alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第39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！



　 The　film　badge　was　developed　and　brought　back　in　minutes。　Swanson　took　it；　glanced　at　it　briefly；　smiled；　and　let　out　his　breath　in　a　long；　slow　whistle　of　relief。　〃Murphy　was　right。　No　radiation　leak。　Thank　God　for　that；　anyway。　If　there　had　beenwell；　that　was　that；　I'm　afraid。〃
　 The　for'ard　door　of　the　control　room　opened；　a　man　came　in；　and　the　door　was　as　quickly　closed。　I　guessed　who　it　was　before　I　could　see　him　properly。
　 〃Permission　from　chief　torpedoman　Patterson　to　approach　you；　sir；〃　Rawlings　said　with　brisk　formality。　〃We've　just　seen　Murphy。　He's　pretty　groggy；　and　both　the　chief　and　I　think　that　youngsters　like　that　shouldn't　be〃
　 〃Am　I　to　understand　that　you　are　volunteering　to　go　next；　Rawlings？〃　Swanson　asked。　The　screws　of　responsibility　and　tension　were　turned　down　hard　on　him；　but　I　could　see　that　it　cost　him　some　effort　to　keep　his　face　straight。
　 〃Well；　not　exactly　volunteering；　sir。　But；　wellwho　else　is　there？〃
　 〃The　torpedo　department　aboard　this　ship；〃　Swanson　observed　acidly；　〃always　did　have　a　phenomenally　high　opinion　of　itself。〃
　 〃Let　him　try　an　underwater　oxygen　set；〃　I　said。　〃Those　smoke　masks　seem　to　have　their　limitations。〃
　 〃A　steam　leak；　Captain？〃　Rawlings　asked。　〃That　what　you　want　me　to　check　on？〃
　 〃Well；　you　seem　to　have　been　nominated；　voted　for；　and　elected　by　yourself；〃　Swanson　said。　〃Yes；　a　steam　leak。〃
　 〃That　the　suit　Murphy　was　wearing？〃　Rawlings　pointed　to　the　clothes　on　the　deck。
　 〃Yes。　Why？〃
　 〃You'd　have　thought　there　would　be　some　signs　of　moisture　or　condensation　if　there　had　been　a　steam　leak；　sir。〃
　 〃Maybe。　Maybe　soot　and　smoke　particles　are　holding　the　condensing　steam　in　suspension。　Maybe…　it　was　hot　enough　in　there　to　dry　off　any　moisture　that　did　reach　his　suit。　Maybe　a　lot　of　things。　Don't　stay　too　long　in　there。〃
　 〃Just　as　long　as　it　takes　me　to　get　things　fixed　up；〃　Rawlings　said　confidently。　He　turned　to　Hansen　and　grinned。　〃You　stopped　me　once　back　out　there　on　the　ice　cap；　Lieutenant；　but　sure　as　little　apples　I'm　going　to　get　that　little　old　medal　this　time。　Bring　undying　credit　to　the　whole　ship；　I　will。〃
　 〃If　torpedoman　Rawlings　will　ease　up　with　his　ravings　for　a　moment；〃　Hansen　said；　〃I　have　a　suggestion　to　make；　Captain。　I　know　he　won't　be　able　to　take　off　his　mask　inside　there　but　if　he　gave　a　call…up　signal　on　the　engine　telephone　or　rang　through　on　the　engine　answering　telegraph　every　four　or　five　minutes　we'd　know　he　was　okay。　If　he　doesn't；　someone　can　go　in　after　him。〃
　 Swanson　nodded。　Rawlings　pulled　on　suit　and　oxygen　apparatus　and　left。　That　made　it　the　third　time　the　door　leading　to　the　engine　partment　had　been　opened　in　a　few　minutes　and　each　time　fresh　clouds　of　that　black　and　biting　smoke　had　e　rolling　in。　Conditions　were　now　very　bad　inside　the　control　room；　but　someone　had　issued　a　supply　of　goggles　all　around　and　a　few　were　wearing　smoke　masks。
　 A　phone　rang。　Hansen　answered；　spoke　briefly；　and　hung　up。
　 〃That　was　Jack　Cartwright；　skipper。〃　Lieutenant　Cartwright　was　the　main…propulsion　officer；　who　had　been　on　watch　in　the　maneuvering　room　and　had　been　forced　to　retreat　to　the　stern　room。　〃Seems　he　was　overe　by　the　fumes　and　was　carried　back　into　the　stern　room。　Says　he's　okay　now　and　could　we　send　smoke　masks　or　breathing　apparatus　for　him　and　one　of　his　men。　They　can't　get　at　the　ones　in　the　engine　room。　I　told　him　yes。〃
　 〃I'd　certainly　feel　a　lot　happier　if　Jack　Cartwright　was　in　there…　investigating　in　person；〃　Swanson　admitted。　〃Send　a　man；　will　you？〃
　 〃I　thought　I'd　take　them　myself。　Someone　else　can　double　on　the　ice　machine。〃
　 Swanson　glanced　at　Hansen's　injured　hand；　hesitated；　then　nodded。　〃Right。　But　straight　through　the　engine　room　and　straight　back。〃
