alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第34章

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　at　a　man　sitting　across　the　table　from　him〃had　taken　the　fire　extinguisher　from　the　bunkhouse　and　tried　to　get　close　to　Major　Halliwell's　hut。〃
　 〃That　was　the　one　directly　west　of　the　fuel　store？〃
　 〃That's　right。　It　was　an　inferno。　Captain　Folsom's　extinguisher　worked　well　enough；　but　he　couldn't　get　close　enough　to　do　any　good。　There　was　so　much　flying　oil　in　the　air　that　even　the　extinguisher　foam　seemed　to　burn。〃
　 〃Hold　on　a　minute；〃　I　said。　〃To　get　back　to　my　original　question。　How　did　the　fire　start？〃
　 〃We've　discussed　that　a　hundred　times　among　ourselves；〃　Dr。　Jolly　said　wearily。　〃The　truth　is；　old　boy；　we　haven't　a　clue。　We　know　〃where〃　it　started；　all　right：　match　the　huts　destroyed　against　the　wind　direction　that　night　and　it　could　only　have　been　in　the　fuel　store。　But　how？　It's　anybody's　guess。　I　don't　see　that　it　matters　a　great　deal　now。〃
　 〃I　disagree。　It　matters　very　much。　If　we　could　find　out　how　it　started；　we　might　prevent　another　such　tragedy　later　on。　That's　why　I'm　here。　Hewson；　you　were　in　charge　of　the　fuel　store　and　generator　hut。　Have　you　no　opinion　on　this？〃
　 〃None。　It　〃must〃　have　been　electrical；　but　how　I　can't　guess。　It's　possible　that　there　was　a　leakage　from　one　of　the　fuel　drums　and　that　oil　vapor　was　present　in　the　air。　There　were　two　black　heaters　in；　the　fuel　store；　designed　to　keep　the　temperature　up　to　zero　Fahrenheit　so　that　the　oil　would　always　flow　freely。　Arcing　across　the　make　and　break　of　the　thermostats　might　have　ignited　the　gas。　But　it's　only　a　wild　guess；　of　course。
　 〃No　possibility　of　any　smoldering　rags　or　cigarette　butts　being　the　cause？〃
　 Hewson's　face　turned　a　dusky　red。　〃Look；　mister；　I　know　my　job。　Burning　rags；　cigarette　butts；　I　know　how　to　keep　a　bloody　fuel　store〃
　 〃Keep　your　shirt　on；〃　I　interrupted。　〃No　offense。　I'm　only　doing　〃my〃　job。〃　I　turned　back　to　Naseby。　〃After　you'd　sent　Hewson　to　rouse　Captain　Folsom；　what　then？〃
　 〃I　ran　across　to　the　radio　roomthat's　the　hut　due　south　of　the　cookhouse　and　west　of　Major　Halliwell's〃
　 〃But　those　two　lab　techniciansFlanders　and　Bryce；　wasn't　it？surely　you　made　sure　they　were　awake　and　out　of　it　before　you　left　the　dining　hail？〃
　 〃God　help　me；　I　didn't。〃　Nasehy　stared　down　at　the　deck；　his　shoulders　hunched；　his　face　bleak。　〃They're　dead。　It's　my　fault　they're　dead。　But　you　don't　know　what　it　was　like　inside　that　dining　hail。　Flames　were　breaking　through　the　east　wall；　the　place　was　full　of　choking　smoke　and　oil；　I　couldn't　see；　I　could　hardly　breathe。　I　shook　them　both　and　shouted　at　them　to　get　out。　I　shook　them　hard　and　I　certainly　shouted　loud　enough。〃
　 〃I　can　bear　him　out　on　that；〃　Hewson　said　quietly。　〃I　was　right　beside　him　at　the　time。〃
