alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第34章

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s　a　factor　which　could　never　enter　into　this　man's　considerations。
　
　〃All　right；　Corazzini？〃　Smallwood　was　speaking　again；　his　voice　empty　of　all　concern　for　and　interest　in　his　acplice：　his　only　anxiety；　if　one　could　by　any　stretch　of　imagination　call　it　that；　lay　in　his　desire　for　Corazzini's　effectively　continued　co…operation。
　
　〃All　right；〃　Corazzini　said　softly。　He　was　standing　now　and　that　both　mind　and　reactions　were　back　to　normal　was　evident　from　the　dexterity　with　which　he　caught　the　gun　Smallwood　threw　back　to　him。　〃Never　thought　any　man　could　move　so　fast　with　his　feet　tied。　But　he　won't　catch　me　again。　Everybody　out；　eh？〃
　
　〃Everybody　out；〃　Smallwood　nodded。　No　question；　he　was　the　leader　of　the　two；　ridiculously　improbable　though　that　would　have　seemed　only　two　minutes　ago：　but　it　didn't　seem　improbable　any　longer；　it　seemed　inevitable。
　
　〃Jump　down！　All　of　you；〃　Corazzini　ordered。　Gun　in　one　hand；　he　held　back　a　flap　of　canvas　screen　with　the　other。　〃Hurry　it　up。〃
　
　〃Mahler　can't　jump　down；〃　I　protested。　〃He　can't　move…he's　in　a。　He…〃
　
　〃Shut　up！〃　Corazzini　interrupted。　〃All　right；　Zagero；　inside　and　get　him　out。〃
　
　〃You　can't　move　him！〃　I　shouted　furiously。　〃You'll　kill　him　if…〃　My　last　word　was　choked　off　in　a　grunt　of　pain　as　Smallwood's　gun　barrel　caught　me　viciously　across　the　side　of　the　head。　I　fell　to　my　hands　and　knees　in　the　snow　and　remained　there　for　several　seconds；　head　down　and　shaking　it　from　side　to　side　as　I　tried　to　overe　the　dizziness　and　the　pain。
　
　〃Corazzini　said　'shut　up'。　You　must　learn　to　listen。〃　Small…wood's　voice　was　chillingly　devoid　of　all　emphasis　and　inflection。　He　stood　waiting　quietly　until　the　last　of　the　passengers　had　descended　or　been　carried　from　the　tractor　cabin；　then　waved　us　all　into　a　straight　line　facing　towards　Corazzini　and　himself。　Both　of　them　had　their　backs　to　the　canvas　screen；　while　we　were　placed　just　far　enough　clear　of　the　shelter　to　be　blinded　by　the　increasingly　heavy　snowfall　that　swirled　down　into　our　eyes；　but　not　so　far　off　as　not　to　be　clearly　seen　by　them。　Whatever　these　two　did；　I　was　beginning　to　discover；　betrayed　that　economy　of　movement　and　unquestioning　sureness　of　the　plete　professionals　who　had　long　ago　worked　out　the　answers　to　and　counters　against　any　of　a　vast　range　and　permutation　of　situations　they　were　ever　likely　to　encounter。
　
　Smallwood　beckoned　me。
　
　〃You　haven't　finished　your　radio　call；　Dr　Mason。　Finish　it。　Your　friend　Hillcrest　must　be　wondering　at　the　delay。〃　The　gun　in　his　hand　came　forward　a　fraction　of　an　inch；　just　enough　for　the　movement　to　be　perceptible。　Tor　your　own　sake；　do　nothing　to　arouse　his　suspicions。　Don't　be　clever。　Keep　it　brief。〃
　
　I　kept　it　brief。　I　excused　the　interruption　of　transmission　on　the　grounds　that　Mahler　had　taken　a　sudden　turn　for　the　worse…as　indeed；　I　thought　bitterly；　he　had…said　that　I'd　guard　the　missile　mechanism　with　my　life　and　apologised　for　cutting　the　call　short；　but　said　it　was　essential　to　get　Mahler　to　Uplavnik　with　all　speed。
　
　〃Finish　it　off；〃　Smallwood　said　softly　in　my　ear。　I　nodded。
　
　〃That's　the　lot　then；　Captain　Hillcrest。　Will　make　the　noon　schedule。　This　is　Mayday　signing　off。　Mayday；　Mayday。〃
　
　I　switched　off；　and　turned　indifferently　away。　I　had　taken　only　one　step　when　Smallwood　caught　my　shoulder　and　whirled　me　round。　For　such　an　apparently　slight　man；　he　was　phenomenally　strong。　I　gasped　as　his　pistol　barrel　dug　into　my　stomach。
　
　〃　'Mayday'；　Dr　Mason？〃　he　asked　silkily。　〃What　is　'Mayday'？〃
　
　〃Our　call…sign；　of　course；〃　I　said　irritably。
　
　〃Your　call…sign　is　GFK。〃
　
　〃Our　call…up　is　GFK。　Our　signing…off　is　'Mayday'。〃
