mreilly.icestation-第2章

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urvive；　the　best　bet　was　to　leave　the　diving　bell　down　there。　
　That　was　three　hours　ago…and　that　was　as　much　time　as　Austin　had　been　willing　to　give　them。　And　so　he'd　pulled　up　the　diving　bell；　and　now　a　second　team　was　preparing　to　go　down…　
　〃Hey。〃　
　Austin　turned。　Sarah　Hensleigh；　one　of　the　paleontologists；　came　up　alongside　him。　
　Austin　liked　Hensleigh。　She　was　intelligent　while　at　the　same　time　practical　and　tough；　not　afraid　to　get　her　hands　dirty。　It　came　as　no　surprise　to　him　that　she　was　also　a　mother。　Her　twelve…year…old　daughter；　Kirsty；　had　been　visiting　the　station　for　the　past　week。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Austin　said。　
　〃The　topside　antenna's　taking　a　beating。　The　signal　isn't　getting　through；〃　Hensleigh　said。　〃It　also　looks　like　there's　a　solar　flare　ing　in。〃　
　〃Oh；　shit。。。。〃　
　〃For　what　it's　worth；　I've　got　Abby　scanning　all　the　military　frequencies；　but　I　wouldn't　get　your　hopes　up。〃　
　〃What　about　outside？〃　
　〃Pretty　bad。　We've　got　eighty…footers　breaking　on　the　cliffs　and　a　hundred…knot　wind　on　the　surface。　If　we　have　casualties；　we　won't　be　getting　them　out　of　here　by　ourselves。〃　
　Austin　turned　to　stare　at　the　diving　bell。　〃And　Renshaw？〃　
　〃He's　still　shut　up　in　his　room。〃　Hensleigh　looked　up　nervously　toward　B…deck。　
　Austin　said；　〃We　can't　wait　any　longer。　We　have　to　go　down。〃　
　Hensleigh　just　watched　him。　
　〃Ben…；〃　she　began。　
　〃Don't　even　think　about　it；　Sarah。〃　Austin　began　walking　away　from　her；　toward　the　water's　edge。　〃I　need　you　up　here。　So　does　your　kid。　You　just　get　that　signal　out。　We'll　get　the　others。〃　
　
　〃ing　to　three　thousand　feet；〃　Austin's　voice　crackled　out　from　the　wall…mounted　speakers。　
　Sarah　Hensleigh　was　sitting　inside　the　darkened　radio　room　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　〃Roger　that；　Mawson；〃　she　said　into　the　microphone　in　front　of　her。　
　〃There　doesn't　appear　to　be　any　activity　outside；　Control。　The　coast　is　clear。　All　right；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　we　're　stopping　the　winch。　Preparing　to　leave　the　diving　bell。〃　
　
　One　kilometer　below　sea　level；　the　diving　bell　jolted　to　a　halt。　
　Inside；　Austin　keyed　the　inter。　〃Control；　confirm　time　at　2132　hours；　please。〃　
　The　seven　divers　sitting　inside　the　cramped　confines　of　the　Douglas　Mawson　looked　tensely　at　one　another。　
　Hensleigh's　voice　came　over　the　speaker。　〃I　copy；　Mawson。　Time　confirmed　at　2132　hours。〃　
　〃Control；　mark　that　we　are　turning　over　to　self…contained　air　supply　at　2132　hours。〃　
　〃Marked。〃　
　The　seven　divers　reached　up　for　their　heavy　face　masks；　brought　them　down　off　their　hooks；　clamped　them　to　the　circular　buckles　on　the　collarbones　of　their　suits。　
　〃Control；　we　are　now　leaving　the　diving　bell。〃　
　Austin　stepped　forward；　pausing　for　a　moment　to　look　at　the　black　pool　of　water　lapping　against　the　rim　of　the　diving　bell。　Then　he　stepped　off　the　deck　and　splashed　into　the　darkness。　
　〃Divers。　Time　is　now　2220　hours；　dive　time　is　forty…eight　minutes。　Report；〃　Hensleigh　said　into　her　mike。　
　Inside　the　radio　room　behind　Sarah　sat　Abby　Sinclair；　the　station's　resident　meteorologist。　For　the　past　two　hours　Abby　had　been　manning　the　satellite　radio　console；　trying　without　success　to　raise　an　outside　frequency。　
　The　inter　crackled。　Austin's　voice　answered；　〃Control；　we　are　still　proceeding　up　the　ice　tunnel。　Nothing　so　far。〃　
　〃Roger；　divers；〃　Hensleigh　said。　〃Keep　us　informed。〃　
　Behind　her；　Abby　keyed　her　talk　button　again。　〃Calling　all　frequencies；　this　is　station　four…zero…niner…I　repeat；　this　is　station　four…zero…niner…requesting　immediate　assistance。　We　have　two　casualties；　possibly　fatalities；　on　hand　and　we　are　in　need　of　immediate　support。　Please　acknowledge。〃　Abby　released　the　button　and　said　to　herself；　〃Somebody；　anybody。〃　
