p&c.icelimit-第62章

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　〃Steady　through　the　gap。　Follow　their　course。〃
　He　turned　to　the　tactical　action　officer。　〃Await　my　orders　to　engage　with　the　guns。〃
　〃Aye；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　swiveled　back　to　the　windows；　raising　the　binoculars　once　again。
　
　Rolvaag；
　5：20　P。M。
　
　THE　ROLVAAG　passed　between　the　ice　islands；　gliding　into　a　tranquil；　twilit　world。　The　wind　dropped；　no　longer　gusting　through　the　broken　windows　into　the　bridge。　Suddenly　the　ship　was　released　from　the　evil　grip　of　the　storm。　Britton　found　the　sudden　silence　in　the　midst　of　the　storm　unsettling。　She　stared　up　at　the　cliffs　that　rose　up　on　either　side；　sheer　as　if　cleaved　with　an　ax。　Below；　at　the　waterline；　the　pounding　surf　on　the　windward　side　had　formed　an　undercut　of　fantastic…looking　caves。　In　the　moonlight；　the　ice　shone　a　pure；　rich　blue　so　deep　she　thought　it　one　of　the　most　beautiful　things　she　had　ever　seen。　Funny；　she　thought；　how　the　nearness　of　death　could　heighten　one's　sense　of　beauty。
　Glinn；　who　had　disappeared　onto　the　port　bridge　wing；　now　returned；　closing　the　door　carefully　behind　him。　He　approached　her；　wiping　flecks　of　spray　from　his　shoulders。
　〃Steady　as　she　goes；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Keep　the　tanker's　head　at　this　angle。〃
　She　did　not　bother　relaying　the　useless　and　cryptic　direction　to　Howell。
　The　ship　had　lost　even　more　headway　making　a　ninety…degree　turn　behind　the　ice　island。　Now　they　were　gliding　parallel　to　the　ice　at　about　a　knot；　still　slowing。　Once　they　stopped；　they'd　never　start　again。
　She　glanced　at　his　profile；　at　the　unreadable　face。　She　almost　asked　whether　he　really　thought　they　were　going　to　successfully　hide　their　almost…quarter…mile　ship　from　the　destroyer。　But　she　kept　silent。　Glinn　had　made　a　supreme　effort。　There　was　nothing　more　he　could　do。　In　a　few　minutes；　the　Ramirez　would　round　the　ice　island　and　that　would　be　it。　She　tried　not　to　think　of　her　daughter。　That　was　going　to　be　hardest　of　all；　letting　go　of　her　daughter。
　In　the　lee　of　the　island；　everything　seemed　strangely　quiet。　There　was　a　terrible　silence　on　the　bridge：　there　were　no　longer　any　orders　to　give　or　receive。　The　wind　was　gone；　and　the　swell　warping　around　the　island　was　smooth　and　low。　The　wall　of　ice　was　only　a　quarter　mile　distant。　Here　and　there；　long　fissures　ran　down　from　its　top；　deep　runnels　worn　by　icemelt　and　rain。　She　could　see　small　waterfalls　feathering　into　the　moonlit　sea；　and　hear　the　distant　cracking　and　pinging　of　the　ice。　Beyond　that　came　a　distant　keening　sound　of　wind；　raking　the　top　of　the　ice　island。　It　was　an　ethereal；　otherworldly　place。　She　watched　an　iceberg；　recently　calved　off　the　island；　drift　away　to　the　west。　She　wanted　to　be　there　when　it　slowly　melted　and　disappeared　into　the　sea。　She　wanted　to　be　anywhere　but　here。
　〃It　isn't　over；　Sally；〃　Glinn　said　quietly；　so　that　only　she　could　hear。　He　was　regarding　her　intently。
　〃Yes；　it　is。　The　destroyer　killed　all　our　power。〃
　〃You'll　see　your　daughter　again。〃
　〃Please　don't　say　that。〃　She　brushed　away　a　tear。　
　To　her　surprise；　Glinn　took　her　hand。
　〃If　we　get　through　this；〃　he　began；　with　a　hesitation　foreign　to　him；　〃I　would　like　to　see　you　again。　May　I　do　that？　I　would　like　to　learn　more　about　poetry。　Perhaps　you　could　teach　me。〃
　〃Please；　Eli。　It's　easier　if　we　don't　talk。〃　She　gave　his　hand　a　gentle　pressure。
　And　then　she　saw　the　prow　of　the　Ramirez　nosing　past　the　ice。
　It　was　less　than　two　miles　away；　slinking　close　to　the　blue　wall　of　the　ice　island　following　their　own　wake；　approaching　like　a　shark　closing　on　its　disabled　prey。　The　gun　turrets　were　tracking　them　with　a　cool　deliberation。
