alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第31章

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　 〃Well；　if　it　does；〃　Swanson　said　heavily；　〃we'll　blame　you。〃
　
　
　 If　I　ever　had　any　doubt　about　it；　I　didn't　have　then；　not　after　ten　minutes　out　in　the　open。　The　Arctic　ice　cap　was　no　place　for　a　funeral；　but　I　couldn't　have　imagined　a　more　promising　set…up　for　a　funeral　director　who　wanted　to　drum　up　some　trade。　After　the　warmth　of　the　〃Dolphin〃；　the　cold　seemed　intense　and　within　five　minutes　we　were　all　shivering　violently。　The　darkness　was　as　nearly　absolute　as　it　ever　bees　on　the　ice　cap；　the　wind　was　lifting　again；　and　thin　flurries　of　snow　came　gusting　through　the　night。　The　solitary　floodlight　served　only　to　emphasize　the　ghostly　unreality　of　it　all：　the　huddled　circle　of　mourners　with　bent　heads；　the　two　shapeless；　canvas…wrapped　forms　lying　huddled　at　the　base　of　an　ice　hummock；　mander　Swanson　bent　over　his　book；　the　wind　and　the　snow　snatching　the　half…heard　mumble　from　his　lips　as　he　hurried　through　the　burial　service。　I　caught　barely　one　word　in　ten　of　the　mittal　and　then　it　was　all　over：　no　meaningless　rifle　salutes；　no　empty　blowing　of　bugles；　just　the　service　and　the　silence　and　the　dark　shapes　of　stumbling　men　hurriedly　placing　fragments　of　broken　ice　over　the　canvas…sheeted　forms。　And　within　twentyfour　hours　the　eternally　drifting　spicules　and　blowing　snow　would　have　sealed　them　forever　in　their　icy　tomb；　and　there　they　might　remain　forever；　drifting　in　endless　circles　about　the　North　Pole；　or　someday；　perhaps　a　thousand　years　from　then；　an　ice　lead　might　open　up　and　drop　them　down　to　the　uncaring　floor　of　the　Arctic；　their　bodies　as　perfectly　preserved　as　if　they　had　died　only　that　day。　It　was　a　macabre　thought。
　 Heads　bent　against　the　snow　and　ice；　we　hurried　back　to　the　shelter　of　the　〃Dolphin〃。　From　the　ice　cap　to　the　top　of　the　sail　it　was　a　climb　of　over　twenty　feet　up　the　almost　vertically　inclined　huge　slabs　of　ice　that　the　submarine　had　pushed　upward　and　sideways　as　she　had　forced　her　way　through。　Hand　lines　had　been　rigged　from　the　top　of　the　sail；　but　even　then　it　was　a　fairly　tricky　climb。　It　was　a　set…up　where；　with　the　icy　slope；　the　frozen　slippery　ropes；　the　darkness　and　the　blinding　effect　of　the　snow　and　ice；　an　accident　could　all　too　easily　happen。　And　happen　it　did。
　 I　was　about　six　feet　up；　giving　a　hand　to　Jeremy；　the　lab　technician　from　Zebra；　whose　burnt　hands　made　it　almost　impossible　for　him　to　climb　alone；　when　I　heard　a　muffled　cry　above　me。　I　glanced　up　and　had　a　darkly　blurred　impression　of　someone　teetering　on　top　of　the　sail；　fighting　for　his　balance；　then　jerked　Jeremy　violently　toward　me　to　save　him　from　being　swept　away　as　that　same　someone　lost　his　footing；　toppled　over　backward；　and　hurtled　down　past　us　to　the　ice　below。　I　winced　at　the　sound　of　the　impact　two　sounds；　rather：　a　heavy；　muffled　thud　followed　immediately　by　a　sharper；　crisper　crack。　First　the　body；　then　the　head。　I　half　imagined　that　I　heard　another　sound　afterward；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure。　I　handed　Jeremy　over　to　the　care　of　someone　else　and　slithered　down　an　ice…coated　rope；　not　looking　forward　very　much　to　what　I　must　see。　The　fall　had　been　the　equivalent　of　a　twenty…foot　drop　on　to　a　concrete　floor。
　 Hansen　had　got　there　before　me　and　was　shining　his　light；　not　on　one　prostrate　figure；　as　I　had　expected；　but　on　two。　Benson　and　Jolly；　both　of　them　out　cold。
　 I　said　to　Hansen；　〃Did　you　see　what　happened？〃
　 〃No。　Happened　too　quickly。　All　I　know　is　that　it　was　Benson　that　did　the　falling　and　Jolly　that　did　the　cushioning。　Jolly　was　beside　me　only　a　few　seconds　before　the　fall。〃
　 〃If　that's　the　case；　then　Jolly　probably　saved　your　doctor's　life。　We'll　need　to　strap　them　in　stretchers　and　haul　them　up　and　inside。　We　can't　leave　them　out　…　here。〃
