alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第35章

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　 〃Well；〃　I　said　slowly；　〃that's　as　clear　a　picture　of　what　must　have　been　a　very　confusing　and　terrifying　experience　as　we're　ever　likely　to　get。　It　wasn't　possible　to　get　anywhere　near　Major　Halliwell's　hut？〃
　 〃You　couldn't　have　gone　within　fifteen　feet　of　it　and　hoped　to　live；〃　Naseby　said　simply。
　 〃And　what　happened　afterward？〃
　 〃I　took　charge；　old　boy；〃　Jolly　said。　〃Wasn't　much　to　take　charge　of；　though；　and　what　little　there　was　to　be　done　could　be　done　only　by　myselffixing　up　the　injured；　I　mean。　I　made　'em　all　wait　out　there　on　the　ice　cap　until　the　flames　had　died　down　a　bit　and　there　didn't　seem　to　be　any　more　likelihood　of　further　fuel　drums　bursting。　Then　we　all　made　our　way　to　the　bunkhouse；　where　I　did　the　best　I　could　for　the　injured　men。　Kinnaird　here；　despite　pretty　bad　burns；　proved　himself　a　first…class　assistant　doctor。　We　bedded　down　the　worst　of　them。　Young　Grant　was　in　a　shocking　condition'fraid　there　never　really　was　very　much　hope　for　him。　Andwell；　that　was　about　all　there　was　to　it。〃
　 〃You　had　no　food　for　the　next　few　days　and　nights？〃
　 〃Nothing　at　all；　old　boy。　No　heat；　either；　except　for　the　stand…by　Coleman　lamps　that　were　in　the　three　remaining　huts。　We　managed　to　melt　a　little　water　from　the　ice；　that　was　all。。　By　my　orders　everyone　remained　lying　down　and　wrapped　up　in　what　was　available　in　order　to　conserve　energy　and　warmth。〃　…
　 〃Bit　rough　on　you；〃　I　said　to　Kinnaird。　〃Having　to　lose　any　hard…earned　warmth　you　had　every　couple　of　hours　in　order　to　make　those　S。O。S。　broadcasts。〃
　 〃Not　only　me；〃　Kinnaird　said。　〃I'm　no　keener　on　frostbite　than　anyone　else。　Dr。　Jolly　insisted　that　everyone　who　could　should　take　turns　sending　out　the　S。O。S。's。　Wasn't　hard。　There　was　a　pre…set　mechanical　call…up；　and　all　anyone　had　to　do　was　to　send　this　and　listen　in　on　the　earphones。　If　any　message　came　through；　I　was　across　to　the　met　office　in　a　flash。　It　was　actually　Hewson　here　who　contacted　the　ham　operator　in　Bodd　and　Jeremy　who　got　through　to　that　trawler　in　the　Barents　Sea。　I　carried　on　from　there；　of　course。　Apart　from　them；　there　were　Dr。　Jolly　and　Naseby　to　give　a　hand；　so　it　wasn't　so　bad。　Hassard；　too；　took　a　turn　after　the　first　dayhe'd　been　more　or　less　blinded　on　the　night　of　the　fire。〃
　 〃You　remained　in　charge　throughout；　Dr。　Jolly？〃　I　asked。
　 〃Bless　my　soul；　no。　Captain　Folsom　was　in　a　pretty　shocked　condition　for　the　first　twenty…four　hours；　but　when　he'd　recovered　from　that；　he　took　over。　I'm　only　a　pillroller；　old　boy。　As　a　leader　of　men　and　a　dashing　man　of　actionwell；　no；　quite　frankly；　old　top；　I　don't　see　myself　in　that　light　at　all。〃
　 〃You　did　damned　well　all　the　same。〃　I　looked　around　at　the　pany。　〃That　most　of　you　won't　be　scarred　for　life　is　due　entirely　to　the　quick　and　highly　efficient　treatment　Dr。　Jolly　gave　you　under　almost　impossible　circumstances。　Well；　that's　all。　Must　be　a　pretty　painful　experience　for　all　of　you；　having　to　relive　that　night　again。　I　can't　see　that　we　can　ever　hope　to　find　out　how　the　fire　started；　just　one　of　those　chancein…a…million　accidents；　what　the　insurance　panies　call　an　act　of　God。　I'm　certain；　Hewson；　that　no　shadow　of　negligence　attaches　to　you　and　that　your　theory　on　the　outbreak　of　the　fire　is　probably　correct。　Anyway；　although　we've　paid　a　hellishly　high　cost；　we've　learned　a　lesson：　never　again　to　site　a　main　fuel　store　within　a　hundred　yards　of　the　camp。〃
　 The　meeting　broke　up。　Jolly　bustled　off　to　the　sick　bay；　not　quite　managing　to　conceal　his　relish　at　being　the　only　medical　officer　aboard　who　wasn't　〃hors　de　bat〃。　He　had　a　busy　couple　of　hours　ahead　of　him：　changing　bandages　on　burns；　checking　Benson；　X…raying　Zabrinski's　broken　ankle　and　resetting　the　plaster。
