alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第11章

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　have　realised　it　sooner。〃
　
　〃Realised　what？〃
　
　That　I　should　keep　it　to　myself。〃
　
　〃Keep　what；　for　heaven's　sake？〃
　
　〃Sorry；　Joss。　Not　trying　to　build　up　suspense。　The　reason　none　of　them　knew　anything　about　the　crash　until　after　it　had　happened　is　that　they　were　all　doped。　As　far　as　I　could　see；　all　of　them；　or　nearly　all；　were　under　the　influence　of　some　sleeping　drug　or　narcotic。〃
　
　In　the　darkness　I　could　almost　feel　him　staring　at　me。　After　a　long　time　he　said　softly；　〃You　wouldn't　say　this　unless　you　were　sure　of　it。〃
　
　〃I　am　sure　of　it。　Their　reactions；　their　dazed　fumbling　back　to　reality…and；　above　all；　the　pupils　of　their　eyes。　Unmistakable。　Some　kind　of　sleeping　tablet　mixtures；　of　the　fast…acting　kind。　What　is　known　to　the　trade；　I　believe；　as　Mickey　Finns。〃
　
　〃But…〃　Joss　broke　off。　He　was　still　trying　to　orientate　his　mind　to　this　new　line　of　thought。　〃But…they　would　be　bound　to　know　of　it；　to　be　aware　that　they　had　been　doped；　when　they　came　to。〃
　
　〃In　normal　circumstances；　yes。　But　they　came　to　in　what　was；　to　say　the　least；　most　abnormal　circumstances。　I'm　not　saying　that　they　didn't　experience　any　symptoms　of　weakness；　dizziness　and　lassitude…they　must　have　done…and　what　more　natural　than　that　they　should　ascribe　any　such　unusual　physical　or　mental　symptoms　to　the　effects　of　the　crash。　And　what　more　natural；　too；　than　that　they　should　conceal　these　symptoms　as　best　they　could…　and　refrain　from　mentioning　them？　They　would　be　ashamed　to　admit　or　discuss　weaknesses…it's　a　very　human　trait　to　show　to　your　neighbours　the　very　best　face　you　can　put　on　in　times　of　emergency　or　danger。〃
　
　Joss　didn't　reply　at　once。　The　implications　of　all　this；　as　I'd　found　out　for　myself；　took　no　little　time　for　digestion；　so　I　let　him　take　his　time　and　waited；　listening　to　the　lost　and　mournful　wailing　of　the　wind；　the　rustling　hiss　of　millions　of　ice　spicules　scudding　across　the　frozen　snow　of　the　ice…cap；　and　my　own　thoughts　were　in　keeping　with　the　bleak　misery　of　the　night。
　
　〃It's　not　possible；〃　Joss　muttered　at　length。　I　could　hear　his　teeth　chattering　with　the　cold。　〃You　can't　have　some　maniac　rushing　around　an　aircraft　cabin　with　a　hypo　needle　or　dropping　fizz…balls　into　their　gin　and　tonics。　You　think　they　were　all　doped？〃
　
　〃Just　about。〃
　
　〃But　how　could　anyone…〃
　
　〃A　moment；　Joss；〃　I　interrupted。　〃What　happened　to　the　RCA？〃
　
　〃What？〃　The　sudden　switch　caught　him　momentarily　off…balance。　〃What　happened…you　mean；　how　did　it　go　for　a　burton？　I've　no　idea　at　all；　sir。　All　I　know　is　that　these　hinges　couldn't　have　been　knocked　into　the　wall　accidentally…not　with　radio　and　equipment　weighing　about　180　pounds　sitting　on　top　of　them。　Someone　shoved　them　in。　Deliberately。〃
　
　〃And　the　only　person　anywhere　near　it　at　the　time　was　the　stewardess；　Margaret　Ross。　Everyone　agreed　on　that。〃
　
　〃Yes；　but　why　in　the　name　of　heaven　should　anyone　want　to　do　a　crazy　thing　like　that？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　said　wearily。　〃There's　a　hundred　things　I　don't　know。　But　I　do　know　she　did　it。。　。　。　And　who's　in　the　best　position　to　spike　the　drinks　of　aircraft　passengers？〃
　
　〃Good　God！〃　I　could　hear　the　sharp　hissing　intake　of　breath。　〃Of　course。　Drinks…or　maybe　the　sweets　they　hand　out　at　take…off。〃
　
　〃No。〃　I　shook　my　head　definitely　in　the　darkness。　〃Barley　sugar　is　too　weak　a　covering…up　agent　to　disguise　the　taste　of　a　drug。　Coffee；　more　likely。〃
　
　〃It　must　have　been　her；〃　Joss　said　slowly。　〃It　must　have　been。　But…but　she　acted　as　dazed　and　abnormal　as　any　of　the　others。　More　so；　if　anything。〃
　
　〃Maybe　she'd　reason　to；〃　I　said　grimly。　〃e　on；　let's　get　back　or　we'll　freeze　to　death。　Tell　Jackstraw　when　you　get　him　by　himself。〃
　
