mreilly.icestation-第12章

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　And　in　an　instant　Riley　felt　his　stomach　knot。　
　Hollywood　wasn't　going　to　make　it。　
　Right　in　front　of　Hollywood…in　the　only　doorway　he　could　possibly　get　to　in　time…two　of　the　scientists　were　desperately　trying　to　get　into　the　same　room。　One　was　pushing　the　other　in　the　back；　trying　to　get　him　to　move　inside。　
　Buck　Riley　watched　in　horror　as　Hollywood　looked　up　at　the　two　scientists　and　saw　that　he　had　no　chance　of　getting　into　that　room。　Hollywood　then　swung　back　round　to　look　at　the　fragmentation　grenade　thirty　feet　down　the　curved　corridor　behind　him。　
　A　final；　desperate　turn；　and　Hollywood's　eyes　met　Riley's。　Eyes　white　with　fear。　The　eyes　of　a　man　who　knows　he　is　about　to　die。　
　He　had　nowhere　to　go。　Nowhere　at　all。　
　And　then；　with　thunderous　intensity；　the　three　grenades…　one　from　the　north　tunnel；　two　from　the　east…unleashed　their　anger　and　Riley　ducked　back　behind　his　doorway　and　saw　a　thousand　glistening　metal　shards　whip　past　him　in　both　
　
　
　
　Another　explosion　rocked　the　outside　of　the　thick　wooden　door；　and　a　new　Wave　of　metal　shards　slammed　into　it。　
　Schofield　and　Gant　were　at　the　back　of　the　room　on　C…deck；　taking　cover　behind　an　upturned　aluminium　table。　
　〃Marines；　call　in；〃　Schofield　said。　
　Voices　came　in　over　his　inter；　gunfire　rang　out　in　the　background。　
　〃This　is　Rebound！　I'm　with　Legs　and　Mother！　We　are　under　heavy　fire　in　the　northwest　quadrant　of　B…deck！〃　
　A　burst　of　static　suddenly　cut　across　Schofield's　earpiece。　〃…is　Book。。。　wood　is　down。　I'm　in。。。　quadrant…〃　Book's　voice　cut　off　abruptly；　the　signal　gone。　
　〃This　is　Montana；　Santa　Cruz　is　with　me。　We're　still　on　A…deck；　but　we're　pinned　down。〃　
　〃Lieutenant；　this　is　Snake。　I'm　outside；　approaching　the　main　entrance　right　now。〃　
　There　was　no　word　from　Hollywood。　And　Mitch　Healy　and　Samurai　Lau　were　already　dead。　Schofield　did　the　math。　If　all　three　of　them　were　dead；　then　the　Marines　were　down　to　nine　now。　
　Schofield　thought　about　the　French。　They　had　started　with　twelve　men；　plus　the　two　civilian　scientists。　Snake　had　said　earlier　that　he'd　killed　one　outside；　and　Schofield　himself　had　capped　another　one　upstairs。　That　meant　the　French　were　down　to　ten　men…plus　the　two　civilians；　wherever　the　hell　they　were。　
　Schofield's　thoughts　returned　to　the　present。　He　looked　at　the　big　wooden　door　in　front　of　him；　covered　with　dozens　of　protruding　silver　spikes。　
　He　turned　to　Gant。　〃We　can't　stay　here。〃　
　〃I　kind　of　already　got　that　idea；〃　Gant　replied　deadpan。　
　Schofield　spun　to　look　at　her；　confused　by　her　reply。　Gant　didn't　say　anything。　She　just　pointed　over　his　shoulder。　
　Schofield　turned　around　and　for　the　first　time　really　looked　at　the　room　around　him。　
　It　looked　like　a　boiler　room　of　some　sort。　Anodized　black　pipes　covered　the　ceiling。　Two　enormous　white　cylinders…lying　on　their　sides；　one　on　top　of　the　other…took　up　the　entire　right…hand　wall　of　the　room。　Each　cylinder　was　about　twelve　feet　long　and　six　feet　high。　
　And　in　the　middle　of　each　cylinder　was　a　large　diamond…shaped　red　sticker。　On　the　sticker　was　a　picture　of　a　single　flame　and；　in　large　bold　letters；　the　words：　
　
　DANGER　
　FLAMMABLE　PROPELLANT　
　L…5　
　HIGHLY　FLAMMABLE　
　
　Schofield　stared　at　the　massive　white　cylinders。　They　appeared　to　be　connected　to　a　puter　that　sat　on　a　table　in　the　rear　corner　of　the　room。　The　puter　was　switched　on；　but　at　the　moment　the　screen　was　filled　with　a　Sports　Illustrated　Swimsuit　screen　saver：　a　buxom　blonde　in　an　impossibly　small　bikini　lying　provocatively　on　a　tropical　beach　somewhere。　
　Schofield　crossed　the　room　quickly　and　stood　in　front　of　the　puter。　The　sexy　woman　on　the　screen　pouted　at　him。　
　〃Maybe　later；〃　he　said　to　the　screen　as　he　hit　a　key　on　the　keyboard。　The　screen　saver　vanished　instantly。　
