alistairmaclean.bearisland-第12章

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would　as　surely　live。
　〃Is　this　the　end　of　it；　then？　Is　this　the　end？〃　Otto　Gerran　spoke　in　a　weakly　querulous　voice　and；　on　the　face　of　it；　I　had　to　admit　that　he　had　every　right　to　sound　both　weak　and　querulous。　He　hadn't　as　yet　regained　his　normal　colour；　he　looked　as　haggard　as　a　heavily　jowled　man　ever　can　and　it　was　clear　that　his　recent　experience　had　left　him　pretty　exhausted：　and　with　this　outbreak　of　poisoning　ing　on　top　of　the　continuously　hostile　weather　that　had　prevented　him　from　shooting　even　a　foot　of　background　film；　Otto　had　reason　to　believe　that　the　fates　were　not　on　his　side。
　I　should　think　so；〃　I　said。　In　view　of　the　fact　that　be　bad　aboard　some　ill…disposed　person　who　was　clearly　a　dab　hand　with　some　of　the　more　esoteric　poisons　this　was　as　unwarrantedly　optimistic　a　statement　as　I　could　remember　making；　but　I　had　to　say　something。　〃Any　other　victims　would　have　shown　the　symptoms　before　now：　and　I've　checked　everyone。〃
　〃Have　you　now？〃　Captain　Imrie　asked。　〃How　about　my　crew？　They　eat　the　same　food　as　you　do。〃
　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that。〃　And　I　hadn't。　Because　of　some　mental　block　or　simply　because　of　lack　of　thought；　I'd　assumed；　wholly　without　reason；　that　the　effects　would　be　confined　to　the　film　unit　people：　Captain　Imrie　was　probably　thinking　that　I　regarded　his　men　as　second…rate　citizens　who；　when　measured　against　Otto's　valuable　and　expensive　cast　and　crew；　hardly　merited　serious　consideration。　I　went　on：　〃What　I　mean　is；　I　didn't　know　that。　That　they　ate　the　same　food。　Should　have　been　obvious。　If　you'll　just　show　me…〃
　With　Mr。　Stokes　in　lugubrious　attendance；　Captain　Imrie　led　me　round　the　crew　quarters。　Those　consisted　of　five　separate　cabins…two　for　the　deck　staff；　one　for　the　engine…room　staff。　one　for　the　two　cooks　and　the　last　for　the　two　stewards。　It　was　the　last　one　that　we　visited　first。
　We　opened　the　door　and　just　stood　there　for　what　then　seemed　like　an　unconscionably　long　time　but　was　probably　only　a　few　seconds；　mindless　creatures　bereft　of　will　and　speech　and　power　of　motion。　I　was　the　first　to　recover　and　stepped　inside。
　The　stench　was　so　nauseating　that　I　came　close　to　being　sick　for　the　first　time　that　night　and　the　cabin　itself　was　in　a　state　of　indescribable　confusion；　chairs　knocked　over；　clothes　strewn　everywhere　and　both　bunks　pletely　denuded　of　sheets　and　blankets　which　were　scattered　in　a　tom　and　tangled　mess　over　the　deck。　The　first　and　overwhelming　impression　was　that　there　had　been　a　fight　to　the　death；　but　both　Moxen　and　Scott；　the　latter　almost　covered　in　a　shredded　sheet；　looked　curiously　peaceful　as　they　lay　there；　and　neither　bore　any　marks　of　violence。
　I　say　we　go　back。　I　say　we　return　now。〃　Captain　Imrie　wedged　himself　more　deeply　into　his　chair　as　if　establishing　both　a　physical　and　argumentatively　manding　position。　〃You　gentlemen　will　bear　in　mind　that　I　am　the　master　of　this　vessel；　that　I　have　responsibilities　towards　both　passengers　and　crew。〃　He　lifted　his　bottle　from　the　wrought…iron　stand　and　helped　himself　lavishly　and　I　observed；　automatically　and　with　little　surprise；　that　his　hand　was　not　quite　steady。　If　I'd　typhoid　or　cholera　aboard　I'd　sail　at　once　for　quarantine　in　the　nearest　port　where　medical　assistance　is　available。　Three　dead　and　four　seriously　ill；　I　don't　see　that　cholera　or　typhoid　could　be　any　worse　than　we　have　here　on　the　Morning　Pose。
　Who's　going　to　be　the　next　to　die？〃　He　looked　at　me　almost　accusingly；　Imrie　seemed　to　be　adopting　the　understandable　attitude　that；　as　a　doctor；　it　was　my　duty　to　preserve　life　and　that　as　I　wasn't　making　a　very　good　job　of　it　what　was　happening　was　largely　my　fault。　〃Dr。　Marlowe　here　admits　that　he　is　at　a　loss　to　understand　the　reasons　for　this…this　lethal　outbreak。
