mreilly.icestation-第41章

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　Bernard　Olson　stared　up　at　him　with　cold；　lifeless　eyes。　
　He　was　an　ugly　man…fat　and　bald；　with　a　pudgy；　wrinkled　face。　His　skin　was　bone　white　in　color。　
　Schofield　didn't　waste　any　time。　He　checked　the　eyes　first。　
　They　were　deeply　red　around　the　rims；　inflamed。　Horribly　bloodshot。　
　Then　he　turned　his　attention　to　the　dead　man's　mouth。　
　The　mouth　was　shut。　Schofield　tried　to　open　it；　but　the　jaw　was　locked　firmly　in　place。　It　wouldn't　open　an　inch。　
　Schofield　leaned　closer　and　prized　the　dead　man's　lips　apart　so　that　he　could　examine　the　tongue。　
　The　lips　came　apart。　
　〃Urghhh；〃　he　winced　as　he　saw　it。　He　swallowed　quickly；　held　back　the　nausea。　
　Bernie　Olson　had　bitten　his　own　tongue　off。　
　For　some　reason；　before　he　had　died；　Bernie　Olson　had　bitten　down　hard　with　his　teeth；　clamping　them　shut。　He　had　bitten　down　so　hard　that　he　had　cut　his　own　tongue　in　half。　
　Ten　minutes。　
　That's　enough；　time　to　go。　
　Schofield　ran　for　the　door；　and　as　he　passed　Mitch　Healy's　body　on　the　way　out；　he　grabbed　the　dead　Marine's　helmet　from　the　floor。　
　
　Schofield　emerged　from　the　freezer　room　just　as　Kirsty　came　running　down　the　outer　tunnel　of　B…deck。　
　〃I　had　to　get　a　parka；〃　she　said　apologetically。　〃My　other　one　got　wet…〃　
　〃e　on；〃　Schofield　said；　grabbing　her　hand　and　pulling　her　down　the　tunnel。　
　As　they　turned　into　the　tunnel　that　led　to　the　central　shaft；　Schofield　heard　someone　shout；　〃Wait　for　me！〃　
　It　was　Renshaw。　He　was　hurrying　as　fast　as　his　little　legs　would　carry　him；　racing　around　the　curved　outer　tunnel　toward　Schofield　and　Kirsty。　He　was　dressed　in　a　heavy　blue　parka；　and　he　was　carrying　a　thick　book　under　his　arm。　
　〃What　the　hell　were　you　doing？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃I　had　to　get　this；〃　Renshaw　said；　indicating　the　book　under　his　arm　as　he　ran　past　Schofield　and　headed　for　the　central　well。　
　Schofield　and　Kirsty　followed。　〃What　the　hell　is　in　there　that's　so　important？〃　Schofield　yelled。　
　Renshaw　called　back；　〃My　innocence！〃　
　
　Outside　the　station；　snow　was　flying　horizontally。　
　It　assaulted　Schofield's　face…bounced　off　his　silver　glasses…as　he　emerged　from　the　main　entrance　with　Kirsty　and　Renshaw　by　his　side。　
　Eight　minutes　to　go。　
　Until　the　SAS　arrived。　
　The　two　white　Marine　hovercrafts　were　already　parked　outside　the　main　entrance　to　the　station。　Book　and　Rebound　stood　beside　the　two　big　vehicles；　hustling　the　residents　of　Wilkes　onto　Rebound's　white　hovercraft。　
　Schofield's　plan　was　simple。　
　Rebound's　hovercraft　would　be　the　transport。　It　held　six　people；　so　it　would　be　used　to　carry　all　of　the　residents　of　Wilkes…Abby；　Llewellyn；　Harris；　Robinson；　and　Kirsty…　plus　Rebound　himself。　
　Book　and　Schofield　would　ride　shotgun；　defending　the　transport　craft　as　it　raced　eastward　and　attempted　to　outrun　the　SAS　hovercrafts　speeding　toward　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　Book　would　drive　the　second　Marine　hovercraft；　Schofield　the　French　unit's　orange　hovercraft。　James　Renshaw；　Schofield　decided；　would　ride　with　him。　
　Schofield　saw　Rebound　slam　the　sliding　door　of　his　hovercraft；　saw　Book　leap　up　onto　the　skirt　of　his　hovercraft　and　disappear　inside　the　cabin。　Book　reemerged　a　second　later　with　a　large　black　Samsonite　trunk　in　his　hands　and　hurled　the　big　black　trunk　across　the　snow　toward　Schofield。　It　landed　with　a　loud　thud。　
　〃Pest　control！〃　Book　called。　
　Schofield　hurried　toward　the　trunk。　
　〃Here；〃　he　said　to　Renshaw　as　he　ran。　〃Put　this　on。〃　
　He　handed　Renshaw　the　Marine　helmet　that　he　had　picked　up　on　his　way　out　of　the　freezer　room。　Then　he　quickly　picked　up　the　big　Samsonite　trunk　and　headed　for　the　French　hovercraft。　
