mreilly.icestation-第69章

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　At　that　moment；　a　stream　of　men…all　of　them　dressed　in　blue　coveralls…poured　out　of　the　doorway　in　front　of　Schofield　and　headed　across　the　deck　toward　the　Silhouette。　
　Admiral　Clayton　turned　to　Schofield。　〃Seems　this　mission　is　not　going　to　be　a　plete　waste　of　time　after　all。　We　heard　the　mentary　of　your　dogfight　with　the　F…22s。　A　cloaking　device；　huh？　Who　would　have　thought　it。〃　
　Schofield　looked　back　out　at　the　deck；　saw　the　men　in　blue　coveralls　reach　the　stern　end　of　the　flight　deck；　saw　them　begin　to　swarm　all　over　the　Silhouette。　A　couple　of　them　went　up　the　steps　and　inside　the　big　black　plane。　
　〃Captain　Walsh；〃　Schofield　said；　indicating　Gant。　〃This　Marine　needs　medical　attention。〃　
　Walsh　nodded。　〃Let's　get　her　to　the　infirmary。　Deckhand！〃　
　A　deckhand　appeared；　took　Gant　from　Schofield；　carried　her　inside。　
　Schofield　turned　to　Kirsty　and　Renshaw。　〃Go　with　her。　Take　Wendy；　too。〃　Kirsty　and　Renshaw　obeyed；　went　inside　the　island。　Wendy　hopped　in　through　the　doorway　after　them。　Schofield　made　to　follow　them；　but　as　he　did；　there　came　a　shout　from　over　by　the　Silhouette。　
　〃Admiral！〃　one　of　the　men　in　blue　coveralls　called　out　from　underneath　the　pointed　nose　of　the　Silhouette。　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Admiral　Clayton　said；　walking　over　to　the　plane。　
　The　man　held　up　the　Tritonal　80/20　charge　that　Schofield　had　left　inside　the　cockpit。　Clayton　saw　it。　He　didn't　seem　at　all　perturbed　by　its　presence。　
　Admiral　Clayton　turned　to　Schofield　from　fifty　yards　away。　〃Attempting　to　destroy　the　evidence；　Lieutenant？〃　
　The　Admiral　took　the　charge　from　the　man；　turned　the　pressurized　lid；　and　calmly　flicked　the　disarm　switch。　
　Clayton　smiled　at　Schofield。　〃Really；　Scarecrow；〃　he　called。　〃You'll　have　to　do　better　than　that　to　beat　me。〃　
　Schofield　just　stared　at　Clayton；　standing　over　by　the　Silhouette。　〃I'm　sorry　about　the　deck；　sir；〃　Schofield　said　quietly。　
　Behind　him；　Jack　Walsh　said；　〃What？〃　
　〃I　said；　I'm　sorry　about　the　deck；　sir；〃　Schofield　repeated。　
　At　that　moment；　there　came　a　sudden　high…pitched　whining　sound。　And　then　before　anyone　knew　what　was　happening；　the　whine　became　a　scream　and　then；　like　a　thunderbolt　sent　from　God　himself；　the　sixth　and　final　missile　from　the　Silhouette　came　shooting　down　out　of　the　sky　and　slammed　into　the　Silhouette　at　nearly　three　hundred　miles　per　hour。　
　The　big　black　fighter　plane　shattered　in　an　instant；　exploded　into　a　thousand　pieces。　Every　man　inside　or　near　it　was　killed　instantly。　The　fuel　tanks　of　the　big　black　plane　exploded　next；　causing　a　red…hot　fireball　of　liquid　fire　to　flare　out　from　the　destroyed　plane。　The　fireball　billowed　out　across　the　deck　and　engulfed　Admiral　Clayton。　It　was　so　hot；　it　wiped　the　skin　from　his　face。　
　Admiral　Thomas　Clayton　was　dead　before　he　hit　the　ground。　
　
　
　
　Shane　Schofield　stood　on　the　bridge　of　the　Wasp　as　it　sailed　east　across　the　Southern　Ocean；　into　the　morning　sun。　He　took　a　sip　from　a　coffee　mug　with　the　words　CAPTAINS　MUG　written　on　it。　The　coffee　was　hot。　
　Jack　Walsh　came　out　onto　the　bridge　and　offered　him　a　new　pair　of　silver　antiflash　glasses。　Schofield　took　them；　put　them　on。　
　It　had　been　three　hours　now　since　the　Silhouette　had　been　destroyed　by　one　of　its　own　missiles。　
　Gant　had　been　taken　to　the　infirmary；　where　her　condition　had　worsened。　Her　blood　loss　had　been　severe。　She　had　lapsed　into　a　a　about　half　an　hour　ago。　
　Renshaw　and　Kirsty　were　in　Walsh's　stateroom；　sleeping　soundly。　Wendy　was　playing　in　a　dive　preparation　pool　belowdecks。　
　Schofield　himself　had　had　a　hot　shower　and　changed　into　a　tracksuit。　A　corpsman　had　attended　to　his　wounds；　reset　his　broken　rib。　He　had　said　that　Schofield　would　need　further　treatment　when　he　got　back　home；　but　with　a　few　painkillers　he　would　be　OK　for　now。　When　the　corpsman　had　finished；　Schofield　had　returned　to　Gant's　bedside。　He　had　only　e　up　to　the　bridge　when　Walsh　had　called　for　him。　
