mreilly.icestation-第8章

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　Snake　Kaplan　drew　a　bead　on　the　hovercraft。　
　The　lettering　on　the　side　of　the　vehicle　glowed　bright　gfeen　in　his　night…vision　gunsights。　It　read：　DUMONT　D'URVILLE…　02。　
　Kaplan　was　lying　in　the　snow　on　the　outskirts　of　the　station　plex；　bracing　himself　against　the　driving　wind　and　snow；　following　the　newly　arrived　hovercraft　through　the　sights　of　his　Barrett　M82A1A　sniper　rifle。　
　Gunnery　Sergeant　Scott　〃Snake〃　Kaplan　was　forty…five　years　old；　a　tall　man　with　dark；　serious　eyes。　Like　most　of　the　other　Marines　in　Schofield's　unit；　Kaplan　had　customized　his　uniform。　A　weathered　tattoo　of　a　fearsome…looking　cobra　with　its　jaws　bared　wide　had　been　painted　onto　his　right　shoulder　plate。　Underneath　the　picture　of　the　snake　were　the　words：　KISS　THIS。　
　A　career　soldier；　Kaplan　had　been　with　the　Marine　Corps　for　twenty…seven　years；　during　which　time　he　had　risen　to　the　magic　rank　of　Gunnery　Sergeant；　the　highest　rank　an　enlisted　Marine　can　reach　while　still　getting　his　hands　dirty。　Indeed；　although　further　promotion　was　possible；　Snake　had　decided　to　stay　at　Gunnery　Sergeant　rank；　so　that　he　could　remain　a　senior　member　of　a　Marine　Force　Reconnaissance　Unit。　
　Members　of　Recon　Units　don't　care　much　for　discussions　about　rank。　Membership　in　a　Marine　Force　Reconnaissance　Unit　alone　gives　one　privileges　to　which　even　some　officers　cannot　lay　claim。　It　is　not　unknown；　for　instance；　for　a　four…star　General　to　consult　a　senior　Recon　member　on　matters　of　bat　technique　and　weaponry。　Indeed；　Snake　himself　had　been　approached　on　several　such　occasions。　And　besides；　since　most　of　those　who　were　selected　for　the　Recons　were　Sergeants　and　Corporals　anyway；　rank　wasn't　really　an　issue。　They　were　with　the　Recons；　the　elite　of　the　United　States　Marine　Corps。　That　was　rank　in　itself。　
　Upon　the　unit's　arrival　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　Snake　had　been　put　in　charge　of　setting　up　the　laser　trip　wire　on　the　landward　side　of　the　station；　about　two　hundred　meters　out。　The　trip　wire　was　not　really　that　much　different　from　the　range　finder　units　on　the　hovercrafts。　It　was　merely　a　series　of　boxlike　units　through　which　a　tiny　invisible　laser　beam　was　directed。　When　something　crossed　the　beam；　it　triggered　a　flashing　red　light　on　Kaplan's　forearm　guard。　
　Moments　ago；　something　had　crossed　the　beam。　
　From　his　post　on　A…deck；　Kaplan　had　immediately　radioed　Schofield；　who；　sensibly；　had　ordered　a　visual　check。　After　all；　it　might　have　just　been　Buck　Riley　and　his　team；　returning　from　their　check　of　that　disappearing　signal。　Schofield　had　set　follow…up　time　at　two　hours；　and　it　had　been　nearly　that　long　since　Schofield's　team　had　arrived　at　the　station。　Buck　Riley　and　his　crew　were　due　here　any　minute　now。　
　Only　this　wasn't　Buck　Riley。　
　〃Where　is　it；　Snake？〃　Schofield's　voice　said　over　Snake's　helmet　inter。　
　〃Southeast　corner。　ing　through　the　outer　circle　of　buildings　now。〃　Snake　watched　as　the　hovercraft　slowly　made　its　way　through　the　station　plex；　carefully　negotiating　its　way　between　the　small　snow…covered　structures。　
　〃Where　are　you？〃　Snake　asked　as　he　stood；　picked　up　his　rifle；　and　started　jogging　back　through　the　snow　toward　the　main　dome。　
　〃I'm　at　the　main　entrance；〃　Schofield's　voice　said。　〃Just　inside　the　front　door。　I　need　you　to　take　up　a　covering　position　from　the　rear。〃　
　〃Already　on　it。〃　
　With　the　driving　snow；　visibility　was　limited；　so　the　hovercraft　proceeded　slowly　through　the　plex。　Kaplan　hurried　along　parallel　to　it；　a　hundred　yards　away。　The　vehicle　came　to　a　halt　outside　the　main　dome　of　the　ice　station。　It　was　slowly　beginning　to　lower　itself　from　its　cushion　of　air　when　Shake　dropped　into　the　snow　forty　meters　away　and　began　to　set　up　his　sniper　rifle。　
