mreilly.icestation-第17章

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　〃Fucking　kill　you！　You　son　of　a　bitchl〃　Mother　yelled　through　clenched　teeth。　
　Rebound　dived　forward　and　grabbed　her　hand　as　she　grimly　held　the　deck　and　struggled　with　the　killer　whale　in　a　tug…of…war　over　her　own　body。　
　Then　Rebound　saw　Mother　draw　her　powerful　Colt　automatic　pistol　from　its　holster　and　level　it　at　the　killer　whale's　head。　〃Oh；　fuck　me　。。。；〃　Rebound　said。　
　〃You　want　to　eat　something；　baby？〃　Mother　said　to　the　whale。　〃Eat　this。〃　
　She　fired。　
　A　small　blast　of　yellow　light　flared　out　from　the　muzzle　of　Mother's　gun　as　the　flash　of　her　pistol　ignited　the　gaseous　air　around　her。　Both　she　and　Rebound　were　hurled　a　full　five　yards　backward　onto　the　deck　by　the　concussion　wave。　
　The　whale　wasn't　so　lucky。　As　soon　as　the　bullet　entered　its　brain；　the　killer　convulsed　violently　backward；　snapping　upward。　Then　it　just　fell　limply　back　into　the　water　amid　a　cloud　of　its　own　blood；　its　final　prize…garnered　in　the　split　second　before　it　died…a　portion　of　Mother's　left　leg。　Everything　from　the　left　knee　down。　
　
　Schofield　and　Kirsty　were　still　out　in　the　middle　of　the　pool；　caught　halfway　between　the　diving　bell　in　the　center　and　the　deck　twenty…five　feet　away。　
　With　their　backs　pressed　against　each　other；　they　both　looked　fearfully　about　themselves。　The　water　around　them　was　ominously　still。　Quiet。　Calm。　
　〃Mister；〃　Kirsty　said；　her　voice　barely　a　whisper。　Her　jaw　was　quivering；　a　bination　of　fear　and　cold。　
　〃What？〃　Schofield　kept　his　eyes　trained　on　the　water　around　him。　
　〃I'm　scared。〃　
　〃Scared？〃　Schofield　said；　not　exactly　hiding　his　own　fear　very　well。　〃I　didn't　think　kids　these　days　were　afraid　of　anything。　Don't　they　have　this　kind　of　stuff　at　Sea　World…〃　
　At　that　moment；　one　of　the　killer　whales　shot　up　out　of　the　water　right　in　front　of　Schofield。　It　rose　out　of　the　water　and　arced　down　fast；　heading　right　for　him　and　Kirsty！　
　〃Go　under！〃　Schofield　yelled　as　he　saw　the　two　rows　of　jagged　white　teeth　open　wide　in　front　of　him。　
　He　held　his　breath　and　ducked　underwater；　pulling　Kirsty　down　with　him。　
　The　world　suddenly　went　silent　as　the　killer　whale's　immense　white　underbelly　thundered　over　the　top　of　them　at　incredible　speed。　It　brushed　roughly　against　the　top　of　Schofield's　helmet　as　it　pounded　back　into　the　water　right　above　their　heads。　
　Schofield　and　Kirsty　burst　back　up　above　the　surface；　gasped　for　air。　
　Schofield　quickly　looked　left：　saw　Rebound　and　Mother　on　the　deck。　Looked　right：　saw　Sarah　and　Abby；　also　safely　up　on　the　deck；　quickly　moving　away　from　the　edge。　
　He　spun　around：　saw　another　Frenchman　get　yanked　under。　The　two　remaining　French　mandos　were　just　reaching　the　edge　of　the　pool。　They'd　had　to　swim　farther　than　everyone　else；　having　landed　closest　to　the　middle　of　the　pool。　
　Serves　them　right；　Schofield　thought。　
　He　looked　up：　and　immediately　saw　the　retractable　bridge　that　spanned　the　width　of　the　station　from　either　side　of　C…deck。　
　Just　then；　a　deafening　explosion　boomed　out　from　the　alcove　on　the　C…deck　catwalk　and　an　unbelievably　huge　tongue　of　fire　shot　out　over　the　whole　of　the　central　shaft　of　the　station。　
　Schofield　knew　what　had　happened　immediately…the　French　soldiers　up　on　A…deck；　deprived　of　the　use　of　their　guns；　were　now　tossing　grenades　down　into　the　shaft。　Sharp　thinking。　A　grenade　detonating　in　this　flammable　atmosphere　would　do　twice　as　much　damage　as　it　would　normally。　Their　first　target；　Schofield　noticed；　had　been　the　alcove　he　and　Gant　had　been　hiding　in　before。　
　Suddenly　something　emerged　from　the　fireball　that　had　consumed　the　alcove。　
