mreilly.icestation-第34章

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ning　with　hate。　The　French　mando　raised　his　glistening　knife　so　that　it　was　right　in　front　of　Schofield's　eyes。　
　And　then　he　brought　the　knife　down　in　a　violent　slashing…　
　〃Hey；〃　someone　said　gently。　
　Schofield's　eyes　darted　open　and　he　awoke　from　his　dream。　
　He　was　lying　on　his　back。　In　a　bed　of　some　sort。　In　a　room　with　dazzling　white　fluorescent　lights。　The　walls　were　white；　too；　made　of　ice。　
　A　man　stood　over　him。　
　He　was　a　small　man；　about　five…foot…three。　Schofield　had　never　seen　him　before。　
　The　man　was　short　and　wiry；　and　he　had　two　enormous　blue　eyes　that　seemed　way　too　big　for　his　small　head。　Large　black　bags　hung　beneath　both　of　his　eyes。　He　had　messy　brown　hair　that　looked　like　it　hadn't　been　brushed　in　months　and　two　huge　front　teeth　that　were　horribly　askew。　He　wore　a　Kmart　wash…and…wear　shirt　and　a　pair　of　blue　polyester　trousers；　in　fact；　he　looked　decidedly　underdressed　for　the　near…freezing　conditions　inside　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　And　he　was　holding　something。　
　A　long…bladed　scalpel。　
　Schofield　stared　at　it。　
　The　scalpel　had　blood　on　it。　
　The　man　spoke　in　a　flat　nasal　voice。　〃Hey。　You're　awake。〃　
　Schofield　squinted　in　the　light；　tried　to　lift　himself　up　off　the　bed。　He　couldn't　do　it。　Something　stopped　him。　He　saw　what　it　was。　
　Two　leather　straps　bound　his　arms　to　the　sides　of　the　bed。　Two　more　straps　bound　his　legs。　When　he　tried　to　raise　his　head　to　further　examine　his　situation；　he　found　that　he　couldn't　even　do　that。　It；　too；　was　strapped　tightly　down　against　the　bed。　
　Schofield's　blood　went　instantly　cold。　
　He　was　pletely　tied　down。　
　〃Just　hold　on　a　minute；〃　the　short　man　said　in　his　irritating　nasal　voice。　〃This　will　only　take　one　。。。　more　。。。　second。〃　
　He　raised　his　bloody　scalpel　and　ducked　out　of　Schofield's　field　of　vision。　
　〃Wait！〃　Schofield　said　quickly。　
　The　short　man　returned　instantly　to　Schofield's　view。　He　raised　his　eyebrows　questioningly。　〃Yes？〃　
　〃Where　。。。　where　am　I？〃　Schofield　said。　It　hurt　to　speak。　His　throat　was　parched；　dry。　
　The　man　smiled；　revealing　his　crooked　front　teeth。　〃It's　OK；　Lieutenant；〃　he　said。　〃You're　still　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station。〃　
　Schofield　swallowed。　〃Who　are　you？〃　
　〃Why；　Lieutenant　Schofield；〃　the　man　said；　〃I'm　James　Renshaw。〃　
　
　
　
　〃Wele　back　from　the　grave；　Lieutenant；〃　Renshaw　said　as　he　unbound　the　leather　strap　around　Schofield's　head。　He　had　just　finished　removing　the　last　three　bullet　fragments　from　Schofield's　neck　with　his　scalpel。　
　Renshaw　said；　〃You　know；　you　were　very　lucky　you　were　wearing　this　Kevlar　plate　inside　your　collar。　It　didn't　stop　the　bullet　entirely；　but　it　took　most　of　the　speed　off　it。〃　
　Renshaw　held　up　the　circular　Kevlar　insert　that　had　previously　been　fitted　inside　Schofield's　gray　turtleneck　collar。　Schofield　had　forgotten　all　about　his　neck　protector。　To　him；　it　was　just　another　part　of　his　uniform。　Kevlar　neck　protectors　were　issued　exclusively　to　Marine　officers；　as　an　extra　defense　against　snipers。　Enlisted　men　received　no　such　protection；　since　enemy　snipers　rarely　cared　for　corporals　and　sergeants。　
　With　the　leather　strap　around　his　forehead　now　removed；　Schofield　raised　his　head　and　looked　at　the　Kevlar　insert　that　Renshaw　held　in　his　hand。　
　It　looked　like　a　priest's　white　collar…curved　and　flat；　designed　to　encircle　its　wearer's　neck　while　remaining　hidden　inside　his　turtleneck　collar。　On　one　side　of　the　circular　Kevlar　insert；　Schofield　could　see　a　jagged；　gaping　hole。　
　The　bullet　hole。　