　When　he'd　got　there；　Walsh　had　told　him　that　the　Wasp　had　just　received　a　call　from　McMurdo　Station。　Apparently；　a　battered　Marine　hovercraft　had　just　arrived　at　McMurdo。　In　it　were　five　people…one　Marine　and　four　scientists…claiming　that　they　had　e　from　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　Schofield　shook　his　head　and　smiled。　Rebound　had　made　it　to　McMurdo。　
　It　was　then　that　Walsh　demanded　a　rundown　of　the　events　of　the　preceding　twenty…four　hours。　Schofield　told　him　everything…about　the　French　and　the　British；　the　ICG；　and　the　Silhouette。　He　even　told　Walsh　about　the　help　he　had　received　from　a　dead　Marine　named　Andrew　Trent。　
　When　Schofield　had　finished　recounting　his　story；　Walsh　just　stood　there　for　a　moment　in　stunned　silence。　Schofield　took　another　sip　from　his　mug　and　looked　aft；　through　the　slanted　panoramic　windows　of　the　bridge。　He　saw　the　gaping　hole　at　the　stern　end　of　the　flight　deck　where　the　missile　had　hit　the　Silhouette。　Jagged　lengths　of　metal　stuck　out　into　the　hole；　wires　and　cables　hung　loosely　from　it。　
　Of　course；　Walsh　had　accepted　Schofield's　apology　for　the　damage　to　the　deck。　He　hadn't　much　liked　Admiral　Clayton　anyway；　the　asshole　had　assumed　mand　of　Walsh's　ship；　and　no　skipper　appreciated　that。　And　then　when　Walsh　heard　about　Schofield's　experiences　with　the　ICG　down　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　he　had　no　pity　for　Clayton　and　his　ICG　men　at　all。　
　As　he　stood　there　gazing　down　at　the　hole　in　the　flight　deck；　Schofield　began　to　think　about　the　mission　again；　in　particular　about　the　Marines　he　had　lost；　the　friends　he　had　lost；　on　this　foolish　crusade。　
　〃Uh；　Captain；〃　a　young　Ensign　said。　Walsh　and　Schofield　turned　together。　The　young　Ensign　was　sitting　at　an　illuminated　table　inside　the　munications　room　that　adjoined　the　bridge。　〃I'm　picking　up　something　very　peculiar　here。。。。〃　
　〃What　is　it？〃　Walsh　said。　He　and　Schofield　came　over。　
　The　Ensign　said；　〃It　appears　to　be　some　kind　of　GPS　transponder　signal；　ing　from　just　off　the　coast　of　Antarctica。　It's　emitting　a　valid　Marine　code　signal。〃　
　Schofield　peered　at　the　illuminated　table　in　front　of　the　Ensign。　It　had　a　puter…generated　map　drawn　on　it。　Down　on　the　coast　of　Antarctica…just　off　the　coast；　actually…there　was　a　small；　blinking　red　dot；　with　a　blinking　red　number　alongside　it：　05。　
　Schofield　frowned。　He　remembered　pressing　his　own　Navistar　Global　Positioning　System　transponder　when　he　and　Renshaw　had　been　marooned　on　the　iceberg。　His　GPS　transponder　code　was　〃01〃　since　he　was　the　unit　mander。　Snake　was　02；　Book　was　03。　The　numbers　then　ascended　in　order　of　seniority。　
　Schofield　tried　to　remember　who　〃05〃　was。　
　〃Holy　shit；〃　he　said；　realizing。　〃It's　Mother！〃　
　
　The　Wasp　sailed　toward　the　rising　sun。　
　As　soon　as　Schofield　realized　who　the　GPS　signal　represented；　Jack　Walsh　had　sent　a　call　to　McMurdo。　The　Marines　there…trusted　Marines…sent　a　patrol　boat　out　along　the　coast　to　pick　up　Mother。　
　A　whole　day　later；　as　the　Wasp　entered　the　Pacific　Ocean；　Schofield　got　a　call　from　the　patrol　boat。　It　had　found　Mother；　on　an　iceberg　just　off　the　destroyed　coastline。　Apparently；　the　crew　of　the　patrol　boat…all　of　them　dressed　in　airtight　radiation　suits…had　found　her　inside　an　old　station　of　some　sort；　a　station　buried　within　the　iceberg。　
　The　skipper　of　the　patrol　boat　said　that　Mother　was　suffering　from　severe　hypothermia　and　radiation　sickness　from　the　fallout　and　that　they　were　about　to　put　her　under　sedation。　
　It　was　then　that　Schofield　heard　a　voice　at　the　other　end　of　the　line。　A　woman's　voice；　shouting　wildly；　〃Is　that　him？　Is　that　Scarecrow？〃　
　Mother　came　on　the　line。　
