mreilly.icestation-第66章

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　〃How　are　we　going　to　get　out　of　here？〃　Renshaw　said。　
　Schofield　hoisted　Gant　up　into　the　fissure　and　pushed　her　through。　Then　he　turned　to　face　Renshaw；　his　eyes　gleaming。　
　〃We're　gonna　fly　out　of　here。〃　
　
　The　big　black　fighter　stood　magnificently　in　the　middle　of　the　underground　cavern…its　sharply　pointed　nose　tilted　downward　and　its　sleek　black　wings　swept　low。　Large　chunks　of　ice　rained　down　from　the　cavern's　high　ceiling　and　exploded　against　its　fuselage。　
　Schofield　and　the　others　raced　across　the　shaking　floor　of　the　cavern　and　took　shelter　underneath　the　belly　of　the　big　black　plane。　
　As　Schofield　held　her　in　his　arms；　Gant　showed　him　the　keypad　and　the　entry…code　screen。　
　The　entry…code　screen　glowed　green。　
　
　24157817　：_________________________　
　ENTER　AUTHORIZED　ENTRY　CODE　
　
　〃Did　anybody　figure　out　the　code？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Hensleigh　was　working　on　it；　but　I　don't　think　she　ever　figured　it　out。〃　
　〃So　we　don't　know　the　code；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃No；　we　don't；〃　Gant　said。　
　〃Great。〃　
　At　that　moment；　Kirsty　stepped　up　alongside　Schofield　and　peered　at　the　screen。　
　〃Hey；〃　she　said；　〃Fibonacci　number。〃　
　〃What？〃　Schofield　and　Gant　said　at　the　same　time。　
　Kirsty　shrugged　self…consciously。　〃Two…four…one…five…seven…eight…one…seven。　It's　a　Fibonacci　number。〃　
　〃What's　a　Fibonacci　number？〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Fibonacci　numbers　are　a　kind　of　number　sequence；〃　Kir…sty　said。　〃It's　a　sequence　where　each　number　is　the　sum　of　the　two　numbers　before　it。〃　She　saw　the　amazed　looks　around　her。　〃My　dad　showed　it　to　me。　Does　anybody　have　a　pen　and　a　piece　of　paper？〃　
　Gant　had　the　diary　she　had　found　earlier　in　her　pocket。　Renshaw　had　a　pen。　At　first　it　dribbled　with　ink…colored　water；　but　then　it　worked。　Kirsty　began　to　scribble　some　numbers　in　the　diary。　
　She　said；　〃The　sequence　goes　like　this：　0；　1；　1；　2；　3；　5；　8；　13；　and　so　on。　You　just　add　the　first　two　numbers　to　get　the　third。　Then　you　add　the　second　and　the　third　to　get　the　fourth。　If　you　just　give　me　a　minute　。。。；〃　Kirsty　said　as　she　began　to　scribble　frantically。　
　Schofield　looked　at　his　watch。　
　10：40　p。m。　
　Twenty　minutes　to　go。　
　As　Kirsty　scribbled　in　the　diary；　Renshaw　said　to　Schofield；　〃Lieutenant；　exactly　how　do　you　plan　to　fly　out　of　here？〃　
　〃Through　there；〃　Schofield　said　absently；　pointing　at　the　pool　of　water　over　on　the　other　side　of　the　cavern。　
　〃What？〃　Renshaw　said；　but　Schofield　wasn't　listening。　He　was　busy　looking　down　at　the　diary　as　Kirsty　wrote　in　it。　
　After　two　minutes；　she　had　three　rows　of　numbers　written　out。　Schofield　wondered　how　long　this　was　going　to　take。　He　looked　at　the　numbers　as　she　wrote　them：　
　
　0；1；1；　2；　3；　5；　8；13；　21；　34；　55；　89；144；　233；　377；　610；　987；　1597；　2584；　4181；　6765；　10；946；　17；711；　28；657；　46；368；　75；025；　121；393；　196；418；　317；811；　514；229；　832；040；　1；346；269；　3；524；578；　5；702；887；　9；227；465；　14；930；352；　24；157；817　
　
　〃And　see　that；〃　Kirsty　said。　'There's　your　number。　24157817。〃　
　〃Holy　shit；〃　Schofield　said。　〃OK；　then。　What　are　the　next　two　numbers　in　the　sequence。〃　
　Kirsty　scribbled　some　more。　
　39；088；169；　63；245；986　
　〃That's　them；〃　Kirsty　said；　showing　the　diary　to　Schofield。　
　Schofield　took　it　and　looked　at　it。　Sixteen　digits。　Sixteen　blank　spaces　to　fill。　Amazing。　He　punched　the　keys　on　the　keypad。　
　The　screen　beeped。　
　
　24157817　3908816963245986　
　ENTRY　CODE　ACCEPTED。　OPENING　SILHOUETTE　
　
　There　came　an　ominous　droning　sound　from　within　the　big　black　ship　and　then　suddenly　Schofield　saw　a　narrow　flight　of　steps　fold　down　slowly　from　the　ship's　black　underbelly。　
　He　gave　Kirsty　a　kiss　on　the　forehead。　〃I　never　thought　math　would　save　my　life。　e　on。〃　
