alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第23章

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　 〃I'm　afraid　we're　moving　into　the　realms　of　the　unknown；〃　Swanson　admitted　calmly。　〃One　thousand　feet　plus。　If　that　dial　is　right；　we　passed　the　theoretical　implosion　pointwhere　the　hull　should　have　collapsedfifty　feet　ago。　At　the　present　moment　she's　being　subjected　to　well　over　a　million　tons　of　pressure。〃　Swanson's　repose；　his　glacial　calm；　was　staggering；　they　must　have　scoured　the　whole　of　America　to　find　a　man　like　that。　If　ever　there　was　the　right　man　in　the　right　place　at　the　right　time；　it　was　mander　Swanson　in　the　control　room　of　a　runaway　submarine　diving　to　depths　hundreds　of　feet　below　what　any　submarine　had　ever　experienced　before。
　 〃She's　slowing；〃　Hansen　whispered。
　 〃She's　slowing。〃　Swanson　nodded。
　 She　wasn't　slowing　half　fast　enough　for　me。　It　was　impossible　that　the　pressure　hull　could　hold　out　any　longer。　I　wondered　vaguely　what　the　end　would　be　like；　then　put　the　thought　from　my　mind；　I　would　never　know　anything　about　it；　anyway。　At　that　depth　the　pressure　must　have　been　about　twenty　tons　to　the　square　foot；　we'd　be　squashed　as　flat　as　flounders　before　our　senses　could　even　begin　to　record　what　was　happening　to　us。
　 The　engine…room　call…up　bell　rang　again。　The　voice　this　time　was　imploring；　desperate。　〃We　must　ease　up；　Captain。　Switch　gear　is　turning　red　hot。　We　can　see　it　glowing。〃
　 〃Wait　till　it's　white　hot；　then　you　can　plain　about　it；〃　Swanson　said　curtly。　If　the　engines　were　going　to　break　down；　they　were　going　to　break　down：　but　until　they　did；　he'd　tear　the　life　out　of　them　in　an　attempt　to　save　the　〃Dolphin〃。　Another　bell　rang。
　 〃Control　room？〃　The　voice　was　harsh；　high…pitched。　〃Crew's　mess　deck　speaking。　Water　is　beginning　to　e　in。〃　For　the　first　time；　every　eye　in　the　control　room　turned　away　from　the　depth　gauge　and　fixed　itself　on　that　loudspeaker。　The　hull　was　giving　at　last　under　the　fantastic　pressure；　the　crushing　weight。　One　little　hole；　one　tiny；　threadlike　crack　as　a　starting　point；　and　the　pressure　hull　would　rip　and　tear　and　flatten　like　a　toy　under　a　steam　hammer。　A　quick　glance　at　the　strained；　shocked　faces　showed　this　same　thought　in　every　mind。
　 〃Where？〃　Swanson　demanded。
　 〃Starboard　bulkhead。〃
　 〃How　much？〃
　 〃A　pint　or　two；　just　trickling　down　the　bulkhead。　And　it's　getting　worse。　It's　getting　worse　all　the　time。　For　God's　sake；　Captain；　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　 〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Swanson　echoed。　〃Mop　the　damn　stuff　up；　of　course。　You　don't　want　to　live　in　a　dirty　ship；　do　you？〃　He　hung　up。
　 〃She's　stopped。　She's　stopped。〃　Four　words　and　a　prayer。　I'd　been　wrong　about　every　eye　being　on　that　loud…speaker；　one　pair　of　eyes　had　never　left　the　depth　gauge；　the　pair　belonging　to　the　youngster　at　the　console。
　 〃She's　stopped；〃　the　diving　officer　confirmed。　His　voice　had　a　shake　in　it。
　 No　one　spoke。　The　blood　continued　to　drip　unheeded　from　Hansen's　crushed　fingers。　I　thought　that　I　detected；　for　the　first　time；　a　faint　sheen　of　sweat　on　Swanson's　brow；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure。　The　deck　still　shuddered　beneath　our　feet　as　the　giant　engines　strove　to　lift　the　〃Dolphin〃　out　of　those　deadly　depths；　the　pressed　air　still　hissed　into　the　diesel　and　fresh…water　tanks。　I　could　no　longer　see　the　depth　gauge；　the　diving　officer　had　drawn　himself　up　so　close　to　it　that　he　obscured　most　of　it　from　me。
　 Ninety　seconds　passed；　ninety　seconds　that　didn't　seem　any　longer　than　a　leap　year；　ninety　interminable　seconds　while　we　waited　for　the　sea　to　burst　in　our　hull　and　take　us　for　its　own；　then　the　diving　officer　said。　〃Ten　feet。　Up。〃
　 〃Are　you　sure？〃　Swanson　asked。
　 〃A　year's　pay。〃
