alistairmaclean.bearisland-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


m　now　back　on　the　strength；　as　it　were；　would　it　be　in　order…〃
　〃Of　course；　of　course。〃　Otto；　looking　stricken；　sunk　heavily　onto　a　providentially　sturdy　stool　and　insofar　as　it　was　possible　for　over　two　hundred　weights　of　lard　to　look　like　a　punctured　balloon；　he　looked　like　a　punctured　balloon。　〃Dear　God；　this　is　ghastly。　One　of　us　here　is　a　murderer。　One　of　us　here　has　killed　five　people！〃　He　shivered　violently　although　the　temperature　had　by　this　time　risen　well　above　freezing　point。　〃Five　people。　Dead。　And　the　man　who　did　it　is　here！〃
　I　lit　a　cigarette；　sipped　a　little　more　of　Otto's　Scotch　and　waited　for　some　further　contributions　to　the　conversation。　Outside；　the　wind　had　strengthened　until　it　was　now　a　high　and　lonesome　moaning　sound　that　set　the　teeth　on　edge；　a　moan　that　regularly　climbed　up　the　register　into　a　weird　and　eldritch　whistling　as　the　wind　gusted　and　fell　away：　everyone　appeared　to　be　listening　to　it　and　listening　intently；　a　weirdly　appropriate　litany　for　the　fear　and　the　horror　that　was　closing　in　on　their　minds；　a　fit　requiem　for　the　dead　Stryker。　A　whole　minute　dragged　by　and　no　one　spoke　so　I　took　up　the　conversational　burden　again。
　〃The　implications　will　not　have　escaped　you；〃　I　said。　〃At　least；　when　you　have　had　as　much　time　to　think　about　them　as　I've　had；　they　won't。
　Stryker　is　dead…and　so　are　four　others。　Who　should　want　them　dead？　Why　should　they　have　dieX　Is　there　a　reason；　a　purpose　behind　those　slayings？　Have　we　a　psychopathic　murderer　amongst　us？　If　there　is　a　purpose；　has　it　been　achieved：〃　If　it　hasn't…or　if　the　killer　is　a　psychopath…which　one　of　us　is　going　to　be　next？　Who　is　going　to　die　tonight？
　Who　is　going　to　go　to　his　cubicle　tonight　knowing　that　anyone；　a　crazed　killer；　it　may　be；　is　going　to　enter　at　any　time…or　even；　possibly　one's　own　roommate　may　be　waiting　his　turn　with　a　knife　or　a　suffocating　pillow？
　In　fact；　I　should　think　that　the　roommate　possibility　might　be　by　far　the　more　likely…for　who　would　do　anything　so　crazily　obvious　as　that？　Except；　of　course；　a　crazy　man。　SO；　before　us；　we　have　what　you　might　call　a　sleepless　vigil。　Perhaps　we　can　all　keep　it　up　for　one　night。　But　for　twenty…two　nights…can　we　keep　it　up　for　twenty…two　nights？　Is　there　any　one　of　us　here　who　can　be　sure　of　still　being　alive　when　the　Morning　Rose　returns？〃
　From　their　expressions　and　the　profound　silence　that　greeted　this　last　question　it　was　apparent　that　no　one　was　prepared　to　express　any　such　certainty。　When　I　came　to　consider　it　myself；　instead　of　just　asking　them　to　do　so；　I　realised　that　the　question　of　continued　existence　applied　more　particularly　and　more　strongly　to　myself　than　to　any　of　the　others　for　if　the　killer　were　no　wayward　psycho　who　struck　out　as　the　fancy　took　him　but　was　an　ice…cold　and　calculating　murderer　with　a　definite　objective　in　view　then　I　was　convinced　that　I　was　first　on　his　calling　list。　I　didn't　for　a　moment　think　that　any　attempt　to　dispose　of　me　would　be　because　that　was　any　part　of　the　kilICT'S　preconceived　plans　but　solely　because　I　represented　a　threat　to　those　plans。
　〃And　how　are　we　going　to　port　ourselves　from　now　on？〃　I　said。　〃Do　we　now　polarize　into　two　groups；　the　nine　acknowledged　innocent　giving　a　very　wide　berth　and　a　leery　eye　to　the　thirteen　potentially　guilty　even　although　this　is　going　to　be　a　mite　hard　on；　say；　twelve　of　the　latter？　Shall　we　be　like　oil　and　water　and　resolutely　refuse　to　mix？　Or　about　your　shooting　plans　for　tomorrow。　Mr。　Gerran　and　the　Count；　I　believe；　are　heading　for　the　fells　tomorrow；　a　goodie　and　a　potential　baddic…Mr。　Gerran　is　going　to　make　sure　that　he　has　at　least　another　goodie　along　with　him　to　watch　his　back？　