alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第26章

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　up　real　nice。　Had　much　trouble　last　night？〃　This　was　for　me。
　 〃Dr。　Carpenter　had　a　great　deal　of　trouble　last　night；〃　Swanson　said。　〃And　we've　had　a　considerable　amount　since。　But　later。　Bring　that　stretcher　in　here。　You　first；　Zabrinski。　As　for　you；　Rawlings；　you　can　stop　making　like　Escoffier。　The　〃Dolphin's〃　less　than　a　couple　of　hundred　yards　from　here。　We'll　have　you　all　aboard　in　half　an　hour。〃
　 I　heard　a　shuffling　noise　behind　me。　Dr。　Jolly　was　on　his　feet；　helping　Captain　Folsom　to　his。　Folsom　looked　even　weaker　than　he　had　yesterday；　his　face；　bandaged　though　it　was；　certainly　looked　worse。　
　 〃Captain　Folsom；〃　I　said　by　way　of　introduction。　〃Dr。　Jolly。　This　is　mander　Swanson；　captain　of　the　〃Dolphin〃。　Dr。　Benson。〃
　 〃'〃Dr〃。'　Benson；　you　said；　old　boy？〃　Jolly　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃My　word；　the　pill…rolling　petition's　getting　a　little　fierce　in　these　parts。　And　'mander。'　By　Jove；　but　we're　glad　to　see　you　fellows。〃　The　bination　of　the　rich　Irish　brogue　and　the　English　slang　of　the　twenties　fell　more　oddly　than　ever　on　my　ear；　he　reminded　me　of　educated　Singhalese　I'd　met　with　their　precise；　lilting；　standard　southern　English　interlarded　with　the　catch　phrases　of　forty　years　ago。　Topping；　old　bean；　simply　too　ripping　for　words。
　 〃I　can　understand　that。〃　Swanson　smiled。　He　looked　around　at　the　huddled；　unmoving　men　on　the　floor；　men　who　might　have　been　living　or　dead　but　for　the　immediate　and　smoky　condensation　from　their　shallow　breathing；　and　his　smile　faded。　He　said　to　Captain　Folsom；　〃I　cannot　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am。　This　has　been　a　dreadful　thing。〃
　 Folsom　stirred　and　said　something；　but　we　couldn't　make　out　what　it　was。　Although　his　shockingly　burnt　face　had　been　bandaged　since　I'd　seen　him　last；　it　didn't　seem　to　have　done　him　any　good；　he　was　talking　inside　his　mouth；　all　right；　but　the　ravaged　cheek　and　mouth　had　bee　so　paralyzed　that　his　speech　didn't　emerge　as　any　recognizable　language。　The　good　side　of　his　face；　the　left；　was　twisted　and　furrowed；　and　the　eye　above　almost　pletely　shut。　This　had　nothing　to　do　with　any　sympathetic　neuro…muscular　reaction　caused　by　the　wickedly　charred　right　cheek。　The　man　was　in　agony。　I　said　to　Jolly；　〃No　morphine　left？〃　I'd　left　him；　I'd　thought；　with　more　than　enough　of　it。…
　 〃Nothing　left；〃　he　said　tiredly。　〃I　used　it　all。　All　of　it。〃
　 〃Dr。　Jolly　worked　all　through　the　night；〃　Zabrinski　said　quietly。　〃Eight　hours。　Rawlings　and　himself　and　Kinnaird。　They　never　stopped　once。〃
　 Benson　had　his　medical　kit　open。　Jolly　saw　it　and　smiled；　a　smile　of　relief；　a　smile　of　exhaustion。　He　was　in　far　worse　shape　than　he'd　been　the　previous　evening。　He　hadn't　had　all　that　much　in　him　when　he'd　started。　But　he'd　worked。　He'd　worked　a　solid　eight　hours。　He'd　even　fixed　up　Zabrinski's　ankle。　A　good　doctor。　Conscientious。　Hippocratic；　anyway。　He　was　entitled　to　relax。　Now　that　there　were　other　doctors　here；　he'd　relax。　But　not　before。
　 He　began　to　ease　Folsom　into　a　sitting　position　and　I　helped　him。　He　slid　down　himself；　his　back　to　the　wall。　〃Sorry　and　all　that；　you　know；〃　he　said。　His　bearded　frost…bitten　face　twisted　into　the　semblance　of　a　grin。　〃A　poor　host。〃
　 〃You　can　leave　everything　to　us　now；　Dr。　Jolly；〃　Swanson　said　quietly。　〃You've　got　all　the　help　that's　going。　One　thing。　All　those　men　fit　to　be　moved？〃
　 〃I　don't　know。〃　Jolly　rubbed　an　arm　across　bloodshot；　smudged　eyes。　〃I　don't　know。　One　or　two　of　them　slipped　pretty　far　back　last　night。　It's　the　cold。　Those　two。　Pneumonia；　I　think。　Something　an　injured　man　could　fight　off　in　a　few　days　back　home　can　be　fatal　here。　It's　the　cold；〃　he　repeated。　〃Uses　up　ninety　per　cent　of　his　energy；　not　in　fighting　illness　and　infection；　but　just　generating　enough　heat　to　stay　alive。〃
