alistairmaclean.bearisland-第37章

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　lie！　And　he　couldn't　hurt　anything；　I　mean　just　not　kill　anybody；　I　mean　hurt　anybody；　he　just　couldn't　do　it！　And　I　didn't　do　it。〃　Her　fists　clenched　until　the　knuckles　showed　she　was　even；　for　some　odd　reason；　trying　to　shake　me　now　and　tears　were　rolling　down　her　face；　whatever　she'd　known　in　her　short　life　hadn't　prepared　her　for　times　and　situations　like　those。　She　shook　her　head　in　despair。　I　didn't；　I　didn't！　A　murderess；　that's　what　she　called　me！　In　front　of　everybody；　she　called　me　a　murderess！　I　couldn't　kill　anybody；　Dr。　Marlowe。。。I。。。〃
　〃Mary。〃　I　stopped　the　hysterical　flow　by　the　simple　process　of　putting　my　fingers　across　her　lips。　I　seriously　doubt　whether　you　could　dispose　of　a　fly　without　worrying　yourself　sick　afterwards。　You　and　Allen　together　well；　if　it　were　a　particularly　obnoxious　fly　you　just　might　manage　it。　I　wouldn't　bet　on　it；　though。〃
　She　took　my　hand　away　and　stared　at　me：　〃Dr。　Marlowe；　do　you　mean…〃
　I　mean　you're　a　silly　young　goose。　Together；　you　make　a　fine　pair　of　silly　young　geese。　It's　not　that　I　just　don't　believe　that　Allen　or　you　had　anything　to　do　with　Stryker's　death。　I　know　you　hadn't。〃
　She　sniffed　a　bit　and　then　she　said：　〃You're　an　awfully　kind　person；　Dr。　Marlowe。　I　know　you're　trying　to　help　us…〃
　〃Oh；　do　shut　up；〃　I　said。　I　can　prove　it。〃
　〃Prove　it？　Prove　it？〃　There　was　some　hope　in　the　sick　eyes；　she　didn't　know　whether　to　believe　me　or　not；　and　then　it　seemed　that　she　decided　not　to；　for　she　shook　her　head　again　and　said　numbly：　〃She　said　I　killed　him。〃
　〃Miss　Haynes　was　speaking　figuratively；〃　I　said；　which　is　not　the　same　thing　at　all；　and　even　then　she　was　wrong。　What　she　meant　was　that　you　were　the　precipitating　factor　in　her　husband's　death；　which　of　course　you　weren't。〃
　〃Precipitating　factor？〃
　〃Yes。〃　I　took　her　hands　from　my　now　badly　crushed　lapels；　held　them　in　mine　and　looked　at　her　in　my　best　avuncular　fashion。　〃Tell　me；　Mary　darling；　have　you　ever　dallied　in　the　moonlight　with　Michael　Stryker？〃
　〃Me？　Have　I？〃
　〃Mary！〃
　〃Yes；〃　she　said　miserably。　I　mean　no；　no　I　didn't。〃
　〃That's　very　clear；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　put　it　this　way。　Did　you　ever　give　Miss　Haynes　reason　to　suspect　that　you　had　been？　Dallying；　I　mean。〃
　〃Yes。〃　She　sniffed　again。　〃No。　I　mean　he　did。〃　I　kept　my　baffled　expression　in　cold　storage　and　looked　at　her　encouragingly。　〃He　called　me　into　his　cabin；　just　the　day　we　left　Wick；　that　was。　He　was　alone　there。　He　said　that　he　wanted　to　discuss　some　things　about　the　film　with　me。〃
　〃A　change　from　etchings；〃　I　said。
　She　looked　at　me　unprehendingly　and　went　on：　〃But　it　wasn't　about　the　film　he　wanted　to　talk。　You　must　believe　me；　Dr。　Marlowe。　You　must！〃
　I　believe　you。〃
　〃He　closed　the　door　and　grabbed　me　and　then…〃
　〃Spare　my　unsullied　mind　the　grisly　details。　When　the　villain　was　forcing　his　unwele　attentions　upon　you　there　came　the　pit…a…pat　of　feminine　footsteps　in　the　corridor　outside　whereupon　the　villain　rapidly　assumed　a　position　where　you　appeared　to　be　forcing　your　unwele　attentions　upon　him　and　when　the　door　opened…to　reveal；　of　course；　none　other　than　his　better　half…there　he　was；　fending　off　the　licentious　young　continuity　girl　and　crying；　〃No；　no；　Nanette；　control　yourself；　this　can　never　be〃　or　words　to　that　effect。〃
　〃More　or　less。〃　She　looked　more　miserable　than　ever；　then　her　eyes　widened。　〃How　did　you　know？〃
　〃The　Strykers　of　this　world　are　pretty　thick　upon　the　ground。　The　ensuing　scene　must　have　been　pretty　painful。〃
