mreilly.icestation-第28章

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laid　by　whoever　was　in　there　with　Trent's　Marines。　Apparently；　there　had　been　heavy　fighting　inside。　Trent　and　his　team　had　prevailed；　Schofield　was　pleased　to　hear。　
　The　SEAL　team　went　inside。　Time　passed　slowly。　
　And　then　suddenly　Schofield's　earpiece　had　exploded　to　life。　A　garbled　voice　cut　through　waves　of　static。　
　It　said；　〃This　is　Lieutenant　Andrew　Trent；　mander　of　United　States　Marine　Force　Reconnaissance　Unit　Four。　I　repeat；　this　is　Andrew　Trent　of　U。S。　Marine　Force　Reconnaissance　Unit　Four。　If　there　are　any　Marines　out　there；　please　respond。〃　
　Schofield　responded。　
　Trent　didn't　seem　to　hear　him。　He　could　transmit；　but　he　obviously　couldn't　receive。　
　Trent　said；　〃If　there　are　any　Marines　outside　this　temple；　raid　it　now！　I　repeat；　raid　it　now！　They　planted　men　in　my　unit！　They　planted　men　inside　my　goddamn　unit！　Marines；　those　SEALs　who　came　in　here　before；　they　said　that　they　were　here　to　help　me。　They　said　they　were　a　special　unit；　sent　by　Washington　to　assist　me　in　securing　this　site。　Then　they　pulled　their　guns　and　shot　one　of　my　corporals　right　in　the　fucking　head！　And　now　they're　trying　to　kill　me！　Fuck！　Some　of　my　own　men　are　helping　them；　for　God's　sake！　They　planted　fucking　men　in　my　unit！　They　planted　men　in　my　own　goddamned　unit！　I'm　being　attacked　by　my　own…〃　
　The　signal　cut　off　abruptly。　
　Schofield　had　quickly　looked　about　him。　No　one　else；　it　seemed；　had　heard　the　short；　sharp　message。　Trent　must　have　transmitted　it　over　the　〃Officer…Only〃　frequency；　which　meant　that　only　Schofield　had　heard　it。　
　Schofield　didn't　care。　He　immediately　ordered　his　unit　to　mobilize；　but　as　soon　as　they　were　ready　and　starting　to　head　for　the　temple；　they　were　cut　off　by　the　Army　Rangers。　The　Rangers　were　a　force　of　fifty　men。　Schofield's　was　only　twelve。　
　The　Ranger　Captain　spoke　firmly。　〃Lieutenant　Schofield；　my　orders　are　clear。　No　one　goes　in　there。　No　one。　If　anyone　tries　to　enter　that　building；　my　orders　are　to　shoot　them　on　sight。　If　you　try　to　enter　that　building；　Lieutenant；　I　will　be　forced　to　open　fire　on　you。〃　His　voice　went　cold。　〃Have　no　doubt　that　I　will；　Lieutenant。　I　won't　think　twice　about　offing　a　dozen　faggot　Marines。〃　
　Schofield　had　glared　at　the　Ranger　Captain。　
　He　was　a　tall　man；　about　forty；　a　career　frontline　soldier；　fit　but　barrel…chested；　with　a　full　head　of　crew…cut　gray　hair。　He　had　cold；　lifeless　eyes　and　a　weathered；　sneering　face。　Schofield　remembered　his　name…would　always　remember　it…remembered　the　bastard　stating　it　in　a　robotic；　staccato　manner　after　Schofield　had　demanded　it　from　him：　Captain　Arlin　F。　Brookes；　United　States　Army。　
　And　so　Schofield　and　his　team　were　held　back　at　the　perimeter　while　Andrew　Trent's　voice　continued　to　shout　desperately　over　Schofield's　helmet　inter。　
　The　more　Trent　shouted；　the　more　furious　and　frustrated　Schofield　became。　
　The　SEAL　team　that　had　gone　inside　had　killed　more　of　his　men；　Trent　said。　Some　of　his　own　men　had　then　joined　them　and　turned　on　him　and　killed　others　in　his　unit　from　point…blank　range。　Trent　didn't　know　what　was　going　on。　
　The　last　thing　Schofield　heard　over　his　helmet　inter　that　day　was　Trent　saying　that　he　was　the　last　one　left。　
　Andrew　Trent　never　came　out　of　the　temple。　
　About　a　year　later；　after　making　some　inquiries；　Schofield　was　told　that　Trent's　unit　had　arrived　at　that　temple　only　to　find　no　one　there。　There　was　no　battle；　Schofield　was　told；　no　fighting　with　anyone。　No　〃mysterious　discovery〃　in　the　first　place。　Upon　arriving　at　the　temple　and　finding　it　empty；　Trent　and　his　team　had　investigated　the　dark；　dank　ruins。　It　was　during　that　search　that　a　few　men…Trent　included…fell　down　a　concealed　plug　hole。　It　was　estimated　that　the　plug　hole　was　at　least　a　hundred　feet　deep；　with　sheer　rock　walls。　No　one　had　survived　the　fall。　A　search　had　apparently　been　made；　and　all　the　bodies　had　been　recovered。　