Heissman　is　taking　the　workboat　to　reconnoitre　possible　locations　along　the　Sor…Hamna　and　perhaps　a　bit　farther　south。　I　believe　Jungbeck　and　Heyter　here　have　volunteered　to　go　along　with　him。　Three　of　those；　you　note；　whose　innocence　is　not　proved。　Any　white　sheep　going　to　go　along　with　black　wolf　or　wolves　who　may　e　back　and　sorrowfully　explain　that　the　poor　sheep　fell　over　the　side　and　that　in　spite　of　their　heroic　efforts　the　poor　fellow　perished　miserably。　And　those　splendid　precipices　at　the　south　of　the　island…one　little　well…timed　nudge；　a　deft　clicking　together　of　the　ankles…well；　sixteen　hundred　feel？　is　a　considerable　drop；　especially　when　you　bear　in　mind　that　it's　straight　down　all　the　way。　A　perplexing　and　a　difficult　problem；　isn't　it；　gentlemen？〃
　〃This　is　preposterous；〃　Otto　said　loudly。　〃Absolutely　preposterous。〃
　〃Isn't　it？〃　I　said。　〃A　pity　we　can't　ask　Stryker　his　opinion　about　that。　Or　the　opinions　of　Antonio　and　Halliday　and　Moxen　and　Scott。　When　your　pale　ghost　looks　down　from　the　limbo；　Mr。　Gerran；　and　watches　you　being　lowered　into　a　hole　in　the　frozen　snow…do　you　think　it　will　still　look　preposterous？〃
　Otto　shuddered　and　reached　for　the　bottle。　〃Mat　in　God's　name　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃I've　no　idea；〃　I　said。　〃You　heard　what　I　just　said　to　Mr。　Goin。　I　have　reverted　to　the　position　of　employee。　I　haven't　got　my　shirt　on　this　film　as　I　heard　Mr。　Goin　say　to　Captain　Imrie　that　you　had。　I'm　afraid　this　is　a　decision　to　arrive　at　a　directorial　level…well；　the　three　directors　that　are　still　capable　of　making　decisions。〃
　〃Would　our　employee　mind　telling　us　what　he　means？〃　Goin　tried　to　smile　but　it　didn't　e　off；　his　heart　wasn't　in　it。
　〃Do　you　want　to　go　ahead　with　shooting　all　your　scenes　up　here　or　don't　you？　It's　up　to　you。　If　we　all　stay　here　in　the　cabin　permanently；　at　least　half　a　dozen　awake　at　any　given　time；　looking　with　all　their　eyes　and　listening　with　all　their　ears；　then　the　chances　are　high　that　we'll　all　still　be　in　relatively　mint　condition　by　the　time　the　twenty…two　days　are　up。　On　the　other　hand；　of　course；　that　means　that　you　won't　get　any　of　your　film　shot　and　you'll　lose　all　your　investment。　It's　a　problem　I　wouldn't　like　to　have　to　face。　That's　excellent　Scotch　you　have　there；　Mr。　Gerran。〃
　I　can　see　that　you　appreciate　it。〃　Otto　would　have　liked　a　touch　of　asperity　in　his　voice　but　all　he　managed　to　do　was　to　sound　worried。
　〃Don't　be　so　mean。〃　I　helped　myself。　〃Those　are　times　that　try　men's　souls。〃　I　wasn't　really　listening　to　Otto；　I　was　barely　listening　to　myself。
　Once　before；　since　leaving　Wick；　on　the　occasion　when　the　Count　had　said　something　about　a　surfeit　of　horse…radish；　certain　words　had　had　the　effect　of　a　touch…paper　being　applied　to　a　train　of　gunpowder；　triggering　off　a　succession　of　thoughts　that　came　tumbling　in　one　after　the　other　almost　faster　than　my　mind　could　register　them；　and　now　the　same　thing　had　happened　again；　only　this　time　the　words　had　been　triggered　off　by　something　I'd　said　myself。　I　became　aware　that　the　Count　was　speaking；　presumably　to　me。　I　said：　〃Sorry；　mind　on　other　things；　you　know。〃
　I　can　see　that。〃　The　Count　was　looking　at　me　in　a　thoughtful　fashion。
　〃All　very　well　to　opt　out　of　responsibility；　but　what　would　you　do？〃　He　smiled。　If　I　were　to　co…opt　you　again　as　a　temporary　unpaid　director。〃
　〃Easy；〃　I　said；　and　the　answer　did　e　easily…as　the　result　of　the　past　thirty　seconds　thinking。　I'd　watch　my　back　and　get　on　with　the　ruddy　film。　〃；
　〃So。〃　Otto　nodded；　and　he；　the　Count；　and　Goin　looked　at　one　another　in　apparent　satisfaction。　〃But　now；　this　moment；　what　would　you　do？〃
　〃When　do　we　have　supper？〃
　〃Supper？〃　Otto　blinked。　〃Oh；　about　eight；　say。〃
