alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第19章

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　rescued　from　certain　death　at　that。　The　readers　would　have　pointed　out　that　one　might　have　expected　a　little　more　jubilation　in　the　atmosphere；　a　touch；　perhaps；　of　light…hearted　relief；　and　they　wouldn't　have　been　far　wrong　at　that；　there　wasn't　very　much　gaiety　around。
　 After　the　silence　had　gone　on　just　that　little　too　long　I　said　to　Hansen：　〃Well；　that's　it；　then。　We　don't　have　to　hire　any　electronic　puter　to　work　this　one　out。　Someone's　got　to　get　back　to　the　〃Dolphin〃　and　get　back　there　now。　I'm　nominating　myself。〃
　 〃No！〃　Hansen　said　violently；　then　more　quietly；　〃Sorry；　friend；　but　the　skipper's　orders　didn't　include　giving　permission　to　anyone　to　mit　suicide。　You're　staying　here。〃
　 〃So　I　stay　here；〃　I　nodded。　This　wasn't　the　time　to　tell　him　I　didn't　need　his　permission　for　anything；　much　less　was　it　the　time　to　start　flourishing　the　Mannlicher…Schoenauer。　〃So　we　all　stay　here。　And　then　we　all　die　here。　Quietly；　without　any　fighting；　without　any　fuss；　we　just　lie　down　and　die　here。　I　suppose　you　reckon　that　es　under　the　heading　of　inspiring　leadership。　Amundsen　would　have　loved　that。〃　It　wasn't　fair；　but　then　I　wasn't　feeling　fair…minded　at　the　moment。
　 〃Nobody's　going　anyplace；〃　Hansen　said。　〃I'm　not　my　brother's　keeper；　Doc；　but；　even　so；　I'll　be　damned　if　I　let　you　kill　yourself。　You're　not　fit；　none　of　us　is　fit　to　make　the　return　trip　to　the　〃Dolphin〃not　after　what　we've　just　been　through。　That's　the　first　thing。　The　next　is　that　without　a　transmitter　from　which　the　〃Dolphin〃　can　pick　up　our　directional　bearings；　we　could　never　hope　to　find　the　〃Dolphin〃　again。　The　third　is　that　the　closing　ice　will　probably　have　forced　the　〃Dolphin〃　to　drop　down　before　anyone　could　get　halfway　there。　And　the　last　is　that　if　we　failed　to　find　the　〃Dolphin〃；　either　because　we　missed　her　or　because　she　was　gone；　we　could　never　make　our　way　back　to　Zebra　again：　we　wouldn't　have　the　strength　and　we　would　have　nothing　to　guide　us　back；　anyway。〃
　 〃The　odds　offered　aren't　all　that　attractive；〃　I　admitted。　〃What　odds　are　you　offering　on　the　ice　machine　being　repaired？〃
　 Hansen　shook　his　head；　said　nothing。　Rawlings　started　stirring　his　soup　again；　carefully　not　looking　up；　he　didn't　want　to　meet　the　anxious　eyes；　the　desperate　eyes；　in　that　circle　of　haggard　and　frost…bitten　faces　any　more　than　I　did。　But　he　looked　up　as　Captain　Folsom　pushed　himself　away　from　the　support　of　a　wall　and　took　a　couple　of　unsteady　steps　toward　us。　It　didn't　require　any　stethoscope　to　see　that　Folsom　was　in　a　pretty　bad　way。
　 〃I　am　afraid　that　we　don't　understand；〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　slurred　and　indistinct；　the　puffed　and　twisted　lips　had　been　immobilized　by　the　savage　charring　of　his　face：　I　wondered　bleakly　how　many　months　of　pain　would　elapse；　how　many　visits　to　the　surgeon's　table；　before　Folsom　could　show　that　face　to　the　world　again。　In　the　very　remote　event；　that　was；　of　our　ever　getting　him　to　a　hospital。　〃Would　you　please　explain？　What　is　the　difficulty？〃
　 〃Simply　this；〃　I　said。　〃The　〃Dolphin〃　has　an　ice　fathometer；　a　device　for　measuring　the　thickness　of　the　overhead　ice。　Normally；　even　if　mander　Swansonthe　captain　of　the　〃Dolphin〃didn't　hear　from　us；　we　could　expect　him　on　our　doorstep　in　a　matter　of　hours。　He　has　the　position　of　this　drift　station　pinned　down　pretty　closely。　All　he　would　have　to　do　is　drop　down；　e　under　us　here；　start　a　grid　search　with　his　ice　fathometer；　and　it　would　be　only　minutes　before　he　located　the　relatively　thin　ice　out　in　that　lead　there。　But　things　aren't　normal。　The　ice　machine　has　broken　down；　and　if　it　stays　that　way　he'll　never　find　that　lead。　That's　why　I　want　to　go　back　there。　Now。　Before　Swanson's　forced　to　dive　by　the　closing　ice。〃
