mreilly.icestation-第39章

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　in　a　chair；　looking　like　Cleopatra　on　a　chaise。　Schofield　had　had　Book　and　Rebound　carry　her　out　onto　the　deck　for　this。　
　Last　of　all；　behind　Schofield；　stood　James　Renshaw。　He　was　the　only　civilian　on　the　pool　deck。　
　The　atmosphere　was　tense。　No　one　spoke。　
　Schofield　looked　at　his　watch。　
　It　was　3：42　p。m。　
　He　remembered　what　Abby　Sinclair　had　said　about　the　solar　flare　in　the　atmosphere　above　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　A　break　in　the　solar　flare　would　be　passing　over　the　station　at　3：51。　
　Nine　minutes。　
　He　would　have　to　make　this　quick。　Gant　and　the　others　were　still　down　in　the　cavern；　and　he　wanted　to　contact　them　and　find　out　exactly　what　was　down　there　before　he　called　McMurdo。　
　Schofield　pressed　a　button　on　the　side　of　his　watch　and　the　display　changed。　The　stopwatch　screen　appeared。　It　displayed　numbers　ticking　upward：　
　1：52：58　
　1：52：59　
　1：53：00　
　Damn；　Schofield　thought。　
　It　was　going　to　be　close。　After　he　spoke　with　the　people　at　McMurdo　at　3：51；　they　would　have　less　than　an　hour　to　figure　out　a　way　to　seek　out　and　destroy　the　French　warship　hovering　off　the　coast　waiting　to　fire　its　missiles　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　turning　to　the　group　assembled　around　him。　〃Book。　Rebound。　You　first。〃　
　Book　and　Rebound　told　their　story。　
　They　had　both　been　outside；　working　on　the　station's　antenna；　out　by　one　of　the　outer　buildings。　
　〃And　then　you　called　and　asked　for　one　of　us　to　go　and　check　on　Mr。　Renshaw；〃　Book　said。　〃Snake　took　the　call；　so　he　went　to　do　it。　He　came　back　after　about　fifteen　minutes　and　said　that　everything　was　fine；　said　that　Mr。　Renshaw　was　still　in　his　room　and　that　it　had　just　been　a　false　alarm。〃　
　Schofield　nodded…that　was　when　he　had　been　shot。　
　Book　said；　〃A　little　later；　I　got　up　to　go　and　check　on　Mother；　but　Snake　stopped　me　and　said　that　he'd　do　it。　I　didn't　think　anything　of　it　at　the　time；　so　I　said　sure；　if　he　wanted　to。〃　
　Schofield　nodded　again…that　was　when　the　attack　on　Mother　had　happened。　
　He　stepped　forward　so　that　he　stood　right　in　front　of　Snake。　〃Sergeant；〃　he　said。　〃Would　you　care　to　explain　yourself？〃　
　Snake　said　nothing。　
　Schofield　said；　〃Sergeant；　I　said；　would　you　like　to　tell　me　what　in　fucking　hell　is　going　on　here。〃　
　Snake　didn't　flinch。　He　just　sneered　coldly　at　Schofield。　
　Schofield　hated　him；　hated　the　very　sight　of　him。　
　This　was　the　man　who　had　shot　him…killed　him…and　then　checked　to　make　sure　that　he　was　dead。　
　Schofield　had　thought　about　his　own　shooting。　
　In　the　end；　it　was　the　frosted　glass　on　the　deck　that　explained　it。　The　white　frosted　glass　that　Schofield　had　stepped　in　only　moments　before　he　had　been　shot。　
　It　explained　two　things：　why　Snake　was　able　to　fire　a　gun　safely　in　the　gaseous　atmosphere　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station　and　where　he　had　fired　it　from。　
　The　answer；　in　the　end；　was　simple。　
　Snake　hadn't　fired　his　sniper　rifle　from　inside　the　station　at　all。　He　had　fired　it　from　outside　the　station。　He　had　broken　a　tiny　round　hole　in　the　white　frosted　glass　dome　that　towered　above　the　central　shaft　of　the　station　and　he　had　then　shot　down　through　that　hole　at　Schofield。　The　glass　that　he　had　dislodged　from　the　dome　to　make　the　hole　in　it　had　fallen　all　the　way　down　through　the　shaft　to　E…deck。　The　same　glass　that　Schofield　had　stepped　on　only　moments　before　he　had　been　shot。　
　Schofield　just　stared　at　Snake。　
　Mother　said　softly；　〃He　said　he　was　ICG。〃　
　Book　and　Rebound　turned　instantly　at　Mother's　words。　
　〃Well；　Sergeant？〃　Schofield　said。　
　Snake　said　nothing。　
　Schofield　said；　〃Not　very　talkative；　huh？〃　
　〃He　was　pretty　fucking　talkative　when　he　was　getting　ready　to　fillet　me；〃　Mother　said。　〃I　say　we　cut　his　balls　off　and　make　him　watch　as　we　feed　'em　to　the　fucking　whales。〃　
