cc.iceberg-第8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！


nsuous；　buxom；　Icelandic　nymphomaniac。〃
　〃The　dinner　and　the　booze　are　yours…I　owe　you　that　much。　The　nymphomaniac；　I　can't　promise。　So　many　years　have　passed　by　since　I've　negotiated　for　a　woman's　charms；　I'm　afraid　I've　lost　the　touch。〃
　
　Pitt　laughed；　clapped　Hunnewell　on　the　shoulder　and　helped　him　to　his　feet。　〃Don't　sweat　it；　old　friend。
　Girls　are　my　department。〃　He　stopped　abruptly　and　said　sharply：　〃Your　hands　look　like　you　held　them　against　a　grindstone。〃
　Hunnewell　lifted　his　hands　and　stared　indifferently　at　the　bleeding　fingers。　〃Not　really　as　bad　as　they　look。
　A　bit　of　antiseptic　and　a　manicure　and　they'll　be　as　good　as　new。〃
　〃e　on；〃　Pitt　said。　〃There's　a　first…aid　kit　in　the　copter。　I'll　fix　them　up　for　you。〃
　A　few　minutes　later；　as　Pitt　tied　the　last　small　bandage；　Hunnewell　asked；　〃Did　you　find　any　sign　of　a　tunnel　before　I　took　my　spill？〃
　〃It's　a　slick　piece　of　work；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃The　entire　circumference　of　the　entrance　cover　is　beveled；　a　perfect　match　with　the　surrounding　ice。　If　someone　hadn't　got　careless　and　cut　a　small　handgrip；　I'd　have　walked　right　over　it。〃
　
　Hunnewell's　face　suddenly　grew　dark。　〃This　accursed　iceberg；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃I　swear　that　it　bears　a　personal　enmity　against　us。〃
　
　He　flexed　his　fingers　and　solemnly　studied　the　eight　little　bandages　masking　the　tips。　His　eyes　seemed　strained　and　his　face　looked　weary。
　
　Pitt　walked　over　and　raised　a　round　slab　of　ice　three　feet　in　diameter　by　three　inches　thick；　revealing　a　circular　hole　barely　large　enough　for　one　man　to　crawl　through。
　
　He　turned　his　head　away。　The　stench　of　burnt　paint；　fabric　and　fuel；　mixed　with　torched　metal；　rose　from　the　opening。
　〃That　should　prove　I　can　detect　smells　through　an　ice　cube；〃　Pitt　said。
　〃Yes；　you've　passed　the　nose　test；〃　Hunnewell　said　smilingly。　〃But　you've　failed　miserably　on　your　thermite　charge　theory。　〃That's　nothin'　but　a　burned…out　hulk　down　there。〃　he　paused　to　give　Pitt　a　scholarly　gaze　over　the　tops　of　his　spectacles。　〃We　could　have　blasted　until　next　summer　without　doing　any　damage　to　the　derelict。〃
　
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃Win　a　few；　lose　a　few。〃　He　passed　a　spare　flashlight　to　Hunnewell。　〃I'll　go　first。　Give　me　five　minutes　before　you　follow。〃
　
　Hunnewell　crouched　at　the　edge　of　the　ice　tunnel　as　Pitt　knelt　to　enter。
　〃Two。　I'll　give　you　two　minutes；　no　more。　Then　I'll　be　right　behind　you。〃
　
　The　tunnel；　illuminated　by　the　shattered　rays　of　the　sun　through　the　ice　crystals　above；　ran　downward　at　a　thirty…degree　angle　for　twenty　feet；　stopping　at　the　blackened　steel　plates；　charred　and　bent；　of　the　hull。
　
　The　smell　by　this　time　was　so　strong　that　Pitt　found　it　an　effort　just　to　breathe。　He　shook　off　the　irritating　odor　and　dragged　himself　to　within　a　foot　of　the　fire…scarred　metal；　discovering　that　the　tunnel　curved　and　parallelled　the　hull　for　another　ten　feet；　ending　finally　at　an　open　hatch。　savagely　twisted　and　distorted。　He　could　only　wonder　at　the　wite…hot　temperatures　responsible。
　
　Crawling　over　the　jagged　edge　of　the　hatchway；　he　stood　up　and　swung　the　beam　of　his　flashlight；　surveying　the　heat…defaced　walls。　It　was　impossible　to　tell　what　purpose　the　partment　served。　Every　square　inch　was'　gutted　by　the　terrible　intensity　of　the　fire。　Pitt　suddenly　felt　a　dread　of　the　unknown。　He　stood　dead…still　for　several　minutes；　forcing　his　mind　to　regain　control　of　his　emotions　before　he　stepped　across　the　debris　toward　the　door　leading　to　the　alleyway　and　shone　the　light　into　the　darkness　beyond。
　
