alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第27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！


　flex　from　a　nearby　lamp　and　touched　its　ends　to　。the　terminals。　Not　even　the　minutest　spark。　Kinnaird　hadn't　been　lying　when　he　had　said　that　his　battery　had　been　pletely　dead。　But；　then；　I　hadn't　for　a　moment　thought　he'd　been　lying。　
　 I　made　niy　way　to　the　last　hutthe　hut　that　held　the　charred　remnants　of　the　seven　men　who　had　died　in　the　fire。　The　stench　of　charred　flesh　and　burnt　diesel　seemed　stronger；　more　nauseating　than　ever。　I　stood　in　the　doorway　and　the　last　thing　I　wanted　to　do　was　to　approach　even　an　inch　closer。　I　peeled　off　fur　and　woollen　mittens；　set　the　lamp　on　a　table；　pulled　out　my　flashlight；　and　knelt　by　the　first　dead　man。
　 Ten　minutes　passed　and　all　I　wanted　was　out　of　there。　There　are　some　things　that　doctors；　even　hardened　pathologists；　will　go　a　long　way　to　avoid。　Bodies　that　have　been　too　long　in　the　sea　is　one；　bodies　that　have　been　in　the　immediate　vicinity　of　underwater　explosion　is　another；　and　men　who　have　literally　been　burned　alive　is　another。　I　was　beginning　to　feel　more　than　slightly　sick：　but　I　wasn't　going　to　leave　there　until　I　was　finished。　
　 The　door　creaked　open。　I　turned　and　watched　mander　Swanson　e　in。　He'd　been　a　long　time；　I'd　expected　him　before　then。　Lieutenant　Hansen；　his　damaged　left　hand　wrapped　in　some　thick　woollen　material；　came　in　after　him。　That　was　what　the　phone　call　had　been　aboutthe　mander　calling　up　reinforcements。　Swanson　switched　off　his　flashlight；　pushed　up　his　snow　goggles；　and　pulled　down　his　mask。　His　eyes　narrowed　at　the　scene　before　him；　his　nostrils　wrinkled　in　involuntary　disgust；　and　color　drained　swiftly　from　his　ruddy　cheeks。　Both　Hansen　and　I　had　told　him　what　to　expect；　but　he　hadn't　been　prepared　for　this：　not　often　can　the　imagination　enpass　the　reality。　For　a　moment　I　thought　he　was　going　to　be　sick；　but　then　I　saw　a　slight　tinge　of　color　touch　his　cheekbones　and　I　knew　he　wasn't。
　 〃Dr。　Carpenter；〃　Swanson　said　in　a　voice　in　which　the　unsteady　huskiness　seemed　only　to　emphasize　the　stilted　formality；　〃I　wish　you　to　return　at　once　to　the　ship；　where　you　will　remain　confined　to　your　quarters。　I　would　prefer　you　went　voluntarily；　acpanied　by　Lieutenant　Hansen　here。　I　wish　no　trouble。　I　trust　you　don't；　either。　If　you　do；　we　can　acmodate　you。　Rawlings　and　Murphy　are　waiting　outside　that　door。〃
　 〃Those　are　fighting　words；　mander；〃　I　said；　〃and　very　unfriendly。　Rawlings　and　Murphy　are　going　to　get　unmonly　cold　out　there。〃　I　put　my　right　hand　in　my　caribou　pants　pocketthe　one　with　the　gun　in　itand　surveyed　him　unhurriedly。　〃Have　you　had　a　brainstorm？〃
　 Swanson　looked　at　Hansen　and　nodded　in　the　direction　of　the　door。　Hansen　half　turned；　then　stopped　as　I　said；　〃Very　high…handed；　aren't　we。　I'm　not　worth　an　explanation；　is　that　it？〃
　 Hansen　looked　unfortable。　He　didn't　like　any　part　of　this。　I　suspected　Swanson　didn't；　either；　but　he　was　going　to　do　what　he　had　to　do　and　let　his　feelings　look　elsewhere。
　 〃Unless　you're　a　great　deal　less　intelligent　than　I　believe　and　I　credit　you　with　a　high　intelligenceyou　know　exactly　what　the　explanation　is。　When　you　came　aboard　the　〃Dolphin〃　in　the　Holy　Loch；　both　Admiral　Garvie　and　myself　were　highly　suspicious　of　you。　You　spun　us　a　story　about　being　an　expert　in　Arctic　conditions　and　of　having　helped　set　up　this　station　here。　When　we　wouldn't　accept　that　as　sufficient　authority　or　reason　to　take　you　along　with　us；　you　told　a　highly　convincing　tale　about　this　being　an　advanced　missilewarning　outpost；　and　even　though　it　was　peculiar　that　Admiral　Garvie　had　never　heard　of　it；　we　accepted　it。　The　huge　dish　aerial　you　spoke　of；　the　radar　masts；　the　electronic　puterswhat's　happened　to　them；　Dr。　Carpenter？　A　little　insubstantial；　weren't　they？　Like　all　figments　of　the　imagination。〃