　And　with　that；　Schofield　and　the　others　entered　the　big　black　ship。　
　
　
　
　They　came　into　a　missile　bay　of　some　sort。　Schofield　saw　six　missiles　locked　into　place　on　two　triangular　racks；　three　missiles　per　rack。　
　He　carried　Gant　across　the　missile　bay　and　lay　her　on　the　floor　just　as　Renshaw　and　Kirsty　stepped　up　into　the　belly　of　the　plane。　Wendy　hopped　clumsily　up　the　steps　behind　them。　Once　the　little　seal　was　safely　inside；　Renshaw　pulled　the　stairs　up　behind　her。　
　Schofield　headed　forward；　into　the　cockpit。　〃Talk　to　me；　Gant！〃　
　Gant　called　forward；　the　pain　evident　in　her　voice：　〃They　called　it　the　Silhouette。　It's　got　some　kind　of　stealth　feature　that　we　couldn't　figure　out。　Something　to　do　with　the　plutonium。〃　
　Schofield　stepped　into　the　cockpit。　
　〃Whoa。〃　
　The　cockpit　looked　amazing…futuristic；　especially　for　a　plane　that　was　built　in　1979。　There　were　two　seats：　one　forward　and　to　the　right；　the　other…the　radar　operator/gunner's　chair…behind　it　and　to　the　left。　The　steepness　of　the　cockpit…it　pointed　sharply　downward…meant　that　the　pilot　in　the　front　seat　sat　well　below　the　gunner　in　the　backseat。　
　He　jumped　into　the　pilot's　seat　just　as…bang！…a　large　chunk　of　ice　exploded　against　the　outside　of　the　canopy。　
　Schofield　stared　at　the　console　in　front　of　him：　four　puter　screens；　standard　control　stick；　buttons　and　dials　and　indicators　everywhere。　It　looked　like　an　amazing　high…tech　jigsaw　puzzle。　Schofield　felt　a　sudden　panic　sweep　over　him。　
　He　would　never　be　able　to　figure　out　how　to　fly　this　plane。　Not　in　eighteen　minutes。　
　But　then；　as　he　looked　at　the　console　more　closely；　he　began　to　see　that　it　wasn't　actually　that　much　different　from　the　consoles　on　the　Harriers　he　had　flown　in　Bosnia。　This　was　a　man…made　aircraft；　after　all…why　should　it　be　different？　
　He　found　the　ignition　switch；　keyed　it。　
　Nothing　happened。　Fuel　feed；　he　thought。　Got　to　pump　the　fuel　feed。　
　He　searched　for　the　fuel　feed　button。　Found　it；　pumped　it。　Then　he　hit　the　ignition　switch　again。　
　Nothing　hap…　
　VRRRROOOOM！　
　The　twin　turbines　of　the　Silhouette's　jet　engines　roared　to　life　and　Schofield　felt　his　blood　rush。　The　sound　of　the　engines　blasting　to　life　was　like　nothing　he　had　ever　heard。　
　He　revved　the　engines。　He　had　to　warm　her　up　fast。　
　Time；　he　thought。　
　10：45　p。m。　
　Fifteen　minutes　to　go。　
　He　kept　revving　the　engines。　Usually　such　a　warm…up　routine　would　take　upward　of　twenty　minutes。　Schofield　gave　himself　ten。　
　God；　this　was　going　to　be　close。　
　As　he　revved　the　engines　whole　sections　of　the　cavern's　ice　walls　began　to　collapse　around　the　big　black　plane。　After　five　minutes　of　revving；　he　looked　for　the　vertical　takeoff　switch。　
　〃Gant！　Where's　the　vectored　thrust？〃　On　modern　vertical…takeoff…and…landing…capable　fighters　like　the　Harrier；　vertical　lift…off　is　achieved　through　directable；　or　〃vectored；〃　thrusters。　
　〃There　aren't　any；〃　Gant　called　from　the　missile　bay。　〃It　has　retrofiring　jets　instead！　Look　for　the　button　that　starts　the　retros！〃　
　Schofield　searched　for　it。　As　he　did　so；　however；　he　came　across　another　button。　It　was　marked：　cloak　mode。　Schofield　frowned。　
　What　the　hell…　
　And　then　suddenly　he　saw　the　button　he　was　looking　for：　
　RETROS。　
　He　hit　it。　
　The　Silhouette　responded　immediately　and　began　to　rise　into　the　air。　But　then　abruptly　it　jolted　to　a　sudden　halt。　There　came　a　loud　grinding　noise　from　behind　it。　
　〃Huh？〃　Schofield　said。　
　He　looked　out　through　the　back　of　the　cockpit　canopy；　and　he　saw　that　the　two　tail　fins　of　the　Silhouette　were　still　firmly　embedded　within　the　ice　wall　behind　it。　
　Schofield　found　the　button　marked　afterburner。　Punched　it。　
