mreilly.icestation-第70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！


　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。　We　dived　at　night。〃　
　〃At　night？〃　
　〃Yes。　And　so　did　your　people；　and　so　did　Barnaby's　men。　Your　people　dived　at　nine　o'clock。　Barnaby's　at　around　8：00　p。m。　Gant's　team；　however；　went　down　at　two　in　the　afternoon。　They　were　the　only　dive　team　to　go　down　to　that　cavern　in　the　daytime。〃　
　Renshaw　picked　up　what　Schofield　was　saying。　〃You　think　those　elephant　seals　are　diurnal？〃　
　〃I　think　that's　a　good　possibility；〃　Schofield　said。　
　Renshaw　nodded　slowly。　It　was　quite　mon　among　unusually　aggressive　or　poisonous　animals　to　operate　on　what　is　known　as　a　diurnal　cycle。　A　diurnal　cycle　is　essentially　a　twelve…hour　passive…aggressive　cycle…the　animal　is　passive　by　day；　aggressive　by　night。　
　〃I'm　glad　you　figured　that　out；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃I'll　keep　it　in　mind　for　the　next　time　I　stumble　onto　a　nest　of　radiation…infected　elephant　seals　who　want　to　defend　their　territory。〃　
　Schofield　smiled。　The　three　of　them　descended　the　gangway。　At　the　bottom；　they　were　met　by　a　middle…aged　Marine　Sergeant。　
　〃Lieutenant　Schofield；〃　the　Sergeant　saluted　Schofield。　〃There's　a　car　waiting　for　you；　sir。〃　
　〃Sergeant。　I'm　going　nowhere　but　the　hospital；　to　check　on　Lance　Corporal　Gant。　If　anybody　wants　me　to　go　anywhere　else；　I　ain't　going。〃　
　〃That's　OK　with　me；　sir；〃　the　Sergeant　smiled。　〃My　orders　are　to　take　you；　Mr。　Renshaw；　and　Miss　Hensleigh　to　wherever　you　want　to　go。〃　
　Schofield　nodded；　looked　to　Renshaw　and　Kirsty。　They　shrugged；　sure。　
　〃Sounds　good　to　me；〃　he　said。　〃Lead　the　way。〃　
　The　sergeant　led　them　to　a　navy　blue　Buick　with　dark　tinted　windows。　He　held　the　car　door　open　and　Schofield　got　in。　
　A　man　was　already　sitting　in　the　backseat　when　Schofield　sat　down。　
　Schofield　froze　when　he　saw　the　gun　in　the　man's　hand。　
　
　
　
　〃Have　a　seat；　Scarecrow；〃　Sergeant　Major　Charles　〃Chuck〃　Kozlowski　said　as　Schofleld　sat　down　in　the　backseat　of　the　Buick。　Renshaw　and　Kirsty　got　in　behind　Schofield。　Kirsty　inhaled　sharply　when　she　saw　Kozlowski's　gun。　
　Kozlowski　was　a　short　man；　with　a　clean…shaven　face　and　thick　black　eyebrows。　He　was　wearing　a　khaki　Marine　day　uniform。　
　The　sergeant　got　into　the　driver's　seat　and　started　the　car。　
　〃I'm　terribly　sorry；　Scarecrow；〃　the　highest…ranking　nonmissioned　officer　in　the　Marine　Corps　said。　〃But　you　and　your　friends　here　represent　a　loose　end　that　cannot　be　allowed　to　stand。〃　
　〃And　what's　that？〃　Schofield　said；　exasperated。　
　〃You　know　about　the　ICG。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃I　told　Jack　Walsh　about　the　ICG。　Are　you　going　to　kill　him；　too？〃　
　〃Maybe　not　immediately；〃　Kozlowski　said。　〃But　in　good　time；　yes。　You；　on　the　other　hand；　represent　a　more　immediate　threat。　We　wouldn't　want　you　going　to　the　press；　now；　would　we？　No　doubt；　they　will　find　out　about　what　went　on　down　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　but　the　media　will　get　what　the　ICG　tells　them；　not　what　you　tell　them。〃　
　〃How　can　you　kill　your　own　men？〃　Schofield　said。　
　Kozlowski　said；　〃You　still　don't　get　it；　do　you；　Scarecrow。〃　
　〃I　don't　get　how　you　can　kill　your　own　men　and　think　you're　doing　the　country　a　favor。〃　
　〃Jesus；　Scarecrow；　you　weren't　even　supposed　to　be　there　in　the　first　place。〃　
　That　stopped　Schofield。　〃What？〃　
　〃Think　about　it；〃　Kozlowski　said。　〃How　did　you　e　to　get　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station　before　anybody　else？〃　
　Schofield　thought　back；　right　to　the　very　beginning。　He　had　been　on　the　Shreveport；　in　Sydney。　The　rest　of　the　fleet　had　gone　back　to　Pearl；　but　the　Shreveport　had　stayed　down　there　for　repairs。　It　was　then　that　the　distress　signal　had　e　through。　
