alistairmaclean.bearisland-第44章

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　And；　yes　again；　that　would　go　for　the　other　four；　too。〃　He　watched　as　Conrad　went　into　one　of　the　passages；　carrying　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃I'd　put　my　money　on　our　leading　man　any　day。〃
　〃Where　on　earth　is　he　off。　to？〃
　〃Bearing　sustenance　for　his　lady…love；　I　should　imagine。　Miss　Stuart　spent　much　of　our　watch　with　us。〃
　I　was　on　the　point　of　observing　that　the　alleged　lady…love　had　a　remarkable　predilection　for　moving　around　in　the　darker　watches　of　the　night　but　thought　better　of　it。　That　Mary　Stuart　was　involved　in　matters　dark　and　devious…Heissman's　being　her　uncle　didn't　even　begin　to　account　for　the　earlier　oddity　of　her　behaviour…I　didn't　for　a　moment　doubt：　that　she　was　engaged　in　any　murderous　activities　I　couldn't　for　a　moment　believe。
　Smithy　went　on：　〃It's　important　that　I　reach　Turtheim？〃
　〃It　hardly　matters　whether　you　do　or　not。　With　Heyter　along；　only　the　weather　and　the　terrain　can　decide　that。　If　you　have　to　turn　back；　that's　fine　with　me；　I'd　rather　have　you　here：　if　you　get　to　Tunheim；　just　stay　there。〃
　〃Stay　there？　How　can　I　stay　there？　I'm　going　there　for　help；　am　I　not？
　And　Heyter　will　be　shouting　to　e　back。〃
　〃I'm　sure　they'll　understand　if　you　explain　that　you're　tired　and　need　a　rest。　If　Heyter　makes　a　noise；　have　him　locked　up…I'll　give　you　a　letter　to　the　Met。　officer　in　charge。〃
　〃You'll　do　that；　will　you？　And　what　if　the　Met。　officer　point…blank　refuses？〃
　I　think　you'll　find　some　people　up　there　who'll　be　only　too　happy　to　oblige　you。〃
　He　looked　at　me　without　a　great　deal　of　enthusiasm。　〃Friends　of　yours；　of　course？〃
　〃There's　a　visiting　meteorological　team　from　Britain　staying　there　briefly。　Five　of　them。　Only；　they're　not　meteorologists。〃
　Naturally　not。〃　The　lack　of　enthusiasm　deteriorated　into　a　coldness　that　was　just　short　of　outright　hostility。　〃You　play　your　cards　mighty　close　to　the　chest；　don't　you；　Dr。　Marlowe？〃
　〃Don't　get　angry　with　me。　I'm　not　asking　you　that；　I'm　telling　you。
　Policy…I　obey　orders；　even　if　you　don't。　A　secret　shared　is　never　a　secret　halved…even　a　peck　at　my　cards　and　who　knows　who's　kibitzing？　I'll　give　you　that　letter　early　this　morning。〃
　〃OK。〃　Smithy　was　obviously　restraining　himself　with　no　small　difficulty。
　He　went　on　morosely：　I　suppose　I　shouldn't　be　too　surprised　to　find　even　the　Morning　Rose　up　there？〃
　〃Let　me　put　it　this　way；〃　I　said。　I　wouldn't　put　it　beyond　the　bounds　of　possibility。〃
　Smithy　nodded；　turned　and　walked　to　the　oil　stove　where　Conrad；　now　returned；　was　pouring　coffee。　We　sat　for　ten　minutes；　drinking　and　talking　about　nothing　much；　then　Smithy　and　Conrad　left。　The　next　hour　or　so　passed　without　event　except　that　after　five　minutes　Luke　fell　sound　asleep　and　stayed　that　way。　I　didn't　bother　to　wake　him　up；　it　wasn't　necessary；　I　was　in　an　almost　hypernatural　state　of　alertness：　unlike　Luke；　I　had　things　on　my　mind。
　A　door　in　a　passage　opened　and　Lonnie　appeared。　As　Lonnie；　by　his　own　account；　wasn't　given　to　sleeping　much　and　as　he　wasn't　on　my　list　of　suspects　anyway；　this　was　hardly　call　for　alarm。　He　came　into　the　cabin　and　sat　heavily　in　a　chair　by　my　side。　He　looked　old　and　tired　and　grey　and　the　usual　note　of　badinage　was　lacking　in　his　tone。
　〃Once　again　the　kindly　healer；〃　he　said；　〃and　once　again　looking　after　his　little　flock。　I　have　e；　my　boy；　to　share　your　midnight　vigil。〃　
　〃It's　twenty…five　to　four；〃　I　said。
　‘A　figure　of　speech。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　have　not　slept　well。　In　fact；　I　have　not　slept　at　all。　You　see　before　you；　Doctor；　a　troubled　old　man。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；　Lonnie。〃
