mreilly.icestation-第57章

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　Schofield　was　desperately　searching　the　cloudy　red　haze　around　him…searching　for　the　whales…when　suddenly　one　of　them　exploded　out　of　the　haze　and　rushed　toward　him。　
　Schofield　screamed　underwater；　but　the　whale　slid　past　him；　brushing　roughly　against　the　side　of　his　body。　
　It　was　then　that　Schofield　remembered　what　Renshaw　had　told　him　earlier　about　the　killer　whales'　hunting　behavior。　
　They　brush　past　you　to　establish　ownership。　
　Then　they　eat　you。　
　Schofield　did　a　vertical　sit…up；　broke　the　surface。　He　heard　the　SAS　mandos　on　E…deck　cheer。　He　ignored　them；　gulped　in　air；　went　under　again。　
　He　didn't　have　much　time。　The　killer　whale　that　had　just　staked　its　claim　on　him　would　be　ing　back　any　second　now。　
　Loud　clicks　echoed　through　the　red　water　around　him。　
　And　then　suddenly　a　thought　struck　Schofield。　
　Sonar。。。。　
　Shit；　he　thought；　patting　his　pockets。　Do　I　still　have　it？　
　He　did。　
　Schofield　pulled　Kirsty　Hensleigh's　plastic　asthma　puffer　from　his　pocket。　He　pressed　the　releasing　button；　and　a　short　line　of　fat　bubbles　rushed　out　from　the　puffer。　
　OK；　need　a　weight。　
　Need　something　to　weigh　it　down。。。。　
　Schofield　saw　them　instantly。　
　Quickly　he　pulled　his　stainless　steel　dog　tags　from　around　his　neck　and　looped　their　neck　chain　around　the　puffer's　releasing　button　so　that　it　held　it　down。　
　A　continuous　stream　of　fat　bubbles　began　to　rush　out　from　the　puffer。　
　Schofield　felt　the　body　of　water　around　him　rock　and　sway。　Somewhere　out　in　the　red　murk　of　the　pool；　that　killer　whale　was　ing　back　for　him。　
　He　quickly　released　the　small　asthma　puffer；　now　weighed　down　by　his　steel　dogtags。　
　The　puffer　sank　instantly；　leaving　a　trail　of　fat　bubbles　shooting　up　through　the　water　behind　it。　After　a　second；　the　puffer　sank　into　the　murky　red　haze　and　Schofield　lost　sight　of　it。　
　A　moment　later；　the　killer　whale　roared　out　of　the　haze；　ing　right　at　Schofield；　its　jaws　bared　wide。　
　Schofield　just　stared　at　the　massive　black…and…white　beast　and　prayed　to　God　that　he　had　remembered　it　right。　
　But　the　killer　just　kept　ing。　It　came　at　him　fast…fright…eningly　fast…and　soon　Schofield　could　see　nothing　but　its　teeth　and　its　tongue　and　the　closing　yawn　of　its　jaws　and　then…　
　
　
　
　Without　warning；　the　killer　whale　banked　sharply　in　the　water　and　veered　downward；　chasing　the　asthma　puffer　and　its　trail　of　bubbles。　
　Schofield　sighed　with　relief。　
　In　a　dark　corner　of　his　mind　he　thought　about　sonar　detection　systems。　Although　it　is　widely　stated　that　sonar　bounces　off　an　object　in　water；　this　is　not　entirely　true。　Rather；　sonar　reflects　off　the　microscopic　layer　of　air　that　lies　in　between　an　object　in　water　and　the　water　itself。　
　So　when　Schofield　sank　the　asthma　puffer…spewing　out　a　trail　of　nice；　fat　air　bubbles　behind　it…he　had；　at　least　insofar　as　the　sonar…using　killer　was　concerned；　created　a　whole　new　target。　The　whale　must　have　detected　the　stream　of　bubbles　with　its　clicking　and　assumed　that　it　was　Schofield　trying　to　get　away。　
　And　so　it　had　chased　it。　
　Schofield　didn't　think　about　it　anymore。　
　He　had　other　things　to　do　now。　
　He　reached　into　his　breast　pocket　and　pulled　out　Jean　Petard's　stun　grenade。　Schofield　pulled　the　pin；　counted　to　three；　and　then　did　a　quick　sit…up　in　the　water　and　broke　the　surface。　He　then　tossed　the　stun　grenade　vertically　into　the　air　and　let　himself　fall　back　underwater　squeezing　his　eyes　shut。　
　Five　feet　above　the　surface　of　the　pool；　the　stun　grenade　reached　the　zenith　of　its　arc　and　hung　in　the　air　for　a　fraction　of　a　second。　
　Then　it　went　off。　
　
　Trevor　Barnaby　saw　the　grenade　pop　up　out　of　the　water。　It　took　him　an　extra　second　to　realize　what　it　was；　but　by　then　it　was　too　late。　
