mreilly.icestation-第50章

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tretched　down　to　the　water　ten　meters　below。　
　Schofield　looked　down　into　the　hole；　saw　the　calm　water　lapping　up　against　the　edge　of　the　enormous　iceberg。　
　〃We're　gonna　die　out　here；　aren't　we？〃　Renshaw　said　from　behind　him。　
　〃I'm　not。〃　
　〃You're　not？〃　
　〃That's　my　station　and　I'm　gonna　get　it　back。〃　
　〃Uh…huh。〃　Renshaw　looked　out　to　sea。　〃And　do　you　have　any　idea　as　to　exactly　how　you're　gonna　do　that？〃　
　Schofield　didn't　answer　him。　
　Renshaw　turned　around。　〃I　said；　how　in　God's　name　do　you　plan　to　get　your　station　back　when　we're　stuck　out　here！〃　
　But　Schofield　wasn't　listening。　
　He　was　crouched　down　on　his　haunches；　looking　down　into　the　semicircular　hole　the　torpedo　had　carved　into　the　iceberg。　
　Renshaw　came　over　and　stood　behind　him。　
　〃What　are　you　looking　at？〃　
　〃Salvation；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Maybe。〃　
　Renshaw　followed　Schofield's　gaze　down　into　the　semicircular　hole　in　the　iceberg　and　saw　it　immediately。　
　There；　embedded　in　the　ice　a　couple　of　meters　down　the　sheer；　vertical　cliff　face；　Renshaw　saw　the　distinctive　square　outline　of　a　frozen　glass　window。　
　
　Schofield　tied　their　two　parkas　together　and；　using　the　two　jackets　as　a　rope；　got　Renshaw　to　lower　him　down　to　the　window　set　into　the　ice　cliff。　
　Schofield　hung　high　above　the　water；　in　front　of　the　frozen　glass　window。　He　looked　at　it　closely。　
　It　was　definitely　man…made。　
　And　old；　too。　The　wooden　panes　of　the　window　were　weathered　and　scarred；　bleached　to　a　pale　gray。　Schofield　wondered　how　long　the　window…and　whatever　structure　it　was　attached　to…had　been　buried　inside　this　massive　iceberg。　
　The　way　he　figured　it；　the　blast　from　the　submarine's　torpedo　must　have　dislodged　the　ten　meters　or　so　of　ice　in　from　of　the　window；　exposing　it。　The　window　and　whatever　it　was　attached　to；　had　been　buried　deep　within　the　iceberg。　
　Schofield　took　a　deep　breath。　Then　he　kicked　hard；　shattering　the　window。　
　He　saw　darkness　beyond　the　now…open　window；　a　small　cave　of　some　sort。　
　He　pulled　a　flashlight　from　his　hip　pocket　and；　with　a　final　look　up　at　Renshaw；　swung　himself　in　through　the　window　and　into　the　belly　of　the　iceberg。　
　
　
　
　The　first　thing　Schofield　saw　through　the　beam　of　his　flashlight　was　the　upside…down　words：　
　
　HAPPY　NEW　YEAR　1969！　
　WELE　TO　LITTLE　AMERICA　IV！　
　
　The　words　were　written　on　a　banner　of　some　sort。　It　hung　limply：…upside　down…across　the　cave　in　which　Schofield　now　stood。　
　Only　it　wasn't　a　cave。　
　It　was　a　room　of　some　sort…a　small　wooden…walled　room；　pletely　buried　within　the　ice。　
　And　everything　was　upside　down。　The　whole　room　was　inverted。　
　It　was　a　strange　sensation；　everything　being　upside…down。　It　took　Schofield　a　second　to　realize　that　he　was　actually　standing　on　the　ceiling　of　the　underground　room。　
　He　looked　off　to　his　right。　There　seemed　to　be　several　other　rooms　branching　off　from　this　one…　
　〃Hello　down　there！〃　Renshaw's　voice　sailed　in　from　outside。　
　Schofield　poked　his　head　out　through　the　window　in　the　ice　cliff。　
　〃Hey；　what's　happening？　I'm　freezing　my　nuts　off　out　here；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃Have　you　ever　heard　of　Little　America　IV？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃Yeah；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃It　was　one　of　our　research　stations　back　in　the　sixties。　Floated　out　to　sea　in　'69　when　the　Ross　Ice　Shelf　calved　an　iceberg　nine　thousand　square　kilometers　big。　The　Navy　looked　for　it　for　three　months；　but　they　never　found　it。〃　
　〃Well；　guess　what；〃　Schofield　said。　〃We　just　did。〃　
　
　Cloaked　in　three　thick　woolen　blankets；　James　Renshaw　sat　down　on　the　floor　of　the　main　room　of　Little　America　IV。　He　rubbed　his　hands　together　vigorously；　blew　on　them　with　his　warm　breath；　while　Schofield…still　dressed　in　his　waterlogged　fatigues…rummaged　through　the　other　rooms　of　the　darkened　inverted　station。　Neither　man　dared　to　eat　any　of　the　thirty…year…old　canned　food　that　lay　strewn　about　the　floor。　