　〃That　bullet　would　have　killed　you　for　sure　if　it　weren't　for　your　insert；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Would've　cut　right　through　your　carotid。　After　that　there　would　have　been　nothing　anyone　could　have　done　for　you。　As　it　happened；　the　bullet　shattered　as　it　passed　through　your　Kevlar　insert；　so　only　a　few　small　fragments　of　it　lodged　in　your　neck。　Still；　that　would　have　been　enough　to　kill　you；　and　as　a　matter　of　fact；　I　actually　think　it　did；　at　least　for　a　short　time。〃　
　Schofield　had　stopped　listening。　He　was　taking　in　the　room　around　him。　It　looked　like　someone's　living　quarters。　He　saw　a　bed；　a　desk；　a　puter；　and；　strangely；　a　pair　of　black…and…white　TV　monitors　mounted　on　top　of　two　video　recorders。　
　He　turned　to　face　Renshaw。　〃Huh？〃　
　〃Several　fragments　of　the　bullet　lodged　in　your　neck；　Lieutenant。　I'm　pretty　sure…in　fact；　I'm　absolutely　certain…that　for　at　least　thirty　seconds；　you　lost　your　pulse。　You　were　clinically　dead。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Schofield　said。　He　instinctively　tried　to　raise　his　hand　to　feel　his　neck。　But　he　couldn't　move　his　arm。　His　arms　and　legs　were　still　firmly　tied　down　to　the　bed。　
　〃Oh；　don't　worry；　I　fixed　it　up；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃I　took　the　bullet　fragments　out　and　I　cleaned　the　wound。　You　actually　got　a　couple　of　Kevlar　fragments　in　there；　too；　but　they　weren't　a　problem。　In　fact；　I　was　just　trying　to　get　them　out　when　you　woke　up。〃　Renshaw　indicated　the　bloody　scalpel　on　a　silver　tray　next　to　Schofield's　bed。　Beside　the　scalpel　lay　seven　tiny　metal　fragments；　all　of　them　covered　in　blood。　
　〃Oh；　and　don't　worry　about　my　qualifications；〃　Renshaw　said　with　a　smile。　〃I　did　two　years　of　medicine　before　I　dropped　out　and　took　up　geophysics。〃　
　〃Are　you　going　to　untie　me？〃　Schofield　said　evenly。　
　〃Oh；　yeah。　Right。　Listen。　I'm　terribly　sorry　about　that；〃　Renshaw　said。　He　seemed　nervous　now。　〃At　first　I　just　had　to　keep　your　head　still　while　I　extracted　the　bullet　fragments　from　your　neck。　Did　you　know　that　you　move　around　a　lot　in　your　sleep？　Probably　not。　Well；　you　do。　But　anyway；　to　cut　to　the　chase；　I　figured　what　with　all　I　have　to　tell　you　and　all；　it　would　be　better　if　you　were；　well；　a　captive　audience。　So　to　speak。〃　Renshaw　smiled　weakly　at　the　pun　he'd　just　made。　
　Schofield　stared　at　him；　unsure　of　what　to　make　of　this　man　named　James　Renshaw。　After　all；　this　was　the　man　who　only　a　week　before　had　killed　one　of　his　fellow　scientists。　If　nothing　else；　Schofield　was　certain　of　one　thing。　He　did　not　want　to　remain　tied　up　at　this　man's　mercy。　
　〃What　do　you　have　to　tell　me？〃　he　said。　His　eyes　swept　the　room　as　he　spoke。　The　door　on　the　far　side　of　the　room　was　firmly　shut。　All　of　the　other　walls　in　the　room　were　ice。　
　〃Lieutenant；　what　I　have　to　tell　you　is　this：　I　am　not　a　murderer。　I　did　not　kill　Bernie　Olson。〃　
　Schofield　didn't　say　anything。　
　He　tried　to　remember　what　Sarah　Hensleigh　had　told　him　earlier…way　back　when　he　had　arrived　at　Wilkes…about　the　death　of　the　scientist　Bernard　Olson。　
　Sarah　had　said　that　on　the　night　Olson　was　killed；　Renshaw　had　been　heard　arguing　loudly　with　him。　It　was　after　that　argument　that　Renshaw　had　stabbed　Olson　in　the　throat　with　a　hypodermic　syringe　filled　with　liquid　drain　cleaner。　Then　he　had　injected　the　contents　of　the　syringe　into　Olson's　bloodstream。　The　other　residents　of　Wilkes　had　found　Olson　dead　soon　after；　with　the　syringe　hanging　loosely　from　his　neck。　
　〃Do　you　believe　me？〃　Renshaw　said　in　a　low　voice；　eyeing　Schofield　suspiciously。　
　Schofield　still　said　nothing。　
　〃Lieutenant；　you　have　to　believe　me。　I　can　only　imagine　what　you've　been　told；　and　I　know　it　must　look　bad；　but　you　have　to　listen　to　me。　I　didn't　do　it。　I　swear；　I　didn't　do　it。　I　could　never　do　something　like　that。〃　
　Renshaw　took　a　deep　breath；　spoke　slowly。　
　〃Lieutenant；　this　station　is　not　what　it　appears　to　be。　Things　have　been　happening　here…strange　things…long　before　you　and　your　men　got　here。　You　can't　trust　anyone　at　this　station；　Lieutenant。〃　
