mreilly.icestation-第23章

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　Schofield　said；　〃All　right；　then。　What　I　want　to　happen　now　is　this。　Montana。。。〃　
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　〃I　want　you　to　go　topside　and　position　our　two　hovercrafts　so　that　their　range　finders　are　pointed　outward；　so　that　they　cover　the　entire　landward　approach　to　this　station。　I　want　maximum　coverage；　no　gaps。　Trip　wires　aren't　going　to　cut　it　anymore　with　this　place；　we　use　the　range　finders　from　here。　As　soon　as　anyone　es　within　fifty　miles　of　this　station；　I　want　to　know　about　it。〃　
　〃Got　it；〃　Montana　said。　
　〃And　while　you're　up　there；〃　Schofield　said；　〃see　if　you　can　get　on　the　radio　and　raise　McMurdo。　Find　out　when　our　reinforcements　are　ing。　They　should've　been　here　by　now。〃　
　〃You　got　it；〃　Montana　said。　He　hurried　away。　
　〃Santa　Cruz　。。。；〃　Schofield　said；　turning。　
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　〃Eraser　check。　I　want　this　whole　facility　swept　from　top　to　bottom　for　any　kind　of　eraser　or　delay　switch；　OK？　There's　no　knowing　what　kinds　of　little　surprises　our　French　friends　left　behind　for　us。　Got　it？〃　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Santa　Cruz　said。　He　broke　out　of　the　circle　and　headed　for　the　nearest　rung…ladder。　
　〃Snake。。。〃　
　〃Sir。〃　
　〃The　winch　that　lowers　the　diving　bell。　Its　control　panel　is　up　on　C…deck；　in　the　alcove。　That　control　panel　was　damaged　by　a　grenade　blast　during　the　fight。　I　need　those　winch　controls　working　again。　Can　you　handle　it？〃　
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Snake　said。　He；　too；　left　the　circle。　
　When　Snake　had　gone；　Riley　and　Gant　were　the　only　ones　left　on　the　deck。　
　Schofield　turned　to　face　them。　〃Book。　Fox。　I　want　vou　two　to　do　a　full　prep　of　our　dive　gear。　Three　divers；　four…hour　dive　pression；　low…audibility　gear；　plus　some　auxiliaries　for　later。〃　
　〃Air　mix？〃　Riley　asked。　
　〃Saturated　helium…oxygen。　Ninety…eight　to　two；〃　Schofield　said。　
　Riley　and　Gant　were　momentarily　silent。　A　pressed　air　mix　of　98％　helium　and　2％　oxygen　was　very　rare。　The　almost　negligible　amount　of　oxygen　indicated　a　dive　to　a　very　high…pressure　environment。　
　Schofield　handed　Gant　a　handful　of　blue　capsules。　They　were　N…67D　antinitrogen　blood…pressure　capsules；　developed　by　the　Navy　for　use　during　deep…dive　missions。　They　were　affectionately　known　to　military　divers　as　〃the　pills。〃　
　By　retarding　the　dissolution　of　nitrogen　in　the　bloodstream　during　a　deep　dive；　the　pills　prevented　depression　sickness…better　known　as　the　bends…among　divers。　Since　the　pills　neutralized　nitrogen　activity　in　the　bloodstream；　Navy　and　Marine　Corps　divers　could　descend　as　quickly　as　they　liked　without　fear　of　nitrogen　narcosis　and　ascend　without　the　need　for　making　time…consuming　depression　stops。　The　pills　had　revolutionized　military　deep…diving。　
　〃Planning　a　deep　dive；　sir？〃　Gant　said；　looking　up　from　the　blue　pills　in　her　hand。　
　Schofield　looked　at　her　seriously。　〃I　want　to　find　out　what's　down　in　that　cave。〃　
　
　
　
　Schofield　walked　quickly　around　the　curved　outer　tunnel　of　B…deck；　deep　in　thought。　
　Things　were　moving　fast　now。　
　The　French　attack　on　Wilkes　had　taught　him　a　lot。　Wilkes　Ice　Station…or；　more　precisely；　whatever　lay　buried　in　the　ice　beneath　Wilkes　Ice　Station…was　now　officially　worth　killing　for。　
　But　it　was　the　implications　of　that　lesson　that　gave　Schofield　a　chill。　If　France　had　been　willing　to　launch　an　impromptu　snatch…and…grab　for　whatever　was　down　in　that　cave；　it　was　highly　probable　that　other　countries　would　be　willing　to　do　the　same。　
　There　was　one　additional　factor；　though；　about　possible　further　attacks　on　Wilkes　that　caused　Schofield　particular　concern：　if　someone　was　going　to　launch　an　attack　on　Wilkes。　they　would　have　to　do　it　soon…before　a　full…strength　U。S。　force　arrived　at　the　station。　