　Except　Trent's；　Schofield　had　been　told。　Andrew　Trent's　body　was　never　found。　
　It　made　Schofield　furious。　Officially；　nothing　had　ever　happened　at　that　temple。　Nothing　but　a　tragic　accident　that　had　claimed　the　lives　of　twelve　United　States　Marines。　
　Schofield　knew　he　was　the　only　one　who　had　heard　Trent's　voice　over　the　radio　system；　knew　no　one　would　believe　him　if　he　ever　questioned　what　had　happened。　If　he　said　anything；　it　would　probably　only　win　him　a　quiet　court…martial　and　an　even　quieter　dishonorable　discharge。　
　And　so　Schofield　had　never　mentioned　the　incident　to　anyone。　
　But　now；　in　the　cold　confines　of　an　underground　ice　station　in　the　Antarctic；　it　was　ing　back　to　haunt　him。　
　〃They　planted　men　in　my　unit！。。。　They　planted　fucking　men　in　my　unit！〃　
　Trent's　words　echoed　inside　Schofield's　head　as　he　thought　about　whether　Rebound　had　killed　Samurai。　
　Had　they　also　planted　men　inside　his　unit？　
　And　who　were　〃they〃　anyway？　The　U。S。　Government？　The　U。S。　military？　
　It　sounded　like　something　that　might　have　happened　in　the　old　Soviet　Union。　A　government　planting　〃special〃　men　inside　elite　units。　But　then；　as　Schofield　knew；　the　United　States　and　the　USSR　had　not　really　been　all　that　different。　The　U。S。　had　always　accused　the　Soviets　of　indoctrination　while　at　the　same　time　they　played　〃The　Star…Spangled　Banner〃　every　single　morning　in　schools　across　America。　
　The　thought　of　disloyal　men　inside　his　unit　made　Schofield's　skin　crawl。　
　He　continued　with　his　mental　checklist。　
　Hell；　even　Riley　and　Gant…engaged　in　the　preparation　of　the　scuba　gear　down　on　E…deck…had　occasionally　separated。　Every　so　often；　Riley　would　go　and　eheck　on　Mother。　
　Schofield　couldn't　believe　that　Book　Riley　was　a　traitor。　He　had　known　him　for　too　long。　
　But　Gant？　Schofield　thought　he　knew；　Libby　Gant；　thought　he　had　her　measure；　too。　He　had　chosen　Gant　himself　for　the　unit。　Could　that　have　been　anticipated　by　someone　else？　By　someone　who　had　wanted　her　in　Schofield's　unit。　No。。。。　
　The　only　other　Marine　alive　at　the　station　was　Mother。　And　the　mere　prospect　that　she　could　have　killed　Samurai　was　absurd。　
　Schofield's　head　was　spinning。　All　he　knew　for　sure　was　that　Samurai　Lau　was　dead　and　that　someone　among　them　had　killed　him。　The　problem　was；　they　all　could　have　done　it。　
　
　
　
　Montana；　Gant；　and　Santa　Cruz　were　ready　to　dive。　
　Strapped　to　their　backs　were　Navy…made　low…audibility　air　tanks；　or；　as　they　are　more　colloquially　known　in　the　Marine　Corps；　〃stealth　tanks。〃　
　Water　is　a　great　conductor　of　sound；　and　regular　scuba　tanks　make　a　lot　of　noise　as　they　pump　pressed　air　through　their　hoses　to　a　diver's　mouthpiece。　Any　mercial　underwater　microphone　will　detect　a　diver　by　the　loud　hisssssing　noise　that　his　breathing　gear　makes。　
　With　this　in　mind；　the　U。S。　Navy　has　spent　millions　of　dollars　developing　a　silent　self…contained　underwater　breathing　apparatus。　The　result　is　a　scuba　system　known　as　LABA…low…audibility　breathing　apparatus。　Scuba　tanks　that　are　all　but　noiseless　underwater。　LABA　tanks　are　undetectable　to　conventional　audio　detection　systems；　hence　the　parison　with　stealth　aircraft。　
　Schofield　watched　the　three　Marines　as　they　reached　for　their　face　masks　and　prepared　to　jump　into　the　murky　pool。　Then　he　turned　and　scanned　the　pool；　empty　save　for　the　diving　bell　that　hovered　out　in　the　center。　The　pod　of　killer　whales　had　left　the　area　about　forty　minutes　ago　and　hadn't　been　seen　since。　As　he　gazed　at　the　pool；　however；　he　felt　someone　tap　him　on　the　shoulder。　Schofield　turned。　