　 〃Don't　see　it；　old　boy；〃　Jolly　said。　〃How's　that　going　to　help？　Can　〃you〃　fix　this　ice　whatyoumaycallit？〃
　 〃I　don't　have　to。　mander　Swanson　knows　his　distance　from　this　camp；　give　or　take　a　hundred　yards。　All　I　have　to　do　is　tell　him　to　cover　the　distance　less　quarter　of　a　mile　and　fire　a　torpedo。　That　ought〃
　 〃Torpedo？〃　Jolly　asked。　〃Torpedo？　To　break　through　the　ice　from　beneath？〃
　 〃That's　it。　It's　never　been　tried　before。　I　suppose　there's　no　reason　why　it　shouldn't　work　if　the　ice　is　thin　enough；　and　it　won't　be　all　that　thick　in　the　lead　out　there。　I　don't　really　know。〃
　 〃They'll　be　sending　planes；　you　know；　Doc；〃　Zabrinski　said　quietly。　〃We　started　transmitting　the　news　as　soon　as　we　broke　through；　and　everybody　will　know　by　now　that　Zebra　has　been　foundat　least；　they'll　know　exactly　where　it　is。　They'll　have　the　big　bombers　up　here　in　a　few　hours。〃
　 〃Doing　what？〃　I　asked。　〃Sculling　around　uselessly　in　the　darkness　up　above？　Even　if　they　do　have　the　exact　position；　they　still　won't　be　able　to　see　what's　left　of　this　station　because　of　the　darkness　and　the　ice　storm。　Perhaps　they　can　with　radar；　it's　unlikely；　but　even　if　they　do；　what　then？　Drop　supplies？　Maybe。　But　they　won't　dare　drop　supplies　directly　on　us　for　fear　of　killing　us。　They'd　have　to　drop　them　some　distance　offand　even　a　quarter　mile　would　be　too　far　away　for　any　chance　we'd　ever　have　of　finding　stuff　in　those　conditions。　As　for　landingeven　if　weather　conditions　were　perfect；　no　plane　big　enough　to　have　the　range　to　fly　here　could　ever　hope　to　land　on　the　ice　cap。　You　know　that。〃
　 〃What's　your　middle　name；　Doc？〃　Rawlings　asked　dolefully。　〃Jeremiah？〃
　 〃The　greatest　good　of　the　greatest　number；〃　I　said。　〃The　old　yardstick；　but　there's　never　been　a　better　one。　If　we　just　hole　up　here　without　making　any　attempt　to　help　ourselves　and　the　ice　machine　remains　useless；　then　we're　all　dead。　All　sixteen　of　us。　If　I　make　it　there　safely；　then　we're　all　alive。　Even　if　I　don't；　the　ice　machine　may　be　fixed　and　there　would　only　be　one　lost　then。〃　I　started　pulling　on　my　mittens。　〃One　is　less　than　sixteen。〃
　 〃We　might　as　well　make　it　two；〃　Hansen　sighed　and　began　to　pull　on　his　own　gloves。　I　was　hardly　surprised；　when　he'd　last　spoken　he'd　talked　at　first　of　〃you〃　having　no　chance　and　finished　by　saying　that　〃we〃　had　none；　and　it　hadn't　required　any　psychiatrist　to　follow　his　quick　shift　in　mental　orientation：　whatever　men　like　Hansen　were　handpicked　for；　it　wasn't　for　any　predilection　for　shifting　the　load　to　others'　shoulders　when　the　going　became　sticky。
　 I　didn't　waste　any　time　arguing　with　him。
　 Rawlings　got　to　his　feet。
　 〃One　skilled　volunteer　for　the　soup…stirring；〃　he　requested。　〃Those　two　wouldn't　get　as　far　as　that　door　without　my　holding　their　hands。　I'll　probably　get　a　medal　for　this。　What's　the　highest　decoration　awarded　in　peacetime；　Lieutenant？〃
　 〃There　are　no　medals　given　for　soup…stirring；　Rawlings；〃　Hansen　said；　〃which　is　what　you　are　going　to　keep　on　doing。　You're　staying　right　here。〃
　 〃Uh…uh。〃　Rawlings　shook　his　head。　〃Prepare　yourself　to　deal　with　your　first　mutiny；　Lieutenant。　I'm　ing　with　you。　I　can't　lose。　If　we　get　to　the　〃Dolphin〃；　you'll　be　too　damned　glad　and　happy　to　have　made　it　to　dream　of　reporting　me；　apart　from　being　a　fair…minded　man　who　will　have　to　admit　that　our　safe　arrival　back　at　the　ship　will　be　entirely　due　to　torpedoman　Rawlings。〃　He　grinned。　〃And　if　we　don't　make　itwell；　you　can't　very　well　report　it；　can　you；　Lieutenant？〃
　 Hansen　walked　across　to　him。　He　said　quietly：　〃You　know　that　there's　more　than　an　even　chance　that　we　won't　reach　the　〃Dolphin〃。　That　would　leave　twelve　pretty　sick　men　here；　not　to　mention　Zabrinski　with　a　broken　ankle；　and　with　no　one　to　look　after　them。　They've　got　to　have　one　able　man　to　look　after　them。　You　couldn't　be　that　selfish；　now；　could　you；　Rawlings？　Look　after　them；　will　you？　As　a　favor　to　me？〃
