mreilly.icestation-第26章

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ught　English。　Gentle　guy；　quiet。　I　was　pregnant　by　the　time　I　was　twenty。〃　
　Book　just　watched　Gant　silently　as　she　spoke。　
　〃And　then　one　day；〃　Gant　said；　〃when　I　was　two　and　a　half　months　pregnant　I　arrived　home　early　to　find　him　doing　it　doggy…style　on　the　living　room　floor　with　a　seventeen…year…old　cheerleader　who'd　e　round　for　tutoring。〃　
　Book　winced　inwardly。　
　〃I　miscarried　three　weeks　later；〃　Gant　said。　〃I　don't　know　what　caused　it。　Stress；　anxiety；　who　knows。　I　hated　men　after　my　husband　did　that　to　me。　Hated　them。　That　was　when　I　enlisted　in　the　Corps。　Hate　makes　you　a　good　soldier；　you　know。　Makes　you　plant　every　single　shot　right　in　the　middle　of　the　other　guy's　head。　I　couldn't　bring　myself　to　trust　a　man　after　what　my　husband　did。　And　then　I　met　him。〃　
　Gant　was　staring　off　into　space。　Her　eyes　were　beginning　to　fill　with　water。　
　〃You　know；　when　I　was　accepted　into　this　unit；　the　selection　mittee　put　on　this　big　celebration　lunch　at　Pearl。　It　was　beautiful；　one　of　those　great　Hawaiian　BBQ　lunches…　out　on　the　beach；　in　the　sun。　He　was　there。　He　was　wearing　this　horrible　blue　Hawaiian　shirt　and；　of　course；　those　silver　sunglasses。　
　〃I　remember　that　at　one　point　during　the　lunch　everybody　else　was　talking；　but　he　wasn't。　I　watched　him。　He　just　seemed　to　bow　his　head　and　go　into　this　inner　world。　He　seemed　so　lonely；　so　alone。　He　caught　me　looking　and　we　talked　about　something　inane；　something　about　what　a　great　place　Pearl　Harbor　was　and　what　our　favourite　holiday　spots　were。　
　〃But　my　heart　had　already　gone　out　to　him。　I　don't　know　what　he　was　thinking　about　that　day；　but　whatever　it　was；　he　was　thinking　hard　about　it。　My　guess　is　it　was　a　woman；　a　woman　he　couldn't　have。　
　〃Book；　if　a　man　ever　thought　about　me　the　way　he　was　thinking　about　her。。。〃　Gant　shook　her　head。　〃I　would　just　。。。　Oh；　I　don't　know。　It　was　just　so　intense。　It　was　like　。。。　like　nothing　I　have　ever　seen。〃　
　Book　didn't　say　anything。　He　just　stared　at　Gant。　
　Gant　seemed　to　sense　his　eyes　on　her　and　she　blinked　twice　and　the　water　in　her　eyes　disappeared。　
　〃Sorry；〃　she　said。　〃Can't　go　showing　my　emotions　now；　can　I。　If　I　start　doing　that；　people'll　start　calling　me　Dorothy　again。〃　
　〃You　should　tell　him　how　you　feel　about　him；〃　Book　said　gently。　
　〃Yeah；　right〃　Gant　said。　〃Like　I'd　do　that。　They'd　kick　me　out　of　the　unit　before　I　could　say；　'That's　why　you　can't　have　women　in　frontline　units。'　Book；　I'd　rather　be　close　to　him　and　not　be　able　to　touch　him　than　be　far　away　and　still　not　be　able　to　touch　him。〃　
　Book　looked　hard　at　Gant　for　a　moment；　as　if　he　was　appraising　her。　Then　he　smiled　warmly。　〃You're　all　right。。。　Dorothy；　you　know　that。　You're　all　right。〃　
　Gant　snuffed　a　laugh。　〃Thanks。〃　
　She　bowed　her　head　and　shook　it　sadly。　Then　suddenly　she　looked　up　at　Book。　
　〃I　have　one　more　question；〃　she　said。　
　〃What？〃　
　Gant　cocked　her　head。　〃How　is　it　that　you　know　all　that　stuff　about　him？　All　the　stuff　about　Bosnia　and　the　farmhouse　and　his　eyes　and　all　that？〃　
　Riley　smiled　sadly。　
　Then　he　said；　〃I　was　on　the　team　that　got　him　out。〃　
　
　
　
　〃Any　sort　of　paleontology　is　a　waiting　game；〃　Sarah　Hensleigh　said　as　she　trudged　through　the　snow　next　to　Schofield　toward　the　outer　perimeter　of　the　station。　〃But　now　with　the　new　technology；　you　just　set　the　puter；　walk　away；　and　do　something　else。　Then　you　e　back　later　and　see　if　the　puter　has　found　anything。〃　
　The　new　technology；　Sarah　had　been　saying；　was　a　longwave　sonic　pulse　that　the　paleontologists　at　Wilkes　shot　down　into　the　ice　to　detect　fossilized　bones。　Unlike　digging；　it　located　fossils　without　damaging　them。　
　Schofield　said；　〃So　what　do　you　do　while　you　wait　for　the　sonic　pulse　to　find　your　next　fossil？〃　