　The　beam　torched　the　whole　black　length　as　far　as　the　stairway　to　a　lower　deck。　'The　corridor　was　barren　except　for　the　charred　ashes　of　a　carpet。　It　was　the　silence　that　was　eerie。　No　creaking　of　the　plates；　no　throb　of　the　engines；　no　lapping　of　water　against　a　weedencrusted　hull；　nothing；　only　the　plete　soundlessness　of　a　void。
　
　He　hesitated　in　the　doorway　for　a　long　minute；　his　first　thought；　conviction　rather；　was　that　something　had　gone　terribly；　terribly　wrong　with　Admiral　Sandecker's　plans。　This　wasn't　what　they　had　been　led　to　expect　at　all。
　
　Hunnewell　came　through　the　hatchway　and　joined　him。　He　stood　next　to　Pitt；　staring　at　the　blackened　walls；　the　distorted　and　crystallized　metal；　and　the　melted　hinges　that　once　held　a　wooden　door。　Wearily　he　leaned　the　doorway；　his　eyes　half　closed；　shaking　his　head　as　it　ing　out　of　a　trance。
　〃We'll　find　precious　little　that's　of　any　use　to　us。〃
　〃We'll　find　nothing；〃　Pitt　said　firmly。　〃What　the　fire　left；　our　unknown　friends　have　undoubtedly　picked　clean。〃　As　if　to　emphasize　his　words；　he　played　the　beam　on　the　deck；　revealing　several　overlapping　footprints　in　the　soot　traveling　to　and　from　the　open　hatchway。　〃Let's　see　what　they've　been　up　to。〃
　
　They　went　out　into　the　alleyway；　stepping　through　the　ashes　and　debris　on　the　deck；　moved　to　the　next　partment；　and　entered。　It　had　been　the　radio　room。
　
　Most　of　the　ruins　were　scarcely　recognizable。　The　bunk　and　furniture　were　skeletons　of　charred　wood；　the　remains　of　the　radio　equipment　one　congealed　mess　of　melted　metal　and　hardened　drippings　of　stained　solder。
　
　Their　senses　by　now　had　bee　accustomed　to　the　overpowering　stench　and　the　grotesque　carbonized　surroundings；　but　they　weren't　the　least　bit　prepared　for　the　hideously　misshapen　form　on　the　deck。
　〃Oh；　good　God！〃　Hunnewell　gasped。　He　dropped　his　flashlight　and　it　rolled　across　the　deck　and　came　to　rest　against　the　shockingly　disfigured　remains　of　a　head；　illuminating　the　skull　and　teeth　where　they　burst　from　the　incinerated　flesh。
　〃I　don't　envy　him　his　death；〃　Pitt　murmured。
　
　The　ghastly　sight　was　too　much　for　Hunnewell。　He　staggered　off　into　one　corner　and　retched　for　several　minutes。　When　he　finally　returned　to　Pitts　side。　he　looked　as　if　he'd　recently　returned　from　the　grave　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　sheepishly。　〃I've　never　seen　a　cremated　corpse　before。　I　didn't　have　the　vaguest　idea　what　one　looked　like…never　gave　it　much　thought　really。　It's　not　a　pretty　sight；　is　it？〃
　〃There's　no　such　thing　as　a　pretty　corpse；〃　Pitt　said。　He　was　beginning　to　feel　a　touch　of　sickness　himself。　〃If　that　lump　of　ashes　on　the　deck　is　any　indication　of　things　to　e；　we　should　find　at　least　fourteen　more　just　like　it。〃
　
　Hunnewell　grimaced　as　he　stooped　and　picked　up　his　flashlight。　Then　he　slipped　a　notebook　from　a　pocket；　held　the　light　under　his　arm　and　flipped　through　several　pages。　〃Yes；　you're　right。　The　ship　sailed　with　six　crewmen　and　nine　passengers：　fifteen　in　all。〃　He　fumbled　a　little　before　finding　another　page。　〃This　poor　devil　must　be　the　radio　operator…Svendborg…Gustav　Svendborg。〃
　〃Maybe；　maybe　not。　The　only　one　who　can　tell　for　certain　is　his　dentist。〃　Pitt　stared　at　what　had　once　been　a　breathing；　flesh…and…blood　man；　and　he　tried　to　imagine　how　the　end　had　e。　A　furnacelike　wall　of　red　and　orange　flame；　a　brief　unearthly　scream；　the　searing　shock　of　pain　that　drove　the　mind　into　instant　insanity；　and　the　limbs　flailing　in　the　contorted　dance　of　death。
　
　To　die　by　fire；　he　reflected；　the　last　seconds　of　life　spent　in　indescribable　agony；　was　an　extinction　abhorred　by　every　living　man　and　beast。
　
