alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第4章

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　 This　was　being　difficult。　I　tried　again。　I　said；　〃I　know　Drift　Station　Zebra。　I　helped　select　the　site。　I　helped　establish　the　camp。　The　mandant；　a　Major　Halliwell；　has　been　my　closest　friend　for　many　years。〃　The　last　was　only　half　the　truth；　but　I　felt　that　this　was　neither　the　time　nor　the　place　for　overelaboration。
　 〃Well；　well；〃　Garvie　said　thoughtfully。　〃And　you　still　claim　you're　just　an　ordinary　doctor？〃
　 〃My　duties　are　flexible；　sir。〃
　 〃I'll　say　they　are。　Well；　then；　Carpenter；　if　you're　just　a　mon　garden…variety　sawbones；　how　do　you　explain　this？〃　He　picked　up　a　signal　form　from　the　table　and　handed　it　to　me。　〃This　has　just　arrived　in　reply　to　mander　Swanson's　radioed　query　to　Washington　about　you。〃
　 I　looked　at　the　signal。　It　read：　〃Dr。　Neil　Carpenter　bona　fide　beyond　question。　He　may　be　taken　into　your　fullest；　repeat；　fullest　confidence。　He　is　to　be　extended　every　facility　and　all　aid　short　of　actually　endangering　the　safety　of　your　submarine　and　the　lives　of　your　crew。〃　It　was　signed　by　the　Chief　of　Naval　Operations。
　 〃Very　civil　of　the　Chief　of　Naval　Operations；　I　must　say。〃　I　handed　back　the　telegram。　〃With　a　character　reference　like　this；　what　are　you　worrying　about？　That　ought　to　satisfy　anyone。〃
　 〃It　doesn't　satisfy　me；〃　Garvie　said　heavily。　〃The　ultimate　responsibility　for　the　safety　of　the　〃Dolphin〃　is　mine。　This　message　more　or　less　gives　you　carte　blanche　to　behave　as　you　like；　to　ask　mander　Swanson　to　act　in　ways　that　might　be　contrary　to　his　better　judgment。　I　can't　have　that。〃
　 〃Does　it　matter　what　you　can　or　can't　have？　You　have　your　orders。　Why　don't　you　obey　them？〃
　 He　didn't　hit　me。　He　didn't　even　bat　an　eyelid。　He　wasn't　activated　by　pique　about　the　fact　that　he　wasn't　privy　to　the　reason　for　the　seeming　mystery　of　my　presence　there；　he　was　genuinely　concerned　about　the　safety　of　the　submarine。　He　said：　〃If　I　think　it　more　important　that　the　〃Dolphin〃　should　remain　on　an　active　war　footing　rather　than　go　haring　off　on　a　wildgoose　chase　to　the　Arctic；　or　if　I　think　you　constitute　a　danger　to　the　submarine；　I　can　countermand　the　C。N。O。's　orders。　I'm　the　mander…in…Chief　on　the　spot。　And　I'm　not　satisfied。〃
　 This　was　damnably　awkward。　He　meant　every　word　he　said；　and　he　didn't　look　the　type　who　would　give　a　hoot　for　the　consequences　if　he　believed　himself　to　be　in　the　right。　I　looked　at　both　men；　looked　at　them　slowly　and　speculatively；　the　unmistakable　gaze；　I　hoped；　of　a　man　who　was　weighing　others　in　the　balance；　what　I　was　really　doing　was　thinking　up　a　suitable　story　that　would　satisfy　both。　After　I　had　given　enough　time　to　my　weighing…upand　my　thinkingI　dropped　my　voice　a　few　decibels　and　said：　〃Is　that　door　sound…proof？〃
　 〃More　or　less；〃　Swanson　said。　He'd　lowered　his　own　voice　to　match　mine。　
　 〃I　won't　insult　either　of　you　by　swearing　you　to　secrecy　or　any　such　rubbish；〃　I　said　quietly。　〃I　want　to　put　on　record　the　fact　that　what　I　am　about　to　tell　you　I　am　telling　you　under　duress；　under　Admiral　Garvie's　threat　to　refuse　me　transport　if　I　don't　ply　with　his　wishes。〃
　 〃There　will　be　no　repercussions；〃　Garvie　said。
　 〃How　do　you　know？　Not　that　it　matters　now。　Well；　gentlemen；　the　facts　are　these。　Drift　Ice　Station　Zebra　is　officially　classed　as　an　Air　Ministry　meteorological　station。　Well；　it　belongs　to　the　Air　Ministry；　all　right；　but　there's　not　more　than　a　couple　of　qualified　meteorologists　among　its　entire　personnel。〃
　 Admiral　Garvie　refilled　the　glass　and　passed　it　to　me　without　a　word；　without　a　flicker　of　change　in　his　expression。　The　old　boy　certainly　knew　how　to　play　it　cool。
