mreilly.icestation-第44章

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　Certain　death。　
　His　body　aching；　Schofield　rolled　forward；　toward　the　rounded　bow　of　the　hovercraft。　The　black　rubber　skirt　dropped　away　in　front　of　him。　The　ground　rushed　by　beneath　it　at　seventy　miles　an　hour。　
　You　are　going　to　die。。。。　
　Schofield　found　a　handhold　and　quickly　lowered　his　feet　over　the　bow　of　the　speeding　hovercraft。　His　feet　touched　the　speeding　earth　and　skipped　up　off　the　surface。　
　The　SAS　man　in　the　cabin　seemed　to　be　amused　by　what　Schofield　was　doing；　and　he　paused　for　a　fraction　of　a　second　as　he　leveled　his　automatic　pistol　at　Schofield's　head。　
　Schofield…his　face　bruised；　his　teeth　bloody；　his　body　bent　over　the　inflated　skirt　at　the　bow　of　the　hovercraft…　looked　up　at　the　SAS　mando　and　smiled。　He　saw　the　SAS　mando　smile　back　at　him：　And　then　he　saw　him　raise　his　gun　a　little　higher。　
　At　that　moment；　Schofield　ducked　his　head　beneath　the　skirt　of　the　hovercraft。　He　heard　the　gun　go　off；　heard　the　bullet　ping　off　the　top　of　the　skirt。　
　Schofield　was　hanging　off　the　bow　of　the　speeding　hovercraft　now；　pressing　his　body　against　the　inflated　rubber　skirt。　His　feet　were　dragging　on　the　ground　as　it　rushed　by　beneath　him　at　incredible　speed。　
　Suddenly　he　heard　a　sound　and　he　looked　up　and　saw　the　SAS　man　standing　above　him；　on　the　forward　hood　of　the　hovercraft；　looking　down　at　him；　with　his　gun　still　in　his　hand。　
　And　as　the　SAS　mando　raised　his　gun　to　fire；　Shane　Schofield　knew　there　was　only　one　thing　he　could　do。　He　released　his　grip　on　the　inflated　rubber　skirt　and　disappeared　under　the　bow　of　the　hovercraft。　
　
　
　
　The　sound　of　the　turbofans　was　absolutely　ear…shattering。　
　Schofield's　helmet　slammed　down　against　the　ground；　and　Schofield　slid　on　his　back　underneath　the　hovercraft。　
　The　rush　of　air　and　the　deafening　roar　of　the　four　turbofans　above　him　was　like　being　in　a　wind　tunnel。　Schofield　saw　the　inflated　insides　of　the　skirt；　saw　the　rapidly　rotating　blades　of　the　turbofans…　
　And　then　he　shot　out　from　underneath　the　speeding　hovercraft；　and　the　deafening　roar　of　the　turbofans　was　gone　as　he　slid　on　his　back　across　the　flat；　icy　plain　behind　the　hovercraft　he　had　been　standing　on　only　moments　before。　
　Schofield　didn't　waste　any　time。　
　He　rolled　onto　his　stomach　as　he　aquaplaned　across　the　ice；　and　in　one　swift　movement　he　drew　his　Maghook　from　behind　his　back　and　looked　up　at　the　rear　of　the　hovercraft　as　it　sped　away　from　him。　He　raised　the　Maghook　and　fired。　
　The　bulbous　magnetic　head　of　the　Maghook　flew　through　the　air；　its　tail　of　rope　unspooling　wildly　behind　it。　The　magnet　thudded　into　the　metal　wall　of　the　cabin　just　above　the　hovercraft's　skirt　and　stuck；　and　Schofield　was　suddenly　yanked　forward　behind　the　speeding　hovercraft。　
　He　was　now　being　dragged　across　the　ice　plain　behind　the　speeding　hovercraft；　like　a　nailing　water…skier　trying　desperately　to　get　back　on　his　feet　again。　
　And　then　abruptly　the　ground　all　around　Schofield　was　raked　with　gunfire。　
　Schofield　spun　to　look　behind　him。　
　A　second　British　hovercraft　was　right　behind　him！　
　It　was　bearing　down　on　him；　as　if　it　were　about　to　trample　him。　
　Schofield　rolled　onto　his　back…holding　onto　his　Mag…hook's　launcher　with　one　hand…as　he　was　dragged　behind　the　first　hovercraft。　With　his　free　hand；　he　drew　his　Desert　Eagle　and　fired　back　at　the　pursuing　hovercraft。　The　Desert　Eagle　boomed；　ripped　open　several　holes　in　the　skirt　of　the　speeding　hovercraft。　
　But　the　hovercraft　didn't　slow　down。　
　It　was　almost　on　him。　
　It　only　had　to　get　over　him　and　then　slow　down　slightly；　and　then　the　hovercraft　would　lower　itself　and　he　would　be　chopped　to　shreds　by　the　turbofans　underneath　it。　
　The　turbofans　underneath　it。。。。　