　 〃Take　it　easy；〃　Swanson　said。　〃Maybe　we'd　better　change　our　minds　about　that　half…hour　to　get　you　all　aboard。　Who's　first　for　the　ambulance；　Dr。　Benson？〃　Not　Dr。　Carpenter。　Dr。　Benson。　Well；　Benson　was　his　own　ship's　doctor。　But　pointed；　all　the　same。　A　regrettable　coolness；　as　sudden　in　its　onset　as　it　was　marked　in　degree；　had　appeared　in　his　attitude　toward　me；　and　I　didn't　have　to　be　beaten　over　the　head　with　a　heavy　club　to　guess　at　the　reason　for　the　abrupt　change。
　 〃Zabrinski；　Dr。　Jolly；　Captain　Folsom；　and　this　man　here；〃　Benson　said　promptly。
　 〃Kinnaird；　radio　operator；〃　Kinnaird　identified　himself。　〃We　never　thought　you'd　make　it；　mate。〃　This　to　me。　He　dragged　himself　somehow　to　his　feet　and　stood　there　swaying。　〃I　can　walk。〃
　 〃Don't　argue；〃　Swanson　said　curtly。　〃Rawlings；　stop　stirring　that　filthy　mush　and　get　to　your　feet。　Go　with　them。　How　long　would　it　take　you　to　run　a　cable　from　the　boat；　fix　up　a　couple　of　big　electric　heaters　in　here；　some　lights？〃
　 〃Alone？〃
　 〃All　the　help　you　want；　man。〃
　 〃Fifteen　minutes。　I　could　rig　a　phone；　sir。〃
　 〃That　would　be　useful。　When　the　stretcher　bearers　e　back；　bring　blankets；　sheets；　hot　water。　Wrap　the　water　containers　in　the　blankets。　Anything　else；　Dr。　Benson？〃
　 〃Not　now；　sir。〃
　 〃That's　it；　then。　Away　you　go。〃
　 Rawlings　lifted　the　spoon　from　the　pot；　tasted　it；　smacked　his　lips　in　appreciation；　and　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃It's　a　crying　shame；〃　he　said　mournfully。　〃It　really　is。〃　He　went　out　in　the　wake　of　the　stretcher　bearers。
　 Of　the　eight　men　left　lying　on　the　floor；　four　were　conscious。　Hewson；　the　tractor　driver；　Naseby；　the　cook；　and　two　others　who　introduced　themselves　as　Harrington。　Twins。　They　were　as　alike　as　two　freshly　minted　pennies；　they'd　even　been　burnt　and　frost…bitten　in　the　same　places。　The　other　four　were　either　sleeping　or　in　a。　Benson　and　I　started　looking　them　over；　Benson　much　more　carefully　than　myself；　very　busy　with　thermometer　and　stethoscope。　Looking　for　signs　of　pneumonia。　I　didn't　think　he'd　have　to　look　very　far。　mander　Swanson　looked　speculatively　around　the　cabin；　occasionally　throwing　a　very　odd　look　in　my　direction；　occasionally　flailing　his　arms　across　his　chest　to　keep　the　circulation　going。　He　had　to。　He　didn't　have　the　fancy　furs　I　had；　and　in　spite　of　the　solid…fuel　stove；　the　place　was　like　an　icebox。
　 The　first　man　I　looked　at　was　lying　on　his　side　in　the　far　right…hand　corner　of　the　room。　He　had　half…open　eyes；　iust　showing　the　lower　arcs　of　his　pupils；　sunken　temples；　marblewhite　forehead；　and　the　only　part　of　his　face　that　wasn't　bandaged　was　as　cold　as　the　marble　in　a　winter　graveyard。　I　said；　〃Who　is　this？〃
　 〃Grant。　John　Grant。〃　Hewson；　the　dark；　quiet　tractor　driver；　answered　me。　〃Radio　operator。　Kinnaird's　sidekick。　How's　it　with　him？〃
　 〃He's　dead。　He's　been　dead　quite　some　time。〃
　 〃Dead？〃　Swanson　said　sharply。　〃You　sure？〃　I　gave　him　my　aloof　professional　look　and　said　nothing。　He　said　to　Benson；　〃Anybody　too　ill　to　be　moved？〃
　 〃Those　two　here；　I　think；〃　Benson　said。　He　wasn't　noticing　the　series　of　peculiar　looks　SWanson　was　letting　me　have；　so　he　handed　me　his　stethoscope。　After　a　minute　I　straightened　and　nodded。
　 〃Third…degree　burns；〃　Benson　said　to　Swanson。　〃What　we　can　see　of　them；　that　is。　Both　high　temperatures；　both　very　fast；　very　weak；　and　erratic　pulses；　both　with　lung　fluids。〃
　 〃They'd　have　a　better　chance　inside　the　〃Dolphin〃；〃　Swanson　said。
　 〃You'd　kill　them　getting　there；〃　I　said。　〃Even　if　you　could　wrap　them　up　warmly　enough　to　take　them　back　to　the　ship；　hauling　them　up　to　the　top　of　the　sail　and　…then　lowering　them　vertically　through　those　hatchways　would　finish　them　off。〃