　〃That's　right；〃　Kozlowski　said；　reading　Schofield's　thoughts。　〃You　were　in　for　repairs　in　Sydney　when　the　Shreveport　received　the　distress　signal　from　Wilkes。　And　then　some　dumb…fuck　civilian　sent　you　down　there　right　away。〃　
　Schofield　remembered　the　voice　of　the　Undersecretary　of　Defense　ing　in　over　the　speakers　of　the　briefing　room　on　board　the　Shreveport；　instructing　him　to　go　down　to　Wilkes　and　protect　the　spacecraft。　
　Kozlowski　said；　〃Scarecrow；　the　Intelligence　Convergence　Group　doesn't　set　out　to　kill　American　units。　It　exists　to　protect　Americans…〃　
　〃From　what？　The　truth？〃　Schofield　retorted。　
　〃We　could　have　had　an　Army　Ranger　unit　filled　with　ICG　men　down　at　that　station　six　hours　after　you　got　there。　They　could　have　taken　that　station…even　if　the　French　had　already　got　there…and　held　it　and　no　American　soldiers　would　have　had　to　have　been　killed。〃　
　Kozlowski　shook　his　head。　〃But　no；　you　just　happened　to　be　in　the　area。　And　that's　why　we　stack　units　like　yours　with　ICG　men…for　this　very　eventuality。　In　a　perfect　world；　the　ICG　would　get　there　first　every　time。　But　if　the　ICG　can't　get　there　first；　then　we　make　sure　that　Reconnaissance　Units　like　yours　are　properly　constituted　so　as　to　ensure　that　whatever　information　is　found　at　the　site　stays　at　the　site。　For　the　sake　of　national　security；　of　course。〃　
　〃You　kill　your　own　countrymen；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Scarecrow。　This　didn't　have　to　happen。　You　were　just　in　the　wrong　place　at　the　wrong　time。　If　anything；　you　got　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station　too　fast。　If　this　had　all　been　done　as　it　should　have　been　done；　I　wouldn't　have　to　kill　you　now。〃　
　The　Buick　came　to　the　guard　station　at　the　outer　fence　of　the　dockyard。　A　boom　gate　was　lowered　in　front　of　it。　The　driver　wound　down　his　window　and　had　a　short　conversation　with　the　boom　gate　guard。　
　And　then　suddenly　the　door　next　to　Kozlowski　was　yanked　open　from　the　outside　and　an　armed　Naval　Policeman　appeared　in　the　open　doorway　with　his　gun　aimed　squarely　at　Kozlowski's　head。　
　〃Sir；　would　you　please　get　out　of　the　car？〃　Kozlowski's　face　darkened。　〃Son；　do　you　have　any　idea　who　you　are　talking　to？〃　he　growled。　
　〃No；　he　doesn't；〃　a　voice　said　from　outside　the　car。　〃But　I　do；〃　Jack　Walsh　said　as　he　appeared　outside　the　open　car　door。　
　
　Schofield；　Kirsty；　and　Renshaw　all　got　out　of　the　car；　totally　confused。　The　navy　blue　Buick　was　surrounded　by　a　swarm　of　Naval　Police；　all　with　their　guns　out。　
　Schofield　turned　to　Walsh。　〃What's　going　on？　How　did　you　know？〃　
　Walsh　nodded　over　Schofield's　shoulder。　〃Looks　to　me　like　you　got　yourself　a　guardian　angel。〃　
　Schofield　spun；　looked　for　a　familiar　face　amid　the　crowd。　At　first　he　didn't　see　a　single　face　that　he　knew。　
　And　then　suddenly　he　did。　But　it　wasn't　a　face　he　expected　to　see。　
　There；　standing　ten　yards　behind　the　ring　of　Naval　Police　surrounding　the　Buick；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　was　Andrew　Trent。　
　
　As　Kozlowski　and　his　driver　were　taken　away　in　handcuffs；　Schofield　walked　over　to　Trent。　
　Standing　with　Trent　were　a　man　and　a　woman　whom　Schofield　had　never　met　before。　Trent　introduced　them　as　Pete　and　Alison　Cameron。　They　were　reporters　with　the　Washington　Post。　
　Schofield　asked　Trent　what　had　happened。　How　had　the　Naval　Police…backed　up　by　Jack　Walsh…known　to　stop　Kozlowski's　car？　
　Trent　explained。　A　couple　of　days　ago；　he　had　seen　the　amateur　footage　of　the　Wasp's　damaged　flight　deck　on　TV。　Trent　knew　missile　damage　when　he　saw　it。　Then；　when　he　learned　that　the　Wasp　was　heading　back　to　Pearl…〃from　a　training　exercise　in　the　Southern　Ocean〃。…he　jumped　on　a　plane　to　Hawaii。　
　The　Camerons　had　e　along　with　him。　For　if；　by　some　chance；　Shane　Schofield　or；　indeed；　any　survivors　from　Wilkes　Ice　Station　were　on　board　the　Wasp；　then　it　would　be　the　story…and　the　scoop…of　a　lifetime。　Other　reporters　saw　a　damaged　flight　deck。　The　Camerons　saw　the　inside　running　on　the　Wilkes　Ice　Station　story。　