　 〃Stretchers？　Well；　yes；　if　you　say　so。　But　they　might　some　around　any　minute。〃
　 〃One　of　them　might。　But　one　of　them　is　not　going　to　e　around　for　a　long　time。　You　heard　that　crack　when　a　head　hit　the　ice；　it　was　like　someone　being　clouted　over　the　head　with　a　fence　post。　And　1　don't　know　which　it　is　yet。〃
　 Hansen　left。　I　stooped　over　Benson　and　eased　back　the　hood　of　the　duffel　coat　he　was　wearing。　A　fence　post　was　just　about　right。　The　side　of　his　head；　an　inch　above　the　right　ear；　was　a　blood…smeared　mess；　a　three…inch…long　gash　in　the　purpling　flesh　with　the　blood　already　coagulating　in　the　bitter　cold。　Two　inches　further　forward　and　he'd　have　been　a　dead　man；　the　thin　bone　behind　the　temple　would　have　shattered　under　such　an　impact。　For　Benson's　sake；　I　hoped　the　rest　of　his　skull　was　pretty　thick。　No　question　but　that　this　had　been　the　sharp　crack　I'd　heard。
　 Benson's　breathing　was　very　shallow；　the　movement　of　his　chest　barely　discernible。　Jolly's；　on　the　other　hand；　was　fairly　deep　and　regular。　I　pulled　back　his　anorak　hood；　probed　carefully　over　his　head；　and　encountered　a　slight　puffiness　far　back；　near　the　top　on　the　left…hand　side。　The　inference　seemed　obvious。　I　hadn't　been　imagining　things　when　I　thought　I　had　heard　a　second　sound　after　the　sharp　crack　caused　by　Benson's　head　striking　against　the　ice。　Jolly　must　have　been　in　the　way　of　the　falling　Benson；　not　directly　enough　beneath　him　to　break　his　fall　in　any　way；　but　directly　enough　to　be　knocked　backward　on　to　the　ice　and　bang　the　back　of　his　head　as　he　fell。
　 It　took　ten　minutes　to　have　them　strapped　in　stretchers；　taken　inside；　and　placed　in　a　couple　of　temporary　cots　in　the　sick　bay。　With　Swanson　waiting　anxiously；　I　attended　to　Benson　first；　though　there　was　little　enough　I　could　do。　I　had　just　started　on　Jolly　when　his　eyes　flickered　and　he　slowly　came　back　to　consciousness；　groaning　a　bit　and　trying　to　hold　the　back　of　his　head。　He　made　an　effort　to　sit　up　in　his　cot；　but　I　restrained　him。
　 〃Oh；　Lord；　my　head。〃　Several　times　he　squeezed　his　eyes　tightly　shut；　opened　them　wide；　focused　with　difficulty　on　the　bulkhead　riotous　with　the　color　of　Benson's　cartoon　characters；　then　looked　away　as　if　he　didn't　believe　it。　〃Oh；　my　word；　that　must　have　been　a　dilly。　Who　did　it；　old　boy？〃
　 〃Did　what？〃　Swanson　asked。
　 〃Walloped　me　on　the　old　bean。　Who？　Eh？〃
　 〃You　mean　to　say　you　don't　remember？〃
　 〃Remember？〃　Jolly　said　irritably。　〃How　the　devil　should　I〃　fle　broke　off　as　his　eye　caught　sight　of　Benson　in　the　adjacent　cot；　a　huddled　figure　under　the　blankets；　with　only　the　back　of　his　head　and　a　big　gauze　pack　covering　his　wound　showing。　〃Of　course；　of　course。　Yes；　that's　it。　He　fell　on　top　of　me；　didn't　he？〃　…
　 〃He　certainly　did；〃　I　said。　〃Did　you　try　to　catch　him？〃
　 〃Catch　him？　No；　I　didn't　try　to　catch　him。　I　didn't　try　to　get　out　of　the　way；　either。　It　was　all　over　in　half　a　second。　I　just　don't　remember　a　thing　about　it。〃　He　groaned　a　bit　more；　then　looked　across　at　Benson。　〃Came　a　pretty　nasty　cropper；　eh？　Must　have　done。〃　…
　 〃Looks　like　it。　He's　very　severely　concussed。　There's　Xray　equipment　here　and　I'll　have　a　look　at　his　head　shortly。　Damned　hard　luck　on　you　too；　Jolly。〃　
　 〃I'll　get　over　it；〃　he　grunted。　He　pushed　my　hand　away　and　sat　up。　〃Can　I　help　you？〃
　 〃You　may　not；〃　Swanson　said　quietly。　〃Early　supper；　then　twelve　hours　solid　for　you　and　the　other　eight；　Doctor；　and　those　are　〃my〃　doctor's　orders。　You'll　find　supper　waiting　in　the　wardroom　now。〃
　 〃Aye…aye；　sir。〃　Jolly　gave　a　ghost　of　a　smile　and　pushed　himself　groggily　to　his　feet。　〃That　bit　about　the　twelve　hours　sounds　good　to　me。〃
　 After　a　minute　or　two；　when　he　was　steady　enough　on　his　feet；　he　left。　Swanson　said；　〃What　now？〃