　 〃We　can't　stay　out　in　that　lead　indefinitely；〃　Swanson　said。　〃I'll　take　the　responsibility　for　moving　them。〃
　 〃Sorry；　Captain。〃　Benson　shook　his　head　gravely。　〃I　agree　with　Dr。　Carpenter。〃
　 Swanson　shrugged　and　said　nothing。　Moments　later　the　stretcher　bearers　were　back；　followed　soon　after　by　Rawlings　and　three　other　enlisted　men　carrying　cables；　heaters；　lamps；　and　a　telephone。　It　took　only　a　few　minutes　to　connect　the　heaters　and　lamps　on　to　the　cable。　Rawlings　cranked　the　callup　generator　of　his　field　phone　and　spoke　briefly　into　the　mouthpiece。　Bright　lights　came　on　and　the　heaters　started　to　crackle　and；　after　a　few　seconds；　glow。
　 Hewson；　Naseby；　and　the　Harrington　twins　left　by　stretcher。　When　they'd　gone；　I　unhooked　the　Coleman　lantern。　〃You　won't　be　needing　this　now；〃　I　said。　〃I　won't　be　long。〃
　 〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Swanson's　voice　was　quiet。
　 〃I　won't　be　long；〃　I　repeated。　〃Just　looking　around。〃
　 He　hesitated；　then　stood　to　one　side。　I　went　out；　moved　around　a　corner　of　the　hut；　and　stopped。　I　heard　the　whirr　of　the　call…up　bell；　a　voice　on　the　telephone。　It　was　only　a　murmur　to　me；　I　couldn't　make　out　what　was　being　said。　But　I'd　expected　this。　
　 The　Coleman　storm　lantern　flickered　and　faded　in　the　wind　but　didn't…　go　out。　Stray　ice　spicules　struck　against　the　glass；　but　it　didn't　crack　or　break；　it　must　have　been　one　of　those　specially　toughened　glasses　immune　to　a　couple　of　hundred　degrees'　temperature　range　between　the　inside　and　the　outside。
　 I　made　my　way　diagonally　across　to　the　only　hut　left　on　the　south　side。　No　trace　of　burning；　charring；　or　even　smokeblackening　on　the　outside　walls。　The　fuel　store　must　have　been　the　one　next　to　it；　on　the　same　side　and　to　the　west；　straight　downwind；　that　almost　certainly　must　have　been　its　position　judging　by　the　destruction　of　all　the　other　huts；　and　the　grotesquely　buckled　shape　of　its　remaining　girders　made　this　strong　probability　a　certainty。　Here　had　been　the　heart　of　the　fire。
　 Hard　against　the　side　of　the　undamaged　hut　was　a　lean…to　shed；　solidly　built。　Six　feet　high；　six　wide；　eight　long。　The　door　opened　easily。　Wooden　floor；　gleaming　aluminum　for　the　sides　and　ceiling；　big　black　heaters　bolted　to　the　inside　and　outside　walls。　Wires　led　from　those；　and　it　was　no　job　for　an　Einstein　to　guess　that　they　ledor　had　ledto　the　now　destroyed　generator　house。　This　lean…to　shed　would　have　been　warm　night　and　day。　The　squat；　low…slung　tractor　that　took　up　nearly　all　the　floor　space　inside　would　have　started　any　time　at　the　touch　of　a　switch。　It　wouldn't　start　at　the　turn　of　a　switch　now；　it　would　take　three　or　four　blowtorches　and　the　same　number　of　strong　men　even　to　turn　the　engine　over　once。　I　closed　the　door　and　went　into　the　main　hut。
　 It　was　packed　with　metal　tables；　benches；　machinery；　and　every　modern　device　for　the　automatic　recording　and　interpretation　of　every　conceivable　observed　detail　of　the　Arctic　weather。　I　didn't　know　what　the　functions　of　most　of　the　instruments　were　and　I　didn't　care。　This　was　the　meteorological　office　and　that　was　enough　for　me。　I　examined　the　hut　carefully　but　quickly；　and　there　didn't　seem　to　be　anything　odd　or　out　of　place　that　I　could　see。　In　one　corner；　on　an　empty　wooden　packing　case；　was　a　portable　radio　transmitter　with　listening　phones〃transeivers；〃　they　called　them　nowadays。　Near　it；　in　a　box　of　heavy　oiled　wood；　were　fifteen　Nife　cells　connected　up　in　series。　Hanging　from　a　hook　on　the　wall　was　a　two…volt　test　lamp。　I　touched　its　bare　leads　to　the　outside　terminals　of　the　battery　formed　by　the　cells。　Had　those　cells　left　in　them　even　a　fraction　of　their　original　power；　that　test　lamp　should　have　burnt　out　in　a　white　flash。　It　didn't　even　begin　to　glow。　I　tore　a　piece　of　flex　from　a　nearby　lamp　and　touched　its　ends　to　。the　terminals。　Not　even　the　minutest　spark。　Kinnai