　He　had　just　put　his　eye　to　his　telescopic　sight　when　the　side　door　of　the　hovercraft　slid　open　and　four　figures　stepped　out　of　it　into　the　snowstorm。　
　
　
　
　〃Good　evening；〃　Schofield　said　with　a　crooked　smile。　
　The　four　French　scientists　just　stood　there　in　the　doorway　to　the　ice　station；　dumbstruck。　They　stood　in　two　pairs；　with　each　pair　carrying　a　large　white　container　between　them。　
　In　front　of　them　stood　Schofield；　with　his　MP…5　held　casually　by　his　side。　Behind　Schofield　stood　Hollywood　and　Montana；　with　their　MP…5s　raised　to　shoulder　height　and　their　eyes　looking　straight　down　the　barrels　of　their　guns。　Guns　that　were　pointed　right　at　their　new　visitors。　
　Schofield　said；　〃Why　don't　you　e　inside。〃　
　
　〃The　others　are　safely　back　at　d'Urville；〃　the　leader　of　this　new　group　said　as　he　sat　down　at　the　table　in　the　dining　room　alongside　his　French　colleagues。　Like　the　others；　he　had　just　passed　a　thorough　pat…down　search。　
　He　had　a　lean　face；　hollow；　with　sunken　eyes　and　high　cheekbones。　He　had　said　his　name　was　Jean　Petard；　and　Schofield　recognized　the　name　from　his　list。　He　also　remembered　the　short　bio　that　had　appeared　under　the　name。　It　had　said　that　Petard　was　a　geologist；　studying　natural　gas　deposits　in　the　continental　shelf。　The　names　of　the　other　three　Frenchmen　were　also　on　the　list。　
　The　four　original　French　scientists　were　also　there　in　the　dining　room…Champion；　Latissier；　Cuvier；　and　Rae。　The　remaining　residents　of　Wilkes　were　now　back　in　their　quarters。　Schofield　had　ordered　that　they　remain　there　until　he　and　his　squad　had　checked　out　the　occupants　of　this　newly　arrived　hovercraft。　Montana　and　Lance　Corporal　Augustine　〃Samurai〃　Lau；　the　sixth　and　last　member　of　Schofield's　team；　stood　guard　by　the　door。　
　〃We　hurried　back　as　fast　as　we　could；〃　Jean　Petard　added。　〃We　brought　fresh　food　and　some　battery…powered　blankets　for　the　return　trip。〃　
　Schofield　looked　over　at　Libby　Gant。　She　was　over　by　the　far　wall　of　the　dining　room；　examining　the　two　white　containers　the　Frenchmen　had　brought　with　them。　
　〃Thank　you；〃　Schofield　said；　turning　back　to　face　Petard。　'Thank　you　for　all　you　have　done。　We　arrived　here　only　several　hours　after　you　did　and　the　people　here　have　told　us　how　good　you　have　been　to　them。　We　thank　you　for　your　efforts。〃　
　〃But　of　course；〃　Petard　said；　his　English　fluent。　〃One　must　look　after　one's　neighbors。〃　He　offered　a　wry　smile。　〃You　never　know　when　you　yourself　might　be　in　need　of　assistance。〃　
　〃No；　you　don't。〃　
　At　that　moment　Snake's　voice　crackled　over　Schofield's　earpiece：　〃Lieutenant；　we　have　another　contact　crossing　the　trip　wire。〃　
　Schofield　frowned。　Now　things　were　starting　to　happen　a　little　too　fast。　Four　French　scientists　he　could　handle。　Another　four　and　the　French　were　starting　to　show　a　little　too　much　interest　in　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　But　now；　if　there　were　more　of　them…　
　〃Wait；　Lieutenant；　it's　all　right。　It's　one　of　ours。　It's　Riley's　hovercraft。〃　
　Schofield　let　out　a　sigh　of　relief　that　he　hoped　nobody　saw　and　headed　out　of　the　room。　
　
　Over　by　the　wall　of　the　dining　room；　Libby　Gant　was　sifting　through　the　two　large　containers　that　the　French　scientists　had　brought　with　them。　She　pushed　aside　a　couple　of　blankets　and　some　fresh　bread。　There　was　also　some　canned　meat　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　container。　Corned　beef；　ham；　that　sort　of　thing。　All　were　packed　in　sealed　cans；　the　kind　that　has　a　key　attached　to　the　side　that　you　use　to　peel　back　the　lid。　
　Gant　pushed　a　couple　of　the　cans　aside　and　was　looking　for　more　beneath　them　when　suddenly　one　of　the　cans　caught　her　eye。　
　There　was　something　wrong　about　it。　
