cc.iceberg-第7章

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　long　hours　of　uncertaintythey　were　already　past　the　time　limit　set　by　mander　Koski…it　was　the　eerie　appearance　of　the　mystery　ship　itself。
　
　Neither　man　had　ever　seen　anything　quite　like　it。
　
　The　atmosphere　around　the　berg　had　a　terrifying　desolation　that　belonged　not　to　earth　but　to　some　dead　and　distant　planet。　Only　the　rays　of　the　sun　broke　the　inertness；　penetrating　the　ice　and　distorting　the　lines　of　the　ship's　hull　and　superstructure　into　a　constantly　changing　series　of　abstract　shadows。　The　sight　seemed　so　unreal　that　it　was　difficult　for　Pitt　to　accept　the　visible　fact　of　its　existence。　As　he　adjusted　the　controls　and　lowered　the　helicopter　to　the　ice；　he　half　expected　the　entombed　vessel　to　vanish。
　
　Pitt　tried　to　land　on　a　smooth　spot　near　the　berg's　edge；　but　the　sloping　angle　of　the　ice　proved　too　great；　he　finally　put　down　directly　on　top　of　the　derelict。　Hunnewell　leaped　from　the　helicopter　just　before　the　skids　kissed　the　ice；　and　had　already　paced　the　derelict　from　bow　to　stern　when　Pitt　joined　him。
　〃Odd；〃　Hunnewell　murmured；　〃most　odd。　Nothing　Protrudes　above　the　surface；　not　even　the　masts　and　radar　antenna。　Every　square　inch　is　sealed　solidly　under　the　ice。〃
　
　Pitt　pulled　a　handkerchief　from　his　flight　jacket　and　blew　his　nose。　Then　he　sniffed　the　air；　as　if　testing　it。
　〃Smell　anything　out　of　the　ordinary；　Doc？〃
　Hunnewell　tilted　his　head　back　and　inhaled　slowly。
　〃There　is　something　of　an　odor。　Too　faint　though。　I　can't　make　it　out。〃
　〃You　don't　travel　in　the　right　circles；〃　Pitt　said；　grinning。　〃If　you'd　get　out　of　your　laboratory　more　often　and　learn　a　bit　about　life；　you'd　recognize　the　distinct　aroma　of　burnt　rubbish。〃
　〃Where's　it　ing　from？〃
　Pitt　nodded　at　the　derelict　under　his　feet。　〃Where　else　but　down　there。〃
　Hunnewell　shook　his　head。　〃No　way。　It's　a　scientific　fact；　you　can't　smell　an　inorganic　substance　inside　a　block　of　ice　from　the　outside。〃
　〃The　old　proboscis　never　lies。〃　The　midday　warmth　was　beginning　to　overe　the　cold；　so　Pitt　unzipped　his　flight　jacket。　〃There　must　be　a　leak　in　the　ice。〃
　〃You　and　your　educated　nose；〃　Hunnewell　said　acidly。　〃I　suggest　you　stop　playing　bloodhound　and　start　placing　the　thermite　charges。　The　only　way　we're　going　to　get　inside　the　wreck　is　by　melting　the　ice　mantle。〃
　〃We'll　be　taking　a　risk。〃
　〃Trust　me；〃　Hunnewell　said　mildly。　〃I'm　not　about　to　split　the　berg　al）d　lose　the　derelict；　the　helicopter；　and　ourselves　as　well。　I　intend　to　begin　with　small　loads　and　work　our　way　down　by　degrees。〃
　〃I　wasn't　thinking　of　the　iceberg。　I　was　thinking　of　the　wrecked　ship。　There's　a　damn　good　chance　the　fuel　tanks　have　ruptured　and　allowed　diesel　oil　to　slosh　the　entire　length　of　the　keel。　If　we　miscalculate　and　ignite　as　much　as　a　drop；　the　whole　derelict　goes　up　in　one　fiery　puff。〃
　Hunnewell　stamped　his　foot　on　the　hard…packed　ice。　〃How　do　you　expect　to　get　through　that…with　an　ice　pick。
　〃Dr。　Hunnewell；〃　Pitt　said　quietly；　〃I　won't　argue　the　fact　that　your　name　is　known　far　and　wide　for　your　hyper…scientific　intellect。　However；　like　most　superbrains；　your　mental　depth　for　practical；　everyday　runof…the…mill　matters　is　sadly　lacking。　Thermite　charges；　ice　picks；　you　say。　Why　bother　with　plex　and　muscle…exerting　sclemes　when　we　can　simply　perform　an　open　sesame　routine？〃
　〃You're　standing　on　glacial　ice；〃　Hunnewell　said。
　〃It's　hard　and　it's　solid。　You　can't　walk　through　it。〃
　〃Sorry；　my　friend；　you're　dead　wrong；〃　Pitt　said。
　Hunnewell　eyed　him　suspiciously。　〃Prove　it！〃
　〃What　I'm　getting　at　is；　the　labor　has　already　been　done。　Our　Machiavelli　and　his　merry　band　of　busy　helpers　have　obviously　been　here　before　us。〃　He　pointed　dramatically　up…ward。　〃Please　observe。〃
　