　
　The　ice　tunnel　was　starting　to　widen。　
　As　Austin　and　the　other　divers　slowly　made　their　way　upward；　they　began　to　notice　several　strange　holes　set　into　the　walls　on　either　side　of　the　underwater　tunnel。　
　Each　hole　was　perfectly　round；　at　least　ten　feet　in　diameter。　And　they　were　all　set　on　an　incline　so　that　they　descended　into　the　ice　tunnel。　One　of　the　divers　aimed　his　flashlight　up　into　one　of　the　holes；　revealing　only　impenetrable　inky　darkness。　
　Suddenly　Austin's　voice　cut　across　their　inters。　〃OK；　people；　stay　tight。　I　think　I　see　the　surface。〃　
　
　Inside　the　radio　room；　Sarah　Hensleigh　leaned　forward　in　her　chair；　listening　to　Austin's　voice　over　the　inter。　
　〃The　surface　appears　calm。　No　sign　of　Price　or　Davis。〃　Hensleigh　and　Abby　exchanged　a　glance。　Hensleigh　keyed　her　inter。　〃Divers。　This　is　Control。　What　about　the　noises　they　mentioned？　Do　you　hear　anything？　Any　whale　song？〃　
　〃Nothing　yet；　Control。　Hold　on　now：　I'm　ing　to　the　surface。〃　
　
　Austin's　helmet　broke　the　glassy　surface。　
　Icy　water　drained　off　his　faceplate。　Austin　lifted　his　Princeton…Tec　dive　light　above　the　water's　surface。　The　exposed　halogen　bulb　cast　a　wide　flood　pattern　over　the　area　around　him；　illuminating　it　to　its　farthest　corners。　
　Slowly；　Austin　began　to　see　where　he　was。　He　was　hovering　in　the　middle　of　a　wide　pool；　which　was　itself　situated　at　one　end　of　a　gigantic　subterranean　cavern。　
　He　turned　in　a　plete　circle；　observing；　one　after　another；　the　sheer　vertical　walls　that　lined　every　side　of　the　cavern。　
　And　then　he　saw　the　final　wall。　
　His　mouth　fell　open。　
　
　〃Control；　you're　not　going　to　believe　this。〃　Austin's　stunned　voice　broke　over　the　inter。　
　〃What　is　it；　Ben？〃　Hensleigh　said　into　her　mike。　
　〃I'm　looking　at　a　cavern　of　some　sort。　Walls　are　sheer…sided　ice；　probably　the　result　of　some　kind　of　seismic　activity。　Area　of　the　cavern　is　unknown；　but　it　looks　like　it　extends　several　hundred　feet　into　the　ice。〃　
　〃Uh…huh。〃　
　〃There's；　ah。。。　there's　something　else　down　here；　Sarah。〃　
　Hensleigh　looked　at　Abby　and　frowned。　She　keyed　the　inter。　〃What　is　it；　Ben？〃　
　〃Sarah。。。〃　There　was　a　long　pause。　〃Sarah；　I　think　I'm　looking　at　a　spaceship。〃　
　
　It　was　half…buried　in　the　ice　wall　behind　it。　
　Austin　stared　at　it；　entranced。　
　pletely　black；　it　had　a　wingspan　of　about　ninety　feet。　Two　sleek　dorsal　tail　fins　rose　high　into　the　air　above　the　rear　of　the　ship。　Both　fins；　however；　were　pletely　embedded　in　the　ice　wall　behind　the　ship…two　shadowy　blurs　trapped　within　the　clear；　frozen　wall。　It　stood　on　three　powerful…looking　landing　struts；　and　it　looked　magnificent…the　aerodynamics　sleek　to　the　extreme；　exuding　a　sense　of　raw　power　that　was　almost　tangible。　
　There　came　a　loud　splash　from　behind　him　and　Austin　spun。　
　He　saw　the　other　divers；　treading　water　behind　him；　staring　up　at　the　spaceship。　Beyond　them；　however；　was　a　set　of　expanding　ripples；　the　remnants；　it　seemed；　of　an　object　that　had　fallen　into　the　water。。。。　
　〃What　was　that？〃　Austin　said。　〃Hanson？〃　
　〃Ben；　I　don't　know　what　it　was；　but　something　just　went　past　my…〃　
　Austin　watched　as；　without　warning；　Hanson　was　wrenched　underwater。　
　〃Hanson！〃　
　And　then　there　was　another　scream。　Harry　Cox。　
　Austin　turned；　just　in　time　to　see　the　slicked　back　of　a　large　animal　rise　above　the　surface　and　plow　at　tremendous　speed　into　Cox's　chest；　driving　him　underwater。　
　Austin　began　to　swim　frantically　for　the　water's　edge。　As　he　swam；　his　head　dipped　below　the　surface　and　suddenly　his　ears　were　assaulted　by　a　cacophony　of　sound…loud；　shrill　whistles　and　hoarse；　desperate　barks。　