　 〃You　might　inquire　around　to　see　who　was　closest　or　close　to　Benson　when　he　slipped　climbing　over　the　edge　of　the　bridge。　But　discreetly。　It　might　do　no　harm　if　at　the　same　time　you　hinted　around　that　maybe　Benson　had　just　taken　a　turn。〃
　 〃What　are　〃you〃　hinting　at？〃　Swanson　asked　slowly。
　 〃Did　he　fall　or　was　he　pushed？　That's　what　I'm　hinting　at。〃
　 〃Did　he　fall　or〃　He　broke　off　then　went　on　warily：　〃Why　should　anyone　want　to　push　Dr。　Benson？〃
　 〃Why　should　anyone　want　to　kill　seveneight；　nowmen　on　Drift　Ice　Station　Zebra？〃
　 〃You　have　a　point；〃　Swanson　acknowledged　quietly。　He　left。
　 Making　X…ray　films　wasn't　very　much　in　my　line；　but　apparently　it　hadn't　been　very　much　in　Dr。　Benson's　line；　either；　for　he'd　written　down；　for　his　own　benefit　and　guidance；　a　detailed　list　of　instructions　for　the　taking　and　developing　of　X…ray　films。　I　wondered　how　he　would　have　felt　if　he　had　known　that　the　first　beneficiary　of　his　meticulous　thoroughness　was　to　be　himself。　The　two　finished　negatives　I　came　up　with　wouldn't　have　caused　any　furor　in　the　Royal　Photo。　graphic　Society；　but　they　were　enough　for　my　wants。
　 By　and　by；　mander　Swanson　returned；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　I　said；　〃Ten　gets　one　that　you　got　nothing。〃
　 〃You　won't　die　a　poor　man；〃　he　nodded。　〃Nothing　is　what　it　is。　So　chief　torpedoman　Patterson　tells　me；　and　you　know　what　he's　like。〃
　 I　knew　what　he　was　like。　Patterson　was　the　man　responsible　for　all　discipline　and　organization　among　the　enlisted　men；　and　Swanson　had　said　to　me　that　he　regarded　Patterson；　and　not　himself；　as　the　most　indispensable　man　on　the　ship。
　 〃Patterson　was　the　man　who　reached　the　bridge　immediately　before　Benson；〃　Swanson　said。　〃He　said　he　heard　Benson　cry　out；　swung　around　and　saw　him　already　beginning　to　topple　backward。　He　didn't　recognize　who　it　was　at　the　time；　it　was　too　dark　and　snowy　for　that。　He　said　he　had　the　impression　that　Benson　had　already　had　one　hand　and　one　knee　on　the　bridge　coaming　when　he　fell　backward。〃
　 〃A　funny　position　in　which　to　start　falling　backward；〃　I　said。　〃Most　of　his　body　weight　must　already　have　been　inboard。　And　even　if　he　did　topple　outward；　he　would　surely　still　have　had　plenty　of　time　to　grab　the　coaming　with　both　hands。〃
　 〃Maybe　he　did　take　a　turn；〃　Swanson　suggested。　〃And　don't　forget　that　the　coaming　is　glass…slippery　with　its　smooth　coating　of　ice。〃
　 〃As　soon　as　Benson　disappeared；　Patterson　ran　to　the　side　to　see　what　had　happened　to　him？〃
　 〃He　did；〃　Swanson　said　wearily。　〃And　he　said　there　wasn't　a　person　within　ten　feet　of　the　top　of　the　bridge　when　Benson　fell。〃
　 〃And　who　〃was〃　ten　feet　below？〃
　 〃He　couldn't　tell。　Don't　forget　how　black　it　was　out　there　on　the　ice　cap　and　that　the　moment　Patterson　had　dropped　into　the　brightly　lit　bridge　he'd　lost　whatever　night　sight　he'd　built　up。　Besides；　he　didn't　wait　for　more　than　a　glance。　He　was　off　for　a　stretcher　even　before　you　or　Hansen　got　to　Benson。　Patterson　is　not　the　sort　of　man　who　has　to　be　told　what　to　do。〃
　 〃So　it's　a　dead　end　there？〃
　 〃A　dead　end。〃
　 I　nodded；　crossed　to　a　cupboard；　and　brought　back　the　two　X…rays；　still　wet；　held　in　their　metal　clips。　I　held　them　up　to　the　light　for　Swanson's　inspection。
　 〃Benson？〃　he　asked；　and　when　I　nodded；　he　peered　at　them　more　closely　and　finally　said；　〃That　line　therea　fracture？〃
　 〃A　fracture。　And　not　a　hair…line　one；　either；　as　you　can　see。　He　really　caught　a　wallop。〃
　 〃How　bad　is　it？　How　long　before　he　es　out　of　this　a　He　〃is〃　in　a　a？〃
　 〃He's　all　that。　How　long？　If　I　were　a　lad　fresh　out　of　medical　school　I'd　let　you　have　a　pretty　confident　estimate。　If　I　were　a　top…flight　brain　surgeon　I'd　say　anything　from　half　an　hour　to　a　year　or　two；　because　people　who　really　know　what　they　are　talking　about　are　only　too　aware　th