mreilly.icestation-第36章

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ing　frame　around。　
　It　had　seen　something　offscreen。　
　The　seal　began　to　bark。　
　There　was　no　sound　on　the　monitor；　but　Schofield　could　see　it　barking。　It　bared　its　teeth。　Barked　and　barked。　It　shuffled　around；　agitated；　adopted　an　aggressive　stance。　The　muscles　on　its　huge　foreflippers　bulged　as　it　moved。　
　And　then　suddenly　the　big　seal　turned　and　dived　back　into　the　pool。　The　huge　splash　it　created　sent　waves　sloshing　up　over　the　deck；　all　over　Schofield's　unmoving　body。　
　〃Wait　for　it；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Here's　my　big　entrance。〃　
　At　that　moment；　Schofield　saw　another　man　step　into　the　frame。　This　man　was　not　wearing　a　Marine　helmet；　and　his　face　was　clearly　visible。　It　was　Renshaw。　
　On　the　screen；　Renshaw　hurried　forward　and　grabbed　Schofield's　body　by　the　armpits　and　dragged　him　quickly　out　of　the　camera's　field　of　vision…　
　Renshaw　hit　the　STOP　button　on　the　video　recorder。　
　〃And　that's　all　there　is；〃　he　said。　
　At　first；　Schofield　didn't　say　anything。　It　was　all　just　too　overwhelming。　
　First；　the　Marine　shooting　him　and　checking　his　pulse…　to　make　sure　that　he　was　dead…and　then　kicking　him　into　the　pool　so　that　there　would　be　no　trace。　
　And　then　the　elephant　seal。　
　The　massive　creature　that　had　lifted　Schofield's　body　out　of　the　water　and　placed　it　gently　on　the　poolside　deck　and　had　then　disappeared　back　into　the　murky　water。　
　Renshaw　said；　〃Now　do　you　understand　what　I　was　saying　about　you　being　clinically　dead？　That　guy　we　just　saw；　I　think　he　was　pretty　sure　that　you　were　dead。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃He　was　ready　to　put　a　bullet　in　my　head　if　he　wasn't　sure。〃　
　He　shook　his　head　at　the　thought　of　what　he　had　just　seen。　Death；　it　seemed；　had　just　saved　him　from　death。　〃Holy　shit。。。；〃　he　breathed。　
　He　stared　blankly　into　space　for　a　few　moments；　taking　it　all　in。　Then　he　blinked　quickly；　returning　to　the　present。　
　〃Can　you　rewind　that　tape；　please；〃　he　said　to　Renshaw。　He　had　just　remembered　something　about　the　image　of　the　Marine　who　had　shot　him；　something　that　the　sight　of　the　elephant　seal　had　temporarily　pushed　from　his　mind。　
　Renshaw　rewound　the　tape；　pressed　PLAY。　
　Schofield　saw　himself　walk　out　onto　the　deck。　
　〃Fast…forward　through　this；〃　he　said。　
　Renshaw　fast…forwarded　through　the　tape。　Schofield　watched　as　he　walked　around　the　deck　in　fast　motion　and　then　suddenly　fell　to　the　ground；　shot。　
　The　Marine　arrived。　Checked　Schofield's　pulse。　He　then　stood　up　and　starting　rolling　the　body　toward　the　pool　with　his　foot。　
　〃OK；　slow　down　here；〃　Schofield　said。　
　The　image　returned　to　normal　speed　just　as　the　Marine　shoved　Schofield's　body　a　final　time　and　the　body　dropped　into　the　water。　
　〃OK；　get　ready　to　stop　it；〃　Schofield　said；　watching　the　screen　intently。　
　On　the　screen；　the　Marine　was　standing　at　the　water's　edge；　looking　down　into　the　pool　at　the　spot　where　Scho…field's　body　had　entered　the　water。　
　Then　the　Marine　turned　and　looked　about　himself。　
　〃There！〃　Schofield　said。　〃Stop　it　there！〃　
　Renshaw　quickly　hit　the　PAUSE　button　on　the　VCR；　and　the　image　on　the　screen　froze。　
　The　screen　showed　the　top　portion　of　the　Marine's　helmet。　The　man's　shoulders　had　also　rotated　upward　slightly　as　he　had　turned　to　look　about　himself。　
　〃I　don't　get　it；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃You　still　can't　see　his　face。〃　
　〃I'm　not　looking　at　his　face；〃　Schofield　said。　
　And　he　wasn't。　
　He　was　looking　at　the　man's　shoulders。　At　the　man's　right　shoulder　plate。　
　The　image　on　the　screen　was　grainy；　but　Schofield　could　see　the　shoulder　plate　clearly。　
　A　picture　had　been　painted　onto　it。　
　Schofield　felt　a　sliver　of　ice　run　down　his　spine　as　he　stared　at　the　picture　that　had　been　tattooed　onto　the　man's　shoulder　plate。　
