cc.iceberg-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


a　sudden　chill　and　took　another　swallow　from　the　bottle。
　
　The　radio　crackled　again。　〃Major　Pitt。〃
　〃e　in；　Admiral。〃
　〃We　have　a　problem　here。　Every　helicopter　on　the　island　is　grounded。　The　paramedics　will　have　to　be　airdropped　from　a　transport。〃
　〃Do　you　understand？　It　is　imperative　that　helicopters　be　used。　The　survivors　must　be　airlifted　out。　And　most　important；　Admiral。　I　must　lead　the　search…repeat…I　must　lead　the　search。　The　crash　site　is　invisible　from　the　air。　Your　rescue　party　could　search　for　days　and　never　find　it。〃
　
　Pitt　could　sense　the　gloom　at　the　other　end。　Sandecker　took　a　long　time　in　answering。　Then　he　spoke　wearily；　defeated；　as　if　he　were　delivering　the　last　rites；　which　indeed　he　very　nearly　was。
　〃Negative　to　your　request。　There　are　seven　copters　on　the　island。　Three　belong　to　the　Air　Force；　four　to　the　Icelandic　Search　and　Rescue　Department。　All　are　grounded　due　to　maintenance　problems。〃　Sandecker　paused；　then　went　on　slowly。　〃The　possibility　seems　remote；　but　our　people　and　the　government　authorities　smell　sabotage。〃
　〃Oh；　Christ！〃　Pitt　murmured；　and　suddenly　his　blood　ran　cold。　Every　contingency。　The　term　came　back　to　haunt　him　again　and　again。　Kelly's　puters　had　built　the　wau　ever　higher　against　hope　of　rescue。　Rondheim's　coldly　efficient　gang　of　killers　had　carried　out　the　mechanical　mands　to　the　letter。
　〃Do　you　have　enough　flat　ground　for　a　light　plane　to　land　and　pick　you　up？〃　Sandecker　probed　expectantly。　〃If　affirmative；　you　could　direct　a　rescue　drop　from　the　air。〃
　〃A　small　plane　might　make　it；〃　Pitt　said。　〃I　have　a　level　meadow　here　the　length　of　a　football　field。〃
　
　Outside；　unnoticed　by　Pitt；　the　sun；　a　perfect　orange　disk　in　the　northern　latitudes；　was　being　rapidly　overtaken　by　great　rolling　black　clouds　that　soon　surrounded　and　cut　off　its　bright　glow。　A　chilling　breeze　had　sprung　up　and　was　bending　the　grass　in　the　meadows　and　hills。　Pitt　became　aware　of　Andursson's　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　the　sudden　dimming　light　in　the　room　at　the　same　time。
　〃A　storm　from　the　north；〃　Andursson　said　solemnly。　〃It　will　snow　withiin　the　hour。〃
　
　Pitt　threw　back　the　chair　and　hurriedly　crossed　the　room　to　a　small　double　window。　He　stared　through　the　glass；　his　eyes　unbelieving；　and　he　struck　his　fist　against　the　wall　in　despair。
　〃God；　no！〃　he　whispered。　〃It　would　be　suicidal　for　the　paramedics　to　parachute　through　a　blinding　snowstorm。〃
　〃Nor　could　a　light　plane　fly　through　the　turbulence；〃　Andursson　said。　〃I　have　seen　the　ing　of　many　northerns　and　have　known　their　ferocity。　This　will　be　a　bad　one。〃
　
　Pitt　weaved　drunkenly　back　to　the　radio　and　collapsed　in　the　chair。　He　held　his　cut　and　swollen　face　in　his　hands　and　muttered　softly；　〃God　save　them。　God　save　all　of　them　now。　Hopeless；　hopeless。〃
　
　Sandecker　came　over　the　radio；　but　Pitt　sat　unhearing。　〃Your　exact　position；　Major。　Can　you　give　me　your　exact　position？〃
　
　Andursson　reached　over　Pitt　and　took　the　microphone。　〃One　minute；　Admiral　Sandecker；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Please　stand　by。〃
　
　He　took　Pitts　right　hand　and　gripped　it　hard。
　〃Major　Pitt；　you　must　control　your　mind。〃　He　looked　down；　his　eyes　bright　with　passion。　〃　'The　knot　of　death；　though　it　be　bound　like　stone；　may　be　unravelled　by　he　who　knows　the　frail　strand。'　〃
　
　Pitt　slowly　looked　up　into　Andursson's　eyes。　〃So；　I　have　another　poet　on　my　hands。〃
　
　Andursson　simply　nodded　his　head　shyly。
