mreilly.icestation-第55章

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hook。　
　Trevor　Barnaby　came　over。　〃So；　Scarecrow。　At　last　we　meet。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　He　noticed　that　Barnaby　was　wearing　a　black　thermal　wet　suit。　
　He's　planning　on　sending　another　team　down　to　the　cave；　Schofield　thought；　with　himself　included。　
　〃You've　been　watching　us　from　the　diving　bell；　haven't　you；〃　Barnaby　said；　grinning。　〃But　so；　too；　have　we　been　watching　you。〃　Barnaby　smiled　as　he　indicated　a　small　gray　unit　mounted　on　the　edge　of　the　pool。　It　looked　like　a　camera　of　some　sort；　pointed　down　into　the　water。　
　〃One　never　leaves　any　flank　unguarded；〃　Barnaby　said。　〃You　of　all　people　should　know　that。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　Barnaby　began　to　pace。　〃You　know；　when　I　was　told　that　you　were　leading　the　American　protective　force　on　this　mission；　I'd　hoped　that　we　might　get　a　chance　to　meet。　But　then；　when　I　arrived；　you　flew　the　coop。〃　Barnaby　stopped　his　pacing。　〃And　then　I　heard　that　you　were　last　seen　flying　off　a　cliff　in　a　hovercraft　and　suddenly　I　was　sure　we　wouldn't　be　meeting。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　〃But　now；　well〃…Barnaby　shook　his　head…〃I'm　so　glad　I　was　wrong。　What　a　pleasure　it　is　to　see　you　again。　It's　really　quite　a　shame　that　we　have　to　meet　in　these　circumstances。〃　
　〃Why　is　that？〃　Schofield　said；　speaking　for　the　first　time。　
　〃Because　it　means　that　one　of　us　has　to　die。〃　
　〃My　sympathies　to　your　family；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Aha！〃　Barnaby　said。　〃Some　fight。　I　like　that。　That's　what　I　always　liked　about　you；　Scarecrow。　You've　got　fight　in　you。　You　may　not　be　the　greatest　strategic　mander　in　the　world；　but　you're　a　damned　determined　son　of　a　bitch。　If　you　don't　pick　up　something　right　away；　you　knuckle　down　and　learn　it。　And　if　you　find　yourself　on　the　back　foot；　you　never　give　up。　You　can't　buy　that　sort　of　courage　these　days。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　〃Take　heart；　Scarecrow。　Truth　be　told；　you　never　could　have　won　this　crusade。　You　were　hobbled　from　the　start。　Your　own　men　weren't　even　loyal　to　you。〃　
　Barnaby　turned　to　look　at　Snake　Kaplan　on　the　far　side　of　the　pool。　Schofield　turned　to　look；　too。　
　〃You'd　like　to　kill　him；　wouldn't　you；〃　Barnaby　said；　staring　at　Snake。　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　Barnaby　turned；　his　eyes　narrowing。　〃You　would；　wouldn't　you？〃　
　Schofield　remained　silent。　
　Barnaby　seemed　to　think　about　something　for　a　moment。　When　he　turned　back　to　face　Schofield；　he　had　a　glint　in　his　eye。　
　〃You　know　what？〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　the　chance　to　do　exactly　that。　A　sporting　chance；　of　course；　but　a　chance　nonetheless。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　
　〃Well；　since　I'm　going　to　kill　you　both　anyway；　I　figure　I　might　as　well　leave　it　up　to　the　two　of　you　to　decide　who　gets　fed　to　the　lions　and　who　dies　on　his　feet。〃　
　Schofield　frowned　for　a　second；　not　understanding；　and　then　he　looked　back　at　the　pool。　He　saw　the　high　black　dorsal　fin　of　one　of　the　killer　whales　cut　through　the　water　toward　him。　
　The　killers　were　back。　
　〃Unlock　him；〃　Barnaby　called　to　the　SAS　soldiers　guarding　Snake。　〃Gentlemen；　to　the　drilling　room。〃　
　
　With　his　hands　cuffed　firmly　behind　his　back；　Schofield　was　led　down　the　southern　tunnel　of　E…deck。　As　he　walked　past　the　storeroom；　he　stole　a　quick　glance　inside　it。　
　The　storeroom　was　empty。　
　Mother　was　gone。　
　But　Barnaby　hadn't　said　anything　about　Mother　before。。。。　
　They　hadn't　found　her。　
　The　SAS　men　marched　Schofield　down　the　long；　narrow　corridor　and　shoved　him　into　the　drilling　room。　Schofield　stumbled　inside　and　spun　around。　
　Snake　was　shoved　into　the　drilling　room　a　couple　of　seconds　later。　His　handcuffs　had　been　removed。　