　The　next　time　his　head　surfaced；　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　ice　walls　surrounding　the　pool　of　water。　He　saw　large　holes　set　into　the　ice；　just　above　the　surface。　They　were　exactly　the　same　as　the　ones　he'd　seen　down　in　the　ice　tunnel　before。　
　Then　Austin　saw　something　e　out　of　one　of　the　holes。　
　〃Holy　Christ；〃　he　breathed。　
　
　Hideous　screams　burst　across　the　inter。　
　In　the　radio　room　of　the　ice　station；　Hensleigh　stared　in　stunned　silence　at　the　blinking　console　in　front　of　her。　Beside　her；　Abby　had　her　hand　across　her　mouth。　Terrified　shouts　rang　out　from　the　wall…mounted　speakers：　
　〃Raymonds！　〃　
　〃He's　gone！〃　
　〃Oh；　shit；　no…〃　
　〃Jesus；　the　walls！　They're　ing　out　of　the　fucking　walls！〃　
　And　then　suddenly　Austin's　voice。　〃Get　out　of　the　water！　Get　out　of　the　water　now！　〃　
　Another　scream。　Then　another。　
　Sarah　Hensleigh　grabbed　her　mike。　〃Ben！　Ben！　e　in！〃　Austin's　voice　crackled　over　the　inter。　He　was　speaking　quickly；　in　between　short；　shallow　breaths。　〃Sarah；　shit；　I。。。　I　can't　see　anybody　else。　I　can't。。。　They're　all。。。　they're　all　gone。。。。〃　A　pause；　and　then；　〃Oh；　sweet　Jesus。。。　Sarah！　Call　for　help！　Call　for　anything　you　ca…〃　
　And　then　a　crash　of　breaking　glass　exploded　across　the　inter　and　the　voice　of　Benjamin　Austin　was　gone。　
　
　Abby　was　on　the　radio；　yelling　hysterically　into　the　mike。　
　〃For　God's　sake；　somebody　answer　me！　This　is　station　four…zero…niner…I　repeat；　this　is　station　four…zero…niner。　We　have　just　suffered　heavy　losses　in　an　underwater　cavern　and　request　immediate　assistance！　Can　anybody　hear　me？　Somebody；　please　answer　me！　Our　divers…oh；　Jesus…our　divers　said　they　saw　a　spacecraft　of　some　sort　in　this　cavern；　and　now；　now　we've　lost　contact　with　them！　The　last　we　heard　from　them；　they　were　under　attack；　under　attack　in　the　water。　。　。　。〃　
　
　Wilkes　Ice　Station　received　no　response　to　their　distress　signal。　
　Despite　the　fact　that　it　was　picked　up　by　at　least　three　different　radio　installationss。　
　
　
　FIRST　INCURSION　
　16　June　0630　hours　
　
　The　hovercraft　raced　across　the　ice　plain。　
　It　was　painted　white；　which　was　unusual。　Most　Antarctic　vehicles　are　painted　bright　orange；　for　ease　of　visibility。　And　it　sped　across　the　vast　expanse　of　snow　with　a　surprising　urgency。　Nobody　is　ever　in　a　hurry　in　Antarctica。　
　Inside　the　speeding　white　hovercraft；　Lieutenant　Shane　Schofield　peered　out　through　reinforced　fiberglass　windows。　About　a　hundred　yards　off　his　starboard　bow　he　could　see　a　second　hovercraft…also　white…whipping　across　the　flat；　icy　landscape。　
　At　thirty…two；　Schofield　was　young　to　be　in　mand　of　a　Recon　Unit。　But　he　had　experience　that　belied　his　age。　At　five…ten；　he　was　lean　and　muscular；　with　a　handsome　creased　face　and　closely　cropped　black　hair。　At　the　moment；　his　black　hair　was　covered　by　a　camouflaged　Kevlar　helmet。　A　gray　turtleneck　collar　protruded　from　beneath　his　shoulder　plates；　covering　his　neck。　Fitted　inside　the　folds　of　the　turtleneck　collar　was　a　lightweight　Kevlar　plate。　Sniper　protection。　
　It　was　rumored　that　Shane　Schofield　had　deep　blue　eyes；　but　this　was　a　rumor　that　had　never　been　confirmed。　In　fact；　it　was　folklore　at　Parris　Island…the　legendary　training　camp　for　the　United　States　Marine　Corps…that　no　one　below　the　rank　of　General　had　ever　actually　seen　Schofield's　eyes。　He　always　kept　them　hidden　behind　a　pair　of　reflective　silver　antiflash　glasses。　
　His　call　sign　added　to　the　mystery；　since　it　was　mon　knowledge　that　it　had　been　Brigadier　General　Norman　W。　McLean　himself　who　had　given　Schofield　his　operational　nickname…a　nickname　that　many　assumed　had　something　to　do　with　the　young　Lieutenant's　hidden　eyes。　
　〃Whistler　One；　do　you　copy？〃　
　Schofield　picked　up　his　radio。　〃Whistler　Two；　this　is　Whistler　One。　What　is　it？〃　
　〃Sir…〃　The　deep　voice　of　Staff　Sergeant　Buck　〃Book〃　Riley　was　suddenly　cut　off　by　a　wash　of　static。　Over　th