　The　next　few　hours　would　be　very　tense。　
　It　would　be　a　race　to　see　who　would　arrive　first。　
　American　reinforcements　or　a　fully…equipped　enemy　force。　
　Schofield　tried　not　to　think　about　it。　There　were　a　lot　of　things　to　do；　and　one　matter　in　particular　required　his　attention　first。　
　After　the　battle　with　the　French　had　concluded；　the　remaining　scientists　from　Wilkes…there　were　five　of　them；　three　men　and　two　women…had　retired　to　their　living　quarters　on　B…deck。　Schofield　was　heading　for　those　living　quarters　now。　He　was　hoping　to　find　among　those　scientists　a　doctor　who　might　be　able　to　help　Samurai。　
　Schofield　continued　to　walk　around　the　curved　outer　tunnel。　His　clothes　were　still　wet；　but　he　didn't　care。　Like　all　of　the　other　Marines　in　his　unit；　he　was　wearing　a　thermal　wet　suit　under　his　fatigues。　It　was　practically　standard　attire　for　Recon　Units　working　in　arctic　conditions。　Wet　suits　were　warmer　than　long　Johns　and　didn't　get　heavy　if　they　got　wet。　And　by　wearing　one's　wet　suit　instead　of　carrying　it；　a　Recon　Marine　lightened　his　load；　something　very　important　for　a　rapid…response　unit。　
　Just　then；　a　door　to　Schofield's　right　opened　and　a　cloud　of　steam　wafted　out　into　the　corridor。　A　sleek　black　object　slid　out　of　the　haze　and　into　the　corridor　in　front　of　Schofield。　
　Wendy。　
　She　was　dripping　with　water。　She　looked　up　at　Schofield　with　a　goofy　seal　grin。　
　Kirsty　emerged　from　the　steamy　haze。　The　shower　room。　She　saw　Schofield　instantly　and　she　smiled。　
　〃Hi；〃　she　said。　She　was　wearing　a　new　set　of　dry　clothes；　and　her　hair　was　tousled；　wet。　Schofield　guessed　that　Kirsty　had　just　had　the　hottest　shower　of　her　life。　
　〃Hey　there；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Wendy　loves　the　shower　room；〃　Kirsty　said；　nodding　at　Wendy。　〃She　likes　to　slide　through　the　steam。〃　
　Schofield　suppressed　a　laugh　and　looked　down　at　the　little　black　fur　seal　at　his　feet。　She　was　cute；　very　cute。　She　had　also　saved　his　life。　Her　soft　brown　eyes　glistened　with　intelligence。　
　He　looked　at　Kirsty。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃　
　〃Warm　now；〃　she　said。　
　Schofield　nodded。　From　the　look　of　her；　Kirsty　seemed　to　have　bounced　back　well　from　her　ordeal　in　the　pool。　Kids　were　good　like　that；　resilient。　He　wondered　what　sort　of　therapy　an　adult　would　need　after　falling　into　a　pool　filled　with　ferocious　killer　whales。　
　Schofield　gave　a　lot　of　the　credit　to　Buck　Riley。　Riley　had　been　up　on　C…deck　when　Kirsty　had　been　whizzed　up　there　on　the　Maghook；　and　for　the　remainder　of　the　battle　Riley　had　kept　Kirsty　by　his　side；　safe　and　sound。　
　〃Good；〃　Schofield　said。　〃You're　one　tough　kid；　you　know　that？　You　ought　to　be　a　Marine。〃　
　Kirsty　beamed。　Schofield　nodded　down　the　tunnel。　〃You　going　my　way？〃　
　〃Yeah；〃　she　said；　falling　into　step　beside　him。　Wendy　loped　down　the　corridor　behind　them。　
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Kirsty　asked。　
　〃I'm　looking　for　your　mom。〃　
　〃Oh；〃　Kirsty　said；　a　little　softly。　
　It　was　a　strange　response；　and　through　his　reflective　silver　glasses　Schofield　cast　a　sideways　glance　at　Kirsty。　She　just　stared　at　the　floor　as　she　walked。　He　wondered　what　it　meant。　
　There　was　an　awkward　silence　and　Schofield　searched　for　something　to　say。　〃So；　uh；　how　old　did　you　say　you　were？　Twelve；　right？〃　
　〃Uh…huh。〃　
　〃What　is　that；　seventh　grade？〃　
　〃Mm〃　
　〃Seventh　grade；〃　Schofield　mused。　He　was　at　a　total　loss　for　something　to　say　now；　so　he　just　said；　〃I　guess　you　must　be　starting　to　think　about　a　career；　then。〃　
　Kirsty　seemed　to　perk　up　at　the　question。　She　looked　across　at　him　as　they　walked。　
　〃Yeah；〃　she　said　seriously；　as　though　career　thoughts　had　been　weighing　heavily　on　her　twelve…year…old　mind　lately。　
　〃So　what　do　you　want　to　do　when　you　leave　school？〃　
　〃I　want　to　be　a　teacher；〃　Kirsty　said。　〃Like　my　dad。〃　
　〃What　does　your　dad　teach？〃　
