cc.iceberg-第3章

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　A　steward　wearing　a　white　jacket　ambled　from　the　galley。　He　was　long　and　lean　and　walked　with　a　gait　that　could　only　spell　Texas。　〃Yessir；　Captain。　What'll　it　be？〃
　〃A　cup　of　cocoa　for　our　guest　and　two　more　coffees　for　Lieutenant　Dover　and…〃　Koski　stopped　and　peered　questioningly　behind　Dover。　〃I　believe　we're　missing　Dr。　Hunnewell's　pilot？〃
　〃He'll　be　along　in　a　minute。〃　Dover　bore　an　unhappy　look　on　his　face。　It　was　as　if　he　tried　to　signal　a　warning　to　Koski。　〃He　wanted　to　be　sure　the　helicopter　was　tied　down　securely。〃
　Koski　stared　back　speculatively　at　Dover；　but　then　he　let　it　go。　〃There　you　have　it；　Brady。　And　bring　the　pot；　I　could　use　a　refill。〃
　
　Brady　simply　nodded　in　acknowledgment　and　returned　to　the　galley。
　
　Hunnewell　said；　〃It's　true　luxury　to　have　four　solid　walls　around　me　again。　Sitting　in　that　vibrating　kite　with　nothing　between　me　and　the　elements　but　a　plastic　bubble　was　enough　to　turn　a　man's　hair　gray。〃
　
　He　ran　his　hand　through　the　few　remaining　white　strands　surrounding　his　dome　and　grinned。
　
　Koski　set　down　his　mug；　and　he　wasn't　smiling。　〃I　don't　think　you　realize；　Dr。　Hunnewell；　just　how　close　you　came　to　losing　the　rest　of　your　hair　and　yourself　as　well。　It　was　pure　recklessness　on　the　part　of　your　pilot　to　even　consider　making　a　flight　in　this　weather。〃
　〃I　can　assure　you；　sir；　that　this　trip　was　necessary。〃　Hunnewell　spoke　in　a　benevolent　tone；　the　same　tone　he　might　have　used　lecturing　a　schoolboy。　〃You；　your　crew；　your　ship　has　a　vital　function　to　perform；　and　time　is　the　critical　dimension。　We　cannot　afford　to　lose　a　single　minute。〃　He　pulled　a　slip　of　paper　from　his　breast　pocket　and　passed　it　across　the　table　to　Koski。
　〃While　I　explain　our　presence；　I　must　ask　you　to　set　an　immediate　course　for　this　position。〃
　
　Koski　took　the　paper　without　reading　its　contents。
　〃Forgive　me；　Dr。　Hunnewell；　I　am　not　in　a　position　to　grant　your　request。　The　only　order　I　have　from　the　mandant's　Headquarters　is　to　take　aboard　two　passengers。　Nothing　was　mentioned　about　giving　you　carte　blanche　to　run　my　ship。〃
　〃You　don't　understand。〃
　Koski　stared　piercingly　over　his　coffee　mug　at　Hunnewell。　〃That；　Doctor；　is　the　understatement　of　the　day。　Just　what　is　your　capacity？　Why　are　you　here？〃
　〃Put　your　mind　at　ease；　mander。　I'm　not　an　enemy　agent　out　to　sabotage　your　precious　ship。　My　PhD。　is　in　oceanography；　and　I'm　currently　employed　by　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency。〃
　〃No　offense；〃　Koski　said　equably。　〃But　that　still　leaves　one　question　unanswered。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　can　help　clear　the　air。〃　The　new　voice　came　soft　but　firm　with　an　authoritative　resonance。
　Koski　stiffened　in　his　chair　and　turned　to　a　figure　who　leaned　negligently　against　the　doorway…a　tall；　well…proportioned　figure。　The　oak…tanned　face；　the　hard；　almost　cruel　features；　the　penetrating　green　eyes　suggested　that　this　wasn't　a　man　to　step　on。　Clad　in　a　blue　Air　Force　flight　jacket　and　uniform；　watchful　yet　detached；　he　offered　Koski　a　condescending　grin。
　〃Ah；　there　you　are；〃　Hunnewell　said　loudly。
　〃mander　Koski；　may　I　present　Major　Dirk　Pitt；　Special　Projects　Director　for　NUMA。〃
　〃Pitt？〃　Koski　echoed　flatly。　He　glanced　at　Dover　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。　Dover　only　shrugged　and　looked　unfortable。　〃By　any　chance　the　same　Pitt　who　broke　up　that　underwater　smuggling　business　in　Greece　last　year？〃
　〃There　were　at　least　ten　other　people　who　deserve　the　lion's　share　of　the　credit；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃An　Air　Force　officer　working　in　oceanogaphic　programs；〃　said　Dover；　〃a　little　out　of　your　element；　aren't　you；　Major？〃
　The　lines　around　Pitts　eyes　etched　into　a　smile。
　〃No　more　than　all　the　Navy　men　who　have　gone　to　the　moon。
　〃You　have　a　valid　point；〃　Koski　conceded。
