cc.iceberg-第5章

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　〃Don't　be　surprised；　gentlemen；〃　Pitt　said；　feeling　the　warmth　of　self…satisfaction。　〃I　make　it　a　habit　to　do　my　homework。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Koski　said　grimly。　It　was　obvious　that　he　didn't　see。　〃Perhaps　you　might　give　us　a　clue　as　to　why　you've　studied　your　lessons　so　diligently。〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃As　I've　said；　it's　a　habit。〃
　〃An　irritating　one　at　that。〃　Koski　looked　at　Pitt　with　a　hint　of　uneasiness。　〃I　wonder　if　you're　really　what　you　say　you　are。〃
　〃Dr。　Hunnewell　and　I　are　bona　fide；〃　Pitt　said　reassuringly。
　〃We'll　know　for　certain　in　approximately　two　minutes；　Major。〃　Koski's　tone　suddenly　turned　cynical。　〃I　like　to　do　my　homework　too。〃
　〃You　don't　trust　me；〃　Pitt　said　dryly。　〃A　pity。　Your　mental　anxiety　is　all　for　nothing。　Dr。　Hunnewell　and　I　have　no　intent；　or　the　means；　for　that　matter；　of　endangering　the　safety　of　your　ship　or　crew。〃
　〃You've　given　me　no　opportunity　for　trust。〃　Koski's　eyes　were　bleak；　his　voice　icy。　〃You　carry　no　written　orders；　I've　received　no　radio　signals　regarding　your　authority；　nothing　。　。　。　nothing　but　a　vague　message　from　Coast　Guard　Headquarters　announcing　your　arrival。　I　might　point　out　that　anyone　with　a　know'ledge　of　our　call　signal　could　have　sent　that　munication。〃
　〃Nothing's　impossible；〃　Pitt　said。　He　couldn't　help　but　admire　Koski's　perception。　The　mander　had　struck　the　nail　precisely　on　the　head。
　〃If　you're　playing　a　shady　game；　Major；　I　want　no　part　of　it…I；　Koski　broke　off　to　accept　a　signal　form　from　a　seaman；　and　studied　it　carefully；　taking　his　time　about　it。　A　strange　considering　look　crossed　his　face。　Then　he　frowned　as　he　passed　the　sheet　across　to　Pitt。　〃It　seems　that　you're　a　never…ending　source　of　surprise。〃
　
　If　Pitt　didn't　look　unfortable；　he　certainly　felt　it。　The；ohous　exposure　had　been　a　long　time　ing；　and　he　d　had　plenty　of　time　to　prepare。　Unfortunately；　he　hadn't　e　up　with　a　plausible　back…up　story。　Pitt　quickly　decided　there　was　little　he　couldd　do　but　take　the　form　from　the　mander's　hand　and　appear　unconcerned。　It　said：　〃Regarding　your　inquiry　of　Dr。　William　Hunnewell　and　Major　Dirk　Pitt；　Dr。　Hunnewell's　credentials　are　of　the　highest　caliber。　He　is　Director　of　the　California　Institute　of　Oceanography。　Major　Pitt　is　indeed　Special　Projects　Director　for　NUMA。　He　also　is　the　son　of　Senator　George　Pitt。　These　men　are　engaged　in　oceanographic　research　vital　to　the　interests　Of　the　goverdment　and　are　to　be　extended　every　assistance　and　courtesy；　Also；　inform　Major　Pitt　that　Admiral　Sandecker　requests　that　the　major　beware　of　frigid　women。〃　It　was　signed　by　the　mandant　of　the　Coast　Guard。
　〃The　defense　rests；〃'　Pitt　said；　savoring　each　syllable　to　the　hilt。　Sandecker；　the　old　fox；　had　used　his　influence　to　finagle　the　Coast　Guard　mandant　into　playing　the　game。　Pitt　let　out　a　deep　breath　and　handed　the　message　form　back　to　Koski。　l　〃It　must　be　nice　to　have　friends　in　high　places；　Koski　said；　a　touch　of　anger　in　his　voice。
　〃It　helps　on　occasion。〃
　〃I　have　no　choice　but　to　be　satisfied；〃　Koski　said　heavily。　〃That　last　part；　if　I'm　not　infringing　upon　some　sacred　trust；　was　code'3〃
　〃No　great　secret；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃It's　only　Admiral　Sandecker's　sly　way　of　telling　Dr。　Hunnewell　and　me　to　continue　on　to　Iceland　after　our　investigation　of　the　iceberg。〃
　
　Koski　stood　there　for　a　moment　not　saying　anything。　He　shook　his　head　slowly　in　puzzlement　and　was　still　shaking　it　when　Hunnewell　thumped　his　fist　on　the　chart　table。
　〃There　it　is；　gentlemen。　The　precise　location　of　our　ghost　ship…give　or　take　a　few　square　miles。〃　Hunnewell　was　magnificent。　If　he　had　been　aware　of　the　tension　a　few　moments　before；　he　showed　absolutely　no　evidence　of　it。　He　folded　the　chart　and　shoved　it　into　the　pocket　of　his　windbreaker。　〃Major　Pitt；　I　think　it　best　if　we　take　off　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　〃Whatever　you　say；　Dog〃　Pitt　said　agreeably。　〃I　can　have　the　chopper　warmed　up　and　ready　to　go　in　ten　minutes。〃