　It　was　large　and　gray；　square…shaped；　and　it　tumbled　end…over…end　out　into　the　central　shaft　of　the　station。　It　fell　fast；　cutting　through　the　air；　its　immense　weight　driving　it　downward。　With　a　thunderous　crash；　the　four…hundred…pound　ejection　seat　that　had　been　sitting　in　front　of　the　console　in　the　C…deck　alcove　came　smashing　down　onto　the　deck　that　surrounded　the　pool　at　the　bottom　of　the　station。　It　weighed　so　much　and　landed　so　hard　that　it　dented　the　thick　metal　deck　when　it　hit。　
　Despite　the　chaos　all　around　him；　Shane　Schofield　kept　his　eyes　locked　on　the　retractable　bridge　three　stories　above　him。　He　took　in　the　distance。　
　Thirty　feet。　Maybe　thirty…five。　
　He　wasted　no　time；　raised　his　Maghook；　flicked　a　switch　marked　M　with　his　thumb…and　saw　a　red　light　on　the　head　of　the　grappling　hook　activate…aimed；　and　fired。　
　The　grappling　hook　shot　up　into　the　air。　However；　this　time　the　claws　of　the　hook　didn't　spring　outward。　This　time　it　was　set　on　magnet。　
　The　bulbous　magnetic　head　of　the　Maghook　thunked　into　the　underside　of　the　retractable　steel　bridge　and　stuck　there。　
　Schofield　did　some　quick　calculations　in　his　head。　〃Shit；〃　was　all　he　said　when　he　finished。　
　Then　he　handed　the　launcher　to　Kirsty　and　said；　〃Three　words；　honey：　don't　let　go。〃　
　She　took　the　launcher　in　both　hands　and　looked　at　Schofield；　puzzled。　
　He　smiled　at　her　reassuringly。　〃Just　hold　on。〃　
　Then　he　pressed　down　firmly　on　a　small　black　button　on　the　grip　of　the　Maghook。　
　Suddenly　Kirsty　flew　up　out　of　the　water　as　the　Maghook　reeled　her　upward　like　some　bizarre　kind　of　fishing　rod。　
　She　was　light；　so　the　Maghook　had　little　difficulty　whisking　her　up　to　the　bridge。　Schofield　knew　it　would　have　been　considerably　slower　if　his　weight　were　also　being…　
　A　killer　whale　shot　up　out　of　the　water　after　Kirsty。　
　Schofield's　jaw　dropped　as　he　saw　the　massive　whale　lift　its　entire　body　out　of　the　water　in　a　magnificent　vertical　leap。　
　Kirsty　was　still　moving　rapidly　upward；　pulled　up　by　the　Maghook。　She　looked　down　and　saw　the　whale　emerge　from　the　water　beneath　her　like　the　Devil　ing　out　of　Hell　itself。　Saw　it　e　roaring　up　toward　her；　its　body　rotating　as　it　rose　into　the　air。　
　And　then　all　of　a　sudden　Kirsty　came　to　a　jarring　halt。　
　The　whale　kept　ing　upward。　
　Kirsty　squealed　in　surprise；　looked　up；　and　saw　that　she　had　hit　the　underside　of　the　bridge。　
　She　couldn　't　go　any　farther　up！　
　The　whale　opened　its　jaws　wide　as　it　reached　the　zenith　uf　its　leap　。　。　。　
　Kirsty　gripped　the　Maghook　as　hard　as　she　could　and　quiickly　brought　her　legs　up　tightly　against　her　chest　just　as　the　killer's　teeth　jammed　shut　with　a　loud　crunch；　ing　together　barely　a　foot　below　her　butt；　the　lowest　part　of　her　body。　
　Kirsty　watched　as　the　huge　black…and…white　whale　fell　away　beneath　her；　diminishing　in　size　until　it　disappeared　back　into　the　pool　below。　The　animal　must　have　been　at　least　thirty　feet　long；　and　it　had　lifted　its　entire　body　vertically　out　of　the　wat…　
　Suddenly　a　hand　appeared　in　front　of　Kirsty's　face　and　she　almost　had　a　heart　attack；　almost　let　go　of　the　Maghook。　
　〃It's　OK；〃　a　voice　said。　〃It's　me。〃　
　Kirsty　looked　up　and　found　herself　looking　into　the　friendly　eyes　of　the　Marine　she　knew　as　Mr。　Book。　She　took　his　hand；　and　he　hauled　her　up　onto　the　retractable　bridge。　
　She　was　breathing　heavily；　almost　crying。　Buck　Riley　hearing　her；　looked　at　her　in　amazement。　After　a　second；　Kirsty　reached　into　her　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　plastic　puffer　for　her　asthma。　
　She　drew　in　two　long　puffs　and　caught　her　breath。　When；　finally；　she　was　able　to　speak　she　looked　at　Riley；　shook　her　head；　and　said；　〃They　definitely　don't　have　that　at　Sea　World。〃　
　
　Schofield　was　still　down　in　the　pool。　Two　of　the　killer　whales　circled　him　ominously。　He　noticed　that　these　two　appeared　to　be　smaller　than　the　other　killers。　Juveniles；　maybe。　
