mreilly.icestation-第29章

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　〃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　from　the　sun；　the　right　temperature；　the　right　atmosphere；　the　right　oxygen　levels　in　the　atmosphere；　and；　of　course；　the　extinction　of　the　dinosaurs。　We　all　know　about　the　Alvarez　theory；　how　an　asteroid　slammed　into　the　Earth　and　killed　all　the　dinosaurs　and　how　the　mammals　rose　out　of　the　darkness　and　took　their　place　as　the　rulers　of　the　world。　What　if　I　was　to　tell　you　that　there　is　evidence　that　there　were　at　least　four　other　such　asteroid　impacts　on　this　planet　in　the　last　seven　hundred　million　years。〃　
　〃Asteroid　impacts；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Yes。　Sir　Edmund　Halley　once　suggested　that　the　entire　Caspian　Sea　was　created　by　an　asteroid　collision　hundreds　of　millions　of　years　ago。　Alexander　Bickerton；　the　famous　New　Zealand　physicist　who　taught　Rutherford；　hypothesized　that　the　seabed　of　the　entire　South　Atlantic　Ocean…between　South　Africa　and　South　America…was　one　great　big　bowl…shaped　crater；　caused　by　a　massive　asteroid　impact　over　three　hundred　million　years　ago。　
　〃Now；　if　we　assume…as　we　so　readily　do　in　the　case　of　the　dinosaurs…that　every　time　one　of　these　cataclysmic　asteroids　hit　the　Earth　a　civilization　died；　we　can　only　ask；　what　other　kinds　of　civilizations；　like　that　of　the　dinosaurs；　have　also　been　destroyed？　What　several　academics　have　suggested　in　recent　years…Joseph　Sorenson　from　Stanford　is　the　most　well　known…is　that　one　of　these　civilizations　may　have　been　human。〃　
　Schofield　looked　at　the　other　Marines　on　the　deck　around　him。　They　were　all　listening　to　Sarah　intensely；　rapt　in　her　story。　
　Sarah　went　on。　〃You　see；　on　average；　the　Earth　tilts　on　its　vertical　axis　half　a　degree　every　twenty…two　thousand　years。　What　Sorenson　postulated　was　that　about　four　hundred　million　years　ago　the　Earth　was　tilted　at　an　angle　not　unlike　the　angle　it's　tilted　on　today。　It　was　also　no　farther　from　the　sun　than　it　is　now；　so　it　had　similar　mean　temperatures。　Ice　core　samples；　like　the　ones　we　get　from　this　station；　have　shown　that　the　air　was　a　mix　of　oxygen；　nitrogen；　and　hydrogen；　in　quantities　very　similar　to　that　of　our　own　atmosphere　today。　Don't　you　see　it？　The　matrix　was　the　same　then　as　it　is　now。〃　
　Schofield　was　slowly　beginning　to　believe　what　Sarah　was　saying。　
　Sarah　said；　〃That　cavern　down　there　is　fifteen　hundred　feet　below　sea　level；　that's　two…and…a…half　thousand　feet　below　the　average　land　level　of　Antarctica。　The　ice　down　there　is　easily　four　hundred　million　years　old。　If　it's　upthrusted　ice　from　deeper　down…ice　that　was　raised　by　an　earthquake　or　something…then　it　could　be　a　lot；　lot　older。　
　〃I　think　that　whatever　is　down　there　is　something　that　was　frozen　a　long　time　ago。　A　long　time　ago。　It　could　be　alien；　it　could　be　human；　from　human　life　that　existed　on　this　planet　millions　of　years　ago。　Either　way；　Lieutenant；　it'll　be　the　greatest　paleontological　discovery　this　world　has　ever　known　and　I　want　to　see　it。〃　
　Sarah　stopped；　took　a　deep　breath。　
　Schofield　just　stood　there；　silent。　
　Sarah　spoke　softly。　〃Lieutenant；　this　is　my　life。　This　is　my　whole　life。　Whatever's　down　there　is　perhaps　the　greatest　discovery　in　the　history　of　mankind。　I've　been　studying　my　whole　life　for　this…〃　
　Schofield　looked　curiously　at　her；　and　she　cut　herself　off；　sensing　that　he　was　about　to　speak。　
　〃What　about　your　daughter？〃　he　said。　
　Sarah　cocked　her　head。　She　hadn't　expected　him　to　ask　that。　
　Schofield　said；　〃You're　willing　to　leave　her　up　here　alone？〃　
　〃She'll　be　safe；〃　Sarah　said　evenly。　Then　she　smiled。　〃She'll　be　up　here　with　you。〃　
　Schofield　hadn't　seen　Sarah　Hensleigh　smile　before。　It　illuminated　her　face；　lit　up　the　whole　room。　
