alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第43章

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ation　of　victory　was　over；　now　that　the　almost　intolerable　relief　of　knowing　that　they　were　not；　after　all；　to　find　their　gasping　end　in　a　cold　iron　tomb　under　the　ice　cap　had　begun　to　fade；　the　inevitable　reaction；　when　it　did　e；　was　correspondingly　severe。　A　long　and　sleepless　night　behind　them；　hours　of　cruelly　back…breaking　toil　in　the　metal　jungle　of　the　machinery　space；　that　lifetime　of　tearing　tension　when　they　had　not　known　whether　they　were　going　to　live　or　die　but　had　believed　they　were　going　to　die；　the　poisonous　fumes　that　had　laid　them　all　on　the　rackall　of　these　bined　had　taken　cruel　toll　of　their　reserves　of　physical　and　mental　energy；　and　the　crew　of　the　〃Dolphin〃　were　now　sleep…ridden　and　exhausted　as　they　had　never　been。　When　they　lay　down　to　sleep；　they　slept　at　once；　like　dead　men。
　 I　didn't　sleep。　Not　then；　not　at　four　o'clock。　I　couldn't　sleep。　I　had　too　much　to　think　about：　like　how　it　had　been　primarily　my　fault；　through　mistake；　miscalculation；　or　sheer　pig…headedness；　that　the　〃Dolphin〃　and　her　crew　had　been　brought　to　such　desperate　straits；　like　what　mander　Swanson　was　going　to　say　when　he　found　out　how　much　I'd　kept　from　him；　how　little　I'd　told　him。　Still；　if　I　had　kept　him　in　the　dark　so　long；　I　couldn't　see　that　there　would　be　much　harm　in　it　if　I　kept　him　in　the　dark　just　that　little　time　longer。　It　would　be　time　enough　in　the　morning　to　tell　him　all　I　knew。　His　reactions　would　be　interesting；　to　say　the　least。　He　might　be　striking　some　medals　for　Rawlings；　but　I　had　the　feeling　that　he　wouldn't　be　striking　any　for　me。　Not　after　I'd　told　him　what　I'd　have　to。
　 Rawlings。　That　was　the　man　I　wanted　now。　I　went　to　see　him；　told　him　what　I　had　in　mind；　and　asked　him　if　he　would　mind　sacrificing　a　few　hours'　sleep　during　the　night。　M　always；　Rawlings　was　co…operation　itself。
　 Later　that　evening　I　had　a　look　at　one　or　two　of　the　patients。　Jolly；　exhausted　by　his　Herculean　efforts　of　the　previous　night；　was　fathoms　deep　in　slumber；　so　Swanson　had　asked　if　I　would　deputize　for　him。　So　I　did；　but　I　didn't　try　very　hard。　With　only　one　exception　they　were　sound　asleep；　and　none　of　them　was　in　so　urgent　need　of　medical　attention　that　there　would　have　been　any　justification　for　waking　him　up。　The　sole　exception　was　Dr。　Benson；　who　had　recovered　consciousness　late　that　afternoon。　He　was　obviously　on；　the　mend；　but　plained　that　his　head　felt　like　a　pumpkin　with　sonieone　at　work　on　it　with　a　riveting　gun；　so　I　fed　him　some　pills　and　that　was　the　extent　of　the　treatment。　I　asked　him　if　he　had　any　idea　as　to　what　had　been　the　cause　of　his　fall　from　the　top　of　the　sail；　but　he　was　either　too　woozy　to　remember　or　just　didn't　know。　Not　that　it　mattered　now。　I　already　knew　the　answer。　…
　 I　slept　for　nine　hours　after　that；　which　was　pretty　selfish　of　me；　considering　that　I　had　asked　Rawlings　to　keep　awake　half　the　night；　but；　then；　I　hadn't　had　much　option　about　that；　for　Rawlings　was　in　a　position　to　perform　for　me　an　essential　task　that　I　couldn't　perform　for　myself。
　 Sometime　during　the　night　we　passed　out　from　under　the　ice　cap　into　the　open　Arctic　Ocean　again。
　 I　awoke　shortly　after　seven；　washed；　shaved；　and　dressed　as　carefully　as　I　could　with　one　hand　out　of　mission　for　I　believe　a　judge　owes　it　to　his　public　to　be　decently　turned　out　when　he　goes　to　conduct　a　trialthen　breakfasted　well　in　the　wardroom。　Shortly　before　nine　o'clock　I　walked　into　the　control　room。　Hansen　had　the　watch。　I　went　up　to　him　and　said　quietly；　so　that　I　couldn't　be　overheard：　〃Where　is　mander　Swanson？〃
　 〃In　his　cabin。〃
　 〃I'd　like　to　speak　to　him　and　you。　Privately。〃