　
　〃You're　lying。〃　I　wondered　how　I　could　ever　have　thought　this　face　meek　and　nervous　and　colourless。　The　mouth　was　a　thin　hard　line；　the　upper　eyelids　bar…straight　and　hooded　above　the　unwinking　eyes。　Flat　marbled　eyes　of　a　faded　light…blue。　A　killer's　eyes。　〃You're　lying；〃　he　repeated。
　
　〃I'm　not　lying；〃　I　said　angrily。
　
　〃Count　five　and　die。〃　His　eyes　never　left　mine；　the　pressure　of　the　gun　increased。　〃One　。　。　。　two　。　。　。　three…〃
　
　〃I'll　tell　you　what　it　is！〃　The　cry　came　from　Margaret　Ross。　　'Mayday'　is　the　international　air　distress　signal；　the　SOS。。。　I　had　to　tell　him；　Dr　Mason；　I　had　to！〃　Her　voice　was　a　shaking　sob。　〃He　was　going　to　kill　you。〃
　
　〃I　was　indeed；〃　Smallwood　agreed。　If　he　felt　either　anger　or　apprehension；　no　trace　of　either　appeared　in　the　calm　conversational　voice。　〃I　should　do　it　now…you've　lost　us　four　hours'　head　start。　But　courage　happens　to　be　one　of　the　few　virtues　I　admire。　。　。　。　You　are　an　extremely　brave　man；　Dr　Mason。　Your　courage　is　a　fair　match　for　your…ah…lack　of　perspicacity；　shall　we　say。〃
　
　〃You'll　never　get　off　the　ice…cap；　Small　wood；〃　I　said　steadily。　〃Scores　of　ships　and　planes　are　searching　for　you；　thousands　of　men。　They'll　get　you　and　they'll　hang　you　for　these　five　dead　men。〃
　
　〃We　shall　see。〃　He　gave　a　wintry　smile；　and　now　that　he　had　removed　his　rimless　glasses　I　could　see　that　the　man's　smile　left　his　eyes　untouched；　left　them　flat　and　empty　and　lifeless；　like　the　stained　glass　in　a　church　and　no　sun　behind　it。　〃All　right；　Corazzini；　the　box。　Dr　Mason；　bring　one　of　the　maps　from　the　driver's　seat。〃
　
　〃In　a　moment。　Perhaps　you　would　care　to　explain…〃
　
　〃Explanations　are　for　children。〃　The　voice　was　level；　curt；　devoid　of　all　inflection。〃　I'm　in　a　hurry；　Dr　Mason。　Bring　the　map。〃
　
　I　brought　it　and　when　I　returned　Corazzini　was　sitting　on　the　front　of　the　tractor　sled　with　a　case　before　him。　But　it　wasn't　the　leather…covered　portable　radio：　it　was　Smallwood's　robe　case。
　
　Corazzini　snapped　open　the　catches；　pulled　out　Bible；　robes　and　divinity　hood；　tossed　them　to　one　side　then　carefully　brought　out　a　metal　box　which　looked　exactly　like　a　tape…recorder：　indeed；　when　he　shone　his　torch　on　it　I　could　clearly　see　the　word　'Grundig'。　But　it　soon　became　apparent　that　it　was　like　no　tape…recorder　that　I　had　ever　seen。
　
　The　twin　spools　he　ripped　off　the　top　of　the　machine　and　sent　spinning　away　into　the　darkness　and　the　snow；　the　tape　unwinding　in　a　long　convoluted　streamer。　By　this　time　I　would　have　taken　long　odds　that　anyone　suspicious　enough　to　investigate　would　have　found　that　tape　perfectly　genuine：　probably；　I　thought　bitterly；　Bach's　organ　music；　in　keeping　with　Smallwood's　late　ecclesiastical　nature。
　
　Still　in　silence；　we　watched　Corazzini　undo　and　fling　away　the　false　top　of　the　recorder；　but　not　before　I　had　time　to　notice　the　padded　spring　clips　on　its　underside…the　perfect　hiding　place　for　a　couple　of　automatics：　revealed　now　were　controls　and　calibrated　dials　that　bore　no　resemblance　to　those　of　a　tape…recorder。　Corazzini　straightened　and　erected　a　hinged　telescopic　aerial；　clamped　a　set　of　headphones　to　his　ears；　made　two　switches　and　started　to　turn　a　dial；　at　the　same　time　watching　a　green　magic　eye　similar　to　those　found　in　tape…recorders　and　many　modern　radios。　Faintly；　but　unmistakably；　I　could　hear　a　steady　whine　ing　from　the　earphones；　a　whine　which　altered　in　pitch　and　intensity　as　Corazzini　turned　the　dial。　When　it　reached　its　maximum　strength；　he　turned　his　attention　to　a　built…in　alcohol　pass　about　three　inches　in　diameter。　A　few　moments　later　he　doffed　the　earphones　and　turned　round；　apparently　satisfied。
　