　But　when　they　had　got　to　the　dockyard　at　Pearl；　Trent　had　seen　Chuck　Kozlowski　standing　next　to　a　navy　blue　Buick；　waiting　for　the　Wasp　to　dock。　
　Trent　had　felt　a　sudden　chill。　Why　was　Kozlowski　here？　Had　the　ICG　won…as　it　had　in　Peru…and　was　Kozlowski　here　to　congratulate　the　traitors？　Or　was　he　here　for　some　other　reason？　For　if　Schofield　had　survived；　then　the　ICG　would　almost　certainly　want　to　eliminate　him。　
　And　so　Trent　and　the　two　reporters　had　just　watched　and　waited。　And　then；　when　they　saw　Schofield　emerge　from　the　ship　and　get　escorted　to　Kozlowski's　Buick；　Trent　had　called　the　only　person　he　could　think　of　who　could…and　would…　pull　rank　on　Chuck　Kozlowski。　
　Jack　Walsh。　
　〃Who'd　have　thought　it？〃　Walsh　said；　ing　over。　〃There　I　am；　on　the　bridge　of　my　wrecked　boat；　minding　my　own　business；　when　my　tech　es　running　in　and　says　he's　got　some　guy　on　the　external　switch　who　says　he　has　to　talk　to　me。　Says　it's　an　emergency　regarding　Lieutenant　Schofield。　Says　his　name　is　Andrew　Trent。〃　Walsh　smiled。　〃I　figured　I　oughta　take　the　call。〃　
　Schofield　just　shook　his　head；　amazed。　
　〃You've　been　through　a　lot；〃　Trent　said；　putting　his　arm　around　Schofield's　shoulder。　
　〃You　should　talk；〃　Schofield　said。　〃I'd　like　to　hear　about　Peru　sometime。〃　
　〃You　will；　Shane；　you　will。　But　first；　I　have　a　proposition　for　you。　How　would　you　like　to　be　on　the　front　page　of　the　Washington　Post？〃　
　Schofield　just　smiled。　
　
　
　
　On　June　23…two　days　after　Schofield　and　the　Wasp　docked　at　Pearl…the　Washington　Post　ran　a　front…page　story　containing　a　photo　of　Shane　Schofield　and　Andrew　Trent　holding　a　copy　of　the　previous　day's　Post　between　them。　Beneath　the　photo　were　displayed　copies　of　their　official　United　States　Marine　Corps　death　certificates。　Schofield's　death　certificate　was　several　days　old。　Trent's　was　over　a　year　old。　The　headline　read：　
　
　ACCORDING　TO　THE　U。S。　MILITARY；　THESE　TWO　MEN　ARE　OFFICIALLY　DEAD。　
　
　The　acpanying　story　about　the　events　that　transpired　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station…a　feature　that　ran　for　three　pages…　was　written　by　Peter　and　Alison　Cameron。　
　Later　stories　that　ran　about　the　events　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station　told　of　the　ICG　and　the　systematic　infiltration　by　it　of　elite　military　units；　universities；　and　private　corporations。　Flashbulbs　popped　across　the　country　for　the　next　six　weeks　as　ICG　moles　were　expunged　from　various　regiments；　institutions；　and　panies　and　charged　under　various　statutes　with　espionage。　
　No　mention；　however；　was　made　in　any　of　the　newspaper　and　TV　reports　about　the　presence　of　French　and　British　troops　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　Rumors　abounded　in　the　tabloids　about　which　other　countries　had　sent　troops　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Iraq。　China。　Even　Brazil　had　rated　a　mention。　
　It　was　claimed　in　some　quarters　that　the　Washington　Post　knew　exactly　who　else　had　been　down　there。　One　rival　newspaper　even　went　so　far　as　to　say　that　the　President　himself　had　paid　a　surprise　visit　to　Katharine　Graham…the　legendary　owner　of　the　Post…and　asked　her；　in　the　name　of　America's　diplomatic　relations；　not　to　publish　the　names　of　the　countries　that　had　a　presence　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　This　rumor　was　never　confirmed。　
　The　Post；　however；　never　mentioned　Britain　or　France。　
　It　reported　that　a　battle　had　taken　place　down　in　Antarctica；　but　it　steadfastly　maintained　that　it　did　not　know　the　identity　of　the　opposing　force　or　forces。　Every　article　that　appeared　in　the　Post　simply　said　that　the　conflict　had　been　against　〃enemies　unknown；〃　
　In　any　case；　the　Wilkes　Ice　Station　story　ran　for　six　whole　weeks　before　it　was　forgo