　Schofield　looked　at　the　drilling　room　around　him。　In　the　center　of　the　room　stood　the　large　black　core…drilling　apparatus。　It　looked　like　a　miniature　oil　well；　with　a　long；　cylindrical　plunger　suspended　in　the　middle　of　a　black　skeletal　rig。　The　plunger；　Schofield　guessed；　was　the　part　of　the　machine　that　drilled　down　into　the　ice　and　obtained　the　ice　cores。　
　On　the　far　side　of　the　core…drilling　machine；　however；　Schofield　saw　something　else。　
　A　body。　
　Lying　on　the　floor。　
　It　was　the　crumpled；　blood…smeared　body　of　Jean　Petard；　untouched　since　Petard　had　been　shredded　by　the　hailstorm　of　shrapnel　from　his　own　Claymore　mines　several　hours　earli…　
　〃Gentlemen；〃　Barnaby　said　suddenly　from　the　doorway。　It　was　the　only　way　in　or　out　of　the　room。　〃You　are　about　to　fight　for　the　privilege　of　living。　I　will　return　in　five　minutes。　When　I　return；　I　expect　one　of　you　to　be　dead。　If；　after　that　time；　both　of　you　are　still　alive；　I　will　shoot　you　both　myself。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　one　of　you　is　dead；　the　winner　will　get　to　live　for　a　short　while　and　die　in　a　more　noble　fashion。　Any　questions？〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃What　about　these　cuffs？〃　His　hands　were　still　handcuffed　behind　his　back。　Snake's　were　free。　
　〃What　about　them？〃　Barnaby　said。　〃Any　more　questions？〃　
　There　were　none。　
　〃Then；　do　as　you　will；〃　Barnaby　said　before　he　left　the　room　and　closed　the　door　behind　him；　locking　it。　
　
　Schofield　immediately　turned　to　Snake。　〃All　right；　listen；　we　have　to　figure　out　a　way　to…〃　
　Snake　slammed　into　Schofield　hard。　
　Schofield　was　lifted　clean　off　the　floor　and　rammed　with　stunning　force　into　the　wall　behind　him。　He　doubled　over；　gasped　for　breath；　and　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　Snake's　open　palm　rushing　at　his　face。　He　ducked　quickly　and　Snake's　hand　hit　the　wall。　
　Schofield's　mind　went　into　overdrive。　Snake　had　just　e　at　him　with　a　standard　hand…to…hand　bat　move…an　open…palmed　punch　that　was　designed　to　send　the　other　guy's　nose　back　into　his　brain；　killing　him　with　one　hit。　
　Snake　was　out　to　kill　him。　
　In　five　minutes。　
　The　two　men　were　still　close；　so　Schofield　thrust　up　hard　with　his　knee　and　caught　Snake　in　the　groin。　Schofield　leaped　clear　of　the　wall。　Once　he　was　clear　of　Snake　and　the　wall；　he　jumped　up　quickly　and　brought　his　cuffed　hands　forward…　under　his　feet…so　that　they　were　now　in　front　of　his　body。　
　Snake　came　at　him　with　a　flurry　of　kicks　and　punches。　Schofield　parried　each　blow　with　his　cuffed　hands　and　the　two　men　parted　and　began　to　circle　each　other　like　a　pair　of　big　cats。　
　Schofield's　mind　raced。　Snake　would　want　to　get　him　onto　the　floor。　While　he　remained　on　his　feet；　he　would　be　OK…　because　even　with　his　hands　cuffed；　he　could　still　parry　any　blow　Snake　threw　at　him。　But　if　they　both　went　to　the　ground；　it　would　be　all　over。　Snake　would　have　him　in　no　time。　
　Got　to　stay　off　the　ground。。。。　
　Got　to　stay　off　the　ground。。。。　
　The　two　Marines　circled　each　other…on　either　side　of　the　black　drilling　apparatus　in　the　center　of　the　room。　
　Suddenly　Snake　grabbed　a　length　of　steel　from　the　floor　and　swung　it　hard　at　Schofield。　Schofield　ducked；　too　late；　and　took　a　glancing　blow　to　the　left　side　of　his　head。　He　saw　stars　for　a　second　and　lost　his　balance。　
　Snake　was　on　him　in　an　instant；　launching　himself　across　the　room；　tackling　Schofield　hard；　driving　him　back　against　the　wall。　
　Schofield's　back　slammed　into　a　power　switch　on　the　wall　and　instantly；　across　the　room；　the　vertical　plunger　on　the　drilling　machine　suddenly　whirred　to　life　and　began　to　spin　rapidly。　It　emitted　a　shrill；　roaring　sound　like　that　of　a　buzz…saw。　
　Snake　threw　Schofield　to　the　ground。　
　No！　
　Schofield　hit　the　ground　hard　and　rolled　immediately…　