　〃Good。〃　Hunnewell　nodded。　〃We're　now　in　the　area　where　the　berg　was　sighted　by　the　patrol　plane。
　
　According　to　my　calculations；　at　the　present　rate　of　drift；　the　iceberg　should　reach　the　edge　of　the　Gulf　Stream　sometime　tomorrow。　If　the　ice　patrol's　estimate　of　the　size　is　correct；　the　berg　is　already　melting　to　the　tune　of　a　thousand　tons　an　hour。　When　it　hits　the　warmer　water　of　the　Gulf　Stream；　it　won't　last　ten　days。
　
　The　only　unanswered　question　is　when　Will　the　derelict　be　released　from　the　ice？　Conceivably　it　could　already　be　lost；　hopefully　it's　still　there　and　will　be　for　a　few　more　days。〃
　〃What　do　you　figure　for　the　flight　distance？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃Approximately　ninety　miles　to　the　general　vicinity；〃　Hunnewell　answered。
　Koski　looked　up　at　Pitt。　〃As　Soon　as　you　take　off；　I'll　reduce　speed　to　one　third　and　maintain　a　heading　of　one…zero…six　degrees。　How　long　do　you　make　it　before　we　rendezvous？〃
　〃Three　and　a　half　hours　should　do　the　job；〃　Pitt　replied。
　Koski　looked　thoughtful。　〃Four　hours…after　four　hours　I'm　ing　into　the　icepack　after　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；　mander；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Believe　me　when　I　say　I'm　grateful　for　your　concern。〃
　
　Koski　believed　him。　〃Are　you　certain　I　can't　bring　the　Catawaba　in　closer　to　Your　search　area？　if　you　should　have　an　accident　on　the　berg　or　have　to　dive　in　the　sea；　I　doubt　if　I　could　reach　you　in　time。　In　forty…degree　water　a　man　in　full　clothing　only　has　a　life　expectancy　Of　twenty…five　minutes。〃
　〃We'll　have　to　risk　it。〃　Pitt　took　a　final　sip　of　his　coffee　and　stared　idly　at　the　empty　cup。　〃The　Russians　might　already　smell　a　rat　if　one　of　their　trawlers　has　sighted　your　Coast　Guard　vessel　Sunday　cruising　in　an　area　outside　its　regular　patrol　station。　That's　why　the　end　run　with　the　helicopter。　We　can　stay　low　enough　to　avoid　any　radar　scanner　and　still　be　tough　to　sight　visually。　Time　is　important　also。　A　copter　can　get　in　and　out　of　the　Novgorod's　location　in　one　tenth　the　time　it　would　take　the　Catawaba。〃
　〃Okay。〃　Koski　sighed。
　〃It's　your　show。　Just　see　that　you're　back　on　the　landing　platform　by　。　。　。　he　hesitated　looking　at　his　watch　〃no　later　than　1030。〃　Then　he　grinned。　〃If　you're　a　good　boy　and　arrive　on　time；　I'll　have　a　fifth　Of　Johnnie　Walker　waiting。〃　Pitt　laughed。　〃Now　that's　what　I　call　one　hell　of　an　incentive。〃
　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　Hunnewell　shouted　above　the　racket　of　the　helicopter's　engine　exhaust。　〃We　should　have　sighted　something　by　now。〃
　Pitt　looked　at　his　watch。　〃Timewise；　we're　in　good　shape。　Still　over　two　hours　to　go。〃
　〃Can't　you　go　higher？　If　we　double　our　range　of　vision；　we'd　double　our　chances　of　detecting　the　iceberg。〃
　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃No　can　do。　We'd　also　double　the　possibility　of　our　own　detection。　It's　safer　if　we　stay　at　a　hundred　and　fifty　feet。〃
　〃We　must　find　it　today；〃　Hunnewell　said；　an　anxious　expression　on　his　cherub　face。　〃Tomorrow　may　be　too　late　for　a　second　try。〃　He　studied　the　chart　draped　across　his　knees　for　a　moment　then　picked　up　a　pair　of　binoculars　and　focused　off　to　the　north　at　several　icebergs　floating　together　in　a　cluster。
　〃Have　you　noticed　any　bergs　that　e　close　to　matching　the　description　we're　looking　for？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃We　crossed　one　about　an　hour　ago　that　passed　the　size　and　configuration　requirements；　but　there　was　no　red　dye　on　its　walls。〃　Hunnewell　swung　the　binoculars；　scanning　a　flat　restless　ocean　studded　with　hundreds　of　massive　icebergs；　some　broken　and　jagged；　others　rounded　and　smooth；　like　paper…white　geometric　solids　thrown　haphazardly　over　the　blue　sea。
