alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第8章

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the　ship；　another　searching　out　a　fifteen…degree　path　on　either　side　of　the　bow。　Sees　everything；　hears　everything。　You　drop　a　wrench　on　a　warship　twenty　miles　away　and　we　know　all　about　it。　Fact。　Again　it　seems　purely　a　formality。　The　sonar　is　searching　for　underwater　ice　stalactites　forced　down　by　the　pressure　of　rafted　ice　above；　but　in　five　trips　under　the　ice　and　two　to　the　Pole；　I've　never　seen　underwater　stalactites　or　ridges　deeper　than　two　hundred　feet；　and　we're　at　three　hundred　feet　now。　But　we　still　keep　them　on。〃
　 〃You　might　bump　into　a　whale？〃　I　suggested。
　 〃We　might　bump　into　another　submarine。〃　He　wasn't　smiling。　〃And　that　would　be　the　end　of　both　of　us。　What　with　the　Russian　and　our　own　nuclear　submarines　busy　crisscrossing　to　and　fro　across　the　top　of　the　world；　the　underside　of　the　polar　ice　cap　is　getting　more　like　Times　Square　every　day。〃
　 〃But　surely　the　chances〃
　 〃What　are　the　chances　of　mid…air　collision　to　the　only　two　iiruaft　occupying　ten　thousand　square　miles　of　sky？　On　paper；　they　don't　exist。　There　have　been　three　such　collisions　this　year　already。　So　we　keep　the　sonar　pinging。　But　the　really　important　eye；　when　you're　under　the　ice；　is　the　one　that　looks　up。　e　and　have　a　look　at　it。〃
　 He　led　the　way　to　the　after…starboard　end　of　the　control　room；　where　Dr。　Benson　and　another　man　were　busy　studying　a　glassed…in　eye…level　machine　that　outwardly　consisted　of　a　seven…inch…wide　moving　ribbon　of　paper　and　an　inked　stylus　that　was　tracing　a　narrow；　straight　black　line　along　it。　Benson　was　engrossed　in　adjusting　some　of　the　calibrated　controls。
　 〃The　surface　fathometer；〃　Swanson　said。　〃Better　known　as　the　ice　machine。　It's　not　really　Dr。　Benson's　machine　at　all；　we　have　two　trained　operators　aboard；　but　as　we　see　no　way　of　separating　him　from　it　without　actually　courtmartialing　him；　we　take　the　easy　way　out　and　let　him　be。〃　Benson　grinned；　but　his　eye　didn't　leave　the　line　traced　out　by　the　stylus。　〃Same　principle　as　the　echo…sounding　machine：　it　just　bounces　an　echo　back　from　the　icewhen　there　is　any。　That　thin　black　line　you　see　means　open　water　above。　When　we　move　under　the　ice；　the　stylus　has　an　added　vertical　motion　which　not　only　indicates　the　presence　of　ice　but　also　gives　us　its　thickness。〃
　 〃Ingenious；〃　I　said。
　 〃It's　more　than　that。　Under　the　ice　it　can　be　life　or　death　for　the　〃Dolphin〃。　It　certainly　means　life　or　death　for　Drift　Station　Zebra。　If　we　ever　get　its　position；　we　can't　reach　it　until　we　break　through　the　ice；　and　this　is　the　only　machine　that　can　tell　us　where　the　ice　is　thinnest。〃
　 〃No　open　water　at　this　time　of　year？　No　leads？〃
　 〃'Polynyas；'　we　call　them。　None。　Mind　you；　the　ice　pack　is　never　static；　not　even　in　winter；　and　surface…pressure　changes　can　very　occasionally　tear　the　ice　apart　and　expose　open　water。　With　air　temperatures　such　as　you　get　in　winter；　you　can　guess　how　long　the　open　water　stays　in　a　liquid　condition。　There's　a　skin　of　ice　on　it　in　five　minutes；　as　inch　in　an　hour；　and　a　foot　inside　two　days。　If　we　ge　to　one　of　those　frozen…over　polynyas　inside；　say；　three　days　we've　got　a　fair　chance　of　breaking　through。〃
　 〃With　the　conning　tower？〃
　 〃That's　it。　The　sail。　All　new　nuclear　subs　have　specially　strengthened　sails　designed　for　one　purpose　only：　breaking　through　Arctic　ice。　Even　so　we　have　to　go　pretty　gently　as　the　shock；　of　course；　is　transmitted　to　the　pressure　hull。〃
　 I　thought　about　this　for　a　moment　and　then　said；　〃What　happens　to　the　pressure　hull　if　you　e　up　too　fastas　I　understand　may　happen　with　a　sudden　change　in　salinity　and　sea　temperatureand　you　find　out　at　the　last　minute　that　you've　drifted　away　from　the　indicated　area　of　thin　ice　and　have　ten　solid　feet　of　the　stuff　above　you？〃