　 〃We're　not　out　of　the　woods　yet；〃　Swanson　said　mildly。　〃The　hull　can　still　go：　it　should　have　gone　a　damn　long　time　ago。　Another　hundred　feetthat　means　a　couple　of　tons　less　pressure　to　the　square　footand　I　think　we'll　have　a　chance。　At　least　a　fifty…fifty　chance。　And　after　that　the　chances　will　improve　with　every　foot　we　ascend；　and　as　we　ascend；　the　highly　pressed　air　in　the　torpedo　room　will　expand；　…driving　out　water　and　so　lightening　the　ship。〃
　 〃Still　rising；〃　the　diving　officer　said。　〃Still　rising。　Speed　of　ascent　unchanged。〃
　 Swanson　walked　across　to　the　diving　stand　and　studied　the　slow　movement　of　the　depth…gauge　dial。　〃How　much　fresh　water　left？〃
　 〃Thirty　per　cent。〃
　 〃Secure　blowing　fresh…water　ballast。　Engines　all　back　two　thirds。〃
　 The　roar　of　pressed　air　fell　away　and　the　deck　vibration　eased　almost　to　nothing　as　the　engine　revolutions　fell　from　emergency　power　to　two…thirds　full　speed。
　 〃Speed　of　ascent　unchanged；〃　the　diving　officer　reported。　〃One　hundred　feet　up。〃
　 〃Secure　blowing　diesel。〃　The　roar　of　pressed　air　stopped　pletely。　〃All　back　one　third。〃
　 〃Still　rising。　Still　rising。〃
　 Swanson　took　a　silk　handkerchief　from　his　pocket　and　wiped　his　face　and　neck。　〃I　was　a　little　worried　there；〃　he　said　to　no　one　in　particular；　〃and　I　don't　much　care　who　knows　it。〃　He　reached　for　a　microphone　and　I　could　hear　his　voice　booming　faintly　throughout　the　ship。
　 〃This　is　the　captain。　All　right；　you　can　all　start　breathing　again。　Everything　is　under　control；　we're　on　our　way　up。　As　a　point　of　interest；　we're　still　over　three　hundred　feet　deeper　than　the　lowest　previous　submarine　dive　ever　recorded。〃
　 I　felt　as　if　I　had　just　been　through　the　rollers　of　a　giant　mangle。　We　all　looked　as　if　we'd　just　been　through　the　rollers　of　a　giant　mangle。　A　voice　said：　〃I've　never　smoked　in　my　life；　but　I'm　starting　now。　Someone　give　me　a　cigarette。〃　Hansen　said：　〃When　we　get　back　to　the　States；　do　you　know　what　I'm　going　to　do？〃
　 〃Yes；〃　Swanson　said。　〃You're　going　to　scrape　together　your　last　cent；　go　up　to　Groton；　and　throw　the　biggest；　the　most　expensive　party　ever　for　the　men　who　built　this　boat。　You're　too　late；　Lieutenant；　I　thought　of　it　first。〃　He　stopped　abruptly　and　said　sharply：　〃What's　happened　to　your　hand？〃
　 Hansen　lifted　his　left　hand　and　stared　at　it　in　surprise。　〃I　never　even　knew　I'd　been　scratched。　Must　have　happened　with　that　damn　door　in　the　torpedo　room。　There's　a　medicalsupply　box　there；　Doc。　Would　you　fix　this？〃
　 〃You　did　a　damn　fine　job　there；　John；〃　Swanson　said　warmly。　〃Getting　that　door　closed；　I　mean。　Couldn't　have　been　easy。〃
　 〃It　wasn't。　All　pats　on　the　back　to　our　friend　here；〃　Hansen　said。　〃He　got　it　closed；　not　me。　And　if　he　hadn't　got　it　closed〃
　 〃Or　if　I'd　let　you　load　the　torpedoes　when　you　came　back　last　night；〃　Swanson　said　grimly。　〃When　we　were　sitting　on　the　surface　and　the　hatches　wide　open。　We'd　have　been　eight　thousand　feet　down　now　and　very；　very　dead。〃
　 Hansen　suddenly　snatched　his　hand　away。　〃My　God！〃　he　said　remorsefully。　〃I'd　forgotten。　Never　mind　this　damned　hand　of　mine。　George　Mills；　the　torpedo　officer。　He　took　a　pretty　bad　sock。　You'd　better　see　him　first。　Or　Doc　Benson。〃
　 I　took　his　hand　back。　〃No　hurry　for　either　of　us。　Your　fingers　first。　Mills　isn't　feeling　a　thing。〃
　 〃Good　God！〃　Astonishment　showed　in　Hansen's　face；　maybe　shock　at　my　callousness。　〃When　he　recovers　consciousness〃
　 〃He'll　never　recover　consciousness　again；〃　I　said。　〃Lieutenant　Mills　is　dead。〃
　 〃What！〃　Swanson's　fingers　bit　deeply；　painfully　into　my　arm。　〃'Dead；'　did　you　say？〃
　 〃That　column　of　water　from　number　4　tube　came　in　like　an　express　train；〃　I　said　tiredly。　〃Flung　him　right　back　against　the　after　bulkhead　and　smashed　in　the　occiputthe　back　of　his　headlike　an　eggshell。　Death　must　have　been　instantaneous。〃