　〃Good　idea；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　glared　at　Snake。　Snake　just　sneered　smugly　back　at　him。　
　Schofield　felt　the　anger　well　up　inside　him。　He　was　furious。　Right　now　he　just　wanted　to　slam　Snake　up　against　the　wall　and　wipe　that　smug　look　off　his　fucking　face…　
　〃As　a　leader；　you　simply　cannot　afford　to　get　angry　or　upset。〃　
　Once　again；　Trevor　Barnaby's　words　rang　through　Schofield's　head。　
　Schofield　wondered　whether　Barnaby　had　ever　had　an　infiltrator　in　his　unit。　He　wondered　what　the　famous　SAS　mander　would　have　done　in　these　circumstances。　
　〃Book；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Opinions？〃　
　Buck　Riley　just　stared　sadly　at　Snake　and　shook　his　head。　He　seemed　to　be　the　most　deeply　affected　by　the　revelation　that　Snake　was　an　ICG　plant。　
　〃I　didn't　think　you　were　a　traitor；　Snake；〃　Book　said。　Then　he　turned　to　Schofietd。　〃It's　not　for　you　to　kill　him。　Not　here。　Not　now。　Take　him　home。　Send　him　to　jail。〃　
　As　Book　spoke；　Schofield　just　glared　at　Snake。　Snake　stared　defiantly　back　at　him。　
　There　was　a　long　silence。　
　Schofield　broke　it。　〃Tell　me　about　the　Intelligence　Convergence　Group；　Snake。〃　
　〃That's　a　nice　wound；〃　Snake　said　softly；　slowly；　looking　at　the　adhesive　gauze　patch　on　Schofield's　neck。　The　wound　Snake　himself　had　inflicted。　〃You　ought　to　be　dead。〃　
　〃It　didn't　suit　me；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Tell　me　about　the　ICG。〃　
　Snake　smiled　a　cold；　thin　smile。　Then　he　began　to　laugh　softly。　
　〃You're　a　dead　man；〃　he　said　quietly。　Then　he　turned　to　face　the　others。　〃You're　all　going　to　die。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃You　wanted　to　know　about　the　ICG；〃　Snake　said。　〃I　just　told　you　about　the　ICG。〃　
　〃The　ICG　is　going　to　kill　us？〃　
　〃The　ICG　will　never　let　you　live；〃　Snake　said。　〃It's　not　possible。　Not　after　what　you've　seen　here。　When　the　United　States　Government　gets　their　hands　on　that　spaceship…or　whatever　it　is　that's　down　there…it　can't　possibly　allow　a　handful　of　grunts　like　you　to　know　about　it。　You're　all　going　to　die。　Count　on　it。〃　
　Snake's　words　hung　in　the　air。　Everyone　on　the　deck　was　silent。　
　Their　reward　for　arriving　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station　so　quickly　and　defending　it　against　the　French　was　to　be　a　death　sentence。　
　〃Wonderful；〃　Schofield　said。　〃That's　just　wonderful。　I　bet　you're　pretty　fucking　proud　of　yourself；〃　he　said　to　Snake。　
　〃My　loyalty　to　my　country　is　greater　than　my　loyalty　to　you；　Scarecrow；〃　Snake　said　defiantly。　
　Schofield's　teeth　began　to　grind。　He　stepped　forward。　Book　held　him　back。　
　〃Not　now；〃　Book　said　quietly。　〃Not　here。〃　
　〃Lieutenant！〃　a　woman's　voice　yelled　from　somewhere　high　up　in　the　station。　Schofield　looked　up。　
　Abby　Sinclair　was　leaning　out　over　the　railing　of　A…deck。　〃Lieutenant！〃　she　yelled。　〃It's　time！〃　
　
　Schofield　strode　into　the　radio　room　on　A…deck。　Book　and　James　Renshaw　came　in　behind　him。　Rebound　had　stayed　down　on　E…deck　to　keep　an　eye　on　Snake。　
　Abby　was　already　seated　at　the　radio　console。　She　did　a　double　take　when　she　saw　Renshaw　enter　the　room。　
　〃Hello；　Abby；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃Hello；　James；〃　Abby　said；　cautiously。　
　She　turned　to　Schofield。　〃The　break　should　be　over　us　any　second　now。〃　She　flicked　a　switch　on　the　console。　The　sound　of　static　began　to　wash　out　from　two　wall…mounted　speakers。　
　Shhhhhhhhhh。　
　〃That's　the　sound　of　the　solar　flare；〃　Abby　said。　〃But　if　you　wait　just。。。　a。。。　few。。。　seconds　。。。〃　
　Abruptly　the　shooshing　sound　cut　off　and　there　was　silence。　
　〃And　there　it　is；〃　Abby　said。　〃There's　your　break；　Lieutenant。　Go　for　it。〃　
　Schofield　sat　down　at　the　console　and　grabbed　the　microphone。　
　He　hit　the　talk　button；　but　just　as　he　was　about　to　speak；　a　strange　high…pitched　whistling　sound　suddenly　blared　out　from　the　wall…mounted　speakers。　It　sounded　like　feedback；　interference。　
