alistairmaclean.bearisland-第13章

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　〃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　if　more　illness　occurs　we　run　immediately　for　Hammerfest；　even　though　we　are　at　the　time　only　one　hour　distant　from　Bear　Island。　I　suggest　it　be　recorded　that　Captain　Imrie　be　protected　and　absolved　from　any　accusation　of　hazarding　the　health　of　his　crew　and　passengers　in　light　of　the　medical　officer's　affidavit…which　I　will　write　out　and　sign…that　no　such　hazard　exists：　the　only　charge　the　captain　has　to　worry　about　at　any　time　is　the　physical　hazarding　of　his　vessel　and　that　doesn't　exist　here。　Then　we　will　state　that　the　captain　is　absolved　from　all　blame　and　responsibility　for　any　consequences　arising　from　our　decision：　the　navigation　and　handling　of　the　vessel　remains；　of　course；　his　sole　responsibility。　Then　all　five　of　us　sign　it。　Captain　Imrie？〃
　〃Agreed。〃　There　is　a　time　to　be　prompt　and　Captain　Imrie　clearly　regarded　this　as　such　a　time。　At　best；　the　proposal　was　a　lame　promise；　but　one　he　was　glad　to　accept。　〃Now；　if　you　gentlemen　will　excuse　me。　I　have　to　be　up　betimes…4　A。M。　to　be　precise。〃　I　wondered　when　he　had　last　risen　at　that　unearthly　hour…not；　probably；　since　his　fishing　days　had　ended：　but　the　illness　of　mate　and　bosan　made　for　exceptional　circumstances　。　He　looked　at　me。　I　will　have　that　document　at　breakfast？〃
　〃At　breakfast。　I　wonder；　Captain；　if　on　your　way　to　bed　you　could　ask　Haggerty　to　e　to　see　me。　I'd　ask　him　personally；　but　he's　a　bit　touchy　about　civilians　like　myself。〃
　〃A　lifetime　in　the　Royal　Navy　is　not　forgotten　overnight。　Now？〃
　〃Say　ten　minutes？　In　the　galley。〃
　〃Still　pursuing　your　enquiries；　is　that　it？　It's　not　your　fault；　Dr。　Marlowe。〃
　If　it　wasn't　my　fault；　I　thought；　I　wished　they'd　all　stop　making　me　feel　it　was。　Instead　I　thanked　him　and　said　good　night　and　he　said　good　night　to　us　and　left　acpanied　by　Smithy　and　Mr。　Stokes。　Otto　steepled　his　fingers　and　regarded　me　in　his　best　chairman…of…the…board　fashion。
　〃We　owe　you　our　thanks；　Dr。　Marlowe。　That　was　well　done；　an　excellent　face…saving　proposal。〃　He　smiled。　〃I　am　not　accustomed　to　suffering　interruption　lightly　but　in　this　case　it　was　justified。〃
　If　I　hadn't　interrupted　we'd　all　be　on　our　way　to　Hammerfest　now。　You　were　about　to　remind　him　of　that　part　of　your　contract　with　him　which　states　that　he　will　obey　all　your　orders　other　than　those　that　actually　endanger　the　vessel。　You　were　about　to　point　out　that　as　no　such　physical　danger　exists；　he　was　technically　in　breach　of　contract　and　so　would　be　legally　liable　to　the　forfeiture　of　the　entire　contract　fee；　which　would　certainly　have　ruined　him。　But　for　a　man　like　that　money　ranks　a　long；　long　way　behind　pride　and　Captain　Imrie　is　a　very　proud　man。　He'd　have　told　you　to　go　to　hell　and　turned　his　ship　for　Hammerfest。〃
　〃I'd　say　that　our　worthy　physician's　assessment　is　a　hundred　percent　accurate。〃　The　Count　had　found　some　brandy　and　now　helped　himself　freely。　〃You　came　close　there；　Otto；　my　boy。〃
　If　the　pany　chairman　felt　annoyance　at　being　thus　familiarly　addressed　by　his　cameraman；　he　showed　no　evidence　of　it。　He　said：　〃I　agree。
　We　are　in　your　debt；　Dr。　Marlowe。〃
　〃A　free　seat　at　the　premiere；〃　I　said；　〃and　all　debts　discharged。〃　I　left　the　board　to　its　deliberations　and　weaved　my　unsteady　way　down　to　the　passenger　acmodation。　Allen　and　Mary　darling　were　still　in　the　same　place　in　the　lounge；　only　now　she　had　her　head　on　his　shoulder　and　seemed　to　be　asleep。　I　gave　him　a　casually　acknowledging　wave　of　my　hand　and　he　answered　in　kind：　he　seemed　to　be　being　accustomed　to　my　peripatetic　presence。