　…only　to　find　himself　lying　face…to…face　with　Jean　Petard。　
　Or；　at　least；　what　was　left　of　Petard's　face　after　it　had　been　ripped　to　shreds　by　the　blast　of　the　Claymore　mines。　
　And　then　at　that　moment…in　that　fleeting　moment…Schofield　caught　a　glimpse　of　something　inside　Petard's　jacket。　
　A　crossbow。　
　Schofield　reached　desperately　for　the　crossbow　with　his　cuffed　hands。　He　got　his　hands　around　the　grip；　got　ahold　of　it；　and…　
　…then　Snake　crash…tackled　him；　and　both　men　slid　across　the　floor　and　slammed　into　the　drilling　machine　in　the　center　of　the　room。　The　sound　of　the　spinning　plunger　roared　in　their　ears。　
　Schofield　lay　on　his　back；　on　the　floor。　Snake　knelt　astride　him。　
　And　in　a　sudden　instant；　Schofield　saw　that　he　still　had　the　crossbow　in　his　hands。　He　blinked。　He　must　have　kept　hold　of　it　when　Snake　had　crash…tackled　him。　
　It　was　then　that　Snake　hit　Schofield　with　a　pulverizing　blow。　
　Schofield　heard　his　nose　crack　and　saw　the　blood　explode　outward　from　his　face。　His　head　slammed　back　against　the　floor。　Hard。　
　The　world　spun　and　for　a　fleeting　instant　Schofield　blacked　out。　Suddenly　he　felt　a　wave　of　panic…if　he　blacked　out　pletely；　that　would　be　the　end　of　it。　Snake　would　kill　him　where　he　lay。　
　Schofield　opened　his　eyes　again；　and　the　first　thing　he　saw　was　the　spinning　plunger　of　the　drilling　machine　hovering　three　feet　above　his　head！　
　It　was　right　over　the　top　of　him！　
　He　saw　the　leading　edge　of　the　spinning　cylinder…the　sharply　serrated　leading　edge；　the　edge　that　was　designed　to　cut　down　through　solid　ice。　
　And　then　suddenly　he　saw　Snake　move　in　front　of　the　plunger；　his　face　contorted　with　anger；　and　then　he　saw　Snake's　fist　e　rushing　down　at　his　face。　
　Schofield　tried　to　raise　his　hands　in　his　defense　but　they　were　still　cuffed　together；　pinned　underneath　Snake's　body。　He　couldn't　get　them　up…　
　The　blow　hit　home。　
　The　world　became　a　blur。　Schofield　struggled　desperately　to　see　through　the　haze。　
　He　saw　Snake　draw　his　hand　back　again；　preparing　for　what　would　no　doubt　be　the　final　blow。　
　And　then　Schofield　saw　something　off　to　the　right。　
　The　switch　on　the　wall　that　had　started　the　drilling　machine。　He　saw　three　big　round　buttons　on　the　switch　panel。　
　Black；　red　and　green。　
　And　then；　with　startling　clarity；　the　words　on　the　black　button　suddenly　came　into　focus。　
　LOWER　DRILL。　
　Schofield　looked　up　at　Snake；　saw　the　rapidly　spinning　plunger　right　above　his　head。　
　There　was　no　way　Schofield　could　shoot　Snake　with　the　crossbow；　but　if　he　could　just　angle　his　hands　slightly；　he　might　be　able　to。。。　
　〃Snake；　you　know　what？〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃I　never　liked　you。〃　
　And　with　that　Schofield　raised　his　cuffed　hands　slightly；　aimed　his　crossbow　at　the　big　black　button　on　the　wall；　and　fired。　
　The　arrow　covered　the　distance　in　a　millisecond　and。。。　。。。　hit　the　big　black　button　right　in　its　center…pinning　it　to　the　wall　behind　it…just　as　Schofield　thrust　his　head　clear　of　the　drilling　machine　and　the　plunger；　spinning　at　phenomenal　speed；　came　rushing　down　into　the　back　of　Snake's　head。　
　Schofield　heard　the　sickening　crunch　of　breaking　bone　as　Snake's　whole　body　was　yanked　violently　downward…headfirst…by　the　weight　of　the　plunger　and　then　suddenly；　grotesquely；　the　plunger；　its　shrill　buzzing　filling　the　room；　carved　right　through　Snake's　head　and　a　flood　of　thick　red…and…gray　ooze　poured　out　from　his　skull　and　then　with　a　final　sprack！　the　plunger　popped　out　through　the　other　side　of　Snake's　head　and　continued　on　its　way　down　into　the　ice　hole　beneath　it。　
　
　Still　somewhat　dazed　from　the　fight；　Schofield　rose　to　his　knees。　He　turned　away　from　the　hideous　sight　of　Snake's　body　pinned　underneath　the　blood…spattered　drilling　machine　and　quickly　put　the　crossbow　in　his　thigh　pocket。　Then　he　spun　and　began　looking　about　himself　for　any　kind　of　weap