　 〃Young　George　Mills；〃　Swanson　whispered。　His　face　had　gone…very　pale。　〃Poor　kid。　His　first　trip　on　the　Dolphin。　And　now；　just　like　thatkilled。〃
　 〃Murdered；〃　I　said。
　 〃What！〃　If　mander　Swanson　didn't　watch　out　with　his　fingers；　he'd　have　my　upper　arm　all　black　and　blue。　〃What　was　that　you　said？〃
　 〃'Murdered；'　I　said。　'Murdered'　I　meant。〃
　 Swanson　stared　at　me　for　a　long　moment；　his　face　empty　of　expression　but　his　eyes　strained　and　tired　and　suddenly　somehow　old。　He　wheeled；　walked　across　to　the　diving　officer；　spoke　a　few　words　to　him；　and　returned。　〃e　on；〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃You　can　fix　up　the　lieutenant's　hand　in　my　cabin。〃
　
　
　7
　
　 〃You　realize　the　seriousness　of　what　you　are　saying？〃　Swanson　asked。　〃You　are　making　a　grave　accusation〃
　 〃e　off　it；〃　I　said　rudely。　〃This　is　not　a　court　of　law　and　I'm　not　accusing　anyone。　All　I　say　is　that　murder　has　been　done。　Whoever　left　that　bow…cap　door　open　is　directly　responsible　for　the　death　of　Lieutenant　Mills。〃
　 〃What　do　you　mean　'left　the　door　open'？　Who　says　anyone　left　the　door　open？　It　could　have　been　due　to　natural　causes。　And　even　ifI　can't　see　itthat　door　had　been　left　open；　you　can't　accuse　a　man　of　murder　because　of　carelessness　or　forgetfulness　or　because〃　
　 〃mander　Swanson；〃　I　said。　〃I'll　go　on　record　as　saying　that　you　are　probably　the　best　naval　officer　I　have　ever　met。　But　being　best　at　that　doesn't　mean　that　you're　best　at　everything。　There　are　noticeable　gaps　in　your　education；　mander；　especially　in　the　appreciation　of　the　finer　points　of　skulduggery。　You　require　an　especially　low　and　devious　type　of　mind　for　that；　and　I'm　afraid　that　you　just　haven't　got　it。　Doors　left　open　by　natural　causes；　you　say。　What　natural　causes？〃
　 〃We've　hit　the　ice　a　few　stiff　jolts；〃　Swanson　said　slowly。　〃That　could　have　jarred　it　open。　Or　when　we　poked　through　the　ice　last　night　a　piece　of　ice；　a　stalactite；　say；　could　have〃
　 〃Your　tubes　are　recessed；　aren't　they？　Mighty　odd…shaped　stalactite　that　would　go　down　and　then　bend　in　at　a　right　angle　to　reach　the　doorand　even　then　it　would　only　shut　it　more　tightly。〃
　 〃The　doors　are　tested　every　time　we're　in　harbor；〃　mander　Swanson　persisted　quietly。　〃They're　also　opened　when　we　open　tubes　to　carry　out　surface…trimming　tests　in　dock。　Any　dockyard　has　pieces　of　waste；　rope；　and　other　rubbish　floating　around　that　could　easily　have　jammed　a　door　open。〃
　 〃The　safety　lights　showed　the　doors　shut。〃
　 〃They　could　have　been　opened　just　a　crack；　not　enough　to　disengage　the　safety　contact。〃
　 〃Open　a　crack！　Why　do　you　think　Mills　is　dead？　If　you've　ever　seen　the　jet　of　water　that　hits　the　turbine　blades　in　a　hydro…electric　plant；　then　you'll　know　how　that　water　came　in。　A　crank？　My　God！　How　are　those　doors　operated？〃
　 〃Two　ways。　Remote　control；　hydraulic；　just　press　a　button：　then　there　are　manually　operated　levers　in　the　torpedo　room　itself。〃
　 I　turned　to　Hansen。　He　was　sitting　on　the　bunk　beside　me；　his　face　pale　as　I　splinted　his　broken　fingers。　I　said；　〃Those　hand…operated　levers。　Were　they　in　the　shut　position？〃
　 〃You　heard　me　say　so　in　there。　Of　course　they　were。　First　thing　we　always　check。〃
　 〃Somebody　doesn't　like　you；〃　I　said　to　Swanson。　〃Or　somebody　doesn't　like　the　〃Dolphin〃。　Or　somebody　knew　that　the　〃Dolphin〃　was　going　searching　for　the　Zebra　survivors　and　they　didn't　like　that；　either。　So　they　sabotaged　the　ship。　You　will　remember　you　were　rather　surprised　you　didn't　have　tO　correct　the　〃Dolphin's〃　trim？　It　had　been　your　intention　to　carry　out　a　slow…time　dive　to　check　the　underwater　trim　because　you　thought　that　would　have　been　affected　by　the　fact　that　you　had　no　torpedoes　in　the　for'ard　tubes。　But　surprise；　surprise。　She　didn't　need　any　correction。〃
　 〃I'm　listening；〃　Swanson　said　quietly。　He　was　with　me　noW。　He　was　with　me　all　the　wa