　〃But　you　expect　me　to　trust　you？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Yes。　Yes；　I　do；〃　Renshaw　said　pensively。　〃And　that　obviously　creates　a　problem；　doesn't　it？　After　all；　as　far　as　you're　concerned；　four　days　ago　I　killed　a　man　with　a　hypodermic　needle　filled　with　industrial…strength　Drano。　Right？　Hmmm。〃　Renshaw　took　a　step　forward；　toward　Schofield。　〃But　I　intend　to　rectify　this　situation；　Lieutenant　Schofield。　Conclusively。　Which　is　why　。。。　I'm　going　to　do　this。〃　
　Renshaw　stood　right　next　to　the　bed；　towering　over　Schofield；　his　eyes　hard。　
　Schofield　tensed。　He　was　totally　defenseless。　He　had　no　idea　what　Renshaw　was　about　to…　
　Snap！　The　leather　strap　around　Schofield's　left　arm　suddenly　went　limp　and　fell　to　the　floor。　A　second　later；　the　strap　around　his　right　arm　did　the　same。　
　His　arms　were　free　again。　Renshaw　had　released　the　leather　straps　that　had　bound　them　to　the　bed。　
　Schofield　sat　up　as　Renshaw　moved　farther　down　the　bed　and　undipped　the　clasps　that　fastened　the　straps　around　his　legs。　
　For　a　long　moment；　Schofield　just　stared　at　him。　Finally；　he　said；　〃Thank　you。〃　
　〃Don't　thank　me；　Lieutenant；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Believe　me。　And　promise　me　this：　promise　me　that　when　this　is　all　over；　you'll　check　out　Bernie　Olson's　body。　Look　at　his　tongue　and　his　eyes。　They　will　explain　everything。　You're　my　only　hope；　Lieutenant。　You're　the　only　person　who　can　prove　my　innocence。〃　
　
　Now　that　he　was　free　to　move　again；　Schofield　sat　up　on　the　bed。　He　touched　his　neck。　It　throbbed　with　pain。　He　looked　at　his　throat　in　a　nearby　mirror。　Renshaw　had　sutured　the　wound　well。　Nice；　close　stitches。　
　Renshaw　offered　him　a　rectangular　length　of　adhesive　gauze。　〃Here。　Put　this　on　over　the　stitches。　It'll　act　like　a　Band…Aid；　keep　the　wound　tightly　closed。〃　
　Schofield　took　the　adhesive　gauze　and　fastened　it　firmly　over　the　wound　on　his　neck。　He　looked　down　at　the　rest　of　his　body。　Renshaw　had　removed　most　of　his　body　armor…　he　was　dressed　only　in　his　full…body　camouflage　fatigues；　with　his　gray　turtleneck　shirt　underneath。　He　was　still　wearing　his　boots　and　his　battered　ankle/knee　guards。　His　weapons…　his　pistol；　his　knife；　his　MP…5　and　his　Maghook…and　his　silver　antiflash　glasses　all　sat　on　a　table　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　
　Schofield　saw　the　room's　closed　door　again；　and　something　twigged　in　his　memory。　He　remembered　being　told　that　the　door　to　Renshaw's　room　had　been　sealed　shut；　riveted　to　its　frame　by　Renshaw's　fellow　scientists。　But　he　also　remembered　something　else；　something　that　someone　had　said　only　moments　before　he　had　been　shot　Something　about　Renshaw's　door　being　broken　down。。。。　
　Suddenly　Schofield　asked；　〃How　did　I　get　here？〃　
　〃Oh；　easy。　I　just　stuffed　your　body　inside　the　dumbwaiter　and　sent　it　up　to　this　level；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃No；　I　mean；　I　thought　you　were　locked　in　this　room？　How　did　you　get　out？〃　
　Renshaw　offered　him　a　sly　smile。　〃Just　call　me　Harry　Houdini。〃　
　Renshaw　crossed　to　the　other　side　of　the　room　and　stood　in　front　of　the　two　television　monitors。　〃Don't　worry；　Lieutenant。　I'll　show　you　how　I　got　out　of　here　in　a　minute。　But　first；　I've　got　something　here　that　I　think　you'll　want　to　see。〃　
　〃What？〃　
　Renshaw　smiled　again。　The　same　sly　smile　as　before。　
　〃How　would　you　like　to　see　the　man　who　shot　you？〃　he　said。　
　
　
　
　Schofield　stared　at　Renshaw　for　a　long　moment。　
　Then；　slowly；　he　swung　his　legs　off　the　bed。　His　neck　stung；　and　he　had　a　monster　of　a　headache　from　the　concussion。　He　walked　gingerly　across　the　room　and　stood　next　to　Renshaw　in　front　of　the　two　television　monitors。　
　〃Aren't　you　cold？〃　he　asked；　looking　at　Renshaw's　rather　casual　attire。　
　Renshaw　pulled　open　his　shirt；　Superman…style；　revealing　a　blue　wet　suit…like　undergarment。　〃Neoprene　bo