　 Hanson　was　on　his　way　in　a　minute。　Five　minutes　later　he　was　back　again。　He　stripped　off　his　breathing　equipment。　His　face　was　pale　and　covered　with　sweat。
　 〃There's　fire　in　the　engine　room；　all　right；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃Hotter　than　the　hinges　of　hell。　No　trace　of　sparks　or　flames；　but　that　doesn't　mean　a　thing；　the　smoke　in　there　is　so　thick　that　you　couldn't　see　a　blast　furnace　a　couple　of　feet　away。〃
　 〃See　Rawlings？〃　Swanson　asked。
　 〃No。　Hasn't　he　rung　through？〃
　 〃Twice；　but〃　He　broke　off　as　the　engine…room　telegraph　rang。　〃So。　He's　still　okay。　How　about　the　stern　room；　John？〃
　 〃Damn　sight　worse　than　it　is　here。　The　sick　men　aft　there　are　in　a　pretty　bad　way；　especially　Bolton。　Seems　the　smoke　got　in　before　they　could　get　the　door　shut。〃
　 〃Tell　Harrison　to　start　up　his　air　scrubbers。　But　for　the　lab　only。　Shut　off　the　rest　of　the　ship。〃
　 Fifteen　minutes　passed；　fifteen　minutes　during　which　the　engine…room　telegraph　rang　three　times；　fifteen　minutes　during　which　the　air　became　thicker　and　fouler　and　steadily　less　breathable；　fifteen　minutes　during　which　a　pletely　equipped　fire…fighting　team　was　assembled　in　the　control　center；　then　another　billowing　cloud　of　black　smoke　announced　the　opening　of　the　after　door。
　 It　was　Rawlings。　He　was　very　weak　and　had　to　be　helped　out　of　his　breathing　equipment　and　his　suit。　His　face　was　white　and　streaming　sweat；　his　hair　and　clothes　so　saturated　with　sweat　that　he　might　easily　have　e　straight　from　an　immersion　in　the　sea。　But　he　was　grinning　triumphantly。
　 〃No　steam　leak；　Captain；　that's　for　certain。〃　It　took　him　three　breaths　to　get　that　out。　〃But　fire　down　below　in　the　machinery　space。　Sparks　flying　all　over　the　shop。　Some　flame；　not　much。　I　located　it；　sir。　Starboard　high…pressure　turbine。　The　sheathing's　on　fire。〃
　 〃You'll　get　that　medal；　Rawlings；〃　Swanson　said；　〃even　if　I　have　to　make　the　damn　thing　myself。〃　He　turned　to　the　waiting　firemen。　〃You　heard。　Starboard　turbine。　Four　at　a　time；　fifteen　minutes　maximum。　Lieutenant　Raeburn；　the　first　party。　Knives；　claw　hammers；　pliers；　crow　bars；　CO2。　Saturate　the　sheathing　first；　then　rip　it　off。　Watch　out　for　flash　flames　when　you're　pulling　it　off。　I　don't　have　to　warn　you　about　the　steam　pipes。　Now；　on　your　way。〃
　 They　left。　I　said　to　Swanson：　〃Doesn't　sound　so　much。　How　long　will　it　take？　Ten　minutes；　quarter　of　an　hour？〃
　 He　looked　at　me　somberly。　〃A　minimum　of　three　or　four　hoursif　we're　lucky。　It's　hell's　own　maze　down　in　the　machinery　space　there。　Valves；　tubes；　condensers；　and　miles　of　that　damned　steam　piping　that　would　burn　your　hands　off　if　you　touched　it。　Working　conditions　even　normally　are　so　cramped　as　to　be　almost　impossible。　Then　there's　that　huge　turbine　housing　with　all　that　thick　insulation　sheathing　wrapped　all　around　it；　and　the　engineers　who　fitted　it　meant　it　to　stay　there　for　keeps。　Before　they　start；　they　have　to　douse　the　fire　with　the　CO2　extinguishers；　and　even　that　won't　help　much。　Every　time　they　rip　off　a　piece　of　charred　insulation；　the　oil…soaked　stuff　below　will　burst　into　flames　again　as　soon　as　it　es　into　contact　with　the　oxygen　in　the　atmosphere。〃
　 〃'Oil…soaked'？〃
　 〃That's　where　the　whole　trouble　must　lie；〃　Swanson　explained。　〃Wherever　you　have　moving　machinery；　you　must　have　oil　for　lubrication。　There's　no　shortage　of　machinery；　down　in　the　machine　spaceand　no　shortage　of　oil；　either。　And　just　as　certain　materials　are　strongly　hygroscopic；　so　that　damned　insulation　has　a　remarkable　affinity　for　oil。　Where　there's　any　around；　whether　in　its　normal　fluid　condition　or　in　fine　suspension　in　the　atmosphere；　that　sheathing　attracts　it　as　a　magnet　does　iron　ffiings。　And　it's　as　absorbent　as　blotting　paper。〃