　Sarah　said；　〃I'll　also　be　able　to　identify　our　divers　who　went　down　to　that　cave　before；　which　might　be…〃　
　Schofield　held　up　his　hand。　〃It's　all　right；　you　convinced　me。　You　can　go。　But　you　use　our　scuba　gear。　I　don't　know　what　happened　to　your　people　down　there　before；　but　I　have　a　sneaking　suspicion　that　whatever's　down　there　heard　the　noise　of　their　breathing　gear　and　I　don't　want　the　same　thing　to　happen　to　us。〃　
　〃Thank　you；　Lieutenant；〃　Sarah　said　seriously。　〃Thank　you。〃　Then　she　took　off　the　glistening　silver　locket　that　she　wore　around　her　neck　and　offered　it　to　Schofield。　〃I'd　better　not　dive　with　this　on。　Can　you　keep　it　for　me　until　I　get　back？〃　
　Schofield　took　the　locket；　put　it　in　his　pocket。　〃Sure。〃　
　Just　then；　there　came　a　sudden　groaning　sound　from　the　pool　to　his　left。　
　Schofield　spun；　just　in　time　to　see　an　enormous　black　shadow　rise　to　the　surface　of　the　pool　amid　a　cloud　of　frothing　white　bubbles。　
　At　first　he　thought　the　black　shadow　was　one　of　the　killer　whales；　returning　to　the　pool　in　search　of　more　food。　But　whatever　it　was；　it　wasn't　swimming。　It　was　just　floating；　rising　up　and　up　toward　the　surface。　
　And　then　the　enormous　black　object　breached　the　surface　with　a　loud　shooshing　sound。　Waves　and　bubbles　shot　out　from　every　side　of　it。　White　froth　expanded　all　around　it。　Narrow　rivulets　of　blood　snaked　their　way　through　the　froth。　The　massive　black　object　bobbed　on　the　surface。　Everyone　on　the　deck　took　a　step　forward。　
　Schofield　stared　at　the　black　object　in　awe。　
　It　was　a　killer　whale。　
　But　it　was　dead。　Well　and　truly　dead。　The　huge　black…and…white　carcass　just　floated　limply　in　the　water；　alongside　the　deck。　It　was　one　of　the　larger　ones；　too；　possibly　even　the　male　of　the　pack。　It　must　have　been　at　least　thirty　feet　long。　Seven　tons　in　weight。　
　At　first　Schofield　thought　it　must　have　been　the　killer　whale　that　Mother　had　shot　in　the　head　during　the　battle…　since　that　was　the　only　whale　that　he　knew　for　sure　was　dead。　He　quickly　changed　his　mind。　
　This　dead　whale　had　no　visible　wound　in　its　head。　The　one　Mother　had　shot　would　have　had　a　hole　the　size　of　a　basketball　in　its　skull。　This　one's　forehead　was　unmarked。　
　And　there　was　another　thing。　
　This　one　had　floated　to　the　surface。　
　An　animal　killed　in　water　will　initially　float；　until　its　body　fills　with　water。　Only　then　will　it　sink。　The　killer　whale　that　Mother　had　killed　would　have　long　since　sunk　to　the　bottom。　This　whale；　on　the　other　hand；　had　been　killed　recently。　
　The　dead　carcass　rolled　slowly　in　the　water。　Schofield　and　the　other　Marines　on　the　deck　just　stared　at　it；　entranced。　
　And　then；　slowly；　it　rolled　belly…up　and　Schofield　saw　the　great　whale's　white　underbelly　and　his　jaw　dropped。　
　Two　long　bloody　gashes　ran　down　the　length　of　the　big　whale's　underbelly。　
　They　ran　in　parallel。　Two　jagged　uneven　slashes　that　ran　all　the　way　up　the　center　of　the　whale's　body；　from　its　mid…section　to　its　throat。　Sections　of　the　big　whale's　intestines　had　fallen　out　through　the　gashes…long；　ugly　cream…colored　coils　that　were　as　thick　as　a　man's　arm。　
　They　weren't　clean　cuts　either；　Schofield　saw。　Each　gash　was　a　tear；　a　rip。　Something　had　punctured　the　whale's　belly　and　then　ripped　up　the　entire　length　of　its　body；　tearing　the　skin　apart。　
　Everyone　on　the　deck　stared　at　the　bloody　carcass；　the　understanding　visible　on　their　faces。　
　There　was　something　down　in　that　water。　
　Something　that　had　killed　a　killer　whale。　
　Schofield　took　a　deep　breath　and　turned　to　face　Sarah。　〃Want　to　reconsider？〃　he　said。　
　Sarah　stared　at　the　dead　killer　whale　for　a　few　seconds。　Then　she　looked　back　at　Schofield。　
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃No　way。〃　