　 Hansen　looked　at　me　speculatively；　nodded；　handed　over　the　watch　to　the　navigator；　and　led　the　way　to　Swanson's　cabin。　We　knocked；　went　in；　and　closed　the　door　behmd　us。　I　didn't　waste　any　time　in　preamble。
　 〃I　know　who　the　killer　is；〃　I　said。　〃I've　no　proof；　but　I'm　going　to　get　it　now。　I　would　like　you　to　be　on　handif　you　can　spare　the　time。〃
　 They　had　used　up　all　their　emotional　responses　and　reactions　during　the　previous　thirty　hours；　so　they　didn't　throw　up　their　hands　or　do　startled　double…takes　or　make　any　of　the　other　standard　signs　of　incredulousness。　Instead；　Swanson　just　looked　thoughtfully　at　Hansen；　rose　from　his　table；　folded　the　chart　he'd　been　studying；　and　said　dryly：　〃I　think　we　might　spare　the　time；　Dr。　Carpenter。　I　have　never　met　a　murderer。〃　His　tone　was　impersonal；　even　light；　but　the　clear　gray　eyes　had　gone　very　cold　indeed。　〃It　will　be　quite　an　experience　to　meet　a　man　with　eight　deaths　on　his　conscience。〃
　 〃You　can　count　yourself　lucky　that　it　is　only　eight；〃　I　said。　〃He　almost　brought　it　up　to　the　hundred　mark　yesterday　morning。〃
　 This　time　I　did　get　them。　Swanson　stared　at　me；　then　said　softly；　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　 〃Our　friend　with　the　gun　also　carries　a　box　of　matches　around　with　him；〃　I　said。　〃He　was　busy　with　them　in　the　engine　room　in　the　early　hours　of　yesterday　morning。〃
　 〃Someone　〃deliberately〃　tried　to　set　the　ship　on　fire？〃　Hansen　looked　at　me　in　open　disbelief。　〃I　don't　buy　that；　Doe。〃
　 〃I　buy　it；〃　Swanson　said。　〃I　buy　anything　Dr。　Carpenter　says。　We're　dealing　with　a　madman。　Only　a　madman　would　risk　losing　his　life　along　with　the　lives　of　a　hundred　others。〃
　 〃He　miscalculated；〃　I　said　mildly。　〃e　along。〃
　 They　were　waiting　for　us　in　the　wardroom　as　I'd　arranged；　eleven　of　them　in　all：　Rawlings；　Zabrinski；　Captain　Folsom；　Dr。　Jolly；　the　two　Harrington　twins；　who　were　now　just　barely　well　enough　to　be　out　of　bed；　Naseby；　Hewson；　Hassard；　Kinnaird　and　Jeremy。　Most　of　them　were　seated　around　the　wardroom　table　except　for　Rawlings；　who　opened　the　door　for　us；　and　Zabrinski；　his　foot　still　in　the　cast；　who　was　sitting　in　a　chair　in　one　corner　of　the　room　studying　an　issue　of　the　〃Dolphin　Daze〃；　the　submarine's　own　mimeographed　newspaper。　Some　of　them　made　to　get　to　their　feet　as　we　came　in；　but　Swanson　waved　them　down。　They　sat　silently；　all　except　Dr。　Jolly；　who　boomed　out　a　cheerful　〃Good　morning；　Captain。　Well；　well；　this　is　an　intriguing　summons。　Most　intriguing。　What　is　it　you　want　to　see　us　about；　Captain？〃
　 I　cleared　my　throat。　〃You　must　forgive　a　small　deception。　It　is　I　who　wants　to　see　you；　not　the　captain。〃
　 〃You？〃　Jolly　pursed　his　lips　and　looked　at　me　speculatively。　〃I　don't　get　it；　old　boy。　Why　you？〃
　 〃I　have　been　guilty　of　another　small　deception。　I　am　not；　as　I　gave　you　to　understand；　attached　to　the　Ministry　of　Supply。　I　am　an　agent　of　the　British　government。　An　officer　of　M。I。6；　counter…espionage。〃
　 Well；　I　got　my　reaction；　all　right。　They　just　sat　there；　mouths　wide　open　like　newly　landed　fish；　staring　at　me。　It　was　Jolly；　always　a　fast　adjuster；　who　recovered　first。
　 〃Counter…espionage；　by　Jove！　Counter…espionage！　Spies　and　cloaks　and　daggers　and　beautiful　blondes　tucked　away　in　the　wardrobesor　wardroom；　should　I　say。　But　whywhy　are　you　〃here？〃　What　do　youwell；　what　〃can〃　you　want　to　see　us　about；　Dr。　Carpenter？〃
　 〃A　small　matter　of　murder；〃　I　said。
　 〃Murder！〃　Captain　Folsom　spoke　for　the　first　time　since　ing　aboard　ship；　the　voice　issuing　from　that　savagely　burnt　face　no　more　than　a　strangled　croak。　〃Murder？〃
　 〃Two　of　the　men　lying　up　there　now　in　the　drift　station　lab　were　dead　〃before〃　the　fire。　They　had　been　shot　through　the　head。　A　third　had　been　knifed。　I　would　call　that　murder；　wouldn't　you？〃
　 Jolly　groped　for　the　table　and　lowered　himself　shakily　into　his　seat。　The　rest　of　them　looked　as　if　they　were　very　glad　that　they　were　already　sitting　down。