　 〃I　didn't　wait；〃　Naseby　went　on。　〃I　wasn't　thinking　of　saving　my　own　skin。　I　thought　Flanders　and　Bryce　were　all　right　and　that　they　would　be　out　the　door　on　my　heels。　I　wanted　to　warn　the　others。　It　wasn'tit　wasn't　until　minutes　later　that　I　realized　there　was　no　sign　of　them。　And　then…well；　then　it　was　too　late。〃
　 〃You　ran　across　to　the　radio　room。　That's　where　you　slept；　Kinnaird；　wasn't　it？〃
　 〃That's　where　I　slept；　yes。〃　His　mouth　twisted。　〃Me　and　my　mate　Grant；　the　boy　that　died　yesterday。　And　Dr。　Jolly　slept　in　the　partitioned…off　east　end　of　the　hut。　That's　where　he　had　his　surgery　and　the　little　cubby　hole　where　he　carried　out　his　tests　on　ice　samples。〃
　 〃So　your　end　would　have　started　to　go　on　fire　first？〃　I　said　to　Jolly。
　 〃Must　have　done；〃　he　agreed。　〃Quite　frankly；　old　chap；　my　recollection　of　the　whole　thing　is　just　like　a　dreama　nightmare；　rather。　I　was　almost　asphyxiated　in　my　sleep；　I　think。　First　thing　I　remember　was　young　Grant　bending　over　me；　shaking　me　and　shouting。　Can't　recall　what　he　was　shouting；　but　it　must　have　been　that　the　hut　was　on　fire。　I　don't　know　what　I　said　or　did；　probably　nothing；　for　the　next　thing　I　clearly　remember　was　being　hit　on　both　sides　of　the　face；　and　not　too　gently；　either。　But；　by　Jove；　it　worked。　I　got　to　my　feet；　and　he　dragged　me　out　of　my　office　into　the　radio　room。　I　owe　my　life　to　young　Grant。　I'd　just　enough　sense　left　to　grab　the　emergency　medical　kit　that　I　always　kept　packed。〃
　 〃What　woke　Grant？〃
　 〃Naseby　here　woke　him；〃　Kinnaird　said。　〃He　woke　us　both；　shouting　and　hammering　on　the　door。　If　it　hadn't　been　for　him；　Dr。　Jolly　and　I　would　both　have　been　goners。　The　air　inside　that　place　was　like　poison　gas；　and　I'm　sure　if　Naseby　hadn't　shouted　on　us；　we　would　never　have　woken　up。　I　told　Grant　to　wake　the　doctor　while　I　tried　to　get　the　outside　door　open。〃
　 〃It　was　locked？
　 〃The　damned　thing　was　jammed。　That　was　nothing　unusual　at　night。　During　the　day；　when　the　heaters　were　going　full　blast　to　keep　the　huts　at　a　decent　working　temperature；　the　ice　around　the　doors　tended　to　melt。　At　night；　when　we　got　into　our　sleeping　bags；　we　turned　our　heaters　down；　and　the　melted　ice　froze　hard　around　the　door　openings；　sealing　it　solid。　That　happened　most　nights　in　most　of　the　hutsusually　had　to　break　our　way　out　in　the　morning。　But　I　can　tell　you　that　I　didn't　take　too　long　to　burst　it　open　that　night。〃
　 〃And　then？〃
　 〃I　ran　out；〃　Kinnaird　said。　〃I　couldn't　see　a　thing　for　black　smoke　and　flying　oil。　I　ran　maybe　twenty　yards　to　the　south　to　get　some　idea　of　what　was　happening。　The　whole　camp　seemed　to　be　on　fire。　When　you're　woken　up　like　that　at　two　in　the　morning；　half　blinded；　half　asleep　and　groggy　with　fumes；　your　mind　isn't　at　its　best　but　thank　God　I'd　enough　left　of　my　mind　to　realize　that　an　S。O。S。　radio　message　was　the　one　thing　that　was　going　to　save　our　lives。　So　I　went　back　inside　the　radio　hut。〃