　〃I'm　not　just　a　paleontologist；　you　know；〃　Sarah　said；　smiling；　feigning　offense。　〃I　was　a　marine　biologist　before　I　took　up　paleontology。　And　before　all　this　happened；　I　was　working　with　Ben　Austin　in　the　Bio　Lab　on　B…deck。　He　was　doing　work　on　a　new　antivenom　for　Enhydrina　schistosa。〃　
　Schofield　nodded。　〃Sea　snake。〃　
　Sarah　looked　at　him；　surprised。　〃Very　good；　Lieutenant。〃　
　〃Yeah；　well；　I'm　not　just　a　grunt　with　a　gun；　you　know；〃　Schofield　said；　smiling。　
　The　two　of　them　came　to　the　outer　perimeter　of　the　station；　where　they　found　Montana　standing　on　the　skirt　of　one　of　the　Marine　hovercrafts。　The　hovercraft　was　facing　out　from　the　station　plex。　
　It　was　dark…that　eerie　eternal　twilight　of　winter　at　the　poles…and　through　the　driving　snow　Schofield　could　just　make　out　the　vast　flat　expanse　of　land　stretching　out　in　front　of　the　stationary　hovercraft。　The　horizon　glowed　dark　orange　
　Behind　Montana；　on　the　roof　of　the　hovercraft；　Schofielc　saw　the　hovercraft's　range　finder。　It　looked　like　a　long…barreled　gun　mounted　on　a　revolving　turret；　and　it　swept　from　side　to　side　in　a　slow　180…degree　arc。　It　moved　slowly；　taking　about　thirty　seconds　to　make　a　plete　sweep　from　left　to　right　before　beginning　the　return　journey。　
　〃I　set　them　just　like　you　said；〃　Montana　said；　stepping　down　from　the　skirt　so　that　he　stood　in　front　of　Schofield　〃The　other　LCAC　is　at　the　southeast　corner。〃　LCAC　was　the　official　name　for　a　Marine　hovercraft。　It　stood　for　〃Landing　Craft…Air　Cushioned。〃　Montana　was　a　stickler　for　formalities。　
　Schofield　nodded。　〃Good。〃　
　Positioned　as　they　were；　the　range　finders　on　the　hovercrafts　now　covered　the　entire　landward　approach　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　With　a　range　of　over　fifty　miles；　Schofield　and　his　team　would　know　well　in　advance　if　anybody　was　heading　toward　the　station。　
　〃Have　you　got　a　portable　screen？〃　Schofield　asked　Montana。　
　〃Right　here。〃　Montana　offered　Schofield　a　portable　viewscreen　that　displayed　the　results　of　the　range　finders'　sweeps。　
　It　looked　like　a　miniature　TV　with　a　handle　on　the　left…hand　side。　On　the　screen；　two　thin　green　lines　clocked　slowly　back　and　forth　like　a　pair　of　windscreen　wipers。　As　soon　as　an　object　crossed　the　range　finders'　beams；　a　blinking　red　dot　would　appear　on　the　screen　and　the　object's　vital　statistics　would　appear　in　a　small　box　at　the　bottom　of　the　screen。　
　〃All　right；〃　Schofield　said。　〃I　think　we're　all　set。　I　think　it's　time　we　found　out　what's　down　in　that　cave。〃　
　
　The　trudge　back　to　the　main　building　took　about　five　minutes。　Schofield；　Sarah；　and　Montana　walked　quickly　through　the　falling　snow。　As　they　walked；　Schofield　told　Sarah　and　Montana　about　his　plans　for　the　cave。　
　First　of　all；　he　wanted　to　verify　the　existence　of　the　spacecraft　itself。　At　this　stage；　there　was　no　proof　that　anything　was　down　there　at　all。　All　they　had　was　the　report　of　a　single　scientist　from　Wilkes　who　was　himself　now　probably　dead。　Who　knew　what　he　had　seen？　That　he　had　also　been　attacked　soon　after　his　sighting　of　the　spacecraft…by　enemies　unknown…was　another　question　that　Schofield　wanted　answered。　
　There　was　a　third　reason；　however；　for　sending　a　small　team　down　to　the　cave。　A　reason　that　Schofield　didn't　mention　to　Sarah　or　Montana。　
　If　anyone　else　did　happen　to　make　a　play　for　the　station…especially　in　the　next　few　hours　when　the　Marines　were　at　their　most　vulnerable…and　if　they　also　managed　to　overe　what　was　left　of　Schofield's　unit　up　in　the　station　proper；　then　a　second　team　stationed　down　in　the　cave　might　be　able　to　provide　an　effective　last　line　of　defense。　