　It　was　a　picture　of　a　cobra；　with　its　jaws　bared　wide。　
　
　
　
　In　the　dark　storeroom　down　on　E…deck；　Mother　rested　her　head　gently　against　the　cold；　icy　wall。　
　She　shut　her　eyes。　It　had　been　about　a　half　hour　since　anyone　had　e　to　check　on　her；　and　she　expected　Buck　Riley　to　e　by　soon。　Her　leg　was　starting　to　ache；　and　she　was　itching　for　another　hit　of　methadone。　
　She　took　a　deep　breath；　tried　to　shut　out　the　pain。　
　After　a　moment；　however；　she　had　a　strange　sensation　thai　someone　else　was　in　the　room　with　her。。。。　
　Slowly；　Mother　opened　her　eyes。　
　Someone　was　standing　in　the　doorway。　
　A　man。　A　Marine。　
　He　just　stood　there；　like　a　statue；　silhouetted　in　the　doorway。　His　face　was　cloaked　in　shadow。　He　didn't　say　a　word。　
　〃Book？〃　Mother　said；　sitting　upright。　She　squinted；　took　a　closer　look；　tried　to　see　who　it　was。　
　She　stopped；　startled。　
　It　wasn't　Book。　
　Book　was　shorter　than　whoever　this　was；　more　rounded。　This　Marine　was　tall　and　lean。　
　The　Marine　still　didn't　speak。　He　just　stood　there；　staring　at　Mother；　his　features　covered　in　darkness。　Mother　realized　who　it　was。　
　〃Snake；〃　she　said。　〃What's　the　matter？　Don't　you　talk　anymore？　Cat　got　your　tongue？〃　
　Snake　didn't　move　from　the　doorway。　He　just　kept　staring　at　Mother。　
　When　he　spoke；　Mother　didn't　see　his　mouth　move。　Hisface　was　low；　rough。　〃I'm　here　instead　of　Book；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　here　to　take　care　of　you；　Mother。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Mother　said；　sitting　up　straighter；　preparing　herself　for　another　shot　of　methadone。　〃I　could　use　another　shot　of　that　kickapoo　joy　juice。〃　
　Snake　still　didn't　move　from　the　doorway。　
　Mother　frowned。　〃Well？〃　she　said。　〃What　are　you　waiting　for…a　gilt…edged　invitation？〃　
　〃No；〃　Snake　said；　his　voice　cold。　
　He　stepped　forward　into　the　storeroom　and　Mother's　eyes　widened　in　horror　as　she　saw　the　light　from　the　corridor　outside　glint　off　the　knife　in　his　hand。　
　
　Mother　pushed　herself　back　against　the　icy　wall　of　the　storeroom　as　Snake　stepped　through　the　doorway；　brandishing　his　long　Bowie　knife。　〃Snake；　what　the　fuck　are　you　doing？〃　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Mother；〃　he　said　coldly。　〃You're　a　good　solder。　But　you're　too　close　to　this。〃　
　〃What　the　hell　is　that　supposed　to　mean？〃　
　Snake　stepped　slowly　closer。　
　Mother's　eyes　were　glued　to　the　glistening　knife　in　his　hand。　
　〃National　security；〃　Snake　said。　
　〃National　security？〃　Mother　scoffed。　〃What　the　fuck　are　you；　Snake？〃　
　Snake　smiled　a　thin；　evil　smile。　〃e　on；　Mother；　you've　been　around。　You've　heard　the　stories。　What　do　you　think　I　am？〃　
　〃A　fucking　wacko；　that's　what　I　think；〃　Mother　said　as　her　eyes　fell　upon　her　helmet；　lying　on　the　floor　of　the　storeroom　halfway　between　her　and　Snake。　It　was　lying　upside　down；　with　the　microphone　pointed　up　in　the　air。　
　Slowly；　Mother　began　to　slide　her　left　hand　down　toward　her　belt。　
　〃I　do　what's　necessary　to　be　done；〃　Snake　said。　
　〃Necessary　for　what？〃　Mother　said　as　she　flicked　a　button　on　her　belt。　The　button　that　switched　on　her　helmet　mike。　
　
　In　Renshaw's　room　on　B…deck；　Schofield　now　had　his　body　armor　back　on。　
　He　reached　for　his　various　weapons。　His　pistol　went　into　its　holster；　his　knife　went　back　into　its　sheath　on　his　ankle　guard。　He　slung　his　MP…5　over　his　shoulder　and　bolstered　his　Maghook　behind　his　back。　Last；　Schofield　reached　for　his　helmet　and　slid　it　over　his　head。　
　He　heard　voices　immediately。　
　〃…the　national　interest。〃　
　〃Snake；　put　that　fucking…〃　
　And　then　suddenly　static　cut　across　the　signal　and　there　was　nothing。　
　But　Schofield　had　heard　enough。　
　Mother。　
　Snake　was　down　with　Mother。　
　〃Jesus；〃　he　said。　
　He　spun　to　face　Renshaw。　〃OK；　Harry　Houdini；　you've　got　exactly　five　seconds　to　show　me　how　you　got　out　of　this　room。〃　