　As　Britton　stared　out　the　rearward　bridge　windows　at　those　guns；　waiting　for　the　final　deadly　fire　to　erupt　from　their　barrels；　time　slowed。　The　space　between　her　heartbeats　seemed　to　grow　longer。　She　took　in　the　scene　around　her：　Lloyd；　McFarlane；　Howell；　the　watch　officers；　silently　waiting。　Waiting　for　death　in　the　dark　cold　water。
　There　was　a　popping　sound　from　the　destroyer；　and　an　array　of　Willey　Peters　soared　into　the　air；　exploding　into　a　crooked　line　of　brilliance。　Britton　shielded　her　eyes　as　the　surface　of　the　water；　the　deck　of　the　tanker；　the　wall　of　the　ice　island；　shed　their　colors　under　the　terrible　illumination。　As　the　worst　of　the　brightness　eased；　she　squinted　out　the　windows　once　again。　The　guns　on　the　Ramirez　lowered　their　elevation；　pointing　at　them　until　all　that　could　be　seen　were　the　black　holes　of　the　muzzles。　The　ship　was　now　halfway　through　the　gap　and　slowing　fast。　The　shooting　would　be　almost　point…blank。
　An　explosion　cracked　through　the　air；　echoing　and　reverberating　between　the　islands。　Britton　jerked　back　instinctively；　and　felt　Glinn's　hand　bear　down　on　hers。　This　was　it；　then。　She　murmured　a　silent　prayer　for　her　daughter；　and　for　death　to　be　merciful　and　quick。
　But　no　burst　of　flame　had　e　from　the　destroyer's　guns。　Britton's　eyes　scanned　the　scene　in　confusion。　She　saw　movement　far　above。
　At　the　top　of　the　ice　cliff　above　the　Ramirez；　splinters　and　chunks　of　ice　were　spinning　lazily　into　the　air；　rising　above　four　drifting　puffs　of　smoke。　The　echoes　died；　and　for　a　moment　the　stillness　returned。　And　then　the　ice　island　seemed　to　shift。　The　face　of　the　cliff　above　the　Ramirez　began　to　slip；　and　the　blue　fissure　opened　between　it　and　the　rest　of　the　island；　rapidly　widening；　now　Britton　could　see　that　a　gigantic　piece　of　ice；　nearly　two　hundred　feet　high；　was　peeling　away。　The　great　plate　of　ice　separated　from　the　cliff　and　began　to　descend；　breaking　into　several　pieces　as　it　did　so；　in　a　kind　of　slow；　majestic　ballet。　As　it　merged　with　the　sea；　a　wall　of　water　began　to　rise：　black　at　first；　then　green　and　white。　Higher　and　higher　the　water　rose；　propelled　by　the　great　plunging　mass　of　the　ice；　and　then　the　sound　began　to　reach　her；　a　mingled　cacophony　of　noise　that　grew　steadily　in　volume。　And　still　the　wave　mounted；　so　precipitous　it　began　breaking　over　itself　even　as　it　formed；　climbing；　breaking；　climbing　again。　The　vast　block　of　ice　disappeared；　driven　below　the　surface　by　its　own　momentum；　and　the　steep…walled　wave　broke　free　and　headed；　broadside；　for　the　Ramirez。　
　There　was　a　roar　from　its　steam　turbines　as　the　destroyer　tried　to　maneuver。　But　in　an　instant　the　wave　was　upon　it；　the　destroyer　yawed；　rose；　and　rose　still　farther；　heeling；　the　rust　red　of　its　bowplates　exposed。　For　a　sickening　moment　it　seemed　to　pause；　slanting　far　to　starboard；　its　two　masts　almost　horizontal　to　the　sea；　as　the　crest　of　the　monstrous　wave　foamed　over　it。　Seconds　ticked　by　as　the　ship　hovered　there；　clinging　to　the　wave；　poised　between　righting　itself　and　foundering。　Britton　felt　her　heart　pounding　violently　in　her　chest。　Then　the　ship　wavered　and　began　to　e　upright；　water　shedding　from　its　deck。　It　didn't　work；　she　thought；　God；　it　didn't　work。　
　The　righting　movement　slowed；　the　ship　paused　again；　and　then　it　sagged　back　into　the　water。　There　was　a　sigh　of　air　from　the　superstructure；　jets　of　spray　shot　in　all　directions；　and　the　destroyer　turned　over；　its　slimy　keel　rolling　heavily　toward　the　sky。　There　was　another；　louder　sigh；　a　moiling　of　water　and　foam　and　bubbling　air　around　the　hull；　and　then；　with　hardly　a　swirl；　it　disappeared　into　the　icy　deep。　There　was　a　second　brief　explosion　of　bubbles；　and　then　those；　too；　disappeared；　leaving　behind　black　water。
　It　had　taken　less　than　ninety　seconds。
　Britton　saw　the　freakish　wave　race　toward　them；　spreading　and　attenuating　as　it　did　so。
　〃Hang　on；〃　murmured　Glinn。