　〃There　were　two　scenes；〃　she　said　dully。　〃Something　like　it　happened　on　the　upper　deck　the　following　night。　She　said　she　was　going　to　report　me　to　her　father…Mr。　Gerran。　He　said…not　when　she　was　there；　of　course　…that　if　I　tried　to　make　trouble　he'd　have　me　fired。　He　was　a　director；　you　know。　Later；　when　I　got；　well；　friendly　with　Allen；　he　said　he'd　get　us　both　fired　if　need　be　and　make　sure　that　neither　of　us　would　ever　again　get　a　job　in　films。　Allen　said　that　this　was　all　wrong；　why　should　we　accept　this　when　neither　of　us　had　done　anything　so…〃
　〃So　he　tried　to　make　him　see　the　error　of　his　ways　this　morning　and　got　clobbered　for　his　pains。　Don't　worry；　you've　neither　of　you　anything　to　worry　about。　You'll　find　your　wounded　knight　errant　next　door；　Mary。〃　I　smiled　and　gently　touched　the　swollen　cheek。　〃This　should　be　something　to　see。　Love's　young　dream　in　sticking　plaster。　You　do　love　him；　don't　you；　Mary？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　She　looked　at　me　solemnly。　〃Dr。　Marlowe。〃
　〃I'm　wonderful？〃
　She　smiled；　almost　happily；　and　left。　Smithy；　who　must　have　been　watching　for　her　departure；　came　in　almost　at　once　and　I　told　him　what　had　been　said。
　〃Had　to　be　that；　of　course；〃　he　said。　〃The　truth's　always　obvious　when　it's　hung　up　in　front　of　you　and　you're　beaten　over　the　head　with　a　two…by…four　to　make　you　take　notice。　And　now？〃
　〃And　now；　I　think；　three　things。　The　first；　to　clear　the　names　of　the　two　love　birds　next　door：　that's　not　important　at　this　stage　but　they're　sensitive　souls　and　I　think　they'd　like　to　be　on　speaking　terms　with　the　rest　of　the　pany　again。　Second　thing　is；　I've　no　intention　of　being　stranded　here　for　the　next　twenty…two　days…two　days　is　a　lot　more　like　it：　who　knows；　I　might　be　able　to　pressure　unknown　or　unknowns　into　precipitate　action。〃
　I　should　have　thought　there　had　been　enough　of　that　already；〃　Smithy　said。
　〃You　may　have　a　point。　Third　thing　is；　I　could　make　life　a　great　deal　easier　and　safer　for　both　of　us　if　we　had　every　person　so　busy　watching　every　other　person　that　it　would　make　it　a　great　deal　more　difficult　for　the　disaffected　to　creep　up　upon　our　backs　unawares。〃
　〃You　touch　upon　a　very　sympathetic　nerve；〃　Smithy　said。　〃Your　plan　into　action　and　at　once；　I　say。　A　small　chat　with　the　assembled　pany？〃
　〃A　small　chat　with　the　assembled　pany。　I　suggested　a　couple　of　hours〃　lie…down　to　Allen　but　I　think　he　and　Mary　should　be　there。　Would　you？〃
　Smithy　left　and　I　went　into　the　living　area。　Goin；　Otto；　and　the　Count；　all　armed　with　glasses　as　was　almost　every　other　person　there；　were　still　in　solemn　and　low…voiced　conclave。　Otto　beckoned　me　across。
　〃One　moment；〃　I　said。　I　went　outside；　coughed　and　caught　my　breath　as　the　bitter　air　cut　into　my　lungs；　then　trudged　against　that　snow…filled　gale　across　to　the　provisions　hut。　Lonnie　was　seated　on　a　packing　case；　lovingly　examining　the　amber　contents　of　a　glass　against　the　light　from　his　torch。
　〃Ha！〃　he　said。　〃Our　peripatetic　healer。　You　know；　when　one　consumes　a　noble　wine　like　this…〃
　〃Wine？〃
　〃A　figure　of　speech。　When　one　consumes　a　noble　Scotch　like　this；　half　the　pleasure　lies　in　the　visual　satisfaction。　Ever　tried　it　in　the　darkness？
　Flat；　stale；　strangely　lacking　in　bouquet。　There's　a　worthwhile　monograph　here；　I'm　sure。〃　He　waved　his　glass　in　the　direction　of　the　crates　of　bottles　by　one　wall。　〃Harking　back　to　my　earlier　allusions　to　the　hereafter；　if　they　can　have　bars　in　Bear　Island　then　surely…'
　〃Lonnie；〃　I　said；　〃you're　missing　out　on　the　largesse　stakes。　Otto　is　dispensing　noble　wine　at　this　very　moment。　He's　using　very　large　glasses。〃
　I　was　on　the　very　point　of　leaving。〃　He　tilted　his　head　and　swallowed　rapidly。　I　have　a　dread　of　being　thought　a　misanthrope。〃
　I　took　this　friend　of　the　human　race　back　to　the　main　cabin　and　counted　those　there。　Twenty…one；　myself　included；　as　it　should　have　been：　the　twenty…second　and　last；　Judith　Haynes；　was　deeply　unconscious　and　would　be　so　for　hours。　Otto　beckoned　me　a　second　time　and　I　went　across。