　Surely　to　God　that　itself　is　reason　enough　to　call　this　off？〃
　〃It's　a　long　long　way　back　to　Wick；〃　Smithy　said。　Like　Goin；　seated　beside　him；　Smithy　was　swathed　in　a　couple　of　blankets　and；　like　Otto；　he　still　looked　very　much　under　the　weather。　〃A　lot　can　happen　in　that　time。〃
　〃Wick；　Mr。　Smith？　I　wasn't　thinking　of　Wick。　I　can　be　in　Hammerfest　in　twenty…four　hours。〃
　〃Less；〃　said　Mr。　Stokes。　He　sipped　his　rum；　deliberated　and　made　his　pronouncement。　〃With　the　wind　and　the　sea　on　the　port　quarter　and　a　little　assistance　from　me　in　the　engine　room。　Twenty　hours。〃　He　went　over　his　homework　and　found　it　faultless。　〃Yes；　twenty　hours。〃
　〃You　see？〃　Imrie　transferred　his　piercing　blue　gaze　from　myself　to　Otto。
　〃Twenty　hours。〃
　When　we'd　established　that　there　had　been　no　more　casualties　among　the　crew　Captain　Imrie；　in　what　was　for　him　a　very　peremptory　fashion；　had　summoned　Otto　to　the　saloon　and　Otto　in　turn　had　sent　for　his　three　fellow　directors；　Goin；　Heissman；　and　Stryker。　The　other　director；　Miss　Haynes；　was；　Stryker　had　reported；　very　deeply　asleep　which　was　less　than　surprising　in　view　of　the　sedatives　I'd　prescribed　for　her。　The　Count　had　joined　the　meeting　without　invitation　but　everyone　appeared　to　accept　his　presence　there　as　natural。
　To　say　that　there　was　an　air　of　panic　in　the　saloon　would　have　been　exaggeration；　albeit　a　forgivable　one；　but　to　say　that　there　was　a　marked　degree　of　apprehension；　concern；　and　uncertainty　would　have　erred　on　the　side　of　understatement。　Otto　Gerran；　perhaps；　was　more　upset　than　any　other　person　present；　and　understandably　so；　for　Otto　had　a　great　deal　more　to　lose　than　any　other　person　present。
　I　appreciate　the　reasons　for　your　anxiety；〃　Otto　said；　〃and　your　concern　for　us　all　does　you　the　greatest　credit。　But　I　think　this　concern　is　making　you　overcautious。　Dr。　Marlowe　says　that　this…ah…epidemic　is　definitely　over。　We　are　going　to　look　very　foolish　indeed　if　we　turn　and　run　now　and　then　nothing　more　happens。〃
　Captain　Imrie　said：　〃I'm　too　old；　Mr。　Gerran；　to　care　what　I　look　like。
　If　it's　a　choice　between　looking　a　fool　and　having　another　dead　man　on　my　hands；　then　I'd　rather　look　a　fool　any　time。〃
　〃I　agree　with　Mr。　Gerran；〃　Heissman　said。　He　still　looked　sick　and　he　sounded　sick。　〃To　throw　it　all　away　when　we're　so　near…just　over　a　day　to　Bear　Island。　Drop　us　off　there　and　then　go　to　Hammerfest…just　as　in　the　original　plan。　That　means…well；　you'd　be　in　Hammerfest　in　say　sixty　hours　instead　of　twenty…four。　What's　going　to　happen　in　that　extra　thirty…six　hours　that's　not　going　to　happen　in　the　next　twenty…four？　Lose　everything　for　thirty…six　hours　just　because　you're　running　scared？〃
　I　am　not　running　scared；　as　you　say。〃　There　was　something　impressive　about　Imrie's　quiet　dignity。　〃My　first…〃
　I　wasn't　referring　to　you　personally；〃　Heissman　said。
　〃My　first　concern　is　for　the　people　under　my　charge。　And　they　are　under　my　charge。　I　am　the　person　responsible。　I　must　make　the　decision。〃
　〃Granted；　Captain；　granted。〃　Goin　was　his　usual　imperturbable　self；　a　calm　and　reasonable　man。　〃But　one　has　to　strike　a　balance　in　those　matters　；　don't　you　think？　Against　what　Dr。　Marlowe　now　regards　as　being　a　very　remote　possibility　of　another　outbreak　of　food　poisoning　occurring；　there's　the　near　certainty…no；　I　would　go　further　and　say　that　there's　the　inevitability…that　if　we　go　directly　to　Hammerfest　we'll　be　put　in　quarantine　for　God　knows　how　long。　A　week；　maybe　two　weeks；　before　the　port　medical　authorities　give　us　clearance。　And　then　it'll　be　too　late；　we'd　just　have　to　abandon　all　ideas　about　making　the　film　at　all　and　go　home。〃　Less　than　a　couple　of　hours　previously；　I　recalled；　Heissman　had　been　making　most　disparaging　remarks　about　Otto's　mental　capacities；　but　he'd　backed　him　up　against　Captain　Imrie　and　now　here　was　Goin　doing　the　same　thing：　both　men　knew　which　side　of　their　bread　required　butter。　〃The　losses　to　Olympus　Productions　will　be　enormous。〃
