished　dome　where　his　hair　ought　to　have　been。　〃What's　the　word；　Curly？〃
　 〃Nothing。　Just　nothing。〃　Curly　looked　at　Swanson。　〃Twenty　times　I've　asked　for　his　position。　No　good。　All　he　does　is　send　out　his　call　sign。　I　don't　think　he's　hearing　us　at　all；　be　doesn't　even　know　we're　listening；　he　just　keeps　sending　his　call　sign　over　and　over　again。　Maybe　he　hasn't　switched　his　aerial　in　to　receive。〃
　 〃It　isn't　possible；〃　Swanson　said。
　 〃It　is　with　this　guy；〃　Zabrinski　said。　〃At　first　Curly　and　I　thought　it　was　the　signal　that　was　weak；　then　we　thought　it　was　the　operator　who　was　weak　or　sick；　but　we　were　wrong：　he's　just　a　ham…handed　amateur。〃
　 〃You　can　tell？〃　Swanson　asked。
　 〃You　can　always　tell。　You　can〃　he　broke　off；　stiffened　and　touched　his　watchmate's　arm。
　 Curly　nodded。　〃I　got　it；〃　he　said　matter…of…factly。　〃Position　unknown；　the　man　says。〃
　 Nobody　said　anything；　not　just　then。　It　didn't　seem　important　that　he　couldn't　give　us　his　position；　all　that　mattered　was　that　we　were　in　direct　contact。　Raeburn　turned　and　ran　forward　across　the　control　room。　I　could　hear　him　speaking　rapidly　on　the　bridge　telephone。　Swanson　turned　to　me。
　 〃Those　balloons　you　spoke　of　earlier。　The　ones　on　Zebra。　Are　they　free　or　captive？〃
　 〃Both。〃
　 〃How　do　the　captive　ones　work？〃
　 〃A　free…running　winch；　nylon　cord　marked　off　in　hundreds　and　thousands　of　feet。〃
　 〃We'll　ask　them　to　send　a　captive　balloon　up　to　five　thousand　feet；〃　Swanson　decided。　〃With　flares。　If　they're　within　thirty　or　forty　miles；　we　ought　to　see　it；　and　if　we　get　its　elevation　and　make　an　allowance　for　the　effect　of　wind　on　it；　we　should　get　a　fair　estimate　of　distance。　。　。　。　What　is　it；　Brown？〃　This　to　the　man　Zabrinski　called　〃Curly。〃
　 〃They're　sending　again；〃　Curly　said。　〃Very　broken；　fades　a　lot。　'God's　sake　hurry。'　Just　like　that；　twice　over。　'God's　sake　hurry。'〃
　 〃Send　this；〃　Swanson　said。　He　dictated　a　brief　message　about　the　balloons。　〃And　send　it　real　slow。〃
　 Curly　nodded　and　began　to　transmit。　Raeburn　came　running　back　into　the　radio　room。
　 〃The　moon's　not　down　yet；〃　he　said　quickly　to　Swanson。　〃Still　a　degree　or　two　above　the　horizon。　I'm　taking　a　sextant　up　top　and　taking　a　moon…sight。　Ask　them　to　do　the　same。　That'll　give　us　the　latitude　difference；　and　if　we　know　they're　oh　forty…five　of　us；　we　can　pin　them　down　to　a　mile。〃
　 〃It's　worth　trying；〃　Swanson　said。　He　dictated　another　message　to　Brown。　Brown　transmitted　the　second　message　immediately　after　the　first。　We　waited　for　the　answer。　For　all　of　ten　minutes　we　waited。　I　looked　at　the　men　in　the　radio　room：　they　all　had　the　same　remote；　withdrawn　look　of　men　who　are　there　only　physically；　men　whose　minds　are　many　miles　away。　They　were　all　at　the　same　place　and　I　was　too；　wherever　Drift　Ice　Station　Zebra　was。
　 Brown　started　writing　again；　not　for　long。　His　voice　this　time　was　still　matter…of…fact　but　with　overtones　of　emptiness。　He　said；　〃'All　balloons　burned。　No　moon。'〃