mreilly.icestation-第35章

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　〃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　bodysuit；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃They　use　'em　on　the　shuttle；　for　space　walks　and　the　like。　It　could　be　a　hundred　below　in　here　and　I　wouldn't　notice　it。〃　
　Renshaw　flicked　on　one　of　the　monitors；　and　a　black…and…white　image　appeared　on　the　screen。　
　The　image　was　grainy；　but　after　a　few　seconds　Schofield　realized　what　he　was　looking　at。　
　It　was　a　view　of　the　pool　at　the　base　of　the　ice　station。　
　It　was　a　strange　view；　however…taken　from　an　overhead　camera　somewhere…one　that　looked　directly　down　on　a　section　of　the　pool　and　its　surrounding　deck。　
　〃This　is　a　live　feed；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃It　es　from　a　camera　mounted　on　the　underside　of　the　bridge　that　spans　C…deck。　It　looks　straight　down　on　the　pool。〃　
　Schofield　squinted　as　he　looked　at　the　black…and…white　image　on　the　screen。　
　Renshaw　said；　〃The　scientists　who　work　at　this　station　e　down　on　six…monthly　rotations；　so　we　just　inherit　each　other's　rooms。　The　guy　who　had　this　room　before　me　was　a　crazy　old　marine　biologist　from　New　Zealand。　Strange　guy。　He　just　loved　killer　whales；　couldn't　get　enough　of　them。　God；　he'd　watch　them　for　hours；　liked　to　watch　them　when　they　came　up　for　air　inside　the　station。　Gave　them　names　and　everything。　God；　what　was　his　name　。。。　Carmine　something。　
　〃Well；　anyway；　old　Carmine　attached　a　camera　to　the　underside　of　the　bridge…so　he　could　keep　an　eye　on　the　pool　from　his　room。　When　he'd　see　them　on　his　monitor；　he'd　hustle　on　down　to　E…deck　and　watch　them　up　close。　Hell；　sometimes　the　old　bastard　would　watch　'em　from　inside　the　diving　bell；　so　he　could　get　right　up　close。〃　
　Renshaw　looked　at　Schofield　and　laughed。　〃I　guess　you're　the　last　person　in　the　world　I　should　be　talking　to　about　having　a　close　look　at　killer　whales。〃　
　Schofield　turned；　remembering　the　terrifying　battle　with　the　killer　whales　earlier。　〃You　saw　all　that？〃　
　〃Did　I？〃　Renshaw　asked。　〃Are　you　kidding？　You　bet　I　saw　it。　Hell；　I　got　it　all　on　tape。　I　mean；　yikes；　did　you　see　those　big　bastards？　Did　you　see　the　way　they　hunted？　Did　you　see　the　plexity　of　their　hunting　behavior？　Like　the　way　they　would　always　make　a　pass　by　their　intended　victim　before　they　came　in　for　the　kill？〃　
　〃I　must　have　missed　that；〃　Schofield　said　flatly。　
　〃I　tell　you；　they　did　it。　Every　time。　Every　single　time。　I've　read　about　it　before。　You　know　what　I　think　it　is？　It's　the　whale　staking　his　claim。　It's　the　whale　telling　all　the　other　whales　that　this　person　is　his　kill。　Hey；　I　could　show　it　to　you　if　you…〃　
　〃You　said　there　was　something　else　I　should　see；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Something　about　the　man　who　shot　me。〃　
　〃Oh；　yeah；　right。　Right。　Sorry。〃　Schofield　just　stared　at　Renshaw　as　the　little　man　grabbed　a　videocassette　and　thrust　it　into　the　second　video　recorder。　He　was　a　strange　man。　Manic；　nervous；　and　yet　obviously　very　intelligent。　And　he　talked　a　lot。　It　seemed　that　when　he　spoke；　it　all　just　came　gushing　out。　Schofield　found　it　difficult　to　determine　exactly　how　old　he　was。　He　could　have　been　anything　from　twenty…nine　to　forty。　
　〃That's　it！〃　Renshaw　exclaimed　suddenly。　
　〃What？　What's　it？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Yaeger。　Carmine　Yaeger。　That　was　his　name。〃　
　〃Play　the　video；　would　you；〃　Schofield　said；　exasperated。　
　〃Oh；　yeah；　right。〃　Renshaw　hurriedly　hit　the　PLAY　button　on　the　VCR。　
　An　image　came　up　on　the　second　monitor。　It　was　almost　identical　to　the　one　that　was　on　the　first　monitor；　from　the　same　high…mounted　camera　looking　down　on　the　pool　and　its　surrounding　deck。　
　There　was　only　one　difference。　
