mreilly.icestation-第51章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Strangely；　though；　he　also　found　himself　remembering　something　else。　
　He　remembered　Sarah　Hensleigh　telling　him　earlier：　〃Before　all　this　happened；　I　was　working　with　Ben　Austin　in　the　Bio　Lab　on　B…deck。　He　was　doing　work　on　a　new　antivenom　for　Entrydrina　schistosa。〃　
　Schofield　shook　the　thought　away。　
　No。　Not　possible。　
　He　turned　to　Renshaw。　〃So　who　do　you　think　killed　Bernie　Olson？〃　
　〃Why；　someone　who　had　access　to　the　Biotoxins　Lab；　of　course；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃That　could　mean　only　Ben　Austin；　Harry　Cox；　or　Sarah　Hensleigh。〃　
　Sarah　Hensleigh。。：。　
　Schofield　said；　〃Why　would　any　of　them　want　to　kill　Olson？〃　
　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃No　idea。〃　
　〃So　as　far　as　you　know；　not　one　of　those　people　had　a　motive　to　kill　Olson？〃　
　〃That's　right。〃　
　〃But　you　had　a　motive；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Olson　was　stealing　your　research。〃　
　〃Which　kind　of　makes　me　the　ideal　person　to　set　up；　doesn't　it？〃　Renshaw　said。　
　Schofield　said；　〃But　if　someone　really　wanted　to　set　you　up；　they　would　have　actually　used　drain　cleaner　to　kill　Olson。　Why　go　to　the　trouble　of　using　sea　snake　venom？〃　
　〃Good　point；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Good　point。　But　if　you　read　that　book；　you'll　find　that　drain　cleaner　has　a　59％　mortality　rate。　Sea　snake　venom　has　a　98　％　mortality　rate。　Whoever　killed　Olson　wanted　to　make　sure　that　he　died。　That's　why　they　used　the　sea　snake　venom。　They　did　not　want　him　to　be　resuscitated。〃　
　Schofield　pursed　his　lips　in　thought。　
　Then　he　said；　'Tell　me　about　Sarah　Hensleigh。〃　
　〃What　about　her？〃　
　〃Do　you　two　get　along？　Do　you　like　her；　does　she　like　you？〃　
　〃No；　no；　and　no。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃Why　don't　you　like　her？〃　
　〃You　really　want　to　know？〃　Renshaw　sighed　deeply。　He　looked　away。　〃It's　because　she　married　my　best　friend…actually；　he　was　also　my　boss…and　she　didn't　love　him。〃　
　〃Who　was　that？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃A　guy　named　Brian　Hensleigh。　He　was　head　of　geophysics　at　Harvard　before　he　died。〃　
　Schofield　remembered　Kirsty　telling　him　about　her　father　before。　How　he　had　taught　her　advanced　math。　And　how　he　had　died　only　recently。　
　〃He　died　in　a　car　accident；　didn't　he？〃　
　〃That's　right；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Drunk　driver　jumped　the　curb　and　killed　him。〃　Renshaw　looked　up　at　Schofield。　〃How　e　you　know　that？〃　
　〃Kirsty　told　me。〃　
　〃Kirsty　told　you。〃　Renshaw　nodded　slowly。　〃She's　a　good　kid；　Lieutenant。　Did　she　tell　you　that　she's　my　goddaughter？〃　
　〃No。〃　
　〃When　she　was　born；　Brian　asked　me　to　be　her　godfather；　you　know；　in　case　anything　ever　happened　to　him。　Her　mother；　Mary　Anne；　died　of　cancer　when　Kirsty　was　seven。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃Wait　a　second。　Kirsty's　mother　died　when　she　was　seven？〃　
　〃Yep。〃　
　〃So；　Sarah　Hensleigh　isn't　Kirsty's　mother？〃　
　〃That's　right；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Sarah　Hensleigh　was　Brian's　second　wife。　Sarah　Hensleigh　is　Kirsty's　stepmother。〃　
　Suddenly　things　began　to　make　sense　to　Schofield。　The　way　Kirsty　hardly　ever　spoke　to　Sarah。　The　way　she　withdrew　into　herself　whenever　she　was　near　Sarah。　The　natural　response　of　a　child　to　a　stepmother　she　didn't　like。　
　〃I　don't　know　why　Brian　married　her；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃I　know　he　was　lonely；　and；　well；　Sarah　is　attractive　and　she　did　show　him　quite　a　bit　of　attention。　But　she　was　ambitious。　Boy；　was　she　ambitious。　You　could　see　it　in　her　eyes。　She　just　wanted　his　name；　wanted　to　meet　the　people　he　worked　with。　She　didn't　want　him。　And　the　last　thing　she　wanted　was　his　kid。〃　
　Renshaw　laughed　sadly。　〃And　then　that　drunk　driver　skipped　the　curb　and　killed　Brian　and　in　one　fell　swoop　Sarah　lost　Brian　and　got　the　kid　she　never　wanted。〃　
