alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第46章

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　attack　against　myself。　You　were　there；　mander。〃
　 〃I've　missed　everything　else；〃　Swanson　said　bitterly。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　spoil　a　hundred　per　cent　record？〃
　 〃When　Jolly　came　to；　he　saw　Benson　lying　there。　All　he　could　see　of　him　was　a　blanket　and　a　big　gauze　pack　covering　the　back　of　his　head。　As　far　as　Jolly　was　concerned；　it　could　have　been　anybodyit　had　been　pitch　dark　when　the　accident　occurred。　But　what　did　he　say？　I　remember　his　exact　words。　He　said：　'Of　course；　of　course。　Yes；　that's　it。　He　fell　on　top　of　me；　didn't　he？'　〃He　never　thought　to　ask　who　it　was〃the　natural；　the　inevitable　question　in　the　circumstances。　But　Jolly　didn't　have　to　ask。　He　knew。〃
　 〃He　knew。〃　Swanson　stared　at　Jolly　with　cold；　bleak　eyes；　and　there　was　no　doubt　in　his　mind　now　about　Jolly。　〃You're　right；　Dr。　Carpenter。　He　knew。〃
　 〃And　then　he　had　a　go　at　me。　Can't　prove　a　thing；　of　course。　But　he　was　there　when　I　asked　you　where　the　medical　store　was；　and　he　no　doubt　nipped　down　smartly　behind　Henry　and　myself　and　loosened　the　latch　on　the　hatch　cover。　But　he　didn't　achieve　quite　the　same　high　degree　of　success　this　time。　Even　so；　when　we　went　out　to　the　station　next　morning；　he　still　tried　to　stop　Brownell　and　Bolton　from　being　transferred　back　to　the　ship　by　saying　Bolton　was　too　ill。　But　you　overruled　him。〃
　 〃I　was　right　about　Bolton；〃　Jolly　said。　He　seemed　strangely　quiet　now。　〃Bolton　died。〃
　 〃He　died；〃　I　agreed。　〃He　died　because　you　murdered　him；　and　for　Bolton　alone　I　can　make　certain　you　hang。　For　a　reason　I　still　don't　know；　Jolly　was　still　determined　to　stop　this　ship。　Delay　it；　anyway。　I　think　he　wanted　only　an　hour　or　two's　delay。　So　he　proposed　to　start　a　small　fire；　nothing　much；　just　enough　to　cause　a　small　scare　and　have　the　reactor　shut　down　temporarily。　As　the　site　of　his　fire　。he　chose　the　machinery　spacethe　one　place　in　the　ship　where　he　could　casually　let　something　drop　and　where　it　would　lie　hidden；　for　hours　if　need　be；　among　the　maze　of　pipes　down　there。　In　the　sick　bay　he　concocted　some　type　of　delayed…action　chemical　fuse　that　would　give　off　plenty　of　smoke　but　very　little　flamethere　are　a　dozen　binations　of　acids　and　chemicals　that　can　bring　this　about；　and　our　friend　will　be　a　highly　trained　expert　well　versed　in　all　of　them。　Now；　all　Jolly　wanted　was　an　excuse　to　pass　through　the　engine　room　when　it　would　be　nice　and　quiet　and　virtually　deserted。　In　the　middle　of　the　night。　He　fixed　this；　too。　He　can　fix　anything。　He's　a　very；　very　clever　man　indeed；　is　our　friend　here：　；he's　also　an　utterly　ruthless　fiend。
　 〃Late　in　the　evening　of　the　night　before　the　fire；　the　good　healer　here　made　a　round　of　his　patients。　I　went　with　him。　One　of　the　men　he　treated　was　Bolton；　in　the　nucleonics　laband；　of　course；　to　get　to　the　nucleonics　lab　you　have　to　pass　through　the　engine　room。　There　was　an　enlisted　man　watching　over　the　patients；　and　Jolly　left　special　word　that　he　was　to　be　called　at　any　hour　if　Bolton　became　any　worse。　He　was　called。　I　checked　with　the　engine…room　staff　after　the　fire。　The　engineer　officer　on　watch　and　two　others　were　in　the　maneuvering　room；　but　an　engineman　carrying　out　a　routine　lubrication　job　saw　him　passing　through　the　engine　room　about　1：30　a。m。　in　answer　to　a　call　from　the　man　watching　over　the　patients。　He　took　the　opportunity　to　drop　his　little　chemical　fuse　as　he　was　passing　by　the　machinery　space。　What　he　didn't　know　was　that　his　little　toy　lodged　on　or　near　the　oil…saturated　lagging　on　the　housing　of　the　starboard　turbo　generator；　and　that　when　it　went　off；　it　would　generate　sufficient　heat　to　set　the　sheathing　on　fire。〃