　And　saw　Sarah　Hensleigh　standing　in　front　of　him。　Dressed　in　a　figure…hugging　blue…and…black　thermal…electric　wet　suit。　Schofield　was　momentarily　taken　aback。　For　the　first　time　that　day；　he　noticed　just　how　shapely　Sarah　Hensleigh　was…the　woman　had　a　great　body。　
　Schoheld　raised　his　eyebrows。　
　〃This　is　what　I　wanted　to　ask　you　about　before；〃　Sarah　said。　〃When　we　were　outside。　But　I　never　got　a　chance。　I　want　to　go　down　with　them。〃　
　〃I　can　see　that；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃This　station　lost　nine　people　down　in　that　cave。　I'd　likd　to　know　why。〃　
　Schofield　looked　from　Hensleigh　to　the　three　Marine　divers　on　his　left。　He　frowned；　doubtful。　
　〃I　can　help；〃　Sarah　said　quickly。　〃With　the　cave；　for　example。〃　
　〃How？〃　
　〃Ben　Austin…one　of　the　divers　who　went　down　there　at　the　very　start…said　it　was　an　underground　cavern　of　some　sort；　right？〃　Sarah　said。　〃He　said　it　had　sheer　ice　walls　and　that　it　stretched　off　for　several　hundred　feet。〃　Sarah　stared　at　Schofield。　〃My　guess　is　that　if　the　walls　in　that　cave　are　sheer；　then　it's　a　good　bet　that　the　cave　was　formed　by　some　kind　of　seismic　event　in　the　past；　some　kind　of　earthquake　or　undersea　volcanic　eruption。　Sheer　walls　are　created　by　sudden　upthrusts　of　rock；　not　slow；　gradual　movement。〃　
　〃I'm　sure　my　men　will　be　safe　from　sudden　upthrusts　of　rock；　Dr。　Hensleigh。〃　
　〃All　right　then。　I　can　tell　you　what's　down　there；〃　Sarah　said。　
　That　got　Schofield's　attention。　He　turned　to　the　three　divers　standing　by　the　edge　of　the　pool。　〃Montana；　Gant；　Cruz。　Just　hold　on　a　minute；　will　you？〃　Schofield　turned　back　to　face　Sarah　Hensleigh；　his　eyes　serious。　〃All　right；　Dr。　Hensleigh；　tell　me　what's　down　there？〃　
　〃All　right；〃　Sarah　said　as　she　collected　her　thoughts。　She'd　obviously　thought　about　this　a　lot；　but　now　Schofield　had　put　her　on　the　spot。　
　〃Theory　One；〃　she　said。　〃It's　alien。　It's　a　spacecraft　from　another　planet；　from　another　civilization。　Now；　that's　not　really　my　field…it's　not　really　anyone's　field。　But　if　that　thing　is　alien　then　I'd　give　my　right　arm　to　see　it。〃　
　〃Mother　already　gave　her　left　leg。　What　else？〃　
　〃Theory　Two；〃　Sarah　said；　〃it's　not　alien。〃　
　〃It's　not　alien？〃　Schofield　raised　an　eyebrow。　That's　right；〃　Sarah　said。　〃It's　not　alien。　Now　this　theory；　this　theory　really　is　my　field。　This　is　pure　paleontology。　It's　not　a　new　theory　by　any　means；　but　until　now；　no　one's　been　able　to　find　any　evidence　to　prove　it。〃　
　〃Prove　what？〃　
　Sarah　took　a　deep　breath。　〃The　theory　goes　that　once；　a　long　time　ago；　there　was　civilized　life　on　Earth。〃　
　She　paused；　not　for　effect；　but　rather　to　wait　for　Schofield's　reaction。　
　At　first；　Schofield　didn't　say　anything；　he　just　thought　about　it　for　a　moment。　Then　he　looked　at　her　hard。　〃Go　on。〃　
　〃I'm　talking　about　a　long　time　ago；〃　Sarah　said；　gaining　momentum。　〃I'm　talking　before　the　dinosaurs。　I'm　talking　four　hundred　million　years　ago。　Now；　when　you　think　about　it。。。　when　you　think　about　it　in　terms　of　human　evolution；　it's　really　very　possible。　
　〃Human　life　as　we　know　it　has　been　on　Earth　for　less　than　a　million　years；　right？　Historically　speaking；　that's　not　a　long　time。　If　the　history　of　the　Earth　were　the　twenty…four　hours　in　a　day；　then　the　period　of　modern　human　presence　would　amount　to　about　three　seconds。　What　we　would　call　civilized　human　life…human　life　in　its　Homo　sapiens　form…has　been　here　for　an　even　shorter　period　of　time；　not　even　twenty　thousand　years。　That's　less　than　a　second　on　the　world's　time　clock。〃　
　Schofield　watched　Sarah　Hensleigh　closely　as　she　spoke。　She　was　excited；　speaking　quickly。　She　was　in　her　element。　
　〃What　paleontologists　usually　say；〃　she　said；　〃is　that　a　whole　matrix　of　factors　contributed　to　the　rise　of　the　mammals；　and　hence　the　rise　of　human　life　on　Earth。　The　right　distance　fro