　He　tilted　his　head　upward　and　yelled；　〃Book！　I　need　my　Maghook！〃　
　Up　on　the　bridge；　Riley　immediately　dropped　to　his　belly　and　leaned　out　over　the　edge　of　the　narrow　metal　platform。　He　reached　out　underneath　the　platform　and　tried　to　deactivate　the　magnet　on　Schofield's　grappling　hook。　
　〃I　need　it　now；　Book！〃　Schofield's　voice　sailed　up　through　the　shaft　of　the　ice　station。　
　〃I'm　trying！　I'm　trying！〃　Riley　said。　
　〃Try　faster！〃　
　Riley　stretched　his　arm　out　under　the　platform；　tried　to　reach　the　switch　marked　M　on　the　grip　that　activated　and　deactivated　the　Maghook's　powerful　magnet。　
　As　he　did　so；　however；　a　strange　thing　happened。　
　For　a　brief　second；　Riley　could　have　sworn　that　he　heard　Kirsty　speaking　to　someone　on　the　bridge　above　him。　
　〃Help　the　diver；　Wendy。　Help　the　diver。〃　
　Riley　blinked　to　himself。　Must　be　hearing　things。　
　
　Down　in　the　pool；　Schofield　thought　it　was　all　over。　The　two　killers　on　either　side　of　him　were　closing　in　as　they　circled；　shutting　off　any　possible　escape　route。　
　Suddenly　one　of　them　seemed　to　break　out　of　his　circle　and　swing　around。　Schofield　swallowed。　He　was　ing　round　for　the　kill。　
　The　killer　turned　in　a　slow；　wide　arc　until　he　was　pointing　right　at　Schofield。　His　body　was　only　a　foot　or　so　beneath　the　surface；　and　his　high　dorsal　fin　sliced　easily　through　the　waves　in　the　pool。　He　was　moving　at　such　powerful　speed　that　he　created　a　rolling　bow　wave　in　front　of　his　submerged　black…and…white　head。　
　The　bow　wave　raced　across　the　water；　on　a　collision　course　with　Shane　Schofield。　
　Schofield　looked　around　himself。　There　was　nowhere　to　go　this　time；　no　weapon　to　use。　
　Out　of　sheer　desperation　he　pulled　out　his　Desert　Eagle　pistol；　raised　it　above　the　water。　
　If　it　had　to　e　to　this；　he　thought；　then　it　had　to　e　to　this。　
　The　killer　charged　toward　him。　
　And　then　suddenly　a　black　missilelike　object　plunged　into　the　water　right　in　front　of　Schofield's　face；　right　in　between　him　and　the　killer　whale。　
　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　so　sleek　that　it　entered　the　water　with　barely　even　a　splash；　and　once　in；　it　zoomed　away　from　him　at　phenomenal　speed。　
　Both　killers　saw　it　instantly　and　immediately　lost　interest　in　Schofield。　Even　the　one　that　had　been　charging　at　him　only　seconds　before　abruptly　altered　its　path　and　raced　off　in　pursuit　of　this　new　quarry。　
　Schofield　was　stunned。　What　had　it　been？　It　had　looked　almost　like　a。。。　a　seal　of　some　sort。　
　And　then；　miraculously；　a　Maghook　dropped　into　the　water　right　in　front　of　him。　
　Schofield　grabbed　it　before　it　sank　and　immediately　looked　upward。　Up　on　the　bridge　he　saw　Book　Riley　lying　on　his　belly；　with　one　arm　stretched　out　underneath　the　bridge。　
　Schofield　looked　at　the　Maghook　and　suddenly　felt　a　new　lease　on　life　e　over　him。　
　Just　then；　a　small　pointed　black　head　popped　up　out　of　the　water　right　in　front　of　him　and　he　fell　backward　in　surprise。　
　It　was　Wendy。　Kirsty's　little　Antarctic　fur　seal。　
　Her　cute　red　collar　glistened　with　wetness；　and　her　soft　black　eyes　looked　right　into　his。　If　it　was　possible；　Schofield　could　have　sworn　that　the　little　seal　was　smiling…having　a　ball　of　a　time　swimming　around　in　the　pool；　evading　the　less　agile　killer　whales。　
　Then　he　realized。　Wendy　must　have　been　the　object　that　had　dived　into　the　pool　in　between　him　and　the　charging　killer　whale。　
　Suddenly　Wendy's　head　snapped　left。　
　She'd　heard　something；　sensed　something。　
　Then　she　gave　what　looked　like　a　final　happy　nod　to　Schofield　before　she　ducked　back　under　the　water　and　sped　off　down　the　length　of　the　pool。　
　She　swam　fast。　Speeding　just　underneath　the　surface　of　the　water　like　a　tiny　black　torpedo。　Cutting　left；　ducking　right；　and　then　disappearing　suddenly　as　she　dropped　in