　On　the　second　monitor's　screen；　someone　was　standing　on　the　deck。　
　Schofield　stared　at　the　screen　intently。　
　The　person　on　the　screen　was　a　man；　one　of　the　Marines。　He　was　alone。　
　Schofield　couldn't　tell　who　it　was　because　the　camera　was　positioned　directly　above　him。　All　he　could　see　was　the　top　of　the　man's　helmet　and　his　armored　shoulder　plates。　
　And　then　suddenly　the　man　looked　up；　slowly　scanning　the　shaft　of　the　station；　and　Schofield　saw　his　face。　
　He　frowned。　
　He　was　looking　at　his　own　face。　
　Schofield　turned　immediately　to　Renshaw。　〃When　did　you　record　this…〃　
　〃Just　keep　watching。〃　
　Schofield　turned　back　to　the　screen。　
　He　saw　himself　stop　next　to　the　pool　and　speak　into　his　helmet　mike。　There　was　no　sound；　he　could　just　see　his　own　mouth　moving。　He　stopped　talking　and　took　a　step　across　the　deck。　
　And　then　he　stopped。　
　He　had　stepped　on　something。　
　Schofield　saw　himself　bend　down　and　examine　some　broken　glass　on　the　deck。　He　seemed　to　look　about　him。　And　then　suddenly　his　head　cocked　to　the　side。　He　was　listening　to　something。　Listening　to　someone　speaking　over　his　helmet　inter。　
　The　Shane　Schofield　on　the　screen　then　stood　up　and　was　starting　to　turn　when　suddenly　his　whole　body　jolted　violently　and　a　small　spray　of　blood　exploded　out　from　his　neck。　He　stopped　instantly　and　swayed　slightly；　and　then　he　raised　his　hand　to　his　neck　and　held　it　out　in　front　of　his　face。　It　had　blood　all　over　it。　
　And　then　his　knees　buckled　and　he　fell　in　a　heap　to　the　deck。　He　just　lay　there　on　the　deck；　motionless。　
　Schofield　stared　at　his　own　image　on　the　screen。　
　He　had　just　seen　himself　get　shot。。。。　
　He　turned　to　Renshaw。　
　Renshaw　just　nodded　back　at　the　screen。　〃There's　more；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃A　lot　more。〃　
　Schofield　swung　back　to　face　the　screen。　
　He　saw　his　own　body　lying　on　the　pool　deck；　unmoving。　It　lay　there　for　a　while。　
　Nothing　happened。　
　And　then　suddenly　someone　stepped　into　the　frame。　
　Schofield　felt　his　adrenaline　rush　as　he　watched　the　screen。　He　was　about　to　see　the　person　who　had　shot　him。　
　The　first　thing　he　saw　was　the　helmet。　
　It　was　another　Marine。　
　A　man。　Schofield　could　tell　by　the　way　he　walked。　But　he　couldn't　see　his　face。　
　The　Marine　walked　slowly　over　to　Schofield's　unmoving　body。　He　was　in　no　hurry。　He　pulled　his　automatic　pistol　from　his　holster　as　he　approached　Schofield's　body；　pulled　back　the　slide；　cocking　the　gun。　
　Schofield　stared　at　the　screen　intently。　
　The　Marine；　his　face　still　obscured　by　his　helmet；　bent　down　over　Schofield's　body　and　placed　two　fingers　on　Schofield's　blood…covered　throat。　
　〃He's　checking　your　pulse；〃　Renshaw　whispered。　
　That　was　exactly　what　he　was　doing；　Schofield　saw。　The　Marine　on　the　screen　waited　several　seconds　with　his　fingers　on　Schofield's　neck。　
　Schofield　didn't　take　his　eyes　off　the　screen。　
　The　Marine　on　the　screen　stood　up；　satisfied　that　Schofield　had　no　pulse。　He　uncocked　his　pistol；　put　it　back　in　its　holster。　
　〃And。。。　look　at　that；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃There's　nothing　there。〃　Renshaw　turned　to　face　Schofield。　〃Lieutenant；　I　do　believe　your　heart　just　stopped　beating。〃　
　Schofield　didn't　even　look　at　Renshaw　as　he　spoke。　His　eyes　were　glued　to　the　screen。　
　〃Now　look　at　what　he　does　here；〃　Renshaw　said。　'This　is　his　fatal　mistake。。。。〃　
　Schofield　watched　as　on　the　screen　the　Marine…his　face　still　masked　by　his　helmet…shoved　Schofield's　dead　body　across　the　deck　with　his　foot。　
　He　was　shoving　the　body　toward　the　pool。　
　After　two　strong　kicks；　Schofield's　body　was　lying　on　the　edge　of　the　deck；　right　next　to　the　water。　The　Marine　then　pushed　Schofield's　body　one　last　time　with　his　foot　and　the　body　fell　limply　into　the　water。　
　〃He　doesn't　know　it；〃　Renshaw　said；　〃but　that　guy　just　kick…started　your　heart。〃　