　〃As　I　remember　it；　Little　America　IV　was　kind　of　like　Wilkes；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃It　was　a　resource　exploration　station；　built　into　the　coastal　ice　shelf。　They　were　after　offshore　oil　deposits　buried　in　the　continental　shelf。　They　used　to　lower　collectors　all　the　way　to　the　bottom　to　see　if　the　soil　down　there　contained…〃　
　〃Why　is　everything　upside…down？〃　Schofield　asked　from　the　next　room。　
　〃That's　easy。　When　this　iceberg　calved；　it　must　have　flipped　over。〃　
　〃The　iceberg　flipped　over？〃　
　〃It's　been　known　to　happen；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃And　if　you　think　about　it；　it　makes　sense。　An　iceberg　is　top…heavy　when　it　breaks　off　the　mainland；　because　all　the　ice　that's　been　living　underwater　has　been　slowly　eroded　over　the　years　by　the　warmer　seawater。　So　unless　your　iceberg　is　perfectly　balanced　when　it　breaks　free　from　the　mainland；　the　whole　thing　tips　over。〃　
　In　the　next　room；　Schofield　was　negotiating　his　way　through　piles　of　rusty　overturned　junk。　He　stepped　around　a　large；　cylindrical　cable　spooler　that　lay　awkwardly　on　its　side。　Then　he　saw　something。　
　〃How　long　did　you　say　the　Navy　looked　for　this　station？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃About　three　months。〃　
　〃Was　that　a　long　time　to　look　for　a　lost　station？〃　
　In　the　main　room；　Renshaw　shrugged。　〃It　was　longer　than　usual。　Why？〃　
　Schofield　came　back　in　through　the　doorway。　He　was　carrying　some　metal　objects　in　his　hands。　
　〃I　think　our　boys　were　doing　some　things　down　here　that　they　weren't　supposed　to；〃　Schofield　said；　smiling。　
　He　held　up　a　piece　of　white　cord。　It　looked　to　Renshaw　like　string　that　had　been　covered　over　with　white　powder。　
　〃Detonator　cord；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　tied　the　white　powdery　cord　in　a　loop　around　his　wrist。　〃It's　used　as　a　fuse　for　close…quarter　explosives。　That　powdery　stuff　you　see　on　it；　that's　magnesium…sulfide。　Magnesium…based　detonator　cords　burn　hot　and　fast…in　fact；　they　burn　so　hot　that　they　can　cut　clean　through　metal。　It's　good　stuff；　we　sometimes　use　it　today。　
　〃And　see　this。〃　Schofield　held　up　a　rusted　pressurized　canister。　〃VX　poison　gas。　And　this〃…he　held　up　another　tube…　〃sarin。〃　
　〃Sarin　gas？〃　Renshaw　said。　Even　he　knew　what　that　was。　Sarin　gas　was　a　chemical　weapon。　Renshaw　recalled　an　incident　in　Japan　in　1995　when　a　terrorist　group　had　detonated　a　canister　of　sarin　gas　inside　the　Tokyo　subway。　Panic　ensued。　Several　people　were　killed。　〃They　had　that　stuff　in　the　sixties？〃　he　asked。　
　〃Oh；　yes。〃　
　〃So　you　think　this　station　was　a　chemical　weapons　facility？〃　Renshaw　asked。　
　〃I　think　so；　yes。〃　
　〃But　why？　Why　test　chemical　weapons　in　Antarctica？〃　
　〃Two　reasons；〃　Schofield　said。　〃One：　Back　home；　we　keep　nearly　all　of　our　poison　gas　weapons　in　freezer　storage；　because　most　poison　gases　lose　their　toxicity　at　higher　temperatures。　So　it　makes　sense　to　do　your　testing　in　a　place　that's　cold　all　year　round。〃　
　〃And　the　second　reason？〃　
　〃The　second　reason　is　a　lot　simpler；〃　Schofield　said；　smiling　at　Renshaw。　〃Nobody's　looking。〃　
　Schofield　headed　back　into　the　next　room。　〃In　any　case；〃　he　said　as　he　disappeared　behind　the　doorway；　〃none　of　that's　really　much　use　to　us　right　now。　But　they　do　have　something　else　back　here　that　might　be　helpful。　In　fact；　I　think　it　might　just　get　us　back　in　the　game。〃　
　〃What　is　it？〃　
　〃This；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　reappeared　in　the　doorway　and　pulled　a　dusty　scuba　tank　out　into　view。　
　
　Schofield　set　to　work　calibrating　the　thirty…year…old　scuba　gear。　Renshaw　was　tasked　with　cleaning　out　the　breathing　apparatus…the　mouthpieces；　the　valves；　the　air　hoses。　
　The　pressed　air　mix　was　the　main　risk。　After　thirty　years　of　storage；　there　was　a　risk　that　it　had　gone　toxic。　