　Pitt　kneeled　down　and　studied　the　body　more　closely。　His　eyes　squinted　and　his　mouth　tightened。　It　must　have　been　almost　as　he　had　visualized；　but　not　quite。　The　scorched　form　was　curled　in　the　fetus　position；　the　knees　drawn　up　almost　to　the　chin　and　the　arms　pulled　tightly　against　the　sides；　contracted　by　the　mtnse　heat　upon　the　flesh。　But　there　was　something　else　that　caught　Pitts　attention。　He　focused　the　flashlight　on　the　deck　beside　the　body；　illuminating　dimly　the　twisted　steel　legs　of　the　radio　operator's　chair　where　they　protruded　from　beneath　his　disfigured　remains。
　
　Hunnewell；　his　face　void　of　all　color；　asked：　〃What　do　you　find　so　interesting　in　that　grisly　thing？〃
　〃Have　a　look；〃　Pitt　said。　〃It　would　seem　that　poor　Gustav　was　sitting　down　when　he　died。　His　chair　literally　burned　out　from　under　him。〃
　Hunnewell　said　nothing；　only　eyed　Pitt　questioningly。
　〃Doesn't　it　strike　you　strange；〃　Pitt　continued；　〃that　a　man　would　calmly　burn　to　death　without　bothering　to　stand　up　or　make　an　effort　to　escape？〃
　〃Nothing　strange　about　it；〃　Hunnewell　said　stonily。　〃The　fire　probably　engulfed　him　while　he　was　hunched　over　the　transmitter　sending　out　a　Mayday。〃
　
　He　began　to　choke　with　sickness　again。　〃God；　we're　not　doing　him　any　good　with　our　conjectures。　Let's　get　out　of　here　and　search　the　rest　of　the　ship　while　I'm　still　able　to　walk。〃
　
　Pitt　nodded　and　turned　and　passed　through　the　doorway。　Together　they　made　their　way　into　the　bowels　of　the　derelict。　The　engine　room；　the　galley；　the　salon；　everywhere　they　went　their　eyes　were　laid　on　the　same　horrifying　spectacle　of　death　as　in　the　radio　room。　By　the　time　they　discovered　the　thirteenth　and　fourteenth　bodies　in　the　wheelhouse；　Hunnewell's　stomach　was　slowly　being　immune。　He　consulted　his　notebook　several　more　times；　marking　certain　pages　with　a　pencil　until　only　one　name　between　the　padded　covers　remaimed　that　didn't　have　a　neat　line　drawn　through　it。
　〃That's　about　it；〃　he　said；　snapping　the　book　shut。
　〃We've　found　them　all　except　the　man　we　came　for。〃
　Pitt　lit　a　cigarette　and　blew　a　long　cloud　of　blue　smoke　and　seemed　to　consider　for　a　moment。　〃They　were　all　charred　so　far　beyond　recognition；　he　could　have　been　any　one　of　them。〃
　〃But　he　wasn't；〃　Hunnewell　said　positively。　〃The　body　won't　be　too　difficult　to　identify；　at　least　not　for　me。〃　He　paused。　〃I　knew　our　quarry　rather　well；　you　know。〃
　Pitts　eyebrows　raised。　〃No；　I　didn't　know。〃
　〃No　secret　really。〃　Hunnewell　puffed　on　the　lenses　of　his　glasses　and　polished　them　with　a　handkerchief。
　〃The　man　we've　lied；　schemed　and　risked　our　lives　to　find…unfortunately；　as　it　probably　turns　out；　dead…attended　one　of　my　classes　at　the　Oceanographic　Institute　six　years　ago。　A　brilliant　fellow。〃　He　motioned　toward　the　two　cremated　forms　on　the　deck。　〃A　pity　if　he　ended　like　this。〃
　〃How　can　you　be　certain　you'll　be　able　to　tell　him　from　the　others？〃　Pitt　asked。
　〃By　his　rings。　He　had　a　thing　about　rings。　Wore　them　on　every　finger　except　his　thumbs。〃
　〃Rings　don't　make　a　positive　identification。〃
　Hunnewell　smiled　a　little。　〃There　is　also　a　toe　missing　from　the　left　foot。　Will　that　do？〃
　〃It　would；〃　Pitt　said　thoughtfully。　〃But　we　haven't　found　a　corpse　that　qualifies。　We've　already　searched　the　entire　ship。〃
　〃Not　quite。〃　Hunnewell　pulled　a　slip　of　paper　from　the　notebook　and　unfolded　it　under　the　beam　of　his　flashlight。　〃This　is　a　rough　diagram　of　the　vessel。　I　traced　a　copy　from　the　original　in　the　maritime　archives。〃　He　pointed　at　the　creased　paper。　〃See　here；　just　beyond　the　chartroom。　A　narrow　ladder　drops　to　a　partment　directly　beneath　a　false　funnel。　It's　the　only　entrance。〃
　
　Pitt　studied　the　crude　tracing。　Then　he　turned　and　stepped　outside　the　chartroom。　〃The　opening　is　here　all　right。　The　ladder　is　burned　all　to　hell；　but　enough　of　the　rung　bracing　is　left　to　support　our　weight。〃
　
　The　isolated　partment…situated　in　the　exact　center　of　the　hull　without　benefit　of　portholes…was　savaged　even　worse　than　the　others；　the　steel　plating　on　the　walls　curved　outward；　buckled　like