　I　entered　the　Duke's　cabin　without　knocking；　lest　there　was　someone　there　asleep。　There　was。　Eddie；　the　electrician；　was　very　sound　indeed　and　snoring　heavily；　the　sight　of　his　cabin…mate's　close　brush　with　the　reaper　hadn't　unnerved　him　any　that　I　could　see。　Cecil　Golightly　was　awake　and　looking　understandably　very　pale　and　drawn　but　not　noticeably　suffering；　largely；　it　seemed　very　likely；　because　Mary　Stuart；　who　was　just　as　pale　as　he　was；　was　sitting　by　his　bedside　and　holding　his　far　from　reluctant　hand。　I　was　beginning　to　think　that　perhaps　she　had　more　friends　than　either　she　or　I　thought　she　had。
　〃Good　lord！〃　I　said。　〃You　still　here？〃
　〃Didn't　you　expect　me　to　be？　You　asked　me　to　stay　and　keep　an　eye　on　him。　Or　had　you　forgotten？〃
　〃Certainly　not；〃　I　lied。　〃Didn't　expect　you　to　remain　so　long；　that's　all。
　You've　been　very　kind。〃　I　looked　down　upon　the　recumbent　Duke。　〃Feeling　a　bit　better？〃
　〃Lots；　Doctor。　Lots　better。〃　With　his　voice　not　much　more　than　a　strained　whisper　he　didn't　sound　it　but；　then；　after　what　he'd　been　through　in　the　past　hour　I　didn't　expect　him　to。
　〃I'd　like　to　have　a　little　talk　with　you；〃　I　said。　〃Just　a　couple　of　minutes。　Feel　up　to　it？〃
　He　nodded。　Mary　dear　said：　〃I'll　leave　you　then；〃　and　made　to　rise　but　I　put　a　restraining　hand　on　her　shoulder。
　〃No　need。　The　Duke　and　I　share　no　secrets。〃　I　gave　him　what　I　hoped　would　be　translated　as　a　thoughtful　look。　〃It's　just　possible；　though；　that　the　Duke　might　be　concealing　a　secret　from　me。〃
　〃Me？　A…a　secret？〃　Cecil　was　genuinely　puzzled。
　〃Tell　me。　When　did　the　pains　start？〃
　〃The　pains？　Half…past　nine。　Ten。　Something　like　that；　I　can't　be　sure。〃
　Temporarily　bereft　of　his　quick　wit　and　chirpy　humour；　the　Duke　was　a　very　woebegone　Cockney　sparrow　indeed。　〃When　this　thing　hit　me　I　
　Wasn't　feeling　much　like　looking　at　watches。〃
　〃I'm　sure　you　weren't；〃　I　said　sympathetically。　〃And　dinner　was　the　last　bite　you　had　tonight？〃
　〃The　last　bite。〃　His　voice　even　sounded　firm。
　〃Not　even　another　teeny…weeny　snack？　You　see；　Cecil；　I'm　puzzled。
　Miss　Stuart　has　told　you　that　others　have　been　ill；　too？〃　He　nodded。　〃Well；　the　odd　thing　is　that　the　others　began　to　be　ill　almost　at　once　after　eating。　But　it　took　well　over　an　hour　in　your　case。　I　find　it　very　strange。　You're　absolutely　sure？　You'd　nothing？〃
　Doctor！〃　He　wheezed　a　bit。　〃You　know　me。〃
　〃Yes。　That's　why　I'm　asking。〃　Mary　dear　was　looking　at　me　with　coolly　appraising　and　rather　reproachful　brown　eyes；　any　moment　now　and　she　was　going　to　say　didn't　I　know　Cecil　was　a　sick　man。　〃You　see；　I　know　that　the　others　who　were　sick　were　suffering　from　some　kind　of　food　poisoning　that　they　picked　up　at　dinner　and　I　know　how　to　treat　them。　But
　your　illness　must　have　had　another　cause；　I've　no　idea　what　it　was　or　how　to　treat　it　and　until　I　can　make　some　sort　of　diagnosis　I　can't　afford　to　take　chances。　You're　going　to　be　very　hungry　tomorrow　morning　and　for　some　time　after　that　but　I　have　to　give　your　system　time　to　settle　down：　I　don't　want　you　to　eat　anything　that　might　provoke　a　reaction　so　violent　that　I　mightn't　be　able　to　cope　with　it　this　time。　Time　will　give　the　all　clear。〃
　I　don't　understand；　Doctor。〃
　〃Tea　and　toast　for　the　next　three　days。〃
　The　Duke　didn't　turn　any　paler　than　he　was　because　that　was　impossible　：　he　just　looked　stricken。
　〃Tea　and　toast？〃　His　voice　was　a　weak　croak。　〃For　three　days！〃
　〃For　your　own　good；　Cecil。〃　I　patted　him　sympathetically　on　the　shoulder　and　straightened；　preparing　to　leave。　〃We　just　want　to　see　you　on　your　feel？　again。〃
　I　was　feeling　peckish；　like；〃　the　Duke　explained　with　some　pathos。
　〃When？〃
　lust　before　nine。〃
　lust　before…half　an　hour　after　dinner？〃
　〃That's　when　I　feel　the　most　peckish。　I　nipped　up　into　the　galley；　see；　and　there　was　this　casserole　on　a　hot　plate　but　I'd　only　time　for　one　spoonful　when　I　heard　two　people　ing　so　I　jumped　into　the　cool　room。〃