　Along　with　every　one　of　his　men；　Barnaby　did　the　most　natural　thing　in　the　world　when　he　saw　a　foreign　object　pop　up　out　of　a　pool　of　water。　
　He　looked　at　it。　
　The　stun　grenade　exploded　like　an　enormous　flashbulb；　blinding　all　of　them。　The　SAS　men　on　E…deck　recoiled　as　one；　as　a　galaxy　of　stars　and　sunspots　came　to　life　on　the　insides　of　their　eyes。　
　
　Schofield　did　another　sit…up　in　the　water。　Only　this　time；　when　he　broke　the　surface；　he　had　Petard's　crossbow　gripped　in　his　hands；　reloaded　and　ready　to　go。　
　He　took　his　aim　quickly　and　fired。　
　The　crossbow's　arrow　shot　across　the　expanse　of　E…deck　and　found　its　target。　It　slammed　into　the　Maghook's　launcher；　wedged　as　it　was　between　the　rungs　of　the　rung…ladder。　
　The　launcher　jolted　out　of　its　position　and　swung　free　from　the　rung…ladder；　swung　toward　the　pool。　When　it　had　been　wedged　in　between　the　rungs　of　the　rung…ladder；　the　Maghook's　rope　had　been　stretched　up　toward　the　retractable　bridge　on　C…deck　at　a　forty…five…degree　angle。　Now　that　it　was　released　from　the　rung…ladder…and　since　Schofield　was　floating　in　the　water　and；　therefore；　not　putting　any　weight　on　it　at　the　other　end…the　launcher　swung　back　like　a　pendulum；　out　over　the　pool；　and　smacked　into　the　middle　of　Schofield's　waiting　hand。　
　All　right！　
　He　looked　up　at　the　bridge　on　C…deck。　The　Maghook's　rope　was　now　stretched　over　the　bridge　like　a　block　and　tackle…with　the　length　of　rope　going　up　parallel　to　the　length　of　rope　going　down。　
　Schofield　gripped　the　launcher　tightly　as　he　hit　the　black　button　on　the　grip　of　the　Maghook。　Instantly　he　felt　himself　fly　up　out　of　the　bloodstained　water　as　the　reeling　mechanism　of　the　Maghook　hoisted　him　up　toward　the　bridge　on　C…deck；　its　rope　speeding　over　the　bridge　itself；　using　it　as　a　block　and　tackle。　
　Schofield　came　to　the　bridge　and　hauled　himself　up　onto　it　just　as　the　first　SAS　men　down　on　E…deck　reached　for　their　machine　guns。　
　Schofield　didn't　even　look　at　them。　He　was　already　running　off　the　bridge　when　they　started　firing。　
　
　Schofield　climbed　the　rung…ladder　up　to　B…deck　two　rungs　at　a　time。　
　When　he　got　up　onto　what　was　left　of　the　B…deck　catwalk；　he　reloaded　his　crossbow。　Then　he　dashed　toward　the　east　tunnel　and　headed　for　the　living　quarters。　He　had　to　find　Kirsty；　and　then　somehow　he　had　to　figure　out　a　way　to　get　out　of　here。　
　Suddenly　an　SAS　mando　rounded　the　corner　in　front　of　him。　Schofield　whipped　his　crossbow　up　and　fired。　The　SAS　mando's　head　snapped　backward　as　the　arrow　lodged　in　his　forehead　and　his　feet　went　out　from　under　him。　
　Schofield　quickly　went　over　to　the　body；　crouched　down　over　it。　
　The　SAS　mando　had　an　MP…5；　a　Glock…7　pistol；　and　two　blue　grenades　that　Schofield　recognized　as　nitrogen　charges。　Schofield　took　them　all。　The　SAS　man　also　had　a　lightweight　radio　headset。　Schofield　took　that；　too；　wrapped　it　around　his　head；　and　ran　off　down　the　tunnel。　
　Kirsty。　Kirsty。　
　Where　were　they　keeping　her？　Schofield　didn't　know。　He　presumed　somewhere　on　B…deck；　but　only　because　that　was　where　the　living　quarters　were。　
　He　entered　the　circular　outer　tunnel　of　B…deck　just　in　time　to　see　two　SAS　mandos　racing　toward　him。　They　raised　their　machine　guns　just　as　Schofield　brought　both　of　his　guns　up　and　fired　them　simultaneously。　The　two　SAS　men　went　down　in　an　instant。　Schofield　didn't　miss　a　step　as　he　strode　over　their　bodies。　
　He　moved　swiftly　round　the　circular　corridor；　looking　left；　looking　right。　
　Suddenly　a　door　to　his　left　opened　and　another　SAS　mando　emerged；　gun　up。　He　managed　to　get　a　shot　off　before　Schofield's　guns　blasted　to　life　and　sent　the　mando　flying　back　into　the　room　from　whence　he　had　e。　
　Schofield　entered　the　room　after　him。　It　was　the　mon　room。　