　It　was　a　little　larger　than　the　other；　medium…sized　cans…　about　fourteen　inches　in　length…and　it　was　roughly　triangular　in　shape。　At　first　Gant　couldn't　tell　what　it　was　that　struck　her　about　this　particular　can。　It　was　just　that　something　about　it　didn't　look　right。。。　
　And　then　she　realized。　
　The　seal　on　this　can　had　been　broken。　
　The　peel…back　lid；　it　seemed；　had　been　opened　and　then　set　back　into　place。　It　was　barely　visible。　Just　a　thin　black　line　around　the　edge　of　the　lid。　If　you　were　only　giving　the　cans　a　cursory　glance；　you　would　almost　certainly　miss　it。　
　Gant　turned　to　look　back　at　Schofield；　but　he　had　left　the　room。　She　looked　up　quickly　at　the　French　scientists；　and　as　she　did　so；　she　saw　Petard　exchange　a　quick　glance　with　the　one　named　Latissier。　
　
　Schofield　met　Buck　Riley　at　the　main　entrance。　The　two　men　stood　out　on　the　A…deck　catwalk；　about　thirty　feet　away　from　the　dining　room。　
　〃How　was　it？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃Not　good；〃　Riley　said。　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　
　〃That　signal　we　lost；　it　was　a　hovercraft。　French　markings。　From　d'Urville。　It　had　crashed　into　a　crevasse。〃　
　Schofield　looked　up　sharply　at　Riley。　〃Crashed　into　a　crevasse？〃　He　looked　back　quickly　at　the　Frenchmen　in　the　dining　room。　Only　moments　earlier；　Jean　Petard　had　said　that　the　other　hovercraft　had　arrived　safely　back　at　d'Urville。　
　〃What　happened？〃　Schofield　said。　〃Thin　ice？〃　
　〃No。　That's　what　we　thought　at　first。　But　then　Rebound　got　a　closer　look。〃　
　Schofield　turned　back　around。　〃And？〃　
　Riley　gave　him　a　serious　look。　〃There　were　five　dead　bodies　in　that　hovercraft；　sir。　And　all　of　them　had　been　shot　through　the　back　of　the　head。〃　
　Gant's　voice　exploded　across　Schofield's　helmet　inter。　
　〃Sir；　this　is　Fox。　There's　something　wrong　here。　Their　food　containers　have　been　promised。〃　
　Schofield　spun　around　and　saw　Libby　Gant　ing　out　of　the　dining　room。　She　was　walking　quickly　toward　him；　carrying　a　food　can　of　some　sort；　peeling　the　lid　back。　
　Behind　her　Schofield　saw　Petard；　in　the　dining　room；　rising　to　his　feet；　watching　Gant；　and　then　watching　Schofield　himself。　
　It　was　then　that　their　eyes　met。　
　It　was　only　for　an　instant；　but　that　was　all　either　man　needed。　In　that　moment；　there　was　a　flash　of　understanding。　
　Gant　cut　across　Schofield's　line　of　sight　with　Petard。　She　had　opened　the　can　now　and　was　pulling　something　out　of　it。　The　object　she　extracted　from　the　can　was　small　and　black；　and　it　looked　a　little　like　a　small　crucifix；　the　only　difference　being　that　the　shorter；　horizontal　beam　of　the　object　was　bent　in　a　semicircle。　
　Schofield's　eyes　widened　when　he　saw　it　and　he　opened　his　mouth　to　shout；　but　it　was　too　late。　
　In　the　dining　room；　Petard　dived　for　the　two　white　containers；　just　as　Latissier…who　hadn't　been　patted　down　since　he　had　been　at　the　station　when　the　Marines　had　arrived…　threw　open　his　parka；　revealing　a　short…barreled　French…made　FA…MAS　assault　rifle。　At　the　same　time；　the　one　named　Cuvier　pulled　both　of　his　hands　free　of　his　pockets；　revealing　two　models　of　the　same　weapon　that　Gant　now　had　in　her　hand。　Cuvier　immediately　fired　one　of　them　at　Gant　just　as　she　turned　to　face　him　and　Schofield　saw　her　head　snap　backwards　with　the　impact　as　she　fell　to　the　floor。　
　Deafening　gunfire　exploded　through　the　silence　as　Latissier　jammed　his　finger　down　on　the　trigger　of　his　assault　rifle　and　sprayed　the　dining　room　with　a　blanket　of　suppressing　fire。　His　arc　of　gunfire　cut　through　the　air　like　a　scythe；　and　it　practically　ripped　Augustine　Lau　in　two。　
　Latissier　didn't　let　go　for　a　full　ten　seconds　and　the　sustained　burst　of　machine…gun　fire　caused　everybody　else　to　hit　the　deck。　
　Wilkes　Ice　Station　had　bee　a　battlefield。　
　And　everything　went　to　hell。　
　
　
　SECOND　INCURSION　
　16　June　0930　hours　
　
　〃This　is　Scarecrow！　This　is　Scarecrow！〃　Schofield　yelled　into　his