　〃And　waited？〃
　I　had　to　wait。〃　The　Duke　sounded　almost　virtuous。　〃If　I'd　opened　the　door　even　a　crack　they'd　have　seen　me。〃
　〃So　they　didn't　see　you。　Which　means　they　left。　Then？〃
　〃They'd　scoffed　the　bleedin〃　lot；〃　the　Duke　said　bitterly。
　〃Lucky　you。〃
　〃Lucky？〃
　〃Moxen　and　Scott；　wasn't　it？　The　stewards？〃
　〃How…how　did　you　know？〃
　〃They　saved　your　life；　Duke。〃
　〃They　what？〃
　〃They　ate　what　you　were　going　to　cat。　So　you're　alive。　They're　both　dead。〃
　Allen　and　Mary　Darling　had　obviously　given　up　their　midnight　vigil　for　the　lounge　was　deserted。　I'd　five　minutes　before　I　met　Haggerty　in　the　galley；　five　minutes　in　which　to　collect　my　thoughts：　the　trouble　was　that　I　had　to　find　them　first　before　I　could　collect　them。　And　then　I　realised　I　was　not　even　going　to　have　the　time　to　find　them　for　there　were　footsteps　on　the　panionway。　Trying　with　very　little　success　to　cope　with　the　wild　staggering　of　the　Morning　Rose　Mary　Stuart　made　her　unsteady　way　towards　an　armchair　opposite　me　and　collapsed　into　rather　than　sat　in　it。　Insofar　as　it　was　possible　for　such　an　extraordinarily　good…looking　young　woman　to　look　haggard；　then　she　looked　haggard：　her　face　was　grey。　I　should　have　felt　annoyed　with　her　for　interrupting　my　train　of　thought；　assuming；　that　was；　that　I　ever　managed　to　get　the　train　under　way；　but　I　could　feel　no　such　emotion：　I　was　beginning　to　realise；　though　only　vaguely；　that　I　was　incapable　of　entertaining　towards　this　Latvian　girl　any　feeling　that　remotely　bordered　on　the　hostile。　Besides；　she　had　clearly　e　to　talk　to　me；　and　if　she　did　she　wanted　some　help；　or　reassuring　or　understanding　and　it　would　e　very　hardly　indeed　for　so　proud；　so　remote；　so　aloof　a　girl　to　ask　for　any　of　those。　In　all　conscience；　I　couldn't　make　things　difficult　for　her。
　〃Been　sick？〃　I　asked。　As　a　conversational　gambit　it　lacked　something　but　doctors　aren't　supposed　to　have　manners。　She　nodded。　She　was　clasping　her　hands　so　tightly　that　I　could　see　the　faint　ivory　gleam　of　knuckles。
　〃I　thought　you　were　a　good　sailor？〃　The　light　touch。
　〃It　is　not　the　sea　that　makes　me　ill。〃
　I　abandoned　the　light　touch。　〃Mary　dear；　why　don't　you　lie　down　and　try　to　sleep？〃
　I　see。　You　tell　me　that　two　more　men　have　been　poisoned　and　died　and　then　I　am　supposed　to　drop　off　to　sleep　and　have　happy　dreams。　Is　that　it？〃　I　said　nothing　and　she　went　on　wryly：　‘You're　not　very　good　at　breaking　bad　news；　are　you？〃
　〃Professional　callousness。　You　didn't　e　here　just　to　reproach　me　with　my　tactlessness。　What　is　it；　Mary　dear？〃
　‘Why　do　you　call　me　〃Mary　dear？'
　〃It　offends　you？〃
　〃Oh；　no。　Not　when　you　say　it。〃　From　any　other　woman　the　words　would　have　carried　coquettish　overtones；　but　there　were　none　such　here。　It　was　meant　as　a　statement　of　fact；　no　more。
　〃Very　well；　then。〃　I　don't　know　what　I　meant　by　‘Very　well；　then；〃　it　just　made　me　feel　obscurely　clever。　〃Tell　me。〃
　〃I'm　afraid；〃　she　said　simply。
　So　she　was　afraid。　She　was　tired；　overwrought；　she'd　tended　four　very；　very　sick　men　who'd　been　poisoned；　she'd　learnt　that　three　others　whom　she　knew　had　died　of　poison　and　the　violence　of　the　Arctic　gale　raging　outside　was　sufficient　to　give　pause　to　even　the　most　intrepid。　But　I　said　none　of　those　things　to　her。
　〃We're　all　afraid　at　times；　Mary。〃
　〃You　too？〃
　〃Me　too。〃
　〃Are　you　afraid　now？〃
　〃No。　What's　there　to　be　afraid　of？〃
　〃Death。　Sickness　and　death。〃
　I　have　to　live　with　death；　Mary。　I　detest　it；　of　course　I　do；　but　I　don't　fear　it。　If　I　did；　I'd　be　no　good　as　a　doctor。　Would　I　now？〃
　I　do　not　express　myself　well。　Death　I　can　accept。　But　not　when　it　strikes　out　blindly　and　you　know　that　it　is　not　blind。