　Positioned　lengthwise　to　the　wave；　the　tanker　rose　sharply；　heeled；　then　came　easily　to　rest。
　Britton　disengaged　her　hand　from　Glinn's　and　raised　her　binoculars；　feeling　the　cold　rubber　against　the　sockets　of　her　eyes。　She　could　hardly　prehend　that　the　destroyer　was　gone。　Not　a　man；　not　a　life　raft　…　not　even　a　cushion　or　bottle　…　appeared　on　the　surface。　The　Almirante　Ramirez　had　disappeared　without　a　trace。
　Glinn's　eyes　were　on　the　island；　and　she　followed　his　gaze。　There；　at　the　edge　of　the　ice　plateau；　were　four　dark　specks：　men　in　dry　suits；　crossing　their　arms　over　their　heads；　fists　together。　One　by　one；　the　flares　dropped　into　the　sea；　each　with　a　faint　hiss。　Darkness　returned。
　Glinn　raised　his　radio。
　〃Op　acplished；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Prepare　to　receive　the　launch。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　5：40　P。M。
　
　PALMER　LLOYD　found　himself　momentarily　unable　to　speak。　He　had　been　so　certain　of　impending　death　that　to　stand　here　on　the　bridge；　drawing　breath；　seemed　a　miracle。　When　he　finally　found　his　voice；　he　turned　to　Glinn。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃
　〃The　chance　of　success　was　too　slim。　I　myself　did　not　believe　it　would　succeed。〃　His　lips　twitched　briefly　in　an　ironic　smile。　〃It　required　luck。〃
　In　a　sudden　physical　display　of　emotion　Lloyd　leapt　forward；　wrapping　Glinn　in　a　bear　hug。　〃Christ；〃　he　said；　〃I　feel　like　a　condemned　man　getting　a　reprieve。　Eli；　is　there　anything　you　can't　do？〃　He　found　himself　crying。　He　didn't　care。
　〃It's　not　over　yet。〃
　Lloyd　simply　grinned　at　the　man's　false　modesty。
　Britton　turned　to　Howell。　〃Are　we　taking　in　water？〃
　〃Nothing　that　the　bilge　pumps　can't　handle；　Captain。　As　long　as　we　have　auxiliary　power。〃
　〃And　how　long　is　that？〃
　〃By　shutting　down　all　but　essential　systems；　with　the　emergency　diesel；　more　than　twenty…five　hours。〃
　〃Splendid！〃　Lloyd　said。　〃We're　in　fine　shape。　We'll　repair　the　engines　and　be　on　our　way。〃　He　beamed　at　Glinn　and　then　Britton；　and　then　faltered　a　little。　He　wondered　why　they　looked　so　grim。　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃
　〃We're　DIW；　Mr。　Lloyd；〃　said　Britton。　〃The　current's　moving　us　back　into　the　storm。〃
　〃DIW？〃
　〃Dead　in　the　water。〃
　〃We've　weathered　it　so　far。　It　can't　get　any　worse　than　this。　Can　it？〃
　No　one　answered　his　question。
　Britton　spoke　to　Howell。　〃Give　me　status　on　our　munications。〃
　〃All　long…range　and　satellite　munications　down。〃
　〃Issue　an　SOS。　Raise　South　Georgia　on　the　emergency　channel　sixteen。〃
　Lloyd　felt　a　sudden　chill。　〃What's　this　about　an　SOS？〃
　Again　no　one　answered。　Britton　said；　〃Mr。　Howell；　what　is　the　status　on　engine　damage？〃
　After　a　moment　Howell　reported　back。　〃Both　turbines　beyond　repair；　ma'am。〃
　〃Prepare　for　possible　evacuation　of　the　ship。〃
　Lloyd　could　hardly　believe　what　he　was　hearing。　〃Just　what　the　hell　are　you　talking　about？　Is　the　ship　sinking？〃
　Britton　turned　a　pair　of　cool　green　eyes　on　him。　〃That's　my　meteorite　down　there。　I'm　not　leaving　this　ship。〃
　〃Nobody's　leaving　the　ship；　Mr。　Lloyd。　We'll　only　abandon　ship　as　a　last　resort。　Putting　lifeboats　out　into　this　storm　would　probably　be　suicide　anyway。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　then；　let's　not　overreact。　We　can　weather　the　storm　and　get　a　tow　to　the　Falklands。　Things　aren't　that　bad。〃
　〃We　have　no　steerage；　no　headway。　Once　we　drift　back　into　that　storm；　we'll　have　eighty…knot　winds；　a　hundred…foot　sea；　and　a　six…knot　current　all　pushing　us　in　one　direction；　toward　the　Bransfield　Strait。　That's　Antarctica；　Mr。　Lloyd。　Things　are　that　bad。〃
　Lloyd　felt　stunned。　Already；　he　could　feel　a　swell　rolling　the　ship。　A　gust　of　air　came　into　the　bridge。
　〃Listen　to　me；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　don't　care　what　you　have　to　do；　or　how　you　do　it；　but　don't　you　lose　my　meteorite。　Is　that　understood？〃