　 〃That's　it；〃　he　said。　〃Like　you　say；　it's　the　last　minute。　Don't　even　think　about　such　things；　much　less　talk　about　them：　I　can't　afford　to　have　nightmares　on　this　job。〃　I　looked　at　him　closely；　but　he　wasn't　smiling　any　more。　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃I　don't　honestly　think　that　there　is　one　member　of　the　crew　of　the　〃Dolphin〃　who　doesn't　get　a　little　bit　scared　when　we　move　in　under　the　ice。　I　know　I　do。　I　think　this　is　the　finest　ship　in　the　world；　Dr。　Carpenter；　but　there　are　still　a　hundred　things　that　can　go　wrong　with　it；　and　if　anything　happens　to　the　reactor　or　the　steam　turbines　or　the　electrical　generators；　then　we're　already　in　our　coffin　and　the　lid　screwed　down。　The　ice　pack　above　is　the　coffin　lid。　In　the　open　sea；　most　of　those　things　don't　matter　a　damn：　we　just　surface　or　go　to　snorkel　depth　and　proceed　on　our　diesels。　But　for　diesels　you　need　air　and　there's　no　air　under　the　ice　pack。　So　if　anything　hap。　pens　we　either　find　a　polynya　to　surface　in；　one　chance　in　ten　thousand　at　this　time　of　year；　before　our　standby　battery　gives　Out；　or。　。　。　well；　that's　it。〃
　 〃This　is　all　very　encouraging；〃　I　said。
　 〃Isn't　it？〃　He　smiled；　none　too　soon　for　me。　〃It'll　never　happen。　What's　the　worthy　Benson　making　all　the　racket　about？〃
　 〃Here　it　is；〃　Benson　called。　〃The　first　drift　block。　And　another。　And　another！　e　and　have　a　look；　Doctor。〃
　 I　had　a　look。　The　stylus；　making　a　faint；　soft　hissing　sound；　was　no　longer　tracing　out　a　continuously　horizontal　line；　but　was　moving　rapidly　up　and　down　across　the　paper；　tracing　out　the　outline　of　the　block　of　ice　passing　astern　above　us。　Another　thin；　straight　line；　more　agitated　vertical　movements　of　the　stylus；　and　again　another　block　of　ice　had　gone。　Even　as　I　watched；　the　number　of　thin；　horizontal　lines　became　fewer　and　fewer　and　shorter　and　shorter　until　eventually　they　disappeared　altogether。
　 〃That's　it；　then；〃　Swanson　nodded。　〃We'll　take　her　deep　now；　real　deep；　and　open　up　all　the　stops。〃
　
　
　 When　mander　Swanson　had　said　he　was　going　to　hurry；　he'd　meant　every　word　of　it。　In　the　early　hours　of　the　following　morning　I　was　awakened　from　a　deep　sleep　by　a　heavy　hand　on　my　shoulder。　I　opened　my　eyes；　blinked　against　the　glare　of　the　overhead　light；　then　saw　Lieutenant　Hansen。
　 〃Sorry　about　the　beauty　sleep；　Doc；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　〃But　this　is　it。〃
　 〃This　is　what？〃　I　said　irritably。
　 〃85°　35'　north；　21　°20'　eastthe　last　estimated　position　of　Drift　Station　Zebra。　At　least；　the　last　estimated　position　with　estimated　correction　for　polar　drift。〃
　 〃Already？〃　I　glanced　at　my　watch；　not　believing　it。　〃We're　there　already？〃
　 〃We　have　not；〃　Hansen　said　modestly；　〃been　idling。　The　skipper　suggests　you　e　along　and　watch　us　at　work。〃
　 〃I'll　be　right　with　you。〃　When　and　if　the　〃Dolphin〃　managed　to　break　through　the　ice　and　began　to　try　her　one…in…amillion　chance　of　contacting　Drift　Station　Zebra；　I　wanted　to　be　there。
　 We　left　Hansen's　cabin　and　had　almost　reached　the　control　room　when　I　lurched；　staggered；　and　would　have　fallen　but　for　a　quick　grab　at　a　hand　rail　that　ran　along　one　side　of　the　passageway。　I　hung　on　grimly　as　the　〃Dolphin〃　banked　violently　sideways　and　around　like　a　fighter　plane　in　a　tight　turn。　In　my　experience；　no　submarine　had　ever　been　able　to　begin　to　behave　even　remotely　in　that　fashion。　I　understood　now　the　reasons　for　the　safety　belts　on　the　diving…control　seats。
　 〃What　the　hell's　up？〃　I　said　to　Hansen。　〃Avoiding　some　underwater　obstruction　ahead？〃
　 〃Must　be　a　possible　polynya。　Some　place　where　the　ice　is　thin；　anyway。　As　soon　as　we　spot　a　possible　like　that；　we　e　around　like　a　dog　chasing　its　own　tail；　just　so　we　don't　miss　it。　It　makes　us　very　popular　with　the　crew；　especially　when　they're　drinking　coffee　or　soup。〃