　 〃We　all　owe　our　lives　to　Kinnaird。〃　Speaking　for　the　first　time　was　Jeremy；　a　burly；　red…haired　Canadian　who　had　been　chief　technician　on　the　base。　〃And　if　I'd　been　a　bit　quicker　with　my　hands；　we'd　all　have　been　dead。〃
　 〃Oh；　for　Christ's　sake；　mate；　shut　up；〃　Kinnaird　growled。
　 〃I　won't　shut　up；〃　Jeremy　said　soberly。　〃Besides；　Dr。　Carpenter　wants　a　full　report。　I　was　the　first　out　of　the　main　bunkhouse　after　Captain　Folsom。　As　Hewson　said；　we　tried　the　extinguisher　on　Major　Halliwell's　hut。　It　was　hopeless　from　the　beginning；　but　we　had　to　do　itafter　all；　we　knew　there　were　four　men　trapped　in　there。　But；　like　I　say；　it　was　a　waste　of　time。　Captain　Folsom　shouted　that　he　was　going　to　get　another　extinguisher　and　told　me　to　see　how　things　were　in　the　radio　room。
　 〃The　place　was　ablaze　from　end　to　end。　As　I　came　around　as　close　as　I　could　to　the　door　at　the　west　end　I　saw　Naseby　here　bending　over　Dr。　Jolly；　who'd　keeled　over　as　soon　as　he　had　e　out　into　the　fresh　air。　He　shouted　to　me　to　give　him　a　hand　to　drag　Dr。　Jolly　clear；　and　I　was　just　about　to　when　Kinnaird　came　running　up。　I　saw　that　he　was　heading　straight　for　the　door　of　the　radio　room。〃　He　smiled　without　humor。　〃I　thought　he　had　gone　off　his　rocker。　I　jumped　in　front　of　him　to　stop　him。　He　shouted　at　me　to　get　out　of　the　way。　I　told　him　not　to　be　crazy；　and　he　yelledyou　had　to　yell　to　make　yourself　heard　above　the　roar　of　the　flamesthat　he　had　to　get　the　portable　radio　out；　that　all　the　oil　was　gone；　and　the　generator　and　the　cookhouse　with　all　the　food　were　burning　up。　He　knocked　me　down；　and　the　next　thing　I　saw　was　him　disappearing　through　that　door。　Smoke　and　flames　were　pouring　through　the　doorway。　I　don't　know　how　he　ever　got　out　alive。〃
　 〃Was　that　how　you　got　your　face　and　hands　so　badly　burned？〃　mander　Swanson　asked　quietly。　He　was　standing　in　a　far　corner　of　the　wardroom；　having　taken　no　part　in　the　discussion　up　till　now　but　missing　nothing；　all　the　same。　That　was　why　I　had　asked　him　to　be　present；　just　because　he　was　a　man　who　missed　nothing。
　 〃I　guess　so；　sir。〃
　 〃That　should　earn　you　a　trip　to　Buckingham　Palace；〃　Swanson　murmured。
　 〃The　hell　with　Buckingham　Palace；〃　Kinnaird　said　violently。　〃How　about　my　mate；　eh？　How　about　young　Jimmy　Grant？　Can　he　make　the　trip　to　Buckingham　Palace？　Not　now　he　can't；　the　poor　bastard。　Do　you　know　what　he　was　doing？　He　was　still　〃inside〃　the　radio　room　when　I　went　back　in；　sitting　at　the　main　transmitter；　sending　out　an　S。O。S。　on　our　regular　frequency。　His　clothes　were　on　fire。　I　dragged　him　off　his　seat　and　shouted　to　him　to　grab　some　Nife　cells　and　get　out。　I　caught　up　the　portable　transmitter　and　a　nearby　box　of　Nife　cells　and　ran　through　the　door。　I　thought　Grant　was　on　my　heels；　but　I　couldn't　hear　anything；　what　with　the　roar　of　flames　and　the　bursting　of　fuel　drums；　the　racket　was　deafening。　Unless　you'd　been　there；　you　just　can't　begin　to　imagine　what　it　was　like。　I　ran　far　enough　clear　to　put　the　radio　and　cells　in　a　safe　place。　Then　I　went　back。　I　asked　Naseby；　who　was　still　trying　to　bring　Dr。　Jolly　round；　if　Jimmy　Grant　had　e　out。　He　said　he　hadn't。　I　started　to　run　for　the　door　again；　and；　well；　that's　all　I　remember。〃