　〃No　tears　for　Lonnie。　For　me；　as　for　most　of　pitiful　mankind；　ray　troubles　are　my　own　making。　To　be　an　old　man　is　bad　enough。　To　be　a　lonely　old　man；　and　I　have　been　lonely　for　many　years；　makes　a　man　sad　for　much　of　the　time。　But　to　be　a　lonely　old　man　who　can　no　longer　live　with　his　conscience…ah；　that　is　not　to　be　borne。〃　He　sighed　again。　I　am　feeling　unmonly　sorry　for　myself　tonight。〃
　〃What's　your　conscience　doing　now？〃
　It's　keeping　me　awake；　that's　what　it's　doing。　Ah；　my　boy；　my　boy；　to　cease　upon　the　midnight　with　no　pain。　What　more　could　a　man　want；　Then　it's　evening　and　time　to　be　gone？〃
　〃This　wine　shop　on　the　far　shore？〃
　〃Not　even　that。〃　He　shook　his　head　mournfully。　〃No　weling　arms　in　paradise　for　the　lost　Lonnies　of　this　world。　Haven't　the　right　entry　qualifications；　my　boy。〃　He　smiled　and　his　eyes　were　sad。　〃I'll　pin　my　hopes　on　a　small　four…ale　bar　in　purgatory。〃
　He　lapsed　into　silence；　his　eyes　closed　and　I　thought　he　was　drifting　off。　into　sleep。　But　he　presently　stirred；　cleared　his　throat　and　said　apparently　apropos　of　nothing：　〃It's　always　too　late。　Always。〃
　〃What's　always　too　late；　Lonnie？〃
　〃passion　is；　or　understanding　or　forgiveness。　I　fear　that　Lonnie　Gilbert　has　been　less　than　he　should　have　been。　But　it's　always　too　late。
　Too　late　to　say　I　like　you　or　I　love　you　or　how　nice　you　are　or　I　forgive　you。　If　only；　if　only；　if　only。　It　is　difficult　to　make　your　peace　with　someone　if　you're　looking　at　that　person　and　he's　lying　there　dead。　My；　my；　my。〃　As　if　with　an　immense　effort　he　pushed　himself　to　his　feel？。　〃But　there's　still　a　little　shred　of　something　that　can　be　saved。　Lonnie　Gilbert　is　now　about　to　go　and　do　something　that　he　should　have　done　many；　many　years　ago。
　But　first　I　must　arm　myself；　some　life　in　the　ancient　bones；　some　clarity　in　the　faded　mind；　in　short　prepare　myself　for　what　I'm　ashamed　to　say　I　still　regard　as　the　ordeal　that　lies　ahead。　In　brief；　my　dear　fellow；　where's　the　Scotch？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　Otto　has　taken　it　with　him。〃
　〃A　kind　fellow；　Otto；　none　kinder；　but　be　has　his　parsimonious　side　to　him。　But　no　matter；　the　main　source　of　supply　is　less　than　a　Sunday's　march　away。〃　He　made　for　the　outer　door　but　I　stopped　him。
　〃One　of　those　times；　Lonnie；　you're　going　to　go　out　there；　sit　down　there；　go　to　sleep　and　not　e　back　again　because　you'll　be　frozen　to　death；　Besides；　there's　no　need。　There's　some　in　my　cubicle。　Same　source　of　supply；　I　assure　you。　I'll　fetch　it。　just　keep　your　eye　open　in　my　absence；　will　you？〃
　It　didn't　matter　very　much　whether　he　kept　his　eyes　open　or　Dot　for　I　was　back　inside　twenty　seconds。　Smithy；　clearly；　was　a　heavier　sleeper　than　I　was　for　he　didn't　stir　during　my　brief　visit。
　Lonnie　helped　himself　copiously；　drained　his　glass　in　a　few　gulps；　gazed　at　the　bottle　longingly　then　set　it　firmly　aside。　〃Duty　pleted；　I　shall　return　and　enjoy　this　at　my　leisure。　Meantime；　I　am　sufficiently　fortified。〃
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　It　was　difficult　to　imagine　what　pressing　task　he　had　on　hand　at　that　time　of　the　night。
　〃I　am　in　great　debt　to　Miss　Haynes。　It　is　my　wish…〃
　〃To　Judith　Haynes？〃　I　know　I　stared　at　him。　It　was　my　understanding　that　you　could　with　but　difficulty　look　at　her。〃
　In　great　debt；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃It　is　my　wish　to　discharge　it；　to　clear　the　books；　you　might　say。　You　understand；〃
　〃No。　What　I　do　understand　is　that　it's　only　three　forty…five。　If　this　business　has　been　outstanding；　as　you　said；　for　so　many　years；　surely　it　can　wait　just　another　few　hours。　Besides；　Miss　Haynes　has　been　sick　and　shocked　and　she's　under　sedatives。　As　her　doctor；　and　whether　she　likes　it　or　not；　I　am　her　doctor；　I　can't　permit　it。〃