　For　if　the　only　entrance　to　the　cave　was　by　way　of　an　underwater　ice　tunnel；　then　anybody　wanting　to　penetrate　it　would　have　to　get　there　by　an　underwater　approach。　Covert　incursionary　forces　hate　underwater　approaches　and　for　good　reason：　you　never　know　what's　waiting　for　you　above　the　surface。　The　way　Schofield　saw　it；　a　small　team　already　stationed　inside　the　cave　would　be　able　to　pick　off　an　enemy　force；　one　by　one；　as　they　broke　the　surface。　
　Schofield；　Sarah；　and　Montana　came　to　the　main　entrance　of　the　station。　They　trudged　down　the　rampway　and　headed　inside。　
　Schofield　stepped　onto　the　A…deck　catwalk　and　immediately　headed　for　the　dining　room。　Rebound　should　have　been　back　there　by　now…with　Champion…and　Schofield　wanted　to　see　if　the　French　doctor　had　anything　to　say　about　Samurai's　condition。　
　Schofield　came　to　the　dining　room　door　and　stepped　inside。　
　He　immediately　saw　Rebound　and　Champion　standing　at　the　table　on　which　Samurai　lay。　
　Both　men　looked　up　quickly　as　Schofield　entered；　their　eyes　wide　as　saucers。　They　looked　like　thieves　caught　with　their　hands　in　the　till；　caught　in　the　middle　of　some　illegal　act。　
　There　was　a　short　silence。　
　And　then　Rebound　said；　〃Sir。　Samurai's　dead。〃　
　Schofield　frowned。　He　had　known　Samurai's　condition　was　critical　and　that　death　was　a　possibility；　but　the　way　Rebound　said　it　was…　
　Rebound　stepped　forward　and　spoke　seriously。　〃Sir；　he　was　dead　when　we　got　here。　And　the　doc　here　says　he　didn't　die　from　his　injuries。　He　says　。。。　he　says　it　looks　like　Samurai　was　suffocated。〃　
　
　
　
　Pete　Cameron　was　sitting　in　his　car　in　the　middle　of　the　SETI　parking　lot。　The　searing　desert　sun　beat　down　on　him。　Cameron　pulled　out　his　cellular　and　called　Alison　in　D。C。　
　〃How　was　it？〃　she　asked。　
　〃Riveting；〃　he　said；　flicking　through　his　notes　of　the　SETI　recording。　
　〃Anything　to　go　on？〃　
　〃Not　really。　Looks　like　they　got　a　few　words　off　a　spy　satellite；　but　it's　all　Greek　to　me。〃　
　〃Did　you　write　any　of　it　down　this　time？〃　
　Cameron　looked　at　his　notes。　
　〃Yes；　dear；〃　he　said。　〃But　I'm　not　so　sure　it's　worth　anything。〃　
　〃Tell　me　anyway；〃　Alison　said。　
　〃All　right；〃　Cameron　said；　looking　down　at　his　notes。　
　
　COPY　134625　
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　FORWARD　TEAM　
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　115；　20　MINS；　12　SECS　EAST　
　HOW　GET　THERE　SO…SECONDARY　TEAM　EN　
　ROUTE　
　
　Cameron　read　his　notes　aloud　for　her；　word　for　word；　substituting　English　for　his　own　shorthand　symbols。　
　〃That's　it？〃　Alison　said　when　he　was　finished。　〃That's　all？〃　
　〃That's　it。〃　
　〃Not　much　to　go　on。〃　
　〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　Cameron　said。　
　〃Leave　it　with　me；〃　Alison　said。　〃Where　are　you　off　to　now？〃　
　Cameron　plucked　a　small　white　card　off　his　dashboard。　It　was　almost　covered　over　by　Post…its。　It　was　a　business　card。　
　
　ANDREW　WILCOX　
　Gunsmith　
　14　Newbury　St；　Lake　Arthur；　NM　
　
　Cameron　said；　〃I　thought　that　since　I　was　down　here　in　the　Tumbleweed　State；　I'd　check　out　the　mysterious　Mr。　Wilcox。〃　
　〃The　mailbox　guy？〃　
　〃Yeah；　the　mailbox　guy。〃　
　Two　weeks　ago；　someone　had　left　this　business　card　in　Cameron's　mailbox。　Just　the　card。　Nothing　else。　No　message　came　with　it；　and　nothing　was　written　on　it。　At　first；　Cameron　almost　threw　it　in　the　trash　as　errant　junk　mail…really　errant　junk　mail　since　it　had　e　from　New　Mexico。　
　But　then　Cameron　had　received　a　phone　call。　
　It　was　a　male　voice。　Husky。　He　asked　if　Cameron　had　got　the　card。　
　Cameron　said　he　had。　
　Then　the　man　said　that　he　had　something　that　Cameron　might　like　to　look　into。　Sure；　Cameron　had　said；　would　the　man　like　to　e　to　Washington　to　talk　about　it？　
　No。　That　was　out　of　the　question。　Cameron　would　have　to　e　to　him。　The　guy　was　a　real　cloak…and…dagger　type；　super…paranoid。　He　said　he　was　ex…Navy；　or　something　like　that。　
　〃You　sure　he's　not　just　another　of　your　fans？〃　Al