　 I　went　to　my　cabin；　unlocked　my　case；　took　out　a　small　wallet；　relocked　my　case；　and　went　to　Swanson's　cabin。　I　noticed　that　he　wasn't　smiling　quite　so　often　now　as　when　I'd　first　met　him　in　Scotland。　He　looked　up　as　I　came　in　in　answer　to　his　call　and　said　without　preamble；　〃If　those　two　men　still　out　in　the　camp　are　in　any　way　fit　to　be　moved；　I　Want　them　both　aboard　at　once。　The　sooner　we're　back　in　Scotland　and　have　some　law　in　on　this　the　happier　I'll　be。　I　warned　you　that　this　investigation　of　yours　would　turn　up　nothing。　Lord　knows　how　short　a　time　it　will　be　before　someone　else　gets　it。　For　God's　sake；　Carpenter；　we　have　a　murderer　running　loose。〃
　 〃Three　things；〃　I　said。　〃Nobody's　going　to　get　it　any　more；　that's　almost　for　certain。　Secondly；　the　law；　as　you　call　it；　wouldn't　be　allowed　to　touch　it。　And；　in　the　third　place；　the　meeting　this　morning　was　of　some　use。　It　eliminated　three　potential　suspects。〃
　 〃I　must　have　missed　something　that　you　didn't。〃
　 〃Not　that。　I　knew　something　that　you　didn't。　I　knew　that　under　the　floor　of　the　laboratory　were　about　forty　Nife　cells　in　excellent　conditionbut　cells　that　had　been　used。〃
　 〃The　hell　you　did；〃　he　said　softly。　〃Sort　of　forgot　to　tell　me；　didn't　you？〃
　 〃In　this　line　of　business　I　never　tell　anyone　anything　unless　I　think　he　can　help　me　by　having　that　knowledge。〃
　 〃You　must　win　an　awful　lot　of　friends　and　influence　an　awful　lot　of　people；〃　Swanson　said　dryly。
　 〃It　gets　embarrassing。　Now；　who　could　have　used　those　cells？　Only　those　who　left　the　bunkhouse　from　time　to　time　to　send　out　the　S。O。S。's。　That　cuts　out　Captain　Folsom　and　the　Harrington　twinsthere's　no　question　of　any　of　the　three　of　them　having　left　the　bunkhouse　at　any　time。　They　weren't　fit　to。　So　that　leaves　Hewson；　Naseby；　Dr。　Jolly；　Jeremy；　Hassard　and　Kinnaird。　Take　your　choice。　One　of　them　is　a　murderer。〃
　 〃Why　did　they　want　those　extra　cells？〃　Swanson　asked。　〃And　if　they　had　those　extra　cells　why　did　they　risk　their　lives　by　relying　on　those　dying　cells　that　they　did　use？　Does　it　make　sense　to　you？〃
　 〃There's　sense　in　everything；〃　I　said。　〃If　you　want　evasion；　Carpenter　has　it。〃　I　brought　out　my　wallet；　spread　cards　before　him。　He　picked　them　up；　studied　them　and　returned　them　to　my　wallet。
　 〃So　now　we　have　it；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃Took　you　quite　a　while　to　get　around　to　it；　didn't　it？　The　truth；　I　mean。　Officer　of　M。I。6。　Counter…espionage。　Government　agent；　eh？　Well；　I　won't　make　any　song　and　dance　about　it；　Carpenter；　I've　known　since　yesterday　what　you　must　be：　you　couldn't　be　anything　else。〃　He　looked　at　me　in　calm　speculation。　〃You　guys　never　disclose　your　identity　unless　you　have　to。〃　He　left　the　logical　question　unspoken。
　 〃Three　reasons　why　I'm　telling　you。　You're　entitled　to　some　measure　of　my　confidence。　I　want　you　on　my　side。　And　because　of　what　I'm　about　to　tell　you；　you'd　have　known　anyway。　Have　you　ever　heard　of　the　Perkin…Elmer　Roti　satellite　missile…tracker　camera？〃
　 〃Quite　a　mouthful；〃　he　murmured。　〃No。〃
　 〃Heard　of　Samos？　Samos　III？〃
　 〃Satellite　and　Missile　Observation　System？〃　He　nodded。　〃I　have。　And　what　conceivable　connection　could　that　have　with　a　ruthless　killer　running　rampant　on　Drift　Station　Zebra？〃
　 So　I　told　him　what　connection　it　could　have。　A　connection　that　was　not　only　conceivable；　not　only　possible；　not　only　probable；　but　absolutely　certain。　Swanson　listened　very　carefully；　very　attentively；　not　interrupting　even　once；　and　at　the　end　of　it　he　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　nodded。　〃You　have　the　right　answer；　no　doubt　about　that。　The　question　is；　who？　I　just　can't　wait　to　see　this　bastard　under　armed　guard。〃
　 〃You'd　clap　him　in　irons　straight　away？〃
　 〃Good　God！〃　He　stared　at　me。　〃Wouldn't　you？〃