　Inside　the　cabin；　I　propped　the　hatch　open　a　couple　of　inches　…with　fourteen　people　inside；　extra　ventilation　was　essential。　Then　I　glanced　at　the　thermograph：　it　showed　48°　below　zero…eighty　degrees　of　frost。
　
　I　lay　down　on　the　floor；　pulled　my　parka　hood　tight　to　keep　my　ears　from　freezing；　and　was　asleep　in　a　minute。
　
　
　CHAPTER　FOUR…Monday　6　A。M。…6　P。M。
　
　For　the　first　time　in　four　months　I　had　forgotten　to　set　the　alarm…clock　before　I　went　to　sleep；　and　it　was　late　when　I　awoke；　cold　and　stiff　and　sore　all　over　from　the　uneven　hardness　of　the　wooden　floor。　It　was　still　dark　as　midnight…two　or　three　weeks　had　passed　since　the　rim　of　the　sun　had　shown　above　the　horizon　for　the　last　time　that　year；　and　all　the　light　we　had　each　day　was　two　or　three　hours　dim　twilight　round　noon…but　a　glance　at　the　luminous　face　of　my　watch　showed　me　that　it　was　nine…thirty。
　
　I　pulled　the　torch　out　from　my　parka；　located　the　oil…lamp　and　lit　it。　The　light　was　dim；　scarcely　reaching　the　far　corners　of　the　cabin；　but　sufficient　to　show　the　mummy…like　figures　lying　huddled　on　the　bunks　and　sprawled　grotesquely　across　the　floor；　their　frozen　breath　clouding　before　their　faces　and　above　their　heads；　then　condensing　on　the　cabin　walls。　The　walls　themselves　were　sheeted　with　ice　which　had　extended　far　out　across　the　roof；　in　places　reaching　the　skylights；　a　condition　largely　brought　about　by　the　cold　heavy　air　that　had　flooded　down　the　opened　hatchway　during　the　night：　the　outside　temperature　registered　on　the　drum　at　54°　below　zero。
　
　Not　everyone　was　asleep：　most　of　them；　I　suspected；　had　slept　but　little；　the　numbing　cold　had　seen　to　that：　but　they　were　as　warm　in　their　bunks　as　they　would　be　anywhere　else　and　nobody　showed　any　inclination　to　move。　Things　would　be　better　when　the　cabin　heated　up　a　little。
　
　I　had　trouble　starting　the　stove…even　though　it　was　gravity　fed　from　a　tank　above　and　to　one　side　of　it；　the　fuel　oil　had　thickened　up　in　the　cold…but　when　it　did　catch　it　went　with　a　roar。　I　turned　both　burners　up　to　maximum；　put　on　the　water　bucket　that　had　lain　on　the　floor　all　night　and　was　now　nearly　a　solid　mass　of　ice；　pulled　on　snow…mask　and　goggles　and　clambered　up　the　hatchway　to　have　a　look　at　the　weather。
　
　The　wind　had　died　away　almost　pletely…I'd　known　that　from　the　slow　and　dispirited　clacking　of　the　anemometer　cups　…and　the　ice…drift；　which　at　times　could　reach　up　several　hundred　feet　into　the　sky；　was　no　more　than　gentle　puffs　of　dust　stirring　lazily　and　spectrally；　through　the　feeble　beam　of　my　torch；　across　the　glittering　surface　of　the　ice…cap。　The　wind；　such　as　it　was；　still　held　out　to　the　east。　The　cold；　too；　was　still　intense；　but　more　bearable　than　it　had　been　on　the　previous　night。　In　terms　of　the　effect　of　cold　on　human　beings　in　the　Arctic；　absolute　temperature　is　far　from　being　the　deciding　factor：　wind　is　just　as　important　…every　extra　mile　per　hour　is　equivalent　to　a　one　degree　drop　in　temperature…and　humidity　far　more　so。　Where　the　relative　humidity　is　high；　even　a　few　degrees　below　zero　can　bee　intolerable。　But　today　the　wind　was　light　and　the　air　dry。　Perhaps　it　was　a　good　omen。。　。　。　After　that　morning；　I　never　believed　in　omens　again。
　
　When　I　got　below；　Jackstraw　was　on　his　feet；　presiding　over　the　coffee…pot。　He　smiled　at　me；　and　his　face　was　as　fresh　and　rested　as　if　he'd　had　nine　hours　on　a　feather　bed　behind　him。　But　then　Jack…straw　never　showed　fatigue　or　distress　under　any　circumstances：　his　tolerance　to　sleeplessness　and　the　most　exhausting　toil　was　phenomenal。
　
