mreilly.icestation-第13章

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　And　for　a　moment；　a　brief　moment；　Buck　Riley　could　do　nothing　but　stare　at　the　broken　body　of　his　fallen　friend。　
　
　On　the　other　side　of　B…deck；　Rebound　was　charging　around　the　curved　outer　tunnel；　gun　up。　
　Legs　Lane　and　Mother　Newman　ran　behind　him；　firing　desperately　back　at　the　three　shadows　ing　down　the　tunnel　after　them。　
　Legs　Lane　was　a　thirty…one…year…old　Corporal；　olive…skinned；　square…jawed；　Italian　in　both　looks　and　manner。　For　her　part；　Mother　Newman　was　the　second　of　the　two　women　in　Schofield's　unit…and　she　couldn't　have　been　more　different　from　Libby　Gant。　
　Whereas　Gant　was　twenty…six；　pact　and　had　a　short　crop　of　straight　blond　hair；　Mother　was　thirty…four；　six…foot…two；　and　had　a　fully　shaven　head。　She　weighed　in　at　nearly　two　hundred　pounds。　Her　call　sign；　Mother；　wasn't　supposed　to　mean　〃maternal　figure。〃　It　was　short　for　motherfucker。　
　Mother　spoke　into　her　helmet　mike：　〃Scarecrow。　This　is　your　Mother　speaking。　We　are　experiencing　heavy　fire　on　B…deck。　I　repeat。　We　are　experiencing　heavy　fire　on　B…deck。　We　have　enemy　troops　behind　us　and　frag　grenades　bouncing　all　over　the　fucking　place。　We　are　approaching　the　west　tunnel　and　are　going　to　head　for　the　central　shaft。　If　you　or　anyone　out　there　has　a　visual　on　the　shaft；　we'd　really　love　to　hear　about　it。〃　
　Schofield's　voice　came　over　their　helmet　inters：　〃Mother。　This　is　Scarecrow。　I　have　a　visual　on　the　central　shaft。　There　are　no　hostile　objects　out　on　the　catwalk。　We　spotted　five　on　your　level　before；　but　they're　all　in　the　tunnels　now。　
　〃I　can　also　confirm　five　more　hostiles　up　on　A…deck；　and　at　least　one　of　those　has　a　forty…mil　grenade　launcher。　If　you　have　to　break　out　onto　the　catwalks；　we'll　cover　you　from　below。　Montana；　Santa　Cruz？　You　out　there？〃　
　〃We're　here；〃　came　Montana's　voice。　
　〃You　still　on　A…deck？〃　
　〃Affirmative　that。〃　
　〃You　still　pinned　down？〃　
　〃We're　working　on　it。〃　
　〃Just　keep　doing　what　you're　doing。　Draw　their　fire。　We　're　gonna　have　three　of　our　people　stepping　out　into　the　open　on　B…deck　in　about　ten　seconds。〃　
　〃No　problem；　Scarecrow。〃　
　Mother　said；　〃Thanks；　Scarecrow。　We're　moving　into　the　western　tunnel　now。　ing　to　the　central　shaft。〃　
　
　In　the　alcove　on　C…deck；　Schofield　keyed　his　helmet　mike　again。　〃Book！　Book！　e　in！〃　
　There　was　no　reply。　
　〃Jesus；　Book。　Where　are　you？〃　
　
　Inside　the　women's　shower　room　on　B…deck；　Sarah　Hensleigh　snapped　around　at　the　sound　of　a　door　being　kicked　in。　
　For　one　terrifying　instant；　she　thought　the　French　soldiers　were　storming　the　women's　shower　room。　But　they　weren't。　The　sound　had　e　from　the　next　room；　the　men's　shower　room。　
　The　French　were　in　the　next　room！　
　With　Sarah　inside　the　women's　shower　block　were　Kirsty；　Abby　Sinclair；　and　a　geologist　named　Warren　Conlon。　When　Buck　Riley　had　ordered　them　back　to　their　rooms；　the　four　of　them　had　immediately　scrambled　in　here。　They　had　only　just　made　it；　with　Conlon　just　managing　to　squeeze　in　through　the　door　frame　and　jam　the　door　shut　a　split　second　before　the　fragmentation　grenades　had　gone　off　in　the　tunnel　outside。　
　The　women's　shower　block　was　situated　in　between　the　outer　tunnel　and　the　central　shaft；　in　the　northeastern　corner　of　B…deck。　It　had　three　doors：　one　leading　to　the　north　tunnel；　one　leading　to　the　outer　tunnel；　and　one　leading　to　the　men's　shower　room　next　door。　
　More　sounds　echoed　out　from　the　men's　shower　room。　
　The　sounds　of　French　soldiers　kicking　open　cubicle　doors；　looking　for　anyone　who　had　attempted　to　hide　in　the　cubicles。　
　Sarah　pulled　Kirsty　toward　the　door　that　led　to　the　north　tunnel。　〃e　on；　honey；　keep　moving。〃　
　Sarah　looked　back　over　her　shoulder。　