　Schofield　desperately　searched　his　brain　for　something；　anything；　anything　that　he　could　use　to…　
　His　helmet。　
　Still　being　dragged　behind　the　first　hovercraft；　Schofield　quickly　holstered　his　gun　and　yanked　off　his　helmet。　
　He　would　have　to　get　this　just　right。　It　would　have　to　be　bouncing；　bouncing　high；　so　that　it　would　get　caught　up　in　the　fan　blades　of　the　pursuing　hovercraft。　
　Schofield　tossed　his　helmet　behind　him。　
　The　helmet　flew　through　the　air…it　seemed　to　float　for　an　eternity…and　then　it　bounced　on　its　dome　and　the　pursuing　hovercraft　roared　over　the　top　of　it。　
　Schofield　guessed　that　the　helmet　must　have　bounced　up　into　the　forward　fan　of　the　hovercraft；　because　in　that　moment；　in　that　sudden；　shocking　instant；　the　whole　hovercraft　just　snapped　over　on　itself　and　did　a　plete　seventy…mile…an…hour　cartwheel…it　just　flipped　over　on　itself　and　came　slamming　down　hard　on　its　own　cabin。　The　battered　hovercraft　slid　across　the　flat　icy　ground…on　its　roof；　right　behind　Schofield…for　about　fifty　yards　before　it　ground　to　a　halt　and　shrank　into　the　distance　behind　him。　
　Schofield　rolled　back　over　onto　his　stomach。　His　body　bounced　roughly　on　the　hard；　icy　ground　as　it　was　dragged　along　behind　the　first　hovercraft　at　phenomenal　speed。　Tiny　flecks　of　kicked…up　ice　assaulted　his　silver　antiflash　glasses。　
　Then　he　hit　the　black　button　on　his　Maghook…the　button　that　reeled　in　the　hook　without　demagnetizing　it…and　the　Maghook　began　to　reel　itself　in；　drawing　Schofield　forward；　toward　the　rear　of　the　speeding　hovercraft；　until　at　last　he　reached　the　black　rubber　skirt。　The　wind　from　the　hovercraft's　rear　turbofan　blasted　his　face；　but　Schofield　didn't　care。　He　grabbed　hold　of　a　tie…down　stud　on　top　of　the　skirt　and　hauled　himself　up　onto　the　hovercraft。　
　Five　seconds　later；　he　was　standing　in　the　open　left…hand　side　doorway　of　the　hovercraft。　He　got　there　just　in　time　to　see　the　SAS　mando　slap　Kirsty　hard　across　the　face　and　send　her　crashing　to　the　floor。　
　〃Hey！〃　Schofield　called。　
　The　SAS　man　turned　and　saw　him；　and　a　sneer　formed　around　his　mouth。　
　〃Kirsty；〃　Schofield　said；　never　once　taking　his　eyes　off　the　British　mando。　〃Cover　your　eyes；　honey。〃　
　Kirsty　covered　her　eyes。　
　The　SAS　mando　stared　at　Schofield　for　a　long　moment。　They　just　stood　there；　in　the　cabin　of　the　speeding　hovercraft；　like　two　gunfighters　facing　off　against　each　other　on　a　deserted　western　street　
　And　then　in　a　sudden　blur　of　movement　the　SAS　man　went　for　his　gun。　
　Schofield　went　for　his。　
　Both　guns　came　up　fast；　but　only　one　went　off。　
　
　
　
　〃You　can　open　your　eyes　now；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　stepped　forward…over　the　body　of　the　dead　SAS　mando…and　bent　down　beside　Kirsty。　
　Slowly；　Kirsty　opened　her　eyes。　
　Schofield　saw　the　bruise　forming　around　her　left　cheekbone。　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　he　said　kindly。　
　〃No；〃　she　said；　tears　welling　in　her　eyes。　She　pulled　her　asthma　puffer　out　from　her　pocket　and　took　two　deep；　sobbing　puffs　on　it。　
　〃Me　neither；〃　Schofield　said；　taking　the　asthma　puffer　from　her　and　gulping　down　a　couple　of　puffs　himself　before　putting　the　puffer　in　his　pocket。　
　Then　he　stood　up　and　grabbed　the　steering　vane　of　the　British　hovercraft。　As　he　drove；　he　popped　the　clip　of　his　Desert　Eagle　and　jammed　in　a　fresh　magazine。　
　Kirsty　stepped　up　alongside　him。　〃When　you　。。。　when　you　went　under　the　hovercraft；〃　she　said；　〃I　thought。。。　I　thought　you　were　dead。〃　
　Schofield　jammed　his　pistol　back　into　its　holster　and　looked　down　at　Kirsty。　He　saw　the　tears　in　her　eyes。　
　As　he　looked　down　at　her；　Schofield　realized　that　he　was　still　wearing　his　silver　antiflash　glasses。　He　took　the　silver　glasses　off　and　crouched　down　in　front　of　Kirsty。　