　 Rawlings　looked　at　him　for　long　seconds；　then　squatted　down　and　started　stirring　the　soup　again。　〃As　a　favor　to　me；　you　mean；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃Okay；　I'll　stay。　As　a　favor　to　me。　Also　to　prevent　Zabrinski　from　tripping　over　his　legs　again　and　breaking　another　ankle。〃　He　stirred　the　soup　viciously。　〃Well；　what　are　you　waiting　for？　The　skipper　may　be　making　up　his　mind　to　dive　any　minute。〃
　 He　had　a　point。　We　brushed　off　protests　and　attempts　to　stop　us　made　by　Captain　Folsom　and　Dr。　Jolly　and　were　ready　to　leave　in　thirty　seconds。　Hansen　was　through　the　door　first。　I　turned　and　looked　at　the　sick　and　emaciated　and　injured　survivors　of　Drift　Station　Zebra。　Folsom；　Jolly；　Kinnaird；　Hewson；　Naseby　and　seven　others。　Twelve　men　altogether。　They　couldn't　all　be　in　cahoots　together；　so　it　had　to　be　a　single　man；　maybe　two；　acting　in　concert。　I　wondered　who　those　men　might　be；　those　men　I　would　have　to　kill；　that　person　or　persons　who　had　murdered　my　brother　and　six　other　men　on　Drift　Ice　Station　Zebra。
　 I　pulled　the　door　to　behind　me　and　followed　Hansen　out　into　the　dreadful　night。
　
　
　6
　
　 We　had　been　tired；　more　than　tired；　even　before　we　had　set　out。　We　had　been　leaden…legged；　bone…weary；　no　more　than　a　short　handspan　from　total　exhaustion。　But；　for　all　that；　we　flitted　through　the　howling　darkness　of　that　night　like　two　great　white　ghosts　across　the　dimly　seen　whiteness　of　a　nightmare　lunar　landscape。　We　were　no　longer　bowed　under　the　weight　of　heavy　packs。　Our　backs　were　to　that　gale…force　wind；　so　that　for　every　laborious　plodding　step　we　had　made　on　our　way　to　Zebra　we　now　covered　five；　with　so　little　a　fraction　of　our　earlier　toil　that　at　first　it　seemed　all　but　effortless。　We　had　no　trouble　in　seeing　where　we　were　going；　no　fear　of　falling　into　an　open　lead　or　of　crippling　ourselves　against　some　unexpected　obstacle；　for　with　our　useless　goggles　removed　and　powerful　flashlight　beams　dancing　erratically　ahead　of　us　as　we　jog…trotted　along；　visibility　was　seldom　less　than　five　yards；　more　often　nearer　ten。　Those　were　the　physical　aids　that　helped　us　on　our　way　but　even　more　sharply　powerful　as　a　spur　to　our　aching　legs　was　that　keen　and　ever…growing　fear　that　dominated　our　minds　to　the　exclusion　of　all　else；　the　fear　that　mander　Swanson　had　already　been　pelled　to　drop　down　and　that　we　would　be　left　to　die　in　that　shrieking　wasteland：　with　our　lacking　both　shelter　and　food；　the　old　man　with　the　scythe　would　not　be　keeping　us　waiting　too　long。
　 We　ran；　but　we　did　not　run　too　fast；　for　to　have　done　that　would　have　been　to　have　the　old　man　tapping　us　on　the　shoulder　in　very　short　order　indeed。　In　far　sub…zero　temperatures；　there　is　one　thing　that　the　Eskimo　avoids　as　he　would　the　plagueoverexertion；　in　those　latitudes　more　deadly；　even；　than　the　plague　itself。　Too　much　physical　effort　while　wearing　heavy　furs　inevitably　results　in　sweat；　and　when　the　effort　ceases；　as　eventually　cease　it　must；　the　sweat　freezes　on　the　skin：　the　only　way　to　destroy　that　film　of　ice　is　by　further　exertion；　producing　even　more　sweat；　the　beginnings　of　a　vicious　and　steadily　narrowing　circle　that　can　have　only　one　end。　So　though　we　ran　it　was　only　at　a　gentle　jog…trot；　hardly　more　than　a　fast　walk；　we　took　every　possible　precaution　against　overheating。
　 After　half　an　hour；　perhaps　a　little　more；　I　called　for　a　brief　halt　in　the　shelter　of　a　steep　ice　wall。　Twice　in　the　past　two　minutes　Hansen　had　stumbled　and　fallen　where　there　hadn't　appeared　to　be　any　reason　to　stumble　and　fall：　and　I　had　noticed　that　my　own　legs　were　more　unsteady　than　the　terrain　warranted。
　 〃How　are　you　making　out？〃　I　asked。