　Brady　appeared　and　served　the　coffee　and　cocoa。
　He　left　and　returned　again；　setting　down　a　tray　of　sandwiches　before　retreating　for　the　last　time。
　Koski　began　to　feel　uneasy　in　earnest　now。　A　scientist　from　a　prominent　government　agency…not　good。
　
　An　officer　in　another　branch　of　the　service　with　a　reputation　for　dangerous　escapades…bad　news。　But　the　bination　of　the　two；　sitting　there　on　the　other　side　of　the　table　telling　him　what　to　do　and　where　to　goabsolute　plague。
　〃As　I　was　saying；　mander；〃　Hunnewell　said　impatiently。　〃We　must　get　to　that　position　I　gave　you　as　quickly　as　possible。〃
　〃No；〃　Koski　said　bluntly。　〃I'm　sorry　if　my　attitude　seems　hard…nosed；　but　you　must　agree；　I'm　perfectly　within　my　rights　in　refusing　your　demands。　As　captain　of　this　ship；　the　only　orders　I'm　obliged　to　obey　e　from　either　Coast　Guard　District　Headquarters　in　New　York　or　the　mandant's　office　in　Washington。〃　He　paused　to　pourhimself　another　cup　of　coffee。　〃And　my　orders　were　to　take　on　two　passengers；　nothing　more。　I　have　obeyed；　and　now　I'm　resuming　my　original　patrol　course。〃
　
　Pitts　eyes　weighed　Koski's　granite　features　as　a　metallurgist　might　test　a　shaft　of　high…grade　steel；　probing　for　a　flaw。
　
　Suddenly　he　straightened　up　and　cautiously　walked　over　to　the　galley　door　and　glanced　in。　Brady　was　busy　pouring　a　bulky　sack　of　potatoes　into　a　huge　steaming　pot。　Then　Pitt；　still　cautiously；　turned　and　scrutinized　the　alleyway　outside　the　messroom。　He　could　see　his　little　game　was　working；　Koski　and　Dover　were　exchanging　confused　looks　between　taking　in　his　movements。　Finally；　seeming　satisfied　there　were　no　eavesdroppers；　Pitt　moved　to　the　table　and　sat　down；　leaning　close　to　the　two　Coast　Guard　officers；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　murmur。
　〃Okay；　gentlemen；　here's　the　story。　The　position　Dr。　Hunnewell　gave　you　is　the　approximate　location　of　an　extremely　important　iceberg。〃
　
　Koski　colored　slightly；　but　managed　to　keep　a　straight　face。　〃And　what；　if　I　may　ask　without　sounding　stupid；　Major；　do　you　class　as　an　important　iceberg？〃
　
　Pitt　paused　for　effect。　〃One　that　has　the　remains　of　a　ship　imbedded　under　its　mantle。　A　Russian　trawler；　to　be　exact；　crammed　with　the　latest　and　most　sophisticated　electronic　detection　gear　Soviet　science　has　yet　devised。　Not　to　mention　the　codes　and　data　for　their　entire　Western　Hemisphere　surveillance　program。〃
　
　Koski　didn't　even　blink。　Without　taking　his　eyes　off　Pitt；　he　took　a　pouch　from　under　his　jacket　and　calmly　began　loading　his　corncob。
　〃Six　months　ago；〃　Pitt　continued；　〃a　Russian　traller　；　bearing　the　name　Novgorod；　rode　just　a　few　mil　off　the　Greenland　coast　and　kept　watching　other　activities　at　the　U。S。　Air　Force　missile　base　on　Disko　Island。
　
　Aerial　photographs　showed　that　the　Novgorod　carried　every　electronic　reception　antenna　in　the　book；　and　then　some。　The　Russians　played　it　cool；　the　trawler　and　crew；　thirty…five　highly　trained　men；　and　yes；　women　too　never　strayed　within　Greenland's　territorial　limits。
　
　She　even　got　to　be　a　wele　sight　to　our　pilots；　who　used　her　as　a　checkpoint　during　poor　weather。　Most　Russian　spy　ships　are　relieved　of　duty　every　thirty　days；　but　this　one　maintained　its　position　for　a　solid　three　months。　The　Department　of　Naval　Intelligence　began　to　wonder　at　the　long　delay。　Then　one　stormy　morning；　the　Novgorod　was　gone。　It　was　nearly　three　weeks　before　her　relief　ship　appeared。　This　time　lag　pounded　the　mystery…the　Russians；　up　to　then；　had　never　broken　their　habit　of　relieving　a　spy　ship　until　another　one　appeared　on　station。〃
　
　Pitt　paused　to　tap　his　cigarette　in　an　ashtray。
　〃There　are　only　two　routes　the　Novgorod　would　have　taken　home　to　mother　Russia。　One　was　to　Leningrad　via　the　Baltic　Sea；　and　the　other　was　through　the　Barnets　Sea　to　Murmansk。　The　British　and　Norwegians　have　assured　us　the　Novgorod　took　neither。　In　short；　somewhere　between　Greenland　and　the　European　coast；　the　Novgorod　disappeared　with　all　hands。〃