　〃Don't　be　telling　me　that；　Mr。　Goin；〃　Imrie　said。　‘Mat　you　mean　is　that　the　losses　to　the　insurance　pany…or　panies…will　be　enormous。〃
　〃Wrong；〃　Stryker　said　and　from　his　tone　and　attitude　it　was　clear　that　directorial　solidarity　on　the　board　of　Olympus　Productions　was　plete。
　〃Severally　and　personally；　all　members　of　the　cast　and　crew　are　insured。
　The　film　project…a　guarantee　as　to　its　successful　conclusion…was　uninsurable；　at　least　in　terms　of　the　premiums　demanded。　We；　and　we　alone；　bear　the　loss…and　I　would　add　that　for　Mr。　Gerran；　who　is　by　far　and　away　the　biggest　shareholder；　the　effects　would　be　ruinous。〃
　I　am　very　sorry　about　that。〃　Captain　Imrie　seemed　genuinely　sympathetic　but　he　didn't　for　a　moment　sound　like　a　man　who　was　preparing　to　abandon　his　position。　〃But　that's　your　concern；　I'm　afraid。　And　I　would　remind　you；　Mr。　Gerran；　of　what　you　yourself　said　earlier　on　this　evening。　〃Health；〃　you　said；　〃is　a　damned　sight　more　important　than　any　profit　we　might　make　from　this　film。　'Wouldn't　you　say　this　is　a　case　in　point？〃
　〃That's　nonsense　to　say　that；〃　Goin　said　equably。　He　had　the　rare　gift　of　being　able　to　make　potentially　offensive　statements　in　a　quietly　rational　voice　that　somehow　robbed　them　of　all　offence。　〃…Profit；〃　you　say；　was　the　word　Mr。　Gerran　used。　Certainly；　Mr。　Gerran　would　willingly　pass　up　any　potential　profit　if　the　need　arose；　and　that　need　wouldn't　have　to　be　very　pressing　or　demanding。　He's　done　it　before。〃　This　was　at　variance　with　the　impression　I'd　formed　of　Otto；　but　then　Goin　had　known　him　many　more　years　than　I　had　days。　〃Even　without　profit　we　could　still　make　our　way　by　breaking　even；　which　is　as　much　as　most　film　panies　can　hope　for　these　days。　But　you're　not　talking…we're　not　talking…about　lack　of　profit；　we're　talking　about　a　total　and　nonrecoverable　loss；　a　loss　that　would　run　into　six　figures　and　break　us　entirely。　We've　put　our　collective　shirt　on　this　one；　Captain　Imrie；　yet　you're　talking　airily　of　liquidating　our　pany；　putting　dozens　of　technicians…and　their　families…on　the　breadline　and　damaging；　very　likely　beyond　repair；　the　careers　of　some　very　promising　actors　and　actresses。　And　all　of　this　for　what？　The　remote　chance…according　to　Dr。　Marlowe；　the　very　remote　chance…that　someone　may　fall　ill　again。　Haven't　you　got　things　just　a　little　bit　out　of　proportion；　Captain　Imrie？〃
　If　he　had；　Captain　Imrie　wasn't　saying　so。　He　wasn't　saying　anything。　He　didn't　exactly　have　the　look　of　a　man　who　was　thinking　and　thinking　hard。
　〃Mr。　Goin　puts　it　very　succinctly；〃　Otto　said。　〃very　succinctly　indeed　and　there's　a　major　point　that　seems　to　have　escaped　you；　Captain　Imrie。　You　have　reminded　me　of　something　I　said　earlier。　May　I　remind　you　of　something　you　said　earlier。　May　I　remind　you…〃
　〃And　may　I　interrupt；　Mr。　Gerran；〃　I　said。　I　knew　damn　well　what　he　was　going　to　say　and　the　last　thing　I　wanted　was　to　hear　him　say　it。
　〃Please。　A　peace　formula；　if　you　wish。　You　want　to　continue。　So　does　Mr。　Goin；　so　does　Mr。　Heissman。　So　do　I…if　only　because　my　reputation　as　a　doctor　seems　to　depend　on　it。　Tadeusz？〃
　〃No　question；〃　said　the　Count。　〃Bear　Island。〃
　〃And；　of　course；　it　would　be　unfair　to　ask　either　Mr。　Smith　or　Mr。　Stokes。　So　I　propose…〃
　〃This　isn't　Parliament；　Dr。　Marlowe；〃　Imrie　said。　〃Not　even　a　local　town　council。　Decisions　aboard　a　vessel　at　sea　are　not　arrived　at　by　popular　vote。〃
　〃I've　no　intention　that　they　should　be。　I　suggest　we　draw　up　a　document。　I　suggest　we　note　Captain　Imrie's　proposals　and　considered　opinions。　I　suggest　i