　 Swanson　looked　at　Jolly；　bleakly　and　for　a　long　time；　then　turned　to　me　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't　buy　that；　Dr。　Carpenter。　This　phone　call　because　a　patient　just　happens　to　turn　sick。　Jolly　is　not　the　man　to　leave　〃anything〃　to　chance。〃
　 〃He　isn't；〃　I　agreed。　〃He　didn't。　Up　in　the　refrigerator　in　the　sick　bay　I　have　an　exhibit　for　the　Old　Bailey。　A　sheet　of　aluminum　foil　liberally　covered　with　Jolly's　fingerprints。　Smeared　on　this　foil　is　the　remains　of　a　salve。　That　foil　was　what　Jolly　had　bandaged　on　Bolton's　burned　forearm　that　night；　just　after　he　had　given　him　pain…killing　shotsBolton　was　suffering　very　badly。　But　before　Jolly　put　the　salve　on　the　foil　he　spread　on　something　else　first；　a　layer　of　sodium　chloridemon　or　garden　household　salt。　Jolly　knew　that　the　drugs　he　had　given　Bolton　would　keep　him　under　for　three　or　four　hours：　he　also　knew　that　by　the　time　Bolton　had　regained　consciousness；　his　body　heat　would　have　thinned　the　salve　and　brought　the　salt　into　contact　with　the　raw　flesh　on　the　forearm。　He　knew　that　Bolton；　when　he　came　out　from　the　effects　of　the　drugs；　would　e　out　screaming　in　agony。　Can　you　imagine　what　it　must　have　been　like？　The　whole　forearm　a　mass　of　raw　fleshand　covered　with　salt？　When　he　died　soon　after；　he　died　from　shock。　Our　good　healer　herea　lovable　little　lad；　isn't　he？
　 〃Well；　that's　Jolly。　Incidentally；　you　can　discount　most　of　the　gallant　doctor's　heroism　during　the　firealthough　he　was　understandably　as　anxious　as　any　of　us　that　we　survive。　The　first　time　he　went　into　the　engine　room　it　was　too　damned　hot　and　unfortable　for　his　liking；　so　he　just　lay　down　on　the　floor　and　let　someone　carry　him　for'ard　to　where　the　fresh　air　was。　Later〃
　 〃He　had　his　mask　off；〃　Hansen　objected。
　 〃He　took　it　off。　〃You〃　can　hold　your　breath　for　ten　or　fifteen　secondsdon't　you　think　Jolly　can；　too？　Later　on；　when　he　was　performing　his　heroics　in　the　engine　room；　it　was　because　conditions　there　were　better；　conditions　outside　worse　and　because　by　…going　into　the　engine　room　he　was　entitled　to　a　closed…circuit　breathing　set。　Jolly　got　more　clean　air　last　night　than　any　of　us。　He　doesn't　mind　if　he　causes　someone　to　die　screaming　his　head　off　in　agonybut　he　himself　isn't　going　to　suffer　the　slightest　degree　of　hardship。　Not　if　he　can　help　it。　Isn't　that　so；　Jolly？〃
　 He　didn't　answer。
　 〃Where　are　the　films；　Jolly？〃
　 〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　he　said　in　a　quiet；　toneless　voice。　〃Before　God；　my　hands　are　clean。〃
　 〃How　about　your　fingerprints　on　that　foil　with　the　salt　on　it？〃
　 〃Any　doctor　can　make　a　mistake。〃
　 〃My　God！　Mistake！　Where　are　they；　Jollythe　films？〃
　 〃For　God's　sake；　leave　me　alone；〃　he　said　tiredly。
　 〃Have　it　your　own　way。〃　I　looked　at　Swanson。　〃Got　some　nice　secure　place　where　you　can　lock　this　character　up？〃
　 〃I　certainly　have；〃　Swanson　said　grimly。　〃I'll　conduct　him　there　in　person。〃
　 〃No　one's　conducting　anyone　anywhere；〃　Kinnaird　said。　He　was　looking　at　me；　and　I　didn't　care　very　much　for　the　way　he　was　looking　at　me。　I　didn't　care　very　much　either　for；　what　he　held　in　his　hand：　a　very　nasty…looking　Mauser。　It　was　cradled　in　his　fist　as　if　it　had　grown　there；　and　it　was　pointing　straight　between　my　eybs。
　
　13
　
　 〃Clever　clever　counter…espionage；　Carpenter；〃　Dr。　Jolly　murmured。　〃How　swiftly　the　fortunes　of　war　change；　old　boy。　But　you　shouldn't　be　surprised　really。　You　haven't　found　out　anything　that　actually　matters；　but　surely　you　should　have　found　out　enough　to　realize　that　you　are　operating　out　of　your　class。　Please　don't　try　anything　foolish。　Kinnaird　is　one　of　the　finest　pistol　shots　I　'have　ever　knownand　you　will　observe　how　strategically　he's　placed；　　so　that　everyone　in　the　room　is　covered。〃
　 He　delicately　patted　his　still　bleeding　mouth　with　a　handkerchief；　rose；　went　behind　me；　and　ran　his　hands　quickly　down　my　clothes。