　 〃I　don't　know。　Yes；　I　do。　I'd　leave　him　be。　I　think　our　friend　is　just　a　link　in　a　very　long　chain；　and　if　we　give　him　enough　rope；　he'll　not　only　hang　himself；　he'll　lead　us　to　the　other　members　of　the　chain。　Besides；　I'm　not　all　that　sure　that　there　〃is〃　only　one　murderer：　killers　have　been　known　to　have　acplices　before　now；　mander。〃
　 〃Two　of　them？　You　think　there　may　be　two　killers　aboard　my　ship？〃　He　pursed　his　lips　and　squeezed　his　chin　with　a　thoughtful　hand；　Swanson's　nearest　permissible　approach　to　a　state　of　violent　agitation。　Then　he　shook　his　head　definitely。　〃There　may　only　be　one。　If　that　was　so；　and　I　knew　who　he　was；　I'd　arrest　him　at　once。　Don't　forget；　Carpenter；　we've　hundreds　of　miles　to　go　under　the　ice　before　we're　out　into　the　open　sea。　We　can't　watch　all　six　of　them　all　the　time；　and　there　are　a　hundred　and　one　things　that　a　man　with　even　only　a　little　knowledge　of　submarines　could　do　that　would　put　us　all　in　mortal　danger。　Things　that　wouldn't　matter　were　we　clear　of　the　ice：　things　that　would　be　fatal　under　it。〃
　 〃Aren't　you　rather　overlooking　the　fact　that　if　the　killer　did　us　in；　he'd　also　be　doing　himself　in？〃
　 〃I　don't　necessarily　share　your　belief　in　his　sanity。　All　killers　are　a　little　crazy。　No　matter　how　excellent　their　reasons　for　killing；　the　very　fact　that　they　do　kill　makes　them　abnormal。　You　can't　judge　them　by　normal　standards。〃
　 He　was　only　half　right；　but　unfortunately　that　half　might　apply　in　this　case。　Most　murderers　kill　in　a　state　of　extreme　emotional　once…in…a…lifetime　stress　and　never　kill　again。　But　our　friend　in　this　case　had　every　appearance　of　being　a　stranger　to　emotional　stress　of　any　kindand；　besides；　he'd　killed　a　great　deal　more　than　once。
　 〃Well；〃　I　said　doubtfully；　〃perhaps。　Yes；　I　think　I　do　agree　with　you。〃　I　refrained　from　specifying　our　mon　ground　for　agreement。　〃Who's　your　candidate　for　the　high　jump；　mander？〃
　 〃I'm　damned　if　I　know。　I　listened　to　every　word　that　was　said　this　morning。　I　watched　the　face　of　each　man　who　spokeand　the　faces　of　the　ones　who　weren't　speaking。　I　haven't　stopped　thinking　about　it　since　and　I'm　still　damned　if　I　have　a　clue。　How　about　Kinnaird？〃
　 〃He's　the　obvious　suspect；　isn't　he？　But　only　because　he's　a　skilled　radio　operator。　I　could　train　a　man　in　a　couple　of　days　to　send　and　receive　in　Morse。　Slow；　clumsy；　he　wouldn't　know　a　thing　about　the　instrument　he　was　using；　but　he　could　still　do　it。　Any　of　them　may　easily　have　been　petent　enough　to　operate　a　radio。　The　fact　that　Kinnaird　is　a　skilled　operator　may　even　be　a　point　in　his　favor。〃
　 〃Nife　cells　were　removed　from　the　radio　cabin　and　taken　to　the　laboratory；〃　Swanson　pointed　out。　〃Kinnaird　had　the　easiest　access　to　them。　Apart　from　Dr。　Jolly　who　had　his　office　and　sleeping　quarters　in　the　same　hut。〃
　 〃So　that　would　point　a　finger　at　Kinnaird　or　Jolly？〃
　 〃Well；　wouldn't　it？〃
　 〃Certainly。　Especially　if　you　will　agree　that　the　presence　of　those　tinned　foods　under　the　lab　floor　also　points　a　finger　at　Hewson　and　Naseby；　both　of　whom　slept　in　the　cookhouse；　where　the　food　was　stored；　and　that　the　presence　of　the　radio…sonde　balloon　and　the　hydrogen　in　the　lab　also　points　a　finger　at　Jeremy　and　Hassard；　one　a　met　officer　and　the　other　a　technician　who　would　have　had　the　easiest　access　to　those　items。〃
　 〃That's　right；　confuse　things；〃　Swanson　said　irritably。　〃As　if　they　weren't　confused　enough　already。〃
　 〃I'm　not　confusing　things。　All　I'm　saying　is　that　if　you　admit　a　certain　possibility　for　a　certain　reason；　then　you　must　admit　similar　possibilities　for　similar　reasons。　Besides；　there　are　points　in　Kinnaird's　favor。　He　risked　his　life　to　go　back　into　the　radio　room　to　bring　out　the　portable　transmitter。　He　risked　almost　certain　suicide；　when　he　tried　to　go　in　the　second　time　to　bring　out　his　assis