　〃Very　strong；　very　clear；〃　he　announced　to　Small　wood。　〃But　there's　too　heavy　a　deviation　factor　from　all　the　metal　in　the　tractor　and　sledge。　Back　in　two　minutes。　Your　torch；　Dr　Mason。〃
　
　He　walked　away　for　about　fifty　yards；　taking　the　machine　with　him：　it　was　with　intense　chagrin　that　I　realised　that　it　was　perfectly　in　keeping　with　all　that　had　gone　before　that　Corazzini　had　probably　forgotten　more　about　navigation　than　I　was　ever　likely　to　know。　He　returned　soon；　consulted　a　small　chart…correcting　for　variation；　no　doubt…then　grinned　at　Small　wood。
　
　〃It's　them；　all　right。　Perfect　signal。　Bearing　268。〃
　
　〃Good。〃　If　Smallwood　felt　relieved　or　gratified　at　the　news；　no　shadow　of　his　feeling　touched　the　thin　immobile　face。　Their　quiet　certainty；　their　forethought；　their　foolproof　organisation　was　dismaying；　frightening。　Now　that　I　could　see　what　manner　of　men　they　were　it　was　unthinkable　that　they　should　have　set　themselves　down　in　a　vast　featureless　country　such　as　this　without　some　means　of　orientating　themselves：　what　we　had　just　seen　in　operation　could　only　be　a　battery　operated　radio　direction　finder；　and　even　to　me；　inexperienced　though　I　was　in　such　matters；　it　was　obvious　that　Corazzini　must　have　been　taking　a　bearing　on　some　continuous　directional　line…up　signals　transmitted　by　a　vessel；　or　vessels；　off…shore：　trawlers；　probably；　or　some　other　inconspicuous　type　of　fishing　vessel。　。。。　I　would　have　been　less　than　human　had　I　not　wanted　to　shake　this　absolute　confidence。
　
　〃You've　miscalculated　the　hornet's　nest　you've　stirred　up。　The　Davis　Strait；　the　coast　of　Greenland　is　alive　with　ships　and　planes。　The　scout　planes　of　the　carrier　Triton　will　pick　up　every　boat　that's　larger　than　a　skiff。　The　trawlers　will　never　get　away　with　it：　they　won't　get　five　miles。〃
　
　〃They　don't　have　to。〃　Implicit　in　Corazzini's　words　was　confirmation　of　the　accuracy　of　my　guess　about　trawlers。　〃There　are　such　things　as　submarines。　In　fact　there　is　one；　not　far　from　here。〃
　
　〃You　still　won't…〃
　
　〃Be　quiet；〃　Smallwood　said　coldly。　He　turned　to　Corazzini。　〃Two　hundred　and　sixty…eight；　eh…due　west　more　or　less。　Distance？〃
　
　Corazzini　shrugged；　said　nothing：　Smallwood　beckoned　to　me。
　
　〃We'll　soon　find　it。　That　map；　Dr　Mason…indicate　our　position；　accurately。〃
　
　〃You　can　go　to　hell；〃　I　said　briefly。
　
　〃I　expected　nothing　else。　However；　I'm　not　blind　and　your　clumsy　attempts　at　concealment　have　done　little　to　hide　the　growing　attachment　between　yourself　and　the　young　lady　here。〃　I　glanced　quickly　at　Margaret；　saw　the　faint　colour　beginning　to　stain　the　pale　cheek　and　looked　as　quickly　away。　〃I　am　prepared　to　shoot　Miss　Ross。〃
　
　I　never　doubted　him。　I　knew　he'd　do　it　in　an　instant。　I　gave　him　our　position；　he　asked　for　another　map；　asked　Jackstraw　to　mark　our　position　on　the　second；　and　pared　the　two。
　
　〃They　coincide；〃　he　nodded。　〃Fortunately　for　you。〃　He　studied　the　map　briefly；　then　looked　at　Corazzini。　〃The　Kangalak　fjord；　undoubtedly；　at　the　foot　of　the　Kangalak　glacier。　Approximately…〃
　
　〃The　Kangalak　fjord；〃　I　interrupted。　My　voice　was　bitter。　〃Why　the　hell　didn't　you　land　there　in　the　first　place　and　save　us　all　this？〃
　
　〃The　plane　captain　deserved　to　die；〃　Smallwood　said　obliquely。　His　smile　was　wintry。　〃I　had　instructed　him　to　put　down　on　the　coast　just　north　of　the　fjord　where　our…ah…friends　had　reconnoitred　a　section　of　the　ice…cap；　three　miles　long　and　absolutely　flat；　that　is　the　equal　of　the　finest　runway　in　Europe　or　America；　and　it　wasn't　until　I　saw　the　altimeter　reading　just　before　the　crash　that　I　realised　he　had　deceived　me。〃　He　made　an　impatient　gesture　and　turned　to　Corazzini。　〃We　waste　time。　Approximately　sixty　miles；　you　would　say？〃
　
　Corazzini　examined　the　map。　〃Yes；　about　that。〃
　
　〃So；　e　then；　on　our　way。〃
　
　〃Leaving　us　here　to　starve　and　die　of　co