p&c.icelimit-第56章

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　〃What？〃
　〃We've　been　cut　off。〃
　Britton　looked　quickly　back　at　the　map。　The　Ramirez　was　now　twenty　miles　northwest　of　them；　on　a　true　bearing　of　300　degrees。　Suddenly；　she　understood。
　〃Oh　shit；〃　she　breathed。
　〃If　we　change　course　now　to　Argentina　or　the　Falklands；　he'll　overtake　us　about　here。〃　Glinn　drew　a　small　circle　on　the　map　with　his　finger。
　〃We'll　head　west　back　to　Chile；　then；〃　Britton　said　quickly。　〃He　wouldn't　get　away　with　sinking　us　in　the　Puerto　Williams　harbor。〃
　〃No　doubt。　Unfortunately；　even　if　we　turn　back　now；　he'll　intercept　us　here。〃　His　finger　traced　another　circle　on　the　map。
　〃Then　we'll　head　for　the　British　scientific　station　on　South　Georgia　Island。〃
　〃Then　he'll　intercept　us　here。〃
　She　watched　the　map；　a　paralyzing　chill　creeping　down　her　spine。
　〃You　see；　Sally　…　may　I　call　you　Sally？　…　when　he　made　those　course　changes　to　the　northeast；　he　had　already　anticipated　our　possible　points　of　refuge。　If　we　had　realized　this　and　acted　immediately；　we　would　have　had　a　chance　of　getting　to　Argentina；　at　least。　But　now　even　that　route　is　closed　to　us。〃
　Britton　felt　a　pressure　on　her　chest。　〃The　U。S。　Navy…〃
　〃My　man's　already　checked　that。　There's　no　effective　military　help　within　twenty…four　hours。〃
　〃But　there's　a　British　naval　base　on　the　Falklands；　armed　to　the　teeth！〃
　〃We　considered　that；　too。　Chile　was　a　British　ally　in　the　Falklands　War。　For　the　U。S。　to　request　military　help　from　the　U。K。　against　its　former　ally；　using　the　very　base　they　fought　for　…　well；　let　us　just　say　it　is　a　request　that　would　take　more　time　than　we　have　to　expedite；　even　with　Lloyd's　and　my　connections。　Unfortunately；　the　extreme　South　Atlantic　is　no　place　to　get　into　a　military　scrape。　We're　on　our　own。〃
　She　looked　at　Glinn。　He　returned　her　gaze　with　gray　eyes　that　seemed　to　have　deepened　until　they　were　almost　the　color　of　the　surrounding　ocean。　There　was　a　plan　behind　those　eyes。　She　was　afraid　to　ask　what　it　was。
　〃We　head　south；〃　Glinn　said　simply。　〃To　the　Ice　Limit。〃
　Britton　could　hardly　believe　it。　〃Go　south　into　the　Screaming　Sixties；　into　the　ice；　in　a　storm　like　this？　That's　not　an　option。〃
　〃You're　right；〃　said　Glinn　quietly。　〃It's　not　an　option。　It's　the　only　option。〃
　
　Almirante　Ramirez；
　11：00　A。M。
　
　AFTER　DAWN；　Vallenar　noticed　that　the　wind　had　begun　its　inevitable　shift　to　the　west。　His　plan　had　worked。　Belatedly；　the　Americans　had　realized　they　were　cut　off。　There　was　no　place　for　them　to　go　but　down　into　the　Sixties。　Already；　they　had　changed　course　to　one　eight　zero　…　due　south。　And　that's　where　he　would　intercept　them；　where　the　endgame　would　play　out：　at　the　Ice　Limit；　in　the　black　freezing　waters　of　the　Antarctic　Ocean。
　He　spoke　softly；　precisely。　〃From　now　on；　I'll　have　the　deck。〃
　The　oficial　de　guardia；　the　officer　of　the　deck；　called　out；　〃Aye；　sir；　the　andante　has　the　deck！〃
　〃Set　heading　one　eight　zero；〃　Vallenar　said　to　the　conning　officer。
　This　order　would　place　the　violent　sea　directly　on　their　beam；　the　most　dangerous　position　for　the　destroyer。　The　bridge　officers　knew　this。　He　waited　for　the　conning　officer　to　repeat　the　order　and　call　rudder　directions。　But　no　orders　came。
　〃Sir？〃　It　was　the　officer　of　the　deck　who　spoke。
　Vallenar　did　not　turn　to　look　at　the　officer　of　the　deck。　He　did　not　need　to；　he　sensed　what　was　about　to　happen。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　could　see　the　conning　officer　and　the　timonel；　the　helmsman；　all　rigidly　at　attention。
　So　this　was　it。　Better　it　should　happen　now　than　later。
　He　raised　his　eyebrows　at　the　officer　of　the　deck。　〃Mr。　Santander；　are　we　having　a　problem　with　the　chain　of　mand　on　the　bridge？〃　He　spoke　as　mildly　as　possible。
