alistairmaclean.bearisland-第33章

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ussians　simply　spirited　him　away　at　the　end　of　the　war　for　his　own　safety　and　allegedly　sent　him　to　Siberia。　Our　information　is　that　he's　never　been　to　Siberia：　we　believe　that　his　wife　and　two　married　daughters　are　still　living　very　fortably　in　Moscow。〃
　〃And　he　has　been　working　for　the　Russians　ever　since？〃　Smithy　was　looking　just　faintly　baffled　and　I　felt　some　fellow　feeling　for　him；　Heissman's　masterful　duplicity　was　not　for　ready　prehension。
　In　his　present　capacity。　During　his　last　eight　years　in　his　Siberian　prison；　Heissman；　in　a　variety　of　disguises；　has　been　traced　in　North　and　South　America；　South　Africa；　Israel　and；　believe　it　or　not；　in　the　Savoy　Hotel　in　London。　We　know　but　we　cannot　prove　that　all　those　trips　were　in　some　way　concerned　with　the　recovery　of　Nazi　treasure　for　his　Russian　masters…you　have　to　remember　that　Heissman　had　built　up　the　highest　connections　in　the　Party；　the　S。S。；　and　the　Intelligence：　he　was　almost　uniquely　qualified　for　the　task。　Since　his　〃escape〃　from　Siberia　he　has　made　two　pictures　in　Europe；　one　in　Piedmont　where　an　old　widow　plained　that　some　tattered　old　paintings　had　been　stolen　from　the　loft　of　her　barn；　the　other　in　Provence；　where　an　old　country　lawyer　called　in　the　police　about　some　deed　boxes　that　had　been　removed　from　his　office。
　Whether　either　pictures　or　deed　boxes　were　of　any　value　we　do　not　know：　still　less　can　we　connect　either　disappearance　with　Heissman。〃
　〃This　is　an　awful　lot　to　take　in　all　at　once；〃　Smithy　plained。　It　is；　isn't　it？〃
　〃；　OK　if　I　smoke？〃
　〃Five　minutes。　Then　I've　got　to　drag　you　back　by　the　heels。〃
　〃By　the　shoulders；　if　it's　all　the　same　to　you。〃　Smithy　lit　his　cigarette　and　thought　a　bit。　〃So　what　we've　got　to　find　out　is　what　Heissman　is　doing　on　Bear　Island。〃
　〃That's　why　we're　here。〃
　〃You've　no　idea？〃
　〃None。　Money；　it's　got　to　be　money。　This　would　be　the　last　place　on　earth　I'd　associate　with　money　and　maybe　that　association　would　be　wrong　anyway。　Maybe　it's　only　a　means　to　the　money。　Johann；　as　I　trust　you've　gathered　by　this　time；　is　a　very　devious　character　indeed。〃
　〃Would　there　be　a　tie…up　with　the　film　pany？　With　his　old　friend　Gerran？　Or　would　he　just　be　making　use　of　them？〃
　〃I've　simply　no　idea。〃
　〃And　Mary　Stuart？　The　secret　rendezvous　girl？　What　could　the　possible　connection　be　there？〃
　〃Same　answer。　We　know　very　little　of　her。　We　know　her　real　name　she's　never　made　any　attempt　to　conceal　that…age；　birthplace；　and　that　she's　a　Latvian…or　es　from　what　used　to　be　Latvia　before　the　Russians　took　it　over。　We　also　know…and　this　information　she　hasn't　volunteered　…that　it　was　only　her　mother　who　was　Latvian。　Her　father　was　German。〃　〃Ah！　In　the　Army　perhaps？　Intelligence？　S。S。？〃
　〃That's　the　obvious　connection　to　seek。　But　we　don't　know。　Her　immigration　forms　say　that　her　parents　are　dead。〃
　〃So　the　department　has　been　checking　on　her；　too？〃
　〃We've　had　a　rundown　on　everyone　here　connected　with　Olympus　Productions。　We　may　as　well　have　saved　ourselves　the　trouble。〃
　〃So　no　facts。　Any　hunches；　feelings？〃
　〃Hunches　aren't　my　stock…in…trade。〃
　〃I　somehow　didn't　feel　they　would　be。〃　Smithy　ground　out　his　cigarette。　〃Before　we　go；　I'd　like　to　mention　two　very　unfortable　thoughts　that　have　just　occurred　to　me。　Number　one。　Johann　Heissman　is　a　very　big…time；　very　successful　international　operative？　True'
　〃He's　an　international　criminal。〃
　〃A　rose　by　any　other　name。　The　point　is　that　those　boys　avoid　violence　wherever　possible；　isn't　that　true？〃
　〃Perfectly　true。　Apart　from　anything　else；　it's　beneath　them。〃
　〃And　have　you　ever　heard　Heissman's　name　being　associated　with　violence？〃
　〃There's　no　record　of　it。〃