　〃He　taught　geology　at　a　big　college　in　Boston；〃　Kirsty　said。　〃Harvard；〃　she　added　importantly。　
　〃And　what　do　you　want　to　teach？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃Math。〃　
　〃Math？〃　
　〃I'm　good　at　math；〃　Kirsty　said；　shrugging　selfconsciously；　embarrassed　and　proud　at　the　same　time。　
　〃My　dad　used　to　help　me　with　my　homework；〃　she　went　on。　〃He　said　I　was　much　better　at　math　than　most　other　kids　my　age；　so　sometimes　he　would　teach　me　stuff　that　the　other　kids　didn't　know。　Interesting　stuff；　stuff　that　I　wasn't　supposed　to　learn　until　I　was　a　senior。　And　sometimes　he'd　teach　me　stuff　that　they　don't　teach　you　at　all　in　school。〃　
　〃Yeah？〃　Schofield　said；　genuinely　interested。　〃What　sort　of　stuff？〃　
　〃Oh；　you　know。　Polynomials。　Number　sequences。　Some　calculus。〃　
　〃Calculus。　Number　sequences；〃　Schofield　repeated；　amazed。　
　〃You　know；　like　triangular　numbers　and　Fibonacci　numbers。　That　sort　of　stuff。〃　
　Schofield　shook　his　head　in　astonishment。　This　was　impressive。　Very　impressive。　Kirsty　Hensleigh；　twelve　years　old　and　a　little　short　for　her　age；　was　apparently　a　very　smart　young　lady。　Schofield　looked　at　her　again。　She　seemed　to　walk　on　her　toes；　with　a　kind　of　spring　in　each　step。　She　just　looked　like　a　regular　kid。　
　Kirsty　said；　〃We　used　to　do　a　lot　of　stuff　together。　Softball；　hiking；　once　he　even　took　me　scuba　diving；　even　though　I　hadn't　done　the　course。〃　
　〃You　make　it　sound　like　your　dad　doesn't　do　that　sort　of　thing　anymore？〃　
　There　was　a　short　silence。　Then　Kirsty　said　softly；　〃He　doesn't。〃　
　〃What　happened？〃　Schofield　asked　gently。　He　was　waiting　to　hear　a　tale　about　fighting　parents　and　a　divorce。　It　seemed　to　happen　a　lot　these　days。　
　〃My　dad　was　killed　in　a　car　wreck　last　year；〃　Kirsty　said　flatly。　
　Schofield　stopped　in　midstride。　He　turned　to　look　at　Kirsty。　The　little　girl　was　staring　down　at　her　shoelaces。　
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。　
　Kirsty　cocked　her　head　to　one　side。　〃It's　OK；〃　she　said；　and　then　resumed　walking。　
　They　came　to　a　door　sunken　into　the　outer　tunnel；　and　Schofield　stopped　in　front　of　it。　〃Well；　this　is　my　stop。〃　
　〃Mine；　too；〃　Kirsty　said。　
　Schofield　opened　the　door　and　let　Kirsty　and　Wendy　enter　in　front　of　him。　He　followed　them　inside。　
　It　was　a　mon　room　of　some　sort。　Some　ugly　orange　couches；　a　stereo；　a　television；　a　VCR。　Schofield　guessed　that　they　didn't　get　regular　TV　transmissions　down　here　so　they　just　watched　videos　on　the　television。　
　Sarah　Hensleigh　and　Abby　Sinclair　sat　on　one　of　the　orange　couches。　They　were　also　now　wearing　dry　clothes。　The　three　other　scientists　from　Wilkes…three　men　named　Llewellyn；　Harris；　and　Robinson…were　there；　too。　After　seeing　what　the　fragmentation　grenades　had　done　to　Hollywood　and　one　of　their　colleagues　they　had　spent　the　remainder　of　the　battle　holed　up　in　their　rooms。　Now　they　looked　tired　and　weary；　afraid。　
　Kirsty　went　over　and。sat　down　on　the　couch　next　to　Sarah　Hensleigh。　She　sat　down　silently　and　didn't　say　anything　to　her　mother。　Schofield　remembered　the　first　time　he　had　seen　Sarah　and　Kirsty　together…back　before　the　French　had　arrived　at　Wilkes。　Kirsty　hadn't　said　much　then　either。　Schofield　hadn't　noticed　any　tension　between　them　then；　but　he　noticed　it　now。　He　put　it　out　of　his　mind　as　he　walked　over　to　Sarah。　
　〃Is　anyone　here　a　medical　doctor？〃　Schofield　asked　her。　
　Sarah　shook　her　head。　〃No。　No；　Ken　Wishart　was　the　only　doctor　at　the　station。　But　he…〃　She　cut　herself　off。　
　〃But　he　what？〃　
　Sarah　sighed。　〃But　he　was　on　board　the　hovercraft　that　was　supposed　to　be　heading　back　to　d'Urville。〃　
　Schofield　shut　his　eyes；　once　again　imagined　the　fate　of　the　five　scientists　who　had　been　on　board　the　doomed　hovercraft。　
　A　voice　crackled　over　his　helmet　inter。　〃Scarecrow；　this　is　Montana。〃　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Schofield　sa