　 We　went　into　the　control　room。　mander　Swanson；　flanked　by　the　navigator　and　another　man；　was　bent　over　the　plotting　table；　examining　something　intently。　Farther　aft；　a　man　at　the　surface　fathometer　was　reading　out　ice…thickness　figures　in　a　quiet；　unemotional　voice。　mander　Swanson　looked　up　from　the　chart。
　 〃Morning；　Doctor。　John；　I　think　we　may　have　something　here。〃
　 Hansen　crossed　to　the　plot　and　peered　at　it。　There　didn't　seem　to　be　much　to　peer　ata　tiny　pinpoint　of　light　shining　through　the　glass　top　of　the　plot　and　a　squared　sheet　of　chart　paper　marked　by　a　most　unseamanlike　series　of　wavering　black　lines　traced　out　by　a　man　with　a　pencil　following　the　track　of　the　tiny　moving　light。　There　were　three　red　crosses　superimposed　on　the　paper；　two　very　close　together；　and　just　as　Hansen　was　examining　the　paper　the　crewman　manning　the　ice　machineDr。　Benson's　enthusiasm　for　his　toy　did　not；　it　appeared；　extend　to　the　middle　of　the　night　called　out　〃'Marl！〃　Immediately　the　black　pencil　was　exchanged　for　a　red　and　a　fourth　cross　made。
　 〃'Think'　and　'may'　are　just　about　right；　Captain；〃　Hansen　said。　〃It　looks　awfully　narrow　to　me。〃
　 〃It　looks　the　same　way　to　me；　too；〃　Swanson；　admitted。　〃But　it's　the　first　break　in　the　heavy　ice　that　we've　had　in　an　hour；　almost。　And　the　further　north　we　go；　the　poorer　our　chances。　Let's　give　it　a　try。　Speed？〃
　 〃One　knot；〃　Raeburn　said。
　 〃All　back　one　third；〃　Swanson　said。　No　sharp　imperatives；　not　ever；　in　the　way　Swanson　gave　his　orders；　more　a　quiet　and　conversational　suggestion；　but　there　was　no　mistaking　the　speed　with　which　one　of　the　crewmen　strapped　into　the　diving…stand　bucket　seat　leaned　forward　to　telegraph　the　order　to　the　engine　room。　〃Left　full　rudder。〃
　 Swanson　bent　over　to　check　the　plot；　closely　watching　the　tiny　pinpoint　of　light　and　the　tracing　pencil　move　back　toward　the　approximate　center　of　the　elongated　triangle　formed　by　the　four　red　crosses。　〃All　stop；〃　he　went　on。　〃Rudder　amidships。〃　A　pause；　then：　〃All　ahead　one　third。　No。　All　stop。〃
　 〃Speed　zero；〃　Raeburn　said。
　 〃Twenty…one　twenty　feet；〃　Swanson　said　to　the　diving　officer。　〃But　gently；　gently。〃
　 A　strong；　steady　hum　echoed　in　the　control　center。　I　asked　Hansen；　〃Blowing　ballast？〃
　 He　shook　his　head。　〃Just　pumping　the　stuff　out。　Gives　a　far　more　precise　control　of　rising　speed　and　makes　it　easier　to　keep　the　sub　on　an　even　keel。　Bringing　a　stopped　sub　up　on　a　dead　even　keel　is　no　trick　for　beginners。　Conventional　subs　never　try　this　sort　of　thing。〃
　 The　pumps　stopped。　There　came　the　sound　of　water　flooding　back　into　the　tanks　as　the　diving　officer　slowed　up　at　the　rate　of　ascent。　The　sound　faded。
　 〃Secure　flooding；〃　the　diving　officer　said。　〃Steady　on　one　hundred　feet。〃
　 〃Up　periscope；〃　Swanson　said　to　the　crewman　by　his　side。　An　overhead　lever　was　engaged；　and　we　could　hear　the　hiss　of　high…pressure　oil　as　the　hydraulic　piston　began　to　lift　the　starboard　periscope　off　its　seating。　The　gleaming　cylinder　rose　slowly　against　the　pressure　of　the　water　outside　until　finally　the　foot　of　the　periscope　cleared　its　well。　Swanson　opened　the　hinged　hand　grips　and　peered　through　the　eye…piece。
　 〃What　does　he　expect　to　see　in　the　middle　of　the　night　at　this　depth？〃　I　asked　Hansen。
　 〃Never　can　tell。　It's　rarely　pletely　dark；　as　you　know。　Maybe　a　moon；　maybe　only　stars；　but　even　starlight　will　show　as　a　faint　glow　through　the　ice…if　the　ice　is　thin　enough。〃
　 〃What's　the　thickness　of　the　ice　above；　in　this　rectangle？〃
　 〃The　sixty…four…dollar　question；〃　Hansen　admitted；　〃and　the　answer　is　that　we　don't　know。　To　keep　that　ice　machine　to　a　reasonable　size；　the　graph　scale　has　to　be　very　small。　Anything　between　four　and　forty　inches。　Four　inches　we　go　through　like　the　icing　on　a