　〃But　there's　been　a　considerable　amount　of　violence；　one　way　or　the　other；　in　the　past　day　or　two。　So　if　it　isn't　Heissman；　who's　behind　the　strong…arm　behaviour？〃
　I　don't　say　it　isn't　Heissman。　The　leopard　can　change　his　spots。　He　may　be　finding　himself；　for　God　knows　what　reason；　in　so　highly　unusual　a　situation　that　he　has　no　option　other　than　to　have　recourse　to　violence。
　He　may；　for　all　we　know；　have　violent　associates　who　don't　necessarily　represent　his　attitude。　Or　it　may　be　someone　entirely　unconnected　with　him。〃
　〃That's　what　I　like；〃　Smithy　said。　〃Simple　straightforward　answers。
　And　there's　the　second　point　that　may　have　escaped　your　attention。　If　our　friends　are　on　to　you　the　chances　are　that　they're　on　to　me　too。　That　eavesdropper　on　the　bridge。〃
　〃The　point　had　not　escaped　my　attention。　And　not　because　of　the　bridge；　although　that　may　have　given　pause　for　thought；　but　because　you　deliberately　skipped　ship。　It　doesn't　matter　what　most　of　them　think；　one　person　or　possibly　more　is　going　to　be　convinced　that　you　did　it　on　purpose。　You're　a　marked　man；　Smithy。〃
　〃So　that　when　you　drag　me　back　there　not　everyone　is　going　to　feel　genuine　pangs　of　sorrow　for　poor　old　Smithy？　Some　may　question　the　bona　fides　of　my　injuries？〃
　〃They　won't　question。　They'll　damn　well　know。　But　we　have　to　act　as　if。〃
　〃Maybe　you'll　watch　my　back　too？　Now　and　again？〃
　I　have　a　lot　on　my　mind；　but　I'll　try。〃
　I　had　Smithy　by　the　armpits；　head　lolling；　heels　and　bands　trailing　in　the　snow；　when　two　flashlights　picked　us　up　less　than　five　yards　from　the　door　of　the　main　cabin。
　〃You've　found　him；　then？〃　It　was　Goin；　Harbottle　by　his　side。　〃Good　man！〃　Even　to　my　by　now　hypersensitive　car　Goin's　reaction　sounded　genuine。
　〃Yes。　About　quarter　of　a　mile　away。〃　I　breathed　very　quickly　and　deeply　to　give　them　some　idea　as　to　what　it　must　have　been　like　to　drag　a　two　hundred…pound　dead　weight　over　uneven　snow…covered　terrain　for　such　a　distance。　〃Found　him　in　the　bottom　of　a　gully。　Give　me　a　hand；　will　you？〃
　They　gave　me　a　hand。　We　hauled　him　inside；　fetched　a　camp　cot　and　stretched　him　out　on　this。
　〃Good　God！　Good　God！　Good　God！〃　Otto　wrung　his　hands；　the　anguished　expression　on　his　face　testimony　to　the　fresh　burden　now　added　to　the　crippling　weight　of　the　cross　he　was　already　carrying。　〃What's　happened　to　the　poor　fellow？〃　The　only　other　occupant　of　the　cabin；　Judith　Haynes；　had　made　no　move　to　leave　the　oil　stove　she　was　monopolising；　unconscious　men　being　borne　into　her　presence　might　have　been　so　routine　an　affair　as　not　even　to　merit　the　raising　of　an　eyebrow。
　〃I'm　not　sure；〃　I　said　between　gasps。　〃Heavy　fall；　I　think；　banged　his　head　on　a　boulder。　Looked　like。〃
　〃Concussion？〃
　〃Maybe。〃　I　probed　through　his　hair　with　my　fingertips；　found　a　spot　on　the　scalp　that　felt　no　different　from　anywhere　else　and　said：　〃Ah！〃
　They　looked　at　me　in　anxious　expectancy。
　〃Brandy；〃　I　said　to　Otto。　I　fetched　my　stethoscope；　went　through　the　necessary　charade；　and　managed　to　revive　the　coughing；　moaning　Smithy　with　a　mouthful　or　two　of　brandy。　For　one　not　trained　to　the　boards；　he　put　up　a　remarkable　performance　high…lighted；　at　its　end；　with　a　muted　series　of　oaths　and　an　expression　of　mingled　shock　and　chagrin　when　I　gently　informed　him　that　the　Morning　Rose　had　sailed　without　him。
