p&c.icelimit-第66章

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ered　closely　in　the　dim　light。　He　saw　that；　in　fact；　Garza　had　already　tried　it。　The　gears　on　the　motor…assist　had　been　stripped；　and　the　four…inch　steel　ratchet　head　had　sheared　off。　The　assist　was　useless。
　The　ship　began　to　rise。　And　then　he　heard　a　voice　from　above。　He　ducked　out　from　the　web　and　glanced　up。　Sally　Britton　was　stepping　through　the　hatchway　onto　the　catwalk。　She　carried　herself　with　the　same　natural　dignity　that　had　struck　him　so　forcefully　the　first　time　he　had　seen　her；　ing　down　those　sun…drenched　steps；　ages　and　ages　ago。　His　heart　gave　an　unexpected　lurch。　She　had　changed　her　mind：　she　would　stay　with　the　ship。
　Britton　had　to　pause　during　the　long；　screeching　roll。　They　stared　at　each　other　while　the　meteorite　rocked　in　its　cradle　and　the　ship　screamed　its　pain。　When　it　was　over　she　called　out　again。　〃Eli！　The　ship's　about　to　break　up！〃
　Glinn　felt　sharp　disappointment：　there　had　been　no　change　in　her　thinking　after　all。　But　all　this　was　a　distraction。　He　focused　his　attention　on　the　cradle　again。　Now　he　saw　it：　the　way　to　lock　down　the　rock　was　to　tighten　the　topchain　bolt　at　the　summit　of　the　meteorite。　It　would　mean　cutting　through　the　tarp。　It　was　a　simple　matter；　requiring　no　more　than　six　inches　of　hand　tightening。　He　began　climbing　up　the　nearest　chain。
　〃Eli；　please！　There's　an　extra　lifeboat　in　reserve　for　us。　Leave　this　thing　and　e　with　me！〃
　Glinn　pulled　himself　up；　Puppup　following　with　the　toolbox。　He　needed　to　focus　his　mind　on　the　objective；　not　suffer　distractions。
　Reaching　the　crown　of　the　meteorite；　he　found　to　his　surprise　a　small　flap　already　cut　in　the　tarp。　Beneath；　the　topchain　bolt　was　loose；　as　he　expected。　As　the　ship　rose　out　of　the　trough　and　began　to　heel　yet　again；　he　fitted　the　wrench　around　the　nut；　anchored　the　bolt　with　a　second　wrench；　and　began　to　tighten。
　Nothing　moved。　He　had　not　prehended　…　could　not　prehend　…　what　tremendous；　what　unimaginable　pressure　the　bolt　was　under。
　〃Hold　this　wrench；〃　he　said。　Puppup　obliged；　grabbing　it　with　his　sinewy　arms。
　The　ship　canted　farther。
　〃e　back　to　the　bridge　with　me；　Eli；〃　Britton　said。　〃There　may　still　be　time　to　trigger　the　switch。　Both　of　us　might　yet　live。〃
　Glinn　glanced　up　for　an　instant　from　his　struggle　with　the　bolt。　There　was　no　pleading　in　her　voice　…　that　was　not　Sally　Britton's　way。　He　heard　patience；　reason；　and　utter　conviction。　It　made　him　sad。　〃Sally；〃　he　said；　〃the　only　people　who　are　going　to　die　are　the　foolish　ones　in　the　lifeboats。　If　you　stay　here；　you'll　survive。〃
　〃I　know　my　ship；　Eli；〃　was　all　she　said。
　Kneeling；　hunched　over　the　topchain　bolt；　he　struggled　with　the　nut。　Someone　else　had　tried　this　before　him：　there　were　fresh　marks　on　the　metal。　As　the　ship　heeled；　he　felt　the　meteorite　shift；　and　he　anchored　himself　more　firmly；　both　feet　braced　against　the　links。　He　strained　to　the　limits　of　extremity；　but　it　did　not　move。　Gasping；　he　refitted　the　wrench。
　Still　the　ship　heeled。
　Britton　spoke　out　of　the　darkness　above；　her　voice　rising　above　the　sound。　〃Eli；　I　would　like　to　have　that　dinner　with　you。　I　don't　know　much　about　poetry；　but　what　I　know　I　could　share　with　you。　I　would　like　to　share　it　with　you。〃
　The　meteorite　shuddered；　and　Glinn　found　himself　gripping　with　both　hands　as　the　meteorite　tipped　with　the　ship。　There　were　ropes　up　here；　fastened　to　the　frame　plates　of　the　tank；　and　he　quickly　lashed　one　around　his　waist　to　keep　his　position。　He　returned　to　the　wrench。　A　quarter　turn；　that　was　all　he　needed。　The　yawing　of　the　ship　slowed　and　he　once　again　grasped　the　handle　of　the　wrench。
　〃And　I　could　love　you。　Eli。。。〃