　After　some　obscene　pleasantries；　she　told　Schofield　how　she　had　hidden　inside　the　elevator　shaft　and　how　she　had　lapsed　into　unconsciousness。　Then　she　told　him　how　she　had　been　woken　by　the　sound　of　the　Navy　SEALs'　gunfire　as　they　had　entered　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Minutes　later；　she　had　heard　every　word　of　Schofield's　conversation　with　Romeo；　heard　about　the　nuclear…tipped　cruise　missile　heading　toward　Wilkes。　
　And　so　she　had　crawled　out　of　the　dumbwaiter　shaft…　while　the　SEALs　were　still　in　the　station…and　headed　for　the　pool　deck；　grabbing　a　couple　of　fluid　bags　from　the　storeroom　on　the　way。　When　she　got　to　the　pool　deck；　she　saw　Renshaw's　thirty…year…old　scuba　gear；　lying　on　the　deck；　with　a　cable　attached　to　it。　
　A　steel　cable　that　had　led…with　the　help　of　the　last　remaining　British　sea　sled…all　the　way　back　to　Little　America　IV；　one　mile　off　the　coast。　
　Schofield　was　amazed。　He　congratulated　Mother　and　said　his　good…byes；　said　he　would　see　her　back　at　Pearl。　And　as　they　took　Mother　away　at　the　other　end　to　sedate　her；　Schofield　heard　her　shout；　〃And　I　remember　you　kissed　me！　You　hot　dog！〃　
　Schofield　just　laughed。　
　
　Five　days　later；　the　USS　Wasp　sailed　into　Pearl　Harbor　in　Hawaii。　
　A　cluster　of　TV　cameras　was　waiting　on　the　dock　when　it　arrived。　Two　days　earlier；　a　charter　plane　flying　over　the　South　Pacific　had　spotted　the　Wasp　and　seen　its　damaged　flight　deck。　One　of　the　pilots　had　captured　the　damage　on　video　camera。　The　TV　news　stations　had　eaten　it　up；　and　now　they　were　keen　to　find　out　what　had　happened　to　the　great　ship。　
　At　the　top　of　the　gangway；　Schofield　watched　as　two　midshipmen　carried　Gant　off　the　ship　on　a　stretcher。　She　was　still　in　a　a。　They　were　taking　her　to　the　nearby　military　hospital。　
　Renshaw　and　Kirsty　met　Schofield　at　the　top　of　the　gangway。　
　〃Hey　there；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Hi；〃　Kirsty　said。　She　was　holding　onto　Renshaw's　hand。　
　Renshaw　put　on　a　bad　Marlon　Brando　accent。　〃Who'd　have　thought　it？　I'm　the　Godfather。〃　
　Schofield　laughed。　
　Kirsty　spun　around。　〃Say；　where's…〃　
　At　that　moment；　Wendy　slid　out　from　a　nearby　doorway。　She　loped　straight　up　to　Schofield　and　began　nuzzling　his　hand。　From　tip　to　tail；　the　little　fur　seal　was　dripping　wet。　
　〃She's；　ah；　taken　a　bit　of　a　liking　to　the　ship's　dive　preparation　pool；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃So　I　see；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　gave　Wendy　a　gentle　pat　behind　the　ears。　Wendy　preened；　then　she　dropped　to　the　deck　and　rolled　onto　her　back。　Schofield　shook　his　head　as　he　dropped　to　his　haunches　and　gave　her　a　quick　pat　on　her　belly。　
　〃The　captain　even　said　she　could　stay　here　until　we　found　somewhere　else　for　her　to　live；〃　Kirsty　said。　
　〃Good；〃　Schofield　said。　〃I　think　it's　the　least　we　can　do。〃　He　gave　Wendy　a　final　pat　and　the　little　seal　leaped　to　her　feet　and　dashed　away；　heading　back　downstairs　toward　her　favorite　pool。　
　Schofield　stood　up　again　and　turned　to　face　Renshaw。　〃Mr。　Renshaw；　I　have　a　question　for　you。〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃What　time　did　the　people　from　your　station　dive　down　to　the　cave？〃　
　〃What　time？〃　
　〃Yes；　the　time；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Was　it　day　or　night？〃　
　〃Uh；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Night；　I　believe。　I　think　it　was　somewhere　around　nine　o'clock。〃　
　Schofield　began　to　nod　to　himself。　
　〃Why？〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃I　think　I　know　why　the　elephant　seals　attacked　us。〃　
　〃Why？〃　
　〃Remember　I　said　that　the　only　group　of　divers　to　have　approached　that　cave　unharmed　was　Gant's　group？〃　
　〃Yeah。〃　
　〃And　I　said　that　it　was　because　her　group　had　used　low…audibility　breathing　gear。〃　
　Renshaw　said；　〃Yeah。　So　did　we。　And　as　I　recall　it；　the　seals　attacked　us　anyway。〃　
　Schofield　smiled　a　crooked　smile。　〃Yeah。　I　know。　But　I　think　I　figured　out　why