　Hunnewell　lifted　a　quizzical　eyebrow　and　looked　upward　and　intently　studied　the　broad　face　of　the　steep　ice　slope。　Along　the　outer　edges　and　near　the　lower　base；　only　a　few　yards　from　where　Pitt　and　Hunnewell　stood；　the　ice　was　smooth　and　even。　But　beginning　at　the　summit　and　working　downward　into　the　middle　of　the　slope；　the　ice　was　as　pockmarked　as　the　backside　of　the　moon。
　〃Well　now；〃　Hunnewell　murmured；　〃it　does　appear　that　someone　went　to　a　lot　of　trouble　to　remove　the　Ice　Patrol's　red；　dye　stain。〃　He　gave　a　long　expressionless　look　at　the　towering　ice　pinnacle；　then　turned　back　to　Pitt。　〃Why　would　someone　chip　the　stain　out　by　hand　when　they　could　have　easily　erased　all　trace　with　explosives？〃
　〃I　can't　answer　that；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Maybe　they　were　afraid　of　cracking　the　berg；　or　maybe　they　didn't　have　explosives；　who　can　say？　However；　I'll　lay　a　month's　wage　that　our　clever　little　pals　did　more　than　merely　chip　ice。　They　most　certainly　found　a　way　to　enter　the　derelict。〃
　〃So　all　we　do　now　is　look　for　a　flashing　sign　that　says　enter　here。〃　Hunnewell's　tone　was　sarcastic。　He　wasn't　used　to　being　outguessed；　and　his　expression　showed　that　he　didn't　like　it。
　〃A　soft　spot　in　the　ice　would　be　more　appropriate。〃
　〃I　suppose；〃　Hunnewell　said；　〃you're　suggesting　a　camouflaged　cover　over　some　sort　of　ice　tunnel。〃
　〃The　thought　had　crossed　my　mind。〃
　
　The　doctor　peered　over　the　top　of　his　glasses　at　Pitt。　〃Let's　get　on　with　it　then。　If　we　stand　around　here　theorizing　much　longer；　my　testicles　will　probably　get　an　acute　case　of　frostbite。〃
　
　It　shouldn't　have　been　all　that　difficult；　not　by　a　long　shot；　yet　it　didn't　go　as　easily　as　Pitt　had　figured。
　
　The　unpredictable　occurred　when　Hunnewell　lost　his　footing　on　the　slope　and　slid　helplessly　toward　a　steep　ledge　that　dropped　into　the　icy　sea。　He　fell　forward；　desperately　clawing　at　the　ice；　his　nails　scratching　and　bending　painfully　backward　through　the　hard　surface。
　
　He　slowed　momentarily；　but　not　enough。　His　fall　happened　so　abruptly　that　his　ankles　were　already　scraping　the　edge　of　the　thirty…foot　drop　before　he　thought　of　shouting　for　help。
　
　Pitt　had　been　busily　prying　up　a　chunk　of　loose　ice　when　he　heard　the　cry。　He　swung　around；　took　in　Hunnewell's　deteriorating　plight；　had　a　lightning　impression　of　how　impossible　rescue　would　be　once　the　doctor　had　fallen　into　the　freezing　water；　and　in　one　swift　movement　tore　off　his　flight　jacket　and　flung　himself　across　the　slop　in　a　flying　leap；　feet　first；　legs　lifted　crazily　in　the　air。
　
　To　Hunnewell's　panic…flooded　brain；　Pitts　move　looked　like　an　act　of　pure　madness。　〃Oh；　God；　no；　no；〃　he　shouted。　But　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　but　watch　Pitt　hurtle　toward　him　like　a　bobsled。　There　might　have　been　a　chance；　he　thought；　if　Pitt　had　stayed　on　the　berg。　Now　it　seemed　certain　that　both　men　would　die　in　the　freezing　salt　water　together。　Twenty…five　minutes；　mander　Koski's　words　flashed　through　his　head；　twenty…five　minutes　was　all　a　man　had　to　remain　alive　in　forty…degree　water…and　with　all　the　time　in　the　world　they　never　could　have　pulled　themselves　back　onto　the　sheer　sides　of　the　iceberg。
　
　If　he'd　had　precious　moments　to　think　about　it；　Pitt　would　have　undoubtedly　agreed　with　Hunnewell：　he　surely　looked　like　a　madman；　skiding　over　the　ice　with　his　feet　high　above　his　head。　Suddenly；　with　only　a　leg's　length　remaining　before　he　collided　with　Hunnewell；　Pitt　brought　his　feet　flashing　down　with　a　power　and　swiftness　that；　even　in　these　desperate　circumstances；　made　him　grunt　in　pain　as　his　heels　crashed　through　the　ice；　dug　in　tenaciously　and　brought　him　to　a　musclejarring　stop。　Then；　as　if　triggered　by　instinct；　in　the　same　motion　he　threw　a　sleeve　of　his　jacket　to　Hunnewell。
　
