alistairmaclean.bearisland-第7章

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ch…sandwiches　filled　with　potted　duck　paste。　Eight　of　them　had　this。　All　eight　died。　There　was　no　cure　then；　there　is　no　cure　now。　Must　have　been　this　or　something　like　this　that　Antonio　ate。〃
　I　see；　I　see。〃　He　had　some　more　brandy；　then　looked　up　at　me；　his　eyes　round。　〃Good　God！　Don't　you　see　what　this　means；　man！　We're　all　at　risk；　all　of　us。　This　clostridium　or　whatever　you　call　it　could　spread　like　wildfire。〃
　〃Rest　easy。　It's　neither　infectious　nor　contagious。〃
　〃But　the　galley…〃
　〃You　think　that　hadn't　occurred　to　me？　The　source　of　infection　can't　be　there。　If　it　were；　we'd　all　he　gone…I　assume　that　Antonio…before　his　appetite　deserted　him；　that　was…had　the　same　as　all　of　us。　I　didn't　pay　any　particular　attention　but　I　can　find　out　probably　from　the　people　on　either　side　of　him…I'm　sure　they　were　the　Count　and　Cecil。〃
　〃Cecil？〃
　〃Cecil　Golightly…your　camera　focus　assistant　or　something　like　that。〃
　〃Ah！　The　Duke。〃　For　some　odd　reason　Cecil；　a　diminutive；　shrewd；　and　chirpy　little　Cockney　sparrow　was　invariably　known　as　the　Duke；　probably　because　it　was　so　wildly　unsuitable。　〃That　little　pig　see　anything！
　He　never　lifts　his　eyes　from　the　table。　But　Tadeusz…well；　now；　he　doesn't　miss　much。〃
　〃I'll　ask。　I'll　also　check　the　galley；　the　food　store；　and　the　cold　room。　Not　a　chance　in　ten　thousand…I　think　we'll　find　that　Antonio　had　his　own　little　supply　of　tinned　delicacies…but　I'll　check　anyway。　Do　you　want　me　to　see　Captain　Imrie　for　you？〃
　〃Captain　Imrie？〃
　I　was　patient。　〃The　master　must　be　notified。　The　death　must　be　logged。
　A　death　certificate　must　be　issued…normally；　he'd　do　it　himself　but　not　with　a　doctor　aboard…but　I'll　have　to　be　authorised。　And　he'll　have　to　make　preparations　for　the　funeral。　Burial　at　sea。　Tomorrow　morning；　I　should　imagine。〃
　He　shuddered。　〃Yes；　please。　Please　do　that。　Of　course；　of　course；　burial　at　sea。　I　must　go　and　see　John　at　once　and　tell　him　about　this　awful　thing。〃
　By　〃John〃　I　assumed　he　meant　John　Cummings　Goin；　production　accountant　；　pany　accountant；　senior　partner　in　Olympus　Productions　and　widely　recognised　as　being　the　financial　controller…and　so　in　many　ways　the　virtual　controller…of　the　pany。　〃And　then　I'm　going　to　bed。　Yes；　yes；　to　bed。　Sounds　terrible；　I　know；　poor　Antonio　lying　down　there；　but　I'm　dreadfully　upset；　really　dreadfully　upset。〃　I　couldn't　fault　him　on　that　one；　I'd　rarely　seen　a　man　look　so　unhappy。
　I　can　bring　a　sedative　to　your　cabin！'
　〃No；　no；　I'll　he　all　right。〃　Unthinkingly；　almost；　he　picked　up　the　bottle　of　Hine；　thrust　it　into　one　of　the　capacious　pockets　of　his　tentlike　jacket　and　staggered　from　the　saloon。　As　far　as　insomnia　was　concerned　Otto　clearly　preferred　homemade　remedies　to　even　the　most　modern　pharmaceutical　products。
　I　went　to　the　starboard　door；　opened　it　and　looked　out。　When　Smithy　had　said　that　the　weather　wasn't　going　to　improve；　he'd　clearly　been　hedging　his　bets：　conditions　were　deteriorating　and；　if　I　were　any　judge；　deteriorating　quite　rapidly。　The　air　temperature　was　now　well　below　freezing　and　the　first　thin　flakes　of　snow　were　driving　by　overhead；　almost　parallel　to　the　surface　of　the　sea。　The　waves　were　now　no　longer　waves；　just　moving　masses　of　water；　capriciously　tending；　it　seemed；　in　any　and　all　directions；　but　in　the　mass　still　bearing　mainly　easterly。　The　Morning　Rose　was　no　longer　just　corkscrewing；　she　was　beginning　to　stagger；　falling　into　a　bridge…high　trough　with　an　explosive　impact　more　than　vaguely　reminiscent　of　flat；　whiplike　crack　of　a　not…so…distant　naval　gun；　then　struggling　and　straining　to　right　herself　only　to　be　struck　by　a　following　wall　of　water　that　smashed　her　over　on　her　beam　ends　again。　