alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第38章

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　 I　dressed　slowly；　not　hurrying。　My　damaged　hand　didn't　help　me　much　but　that　wasn't　why　I　took　my　time。　Maybe　the　ship　was　on　fire；　maybe　the　nuclear　power　plant　had　gone　out　of　kilter。　But　if　Swanson's　superbly　trained　crew　couldn't　cope　with　every　emergency　that　could　conceivably　arise；　then　matters　weren't　going　to　be　improved　any　by　Carpenter　running　around　in　circles　shouting：　〃Where's　the　fire？
　 Three　minutes　after　Hansen　had　gone　I　walked　along　to　the　control　room　and　peered　in：　if　I　was　going　to　be　in　the　way；　then　this　was　as　far　as　I　was　going　to　go。　Dark；　acrid　smoke　billowed　past　me　and　a　voiceSwanson'ssaid　sharply：　〃Inside　and　close　that　door。〃
　 I　pulled　the　door　to　and　looked　around　the　control　room。　At　least；　I　tried　to。　It　wasn't　easy。　My　eyes　were　already　steaming　as　if　someone　had　thrown　a　bag　of　pepper　into　them；　and　what　little　sight　was　left　them　didn't　help　me　much。　The　room　was　filled　with　black　evil…smelling　smoke；　denser　by　far　and　more　throat…catching　than　the　worst　London　fog。　Visibility　was　no　more　than　a　few　feet；　but　what　little　I　could　see　showed　me　men　still　at　their　stations。　Some　were　gasping；　some　were　half　choking；　some　were　cursing　softly；　all　had　badly　watering　eyes；　but　there　was　no　trace　of　panic。
　 〃You'd　have　been　better　off　on　the　other　side　of　that　door；〃　Swanson　said　dryly。　〃Sorry　to　have　barked　at　you；　Doctor；　but　we　want　to　limit　the　spread　of　the　smoke　as　much　as　possible。〃
　 〃Where's　the　fire？〃
　 〃In　the　engine　room。〃　Swanson　could　have　been　sitting　on　his　front　porch　at　home　discussing　the　weather。　〃Where　in　the　engine　room　we　don't　know。　It's　pretty　bad。　At　least；　the　smoke　is。　The　extent　of　the　fire　we　don't　know；　because　we　can't　locate　it。　Engineer　officer　says　it's　impossible　to　see　your　hand　in　front　of　your　face。〃
　 〃The　engines；〃　I　said。　〃They've　stopped。　Has　anything　gone　wrong〃
　 He　rubbed　his　eyes　with　a　handkerchief；　spoke　to　a　man　who　was　pulling　on　a　heavy　rubber　suit　and　a　smoke　mask；　then　turned　back　to　me。
　 〃We're　not　going　to　be　vaporized；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃　I　could　have　sworn　he　was　smiling。　〃The　atomic　pile　can　only　fail　safe　no　matter　what　happens。　If　anything　goes　wrong；　the　uranium　rods　slam　down　in　very　quick　time　indeeda　fraction　under　a　thousandth　of　a　secondstopping　the　whole　reaction。　In　this　case；　though；　we　shut　it　off　ourselves。　The　men　in　the　maneuvering　room　could　no　longer　see　either　the　reactor　dials　or　the　governor　for　the　control　rods。　No　option　but　to　shut　it　down。　The　engine…room　crew　have　been　forced　to　abandon　the　engine　and　maneuvering　rooms　and　take　shelter　in　the　stern　room。〃
　 Well；　that　was　something　at　least。　We　weren't　going　to　be　blown　to　pieces；　ignobly　vaporized　on　the　altar　of　nuclear　advancement：　good　old…fashioned　suffocation；　that　was　to　be　our　lot。　〃So　what　do　we　do？〃　I　asked。。
　 〃What　we　should　do　is　surface　immediately。　With　fourteen　feet　of　ice　overhead；　that's　not　easy。　Excuse　me；　will　you？〃
　 He　spoke　to　the　now　pletely　masked　and　suited　man；　who　was　carrying　a　small　dialed　box　in　his　hands。　They　walked　together　past　the　navigator's　chart　desk　and　ice　machine　to　the　heavy　door　opening　on　the　passage　that　led　to　the　engine　room　over　the　top　of　the　reactor　partment。　They　unlatched　the　door；　pushed　it　open。　A　dense；　blinding　cloud　of　dark　smoke　rolled　into　the　room　as　the　masked　man　stepped　quickly　into　the　passageway　and　swung　the　door　to　behind　him。　Swanson　clamped　the　door　shut；　walked；　temporarily　blinded；　back　to　the　control　position；　and　fumbled　down　a　roof　microphone。