　Schofield　asked。　〃So　why　doesn't　she　like　you！'　
　Renshaw　laughed　again。　〃Because　I　told　Brian　not　to　marry　her。〃　
　Schofield　shook　his　head。　Obviously　there　had　been　a　lot　more　going　on　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station　before　he　and　his　Marines　had　arrived　than　initially　met　the　eye。　
　〃You　ready　with　those　mouthpieces？〃　he　asked。　
　〃All　set。〃　
　〃This　conversation　is　to　be　continued；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　got　to　his　feet　and　began　to　shoulder　into　one　of　the　scuba　tanks。　
　〃Wait　a　second；〃　Renshaw　said；　standing。　〃You're　going　back　in　there　now？　What　if　you　get　killed　going　back　in？　Then　there'll　be　nobody　left　who　believes　my　story。〃　
　〃Who　said　I　believed　your　story？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃You　believed　it。　I　know　you　believed　it。〃　
　〃Then　it　looks　like　you'd　better　e　with　me。　Make　sure　I　don't　get　killed；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　walked　over　to　the　window　set　into　the　iceberg　and　looked　out　through　it。　
　Renshaw　paled。　〃OK；　OK；　let's　just　slow　down　for　a　second　here。　Have　you　given　any　thought　to　the　fact　that　there　is　a　pod　of　killer　whales　out　there？　Not　to　mention　some　kind　of　seal　that　kills　killer　whales…〃　
　But　Schofield　wasn't　listening。　He　was　just　staring　out　through　the　window　set　in　the　ice。　In　the　distance　to　the　southwest…at　the　top　of　one　of　the　nearby　ice　cliffs…he　saw　a　faint　intermittent　green　flash。　Flash…flash。　Flash…flash。　It　was　the　green　beacon　light　mounted　on　top　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station's　radio　antenna。　
　〃Mr。　Renshaw。　I'm　going　back　in　there。。。　with　or　without　you；　whatever　might　be　in　the　way。〃　Schofield　turned　to　face　him。　
　〃e　on。　It's　time　to　retake　Wilkes　Ice　Station。〃　
　
　
　
　Wrapped　in　two　layers　of　oversized　1960s…era　wet　suits；　Schofield　and　Renshaw　swam　through　the　icy　silence；　breathing　with　the　aid　of　their　thirty…year…old　scuba　gear。　
　They　both　had　the　same　length　of　steel　cable　tied　around　their　waists…cable　that　stretched　all　the　way　back　to　the　large　cylindrical　spooler　inside　Little　America　IV；　about　a　mile　to　the　northeast　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　It　was　a　precaution；　in　case　either　of　them　got　lost　or　separated　and　had　to　get　back　to　the　station。　
　Schofield　held　a　harpoon　gun　that　he　had　found　inside　the　Little　America　station　out　in　front　of　him。　
　The　water　around　them　became　crystal　clear　as　they　swam　underneath　the　coastal　ice　shelf　and　into　a　forest　of　jagged　stalactites　of　ice。　
　Schofield's　plan　was　that　they　would　swim　under　the　ice　shelf…depending　on　how　deep　it　went…and　e　up　inside　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Outside；　he　had　taken　his　bearings　from　the　position　of　the　green　beacon　light　atop　the　station's　radio　antenna。　He　figured　that　if　he　and　Renshaw　could　keep　swimming　in　the　general　direction　of　the　beacon；　once　they　went　under　the　ice　shelf　they　would　eventually　be　able　to　spot　the　pool　at　the　base　of　the　station。　
　Schofield　and　Renshaw　were　in　a　world　of　white。　Ghostly…white　ice　formations…like　mountain　peaks　turned　upside…down…stretched　downward　for　nearly　four　hundred　feet。　
　Schofield　frowned　inside　his　diving　mask。　They　would　have　to　go　quite　a　way　down　before　they　could　e　up　again　inside　the　station。　
　The　two　of　them　swam　down　the　side　of　one　of　the　enormous　ice　formations。　Through　his　mask；　the　only　thing　Schofield　could　see　was　a　wall　of　solid　white　ice。　
　After　a　while；　they　came　to　the　bottom　of　the　ice　formation…the　pointed　〃peak〃　of　the　inverted　mountain。　Schofield　slowly　swam　underneath　the　peak；　and　the　wall　of　white　glided　out　of　his　view…　
　…and　he　saw　it　
　His　heart　nearly　skipped　a　beat。　
　It　was　just　hanging　there　in　the　water　in　front　of　him；　suspended　from　its　winch　cable；　making　its　slow　journey　back　up　toward　the　station。　
　The　diving　bell。　
　Heading　back　up　toward　the　station。　