　Beyond　the　row　of　six　shower　recesses　she　could　see　the　top　quarter　of　the　door　that　led　to　the　men's　shower　room。　
　It　was　still　closed。　
　The　French　soldiers　would　be　ing　through　that　door　any　second　now。　
　Sarah　reached　the　door　leading　out　to　the　north　tunnel　and　grabbed　the　handle。　
　She　hesitated。　There　was　no　way　of　knowing　what　lay　on　the　other　side。　
　〃Sarah！　What　are　you　doing？　e　on；〃　Warren　Conlon　said　in　a　desperate；　hissing　whisper。　Tall　and　thin；　he　was　a　timid　man；　nervous　at　the　best　of　times。　Now　he　was　positively　terrified。　
　〃OK；　OK；〃　Sarah　said。　She　began　to　turn　the　handle。　
　There　was　a　loud　bang　as　the　door　to　the　men's　shower　room　suddenly　burst　open　behind　them。　
　〃Go！〃　Conlon　yelled。　
　Sarah　threw　open　the　door　and；　pulling　Kirsty　with　her；　charged　out　into　the　north　tunnel。　
　She　hadn't　gone　more　than　a　couple　of　steps　when　she　stopped　dead　in　her　tracks…　
　…and　found　herself　looking　into　the　eyes　of　a　man　with　a　gun　pointed　right　at　her　head。　
　
　The　man　cocked　his　head　to　one　side　and　shook　his　head。　〃Jesus。〃　He　lowered　his　gun。　
　〃It's　OK；　it's　OK；〃　Buck　Riley　said　as　he　ran　up　to　Sarah　and　Kirsty。　〃You　scared　the　shit　out　of　me；　but　it's　OK。〃　
　Abby　Sinclair　and　Warren　Conlon　joined　them　out　in　the　tunnel；　slamming　the　door　shut　behind　them。　
　〃They　in　there？〃　Riley　asked；　nodding　at　the　women's　shower　block。　
　〃Yeah；〃　Sarah　said。　
　〃Are　the　others　all　right？〃　Warren　Conlon　asked　stupidly。　
　〃I　don't　think　they'll　be　leaving　their　rooms　again　in　a　hurry；〃　Riley　said　as　he　scanned　the　tunnel　behind　him。　Automatic　gunfire　echoed　out　from　the　outer　tunnel。　As　Riley　looked　behind　him；　Sarah　noticed　a　thin　line　of　blood　trickling　out　from　a　large　cut　on　his　right　ear。　Riley　himself　didn't　seem　to　notice　it。　The　earpiece　that　he　had　in　that　ear　had　a　jagged　sliver　of　metal　lodged　in　it。　
　〃We　may　have　a　slight　problem；〃　Riley　said　as　his　eyes　searched　the　tunnel　around　them。　〃I've　lost　contact　with　the　rest　of　my　team。　My　radio　gear　got　hit　by　some　ricocheting　fragments　before；　so　I'm　off　the　air。　I　can't　hear　the　others；　and　they　can't　hear　me。〃　
　Riley　snapped　round　and　looked　the　other　way；　out　over　Sarah's　head；　toward　that　end　of　the　tunnel　that　led　to　the　catwalks　and　the　massive　shaft　in　the　center　of　the　station。　
　〃e　with　me；〃　was　all　he　said　as　he　brushed　past　Sarah　and　led　the　way　toward　the　central　well　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　
　
　
　〃Book！〃　Schofield　whispered　into　his　helmet　mike　as　he　kept　his　eyes　locked　on　the　western　tunnel　of　B…deck。　〃Book！　Where　are　you？　God　damn　it。〃　
　〃No　Book？〃　Gant　asked。　
　〃Not　yet；〃　Schofield　said。　He　and　Gant　were　still　crouched　in　their　alcove　on　C…deck；　on　the　eastern　side　of　the　station。　They　were　waiting　tensely　for　Rebound；　Mother；　and　Legs　to　e　out　from　the　western　tunnel　of　B…deck。　
　Rebound　emerged　first。　Quickly　but　cautiously；　gun　up；　eyes　looking　down　his　gun　sights；　sweeping　his　MP…5　in　a　brisk　180…degree　arc；　searching　for　any　sign　of　trouble。　
　As　soon　as　he　saw　Rebound　emerge；　Schofield　immediately　opened　fire　on　A…deck；　forcing　whoever　was　up　there　to　take　cover。　Gant　came　up　five　seconds　later　and　did　the　same。　
　Schofield　pulled　back　behind　the　alcove's　wall　to　reload。　As　he　did　so；　he　watched　as　Gant　fired　off　three　short　bursts。　
　It　was　then　that　he　saw　something　strange　happen。　
　The　yellow　tongue　of　fire　that　flashed　out　from　the　muzzle　of　Gant's　gun　suddenly　leaped　forward　a　full　two　meters。　It　was　only　for　a　second；　but　it　looked　incredible。　For　a　short　moment；　Gant's　pact　MP…5　machine　pistol　had　looked　like　a　flamethrower。　
　Schofield　was　momentarily　confused。　What　the　hell　had　caused　that？　Then；　suddenly；　it　hit　him；　and　he　spun　and　looked　back　at　the…　