　 〃Captain　speaking。〃　His　voice　echoed　emptily　through　the　control　center。　〃The　fire　is　located　in　the　engine　room。　We　do　not　know　yet　whether　it　is　electrical；　chemical；　or　fuel　oil：　the　source　of　the　fire　has　not　been　pinpointed。'　Acting　on　the　principle　of　being　prepared　for　the　worst；　we　are　now　testing　for　a　radiation　leak。〃　So　that　was　what　the　masked　man　had　been　carrying；　a　Geiger　counter。　〃If　that　proves　negative；　we　shall　try　for　a　steam　leak；　and　if'　that　is　negative；　we　shall　carry　out　an　intensive　search　to　locate　the　fire。　It　will　not　be　easy；　as　I'm　told　visibility　is　almost　zero。　We　have　already　shut　down　all　electrical　circuits　in　the　engine　room；　lighting　included；　to　prevent　an　explosion　in　the　event　of　atomized　fuel　being　present　in　the　atmosphere。　We　have　closed　the　oxygen…intake　valves　and　isolated　the　engine　room　from　the　air…cleaning　system　in　the　hope　that　the　fire　will　consume　all　available　oxygen　and　burn　itself　out。
　 〃All　smoking　is　prohibited　until　further　notice。　Heaters；　fans；　and　all　electrical　circuits　other　than　munication　lines　to　be　switched　offand　that　includes　the　juke　box　and　the　ice…cream　machine。　All　lights　to　be　switched　off　except　those　absolutely　essential。　All　movement　is　to　be　restricted　to　a　minimum。　I　shall　keep　you　informed　of　any　progress　we　may　make。〃
　 I　became　aware　of　someone　standing　by　my　side。　It　was　Dr。　Jolly；　his　normally　jovial　face　puckered　and　woe…begone；　the　tears　flowing　down　his　face。　Plaintively　he　said　to　me；　〃This　〃is〃　a　bit　thick；　old　boy；　what？　I'm　not　sure　that　I'm　so　happy　now　about　being　rescued。　And　all　those　prohibitionsno　smoking；　no　power　to　be　used；　no　moving　arounddo　those　mean　what　I　take　them　to　mean？〃
　 〃I'm　afraid　they　do　indeed。〃　It　was　Swanson　who　answered　Jolly's　question　for　him。　〃This；　I'm　afraid；　is　every　nuclearsubmarine　captain's　nightmare　e　truefire　under　the　ice。　At　one　blow　we're　not　only　reduced　to　the　level　of　a　conventional　submarinewe're　two　stages　worse。　In　the　first　place；　a　conventional　submarine　wouldn't　be　under　the　ice　anyway。　In　the　second　place；　it　has　huge　banks　of　storage　batteries；　and　even　if　it　were　beneath　the　ice；　it　would　have　sufficient　reserve　power　to　steam　far　enough　south　to　get　clear　of　the　ice。　Our　reserve　storage　battery　is　so　small　that　it　wouldn't　take　us　a　fraction　of　the　way。〃
　 〃Yes；　yes；〃　Jolly　nodded。　〃But　this　no　smoking；　no　moving〃
　 〃That　same　very　small　battery；　I'm　afraid；　is　the　only　source　left　to　us　for　power　for　the　air…purifying　machines；　for　lighting；　ventilation；　heatingI'm　afraid　the　Dolphin　is　going　to　get　very　cold　in　a　short　time…so　we　have　to　curtail　its　expenditures　of　energy　on　those　things。　So　no　smoking；　minimum　movementthe　less　carbon　dioxide　breathed　into　'the　atmosphere；　the　better。　But　the　real　reason　for　conserving　electric　energy　is　that　we　need　it　to　power　the　heaters；　pumps　and　motors　that　have　to　be　used　to　start　up　the　reactor　again。　If　that　battery　exhausts　itself　before　we　get　the　reactor　goingwell；　I　don't　have　to　draw　a　diagram。〃
　 〃You're　not　very　encouraging；　are　you；　mander？〃　Jolly　plained。
　 〃No；　not　very。　I　don't　see　any　reason　to　be；〃　Swanson　said　dryly。
　 〃I'll　bet　you'd　trade　in　your　pension　for　a　nice　open　lead　above　us　just　now；〃　I　said。
　 〃I'd　trade　in　the　pension　of　every　flag　officer　in　the　U。　S。　Navy；〃　he　said　matter…of…factly。　〃If　we　could　find　a　polynya　I'd　surface；　open　the　engine…room　hatch　to　let　most　of　the　contaminated　air　escape；　start　up　our　dieselit　takes　its　air　direct　from　the　engine　roomand　have　the　rest　of　the　smoke　sucked　out　in　nothing　flat。　As　it　is；　that　diesel　is　about　as　much　use　to　me　as　a　grand　piano。〃
　 〃And　the　passes？〃　I　asked。
　 〃That's　another　interesting　thought；〃　Swanson　agreed。　〃If　the　power　out…put　from　our　reserve　battery　falls　below　a　certain　level；　our　three　Sperry　gyropass　systems　and　the　N6Athat's　the　inertial…guidance　machinejust　go　out　of　business。　After　that　we're　lost；　pletely。　Our　magnetic　pass　is　quite　useless　in　those　latitudesit　just　walks　in　circles。〃