　〃My　ego　is　shattered；〃　Hunnewell　said　mournfully〃Never　since　my　high　school　trigonometr…j　class　have　my　calculations　been　so　far　off。〃
　〃Perhaps　a　change　in　wind　direction　blew　the　berg　on　a　different　course。〃
　〃Hardly；〃　Hunnewell　grunted。　〃An　iceberg's　underwater　mass　is　seven　times　the　size　of　what　shows　on　the　surface。　Nothing　but　an　ocean　current　has　the　slightest　effect　on　its　movement。　It　can　easily　move　with　the　current　against　a　twenty…knot　wind。〃
　〃An　irresistible　force　and　an　immovable　object　rolled　up　into　one　lump。〃
　〃That　and　much　moreamned　near　indestructible。〃　Hunnewell　talked　as　he　peered　through　the　glasses。　〃Of　course；　they　break　up　and　melt　soon　after　drifting　south　into　warmer　waters。　But　during　their　passage　to　the　Gulf　Stream；　they　bow　neither　to　storm　nor　man。　Glacier　icebergs　have　been　blasted　by　torpedoes；　eight…inch　naval　guns；　massive　doses　of　thermite　bombs；　and　tons　of　coal　dust　to　soak　up　the　sun　and　speed　up　the　melting　process。　The　results　were　parable　to　the　damage　a　herd　of　elephants　might　suffer　after　a　slingshot　bombardment　by　a　tribe　of　anemic　pygmies。〃
　
　Pitt　went　into　a　steep　bank；　dodging　around　the　sheer　sides　of　a　high…pinnacled　berg…a　maneuver　that　had　Hunnewell　clutching　his　stomach。
　
　He　checked　the　chart　again。　Two　hundred　square　miles　covered　and　nothing　achieved。　He　said：　〃Let's　try　due　north　for　fifteen　minutes。　Then　head　back　east　to　the　edge　of　the　ice　pack。　Then　south　for　ten　minutes　before　we　cut　west　again。〃
　〃One　graduated　box　pattern　to　the　north　ing　up；〃　Pitt　said。　He　tilted　the　controls　slightly；　holding　the　helicopter　in　a　side…swinging　movement　until　the　pass　read　zero　degrees。
　
　The　minutes　wore　on　and　multiplied　and　the　fatigue　began　to　show　in　the　deepening　lines　around　Hunnewell's　eyes。　〃How's　the　gas　situation？〃
　〃That's　the　least　of　our　worries；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃The　elements　we're　short　on　at　the　moment　are　time　and　optimism。
　〃Might　as　well　admit　it；〃　Hunnewell　said　wearily。
　〃I　ran　out　of　the　latter　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago。〃
　Pitt　gripped　Hunnewell's　arm。　〃Hang　in　there；　Dog〃　he　said　encouragingly。　〃Our　elusive　iceberg　may　be　just　around　the　next　corner。〃
　〃If　it　is；　it's　defied　every　drift　pattern　in　the　book。〃
　〃The　red　dye　marker。　Could　be　it　washed　away　in　the　storm　yesterday？〃
　〃Fortunately　no。　The　dye　contains　calcium　chloride；　a　necessary　ingredient　for　deep　penetration…takes　weeks；　sometimes　months　for　the　stain　to　melt　away。〃
　〃That　leaves　us　with　one　other　possibility。〃
　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking；〃　Hunnewell　said　flatly。　〃A…nd　you　can　perish　the　thought。　I've　worked　closely　off　an（I　on　with　the　Coast　Guard　for　over　thirty　years；　and　I've　never　known　them　to　mistake　an　ice　position　sighting。〃
　〃That's　it　then。　A　million…ton　chunk　of　ice　evaporated　mt〃　Pitot　left　the　sentence　unfinished；　partly　because　the　helicopter　was　beginning　to　drift　off　course；　partly　because　he　glimpsed　something。　Hunnewell　suddenly　stiffened　in　his　seat　and　leaned　forward；　the　binoculars　jammed　against　his　eye　sockets。
　〃I　have　it；〃　Hunnewell　cried。
　
　Pitt　didn't　wait　for　a　mand；　he　dipped　the　helicopter　and　headed　toward　the　direction　indicated　by　Hunnewell's　binoculars。
　
　Hunnewell　passed　the　glasses　to　Pitt。　〃Here；　take　a　peek　and　tell　me　these　old　eyes　aren't　picking　up　a　mirage。〃
　
　Pitt　did　a　juggling　act　with　the　binoculars　and　the　helicopter's　controls　while　fighting　to　keep　the　engine　vibration　from　jiggling　the　iceberg　out　of　focus。
　〃Can　you　make　out　the　red　dye？〃　Hunnewell　asked　anxiously。
　〃Like　a　stripe　of　strawberry　in　the　middle　of　a　scoop　of　vanilla　ice　cream。〃
　〃I　can't　understand　it。〃　Hunnewell　shook　his　head。
　〃That　berg　shouldn't　be　there。　By　every　known　law　of　current　and　drift；　it　should　be　floating　at　lea