　The　thoroughly　frightened　scientist　needed　no　coaxing。　He　grasped　the　nylon　fabric　with　a　grip　that　no　vise　could　have　equaled　and　hung　on；　trembling　for　almost　a　minute；　waiting　for　his　middle…aged　heart　to　slow　down　to　a　few　beats　above　normal。　Fearfully；　he　stole　a　glance　sideways　and　saw　what　his　numbed　senses　could　not　feel…the　edge　of　the　ice　ledge　cut　across　his　waist　at　the　navel。
　〃When　you're　up　to　it；〃　Pitt　said；　his　voice　calm　but　pierced　with　a　noticeable　trace　of　tenseness；　try　pulling　yourself　toward　me。〃
　Hunnewell　shook　his　head。　〃I　can't；〃　he　murmured　hoarsely。　〃It's　all　I　can　do　to　hold　on。〃
　〃Can　you　find　a　foothold？〃
　Hunnewell　didn't　answer。　He　only　shook　his　head　again。
　
　Pitt　bent　over　between　his　outstretched　legs　and　tightened　his　grip　on　the　jacket。　〃We're　sitting　here　though　the　courtesy　of　two　hard　rubber　heels；　not　steel　cleats。　It　won't　take　much　for　the　ice　to　crack　around　them。〃　He　flashed　an　encouraging　grin　at　Hunnewell。
　〃Make　no　sudden　movement。　I'm　going　to　pull　you　clear　of　the　ledge。〃
　
　This　time　Hunnewell　nodded。　He　felt　a　sick　ache　in　his　stomach；　the　tips　of　his　torn　fingers　throbbed；　his　sweatsoaked　face　reflected　the　terror　and　pain。　One　thing；　and　one　thing　only；　reached　through　his　blanket　of　fear：　the　determined　look　in　Pitts　eyes。　Hunnewell　stared　at　the　calm　face；　and　in　that　moment　he　knew　that　Pitt's　inner　strength　and　confidence　were　gaining　a　toehold　in　his　own　frightened　mind。
　〃Stop　your　blasted　grinning；〃　he　said　faintly；　〃and　start　pulling。〃
　
　Cautiously；　an　inch　at　a　time；　Pitt　hauled　Hunnewell　slowly　upward。　It　took　him　an　agonizing　sixty　seconds　before　he　had　Hunnewell's　head　on　a　plane　between　his　knees。　Then　Pitt；　one　hand　at　a　time；　let　go　of　the　jacket　and　grabbed　Hunnewell　under　the　armpits。
　〃That　was　the　easy　part；〃　Pitt　said。　〃The　next　exercise　is　up　to　you。〃
　His　hands　free；　Hunnewell　wiped　a　sleeve　across　his　sweaty　brow。　〃I　can't　make　any　guarantees。〃
　〃Your　dividers；　are　they　on　you？〃
　Hunnewell's　expression　went　blank　for　a　moment。
　Then　he　nodded。　〃Inside　breast　pocket。〃
　〃Good；〃　Pitt　murmured。　〃Now　climb　over　me　and　stretch　out　full　length。　When　your　feet　are　solidly　on　my　shoulders；　take　out　the　dividers　and　jam　them　into　the　ice。〃
　〃A　piton！〃　Hunnewell　exclaimed；　suddenly　aware。
　〃Damned　clever　of　you。　Major。〃
　
　Hunnewell　began　hauling　himself　over　Pitts　prostrate　form　straining　like　a　lootive　climbing　the　Rockies；　but　he　made　it。　Then；　with　Pitts　hands　firmly　clamped　on　his　ankles；　Hunnewell　pulled　out　the　steelpointed　dividers　that　he　normally　used　for　plotting　distances　on　charts　and　rammed　them　deeply　into　the　ice。
　〃Okay；〃　Hunnewell　grunted。
　〃Now　we'll　repeat　the　process；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Can　you　hold　on？〃
　〃Make　it　quick；〃　Hunnewell　answered。　〃My　hands　are　nearly　numb。〃
　
　Tentatively；　one　heel　still　imbedded　in　the　ice　as　a　safety　measure；　Pitt　tested　his　weight　on　Hunnewell's　legs。　The　dividers　gripped　firm。　Working　as　swiftly　and　as　smoothly　as　a　cat；　Pitt　crept　past　Hunnewell；　felt　his　hands　grope　over　the　edge　of　the　slope　where　it　leveled　out；　and　wiggled　up　onto　safe　ground。　He　didn't　waste　an　instant。　Almost　immediately；　it　seemed　to　Hunnewell；　Pitt　was　throwing　down　a　nylon　line　from　the　helicopter。　Half　a　minute　later；　the　pale　and　exhausted　oceanographer　sat　on　the　ice　at　Pitts　feet。
　
　Hunnewell　gave　a　great　sigh　and　gazed　into　Pitts　relieved　face。　〃Do　you　know　what　I'm　going　to　do　first　thing　when　we　set　foot　in　civilization？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Pitt　said；　smiling。　〃You're　going　to　buy　me　the　finest　gourmet　dinner　in　all　Reykjavik；　round　up　all　the　booze　I　can　drink；　and　introduce　me　to　a　sensuous；　buxom；　Icelandic　nymphomaniac。〃
　〃The　dinner　and　the　booze　are　yours…I　owe　you　that　much。