　All　of　a　sudden；　Gant　yelled；　〃I'm　dry！〃　and　Schofield　snapped　back　to　the　present。　He　immediately　opened　fire　on　the　A…deck　catwalk　while　she　reloaded。　
　As　he　lay　down　a　suppressing　fire　on　A…deck；　Schofield　saw　Legs　and　Mother　hurry　out　onto　the　B…deck　catwalk　behind　Rebound。　They　were　firing　for　all　they　were　worth　back　into　the　tunnel　from　which　they　had　e。　
　Legs　went　dry。　Schofield　watched　as　Legs　popped　his　clip　and　let　it　drop　to　the　catwalk　and　then　grabbed　a　fresh　magazine。　No　sooner　had　he　jammed　it　into　the　lower　receiver　of　his　gun　than　he　was　hit　in　the　neck　by　some　unseen　opponent　inside　the　western　tunnel。　
　Legs　flailed　backward；　losing　his　balance　for　a　second；　before　turning　his　gun　back　toward　the　enemy　and　letting　loose　with　an　extended　burst　of　gunfire　that　would　have　woken　the　dead。　In　2。2　seconds　thirty　rounds　were　spent　and　that　clip　was　dry；　too。　Mother　grabbed　him　and　yanked　him　out　onto　the　catwalk；　away　from　the　tunnel。　
　Now　wounded　and　dripping　with　blood；　Legs　began　to　fumble　with　a　new　clip。　The　clip　slipped　through　his　bloody　fingers　and　fell　out　over　the　railing；　dropping　fifty　feet　through　the　air　until　it　splashed　into　the　pool　at　the　bottom　of　the　station。　At　that　point；　Legs　cut　his　losses；　tossed　his　MP…5；　and　pulled　out　his　Colt　。45。　Single　fire　from　here。　
　Schofield　and　Gant　continued　to　sweep　the　uppermost　deck　with　their　fire。　Gant　had　watched　as　Legs's　clip　dropped　all　the　way　down　into　the　pool；　had　watched　as　one　of　the　killer　whales　banked　upward　to　see　what　it　was　that　had　fallen　into　its　domain。　
　Mother　went　dry。　She　cut　the　empty　clip　and　reloaded　fast。　
　Schofield　watched　anxiously　as　the　three　of　them…　Mother；　Rebound；　and　Legs…moved　along　the　catwalk　between　the　west　and　the　north　tunnels　of　B…deck；　heading　toward　the　north　tunnel。　
　They　were　almost　there　when　suddenly　Buck　Riley　burst　out　from　the　north　tunnel　with　four　civilians　in　tow　behind　him。　
　Right　in　front　of　Mother；　Rebound；　and　Legs！　
　Schofield　saw　it　as　it　happened　and　his　jaw　dropped。　
　〃Oh；　Jesus〃　he　breathed。　
　This　was　a　disaster。　Now　four　of　his　people　were　out　in　the　open；　with　four　innocent　civilians！　And　any　second　now　the　French　would　appear　and　cut　them　to　ribbons。　
　〃Book！　Book！〃　Schofield　yelled　into　his　helmet　mike。　〃Get　out　of　there！　Get　off　the　catwa…〃　
　And　then　it　happened　and　Schofield's　horror　was　plete。　
　In　perfect　synchronization；　five　French　mandos　burst　out　onto　the　B…deck　catwalk。　
　Three　from　the　west　tunnel。　Two　from　the　east。　
　They　opened　fire　without　the　slightest　hesitation。　
　
　
　
　What　happened　next　happened　almost　too　fast　for　Schofield　to　prehend。　
　The　five　French　mandos　on　B…deck　had　just　pulled　off　a　perfect　pincer　maneuver。　They'd　flushed　Mother；　Rebound；　and　Legs　out　onto　the　catwalk　and　now　were　about　to　finish　it　off　by　firing　upon　them　from　both　flanks。　
　The　appearance　of　Buck　Riley　and　the　four　civilians　was　an　added　bonus。　It　obviously　hadn't　been　expected…when　they　had　appeared　out　on　the　catwalk；　all　five　of　the　French　soldiers　had　had　their　guns　firmly　trained　on　Mother；　Rebound；　and　Legs。　
　As　it　turned　out；　however；　they　never　got　a　chance　to　turn　their　fire　on　Riley　and　the　civilians　anyway。　
　The　three　French　mandos　who　had　emerged　from　the　western　tunnel　fired　first。　White…hot　tongues　of　fire　shot　out　from　the　muzzles　of　their　guns。　
　At　point…blank　range；　Legs；　Mother；　and　Rebound　were　all　hit。　Mother　in　the　leg；　Rebound　in　the　shoulder。　Legs　took　the　brunt　of　it…two　to　the　head；　four　to　the　chest…his　whole　body　being　a　shuddering　explosion　of　blood。　He　was　dead　before　he　hit　the　ground。　
　But　that　was　all　Schofield　saw。　
　Because　that　was　when　it　happened。　
　Schofield　watched　in　amazement　as；　at　the　exact　moment　that　the　French　mandos　on　the　western　side　of　th