　He　was　the　only　one　on　his　feet；　but　far　from　the　only　one　awake：　of　those　in　the　bunks；　only　Senator　Brewster　was　still　asleep。　The　others　were　facing　into　the　centre　of　the　room；　a　few　propped　up　on　their　elbows：　all　of　them　were　shivering；　and　shivering　violently；　their　faces　blue　and　white　and　pinched　with　the　cold。　Some　were　looking　at　Jackstraw；　wrinkling　their　noses　in　anticipation　of　the　coffee；　the　pungent　smell　of　which　already　filled　the　cabin；　others　were　staring　in　fascination　at　the　sight　of　the　ice　on　the　roof　melting　as　the　temperature　rose；　melting；　dripping　down　to　the　floor　in　a　dozen　different　places　and　there　beginning　to　form　tiny　stalagmites　of　ice；　building　up　perceptibly　before　their　eyes：　the　temperature　on　the　cabin　floor　must　have　been　almost　forty　degrees　lower　than　that　at　the　roof。
　
　〃Good　morning；　Dr　Mason。〃　Marie　LeGarde　tried　to　smile　at　me；　but　it　was　a　pathetic　effort；　and　she　looked　ten　years　older　than　she　had　on　the　previous　night：　she　was　one　of　the　few　with　a　sleeping…bag；　but　even　so　she　must　have　passed　a　miserable　six　hours；　and　there　is　nothing　so　exhausting　to　the　human　body　as　uncontrollable　night…long　shivering；　a　vicious　circle　in　which　the　more　one　shivers　the　tireder　one　bees；　and　the　tireder　the　less　resistance　to　cold　and　hence　the　more　shivering。　For　the　first　time；　I　knew　that　Marie　LeGarde　was　an　old　woman。
　
　〃Good　morning；〃　I　smiled。　〃How　did　you　enjoy　your　first　night　in　your　new　home？〃
　
　〃First　night！〃　Even　in　the　sleeping…bag　her　movements　of　clasping　her　arms　together　and　huddling　her　head　down　between　her　shoulders　were　unmistakable。　〃I　hope　to　heaven　that　it's　the　last　night。　You　run　a　very　chilly　establishment　here；　Dr　Mason。〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry。　Next　time　we'll　keep　watches　and　have　the　stove　on　all　night。〃　I　pointed　to　the　water　splashing　down　to　the　floor。　〃The　place　is　heating　up　already。　You'll　feel　better　when　you　have　some　hot　coffee　inside　you。〃
　
　〃I'll　never　feel　better　again；〃　she　declared　vigorously；　but　the　twinkle　was　back　in　her　eye。　She　turned　to　the　young　German　girl　in　the　next　bunk。　〃And　how　do　you　feel　this　morning；　my　dear？〃
　
　〃Better；　thank　you；　Miss　LeGarde。〃　She　seemed　absurdly　grateful　that　anyone　should　even　bother　to　ask。　〃I　don't　feel　a　thing　now。〃
　
　〃Means　nothing；〃　Miss　LeGarde　assured　her　cheerfully。　〃Neither　do　I。　It's　just　that　we're　both　frozen　stiff。　。　。　。　And　how　did　you　survive　the　night；　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg？〃
　
　〃As　you　say；　I　survived。〃　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg　smiled　thinly。　〃As　Dr　Mason　observed　last　night；　this　is　not　the　Ritz。。　。　。　That　coffee　smells　delicious。　Bring　me　a　cup　over；　Fleming；　will　you？〃
　
　I　picked　up　one　of　the　cups　Jackstraw　had　poured　out　and　took　it　across　to　the　young　German　girl　who　was　struggling　to　unzip　her　sleeping…bag　with　her　one　good　arm。　Her　embarrassment　and　disfort　were　obvious；　but　I　knew　I'd　no　option；　the　time　to　stop　this　nonsense　was　before　ever　it　had　a　chance　to　start。
　
　〃You　stay　where　you　are；　young　lady；　and　drink　this。〃　She　took　the　cup　reluctantly；　and　I　turned　away。　〃You've　surely　forgotten；　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg；　that　Helene　has　a　broken　collar…bone？〃
　
　The　expression　on　her　face　made　it　quite　obvious　that　she　hadn't　forgotten；　but　she　was　no　fool。　The　gossip　columnists　would　murder　her　for　this；　if　they　got　hold　of　it。　In　her　circle；　an　outward　if　meaningless　conformity　to　the　accepted　mores　and　virtues　of　the　day　was　a　sine　qua　non：　the　knife　between　the　ribs　was　permitted；　but　only　to　the　acpaniment　of　the　well…bred　smile。
　
　〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　she　said　sweetly。　〃I'd　quite　forgotten；　of　course。〃　Her　eyes　were　cold　and　hard；　and　I　knew　I　had　an　enemy。　That　didn't　worry　me；　but　I　found　the　very　triviality　of　the　whole　thing　irritating　beyond　measure　when　there　were　so　many　other　and　vastly　more　important　things　to　talk　about。　But　less　than　thirty　seconds　later　we　had　forgotten　all　about　it；　even；　I　am　sure；　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg