p&c.icelimit-第57章

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　〃Once　we're　in　range；　do　you　think　he　will　fire？〃
　〃I　have　no　doubt　of　it。〃
　〃We　have　no　defense。　We'll　be　ripped　to　pieces。〃
　〃If　we're　unable　to　lose　him　in　the　darkness；　that's　unfortunately　true。〃
　She　looked　up　at　him。　〃What　about　the　meteorite？〃　she　asked　in　a　low　voice。
　〃What　about　it？〃
　She　lowered　her　voice；　glancing　at　Lloyd。　〃If　we　drop　it；　we'll　be　able　to　increase　our　speed。〃
　Glinn　felt　himself　stiffen。　He　glanced　over　at　Lloyd；　who　stood　frowning　at　the　bridge　windows；　trunklike　legs　planted　wide　apart。　He　hadn't　heard。　When　Glinn　answered；　he　spoke　slowly；　reasonably。
　〃To　jettison　it；　we　have　to　bring　the　ship　to　an　absolute　halt。　That　would　give　Vallenar　all　the　time　he　needs　to　catch　us。　We'd　be　sunk　before　we　came　to　rest。〃
　〃Then　you've　run　out　of　answers？〃　she　asked；　her　voice　even　lower。
　He　looked　into　her　green　eyes。　They　were　clear；　and　steady；　and　quite　beautiful。　〃There　is　no　such　thing　as　a　problem　without　a　solution；〃　he　said。　〃We　just　have　to　nd　it。〃
　Britton　paused。　〃Before　we　left　the　island；　you　asked　me　to　trust　you。　I　hope　that　I　can。　I　would　like　to　very　much。〃
　Glinn　looked　away；　feeling　an　unexpected　flush　of　emotion。　For　a　moment；　his　eyes　fell　on　the　GPS　screen；　and　the　dotted　green　line　marked　Ice　Limit　that　ran　across　it。　Then　he　looked　back　into　her　eyes。　〃You　can　trust　me　on　this；　Captain。　I　will　have　a　solution　for　you。　I　promise。〃
　She　nodded　slowly。　〃I　don't　believe　you're　a　man　who　breaks　his　promises。　I　hope　I'm　right。　Mr。　Glinn　…　Eli　…　there's　only　one　thing　I　want　out　of　life　right　now。　And　that's　to　see　my　daughter　again。〃
　Glinn　began　to　answer。　But　what　came　out　instead　was　a　hiss　of　surprise。　He　took　an　involuntary　step　back。　In　a　blinding　flash　of　insight　brought　on　by　Britton's　final　sentence；　he　understood　what　was　driving　Vallenar。
　He　turned　and；　without　a　word；　abruptly　left　the　bridge。
　
　Rolvaag；
　12：30　P。M。
　
　LLOYD　PACED　restlessly　across　the　long　expanse　of　the　bridge。　The　storm　battered　furiously　against　the　windows；　but　he　had　averted　his　eyes　from　the　tearing　seas。　In　all　his　life；　he　had　never　seen　anything　so　frightening。　It　barely　resembled　water　anymore；　looking　more　like　mountains；　green　and　gray　and　black；　rising；　falling；　sweeping；　crumbling　apart　in　gigantic　creamy　avalanches。　He　could　hardly　see　how　their　ship　…　any　ship　…　…could　survive　five　seconds　in　such　a　sea。　Yet　the　Rolvaag　plowed　on。　It　was　difficult　to　walk；　but　he　needed　the　distraction　of　the　physical　activity。　Reaching　the　starboard　wing　door；　he　pivoted　brusquely　and　resumed　pacing。　He　had　been　at　it　for　sixty　minutes；　ever　since　Glinn　had　vanished　without　a　word。
　His　head　ached　from　the　sudden　reversals　of　fortune；　the　abrupt　shifts　in　mood；　the　unbearable　tension　of　the　last　twelve　hours。　Exasperation；　humiliation；　triumph；　apprehension。　He　glanced　up　at　the　bulkhead　clock；　then　at　the　faces　of　the　bridge　officers。　Howell；　his　face　set。　Britton；　expressionless；　monitoring　alternately　the　radar　screen　and　the　GPS　chart。　Banks；　framed　inside　the　door　of　the　radio　room。　Lloyd　felt　like　shaking　some　kind　of　answers　out　of　them。　But　they　had　already　told　him　everything　there　was　to　know。　They　had　about　two　hours　before　the　Ramirez　would　start　edging　into　range。
　Lloyd　felt　his　limbs　stiffen　against　a　current　of　rage。　It　was　Glinn's　fault。　It　was　overweening　arrogance：　he　had　studied　the　options　so　long　the　man　believed　himself　incapable　of　failure。　Think　long；　think　wrong；　someone　had　once　said。　If　he'd　been　allowed　to　call　in　some　favors；　they　wouldn't　be　helpless；　like　a　mouse　waiting　for　the　cat　to　close　in　for　the　kill。
　The　door　to　the　bridge　opened　and　Glinn　stepped　in。　〃Good　afternoon；　Captain；〃　he　said　nonchalantly。
　More　than　anything；　this　air　of　nonchalance　sent　fury　coursing　through　Lloyd。　〃God　damn　you；　Glinn；〃　he　said；　〃where　the　hell　have　you　been？〃
　Glinn's　eyes　drifted　toward　him。　〃I've　been　examining　Vallenar's　files。　I　know　now　what's　driving　him。〃
　〃Who　the　hell　cares？　He's　the　one　who's　driving　us；　right　towards　Antarctica。〃
　〃Timmer　was　Vallenar's　son。〃
　Lloyd　stopped　short。　〃Timmer？〃　he　asked；　confused。
　〃Vallenar's　signal　officer。　The　man　who　was　killed　by　the　meteorite。〃
　〃That's　absurd。　Didn't　I　hear　Timmer　had　blond　hair　and　blue　eyes？〃
　〃He　was　Vallenar's　son　by　a　German　mistress。〃
　〃Is　this　another　guess；　or　do　you　have　evidence？〃
　〃There's　no　record　of　a　son；　but　it's　the　only　explanation。　That's　why　he　was　so　anxious　to　get　Timmer　back　when　I　visited。　And　that's　why　he　initially　refrained　from　attacking　our　ship：　I　told　him　Timmer　was　in　the　brig。　But　as　soon　as　we　left　the　island；　he　realized　Timmer　was　dead。　I　believe　he　thinks　we　murdered　him。　That's　why　he　pursued　us　into　international　waters。　That's　why　he'll　never　give　up　until　he　dies。　Or　until　we　do。〃
　The　spasm　of　fury　had　left。　Lloyd　felt　drained；　exhausted。
　Anger　at　this　point　was　useless。　He　controlled　his　voice。　〃And　how；　pray　tell；　is　this　psychological　insight　going　to　help　us？〃
　Instead　of　answering；　Glinn　glanced　back　at　Britton。　〃How　far　are　we　from　the　Ice　Limit？〃
　〃It's　seventy…seven　nautical　miles　south　of　our　position。〃
　〃Can　you　see　any　ice　on　your　radar？〃
　Britton　turned。　〃Mr。　Howell？〃
　〃Some　drift　ice　at　ten　miles。　A　few　growlers。　Just　at　the　Limit；　the　long…range　surface　radar's　picking　up　a　massive　ice　island。　Two　ice　islands；　actually；　it　looks　like　one　broke　in　half。〃
　〃Bearing？〃
　〃One　nine　one。〃
　Glinn　spoke：　〃I　would　suggest　heading　that　way。　Make　a　very　slow　turn。　If　it　takes　Vallenar　a　while　to　notice　the　course　change；　we　might　gain　a　mile　or　two。〃
　Howell　looked　questioningly　at　Britton。
　〃Mr。　Glinn；〃　said　Britton；　〃it's　suicide　to　take　a　huge　ship　like　this　past　the　Ice　Limit。　Especially　in　this　weather。〃
　〃There　are　reasons；〃　said　Glinn。
　〃Care　to　share　them　with　us？〃　Lloyd　asked。　〃Or　are　you　going　to　keep　us　in　the　dark　again？　Maybe　we　could've　used　some　freelance　decision　making　back　there。〃
　Glinn's　gaze　fell　first　on　Lloyd；　then　Britton；　then　Howell。
　〃Fair　enough；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment。　〃We　are　reduced　to　two　options：　turn　away　and　try　to　outrun　the　destroyer。　Or　keep　to　this　course　and　try　to　lose　the　destroyer　below　the　Ice　Limit。　The　former　has　a　close　to　one　hundred　percent　probability　of　failure；　the　latter；　somewhat　less。　This　latter　plan　also　has　the　advantage　of　forcing　the　destroyer　through　a　beam　sea。〃
　〃What　is　this　Ice　Limit？〃　Lloyd　asked。
　〃It's　where　the　freezing　waters　around　Antarctica　meet　the　warmer　northern　waters　of　the　Atlantic　and　Pacific。　Oceanographers　call　it　the　Antarctic　Convergence。　It's　known　for　impenetrable　fogs　and；　of　course；　extremely　dangerous　ice。〃
　〃You're　proposing　to　take　the　Rolvaag　into　an　area　of　ice　and　fog？　It　does　sound　like　suicide。〃
　〃What　we　need　now　is　concealment；　time　to　lose　the　destroyer　long　enough　to　lay　a　course　away　from　it。　In　the　darkness；　in　the　ice　and　fog；　we　might　just　escape。〃
　〃We　might　just　sink；　too。〃
　〃The　probability　of　hitting　an　iceberg　is　lower　than　the　probability　of　being　sunk　by　the　destroyer。〃
　〃What　if　there's　no　fog？〃　asked　Howell。
　〃Then　we　have　a　problem。〃
　There　was　a　long　silence。　And　then　Britton　spoke：　〃Mr。　Howell。　Set　a　new　course　for　one　nine　zero。　Bring　her　head　around　slowly。〃
　There　was　the　briefest　of　hesitations。　Then　Howell　relayed　the　order　to　the　helmsman　in　clipped　tones。　As　he　spoke；　his　eyes　never　left　Glinn's。
　
　Rolvaag；