　Glinn　stopped　suddenly　and　stared　up　at　Britton。　She　tried　to　speak　again；　but　her　voice　was　drowned　out　by　the　rising　shriek　of　tortured　metal；　echoing　madly　in　the　vast　space。　All　he　could　see　was　her　small　figure　on　the　catwalk　above。　Her　golden　hair　had　bee　unpinned　and　lay　wildly　across　her　shoulders；　glowing　even　in　the　dim　light。
　As　he　stared；　he　became　dimly　aware　that　the　ship　was　not　leveling　out。　He　looked　away　from　her；　first　at　the　bolt；　then　at　Puppup。　The　man　was　grinning；　his　long　thin　mustaches　dripping　water。　Glinn　felt　a　surge　of　anger　at　himself　for　not　focusing　on　the　problem　at　hand。
　〃The　wrench！〃　he　called　to　Puppup　over　the　screaming　of　metal。
　The　ship　was　very　far　over；　the　sounds　of　metal　deafening。　With　a　hand　he　wished　was　steadier；　Glinn　took　out　his　pocket　watch　to　once　again　calculate　the　inclination；　he　held　it　up　but　it　swung　back　and　forth。　As　he　tried　to　steady　it；　the　watch　slipped　through　his　fingers　and　shattered　against　the　flank　of　the　rock；　he　saw　little　glints　of　gold　and　glass　skittering　along　the　red　surface　and　disappearing　into　the　depths。
　The　yawing　seemed　to　accelerate　with　a　brutal　suddenness。　Or　was　it　his　imagination？　Surely　none　of　this　could　be　real。　Double　overage　had　been　brought　to　bear；　the　calculations　run　and　rerun；　every　possible　path　to　failure　accounted　for。
　And　then　he　felt　the　meteorite　begin　to　move　beneath　him；　and　there　was　a　tearing　sound　as　the　tarps　rent　and　the　web　unraveled；　the　sudden　red　of　the　meteorite　filling　his　field　of　vision　like　the　opening　of　a　great　wound；　the　rock　crisscrossed　by　tangled　ropes　and　cables；　rivets　shooting　and　ricocheting　past　him。　Still　the　ship　yawed　on　its　side；　steeper　and　steeper。　He　scrambled　desperately；　trying　to　untie　the　rope　from　his　waist；　but　the　knot　was　so　tight；　so　tight。。。
　There　was　a　sound　beyond　all　description；　as　if　the　heavens　and　the　gulfs　below　had　opened　up　at　once。　The　tank　tore　apart　in　a　terrific　shower　of　sparks；　and　the　meteorite　rolled　into　the　darkness　…　a　monstrous　shambling　like　some　deliberate　beast　…　taking　him　with　it。　Instantly　all　was　dark；　and　he　felt　a　rush　of　chill　air。。。
　
　There　was　the　faint　tinkle　of　glasses；　the　murmur　of　voices。　L'Ambroisie　was　busy　on　this　balmy　Thursday　night；　filled　with　art　fanciers　and　wealthy　Parisians。　Beyond　the　restaurant's　discreet　front；　the　smoky　autumn　moon　lent　the　Marais　district　a　delicate　shimmer。　Glinn　smiled　at　Sally　Britton；　who　was　seated　across　the　fine　white　damask。　〃Try　this；〃　he　said　as　the　waiter　uncorked　a　bottle　of　Veuve　Cliquot　and　tipped　a　chilly　stream　into　their　glasses。　He　grasped　his　glass　and　raised　it。　She　smiled　and　spoke：
　。。。how　everything　turns　away
　Quite　leisurely　from　the　disaster；　the　ploughman　may
　Have　heard　the　splash；　the　forsaken　cry；
　But　for　him　it　was　not　an　important　failure
　
　An　important　failure。。。
　
　As　his　mood　turned　to　puzzlement；　the　recitation　was　drowned　by　a　hideous　laugh　from　Puppup。　And　then　the　scene　vaporized　in　a　pure　flash　of　brilliant；　beautiful　light。
　
　Drake　Passage；
　7：55　P。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　CLUTCHED　desperately　at　the　lifeboat's　safety　loops；　riding　it　through　the　great　peaks　and　valleys　of　a　confused　sea；　Rachel　clinging　tightly　to　his　arm。　The　last　twenty　minutes　had　passed　in　a　terrifying　confusion：　Britton's　sudden　departure　from　the　bridge；　Howell's　taking　mand　and　ordering　them　to　abandon　ship；　the　muster　at　the　lifeboat　stations　and　the　harrowing　launching　of　the　boats　into　the　raging　seas。　After　the　tense　hours　of　the　chase；　the　struggle　against　the　storm　and　the　meteorite；　this　ultimate　calamity　had　happened　so　quickly　that　it　seemed　unreal。　He　looked　around　the　inner　walls　of　the　lifeboat　for　the　first　time。　With　its　single…piece　hull；　tiny　entrance　port；　and　tinier　windows；　it　looked　like　an　oversize　torpedo。　Howell　was　at　the　helm；　guiding　the　inboard；　Lloyd　and　some　twenty　in　all　were　inside；　including　half　a　dozen　whose　own　lifeboat　had　been　torn　from　its　davits　during　launch　and　who　had　to　be　plucked　from　the　freezing　waves。