　 〃What　you　will　find　there；〃　I　went　on；　〃are　some　of　the　most　highly　skilled　men　in　the　world　in　the　fields　of　radar；　radio；　infrared；　and　electronic　puters；　operating　the　most　advanced　instruments　ever　used　in　those　fields。　We　know　now；　never　mind　how；　the　count…down　succession　of　signals　the　Russians　use　in　the　last　minute　before　launching　a　missile。　There's　a　huge　dish　aerial　in　Zebra　that　can　pick　up　and　amplify　any　such　signals　within　seconds　of　its　beginning。　Then　long…range　radar　and　infrared　home…in　on　that　bearing　and　within　three　minutes　of　the　rocket's　lift…off　they　have　its　height；　speed；　and　course　pinpointed　to　an　infinitesimal　degree　of　error。　The　puters　do　this；　of　course。　One　minute　later　the　information　is　in　the　hands　of　all　the　antimissile　stations　between　Alaska　and　Greenland。　One　minute　more　and　solidfuel　infrared　homing　antimissile　rockets　are　on　their　way：　then　the　enemy　missiles　will　be　intercepted　and　harmlessly　destroyed　while　still　high　over　the　Arctic　regions。　If　you　look　at　a　map；　you　will　see　that　in　its　present　position　Drift　Ice　Station　Zebra　is　sitting　practically　on　Russia's　missile　doorstep。　It's　hundreds　of　miles　in　advance　of　the　present　DEW　linethe　'distant　early　warning'　system。　Anyway；　it　renders　the　DEW　line　obsolete。〃　
　 〃I'm　only　the　office　boy　around　those　parts；〃　Garvie　said　quietly。　〃I've　never　heard　of　any　of　this　before。〃
　 I　wasn't　surprised。　I'd　never　heard　any　of　it　myself；　either；　not　until　I'd　just　thought　it　up　a　moment　ago。　mander　Swanson's　reactions；　if　and　when　we　ever　got　to　Drift　Station　Zebra；　were　going　to　be　very　interesting。　But　I'd　cross　that　bridge　when　I　came　to　it。　At　present；　my　only　concern　was　to　get　there。
　 〃Outside　the　drift　station　itself；〃　I　said；　〃I　doubt　if　a　dozen　people　in　the　world　know　what　goes　on　there。　But　now　you　know。　And　you　can　appreciate　how　vitally　important　it　is　to　the　free　world　that　this　base　be　maintained　in　bein&　If　anything　has　happened　to　it；　we　want　to　find　out　just　as　quickly　as　possible　〃what〃　has　happened　so　that　we　can　get　it　operating　again。〃
　 〃I　still　maintain　that　you're　not　an　ordinary　doctor；〃　Garvie　smiled。　〃mander　Swanson；　how　soon　can　you　get　under　way？〃　…　…
　 〃Finish　loading　the　torpedoes；　move　alongside　the　〃Hunley〃load　some　final　food　stores；　pick　up　extra　Arctic　clothing；　and　that's　it；　sir。〃
　 〃Just　like　that？　You　said　you　wanted　to　make　a　slowtime　dive　out　in　the　loch　to　check　the　planes　and　adjust　the　underwater　trimthose　missing　torpedoes　up　front　are　going　to　make　a　difference；　you　know。〃
　 〃That's　before　I　heard　Dr。　Carpenter。　Now　I　want　to　get　up　there　just　as　fast　as　he　does；　sir。　I'll　see　if　immediate　trim　checks　are　necessary：　if　not；　we　can　carry　…　them　out　at　sea。〃
　 〃It's　your　boat；〃　Garvie　acknowledged。　〃I'd　give　my　two　remaining　back　teeth　to　e　with　you；　mander。　Where　are　you　going　to　acmodate　Dr。　Carpenter；　by　the　way？〃
　 〃There's　space　for　a　cot　in　the　exec's　and　engineer's　cabin。〃　He　smiled　at　me。　〃I've　already　had　your　suitcase　put　in　there。〃
　 〃Did　you　have　much　trouble　with　the　lock？〃　I　inquired。
　 He　had　the　grace　to　color　slightly。　〃It's　the　first　time　I've　ever　seen　a　bination　lock　on　a　suitcase；〃　he　admitted。　〃It　was　that　more　than　anything　elseand　the　fact　that　we　couldn't　open　itthat　made　the　admiral　and　myself　so　suspicious。　I've　still　one　or　two　things　to　discuss　with　the　admiral；　so　I'll　take　you　to　your　quarters　now。　Dinner's　at　eight。〃
　 〃I'd　rather　skip　dinner；　thanks。〃
　 〃No　one　ever　gets　seasick　on　the　〃Dolphin〃；　I　can　assure　you；〃　Swanson　smiled。
　 〃I'd　appreciate　the　chance　to　sleep　instead。　I've　had　no　sleep　for　almost　three　days　and　I've　been　traveling　non…stop　for　the　past　fifty　hours。　I'm　just　tired；　that's　all。〃
　 〃That's　a　fair　amount　of　traveling；〃　Swanson　smiled。　He　seemed　to　be　smiling　almost　always；　and　I　supposed　vaguely　that　there　would　be　some　people　foolish　enough　to　take　that　smile　always　at　its　face　value。　〃Where　were　you　fifty　hours　ago；　Doctor？〃