　Renshaw　immediately　ran　toward　the　door。　〃Why？　What's　going　on？〃　he　said。　
　Schofield　hurried　alongside　him。　〃Somebody's　about　to　get　killed。〃　
　
　Down　in　the　storeroom；　Snake　lifted　his　foot　off　what　was　left　of　Mother's　helmet。　
　The　small　microphone　at　the　jawline　of　her　helmet　lay　crumpled　and　bent；　broken　beyond　repair。　
　〃e　on；　Mother；〃　Snake　said　in　an　admonishing　tone。　〃I　expected　more　from　you。　Or　did　you　just　forget　that　I　receive　your　transmissions；　too？〃　
　Mother　scowled　at　him。　〃Did　you　kill　Samurai？〃　
　〃Yes。〃　
　〃You　fuck。〃　
　Snake　was　almost　on　top　of　her　now。　Mother　shifted　against　the　wall。　
　〃Time　to　die；　Mother；〃　Snake　said。　
　Mother　snorted　at　him。　〃Snake。　I've　just　got　to　know。　What　sort　of　sick；　twisted；　two…faced　son　of　a　bitch　are　you？〃　
　Snake　smiled。　〃The　only　kind；　Mother。　I'm　ICG。〃　
　
　Schofield　watched　tensely　as　Renshaw　stepped　up　to　the　thick　wooden　door　of　his　room。　
　Up　until　that　time；　Schofield　hadn't　noticed　that　the　door　was　made　up　of　about　ten　vertical　wooden　planks。　Renshaw　immediately　placed　his　fingers　up　against　one　of　these　vertical　planks。　
　〃The　horizontal　beams　are　on　the　outside；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Which　meant　that　no　one　outside　this　room　saw　the　cuts　I　made　on　the　inside　of　these　vertical　planks。〃　
　Schofield's　eyes　widened　when　he　saw　them。　
　Two　thin　horizontal　lines　stretched　across　the　width　of　the　heavy　wooden　door…like　two　scars　in　the　wood…cutting　across　the　wide　vertical　planks。　The　two　horizontal　lines　ran　in　parallel；　approximately　three　feet　away　from　each　other…at　precisely　those　points　where　the　horizontal　beams　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　would　have　been。　
　Schofield　marveled　at　Renshaw's　ingenuity。　
　Anyone　standing　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　would　never　have　known　that　Renshaw　had　managed　to　saw　right　through　the　vertical　wooden　planks。　
　〃I　used　a　steak　knife　to　saw　through　the　planks；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Three；　actually。　The　wood　wears　them　down　pretty　fast。〃　He　reached　off　to　his　right　and　grabbed　a　worn…down　steak　knife　and　Renshaw　inserted　the　blade　of　the　knife　into　the　narrow　gap　between　two　of　the　vertical　planks。　Then　he　worked　the　knife　like　a　crowbar　until　suddenly　one　of　the　planks　popped　clear　of　the　rest　of　the　door。　
　Renshaw　pulled　the　plank　clear　of　the　door；　and　a　long　rectangular　hole　appeared　in　the　door　where　the　plank　had　been。　Through　that　rectangular　hole　Schofield　could　see　the　curved　outer　tunnel　of　B…deck　stretching　away　from　him。　
　Renshaw　worked　quickly。　He　grabbed　the　next　plank　with　his　bare　hands　and　hurriedly　pulled　it　away。　
　The　hole　on　the　door　got　wider。　
　Schofield　started　removing　the　vertical　planks　with　him；　and　soon　the　hole　was　wide　enough　for　a　man　to　fit　through。　
　〃Stand　back；〃　Schofield　said。　
　Renshaw　took　a　step　back　as　Schofield　dived；　headfirst；　through　the　hole　in　the　door。　He　rolled　to　his　feet　on　the　other　side　and　immediately　ran　off　down　the　tunnel。　
　〃Wait！〃　Renshaw　yelled。　〃Where　are　you　going！〃　
　〃E…deck！〃　Schofield's　voice　echoed　back。　
　And　then　suddenly　Schofield　was　gone　and　Renshaw　was　alone　in　his　room；　staring　at　the　empty　square　hole　he　had　made　in　the　door。　
　He　peered　out　through　it　after　Schofield。　
　〃I　never　dived　through　it　like　that；〃　he　said。　
　
　Schofield　ran。　
　The　walls　of　the　curved　outer　tunnel　streaked　past　him。　He　was　breathing　hard。　His　heart　pounded　loudly　inside　his　head。　He　turned　left；　headed　toward　the　central　shaft。　
　A　thousand　thoughts　ran　through　his　mind　as　he　raced　through　the　tunnels　of　B…deck。　
　He　thought　of　the　tattoo　on　the　shoulder　plate　of　the　man　who　had　shot　him。　A　cobra。　A　snake。　
　Snake。　
　The　mere　concept　was　too　bizarre　for　Schofield　to　prehend。　Snake　was　a　highly　decorated　Marine。　O