　During　the　course　of　the　histrionics　most　of　the　other　searchers　wandered　in　twos　or　threes。　I　watched　them　all　carefully　without　seeming　to；　looking　for　an　expression　that　was　other　than　surprise　or　relief；　but　I　might　have　spared　myself　the　trouble：　if　there　was　one　or　more　who　was　neither　surprised　nor　relieved　he　had　his　emotions　and　facial　muscles　too　well　schooled　to　show　anything。　I　would　have　expected　nothing　else。　After　about　ten　minutes　our　concern　shifted　from　a　now　obviously　recovering　Smithy　to　the　fact　that　two　members　of　the　searching　party；　Allen　and　Stryker；　were　still　missing。　After　the　events　of　that　morning　I　felt　that　the　absence　of　those　two；　of　all　of　us；　to　be　rather　Coincidental；　after　fifteen　minutes　I　felt　it　odd　and　after　twenty　minutes　I　felt　it　downright　ominous；　a　feeling　that　was　clearly　shared　by　nearly　everyone　there。　Judith　Haynes　had　abandoned　her　squatter's　rights　by　her　oil　stove　and　was　walking　up　and　down　in　short；　nervous　steps；　squeezing　her　hands　together。　She　stopped　in　front　of　me。
　I　don't　like　it；　I　don't　like　it！〃　Her　voice　was　strained　and　anxious；　it　could　have　been　acting　but　I　didn't　think　so。　〃What's　keeping　him？　Why　is　he　so　long？　He's　out　there　with　that　Allen　fellow。　Something's　wrong。
　I　know　it　is；　I　know　it。〃　When　I　didn't　answer　she　said：　〃Well；　aren't　you　going　out　to　look　for　him？〃
　〃Just　as　you　went　out　to　look　for　Mr。　Smith　here；〃　I　said。　It　wasn't　very　nice　but　then　I　didn't　always　feel　so　very　kind　to　other　people　as　Lonnie　did。　〃Maybe　your　husband　will　e　back　when　he　feels　like　it。〃
　She　looked　at　me　without　speaking；　her　lips　moving　but　not　speaking；　no　real　hostility　in　her　face；　and　I　realised　for　the　second　time　that　day　that　her　rumoured　hatred　for　her　husband　was；　in　fact；　only　a　rumour　and　that；　buried　no　matter　how　deep；　there　did　exist　some　form　of　concern　for　him。　She　turned　away　and　I　reached　for　my　torch。
　〃Once　more　unto　the　breach；〃　I　said。　〃Any　takers？〃
　Conrad；　Jungbeck；　Heyter；　and　Hendriks　acpanied　me。　Volunteers　there　were　in　plenty　but　I　reasoned　that　not　only　would　increased　numbers　get　in　one　another's　way　but　the　chances　of　someone　else　being　lost　would　be　all　that　greater。　Immediately　after　leaving　the　hut　the　five　of　us　fanned　out　at　intervals　of　not　more　than　fifteen　feel？　and　moved　off　to　the　north。　We　found　Alien　inside　the　first　thirty　seconds：　more　accurately；　he　found　us；　for　he　saw　our　torches…he'd　lost　his　own…and　came　stumbling　towards　us　out　of　the　snow　and　the　darkness。　〃Stumbled〃　was　the　operative　word；　he　was　weaving　and　swaying　like　one　far　gone　in　alcohol　or　exhaustion　and　when　he　tried　to　speak　his　voice　was　thick　and　slurred。　He　was　shivering　like　a　man　with　the　ague。　it　seemed　not　only　pointless　but　cruel　to　question　him　in　that　condition　so　we　hurried　him　inside。　
　I　had　a　look　at　him　as　we　sat　him　on　a　stool　by　an　oil　stove　and　I　didn't　have　to　look　twice　or　very　closely　to　see　that　this　hadn't　exactly　been　Alien's　day。　Alien　had　been　in　the　wars　again　and　the　damage　that　had　been　inflicted　on　him　this　time　at　least　matched　up　to　the　injuries　he'd　received　that　morning。　He　had　two　nasty　cuts　above　what　had　been　up　till　then　his　undamaged　eye；　a　bruised　and　scratched　right　cheek　and　blood　came　from　both　his　mouth　and　nose；　blood　already　congealed　in　the　cold：　but　his　worst　injury　was　a　very　deep　gash　on　the　back　of　the　head；　the　scalp　laid　open　clear　to　the　bone。　Someone　had　given　young　Alien　a　very　thorough　going　over　indeed。
　〃And　what　happened　to　you　this　time？〃　I　asked。　He　winced　as　I　started　to　clean　up　his　face。　〃Or　should　I　say；　do　you　know　what　happened　to　you？〃
　I　don't　know；〃　he　said　thickly。　He　shook　his　head　and　drew　his　breath　in　sharply　as　some　pain　struck　through　either　head　or　neck。　I　don't　know。　I　don't　remember。〃
　〃You've　been　in　a　fight；　laddie；〃　I　said。　〃Again。　Someone's　cut　you　up；　and　quite　badly。〃
　I　know。　I　can　feel　it。　I　don't　remember。　Honest　to　God；　I　don't　remember。　I…I　just　don't　know　what　happened。〃
　Tut　you　must　have　seen　him；〃　Goin　said　reasonably。　〃Whoever　it　was；　you　must　have　been　face　to　face　with　him；　God's　sake；　boy；　your　shirt's　tom　and　there's　at　least　a　couple　of　buttons　missing　from　your　coat。　And　he　had　to　be　standing　in　front　of　you　when　he