　
　
　
　Schofield　paced　nervously　around　the　pool　deck；　alone。　
　He　watched　as　in　the　middle　of　the　pool　the　winch's　cable　plunged　into　the　water。　At　the　end　of　that　cable　was　the　diving　bell；　and　inside　the　diving　bell　were　three　of　his　Marines　plus　Sarah　Hensleigh。　The　cable　entered　the　water　at　a　steady　speed；　as　fast　as　it　could　go。　
　The　winch　had　been　lowering　the　diving　bell　into　the　water　for　almost　an　hour　now。　Three　thousand　feet　was　a　long　way；　almost　a　kilometer；　and　Schofield　knew　it　would　take　some　time　before　it　reached　that　depth。　
　Schofield　stood　on　the　deserted　deck。　Twenty　minutes　earlier；　he　had　sent　Book；　Snake；　and　Rebound　topside　to　try　to　raise　McMurdo　Station　on　the　portable　radio　again…he　had　to　know　when　a　full…strength　American　force　was　going　to　arrive　at　Wilkes。　
　Now　he　stood　alone　on　E…deck；　the　station　around　him　silent　save　for　the　rhythmic　mechanical　thumping　of　the　winch　mechanism　up　on　C…deck。　The　repetitive　thump…thump…thump　of　the　winch　had　an　almost　soothing　effect　on　him。　
　Schofield　pulled　Sarah　Hensleigh's　silver　locket　out　of　his　pocket。　It　glistened　in　the　white　fluorescent　light　of　the　station。　He　turned　it　over　in　his　hand。　There　was　some　writing　engraved　on　the　back　of　it…　
　And　then　suddenly　there　came　a　noise　and　Schofield's　head　snapped　round。　It　had　only　lasted　for　an　instant；　but　he　had　definitely　heard　it。　
　It　had　been　a　voice。　A　male　voice。　But　a　voice　that　had　been　speaking　in。。。　
　。。　。　French。　
　Schofield's　eyes　fell　instantly　upon　the　VLF　transmitter　that　sat　on　the　deck　a　few　feet　away　from　him。　
　Suddenly　the　transmitter　emitted　a　shrill　whistling　sound。　And　then　the　voice　came　again。　
　〃La　hyène；　c'est　moi；　le　requin；〃　the　voice　said。　〃La　hyène；　c'est　moi；　le　requin。　Présentez　votre　rapport。　Je　renouvele。　Présentez　votre　rapport。〃　
　Rebound；　Schofield　thought。　Shit。　I　need　Rebound。　But　he　was　outside　with　the　others　and　Schofield　needed　a　French　speaker　now。　
　〃Rebound；〃　Schofield　said　into　his　helmet　mike。　
　The　reply　came　back　immediately。　〃Yes；　sir？〃　Schofield　could　hear　the　swirling　wind　in　the　background。　
　〃Don't　say　a　word；　Rebound。　Just　listen；　OK；〃　Schofield　said；　pressing　a　button　on　his　belt　that　kept　his　helmet　microphone　switched　on。　He　leaned　in　close　to　the　VLF　transmitter　so　that　his　helmet　mike　was　near　the　transmitter's　speaker。　
　The　French　voice　came　again。　
　〃La　hyène。　Vous　avez　trois　heures　pour　présenter　votre　rapport。　Je　renouvele；　Vous　avez　trois　heures　pour　présenter　votre　rapport。　Si　vous　ne　le　presentez　pas　lorsque　I'heure　nous　serons　contraint　de　lancer　l'engine　d'efface。　Je　renouvele。　Si　vous　ne　le　présentez　pas　lorsque　I'heure　nous　serons　contraint　de　lancer　l'engine　d'efface。　C'est　moi；　le　requin。　Finis。〃　
　The　signal　cut　off　and　there　was　silence。　When　he　was　sure　that　it　was　finished；　Schofield　said；　〃Did　you　get　all　that；　Rebound？〃　
　〃Most　of　it；　sir。〃　
　〃What　did　they　say？〃　
　〃They　said：　Hyena。　You　have　three　hours　to　report。　If　you　do　not　report　by　that　time　we　will　be　pelled　to　launch　the　'l'engine　d'efface；'　the　erasing　device。〃　
　〃The　erasing　device；〃　Schofield　said　flatly。　〃Three　hours。　You　sure　about　that；　Rebound？〃　
　Schofield　grabbed　his　wristwatch　as　he　spoke。　It　was　an　old　Casio　digital。　He　started　the　stopwatch　on　it。　The　seconds　began　to　tick　upward。　
　〃Very　sure；　sir。　They　said　it　all　twice；〃　Rebound　said。　
　Schofield　said；　〃Good　work；　Private。　All　right。　Now　all　we　have　to　do　is　figure　out　where　these　guys　are…〃　
　〃Uh；　excuse　me；　sir？〃　It　was　Rebound　again。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　
　〃Sir；　I　think　I　have　an　idea　where　they　might　be。〃　
　〃Where？〃　
　〃Sir；　at　the　end　of　that　transmission　we　just　heard；　they　said　'c'est　moi；　le　requin'。　Now；　I　miss