　 〃In　the　Antarctic。〃
　 Admiral　Garvie　gave　me　a　very　old…fashioned　look　indeed；　but　he　let　it　go　at　that。
　
　
　2
　
　 When　I　awoke　I　was　still　heavy　with　sleep；　the　heaviness　of　a　man　who　has　slept　for　a　long　time。　My　watch　said　9：30；　and　I　knew　it　must　be　the　next　morning；　not　the　same　evening：　I　had　been　asleep　for　fifteen　hours。
　 The　cabin　was　quite　dark。　I　rose；　fumbled　for　the　light　switch；　found　it；　and　looked　around。　Neither　Hansen　nor　the　engineer　officer　was　there；　they　must　have　e　in　after　I　had　gone　to　sleep　and　left　before　I　woke　up。　I　looked　around　some　more　and　then　I　listened。　I　was　suddenly　conscious　of　the　almost　plete　quiet；　the　stillness；　the　entire　lack　of　any　perceptible　motion。　I　might　have　been　in　the　bedroom　of　my　own　house。　What　had　gone　wrong？　What　hold…up　had　occurred？　Why　in　God's　name　weren't　we　under　way？　I'd　have　sworn　the　previous　night　that　mander　Swanson　had　been　just　as　conscious　of　the　urgency　as　I　had　been。
　 I　had　a　quick　wash　in　the　folding　Pullman…type　basin；　passed　up　the　need　for　a　shave；　pulled　on　shirt；　trousers　and　shoes；　and　…　went　outside。　A　few　feet　away　a　door　opened　to　starboard　off　the　passage。　I　went　along　and　walked　in。　The　officers'　wardroom；　without　a　doubt；　with　one　of　them　still　at　breakfast；　slowly　munching　his　way　through　a　huge　plateful　of　steak；　eggs　and　French　fries；　glancing　at　a　magazine　in　a　leisurely　fashion　and　giving　every　impression　of　a　man　enjoying　life　to　the　luxurious　full。　He　was　about　my　own　age；　big；　inclined　to　fata　mon　condition；　I　was　to　find；　among　the　entire　crew；　who　ate　so　well　and　exercised　so　littlewith　close…cropped　black　hair　already　graying　at　the　temples；　and　a　cheeful；　intelligent　face。　He　caught　sight　of　me；　rose　and　stretched　out　a　hand。
　 〃Dr。　Carpenter；　it　must　be。　Wele　to　the　wardroom。　I'm　Benson。　Take　a　seat；　take　a　seat。〃
　 I　said　something；　appropriate　but　quick；　then　asked；　〃What's　wrong？　What's　been　the　hold…up？　Why　aren't　we　under　way？〃　
　 〃That's　the　trouble　with　the　world　today；〃　Benson　said　mournfully。　〃Rush；　rush；　rush。　And　where　does　all　the　hurry　get　them？　I'll　tell　you〃
　 〃Excuse　me。　I　must　see　the　captain。〃　I　turned　to　leave　but　he　laid　a　hand　on　my　arm。
　 〃Relax；　Dr。　Carpenter。　We　〃are〃　at　sea。　Take　a　seat。〃
　 〃At　sea？　On　the　level？　I　don't　feel　a　thing。〃
　 〃You　never　do　when　you're　three　hundred　feet　down。　Maybe　four　hundred。　I　don't；〃　he　said　expansively；　〃concern　myself　with　those　trifles。　I　leave　them　to　the　mechanics。〃
　 〃Mechanics？〃
　 〃The　captain；　the　engineer　officer；　people　like　that。〃　He　waved　a　hand　in　a　generously　vague　gesture　to　indicate　the　largeness　of　the　concept　he　understood　by　the　term　〃mechanics。〃　〃Hungry？〃
　 〃We've　cleared　the　Clyde？〃
　 〃Unless　the　Clyde　extends　to　well　beyond　the　north　of　Scotland；　the　answer　to　that　is；　yes；　we　have。〃
　 〃e　again？〃
　 He　grinned。　〃At　the　last　check　we　were　well　into　the　Norwegian　Sea；　about　the　latitude　of　Bergen。〃
　 〃This　is　still　only　Tuesday　morning？〃　I　don't　know　if　I　looked　stupid：　I　certainly　felt　it。
　 〃It's　still　only　Tuesday　morning；〃　he　laughed。　〃And　if　you　can　work　out　from　that　what　kind　of　speed　we've　been　makin　in　the　last　fifteen　hours；　we'd　all　be　obliged　if　you'd　keep　it　to　yourself。〃　He　leaned　back　in　his　seat　and　lifted　his　voice。　〃Henry！〃　…
　 A　steward；　white…jacketed；　appeared　from　what　I　took　to　be　the　pantry。　He　was　a　tall；　thin　character　with　a　dark　plexion　and　the　long　lugubrious　face　of　a　dyspeptic　spaniel。　He　looked　at　Benson　and　said　in　a　meaningful　voice：　〃〃Another〃　plate　of　French　fries；　Doc？〃
　 〃You　know　very　well　that　I　never　have　more　than　one　helping　of　that　carbohydrated　rubbish；〃　Benson　said　with