　〃We've　been　having　what　you　might　call　a　council　of　war；〃　Otto　said　importantly。　〃We've　arrived　at　a　conclusion　and　would　like　to　have　your　opinion。〃
　〃Why　mine？　I'm　just　an　employee；　like　everyone　else　here　apart；　of　course；　from　the　three　of　you…and　Miss　Haynes。〃
　〃Consider　yourself　a　co…opted　director；〃　the　Count　said　generously。
　〃Temporary　and　unpaid；　of　course。〃
　‘Your　opinion　would　be　valued；〃　Goin　said　precisely。
　〃Opinion　about　what？〃
　〃Our　proposed　measures　for　dealing　with　Allen；〃　Otto　said。　I　know　that　in　law　every　man　is　presumed　innocent　until　proved　otherwise。　Nor　do　we　have　any　wish　to　be　inhumane。　But　simply　in　order　to　protect　ourselves…〃
　〃I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　about　that；〃　I　said。　〃About　protecting　ourselves。
　I　wanted　to　talk　to　everybody　about　that。　In　fact；　that's　what　I　propose　to　do　this　very　moment。〃
　〃You　propose　to　do　what？〃　Otto　could　arrange　his　eyebrows　in　a　very　forbidding　fashion　when　he　put　his　mind　to　it。
　〃A　brief　address　only；〃　I　said。　〃It'll　take　up　hardly　any　of　your　time。〃
　I　can't　permit　that；〃　Otto　said　loftily。　〃At　least；　not　until　you　give　us　some　idea　what　you　have　in　mind　and　then　we　may　or　may　not　give　our　Consent。〃
　〃Your　permission　or　lack　of　it　is　irrelevant；〃　I　said　indifferently。　I　don't　require　permission　when　I'm　talking　about　something　that　may　affect　lives…you　know；　the　difference　between　living　and　dying。〃
　I　forbid　it。　I　would　remind　you　of　what　you　have　just　reminded　me。〃
　Otto　had　forgotten　about　the　need　for　conducting　delicate　matters　in　conspiratorial　murmurs　and　we　had　the　undivided　attention　of　everyone　in　the　cabin。　〃You　are　an　employee　of　mine；　sir！〃
　〃And　I'll　now　perform　my　last　act　as　a　dutiful　employee。〃　I　poured　myself　a　measure　of　Otto's　Scotch　which；　as　he　and　several　others　were　drinking　it；　I　presumed　to　be　safe　to　drink。　Health　to　one　and　all；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　don't　mean　that　lightly　or　in　the　conventional　sense。　We're　going　to　need　it　all　before　we　leave　this　island　and　let　each　one　of　us　hope　that　he　or　she　is　not　the　one　who　is　going　to　he　abandoned　by　fortune。　As　for　being　your　employee；　Gerran；　You　can　consider　my　resignation　as　being　effective　as　from　this　moment。　I　do　not　care　to　work　for　fools。　More　importantly；　I　do　not　care　to　work　for　those　who　may　be　both　fools　and　knaves。〃
　This；　at　least；　had　the　effect　of　reducing　Otto　to　silence　for；　to　judge　by　the　indigo　hue　his　plexion　was　assuming；　he　appeared　to　be　having　some　little　difficulty　in　his　breathing。　The　Count；　I　observed；　had　a　mildly　speculative　expression　on　his　face；　while　Goin's　face　held　the　impassivity　of　one　withholding　judgement。　I　looked　round　the　cabin。
　I　said：　〃It　is；　I　know；　belabouring　the　obvious　to　say　that　this　trip　of　ours；　so　far；　has　been　singularly　luckless　and　ill…starrei。　We　have　been　plagued　by　a　series　of　tragic　and　extraordinarily　strange　events。　We　had　Antonio　die。　This　might　have　been　the　merest　mischance：　it　might　equally　well　be　that　he　was　the　victim　of　a　premeditated　murder　or　the　hapless　victim　of　a　misplaced　murder　attempt　that　was　aimed　at　someone　else。
　Exactly　the　same　can　be　said　of　the　two　stewards；　Moxen　and　Scott。　Similar　attempts　may　or　may　not　have　been　aimed　at　Mr。　Gerran；　Mr。　Smith；　Oakley；　and　young　Cecil　here：　all　I　can　say　with　certainty　is　that　if　I　hadn't　been　so　lucky　as　to　be　in　the　vicinity　when　they　were　struck　down　at　least　three　of　those　might　have　died。　You　may　wonder　why　I　make　such　a　fuss　about　what　could　have　been　a　simple；　deadly；　outbreak　of　food　poisoning：　it　is　because　I　have　reason　to　believe；　without　being　able　to　prove　it；　that　a　deadly　poison　called　aconitine；　which　is　indistinguishable　in　appearance　from　horse…radish；　was　introduced　at　specific　points　into　the　evening　meal　we　had　on　the　occasi