　〃And　it's　now　five。　About　to　have　three　hours　kip；　that's　what　I'm　going　to　do。　And　I　wouldn't　advise　anyone　to　e　near　me；　either　for　an　aspirin　or　with　a　knife　in　their　hand；　for　I'm　feeling　very　nervous　indeed。〃
　Smithy　cleared　his　throat。　〃Would　I　get　clobbered　if　I　asked　for　an　aspirin　now？　Or　something　a　bit　more　powerful　to　make　a　man　sleep？　I　feel　as　if　my　head　has　been　on　a　butcher's　block。〃
　I　can　have　you　asleep　in　ten　minutes。　Mind　you；　you'll　probably　feel　a　damn　sight　worse　when　you　wake　up。〃
　Impossible。　Lead　me　to　the　knock…out　drops。〃
　Inside　my　cubicle　I　gripped　the　handle　of　the　small　square　double…plateglazed　window　and　opened　it　with　some　difficulty。　〃Can　you　do　that　with　yours？〃
　〃You　do　have　things　on　your　mind。　No　mangers　allocated　for　uninvited　guests。〃
　〃All　the　better。　Bring　a　cot　in　here。　You　can　borrow　one　from　Judith　Haynes's　room。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　he　said。　〃There's　a　spare　one　there。〃
　
　10
　
　Five　minutes　later；　wrapped　to　the　eyes　against　the　bitter　cold；　the　driving　snow　and　that　wind　that　was　now　howling；　not　moaning；　across　the　frozen　face　of　the　island；　Smithy　and　I　stood　in　the　lee　of　the　cabin；　by　my　window　which　I'd　wedged　shut　against　a　wad　of　paper：　there　was　no　handle　on　the　outside　to　pull　it　open　again　but　I　had　with　me　a　multitooled　Swiss　army　knife　that　could　pry　open　just　about　anything。　We　looked　at　the　vaguely　seen　bulk　of　the　cabin；　at　the　bright　light…Coleman　lamps　have　an　intensely　white　flame…streaming　from　one　of　the　windows　in　the　central　section　and　the　pale　glimmer　of　smaller　lights　from　a　few　of　the　cubicles。
　〃No　night　for　an　honest　citizen　to　be　taking　a　constitutional；〃　Smithy　said　in　my　ear。　〃But　how　about　bumping　into　one　of　the　less　honest　ones　〃Too　soon　for　him　or　them　to　be　stirring　abroad；〃　I　said。　〃For　the　moment　the　flame　of　suspicion　burns　too　high　for　anyone　even　to　clear　his　throat　at　the　wrong　moment。　Later；　perhaps。　But　not　now。〃
　We　went　directly　to　the　provisions　store；　closed　the　door　behind　us　and；　since　the　hut　was　windowless；　switched　on　both　our　torches。　We　searched　through　all　the　bags；　crates；　cartons；　and　packages　of　food　and　found　nothing　untoward。
　〃What　are　we　supposed　to　be　looking　for？〃　Smithy　asked。
　〃I've　no　idea。　Anything；　shall　we　say；　that　shouldn't　be　here。〃
　〃A　gun？　A　big　black　ribbed　bottle　marked　〃Deadly　Poison？'
　〃Something　like　that。〃　I　lifted　a　bottle　of　Haig　from　a　crate　and　stuck　it　in　my　parka　pocket。　〃Medicinal　use　only；〃　I　explained。
　〃Of　course。〃　Smithy　made　a　farewell　sweep　of　his　torch　beam　round　the　walls　of　the　hut：　the　beam　steadied　on　three　small　highly　varnished
　boxes　on　an　upper　shelf。
　〃Must　be　very　high　grade　food　in　those；〃　Smithy　said。　〃Caviar　for　Otto；　maybe？〃
　〃Spare　medical　equipment　for　me。　Mainly　instruments。　No　poisons。　Guaranteed。〃　I　made　for　the　door。　〃e　on。〃
　〃Not　checking？〃
　〃No　point。　Be　a　bit　difficult　to　hide　a　submachine　gun　in　one　of　those。〃
　The　boxes　were　about　ten　inches　by　eight。
　〃OK　to　have　a　look；　all　the　same。〃
　〃All　right。〃　I　was　a　bit　impatient。　〃Hurry　it　up；　though。〃
　Smithy　opened　the　lids　of　the　first　two　boxes；　glanced　cursorily　at　the　contents　and　closed　them　again。　He　opened　the　third　box　and　said：　〃Broken　into　your　reserves　already；　I　see。〃
　I　have　not。〃
　〃Then　somebody　has。〃　He　handed　over　the　box　and　I　saw　the　two　vacant　moulds　in　the　blue　felt。
　〃Somebody　has　indeed；〃　I　said。　〃A　hypodermic　and　a　tube　of　needles。〃
　Smithy　looked　at　me　in　silence；　took　the　box；　closed　the　lid　and　replaced　it。　He　said：　I　don't　think　I　like　this　very　much。〃
　〃Twenty…two　days　could　be　a　very　long　time；〃　I　said。　〃Now；　if　we　could　only　find　the　stuff　that's　going　to　go　inside　this　syringe。〃
　If。　You　don't　think　somebody　may　have　borrowed　it　for　his　own　private　use？　Somebody　on　the　hard　stuff　who's　bent　his　own　plunger？　One　of　the　Three　Apostles；　for　inst