　〃Hey；〃　he　said。　〃It's　OK。　It's　all　right。　I'm　not　going　to　die　on　you。I　am　not　going　to　die　on　you。〃　Schofield　smiled。　〃I　mean；　hey；　I　can't　die。　I'm　the　hero　of　this　story。〃　
　Despite　herself；　Kirsty　smiled。　Schofield　smiled；　too。　
　And　then；　to　his　surprise；　Kirsty　stepped　forward　and　hugged　him。　Schofield　returned　her　hug。　
　As　he　held　her；　though；　he　heard　a　strange　noise。　A　noise　that　he　had　not　heard　before。　
　It　was　a　loud；　rhythmic；　crashing　noise。　
　Boom。　
　Boom。　
　Boom。　
　It　sounded　to　Schofield　like…　
　Like　waves　crashing　on　a　beach。　
　With　a　sickening　rush；　Schofield　realized　where　they　were。　They　were　near　the　cliffs。　Their　evasive　maneuvers　during　the　hovercraft　chase　had　taken　them　out　near　the　sheer　three…hundred…foot　cliffs　that　towered　over　the　bay。　The　loud；　booming　noise　that　he　was　hearing　was　the　sound　of　the　mountainous　waves　of　the　ocean　smashing　against　the　ice　cliffs。　
　He　was　still　holding　Kirsty　in　his　arms。　As　he　held　her；　though；　something　behind　her　caught　his　eye。　
　Attached　to　the　side　of　the　British　hovercraft's　dashboard　was　a　small　partment；　mounted　on　the　wall。　Its　door　hung　ajar。　Inside　the　partment；　Schofield　could　see　two　silver　canisters。　They　were　each　about　a　foot　long；　and　cylindrical　in　shape。　Each　silver　canister　had　a　wide　green　band　painted　across　its　midsection。　Schofield　saw　some　lettering　stencilled　onto　the　side　of　one　of　the　silver　canisters：　TRITONAL　80/20。　
　Tritonal　80/20？　he　thought。　Why　on　earth　would　the　British　bring　that　to　Wilkes？　
　Tritonal　80/20　was　a　highly　concentrated　explosive　poxy…　a　highly　bustible　liquid　filler　that　was　used　in　air…launched　drop　bombs。　Tritonal　wasn't　nuclear；　but　when　it　blew；　it　blew　big　and　it　blew　hot。　One　kilogram　of　the　stuff…　the　amount　contained　in　each　of　the　canisters　Schofield　was　now　looking　at…could　level　a　small　building。　
　Schofield　released　Kirsty　gently；　put　his　glasses　back　on；　and　moved　toward　the　partment　near　the　dashboard。　He　pulled　one　of　the　silver…and…green　canisters　from　it。　
　He　came　back　to　Kirsty。　〃Are　you　all　right；　now？〃　
　〃Yeah；〃　she　said。　
　〃Good；〃　Schofield　said；　sliding　the　Tritonal　charge　into　one　of　his　long　thigh　pockets。　〃Because　I　really　have　to　get　back　to…〃　
　Schofield　never　saw　it　ing。　
　The　impact　threw　him　off　his　feet。　
　His　whole　hovercraft　lurched　suddenly　to　the　left。　
　He　looked　out　through　the　gaping　hole　in　the　right…hand　side　of　his　speeding　hovercraft　and　saw　one　of　the　two　remaining　British　hovercrafts　racing　across　the　ice　plain　right　alongside　him！　
　It　rammed　them　again。　
　Hard。　
　So　hard；　in　fact；　that　Schofield　felt　his　hovercraft　slide　sideways；　to　the　left。　
　〃What　the…〃　he　said　aloud。　
　He　looked　left　and　in　a　sudden　terrifying　instant　he　realised　what　they　were　doing。　
　〃Oh；　no；〃　he　said。　〃Oh；　no。。。。〃　
　They　were　trying　to　ram　him　off　the　cliff。　
　
　Schofield　began　to　wrestle　with　the　steering　vane　of　his　hovercraft；　but　it　was　no　use。　
　There　was　nowhere　he　could　go。　
　With　no　room　to　move…no　room　to　get　a　run…up…he　just　found　himself　shunting　the　speeding　British　hovercraft　ineffectually。　
　The　British　hovercraft　rammed　them　again；　and　Schofield　snapped　to　look　forward。　He　saw　the　cliff　edge　racing　by　less　than　ten　yards　off　to　his　left。　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　tiny　white…crested　waves　beyond　it。　They　were　a　long　way　down。　
　Then　he　looked　out　to　his　right；　out　through　the　hole　in　the　side　of　his　speeding　hovercraft；　and　saw　the　black　British　hovercraft　whipping　across　the　ice　plain　beside　him。　He　saw　it　widen　the　gap　between　the　two　hovercrafts　and　then　suddenly　rush　back　in　at　them。　
　The　two　hovercrafts　collided　again　and　Schofield　felt　his　hovercraft　jolt　farther　toward　the　edge。　
　Five　yards　to　go。　
　The　two　hovercrafts　raced　along　the　edge