　 〃My　word；〃　he　said。　〃Not　even　carrying　a　gun。　You　really　are　unprepared；　Carpenter。　Turn　round；　will　you；　so　that　your　back　is　to　Kinnaird's　gun？〃
　 I　turned　around。　He　smiled　pleasantly；　then　hit　me　twice　across　the　face　with；　all　his　strength；　first　with　the　back　of　his　right　hand　and　then　with　the　back　of　his　left。　I　staggered　but　didn't　fall　down。　I　could　taste　the　salt　of　blood。
　 〃Can't　even　call　it　regrettable　loss　of　temper；〃　Jolly　said　with　satisfaction。　〃Did　it　deliberately　and　with　malice　aforethought。　Enjoyed　it；　too。〃
　 〃So　Kinnaird　was　the　killer；〃　I　said　slowly；　thickly。　〃He　was　the　man　with　the　gun？〃
　 〃Wouldn't　want　to　take　all　the　credit；　mate；〃　Kinnaird　said　modestly。　〃Let's　say　we　sorted　them　out　fifty…fifty。〃
　 〃〃You〃　were　the　one　who　went　out　with　the　monitor　to　find　the　capsule；〃　I　nodded。　〃That's　why　you　got　your　face　as　badly　frost…bitten。〃
　 〃Got　lost；〃　Kinnaird　admitted。　〃Thought　I'd　never　find　the　damned　station　again。〃
　 〃Jolly　and　Kinnaird；〃　Jeremy　said　wonderingly。　〃Jolly　and　Kinnaird。　Your　own　mates。　You　two　ifithy；　murderous〃
　 〃Be　quiet；〃　Jolly　ordered。　〃Kinnaird；　don't　bother　answering　questions。　Unlike　Carpenter　here；　I　take　no　pleasure　in　outlining　my　〃modus　operandi〃　and　explaining　at　length　how　clever　I've　been。　As　you　observed；　Carpenter；　I'm　a　man　of　action。　mander　Swanson；　get　on　that　phone　there；　call　up　your　control　room；　order　your　ship　to　surface　and　steam　north。〃
　 〃You're　being　too　ambitious；　Jolly；〃　Swanson　said　calmly。　〃You　can't　hijack　a　submarine。〃
　 〃Kinnaird；〃　Jolly　said。　〃Point　your　gun　at　Hansen's　stomach。　When　I　reach　the　count　of　five；　pull　the　trigger。　One；　two；　three〃
　 Swanson　half　raised　a　hand　in　acknowledgment　of　defeat；　crossed　to　the　wall　phone；　gave　the　necessary　orders；　hung　up　and　came　back　to　stand　beside　me。　He　looked　at　me　without　either　respect　or　admiration。　I　looked　around　at　all　the　other　people　in　the　room。　Jolly；　Hansen　and　Rawlings　standing；　Zabrinski　sitting　on　a　chair　by　himself　with　the　now　disregarded　copy　of　the　〃Dolphin　Daze〃　on　his　knees；　all　the　others　sitting　around　the　table；　Kinnaird　well　clear　of　them；　the　gun　very　steady　in　his　hands。　So　very　steady。　No　one　seemed　to　be　contemplating　any　heroics。　For　the　most　part；　everyone　was　too　shocked；　too　dazed；　to　think　of　anything。
　 〃Hijacking　a　nuclear　submarine　is　an　intriguing　prospect；　and　no　doubt　would　be　a　highly　profitable　one；　mander　Swanson；〃　Jolly　said。　〃But　I　know　my　limitations；　No；　old　top；　we　shall　simply　be　leaving　you。　Not　very　many　miles　from　here　is　a　naval　vessel　with　a　helicopter　on　its　after　deck。　In　a　little　while；　mander；　you　will　send　a　wireless　message　on　a　certain　frequency　giving　our　position：　the　helicopter　will　pick　us　up。　And　even　if　your　crippled　engine　would　stand　the　strain；　I　wouldn't　advise　you　to　e　chasing　after　that　ship　with　ideas　about　torpedoing　it　or　anything　of　that　dramatic　sort。　Apart　from　the　fact　that　you　wouldn't　like　to　be　responsible　for　triggering　off　a　nuclear　war；　you　couldn't　catch　it　anyway。　You　won't　even　be　able　to　see　the　ship；　manderand　if　you　did；　it　wouldn't　matter；　anyway。　It　has　no　nationality　markings。〃
　 〃Where　are　the　films？〃　I　asked。
　 〃They're　already　aboard　that　naval　vessel。〃
　 〃They're　〃what？〃〃　Swanson　demanded。　〃How　in　hell's　name　can　they　be？〃
　 〃Sorry　and　all　that；　old　boy。　I　repeat　that；　unlike　Carpenter　here；　I　don't　go　around　shooting　off　my　mouth。　A　professional；　my　dear　captain；　〃never〃　gives　information　about　his　methods。〃
　 〃So　you　get　off　with　it；〃　I　said　bitterly。　My　mouth　felt　thick　and　swollen。
　 〃Don't　see　what's　to　stop　us。　Crimes　don't　always　e　home　to　roost；　you　know。〃
　 〃Eight　men　murdered；〃　I　said　wonderingly。　〃Eight　men。　You　can　stand　there　and　cheerfully　admit　that　you　are　responsib