　Schofield　released　the　microphone　instantly；　looked　at　Abby。　〃What　did　I　do？　Did　I　press　something？〃　
　Abby　frowned；　flicked　a　couple　of　switches。　〃No。　You　didn't　do　anything。〃　
　〃Is　it　the　solar　flare？　Could　you　have　got　the　timing　wrong？〃　
　〃No；〃　Abby　said　firmly。　
　She　flicked　some　more　switches。　
　Nothing　happened。　
　The　system　didn't　seem　to　be　responding　to　what　she　was　doing。　The　high…pitched　whistling　sound　filled　the　radio　room。　Abby　said；　〃There's　something　wrong；　this　isn't　interference　from　the　flare。　This　is　something　else。　This　is　different。　It's　almost　as　if　it's　electronic。　As　though　someone　was　jamming　us。。。。〃　
　Schofield　felt　a　chill　run　up　the　length　of　his　spine。　〃Jamming　us？〃　
　〃It's　as　if　there's　someone　between　us　and　McMurdo；　stopping　our　signal　getting　through；〃　Abby　said。　
　〃Scarecrow。。。；〃　a　voice　said　from　somewhere　behind　Schofield。　
　Schofield　spun。　
　It　was　Rebound。　
　He　was　standing　in　the　doorway　to　the　radio　room。　
　〃I　thought　I　told　you　to　stay　down　with…〃　
　〃Sir；　you　better　see　this；〃　Rebound　said。　〃You　better　see　this　now。〃　He　held　up　his　left　hand。　
　In　it　was　the　portable　viewscreen　that　Schofield　had　brought　inside　from　the　hovercrafts　earlier。　The　small　TV　screen　that　displayed　the　findings　of　the　two　range　finders　mounted　on　top　of　the　hovercrafts　outside。　Rebound　crossed　the　radio　room　quickly　and　handed　the　screen　to　Schofield。　Schofield　looked　at　the　screen　and　his　eyes　instantly　widened　in　horror。　
　〃Oh；　Christ；〃　he　said。　The　screen　was　filled　with　red　blips。　They　looked　like　a　swarm　of　bees；　converging　on　a　point；　were　all　approaching　the　center　of　the　screen。　Schofield　counted　twenty　red　blips。　Twenty。。。。　
　All　of　them　converging　on　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　〃Good　God。。。。〃　
　And　then　suddenly　he　heard　a　voice。　A　voice　that　made　his　blood　run　cold。　It　came　from　the　speakers　that　lined　the　walls　of　the　radio　room。　Loud　and　hard；　as　if　it　were　a　message　from　God　himself。　
　〃Attention；　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Attention；〃　the　voice　said。　
　It　was　a　crisp　voice；　clipped　and　cultured。　
　〃Attention　American　forces　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　As　you　will　now　no　doubt　be　aware；　your　munication　lines　have　been　intercepted。　It　is　no　use　attempting　to　contact　your　base　at　McMurdo…you　will　not　get　through。　You　are　advised　to　lay　down　your　arms　immediately。　If　you　do　not　lay　down　your　defenses　before　our　arrival；　we　will　be　forced　to　make　an　offensive　entry。　Such　an　entry；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　will　be　painful。〃　
　Schofield's　eyes　went　wide　at　the　sound　of　the　voice。　The　English　accent　was　all　too　apparent。　
　It　was　a　voice　that　Schofield　knew　well。　A　voice　from　his　past。　
　It　was　the　voice　of　Trevor　Barnaby。　Brigadier　General　Trevor　J。　Barnaby　of　Her　Majesty's　SAS。　
　
　
　FIFTH　INCURSION　
　16　June　1551　hours　
　
　〃Oh；　Jesus；〃　Rebound　said。　
　〃How　long　till　they　get　here？〃　Book　asked。　
　Schofield's　eyes　were　glued　to　the　portable　viewscreen。　He　looked　at　the　box　at　the　bottom　of　the　screen。　In　it　was　a　wire…frame　picture　of　a　hovercraft。　The　wire…frame　hovercraft　rotated　within　the　box。　Beneath　it　were　the　words：　BELL　TEXTRON　SR。N7…S…LANDING　CRAFT　AIR　CUSHIONED　（UK）。　
　〃It's　the　SAS；〃　Rebound　said　in　disbelief。　〃It's　the　fucking　SAS。〃　
　〃Take　it　easy；　Rebound；〃　Schofield　said。　〃We're　not　dead　yet。〃　
　He　turned　to　Book。　〃Thirty…four　miles　out。　ing　in　at　eighty　miles　an　hour。〃　
　〃Definitely　not　friendly；〃　Book　said。　
　Schofield　said；　〃Thirty…four　miles　at　eighty　miles　an　hour。　That　gives　us；　what…〃　
　〃Twenty…six　minutes；〃　Abby　said　quickly。　
　〃Twenty…six　minutes。〃　Schofield　swallowed。　〃Shit。〃　
　The　room　fell　silent。　
　Schofield　could　hear　Rebound's　breathing。　He　was　breath