　〃The　officers　of　the　Almirante　Ramirez　would　like　to　know　our　mission；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　waited；　still　not　looking　at　the　man。　Silence；　he　had　long　discovered；　was　more　intimidating　than　words。　A　minute　passed；　and　then　he　spoke。
　〃Is　it　customary　for　Chilean　naval　officers　to　question　their　mander？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　took　out　a　puro；　rolled　it　between　his　fingers；　bit　off　the　end；　and　placed　it　carefully　between　his　lips。　He　drew　air　through　it。
　〃Then　why　are　you　questioning　me？〃　He　spoke　gently。
　〃Sir。。。　because　of　the　unusual　nature　of　the　mission；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　removed　the　cigar　and　inspected　it。　〃Unusual？　How　so？〃
　There　was　an　unfortable　pause。
　〃It　is　our　impression；　sir；　that　we　were　ordered　back　to　base　last　night。　We　are　not　aware　of　any　orders　to　pursue　this　civilian　ship。〃
　Vallenar　took　in　the　word　civilian。　It　was　a　deliberate　rebuke；　a　suggestion　that　Vallenar　was　engaged　in　a　cowardly　pursuit　against　an　unarmed　adversary。　He　drew　more　air　through　the　unlit　cigar。
　〃Tell　me；　Mr。　Santander。　On　board　ship；　do　you　take　orders　from　your　andante；　or　from　a　base　mander　on　shore？〃
　〃From　the　andante；　sir。〃
　〃Am　I　your　andante？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　〃Then　there　is　nothing　more　to　discuss。〃
　Vallenar　removed　a　box　of　matches　from　his　uniform　pocket；　opened　the　box；　removed　one　wax　match；　drew　it　slowly　across　the　striker　until　it　flared；　and　lit　his　cigar。
　〃Sir；　I　beg　your　pardon；　what　you　have　said　is　insufficient。　Men　died　repairing　that　screw。　We　respectfully　request　information　on　our　mission。〃
　At　last；　Vallenar　turned。　He　felt　the　growing　rage　within　him　…　rage　at　the　arrogant　Americans；　at　the　man　Glinn　who　came　to　chitchat　while　his　divers　sabotaged　the　vessel；　at　Timmer's　death　…　all　channeled　now　toward　this　subordinate；　who　dared　to　question　his　decisions。　He　puffed；　drawing　the　smoke　into　his　lungs；　feeling　the　surge　of　nicotine　in　his　blood。　When　he　was　steady　again；　he　flicked　the　match　toward　the　damp　deck　and　lowered　the　cigar。　This　oficial　de　guardia　was　a　green；　foolish　man；　and　the　challenge　was　not　unexpected。　He　looked　around　at　the　other　officers　on　the　bridge。　All　of　them　quickly　lowered　their　eyes。
　With　one　smooth　movement；　Vallenar　withdrew　his　sidearm　and　pressed　its　barrel　against　the　officer's　chest。　As　Santander　opened　his　mouth　to　protest；　he　pulled　the　trigger。　The　9…millimeter　slug　thrust　the　man　back　like　the　blow　of　a　fist；　slamming　him　hard　into　a　bulkhead。　The　officer　of　the　deck　stared　down　in　disbelief　at　his　ruined　chest　and　the　small　horizontal　fountain　of　blood　that　pumped　its　rhythmic　stream。　Air　sucked　in　and　out　of　the　wound；　once；　then　again。　The　man　fell　to　his　knees；　then　toppled　forward　onto　his　elbows；　surprised　eyes　now　turning　glassy；　mouth　still　open　wide。
　Vallenar　returned　the　gun　to　its　sling。　The　only　sound　on　the　bridge　was　Santander's　stertorous　attempts　to　breathe　and　the　quiet　patter　of　blood　as　it　rained　from　his　chest　onto　the　deck。
　Vallenar　glanced　at　the　conning　officer。　〃Mr。　Aller。　Effective　immediately；　you　are　the　officer　of　the　deck。　And　you；　Mr。　Lomas；　are　the　conning　officer。　A　new　course　has　been　ordered。　Execute　it。〃
　He　turned　away；　drawing　on　his　cigar；　looking　once　again　out　over　the　storm…tossed　ocean。　The　heel　of　his　right　hand　still　rested　on　the　Luger。　He　waited　to　see　if　the　incipient　mutiny　would　continue。　It　would　be　a　pity　to　lose　Aller　as　well。
　Aller　looked　at　the　new　conning　officer；　and　nodded　weakly。
　〃Right　standard　rudder；〃　said　the　conning　officer；　〃steady　on　course　one　eight　zero。〃
　The　helmsman　answered。　〃Aye；　sir；　right　standard　rudder；　ing　to　course　one　eight　zero。〃
　Vallenar　slipped　his　hand　from　his　weapon。　It　was　over。　Cut　off　the　head　and　the　body　will　die。