　He　saw　Kirsty　instantly。　He　also　saw　two　more　SAS　mandos　who　were　in　the　process　of　shoving　the　little　girl　toward　the　door。　
　Schofield　entered　the　mon　room　warily；　with　both　of　his　guns　up。　
　
　When　Kirsty　saw　Schofield　step　inside　the　mon　room　with　his　two　guns　raised；　she　thought　she　had　seen　a　ghost。　
　He　looked　awful。　
　He　was　soaked　to　the　skin；　his　nose　was　broken；　his　face　was　bruised；　and　his　body　armor　was　battered　all　over。　
　One　of　the　SAS　soldiers　behind　Kirsty　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks　when　he　saw　Schofield　step　into　the　room。　He　held　Kirsty　out　in　front　of　him；　put　a　gun　to　her　head；　used　her　as　a　shield。　
　〃I'll　kill　her；　mate；〃　the　mando　said　calmly。　〃I　swear　to　fucking　Christ；　I'll　paint　the　walls　of　this　room　with　her　brains。〃　
　〃Kirsty；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　calmly　leveled　his　pistol　at　the　SAS　man's　forehead　while　at　the　same　time　aiming　his　MP…5　at　the　other　SAS　mando's　brain。　
　〃Yeah；〃　Kirsty　said　meekly。　
　Schofield　said　evenly；　〃Shut　your　eyes；　honey。〃　
　Kirsty　shut　her　eyes　and　the　world　went　black。　
　And　then　suddenly　she　heard　the　double　boom！　boom！　of　guns　being　fired　and　she　didn't　know　whose　guns　had　fired　and　then　she　was　falling　backward；　still　in　the　grip　of　the　SAS　man　who　had　grabbed　hold　of　her　to　use　as　a　shield。　They　hit　the　floor　hard　and　Kirsty　felt　the　SAS　mando's　grip　loosen。　
　She　opened　her　eyes。　
　The　two　British　soldiers　were　lying　on　the　floor　beside　her。　She　saw　their　feet；　their　waists；　their　chests…　
　〃Don't　look　at　them；　honey；〃　Schofield　said；　moving　to　her。　〃You　don't　want　to　see　that。〃　
　Kirsty　turned　around　and　looked　up　at　Schofield。　He　picked　her　up　and　held　her　in　his　arms。　Then　Kirsty　buried　her　head　in　his　shoulder　plate　and　cried。　
　
　
　
　〃e　on。　It's　time　to　get　out　of　here；〃　Schofleld　said　gently。　
　He　quickly　reloaded　his　weapons　and　grabbed　Kirsty's　hand；　and　the　two　of　them　left　the　mon　room。　
　They　raced　around　the　curved　outer　tunnel；　heading　for　the　east　passageway。　They　turned　the　corner。　
　And　suddenly　Schofield　stopped。　
　Mounted　on　the　wall　to　his　left　he　saw　a　large　rectangular　black　partment。　Written　across　it　were　the　words：　fuse　box。　
　The　fuse　box；　he　thought。　This　must　have　been　where　the　French　cut　the　lights　earlier。。。。　
　Schofield　got　an　idea。　
　He　spun　where　he　stood　and　saw　the　door　leading　to　the　Biotoxin　Lab　behind　him。　Next　to　it　he　saw　a　door　marked：　
　STORAGE　CLOSET。　
　Yes。　
　Schofield　wrenched　open　the　door　to　the　storage　closet。　Inside　it；　he　saw　mops　and　buckets　and　old　wooden　shelves　loaded　with　cleaning　agents。　He　quickly　reached　up　and　grabbed　a　plastic　bottle　of　ammonia　from　one　of　the　shelves。　
　Schofield　emerged　from　the　closet　and　hurried　over　to　the　fuse　box。　He　yanked　open　the　door　and　saw　a　series　of　wires；　wheels；　and　power　units　inside。　
　Kirsty　was　standing　farther　down　the　east　tunnel；　looking　out　into　the　central　shaft　of　the　station。　
　〃Hurry　up；〃　she　whispered。　〃They're　ing！〃　
　Schofield　heard　voices　over　his　newly　acquired　headset：　
　〃…Hopkins；　report…〃　
　〃…going　after　the　girl…〃　
　〃…perimeter　team；　return　to　the　station　at　once。　We　have　a　problem　here…〃　
　At　the　fuse　box；　Schofield　quickly　found　the　wire　he　was　looking　for。　He　pulled　back　the　sheath；　exposed　the　copper　wire。　Then　he　punched　a　hole　in　the　plastic　ammonia　bottle　with　the　butt　of　his　gun　and　positioned　it　above　the　exposed　strand　of　wire。　A　small　trickle　of　ammonia　fluid　began　to　drip　slowly　out　of　the　bottle；　down　onto　the　exposed　wire。　
　The　drops　of　ammonia　smacked　rhythmically　against　the　wire。　
　Smack…smack。　Smack…smack。　
　At　that　moment；　in　time　with　the　rhythm　of　the　ammonia　drops　hitting　the　exposed　wire；　every　light　in　the　tunnel…　indeed；　every　light　in　the