　 〃But　what　could　have　caused　the　fire？〃
　 〃Spontaneous　bustion。　There　have　been　cases　before。　We've　gone　over　fifty　thousand　miles　in　this　ship　now；　and　in　that　time　I　suppose　the　sheathing　has　bee　thoroughly　saturated。　We've　been　going　at　top　speed　ever　since　we　left　Zebra；　and　the　excess　heat　generated　has　set　the　damn　thing　off。　。　。　。　John；　no　word　from　Cartwright　yet？〃
　 〃Nothing。〃
　 〃He　must　have　been　in　there　for　the　better　part　of　twenty　minutes　now。〃
　 〃Maybe。　But　he　was　just　beginning　to　put　his　suit　onhe　and　Ringmanwhen　I　left；　and　maybe；　they　didn't　go　into　the　engine　room　right　away。　I'll　call　the　stern　room。〃　He　did；　then　hung　up；　his　face　grave。　〃Stern　room　says　they've　been　gone　twenty…five　minutes。　Shall　I　investigate；　sir？〃
　 〃You　stay　right　here。　I'm　not〃
　 He　broke　off　as　the　after　door　opened　with　a　crash　and　two　men　came　staggering　outrather；　one　staggering；　the　other　supporting　him。　The　door　was　heaved　shut　and　the　men's　masks；　removed。　One　man　I　recognized　as　an　enlisted　man　who　had　acpanied　Raeburn；　the　other　was　Cartwright。
　 〃Lieutenant　Raeburn　sent　me　out　with　the　lieutenant　here；〃　the　enlisted　man　said。　〃He's　not　so　good；　I　think；　Captain。〃
　 It　was　a　pretty　fair　diagnosis。　He　wasn't　so　good　and　that　was　a　fact。　He　was　barely　conscious　but　nonetheless　fighting　grimly　to　hang　on　to　what　few　shreds　of　consciousness　were　left　him。
　 〃Ringman；〃　he　jerked　out。　〃Five　minutesfive　minutes　ago。　We　were　going　back〃
　 〃Ringman；〃　Swanson　prompted　with　a　gentle　insistence。　〃What　about　Ringman？〃
　 〃He　fell。　Down　into　the　machinery　space。　II　went　after　him；　tried　to　lift　him　up　the　ladder。　He　screamed。　God；　he　screamed。　Ihe〃
　 He　slumped　in　his　chair；　was　caught　before　he　fell　to　the　floor。　I　said：　〃Ringman。　Either　a　major　fracture　or　internal　injuries。
　 〃Damn！〃　Swanson　swore　softly。　〃Damn　it　all！　A　fracture。　Down　there。　John；　have　Cartwright　carried　through　to　the　crew's　mess。　A　fracture！〃
　 〃Please　have　a　mask　and　suit　ready　for　me；〃　Jolly　said　briskly。　〃I'll　fetch　Dr。　Benson's　emergency　kit　from　the　sick　bay。〃
　 〃You？〃　Swanson　shook　his　head。　〃Damned　decent；　Jolly。　I　appreciate　it；　but　I　can't　let　you〃
　 〃Just　for　once；　old　boy；　the　hell　with　your　Navy　regulations；〃　Jolly　said　politely。　〃The　main　thing　to　remember；　mander；　is　that　I'm　aboard　this　ship；　too。　Let　us　remember　that　we　allurnsink　or　swim　together。　No　joke　intended。〃
　 〃But　you　don't　know　how　to　operate　those　sets〃
　 〃I　can　learn；　can't　I？〃　Jolly　said　with　some　asperity。　He　turned　and　left。
　 Swanson　looked　at　me。　He　was　wearing　goggles；　but　they　couldn't　hide　the　concern　in　his　face。　He　said；　curiously　hesitant：　〃Do　you　think〃
　 〃Of　course　Jolly's　right。　You've　no　option。　If　Benson　were　fit　you　know　very　well　you'd　have　him　down　there　in　no　time。　Besides；　Jolly　is　a　damned　fine　doctor。〃
　 〃You　haven't　been　down　there；　Carpenter。　It's　a　metal　jungle。　There　isn't　room　to　splint　a　broken　finger；　much　less〃
　 〃I　don't　think　Dr。　Jolly　will　try　to　fix　or　splint　anything。　He'll　just　give　Ringman　a　jab　that　will　put　him　out　so　that　he　can　be　brought　up　here　without　screaming　in　agony　all　the　way。〃
　 Swanson　nodded；　pursed　his　lips；　and　walked　away　to　examine　the　ice　fathometer。　I　said　to　Hansen；　〃It's　pretty　bad；　isn't　it？〃
　 〃You　can　say　that　again；　friend。　It's　worse　than　bad。　Normally；　there　should　be　enough　air　in　the　submarine　to　last　us　maybe　sixteen　hours。　But　well　over　half　the　air　in　this　ship；　from　here　right　aft；　is　already　practically　unbreathable。　What　we　have　left　can't　possibly　last　us　more　than　a　few　hours。　Skipper's　boxed　in　on　three　sides。　If　he　doesn't　start　the　air　purifiers　up；　the　men　working　down　in　the　machinery　space　are　going　to　have　a　hell　of　a　job　doing　anything。　Working　in　near…zero　visibility　with　breathing　apparatus　on；　you'r