　〃How？〃　
　〃The　way　I　figure　it；　that　water's　so　cold；　it　acted　like　a　defibrillator…you　know；　those　electric…shock　paddles　they　use　on　TV　to　restart　peoples'　hearts。　The　shock　your　body　received　when　it　hit　that　water…and　let　me　tell　you；　that　would　have　been　one　hell　of　a　shock　to　a　body　that　wasn't　prepared　for　it…was　enough　to　jolt　your　heart　back　into　action。〃　
　Schofield　watched　the　screen。　
　The　Marine　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　deck　for　a　while；　watching　the　circle　of　ripples　that　indicated　the　spot　where　Schofield's　body　had　entered　the　inky　water。　After　about　thirty　seconds；　the　Marine　turned　and　looked　around　him。　
　And　at　that　moment；　as　the　Marine　turned；　Schofield　saw　something　that　made　his　blood　run　cold。　
　Oh；　no。。。；　he　thought。　
　The　Marine　then　turned　on　his　heel　and　quickly　walked　out　of　the　frame。　
　Schofield　turned　to　Renshaw；　his　mouth　agape。　
　〃It's　not　over　yet；〃　Renshaw　said；　interrupting　him　before　he　spoke。　〃Keep　watching。〃　
　Schofield　turned　back　to　face　the　screen。　
　He　saw　the　image　of　the　deck　and　the　pool。　Otherwise　there　was　nothing。　
　Nothing　was　happening。　
　Nothing　at　all。　
　There　was　no　one　on　the　deck。　No　movement　in　the　water。　
　A　full　minute　passed。　
　And　then　Schofield　saw　it。　
　〃What　the　hell。。。〃　he　said。　
　At　that　moment；　the　water　in　the　pool　seemed　to　part　of　its　own　accord　and　suddenly；　in　a　wash　of　bubbles　and　froth；　Schofield's　body…limp　and　lifeless…emerged　from　the　water。　
　Schofield　watched；　stunned。　
　But　it　was　what　came　after　his　body　that　truly　laid　him　cold。　
　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　absolutely　huge；　at　least　as　big　as　a　killer　whale。　
　But　this　was　no　killer　whale。　
　It　lifted　Schofield's　lifeless　body　out　of　the　water　and　deposited　it　gently　onto　the　deck。　Water　washed　out　onto　the　deck　all　around　Schofield's　limp　body　as　the　animal　leaped　up　onto　the　deck　after　him。　The　whole　deck　shuddered　under　its　immense　weight。　
　It　was　huge。　It　dwarfed　Schofield's　body。　Schofield　watched　it；　entranced。　
　It　was　a　seal　of　some　sort。　
　An　enormous；　gigantic　seal。　
　It　had　a　huge　blubbery　body；　layer　upon　layer　of　undulating　fat；　and　it　propped　itself　up　on　two　massive　foreflippers。　The　impression　that　Schofield　got　of　the　animal's　strength　was　overwhelming…to　hold　up　that　enormous　body　required　phenomenal　musculature。　It　must　have　weighed　at　least　eight　tons。　
　The　strangest　feature　of　all；　however；　was　the　animal's　teeth。　This　enormous　seal　had　two　long　inverted　fangs…fangs　that　protruded　from　its　lower　jaw　and　rose　up　in　front　of　its　nose。　
　〃What　the　hell　is　that？〃　Schofield　said　softly。　
　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃The　nose；　the　eyes；　the　shape　of　the　head。　It　looks　like　an　elephant　seal。　But　I've　never　seen　one　so　big。　Or　with　teeth　like　that。　Elephant　seals　have　large　lower　canines；　but　I've　never　seen　one　with　lower　canines　that　big　before。〃　
　The　seal　on　the　screen　was　on　the　deck　now。　It　ducked　its　head　over　Schofield's　body。　It　seemed　to　be　sniffing　him。　It　slowly　made　its　way　up　his　inanimate　body；　until　finally　its　long　whiskers　brushed　against　his　nose。　Schofield　didn't　move　at　all。　
　And　then；　slowly；　very　slowly；　the　big　seal　began　to　open　its　mouth。　
　Right　in　front　of　Schofield's　face！　
　Its　jaws　parted…a　hideous；　obscene　yawn…revealing　the　animal's　enormous　lower　fangs。　The　massive　seal　leaned　forward　and　lowered　its　head。　Its　mouth　began　to　close　around　Schofield's　head。。。。　
　Schofield　stared　at　the　screen；　his　eyes　went　wide。　
　The　seal　was　about　to　bite　his　head　off。　
　It　was　going　to　eat　him！　
　And　then　suddenly　the　giant　seal　spun。　At　first；　Schofield　was　surprised　at　how　quickly　the　big　animal　moved。　The　deck　beneath　it　shook　as　it　turned　its　hulking　frame　around。