　 〃So　we　would　go　round　and　round　in　circles；　too；〃　Jolly　said　thoughtfully。　〃Forever　and　ever　under　the　jolly　old　ice　cap；　what？　By　Jove；　mander；　I'm　really　beginning　to　wish　we'd　stayed　up　at　Zebra。〃
　 〃We're　not　dead　yet；　Doctor。　。　。　。　Yes；　John？〃　This　to　Hansen；　who　had　just　e　up。
　 〃Sanders；　sir。　On　the　ice　machine。　Can　he　have　a　smoke　mask？　His　eyes　are　watering　pretty　badly。〃
　 〃Give　him　anything　you　like　in　the　ship；〃　Swanson　said；　〃just　so　long　as　he　can　keep　his　eyes　clear　to　read　that　graph。　And　double　the　watch　on　the　ice　machine。　If　there's　a　lead　up　there　only　the　size　of　a　hair；　I'm　going　for　it。　Immediate　report　if　the　ice　thickness　fails　below；　say；　eight　or　nine　feet。〃
　 〃Torpedoes？〃　Hansen　asked。　〃There　hasn't　been　ice　thin　enough　for　that　in　three　hours。　And　at　the　speed　we're　drifting；　there　won't　be　for　three　months。　I'll　go　keep　the　watch　myself。　I'm　not　much　good　for　anything　else；　this　hand　of　mine　being　the　way　it　is。〃
　 〃Thank　you。　First　you　might　tell　engineman　Harrison　to　turn　off　the　CO2　scrubber　and　monoxide　burners。　Must　save　every　amp　of　power　we　have。　Besides；　it　will　do　this　pampered　bunch　of　ours　a　world　of　good　to　sample　a　little　of　what　the　old…time　submariners　had　to　experience　when　they　were　forced　to　stay　below　maybe　twenty　hours　at　a　time。〃
　 〃That's　going　to　he　pretty　rough　on　our　really　sick　men；〃　I　said。　〃Benson　and　Folsom　in　the　sick　bay；　the　Harrington　twins；　Brownell　and　Bolton　in　the　nucleonics　lab　right　aft。　They've　got　enough　to　contend　with　without　foul　air　as　well。〃
　 〃I　know；〃　Swanson　admitted。　〃I'm　damned　sorry　about　it。　Later　on；　whenand　ifthe　air　gets　really　bad；　we'll　start　up　the　air…purifying　systems　again　but　blank　off　every　place　except　the　lab　and　the　sick　bay。〃　He　broke　off　and　turned　around　as　a　fresh　wave　of　dark　smoke　rolled　in　from　the　suddenly　opened　after　door。　The　man　with　the　smoke　mask　was　back　from　the　engine　room；　and　even　with　my　eyes　streaming　in　that　smoke…filled；　acrid　atmosphere；　I　could　see　he　was　in　a　pretty　bad　way。　Swanson　and　two　others　rushed　to　meet　him；　two　of　them　catching　him　as　he　staggered　into　the　control　room；　the　third　quickly　swinging　the　heavy　door　shut　against　the　darkly　evil　clouds　of　smoke。
　 Swanson　pulled　off　the　man's　smoke　mask。　It　was　Murphy；　the　man　who　had　acpanied　me　when　we'd　closed　the　torpedo　tube　door。　People　like　Murphy　and　Rawlings；　I　thought；　always　got　picked　for　jobs　like　this。
　 His　face　was　white　and　he　was　gasping　for　air；　his　eyes　upturned　in　his　head。　He　was　hardly　more　than　half　conscious；　but　even　that　foul　atmosphere　in　the　control　center　must　have　seemed　to　him　like　the　purest　mountain　air　pared　to　what　he'　had　just　been　breathing；　for　within　thirty　seconds　his　head　had　begun　to　clear　and　he　was　able　to　grin　up　painfully　from　where　he'd　been　lowered　into　a　chair。
　 〃Sorry；　Captain；〃　he　gasped。　〃This　smoke　mask　was　never　meant　to　cope　with　the　stuff　that's　in　the　engine　room。　Pretty　hellish　in　there；　I　tell　you。〃　He　grinned　again。　〃Good　news；　Captain。　No　radiation　leak。〃
　 〃Where's　the　Geiger　counter？〃　Swanson　asked　quietly。
　 〃It's　had　it；　I'm　afraid；　sir。　I　couldn't　see　what　I　was　doing　in　there。　Honest；　sir；　you　can't　see　three　inches　in　front　of　your　face。　I　tripped　and　damn　near　fell　down　into　the　machinery　space。　The　counter　did　fall　down。　But　I'd　a　clear　check　before　then。　Nothing　at　all。〃　He　reached　up　to　his　shoulder　and　unclipped　his　ifim　badge。　〃This'll　show；　sir。〃
　 〃Have　that　developed　immediately。　That　was　very　well　done；　Murphy；〃　he　said　warmly。　〃Now　get　for'ard　to　the　mess　room。　You'll　find　some　really　clear　air　there。〃
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