　It　was　replaced　by　a　colored　schematic　diagram　of　the　five　floors　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Five　circles　filled　the　screen…　three　on　the　left；　two　on　the　right…each　one　prised　of　the　central　well　of　the　station　surrounded　by　a　larger　outer　circle。　The　outer　circle　was　connected　to　the　central　well　by　four　straight　tunnels。　
　Rooms　were　arrayed　both　between　the　outer　tunnel　and　the　central　well　and　outside　the　outer　tunnel。　Different　rooms　were　painted　different　colors。　A　color　chart　on　the　side　of　the　screen　explained　that　each　color　indicated　a　different　temperature。　The　temperatures　ranged　from　…5。4°　to　…1。2°　Celsius。　
　〃It's　the　air…conditioning　system；〃　Gant　said；　taking　up　a　position　by　the　door。　〃L…5　means　it　uses　chlorofluorocarbons　as　propellant。　Must　be　pretty　old。〃　
　〃Why　doesn't　that　surprise　me；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　walked　over　toward　the　door　and　grabbed　the　handle。　
　He　opened　the　door　a　crack…　
　…just　in　time　to　see　a　black　baseball…sized　object　e　rocketing　toward　him。　
　A　long　finger　of　white　smoke　traced　a　line　through　the　air　behind　it；　revealing　its　source：　Petard　up　on　A…deck；　with　a　FA…MAS　assault　rifle　equipped　with　an　underslung　40mm　grenade　launcher。　
　Schofield　ducked　just　as　the　gas…propelled　grenade　shot　through　the　narrow　gap　in　the　doorway　above　his　head；　banked　upward　slightly；　and　slammed　into　the　back　wall　of　the　air…conditioning　room。　
　〃Out！　Now！〃　he　yelled。　
　Gant　didn't　need　to　be　told。　She　was　already　on　her　way　out　the　door；　MP…5　up　and　firing。　
　Schofield　dived　through　the　doorway　after　her；　just　as　the　air…conditioning　room　exploded　behind　him。　The　heavy；　spike…ridden　door　almost　blew　off　its　hinges　as　the　concussion　wave　flung　it　outward　like　a　twig。　The　door　whipped　around　in　a　full　180…degree　arc　before　banging　into　the　ice　wall　out　on　the　catwalk；　right　next　to　Schofield。　An　enormous　fireball　then　blasted　out　from　the　doorway　and　shot　past　Schofield　out　into　the　open　space　in　the　center　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　〃Scarecrow！　e　on！〃　Gant　called　as　she　fired　up　at　A…deck　from　farther　down　the　catwalk。　
　Schofield　leaped　to　his　feet　and　cut　loose　an　extended　burst　from　his　MP…5；　aiming　up　at　where　he　had　seen　Petard　only　moments　before。　
　He　and　Gant　raced　aronnd　the　C…deck　catwalk…out　in　the　open…Schofield　with　his　gun　trained　up　to　the　left；　Gant　taking　the　right。　Long　tongues　of　bright　yellow　flames　burst　out　from　the　muzzles　of　their　MP…5s。　Return　fire　from　the　French　raked　the　ice　walls　all　around　them。　
　Schofield　saw　a　small　alcove　set　into　the　wall　about　ten　yards　ahead　of　them。　
　〃Fox！　There！〃　
　〃Got　it！〃　
　Schofield　and　Gant　threw　themselves　into　the　small　alcove　just　as　a　second；　more　powerful；　explosion　boomed　out　from　the　air…conditioning　room。　
　From　the　moment　it　erupted　Schofield　knew　that　this　detonation　was　different　from　the　first　one。　It　wasn't　like　the　short；　contained　blast　of　a　grenade。　It　had　more　resonance　to　it；　more　substance。　It　was　the　sound　of　something　large　exploding　。　。　。　。　
　It　was　the　sound　of　one　of　the　air…conditioning　cylinders　exploding。　
　The　walls　to　the　air…conditioning　room　cracked　instantly　under　the　weight　of　the　massive　explosion。　Like　a　cork　being　popped　from　a　champagne　bottle；　a　length　of　black　piping　shot　clear　of　the　air…conditioning　room　and　careered　at　phenomenal　speed　across　the　one…hundred…foot　space　in　the　middle　of　the　station　and　lodged　itself　into　the　ice　wall　on　the　far　side。　
　Schofield　pressed　himself　flat　against　the　wall　of　the　alcove　as　a　hail　of　bullets　slammed　into　the　ice　next　to　him。　He　looked　at　the　alcove　around　him。　