　He　tightened　his　grip　as　the　boat　dropped　in　free　fall；　crashed；　and　was　abruptly　driven　upward。　Instead　of　plowing　through　like　the　Rolvaag；　the　sixty…foot　craft　bobbed　like　a　woodchip。　The　staggering　falls；　the　wrenching　climbs　up　the　cliffs　of　water；　were　exhausting　and　terrifying。　They　were　drenched　in　ice　water；　and　some　who　had　been　in　the　sea；　McFarlane　could　see；　were　unconscious。　Brambell　was　there；　thank　God；　attending　to　them　as　best　he　could。
　An　officer　in　the　bow　of　the　boat　was　securing　the　provisions　and　security　gear。　Debris　was　wallowing　and　rolling　in　the　water　beneath　their　feet。　They　were　all　sick；　and　some　were　retching　uncontrollably。　None　of　the　crew　spoke；　going　silently　through　their　duties。　The　tightly　enclosed　hull　of　the　lifeboat　sheltered　them　from　the　elements。　But　McFarlane　could　feel　the　terrible　seas　were　battering　the　boat　mercilessly。
　Howell　finally　spoke；　his　voice　hoarse　over　the　sound　of　wind　and　water。　He　was　holding　a　radio　to　his　mouth；　but　he　spoke　so　that　everyone　in　the　boat　could　hear。
　〃All　boats；　listen　up！　Our　only　chance　is　to　head　for　an　ice　island　to　the　southeast；　and　ride　out　the　storm　in　its　lee。　Maintain　a　heading　of　one　two　zero　at　ten　knots　and　keep　in　visual　contact　at　all　times。　Keep　channel　three　open。　Activate　emergency　beacons。〃
　It　was　hard　to　tell　they　were　going　anywhere；　but　the　moon　had　e　back　out　…　and　now　and　then；　through　the　narrow　oblong　windows；　McFarlane　caught　the　faint　lights　of　the　other　two　lifeboats　driving　down　the　foam…webbed　seas；　struggling　to　keep　in　sight。　At　the　heights　of　the　terrible　waves；　he　could　still　make　out　the　Rolvaag；　half　a　mile　back；　wallowing　back　and　forth　as　if　in　slow　motion；　its　emergency　lights　winking　on　and　off。　No　more　boats　had　been　launched　since　their　pack　of　three　started　out　minutes　before。　He　could　not　take　his　eyes　from　the　sight　of　the　gigantic　vessel；　held　in　the　death　grip　of　the　storm。
　A　fresh　roller　tried　to　raise　the　tanker；　but　this　time　the　Rolvaag　hung　back；　almost　as　if　it　was　tethered　from　below。　It　leaned　farther　and　farther　from　the　face　of　the　wave；　and　as　the　crest　boiled　over　the　ship　it　slowly　lay　down　on　its　side。　McFarlane　glanced　over　at　Lloyd。　The　man's　haggard　face　was　turned　away　from　McFarlane　and　the　Rolvaag　both。
　Another　bob；　the　seas　pletely　submerged　the　lifeboat；　then　they　struggled　upward　again。　Although　he　too　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　avert　his　eyes；　McFarlane　found　his　gaze　drawn　once　again　to　the　great　ship。　It　still　hung　sideways；　motionless。　Even　after　the　crest　of　the　wave　had　passed　over；　it　sagged；　dragged　lower　and　lower　by　the　ineluctable　weight。　Its　stern　began　to　peer　through　the　retreating　wave；　dead　screws　exposed。　A　distant　shriek；　almost　feminine；　cut　through　the　howl　of　the　storm。　And　then；　both　bow　and　stern　jerked　apart　and　rose　from　the　seas　in　a　boil　of　white。　There　was　a　deep；　intense　blue　light　in　the　center　of　the　cataclysm；　so　bright　it　seemed　to　light　up　the　sea　from　underneath；　sending　an　unearthly　hue　through　the　water。　A　huge　gout　of　steam　ripped　through　the　surface　and　mushroomed　upward；　blanketing　the　doomed　ship；　while　lightning　flickered　within　it；　breaking　out　its　top　in　forks　that　stabbed　into　the　night。　At　that　moment　the　lifeboat　sank　back　into　a　welter　of　water；　obscuring　the　terrible　sight。　When　it　emerged；　the　seas　were　empty　and　dark。　The　ship　was　gone。
　McFarlane　sat　back；　shaking　and　nauseated。　He　did　not　dare　look　at　Lloyd。　Glinn；　Britton；　the　three　dozen　crewmen；　EES　staffers；　and　Lloyd　Industries　workers　who　had　gone　down　wit