　The　French　hovercraft　sat　silently　in　the　snow　outside　the　main　entrance　to　the　station。　Unlike　the　two　white　USMC　hovercrafts；　it　was　painted　a　bright　garish　orange。　
　Seven　minutes。　
　Schofield　leaped　up　onto　the　skirt　of　the　French　hovercraft　and　yanked　open　the　sliding　door。　He　got　Renshaw　to　pass　the　big　Samsonite　trunk　up　to　him；　and　he　threw　it　inside。　
　Schofield　hurried　into　the　cabin　and　made　for　the　driver's　chair。　Renshaw　jumped　in　behind　him　and　pulled　the　sliding　door　shut。　
　Schofield　keyed　the　ignition。　
　The　engine　roared　to　life。　
　The　big　seven…foot　fan　at　the　rear　of　the　hovercraft　began　to　rotate。　It　got　faster　and　faster　until；　like　the　propeller　on　an　old　biplane；　it　suddenly　snapped　into　overdrive　and　became　a　rapidly　spinning　blur。　
　Beneath　the　hovercraft's　black　rubber　skirt；　four　smaller　turbofans　also　kicked　into　action。　The　big　hovercraft　lifted　slowly　off　the　ground　as　the　skirt　inflated　like　a　balloon。　
　Schofield　brought　the　big　orange　vehicle　around　so　that　it　came　alongside　the　two　white　Marine　hovercrafts。　They　were　all　pointing　outward；　away　from　the　station。　
　Looking　out　through　the　reinforced　windscreen　of　his　hovercraft；　Schofield　could　see　the　horizon　to　the　southwest。　It　glowed　a　haunting　orange。　
　Superimposed　upon　it　were　a　collection　of　dark　shadows。　Small　black　boxes　with　fat　rounded　bases　that　seemed　to　kick　up　a　haze　of　dust　behind　them。　
　The　British　hovercrafts。　
　Closing　in　on　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　〃All　right；　people；〃　Schofield　said　into　his　helmet　mike；　〃Let's　get　out　of　here。〃　
　
　
　
　The　ground　raced　by　beneath　them。　
　The　three　American　hovercrafts　whipped　across　the　ice　plain　at　phenomenal　speed；　side　by　side。　Book　and　Schofield　were　on　the　outside；　Rebound's　transport　was　in　the　middle。　
　They　raced　east；　in　the　direction　of　McMurdo。　The　three　hovercrafts　kept　to　the　coastline；　skirting　around　the　edge　of　a　cliff　that　towered　above　an　enormous　bay…like　expanse　of　water。　From　point　to　point；　the　bay　was　about　one　mile　across；　but　to　go　around　it　by　land　required　a　trek　of　almost　eight　miles。　The　mountainous　waves　of　the　Southern　Ocean　crashed　loudly　against　the　base　of　the　cliffs。　
　As　his　hovercraft　sped　across　the　ice　plain；　Schofield　looked　behind　him。　He　saw　the　British　hovercrafts　approaching　Wilkes　Ice　Station　from　the　west　and　the　south。　
　〃They　must　have　landed　at　one　of　the　Australian　stations；〃　he　said　over　his　helmet　inter。　Casey　Station；　most　likely；　he　thought。　It　was　the　nearest　one；　about　seven　hundred　miles　due　west　of　Wilkes。　
　〃Fucking　Australians；〃　Rebound's　voice　said。　
　
　Five　miles　away；　in　the　silent　interior　of　a　black　American…made　Bell　Textron　SR。N7…S　hovercraft；　Brigadier　General　Trevor　J。　Barnaby　stared　impassively　out　through　the　reinforced　glass　windshield　of　his　hovercraft。　
　Trevor　Barnaby　was　a　tall；　solid　man；　fifty…six　years　old；　with　a　fully　shaven　head　and　a　pointed　black　goatee。　He　stared　out　through　the　windshield　of　his　hovercraft　with　cold；　hard　eyes。　
　〃You're　running；　Scarecrow；〃　he　said　aloud。　〃My；　my；　you　are　a　clever　one。〃　
　〃They're　heading　east；　sir；〃　a　young　SAS　corporal　manning　the　radio　console　next　to　Barnaby　said。　〃Out　along　the　coast〃　
　〃Send　eight　crafts　after　them；〃　Barnaby　manded。　〃Kill　them。　Everyone　else　is　to　proceed　to　the　station　as　planned。〃　
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　
　
　The　speedometer　on　Schofield's　hovercraft　edged　over　eighty　miles　per　hour。　Snow　pounded　against　the　windshield。　
　〃Sir；　they're　ing！〃　Rebound's　voice　shouted　over　Schofield's　helmet　inter。　
　Schofield's　head　snapped　right　and　he　saw　them。　
　Several　British　hovercrafts　had　broken　away　from　the　main　group　and　were　heading　toward　the　three　escaping　American　hovercrafts。　
　〃The　others　are　going　for　the　station；〃　Book's　voice　said。　