　And　then　Schofield　realized　what　that　meant。　
　The　British　had　already　sent　a　team　down　to　investigate　the　cavern。　
　Schofield　hoped　to　hell　that　his　Marines　down　in　the　cavern　were　ready。　
　As　for　him　and　Renshaw；　they　had　to　get　to　that　diving　bell。　It　was　a　free　ride　up　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station　that　Schofield　did　not　want　to　miss。　
　Schofield　spun　in　the　water　to　signal　Renshaw。　He　saw　the　short　scientist　behind　him；　swimming　underneath　the　inverted　mountain　peak。　He　signaled　for　Renshaw　to　pick　up　the　pace　and　the　two　men　hurried　through　the　water　toward　the　diving　bell。　
　
　
　
　〃How　many　are　down　there？〃　Barnaby　asked　softly。　
　Book　Riley　didn't　say　a　word。　
　Book　was　on　his　knees；　with　his　hands　cuffed　behind　his　back。　He　was　down　on　E…deck；　by　the　pool。　Blood　poured　out　from　his　mouth。　His　left　eye　was　half…closed；　puffed　and　swollen。　After　falling　from　the　speeding　hovercraft　with　Kirsty；　Book　had　been　brought　back　to　Wilkes。　As　soon　as　he　had　arrived　at　the　station；　he　had　been　taken　down　to　E…deck　to　face　Barnaby。　
　〃Mr。　Nero；〃　Barnaby　said。　
　The　big　SAS　man　named　Nero　punched　Book　hard　in　the　face。　Book　fell　to　the　deck。　
　〃How　many？〃　Barnaby　said。　He　was　holding　Book's　Maghook　in　his　hand。　
　〃None！〃　Book　yelled　through　bloody　teeth。　〃There's　no　one　down　there。　We　never　got　a　chance　to　send　anyone　down　there。〃　
　〃Oh；　really；〃　Barnaby　said。　He　looked　at　the　Maghook　in　his　hands　thoughtfully。　〃Mr。　Riley；　I　find　it　very　difficult　to　believe　that　a　mander　of　the　caliber　of　the　Scarecrow　would　neglect　to　make　the　task　of　sending　a　squad　down　to　that　cave　the　very　first　thing　that　he　did　once　he　got　here。〃　
　〃Then　why　don't　you　ask　him？〃　
　〃Tell　me　the　truth；　Mr。　Riley；　or　very　soon　I　am　going　to　lose　my　temper　and　feed　you　to　the　lions。〃　
　〃There's　no　one　down　there；〃　Book　said。　
　〃OK；〃　Barnaby　said；　turning　abruptly　to　face　Snake。　〃Mr。　Kaplan；〃　he　said。　〃Is　Mr。　Riley　telling　me　the　truth？〃　
　Book　looked　up　sharply　at　Snake。　
　Barnaby　said　to　Snake；　〃Mr。　Kaplan；　if　Mr。　Riley　is　lying　to　me；　I　will　kill　him。　If　you　lie　to　me；　I　will　kill　you。〃　
　Book　looked　up　at　Snake　with　wide；　pleading　eyes。　
　Snake　spoke。　〃He's　lying。　There　are　four　people　down　there。　Three　Marines；　one　civilian。〃　
　〃You　son　of　a　bitch！〃　Book　said　to　Snake。　
　〃Mr。　Nero；〃　Barnaby　said；　tossing　Book's　Maghook　to　Nero。　〃String　him　up。〃　
　
　Schofield　and　Renshaw　surfaced　together　inside　the　slow…moving　diving　bell。　
　They　climbed　up　out　of　the　water　and　stood　on　the　metal　deck　that　surrounded　the　small　pool　of　water　at　the　base　of　the　spherical　diving　bell。　
　Renshaw　removed　his　mouthpiece；　gasped　for　breath。　Schofield　scanned　the　interior　of　the　empty　diving　bell；　looking　for　weapons；　looking　for　anything。　
　He　saw　a　digital　depth　counter　on　the　far　wall。　It　was　ticking　downward　as　the　diving　bell　ascended：　360　feet。　359　feet。　358　feet。　
　〃A…ha；〃　Renshaw　said　from　the　other　side　of　the　bell。　
　Schofield　turned。　Renshaw　was　standing　in　front　of　a　small　TV　monitor　that　was　attached　to　the　wall　high　up　near　the　ceiling。　Renshaw　clicked　it　on。　〃I　forgot　about　this；〃　he　said。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃It's　another　of　old　Carmine　Yaeger's　toys。　You　remember　the　old　guy　I　told　you　about　before；　the　guy　who　used　to　watch　the　whales　all　the　time。　Do　you　remember　I　told　you　he　used　to　watch　them　sometimes　from　inside　the　diving　bell？　Well；　this　monitor　is　another　one　of　his　video　feeds　of　the　station's　pool。　Yaeger　had　it　installed　so　he　could　watch　the　surface　of　the　pool　while　he　was　underwater　in　the　bell。〃　
　Schofield　looked　up　at　the　small　black…and…white　monitor。　
　On　the　screen　he　saw　the　same　view　of　E…deck　that　he　had　seen　when　he　was　in　Renshaw's　room　earlier。　The　view　from　the　camera　on　the　underside　of　the　retractable　bridge　on　C…deck；　looking　straight　down　on　E…deck。　
　Schofield　froze。　
　He　saw　people　on　the　screen。　
　SAS　troops