I　leaned　farther　outwards；　looked　upwards　and　was　vaguely　puzzled　by　the　dimly　seen　outline　of　the　madly　flapping　flag　on　the　foremast：　puzzled；　because　it　wasn't　streaming　out　over　the　starboard　side；　as　it　should　have　been；　but　towards　the　starboard　quarter。　This　meant　that　the　wind　was　moving　round　to　the　northeast　and　what　this　could　portend　I　could　not　even　guess：　I　vaguely　suspected　that　it　wasn't　anything　good。　I　went　inside；　yanked　the　door　closed　with　some　effort；　made　a　silent　prayer　for　the　infinitely　reassuring　and　petent　presence　of　Smithy　on　the　bridge；　made　my　way　to　the　stewards〃　pantry　again　and　helped　myself　to　a　bottle　of　Black　Label；　Otto　having　made　off　with　the　last　of　the　brandy…the　drinkable　brandy；　that　is。　I　took　it　across　to　the　captain's　table；　sat　in　the　captain's　chair；　poured　myself　a　small　measure　and　stuck　the　bottle　in　Captain　Imrie's　convenient　wrought…iron　stand。
　I　wondered　why　I　hadn't　told　Otto　the　truth。　I　was　a　convincing　liar；　I　thought；　but　not　a　pulsive　one：　probably　because　Otto　struck　me　as　being　far　from　a　stable　character　and　with　several　more　pegs　of　brandy　inside　him；　in　addition　to　what　he　had　already　consumed；　he　seemed　less　than　the　ideal　confidant。
　Antonio　hadn't　died　because　he'd　taken　or　been　given　strychnine。　Of　that　I　was　quite　certain。　I　was　equally　certain　that　he　hadn't　died　from　Clostridium　botulinum　either。　The　exotoxin　from　this　particular　anaerobe　was　quite　as　deadly　as　I　had　said　but；　fortunately；　Otto　had　been　unaware　that　the　incubation　period　was　seldom　less　than　four　hours　and；　in　extreme
cases；　had　been　known　to　be　as　long　as　forty…eight…not　that　the　period　of　incubation　delay　made　the　final　results　any　less　fatal。　It　was　faintly　possible　that　Antonio　might　have　scoffed；　say；　a　tin　of　infected　truffles　or　suchlike　from　his　homeland　in　the　course　of　the　afternoon；　but　in　that　case　the　symptoms　would　have　been　showing　at　the　dinner　table；　and　apart　from　his　odd　chartreuse　hue　I'd　observed　nothing　untoward。　It　had　to　be　some　form　of　systemic　poison；　but　there　were　so　many　of　them　and　I　was　a　long　way　from　being　an　expert　on　the　subject。　Nor　was　there　any　necessary　question　of　foul　play：　more　people　die　from　accidental　poisoning　than　from　the　machinations　of　the　ill…disposed。
　The　lee　door　opened　and　two　people　came　staggering　into　the　room；　both　young；　both　bespectacled；　both　with　faces　all　but　obscured　by　wind…blown　hair。　They　saw　me；　hesitated；　looked　at　each　other　and　made　to　leave；　but　I　waved　them　in　and　they　came；　closing　the　door　behind　them。　They　staggered　across　to　my　table；　sat　down；　pushed　the　hair　from　their　faces　and　I　identified　them　as　Mary　Darling；　our　continuity　girl；　and　Allen…nobody　knew　whether　he　had　another　name　or　whether　that　was　his　first　or　second　one…the　clapper…loader。　He　was　a　very　earnest　youth　who　had　recently　been　asked　to　leave　his　university。　He　was　an　intelligent　lad　but　easily　bored。　Intelligent　but　a　bit　short　on　wisdom…he　regarded　film…making　as　the　most　glamorous　job　on　earth。
　〃Sorry　to　break　in　on　you　like　this；　Dr。　Marlowe。〃　Allen　was　very　apologetic　；　very　respectful。　〃We　had　no　idea…to　tell　you　the　truth　we　were　both　looking　for　a　place　to　sit　down。〃
　〃And　now　you've　found　a　place。　I'm　just　leaving。　Try　some　of　Mr。　Gerran's　excellent　Scotch…you　both　look　as　if　you　could　do　with　a　little。〃　They　did；　indeed；　look　very　pale。
　〃No；　thank　you；　Dr。　Marlowe。　We　don't　drink。〃　Mary　Darling…everyone　called　her　Mary　darling…was　cast　in　an　even　more　earnest　mould　than　Allen　and　had　a　very　prim　voice　to　go　with　it。　She　had　very　long　straight　almost　platinum　hair　that　fell　any　old　how　down　her　back　and　that　clearly　hadn't　been　submitted　to　the　attentions　of　a　hairdresser　for　years：　she　must　have　broken　Antonio's　heart。　She　wore　a　habitually　severe　expression；　enormous　horn…rimmed　glasses；　no　makeup…not　even　lipstick…and　had　about　her　a　businesslike；　petent；　no…nonsense；　I…can…take…care…of　myself…thank…you　attitude　that　was　so　transparently　false　that　no　one　had　the　heart　to　call　her　bluff。