　There　was　only　one　way　to　find　out。　
　Schofield　tested　it…he　took　a　deep　inhalation　and　looked　at　Renshaw。　When　he　didn't　drop　dead；　he　declared　the　air　OK。　
　The　two　men　worked　on　the　scuba　gear　for　about　twenty　minutes。　Then；　as　they　were　nearing　readiness；　Renshaw　said　quietly；　〃Did　you　ever　get　to　see　Bernie　Olson's　body？〃　
　Schofield　looked　over　at　Renshaw。　The　little　scientist　was　bent　over　a　pair　of　mouthpieces；　washing　them　out　with　seawater。　
　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　did；〃　Schofield　said　softly。　
　〃What　did　you　see？〃　Renshaw　said；　interested。　
　Schofield　hesitated。　〃Mr。　Olson　had　bitten　his　own　tongue　off。〃　
　〃Hmmm。〃　
　〃His　jaw　was　also　locked　rigidly　in　place　and　his　eyes　were　heavily　inflamed…red…rimmed；　bloodshot。〃　
　Renshaw　nodded。　〃And　what　were　you　told　happened　to　him？〃　
　〃Sarah　Hensleigh　told　me　you　stabbed　him　in　the　neck　with　a　hypodermic　needle　and　injected　liquid　drain　cleaner　into　his　bloodstream。〃　
　Renshaw　nodded　sagely。　〃I　see。　Lieutenant；　could　you　have　a　look　at　this　please？〃　Renshaw　pulled　a　waterlogged　book　from　the　breast　pocket　of　his　parka。　It　was　the　thick　book　that　he　had　taken　from　his　room　when　they　had　evacuated　the　station。　
　Renshaw　handed　it　to　Schofield。　Biotoxicology　and　Toxin…Related　Illnesses。　
　Renshaw　said；　〃Lieutenant；　when　someone　poisons　you　with　drain　cleaner；　the　poison　stops　your　heart；　just　like　that。　There's　no　struggle。　There's　no　fight。　You　just　die。　Chapter　2。〃　
　Schofield　flipped　the　water…soaked　pages　to　chapter　2。　He　saw　the　heading：　〃Toxin…Related　Instantaneous　Physiological　Death。〃　
　He　saw　a　list　of　what　the　author　had　called　〃Known　Poisons。〃　In　the　middle　of　the　list；　Schofield　saw　〃industrial　cleaning　fluids；　insecticides。〃　
　〃The　point　is；〃　Renshaw　said；　〃there　are　no　outward　signs　of　death　by　such　a　poison。　Your　heart　stops；　your　body　just　stops。〃　Renshaw　held　up　his　finger。　〃But　not　so　certain　other　toxins；〃　he　said。　〃Like；　for　instance；　sea　snake　venom。〃　
　〃Sea　snake　venom？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Chapter　9；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　Schofield　found　it。　〃Naturally　Occurring　Toxins…Sea　Fauna。〃　
　〃Look　up　sea　snakes；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　Schofield　did。　He　found　the　heading：　〃Sea　Snakes…Toxins；　Symptoms　and　Treatment。〃　
　〃Read　it；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　Schofield　did。　
　〃Out　loud；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　Schofield　read；　〃The　mon　sea　snake　（Enhydrina　schis…tosa）　has　a　venom　with　a　toxicity　level　three　times　that　of　the　king　cobra；　the　most　lethal　land…based　snake。　One　drop　（0。03　mL）　is　enough　to　kill　three　men。　mon　symptoms　of　sea　snake　envenomation　include　aching　and　stiffness　of　muscles；　thickening　of　the　tongue；　paralysis；　visual　loss；　severe　inflammation　of　the　eye　area　and　dilation　of　the　pupils；　and；　most　notably　of　all；　lockjaw。　Indeed；　so　severe　is　lockjaw　in　such　cases；　that　it　is　not　unknown　for　victims　of　sea　snake　envenomation　to…〃　
　Schofield　cut　himself　off。　
　〃Read　it；〃　Renshaw　said　softly。　
　〃…to　sever　their　own　tongues　with　their　teeth。〃　Schofield　looked　up　at　Renshaw。　
　Renshaw　cocked　his　head。　〃Do　I　look　like　a　killer　to　you；　Lieutenant？〃　
　〃Who's　to　say　you　didn't　put　sea　snake　venom　inside　that　hypodermic　syringe？〃　Schofield　countered。　
　〃Lieutenant；〃　Renshaw　said；　〃at　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　sea　snake　venoms　are　kept　in　the　Biotoxins　Lab；　which　is　always…always…locked。　Only　a　few　people　have　access　to　that　room；　and　I'm　not　one　of　them。〃　
　Schofield　remembered　the　Biotoxins　Laboratory　on　B…deck；　remembered　the　distinctive　three…circled　biohazard　sign　pasted　across　its　door。　
　Strangely；　though；　he　also　found　himself　remembering　something　else。　
　He　remembered　Sarah　Hensleigh　telling　him　earlier：　〃Before　all　this　happened；　I　was　w