　〃I　know；〃　Schofield　said。　〃I　know。〃　
　Schofield　whirled　around　in　the　driver's　seat。　He　saw　Renshaw　standing　in　the　back　section　of　the　cabin；　looking　slightly　ridiculous　in　Mitch　Healy's　oversized　Marine　helmet。　
　〃Mr。　Renshaw；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Yes。〃　
　〃Time　to　make　yourself　useful。　See　if　you　can　open　that　trunk　on　the　floor　there。〃　
　Renshaw　immediately　dropped　to　his　knees　and　flipped　the　latches　on　the　black　Samsonite　trunk　that　lay　on　the　floor　in　front　of　him。　
　Schofield　drove；　turning　around　every　few　seconds　to　see　how　Renshaw　was　faring　with　the　trunk。　
　〃Oh；　shit；〃　Renshaw　said　as　he　opened　the　trunk　and　saw　what　lay　inside　it。　
　At　that　moment；　there　came　a　sudden　booming　sound　from　outside　and　Schofield　snapped　around　again。　
　He　knew　that　sound。。。。　
　And　then　he　saw　it。　
　〃Oh；　no。。。；〃　he　groaned。　
　
　The　first　missile　slammed　into　the　snow…covered　ground　right　in　front　of　Schofield's　speeding　hovercraft。　
　It　left　a　crater　ten　feet　in　diameter；　and　a　split　second　later　Schofield's　hovercraft　screamed　over　the　edge　of　the　crater；　exploding　through　the　dust　cloud　above　it。　
　〃Ining！〃　Rebound's　voice　yelled。　
　〃Get　inland！〃　Schofleld　called　back　as　he　caught　sight　of　the　cliff　edge　about　a　hundred　yards　to　his　left。　〃Get　away　from　the　edge！〃　
　Schofield's　head　snapped　around　again　as　he　spoke。　He　saw　the　cluster　of　British　hovercrafts　behind　him。　
　He　also　saw　the　second　missile。　
　It　was　white　and　round；　cylindrical；　and　it　cut　through　the　driving　snow　in　front　of　the　lead　British　hovercraft；　its　spiraling　smoke　trail　looping　through　the　air　behind　it。　A　Milan　antitank　missile。　
　Renshaw　saw　it；　too。　〃Yikes！〃　
　Schofield　floored　it。　
　But　the　missile　was　closing　in　too　quickly。　It　angled　in　toward　his　speeding　hovercraft；　fast。　
　Too　fast。　
　And　then　suddenly；　at　the　last　moment；　Schofield　yanked　hard　on　the　steering　yoke　of　his　hovercraft　and　the　whole　craft　swerved　dramatically　to　the　left；　toward　the　cliff　edge。　
　The　missile　shot　across　the　bow　of　the　speeding　hovercraft　and　Schofield　instinctively　swerved　back　right　and　the　missile　slammed　into　the　snow　off　to　his　left；　exploding　in　a　spectacular　shower　of　white。　
　Schofield　immediately　swung　back　left；　just　as　a　second　missile　slammed　into　the　snow…covered　earth　right　next　to　him。　
　〃Keep　swerving！〃　he　yelled　into　his　helmet　mike。　〃Don't　let　them　get　a　lock　on　you！〃　
　The　three　American　hovercrafts　all　began　to　swerve　as　one　as　they　rocketed　across　the　flat　Antarctic　landscape；　the　hailstorm　of　unguided　British　missiles　slamming　down　into　the　snow　all　around　them。　Deafening　explosions　filled　the　air。　Massive　gouts　of　snow　and　earth　erupted　from　the　ground。　
　Schofield　fought　desperately　with　the　steering　yoke　of　his　hovercraft。　The　hovercraft　screamed　across　the　ice　plain；　a　juggernaut　out　of　control；　ducking　and　swerving　as　it　avoided　the　missiles　that　rained　down　all　around　it。　
　〃The　trunk！〃　Schofield　yelled　to　Renshaw。　〃The　trunk！〃　
　〃Right！〃　Renshaw　said。　He　lifted　a　pact　black　tube　out　of　the　Samsonite　trunk。　It　was　about　five　feet　long。　
　〃All　right；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　yanked　hard　on　the　steering　yoke　to　avoid　another　screaming　British　missile。　The　hovercraft　rocked　sharply　as　it　swung　hard　to　the　right。　Renshaw　lost　his　balance　and　fell　against　the　wall　of　the　cabin。　
　〃Lock　the　tube　onto　the　gripstock！〃　Schofield　yelled。　
　Renshaw　found　the　gripstock　in　the　trunk。　It　looked　like　a　gun　without　a　barrel…just　the　grip　and　the　trigger　and　a　stock　that　you　rested　on　your　shoulder。　The　pact　cylindrical　tube　clicked　firmly　into　place　on　the　top　of　the　gripstock。　
　〃All　right；　Mr。　Renshaw。　You　just　made　yourself　a　Stinger　missile　launcher！　Now　use　it！〃　
　〃How？〃　
　〃Open　the　door！　Put　it　on　your　shoulder！　Point