　〃And　as　a　doctor；　my　dear　fellow；　you　should　understand　the　necessity　for　immediacy。　I　have　worked　myself　up　to　this；　screwed　myself；　as　it　were；　to　the　sticking　point。　Another　few　hours；　as　you　say；　and　it　may　be　too　late。　The　Lonnie　Gilbert　you　see　before　you　will　almost　certainly　have　reverted　to　the　bad　old；　cowardly　old；　selfish　old；　clay…souled　Lonnie　of　yore；　the　Lonnie　we　all　know　so　well。　And　then　it　will　always　be　too　late。〃
　He　paused　and　switched　his　argument。　〃Sedatives；　you　say。　How　long　do　the　effects　of　those　last？〃
　〃Varies　from　person　to　person。　Four　hours；　six　hours；　maybe　as　much　as　eight。〃
　〃Well；　there　you　are；　then。　Poor　girl's　probably　been　lying　awake　for　hours；　just　longing　for　some　pany　although　not；　in　all　likelihood；　that　of　Lonnie　Gilbert。　Or　has　it　escaped　your　attention　that　close　on　twelve　hours　have　elapsed　since　you　administered　that　sedative？〃
　It　had。　But　what　had　not　escaped　my　attention　was　that　Lonnie's　relationship　vis…a…vis　Judith　Haynes　had　been　intriguing　me　considerably　for　some　time。　It　might；　I　thought；　be　very　helpful　and；　with　regards　to　a　deeper　penetration　of　the　fog　of　mystery　surrounding　us；　more　than　a　little　constructive　if　I　could　learn　something　of　the　burden　of　what　Lonnie　had　in　mind　to　say　to　Judith　Haynes。　I　said：　〃Let　me　go　and　see　her。　If　she's　awake　and　I　think　she's　fit　to　talk；　then　OK。〃
　He　nodded。　I　went　to　Judith　Haynes's　room　and　entered　without　knocking。　The　oil　lamp　was　turned　up　and　she　was　awake；　stretched　out　under　the　covers　with　only　her　face　showing。　She　looked　ghastly；　which　was　the　way　I　had　expected　her　to　look；　with　the　Titian　hair　emphasising　the　drawn　pallor　of　her　face。　The　usually　striking　green　eyes　were　glazed　and　lacklustre　and　her　cheeks　were　smudged　and　streaked　with　tears。　She　looked　at　me　indifferently　as　I　pulled　up　a　stool；　then　looked　as　indifferently　away。
　〃I　hope　you　slept　well；　Miss　Haynes；〃　I　said。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃
　〃Do　you　usually　e　calling　on　patients　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃
　Her　voice　was　as　dull　as　her　eyes。
　〃I　don't　make　a　practice　of　it。　But　we're　taking　turns　keeping　watch　tonight；　and　this　happens　to　be　my　turn。　Is　there　anything　that　you　want？〃
　〃No。　Have　you　found　out　who　killed　my　husband？〃　She　was　so　preternaturally　calm；　under　such　seemingly　iron　control；　that　I　suspected　it　to　be　the　prelude　to　another　uncontrollable　hysterical　outburst。
　〃No。　Am　I　to　take　it　from　that；　Miss　Haynes；　that　you　no　longer　think　that　young　Allen　did？〃
　I　don't　think　so。　I've　been　lying　here　for　hours；　just　thinking；　and　I　don't　think　so。〃　From　the　lifeless　voice　and　the　lifeless　face　I　was　pretty　sure　she　was　still　under　the　influence　of　the　sedative。　〃You　will　get　him；　won't　you？　The　man　who　killed　Michael。　Michael　wasn't　as　bad　as　people　thought；　Dr。　Marlowe；　no　he　really　wasn't。〃　For　the　first　time　a　trace　of　expression；　just　the　weary　suggestion　of　a　smile。　I　don't　say　he　was　a　kind　man　or　a　good　one　or　a　gentle　one；　for　he　wasn't：　but　he　was　the　man　for　me。〃
　〃I　know；〃　I　said；　as　if　I　understood；　which　I　only　partially　did。　〃I　hope　we　get　the　man　responsible。　I　think　we　will。　Do　you　have　any　ideas　that　could　help？〃
　〃My　ideas　are　not　worth　much；　Doctor。　My　mind　doesn't　seem　to　be　very　clear。〃
　〃Do　you　think　you　could　talk　for　a　bit；　Miss　Haynes？　It　wouldn't　be　too　tiring？〃
　I　am　talking。〃
　〃Not　to　me。　To　Lonnie　Gilbert。　He　seems　terribly　anxious　to　speak　to　you。
　〃Speak　to　me？〃　Tired　surprise　but　not　outright　rejection　of　the　idea。
　〃Why　should　Lonnie　Gilbert　wish　to　speak　to　me？〃
　I　don't　know。　Lonnie　doesn't　believe　in　confiding　in　doctors。　All　I　gather　is　that　he　feels　that　he's　done　you　some　great　wrong　and　he　wants　to　say　〃sorry；〃　I　think。〃
　〃Lonnie　say　〃sorry〃　to　me！〃　Astonishment　had　driven　the　flat　hopelessness　from　her　voice。　〃Apologise　to　me？　No；　not　to　me。〃　She　was　silent　for　a　bit；　then　she　said：　〃Yes；　I'd　very　much　like　to　see　him　now。〃
　I　concealed　my　own　astonishment　as　best　I　could；　went　back　to　the　main　cabin；　told