　 I　looked　at　him；　considering；　and　let　him　go　on。
　 〃There　never　were　any　of　those　things；　were　there？　You're　up　to　your　neck　in　something　very　murky　indeed；　my　friend。　What　it　is　I　don't　know；　nor；　for　the　moment；　do　I　care。　All　I　care　for　is　the　safety　of　the　ship；　the　welfare　of　the　crew；　and　bringing　the　Zebra　survivors　safely　back　home；　and　I'm　taking　no　chances　at　all。〃
　 〃The　wishes　of　the　British　Admiralty；　the　orders　from　your　own　Director　of　Underseas　Warfarethose　mean　nothing　to　you？〃
　 〃I'm　beginning　to　have　very　strong　reservations　about　the　way　those　orders　were　obtained；〃　Swanson　said　grimly。　〃You're　altogether　too　mysterious　for　my　liking；　Dr。　Carpenteras　well　as　being　a　fluent　liar。〃
　 〃Those　are　harsh；　harsh　words；　mander。〃
　 〃The　truth　not　infrequently　sounds　that　way。　Will　you　please　e？〃
　 〃Sorry。　I'm　not　through　here　yet。〃
　 〃I　see。　John；　will　you〃
　 〃I　can　give　you　an　explanation。　I　see　I　have　to。　Won't　you　listen？〃
　 〃A　third　fairytale？〃　A　head　shake。　〃No。〃
　 〃And　I'm　not　ready　to　leave。　Impasse。〃
　 Swanson　looked　at　Hansen；　who　turned　to　go。　I　said；　〃Well；　if　you're　too　stiff…necked　to　listen　to　me；　call　up　the　bloodhounds。　Isn't　it　just　luck；　now；　that　we　have　three　fully　qualified　doctors　here？〃
　 〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　 〃I　mean　this。〃　Guns　have　different　characteristics　in　appearance。　Some　look　relatively　harmless；　some　ugly；　some　businesslike；　some　wicked。　The　Mannlicher…Schoenauer　in　my　hand　just　looked　plain　downright　wicked。　Very　wicked　indeed。　The　white　light　from　the　Coleman　glittered　off　the　blued　metal；　menacing　and　sinister。　It　was　a　great　gun　to　terrify　people　with。
　 〃You　wouldn't　use　it；〃　Swanson　said　flatly。
　 〃I'm　through　talking。　I'm　through　asking　for　a　hearing。　Bring　on　the　bailiffs；　friend。〃
　 〃You're　bluffing；　mister；〃　Hansen　said　savagely。　〃You　don't　dare。〃
　 〃There's　too　much　at　stake　for　me　not　to　dare。　Find　out　now。　Don't　be　a　coward。　Don't　hide　behind　your　enlisted　men's　backs。　Don't　order　them　to　get　themselves　shot。〃　I　snapped　off　the　safety　catch。　〃e　and　take　it　from　me　yourself。〃
　 〃Stay　right　where　you　are；　John；〃　Swanson　said　sharply。　〃He　means　it。　I　suppose　you　have　a　whole　armory　in　that　bination…lock　suitcase　of　yours；〃　he　added　bitterly。
　 〃That's　it。　Automatic　carbines；　six…inch　naval　guns；　the　works。　But　for　a　small…size　situation；　a　small…size　gun。　Do　I　get　my　hearing？〃
　 〃You　get　your　hearing。〃
　 〃Send　Rawlings　and　Murphy　away。　I　don't　want　anyone　else　to　know　anything　about　this。　Anyway；　they're　probably　freezing　to　death。〃
　 Swanson　nodded。　Hansen　went　to　the　door；　opened　it；　spoke　briefly；　and　returned。　I　laid　the　gun　on　a　table；　picked　up　my　flashlight；　and　moved　some　paces　away。　I　said；　〃e　and　have　a　look　at　this。〃
　 They　came。　Both　of　them　passed　by　the　table　with　the　gun　lying　there　and　didn't　even　look　at　it。　I　stopped　before　one　of　the　grotesquely　misshapen　charred　lumps　lying　on　the　floor。　Swanson　came　close　and　stared　down。　His　face　bad　lost　whatever　little　color　it　had　regained。　He　made　a　queer　noise　in　his　throat。
　 〃That　ring；　that　gold　ring〃　he　began；　then　stopped　short。
　 〃I　wasn't　lying　about　that。〃
　 〃No。　No；　you　weren't。　II　don't　know　what　to　say。　I'm　most〃
　 〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　I　said　roughly。　〃Look　here。　At　the　back。　I'm　afraid　I　had　to　remove　some　of　the　carbon。〃
　 〃The　neck；〃　Swanson　whispered。　〃It's　broken。〃　…
　 〃Is　that　what　you　think？〃
　 〃Something　heavy；　I　don't　know；　a　beam　from　one　of　the　huts；　must　have　fallen〃