　〃This　has　certainly　been　my　week　for　poets；〃　Pitt　sighed。　Then　he　swore　softly　to　himself。　He　had　already　spent　far　too　much　time　in　needless　talk　and　useless　pity；　and　time　was　running　short。　He　needed　a　plan；　a　device；　a　gimmick　to　reach　those　who　put　their　trust　in　him。　puters　make　mistakes；　he　told　himself。　Those　cold　electronic　monsters　can　make　an　error…an　error　that　may　be　infinitesimal；　but　none　the　less　the　possibility　exists。　There　is　no　emotion　built　into　their　wiring；　no　sentiment；　no　room　for　nostalgia。
　〃Nostalgia；〃　Pitt　said　out　loud；　rolling　the　word　on　his　tongue；　savoring　every　syllable；　repeating　it　at　least　three　more　times。
　
　Andursson　stared　at　him　strangely。　〃I　do　not　understand。〃
　〃You'll　soon　see；〃　Pitt　said。　〃I'm　not　waiting　to　find　the　frail　strand　in　your　poetic　knot　of　death。　I'ming　to　cut　it　with　blades；〃　The　old　man　looked　more　lost　than　ever。
　〃Blades？〃
　〃Yes；　propeller　blades。　Three　of　them；　to　be　exact。〃
　
　Chapter　18
　
　There　are　many　wondrous　sights　to　behold　in　this　world；　but　to　Pitt　nothing；　not　even　a　thirty…story　rocket　blasting　into　outer　space　or　a　needle…nosed　supersonic　transport　streaking　across　the　sky　at　twice　…the　speed　of　sound　could　ever　look　half　as　incredibly　beautiful　as　that　old　Ford　trimotor；　the　famed　Tin　Goose；　pitching　and　rolling　awkwardly　in　the　fitful　wind；　curtained　by　the　black　folds　of　giant　menacing　clouds。　Braced　against　the　increasing　gale；　he　watched　intently　as　the　ancient　aircraft；　graceful　in　its　ugliness；　circled　Andursson's　farm　once　before　the　pilot　eased　back　on　the　throttles；　skimmed　less　than　ten　feet　over　a　fence　and　set　it　down　in　the　meadow　where　the　wide…set　landing　wheels　rolled　to　a　plete　stop　in　less　than　two　hundred　feet　from　touchdown。
　
　Pitt　turned　to　Andursson。　〃Well；　good…by；　Golfur。
　
　Thank　you　for　all　you've　done　for　me　。　。　。　for　all　of　US。
　
　Golfur　Andursson　shook　Pitts　hand。　〃It　is　I　who　thank　you；　Major。
　
　For　the　honor　and　opportunity　to　help　my　fellow　brother。　God　go　with　you。〃
　
　Pitt　couldn't　run；　his　cracked　ribs　wouldn't　permit　that；　but　he　covered　the　distance　to　the　trimotor　in　less　than　thirty　seconds。　Just　as　he　reached　the　right　side　of　the　fuselage；　the　door　flew　open　and　a　strong　arm　reached　down　and　pulled　him　into　the　cramped；　narrow　cabin。
　〃Are　you　Major　Pitt？〃
　
　Pitt　looked　into　the　face　of　a　great　bull　of　a　man；　tan…faced；　with　long　blond　sideburns。　〃Yes；　I'm　Pitt。〃
　〃Wele　back　to　the　roaring　twenties；　Major。
　
　This　is　a　helluva　idea；　using　this　old　flying　fossil　for　a　rescue　mission。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃I'm　Captain　Ben　Hull。〃
　
　Pitt　took　the　massive　paw　and　said；　〃Best　we　move　out　if　we　expect　to　beat　the　snow。〃
　〃Right　you　are；〃　Hull　boomed　briskly。　〃No　sense　in　getting　ticketed　for　overparking。〃　If　Hull　was　mildly　shocked　at　Pitts　damaged　face　or　his　strange…looking　clothes；　he　concealed　it　well。　〃We　ranthis　trip　without　a　copilot；　a　reserved　seat　in　your　name；　Major。　Figured　you'd　want　front　row　balcony　to　lead　us　to　the　wreck。〃
　〃Before　I　signed　off；　I　asked　Admiral　Sandecker　for　a　couple　of　items…〃
　〃Got　news　for　you；　Major。　That　old　sea　dog　carries　a　big　mean　stick。　Seems　he　pulled　every　plug　to　get　them　on　board　before　we　took　off。〃　He　pulled　a　package　from　his　parka　and　raised　an　inquiring　eyebrow。
　〃Beats　the　hell　out　of　me　why　you'd　want　a　bottle　of　Russian　vodka　and　a　box　of　cigars　at　a　moment　like
　
　〃It's　for　a　couple　of　friends；〃　Pitt　said；　sniffing。　He　turned　and　made　his　way　past　ten　men　ranged　in　various　relaxed　positions　along　the　floor　of　the　cabin…large；　quiet；　purposeful…looking　men　dressed　in　arctic　weather　gear。　They　were　men　who　were　ed　in　scuba　diving；　parachute　jumping；　survival；　and　nearly　every　phase　of　emergency　medicine　except　surgery。　A　wave　of　confidence　surged　through　Pitt　just　from　observing　them。
　
　Ducking　his　head　to　clear　the　low　cockpit　door；　Pitt　moved　into　the　cramped　confines　and　eased　his　sore　body　into　the　worn　and　cracked　leather　bucket　seat；　sitting　vacant　on　the　copilot's　side。　As　soon　as　he　was　safely　strapped　in；　he　turned　and　found　himself　staring　into　the　grinning　face　of　Sergeant　Sam　Cashman。