　The　ship　began　to　turn　broadside　to　the　sea；　helped　along　by　terrifying　shoves　from　each　passing　wave。　As　the　shuddering　and　reeling　grew　worse；　the　bridge　personnel　took　hold　of　stanchions；　flagbag　rails；　anything　that　would　help　them　keep　upright。
　〃Steady　on　one　eight　zero；〃　said　the　helmsman　in　a　quavering　voice。
　〃Very　well；〃　the　conning　officer　answered。
　Vallenar　leaned　into　the　speaking　tube。　〃Radar；　estimate　when　we　will　be　within　targeting　range　of　the　American　ship　with　the　Vickers　guns。〃
　After　a　moment；　the　response　came：　〃Sir；　at　present　course　and　speed；　estimated　range　in　three　hours；　thirty　minutes。〃
　〃Very　good。〃　Vallenar　leaned　away　from　the　tube　and　flicked　a　thumb　toward　the　dying　man　at　his　feet。　〃Mr。　Sanchez；　take　this　away。　And　get　a　cleaning　detail　up　here。〃
　He　turned　back　to　the　violent　sea。
　
　Rolvaag；
　11：30　A。M。
　
　GLINN　STOOD　next　to　Britton；　motionless　beside　the　helm。　As　they　fled　southward　toward　the　sixtieth　parallel；　the　Rolvaag　had　moved　squarely　into　the　westerlies　that　raged　around　the　bottom　of　the　world；　endlessly　circling；　building　up　the　greatest　seas　on　earth。　As　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　a　terrifying　progression　of　Atlantic　rollers　swept　eastward；　high　as　mountains。　In　the　last　hour；　as　the　storm　grew　in　intensity；　the　ocean　seemed　to　have　lost　a　solid　surface；　there　was　no　longer　a　sharp　line　between　water　and　air。　The　screaming　winds　and　heaving　seas　joined　in　a　fury　of　spray　and　spume。　As　the　tanker　sank　into　the　trough　between　each　wave　there　would　e　a　brief；　eerie　calm；　and　then　the　great　ship　would　shudder　and　rise　back　into　the　howling　gale。
　But　Glinn　did　not　see　the　storm。　For　some　time　his　thoughts　had　been　elsewhere。　Vallenar　had　staked　everything　…　his　career；　his　crew；　his　ship；　the　honor　of　his　country；　his　very　life　…　on　this　chase。　He　knew　they　were　carrying　only　a　rock；　a　huge　rock；　but　a　rock　nonetheless。　This　chase　did　not　make　sense。
　He　had　miscalculated　badly。　Unforgivably。　For　the　briefest　of　moments；　Glinn　contemplated　failure；　rolled　it　to　and　fro　on　his　tongue；　as　if　tasting　it。　Then；　with　a　spasm；　he　forced　it　from　his　thoughts。　There　would　be；　could　be；　no　failure　here。
　The　problem　did　not　lie　in　the　puter　profile；　or　in　the　two…foot　file　on　Vallenar　back　in　New　York；　it　lay　in　himself。　There　was　a　crucial　piece　missing。　And　this　piece　was　in　his　own　mind；　waiting　for　him　to　recognize　it。　If　he　could　understand　Vallenar's　motivation　for　this　insane　pursuit；　then　he　could　act　upon　it。。。　How　far　would　Vallenar　take　it？　Would　he　pursue　them　past　the　Ice　Limit？　He　shook　his　head；　as　if　to　shake　loose　the　answer；　but　there　was　nothing。　Without　understanding　Vallenar's　motivation；　he　could　develop　no　plan。
　He　glanced　over　at　Britton。　She　was　staring　at　the　radar；　and　the　wavering　green　pip　that　represented　the　Almirante　Ramirez。　
　〃The　Ramirez　has　matched　our　course　for　the　last　half　hour；〃　she　said；　without　looking　up。　〃One　eight　zero；　dead　astern；　holding　at　twenty　knots；　constant　bearing　and　decreasing　range。〃
　Glinn　said　nothing。　It　was　incredible　to　him　that　Vallenar　would　take　his　ship　into　a　beam　sea　like　this。　The　giant　Rolvaag　was　struggling；　and　it　was　far　better　at　handling　the　storm　than　a　destroyer　with　scarcely　a　forty…foot　beam。　It　was　truly　insane。　There　was　a　good　chance　that　the　Almirante　Ramirez　would　be　capsized。　But　a　good　chance　was　still　a　chance；　and　Glinn　had　no　idea　what　kind　of　seamanship　Vallenar　could　bring　to　bear。　He　suspected　first…rate。
　〃At　current　speed　and　bearing；　he'll　catch　up　with　us　at　the　Ice　Limit；〃　Britton　said。　〃And　he'll　e　within　firing　range　considerably　before　then。〃
　〃In　just　over　three　hours；〃　said　Glinn。　〃Around　dusk。〃
　〃Once　we're　in　range；　do　you　think　he　will　fire？〃
　〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it。〃
　〃We　have