　2：00　P。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　SLUMPED　back　in　the　unfortable　plastic　chair；　sighing　and　rubbing　his　eyes。　Rachel　sat　beside　him；　cracking　peanut　shells　and　letting　the　debris　fall　onto　the　metal　deck　of　the　observation　unit。　The　only　light　came　from　a　single　monitor　set　high　in　the　bulkhead　above　them。
　〃Don't　you　ever　get　tired　of　those　damn　peanuts？〃　McFarlane　said。
　Rachel　seemed　to　consider　this　a　moment。　〃Nope；〃　she　replied。
　They　lapsed　into　silence。　Conscious　of　an　incipient　headache　and　low…grade　nausea；　McFarlane　closed　his　eyes。　The　moment　he　did　so；　the　roll　of　the　ship　seemed　to　increase　dramatically。　He　heard　the　tick　of　metal；　the　occasional　drip　of　water。　Other　than　that；　the　holding　tank　that　yawned　beneath　them　was　quiet。
　McFarlane　opened　his　eyes　with　an　effort。　〃Run　it　again；〃　he　said。
　〃But　we've　already　viewed　it　five　times；〃　Rachel　said。　When　McFarlane　did　not　reply；　she　gave　a　disgusted　snort　and　leaned　forward　to　punch　the　transport　controls。
　Of　the　three　security　viewcams　in　the　holding　tank；　only　one　had　survived　the　explosion。　He　watched　as　Rachel　ran　the　tape　forward　at　high　speed；　slowing　to　normal　speed　a　minute　before　the　detonation。　They　watched　in　silence　as　the　seconds　counted　down。　Nothing　new。　Garza　was　right：　nobody　had　touched　the　rock。　Nobody　had　even　been　close。
　McFarlane　leaned　back　again　with　a　curse；　glancing　out　of　the　observation　unit　and　along　the　catwalk；　as　if　searching　for　an　answer　on　the　walls　of　the　tank。　Then　he　let　his　eyes　travel　slowly　down　the　forty…foot　span　to　the　top　of　the　meteorite。　The　explosion　had　gone　off　sideways；　killing　most　of　the　lights　in　the　tank；　damaging　munications　networks　both　fore　and　aft；　but　leaving　the　catwalk　and　observation　unit　at　the　top　of　the　tank　unharmed。　The　web　looked　largely　intact；　although　it　was　clear　that　some　struts　had　been　knocked　out。　Molten　steel　had　sprayed　in　foamy　streaks　across　the　walls　of　the　tank；　and　some　of　the　massive　laminated　oak　timbers　were　charted。　Flecks　of　blood　and　red　matter　could　be　seen　here　and　there　at　points　the　scrub　team　had　missed。　The　meteorite　itself　looked　unchanged。　
　What's　the　secret　here？　he　thought。　What　is　it　we're　missing？　
　〃Let's　go　over　what　we　know；〃　he　said。　〃The　explosion　seems　to　have　been　just　like　the　one　that　killed　Timmer。〃
　〃Perhaps　even　stronger；〃　Rachel　said。　〃One　hell　of　an　electrical　blast。　If　there　hadn't　been　so　much　metal　around　to　absorb　the　charge；　it　might　have　blown　the　ship's　electronics。〃
　〃And　afterwards；　the　meteorite　threw　off　a　lot　of　radio　noise；〃　he　said。　〃Just　like　with　Timmer。〃
　Rachel　picked　up　her　radio；　turned　it　on；　made　a　face　at　the　roar　of　static；　turned　it　off　again。　〃And　it's　still　throwing　it　off；〃　she　said。
　They　lapsed　into　silence　again。
　〃I　wonder　if　anything　triggered　the　blast；〃　said　Rachel；　rewinding　the　tape。　〃Maybe　it　was　random。〃
　McFarlane　didn't　respond。　It　couldn't　be　random；　something　must　have　triggered　it。　And　despite　Garza's　remark　…　and　the　increasing　nervousness　of　the　crew　…　he　didn't　believe　the　meteorite　was　some　malignant　thing；　actively　seeking　to　hurt　them。
　McFarlane　wondered　if　perhaps　Timmer　and　Masangkay　had　never　touched　the　thing；　after　all。　But　no；　he'd　analyzed　it　too　carefully。　The　key　to　the　mystery　had　to　be　Palmer　Lloyd。　He　had　placed　his　cheek　against　the　rock　and　lived　to　tell　the　story。　The　two　others　had　been　blown　up。
　What　was　different　about　their　touches？
　He　sat　up　in　the　chair。　〃Let's　watch　it　again。〃
　Wordlessly；　Rachel　punched　the　controls；　and　the　monitor　flickered　to　life。
　The　surviving　camera　had　been　placed　almost　directly　above　the　rock；　just　below　the　observation　unit。　There　was　Garza；　standing　to　one　side；　the　welding　diagrams　unrolled　before　him。　The　TIG　welders　were　s