　〃No　room　at　the　inn？〃　I　asked。
　〃Well；〃　Mary　Darling　said；　〃It's　not　very　private　down　in　the　recreation　room；　is　it？　As　for　those　three　young…young'
　〃The　Three　Apostles　do　their　best；〃　I　said　mildly。　〃Surely　the　lounge　was　empty？〃
　〃It　was　not。〃　Allen　tried　to　look　disapproving　but　I　thought　his　eyes　crinkled。　〃There　was　a　man　there。　In　his　pyjamas。　Mr。　Gilbert。〃
　He　had　a　big　bunch　of　keys　in　his　hands。〃　Mary　Darling　paused；
　pressed　her　lips　together；　and　went　on：　〃He　was　trying　to　open　the　doors　where　Mr。　Gerran　keeps　all　his　bottles。〃
　〃That　sounds　like　Lonnie；〃　I　agreed。　It　was　none　of　my　business。　If　Lonnie　found　the　world　so　sad　and　so　wanting　there　was　nothing　much　I　or　anybody　could　do　about　it：　I　just　hoped　that　Otto　didn't　catch　him　at　it。　I　said　to　Mary：　〃You　could　always　try　your　cabin。〃
　〃Oh；　no！　We　couldn't　do　that！〃
　〃No；　I　suppose　not。〃　I　tried　to　think　why　not；　but　I　was　too　old。　I　took　my　leave　and　passed　through　the　stewards〃　pantry　into　the　galley。　It　was　small；　cow…pact；　immaculately　clean；　a　minor　culinary　symphony　in　stainless　steel　and　white　tile。　At　this　late　hour　I　had　expected　it　to　be　deserted；　but　it　wasn't：　Haggerty；　the　chief　cook；　with　his　regulation　chef's　hat　foursquare　on　his　greying　clipped　hair；　was　bent　over　some　pots　on　a　stove。　He　turned　round；　looked　at　me　in　mild　surprise。
　〃Evening；　Dr。　Marlowe。〃　He　smiled。　〃Carrying　out　a　medical　inspection　of　my　kitchen？〃
　〃With　your　permission；　yes。〃
　He　stopped　smiling。　〃I'm　afraid　I　do　not　understand；　sir。〃　He　could　be　very　stiff；　could　Haggerty；　twenty…five…odd　years　in　the　Royal　Navy　had　left　their　mark。
　〃I'm　sorry。　just　a　formality。　We　seem　to　have　a　case　of　food　poisoning　aboard。　I'm　just　looking　around。〃
　〃Food　poisoning！　Not　from　this　galley；　I　can　assure　you。　Never　had　a　case　in　my　life。〃　Haggerty's　injured　professional　pride　quite　overcame　any　humanitarian　concern　he　might　have　had　about　the　identity　of　the　victim　or　how　severe　his　case　was。　〃Twenty…seven　years　as　a　cook　in　the　Andrew；　Dr。　Marlowe；　last　six　as　chief　on　a　carrier；　and　if　I'm　to　be　told　I　don't　run　a　hygienic　galley…〃
　〃Nobody's　telling　you　anything　of　the　sort。〃　I　used　to　him　the　tone　he　used　to　me。　〃Anyone　can　see　the　place　is　spotless。　If　the　contamination　came　from　this　galley；　it　won't　be　your　fault。〃
　It　didn't　e　from　this　galley。〃　Haggerty　had　a　square　ruddy　face　and　periwinkle　blue　eyes：　the　plexion；　suffused　with　anger；　was　now　two　shades　deeper　and　the　eyes　hostile。　〃Excuse　me；　I'm　busy。〃　He　turned　his　back　and　started　rattling　his　pots　about。　I　do　not　like　people　turning　their　backs　on　me　when　I　am　talking　to　them　and　my　instinctive　reaction　was　to　make　him　face　me　again　but　I　reflected　that　his　pride　had　been　wounded；　justifiably　so　from　his　point　of　view；　so　I　contented　myself　with　the　use　of　words。
　〃Working　very　late；　Mr。　Haggerty'
　〃Dinner　for　the　bridge；〃　he　said　stiffly。　〃Mr。　Smith　and　the　bosun。　They　change　watches　at　eleven　and　eat　together　then。〃
　〃Let's　hope　they're　both　fit　and　well　by　twelve。〃
　He　turned　round　very　slowly。　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　I　mean　that　what's　happened　once　can　happen　again。　You　know　you　haven't　expressed　the　slightest　interest　in　the　identity　of　the　person　who's　been　poisoned　or　how　ill　that　person　is？〃
　I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　sir。〃
　I　find　it　very　peculiar。　Especially　as　the　person　became　violently　ill　just　after　eating　food　prepared　in　this　galley。〃
　I　take　orders　from　Captain　Imrie；〃　he　said　obliquely。　〃Not　from　passengers。
　‘You　know　wh