　
　Koski　put　down　his　mug　and　stared　thoughtfully　at　its　stained　bottom。　〃It　strikes　me　a　bit　strange　that　the　Coast　Guard　was　never　notified。　I　know　for　a　fact　that　we've　received　no　report　of　a　missing　Russian　trawler。〃
　〃It　struck　Washington　a　bit　strange　too。　Why　would　the　Russians　keep　the　Novgorod's　loss　a　secret？　The　only　logical　answer　is　they　didn't　want　any　trace　of　their　most　advanced　spy　ship　found　by　a　Western　nation。〃
　
　Koski's　lips　twisted　in　a　sarcastic　grin。　〃You're　asking　me　to　buy　a　Soviet　spy　ship　locked　in　an　iceberg？
　
　e　now；　Major；　I　gave　up　on　fairy　tales　when　I　discovered　there　was　no　Oz　over　the　rainbow　or　a　pot　of　gold　under　it。〃
　
　Pitt　matched　Koski's　grin。　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　it　was　olie　of　your　own　patrol　planes　that　spotted　a　ship　matching　the　outline　of　a　trawler　in　an　iceberg　at　47036'N…43017'W。〃
　〃It's　true；〃　Koski　said　coldly；　〃the　Catawaba　is　the　closest　rescue　ship　to　that　position；　but　why　haven't　my　orders　to　check　it　out　e　direct　from　District　mand　in　New　York？〃
　〃Cloak　and　dagger　stuff；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃The　last　thing　the　boys　in　Washington　wanted　was　a　public　announcement　going　out　over　the　radio。　Fortunately；　the　pilot　of　the　aircraft　who　spotted　the　berg　waited　until　he　landed　before　making　a　detailed　location　report。　The　idea；　of　course；　is　to　go　over　the　trawler　before　the　Russians　have　a　chance　to　catch　on。　I　think　you　can　appreciate；　mander；　how　invaluable　any　secret　information　concerning　the　Soviet　spy　fleet　is　to　our　government。〃
　〃It　would　seem　more　practical　to　place　investigators　on　the　iceberg　who　are　skilled　in　electronics　and　intelligence　interpretation。〃　The　subtle　change　in　Koski's　tone　could　hardly　be　called　a　softening；　but　it　was　there。　〃If　you　don't　mind　my　saying　so；　a　pilot　and　an　oceanographer　don't　make　sense。〃
　
　Pitt　looked　penetratingly　at　Koski；　across　to　Dover；　and　back　to　Koski　again。　〃A　false　front；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃but　one　with　a　purpose。　The　Russians　aren't　exactly　primitive　when　it　es　to　espionage　operations。　They　couldn't　help　but　bee　suspicious　of　military　aircraft　milling　about　an　area　of　open　sea　where　few；　if　any；　ships　ever　travel。　On　the　other　hand；　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency　aircraft　are　monly　known　to　conduct　scientific　projects　in　desolate　waters。〃
　〃And　your　qualifications？〃
　〃I'm　experienced　at　flying　a　helicopter　in　Arctic　weather；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃Dr。　Hunnewell　is；　with　little　doubt；　the　world's　leading　authority　on　ice　formations。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Koski　said　slowly。　〃Dr。　Hunnewell　will　study　the　berg　before　the　intelligence　boys　crash　the　party。〃
　〃You　have　it；〃　Hunnewell　acknowledged。　〃If　that　really　is　the　Novgorod　under　the　ice；　it's　up　to　me　to　determine　the　most　expedient　method　for　entering　the　ship's　hull。　I'm　sure　you're　aware；　mander；　icebergs　are　a　tricky　lot　to　play　with。　It's　like　cutting　a　diamond；　a　miscalculation　by　the　cutter；　and　the　prize　is　lost。　Too　much　thermite　in　the　wrong　place；　and　the　ice　can　crack　and　split　apart。　Or；　sudden　and　excessive　melting　might　cause　a　change　in　the　center　of　gravity；　forcing　the　berg　to　topple　upside…down。　So　you　see；　it　is　imperative　the　ice　mass　be　analyzed　before　the　Novgorod　can　be　entered　with　any　degree　of　safety。〃
　
　Koski　leaned　back　and　noticeably　relaxed。　His　eyes　locked　on　Pitts　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　smiled。
　〃Lieutenant　Dover！〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Kindly　oblige　these　gentlemen　and　lay　a　course　for　47'36'N…43017'W；　full　ahead。　And　signal　District　mand　in　New　York　of　our　intent　to　depart　station。〃
　He　watched　f