　It　was　just　a　small　nook　sunk　into　the　wall；　designed；　it　seemed；　for　the　sole　purpose　of　housing　the　control　console　that　drove　the　enormous　winch；　which　raised　and　lowered　the　station's　diving　bell。　The　console　itself；　Schofield　saw；　was　little　more　than　a　series　of　levers；　dials；　and　buttons　arranged　on　a　panel。　
　In　front　of　the　console　sat　an　abnormally　large　steel…plated　chair。　Schofield　immediately　recognized　the　chair　as　a　pilot's　ejection　seat　from　an　F…14　fighter。　The　black　exhaust　marks　beneath　the　seat's　booster　and　the　sizable　dent　in　its　large　steel　headrest　told　Schofield　that　this　ejection　seat　had；　in　a　former　life；　been　used　for　its　given　purpose。　Someone　at　Wilkes　had　cleverly　mounted　the　enormous　seat　on　a　rotating　stand　and　then　bolted　the　whole　thing　down　to　the　floor；　turning　four　hundred　pounds　of　military　junk　into　heavy…duty　furniture。　
　Suddenly　a　new　barrage　of　automatic　gunfire　thundered　down　from　the　northwest　corner　of　A…deck　and　Gant　jumped　onto　the　ejection　seat　and　ducked　behind　the　headrest；　curling　her　small　frame　into　a　ball　so　that　she　was　pletely　covered　by　the　big　seat's　steel…lined　backplate。　
　The　burst　of　gunfire　lasted　a　full　ten　seconds　and　pummelled　the　rear　of　the　ejection　seat。　Gant　pressed　her　head　up　against　the　headrest；　keeping　her　eyes　shielded　from　the　onslaught　of　ricocheting　bullets。　
　As　she　did　so；　however；　some　movement　caught　her　eye。　
　It　was　off　to　her　left。　Down　to　her　left。　
　Down　in　the　pool　at　the　base　of　the　station。　Under　the　surface。　A　glistening　black…and…white　shape；　unbelievably　huge；　cruising　slowly；　ominously；　beneath　the　surface。　It　must　have　been　deeper　than　it　appeared；　because　the　high　dorsal　fin　wasn't　breaking　the　surface。　
　The　first　dark　shape　was　joined　by　a　second　shape；　then　a　third；　and　then　a　fourth。　The　lead　one　must　have　been　at　least　forty　feet　long。　The　others　were　smaller。　
　Females；　Gant　thought。　She　had　read　once　that　for　every　one　male　there　were　usually　eight　or　nine　females。　
　The　water　was　choppy　and　it　served　only　to　make　their　blurred　black…and…white　outlines　look　all　the　more　sinister。　The　leader　rolled　on　his　side　and　Gant　caught　a　side…on　glimpse　of　the　white　underbelly　and　the　wide　open　mouth　and　the　two　terrifying　rows　of　teeth　and　suddenly　the　picture　was　plete。　
　It　was　then　that　Gant　saw　the　two　juveniles；　swimming　behind　the　enormous　lead　male。　They　were　the　two　killers　she　had　seen　earlier；　before　the　battle　with　the　French　had　erupted；　the　two　killers　who　had　been　searching　for　Wendy。　
　Now　they　were　back。。。　and　they　had　brought　the　rest　of　the　pack　with　them。　
　The　full　pod　of　killer　whales　began　to　circle　the　pool　at　the　base　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　and　as　she　huddled　behind　the　headrest　of　the　ejection　seat　Gant　felt　a　new　sense　of　dread　begin　to　crawl　up　the　back　of　her　spine。　
　
　
　
　Hollywood　had　never　stood　a　chance。　
　The　shards　from　the　three　fragmentation　grenades　had　rained　down　on　him　with　terrifying　intensity…from　in　front　and　behind。　
　Book　could　only　watch　helplessly　as　his　young　partner…　on　the　floor；　on　his　knees…put　a　feeble　hand　over　his　face　and　then　fell　under　the　weight　of　the　hailstorm　of　metal　fragments。　
　The　scientist　who　had　been　trying　to　push　his　colleague　into　the　nearby　doorway　hadn't　been　fast　enough；　either。　Like　Hollywood；　he　was　now　unrecognizable。　The　wave　of　metal　shards　had　cut　him　down　where　he　stood。　And　while　Hollywood's　body　armor　had　been　effective　in　protecting　his　chest　and　shoulders　from　the　blast；　the　scientist　hadn't　been　so　lucky。　His　whole　body…unprotected　by　any　kind　of　armor…　was　a　hideous　bloodstained　mess。　
　No　exposed　tissue　could　have　survived　such　a　bombardment。　None　had。　The　storm　of　shards　had　ripped　every　inch　of　exposed　skin　from　the　two　men's　bodies。　
　And　for　a　moment；　a　brief　moment；　Buck　Riley　could　do