　 〃I　clobbered　him；〃　Jeremy　said　with　gloomy　satisfaction。　〃From　behind。　I　had　to。〃
　 〃I　could　have　killed　you　when　I　came　round；〃　Kinnaird　said　morosely。　〃But　I　guess　you　saved　my　life　at　that。〃
　 〃I　certainly　did；　brother。〃　Jeremy　grimaced。　〃That　was　my　big　contribution　that　night。　Hitting　people。　After　Naseby　had　brought　Dr。　Jolly　round；　he　suddenly　started　shouting；　'Where's　Flanders　and　Bryce；　where's　Flanders　and　Bryce！'　Those　were　the　two　who　had　been　sleeping　with　him　and　Hewson　in　the　cookhouse。　A　few　others　had　e　down　from　the　main　bunkhouse　by　that　time；　and　the　best　part　of　a　minute　had　elapsed　before　we　realized　that　Flanders　and　Bryce　weren't　among　them。　Naseby…　started　back　for　the　cookhouse　at　a　dead　run。　He　was　making　for　the　doorway；　only　there　was　no　doorway　left；　just　a　solid　curtain　of　fire　where　the　doorway　used　to　be。　I　swung　at　him　as　he　passed；　and　he　fell　and　hit　his　head　on　the　ice。〃　He　looked　at　Naseby。　〃Sorry　again；　Johnny；　but　you　were　quite　crazy　at　the　moment。〃
　 Naseby　rubbed　his　jaw　and　grinned　wearily。　〃I　can　still　feel　it。　And　God　knows　you　were　right。〃
　 〃Then　Captain　Folsom　arrived；　along　with　Dick　Foster；　who　also　slept　in　the　main　bunkhouse；〃　Jeremy　went　on。　〃Captain　Folsom　said　he'd　tried　every　other　extinguisher　on　the　base　and　that　all　of　them　were　frozen　solid。　He'd　heard　about　Grant　being　trapped　inside　the　radio　room　and　he　and　Foster　were　carrying　a　blanket　apiece；　soaked　with　water。　I　tried　to　stop　them　but　Captain　Folsom　ordered　me　to　stand　aside。〃　Jeremy　smiled　faintly。　〃When　Captain　Folsom　orders　people　to　stand　aside。。　。　well；　they　do　just　that。〃
　 〃He　and　Foster　threw　the　wet　blankets　over　their　heads　and　ran　inside。　Captain　Folsom　was　out　in　a　few　seconds；　carrying　Grant。　I've　never　seen　anything　like　it：　they　were　burning　like　human　torches。　I　don't　know　what　happened　to　Foster；　but　he　never　came　out。　By　that　time　the　roofs　of　both　Major　Halliwell's　hut　and　the　cookhouse　had　fallen　in。　Nobody　could　get　anywhere　near　either　of　those　buildings。　Besides；　it　was　far　too　late　by　then。　Major　Halliwell　and　the　three　others　inside　the　major's　hut　and　Flanders　and　Bryce　inside　the　cookhouse　must　have　been　dead　already。　Dr。　Jolly　doesn't　think　they　would　have　suffered　very　much：　asphyxiation　would　have　got　them；　like　enough；　before　the　flames　did。〃
　 〃Well；〃　I　said　slowly；　〃that's　as　clear　a　picture　of　what　must　have　been　a　very　confusing　and　terrifying　experience　as