　Immediately　a　white…hot　spray　of　pure　heat　burst　out　from　the　twin　thrusters　at　the　back　of　the　Silhouette　and　began　to　melt　the　ice　holding　the　rear　of　the　plane　captive。　
　The　ice　melted　quickly；　the　tail　fins　soon　came　free。　
　Schofield　checked　his　watch。　
　10：53　p。m。　
　The　entire　cavern　lurched　downward　again。　
　e　on；　now；　don't　go　yet。　1　just　need　a　couple　more　minutes。　Just　a　couple　more　minutes。。。。　
　Schofield　kept　warming　the　engine。　He　looked　down　at　his　watch　as　it　ticked　over　to　10：54。　Then　10：55。　
　All　right；　time's　up。　Time　to　go。　
　He　hit　the　button　marked　retros　again　and　the　eight　retro　jets　on　the　underside　of　the　big　black　ship　fired　as　one；　shot　out　long　white　puffs　of　gas。　
　This　time；　the　Silhouette　rose　off　the　icy　ground；　and　began　to　hover　inside　the　enormous　underground　cavern。　The　cavern　around　it　rumbled　and　shuddered。　Chunks　of　ice　rained　down　from　the　ceiling；　banged　down　on　the　back　of　the　big　black　plane。　
　Chaos。　Absolute　chaos。　
　10：56　P。M。　
　Schofield　looked　out　through　the　tinted…glass　canopy　of　the　Silhouette。　The　whole　cavern　was　tilting　crazily。　It　was　almost　as　if　the　whole　ice　shelf　was　lurching　forward；　moving　into　the　ocean。。。。　
　It's　falling　off　the　mainland；　he　thought。　
　〃What　are　you　doing！〃　Renshaw　called　from　the　missile　bay。　
　〃I'm　waiting　for　it　to　flip　over！〃　Schofield　called　back。　
　Suddenly　Schofield　heard　Gant　groan　with　pain。　〃Renshaw！　Help　her！　Fix　that　wound！　Kirsty！　Get　up　here！　I　need　you！〃　
　Kirsty　came　forward　into　the　cockpit　and　climbed　up　into　the　high　rear　chair。　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　
　〃See　that　stick　there？〃　Schofield　said。　'The　one　with　the　trigger　on　it？〃　
　Kirsty　saw　a　control　stick　in　front　of　her。　〃Yeah。〃　
　〃Pull　that　trigger　for　me；　will　you？〃　
　Kirsty　pulled　the　trigger。　
　As　soon　as　she　did　so；　two　dazzling…white　pulses　of　light　shot　out　from　both　wings　of　the　big　black　fighter　plane。　
　The　two　tracer　bullets　slammed　into　the　ice　wall　in　front　of　the　Silhouette　and　exploded　in　twin　clouds　of　white。　When　the　two　clouds　dissipated；　Schofield　saw　a　large　hole　in　the　ice　wall。　
　〃Nice　shootin；〃　Tex；〃　he　said。　
　He　pulled　back　on　his　stick；　and　the　Silhouette　rose　higher　in　the　middle　of　the　collapsing　ice　cavern。　
　〃All　right；　everybody；　hold　on；　this　thing　is　gonna　go　any　second　now；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Kirsty；　when　I　say　so；　I　want　you　to　press　down　on　that　trigger　and　hold　it　down；　OK？〃　
　〃OK。〃　
　Schofield　peered　out　through　the　canopy；　looked　out　at　the　crumbling　ceiling　of　the　ice　cavern；　looked　out　at　the　pool　of　water　through　which　they　had　all　entered　the　cavern…the　water　in　the　pool　was　sloshing　madly　against　the　ice　walls。　
　And　then　at　that　moment；　it　happened。　The　whole　cavern　just　dropped…straight　down…and　then　tilted　dramatically。　In　that　instant；　Schofield　knew　that　the　whole　of　the　ice　shelf　containing　Wilkes　Ice　Station　had　e　pletely　free　of　the　mainland。　
　It　had　bee　an　iceberg。　
　Wait　for　it；　Schofield　told　himself。　Wait　for　it。。。。　
　And　then；　abruptly；　the　whole　cavern　tilted　again。　
　Only　this　time；　the　tilting　was　much　more　dramatic。　This　time　the　whole　cavern　rotated　a　full　180　degrees；　right　around　the　hovering　Silhouette！　
　The　iceberg　had　flipped　over！　
　The　whole　cavern　was　now　upside…down。〃　
　Suddenly　a　torrent　of　water　came　rushing　out　of　a　wide　hole　in　the　〃ceiling〃　of　the　cavern…the　hole　that　only　moments　before　had　been　the　mouth　of　the　underwater　ice　tunnel　that　had　led　up　into　the　cavern。　
　The　underwater　ice　tunnel　no　longer　led　to　the　depths　of　the　ocean。　Now　it　led　upward。　Now　it　led　to　the　surface。　
　Schofield　maneuvered　the　Silhouette　so　as　to　avoid　the　cascade　of　water　pouring　out　of　the　ice　tunnel。　After　a　good　twenty　seconds；　the　rush　of　water　abated　and　he　pulled　back　on　his　stick。　The　Silhouette　responded　by　rockin