　 〃It　seems　too　superfluous　to　add；〃　I　said；　adding　it　all　the　same；　〃that　the　murderer　is　in　this　room　now。〃
　 You　wouldn't　have　thought　it；　not　to　look　at　them。　You　could　see　at　a　glance　that　none　of　those　high…minded　citizens　could　possibly　be　a　killer。　They　were　as　innocent　as　life's　young　morning；　the　whole　lot　of　them；　pure　and　white　as　the　driven　snow。
　
　12
　
　 It　would　be　an　understatement　to　say　that　I　had　the　attention　of　the　pany。　Maybe　had　I　been　a　two…headed　visitor　from　outer　space；　or　had　been　about　to　announce　the　result　of　a　multimillion…pound　sweepstake　in　which　they　held　the　only　tickets；　or　was　holding　straws　for　them　to　pick　to　decide　who　should　go　before　the　firing　squadmaybe　then　they　might　have　given　me　an　even　more　exclusive　degree　of　concentration。　But　I　doubt　it。　It　wouldn't　have　been　possible。
　 〃If　you'll　bear　with　me；〃　I　began；　〃first　of　all；　I'd　like　to　give　you　a　little　lecture　in　camera　optics；　and　don't　ask　me　what　the　hell　that　has　to　do　with　murder：　it's　got　everything　to　do　with　it；　as　you'll　find　out　soon　enough。
　 〃Film　emulsion　and　lens　quality　being　equal；　the　clarity　of　detail　in　any　photograph　depends　upon　the　focal　length　of　the　lensthat　is；　the　distance　between　the　lens　and　the　film。　As　recently　as　fifteen　years　ago　the　maximum　focal　length　of　any　camera　outside　an　observatory　was　about　fifty　inches。　Those　were　used　in　reconnaissance　planes　in　the　later　stages　of　the　second　world　war。　A　small　suitcase　lying　on　the　ground　would　show　up　on　a　photograph　taken　from　a　height　of　ten　miles；　which　was　pretty　good　for　those　days。
　 〃But　the　U。　S。　Army　and　Air　Force　wanted　bigger　and　better　aerial　cameras；　and　the　only　way　this　could　be　done　was　by　increasing　the　focal　length　of　the　lens。　There　was　obviously　a　superficial　limit　to　this　length；　because　the　Americans　wanted　this　camera　to　fit　into　a　planeor　an　orbiting　satelliteand　if　you　wanted　a　camera　with　a　focal　length　of；　say；　two　hundred　and　fifty　inches；　it　was　obviously　going　to　be　quite　impossible　to　install　a　twenty…foot　camera　pointing　vertically　downward　in　a　plane　or　small　satellite。　But　scientists　came　up　with　a　new　type　of　camera；　using　the　folded…lens　principle；　where　the　light；　instead　of　ing　down　a　long；　straight　barrel；　is　bounced　around　a　series　of　angled　mirrored　corners；　which　permits　the　focal　length　to　be　increased　greatly　without　having　to　enlarge　the　camera　itself。　By　1950　they'd　developed　a　hundred…inch　focal…length　lens。　It　was　quite　an　improvement　on　the　old　world　war　two　cameras；　which　could　barely　pick　up　a　suitcase　at　ten　miles。　This　one　could　pick　up　a　cigarette　pack　at　ten　miles。　Then；　ten　years　later；　came　what　they　called　the　Perkin…Elmer　Roti　satellite　missile　tracker；　with　a　focal　length　of　five　hundred　inchesequivalent　to　a　barrel…type　camera　forty　feet　long。　This　one　could　pick　up　a　cube　of　sugar　at　ten　miles。〃
　 I　looked　inquiringly　around　the　audience　for　signs　of　inattention。　There　were　no　signs　of　inattention。　No　lecturer　ever　had　a　keener　audience　than　I　had　there。
　 〃Three　years　later；〃　I　went　on；　〃another　American　firm　had　developed　this　missile　tracker　into　a　fantastic　camera　that　could　be　mounted　in　even　a　small…size　satellite。　Three　years　round…the…clock　work　to　create　this　camera；　but　they　thought　it　worth　it。　We　don't　know　the　focal　length；　it's　never　been　revealed：　we　do　know　that；　given　the　right　'atmospheric　conditions；　a　white　saucer　on　dark　surface　will　show　up　clearly　from　three　hundred　miles　up　in　space。　This　on　a　relatively　tiny　negative　capable　of　almost　infinite　enlargement；　for　the　scientists　have　also　e　up　with　a　pletely　new　film　emulsion；　still　super…secret　and　a　hundred　times　as　sensitive　as　the　finest　films　available　on　the　mercial　market　t