　〃Howdy；　Major。〃　Cashman's　eyes　widened。　〃God　Amighty；　who　stomped　on　your　face？〃
　〃Tell　you　over　a　drink　sometime。〃　Pitt　glanced　at　the　instrument　panel；　quickly　familiarizing　himself　with　the　old…fashioned　gauges。　〃I'm　a　bit　surprised　to　see…〃
　〃To　see　a　sergeant　flyin'　this　mission　instead　of　a　genuine　flight　officer；〃　Cashman　bed。　〃You　got　no　choice；　Major。　Ahim　the　only　one　on　the　whole　island　who's　checked　out　on　this　old　bus。　Ain't　she　a　winner？
　
　She'll　take　off　and　land　on　a　dollar　bill　and　give　you　change。〃
　〃Okay；　Sergeant。　You're　in　mand。　Now　let's　swing　this　bird　into　the　wind　and　get　her　up。　Bear　due；　west　along　the　river　until　I　tell　you　to　cut　south。〃
　
　Cashman　merely　nodded。　Deftly　he　jockeyed　the　Tin　Goose　on　a　hundred…and…eighty…degree　turn　until　it　faced　into　the　wind　at　the　far　side　of　the　meadow。　Then　he　shoved　the　three　throttles　forward　and　sent　the　lumbering　old　airliner　bouncing　and　shuddering　on　its　way；　ever　closer　to　the　fence　on　the　opposite　end　of　the　field；　no　more　than　three　hundred　feet　away。
　
　As　they　lurched　past　the　front　of　Golfur　Andursson's　little　house　with　the　plane's　tail　wheel　still　glued　to　the　ground；　Pitt　began　to　have　a　vague　idea　of　what　Charles　Lindbergh's　thoughts　must　have　been　when　he　urged　his　heavily　laden　Spirit　of　St。　Louis　off　the　muddy　runway　of　Roosevelt　Field　back　in　1927。　It　seemed　impossible　to　Pitt　that　any　aircraft　short　of　a　helicopter　or　light　two…seater　could　leave　the　earth　in　so　small　a　space。　He　shot　a　fast　look　at　Cashman　and　saw　only　icy　calmness　and　total　relaxation。　Cashman　was　indifferently　whistling　a　tune；　but　Pitt　couldn't　quite　make　out　the　melody　above　the　roar　of　the　trio　of　two…hundredhorsepower　engines。
　
　There　was　no　doubt；　Pitt　reflected。　Cashman　certainly　displayed　the　image　of　a　man　who　knew　how　to　handle　a　plane；　especially　this　one。
　
　With　two…thirds　of　the　meadow　gone；　Cashman　eased　the　control　column　forward　and　lifted　the　tail　wheel　and　then　pulled　back；　floating　the　plane　a　few　feet　above　the　turf。　Then　to　Pitts　horror；　Cashman　suddenly　dropped　the　trimotor　back　hard　on　the　ground　no　more　than　fifty　feet　in　front　of　the　fence。　Pitts　horror　turned　to　amazement　as　Cashman　jerked　the　controls　back　against　his　chest　and　literally　bounced　the　old　Tin　Goose　over　the　fence　and　threw　it　into　the　air。
　〃Where　in　hell　did　you　learn　that　little　trick？〃　Pitt　said；　exhaling　a　great　sigh　of　relief。　It　was　then　he　recognized　the　tune　Cashman　was　whistling　as　the　theme　from　the　old　movie；　〃Those　Magnificent　Men　in　Their　Flying　Machines。〃
　〃Used　to　be　a　crop　duster　in　Oklahoma；〃　Cashman　replied。
　〃How　did　you　wind　up　as　a　mechanic　in　the　Air　Force？〃
　〃One　day　the　junker　ah　was　flyin'　developed　a　nasty　cough。　Plowed　up　a　farmer's　pasture　and　butchered　his　champion　beef　sire　years　before　its　time。　Everybody　in　the　county　was　out　to　sue　me。　Ah　was　flat　broke　so　ah　split　the　scene　and　enlisted。〃
　
　Pitt　couldn't　help　smiling　as　he　peered　through　the　windshield　at　the　river　two　hundred　feet　below。　From　that　height　he　could　easily　spot　the　sloping　ridge　where　Andursson　had　found　him。　He　saw　something　now　he　didn't　expect　to　find。　Almost　imperceptibly；　he　became　aware　of　a　long　even　line　against　the　landscape　that　trailed　off　toward　the　south。　He　pushed　open　the　little　side　window　and　looked　again。　It　was　there　all　right：　the　dark　shade　of　green　against　the　lighter　tinted　tundra。
　
　His　footprints；　where　they　had　sunk　into　the　soft　vegetation；　had　left　a　path　that　was　easy　to　follow　as　the　white　line　down　the　center　of　a　highway。
　
　Pitt　caught　Cashman's　eye　and　motioned　earthward。　〃To　the　so