　 〃You've　just　seen　one　of　those　huts。　They　have　no　beams。　There's　an　inch　and　a　half　of　the　vertebrae　missing。　If　anything　sufficiently　heavy　to　smash　off　an　inch　and　a　half　of　the　backbone　had　struck　him；　the　broken　piece　would　be　imbedded　in　his　neck。　It's　not。　It　was　blown　out。　He　was　shot　from　the　front；　through　the　base　of　the　throat。　The　bullet　went　out　the　back　of　the　neck。　A　soft…nosed　bulletyou　can　tell　by　the　size　of　the　exit　hole…from　a　powerful　gun；　something　like　a　thirty…eight　Colt　or　Luger　or　Mauser。〃
　 〃Good　God　above！〃　For　the　first　time；　Swanson　was　badly　shaken。　He　stared　at　the　thing　on　the　floor；　then　at　me。　〃Murdered。　You　mean　he　was　murdered。〃
　 〃Who　would　have　done　this？〃　Hansen　said　hoarsely。　〃Who；　man；　who？　And　in　God's　name；　why？〃
　 〃I　don't　know　who　did　it。〃
　 Swanson　looked　at　me；　his　eyes　strange。　〃You　just　found　this　out？〃　…
　 〃I　found　out　last　night。〃
　 〃You　found　out　last　night。〃　The　words　were　slow；　farspaced；　a　distinct　hiatus　between　each　two。　〃And　all　the　time　since；　aboard　the　ship；　you　never　said。　。　。　you　never　showed　。　。　。　My　God；　Carpenter；　you're　inhuman。〃
　 〃Sure；〃　I　said。　〃See　that　gun　there？　It　makes　a　loud　bang；　and　when　I　use　it　to　kill　the　man　who　did　this；　I　won't　even　blink。　I'm　inhuman；　all　right。〃
　 〃I　was　speaking　out　of　turn。　Sorry。〃　Swanson　was　making　a　visible　effort　to　bring　himself　under　normal　control。　He　looked　at　the　Mannlicher…Schoenauer；　then　at　me；　then　back　at　the　gun。　〃Private　revenge　is　out；　Carpenter。　No　one　is　going　to　take　the　law　into　his　own　hands。〃
　 〃Don't　make　me　laugh　out　loud。　A　morgue　isn't　a　fit　place　for　it。　Besides；　I'm　not　through　showing　you　things　yet。　There's　more。　Something　that　I've　just　found　out　now。　Not　last　night。〃　I　pointed　to　another　huddled　black　shape　on　the　ground；　〃Care　to　have　a　look　at　this　man　here？〃
　 〃I'd　rather　not；〃　Swanson　said　steadily。　〃Suppose　you　tell　us？〃
　 〃You　can　see　from　where　you　are。　The　head。　I've　cleaned　it　up。　Small　hole　in　the　front；　in　the　middle　of　the　face　and　slightly　to　the　right：　larger　exit　hole　at　the　back　of　the　top　of　the　head。　Same　gun。　Same　man　behind　the　gun。〃
　 Neither　man　said　anything。　They　were　too　sick；　too　shocked　to　say　anything。
　 〃Queer　path　the　bullet　took；〃　I　went　on。　〃Ranged　sharply　upwards。　As　if　the　man　who　fired　the　shot　had　been　lying　or　sitting　down　while　his　victim　stood　above　him。〃
　 〃Yes。〃　Swanson　didn't　seem　to　have　heard　me。　〃Murder；　Two　murders。　This　is　a　job　for　the　authorities；　for　the　police。〃
　 〃Sure；〃　I　said。　〃For　the　police。　Let's　just　ring　the　sergeant　at　the　local　station　and　ask　him　if　he　would　mind　stepping　this　way　for　a　few　minutes。〃
　 〃It's　not　a　job　for　us；〃　Swanson　persisted。　〃As　captain　of　an　American　naval　vessel；　with　a　duty　to　discharge；　I　am　primarily　interested　in　bringing　my　ship　and　the　Zebra　survivors　back　to　Scotland　again。〃
　 〃Without　endangering　the　ship？〃　I　asked。　〃With　a　murderer　aboard；　the　possibility　of　endangering　the　ship　does　not　arise？〃
　 〃We　don't　know　he　isor　will　beaboard。〃
　 〃You　don't　even　begin　to　believe　that　yourse1f。　You　know　he　will　be。　You　know　as　well　as　I　do　why　this　fire　broke　out　and　you　know　damn　well　that　it　was　no　accident。　If　　there　was　any　accidental　element　about　it；　it　was　just　the　size　and　extent　of　the　fire。　The　killer　may　have　miscalculated　that。　But　both　time　and　weather　conditions　were　against　him：　I　don't　think　he　had　very　much　option。　The　only　possible　way　in　which　he　could　obliterate　all　traces　of　his　crime　was　to　have　a　fire　of　sufficient　proportions　to　obliterate　those　traces。　He　would　have　got　away　with　it；　too；　if　I　hadn't　been　here；　if　I　hadn't　been　convinced　before　we　left　port　that　something　was　very　much　wrong　indeed。　But…　he　would　take　very　good　care　that　he　wouldn't　obliterate　himself　in　the　process。　Like　it　or　not；　mander；　you're　going　to　have　a　killer　aboard　your　ship。〃
　 〃But　all　of　those　men　have　been　burned；　some　very　severely〃
　 〃What　the　hell　did　you　expect？　That　the　unknown　X　would　go　about　without　a