alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第44章

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　〃Finished？〃　I　asked。
　
　〃Finished。〃
　
　〃Good；〃　I　said；　and　meant　it。　〃Your　father's　still　alive；　Johnny。　Scalp　wound；　that's　all。〃
　
　His　battered　face　transformed；　first　by　disbelief　then　by　sheer　joy；　Zagero　dropped　on　his　knees　beside　Solly　Levin。　I　saw　Smallwood　line　his　pistol　on　Zagero's　back。
　
　〃Don't　do　it；　Smallwood！〃　I　shouted。　〃You'll　only　have　four　shells　left。〃
　
　His　eyes　swivelled　to　my　face；　the　cold　flat　eyes　of　a　killer；　then　the　meaning　of　my　words　struck　home；　his　expression　subtly　altered　and　he　nodded　as　if　I　had　made　some　reasonable　suggestion。　He　turned　to　Jackstraw；　the　nearest　man　to　him；　and　said；　〃Bring　out　my　radio。〃
　
　Jackstraw　moved　to　obey；　and　while　he　was　inside　the　cabin　Zagero　rose　slowly　to　his　feet。
　
　〃Does　look　like　I　was　a　mite　premature；〃　he　murmured。　He　glanced　towards　the　rocks；　and　there　was　no　regret　in　his　face；　only　indifference。　〃Half　a　dozen　witnesses；　and　'you　all　saw　him　beatin'　himself　to　death。　。　。　。　You're　next；　Smallwood。〃
　
　〃Corazzini　was　a　fool；〃　Smallwood　said　contemptuously。　The　man's　cold…blooded　callousness　was　staggering。　〃I　can　easily　replace　him。　Just　leave　that　radio　here；　Nielsen；　and　join　your　friends…while　I　join　mine。〃　He　nodded　down　the　glacier。　〃Or　perhaps　you　hadn't　noticed？〃
　
　And　we　hadn't。　But　we　noticed　it　now　all　right；　the　first　of　the　party　from　the　trawler　climbing　on　to　the　ice　at　the　precipitous　tip　of　the　glacier。　Within　seconds　half　a　dozen　of　them　were　on　the　ice；　running；　stumbling；　falling；　picking　themselves　up　again　as　they　clawed　their　way　up　the　slippery　ice　with　all　the　speed　they　could　muster。
　
　〃My…ah…reception　mittee。〃　Smallwood　permitted　himself　the　shadow　of　a　smile。　〃You　will　remain　here　while　Miss　Ross　and　I　make　our　way　down　to　meet　them。　You　will　not　move。　I　have　the　girl。〃　Victory；　plete　and　absolute　victory　was　in　his　grasp；　but　his　voice；　his　face　were　again　devoid　as　ever　of　all　shadow　of　expression　or　feeling。　He　stooped　to　pick　up　the　portable　radio；　then　swung　round　and　stared　up　into　the　sky。
　
　I　had　heard　it　too；　and　I　knew　what　it　was　before　Smallwood　did　because　it　was　a　factor　that　had　never　entered　into　his　calculations。　But　there　was　no　need　for　me　to　explain；　within　seconds　of　hearing　the　first　high　screaming　whine　from　the　south　a　flight　of　four　lean　sleek　deadly　Scimitar　jet　fighters　whistled　by　less　than　four　hundred　feet　overhead；　banked　almost　immediately；　broke　formation　and　came　back　again；　speed　reduced；　flying　a　tight　circle　over　the　tongue　of　the　fjord。　I　don't　like　planes；　and　I　hate　the　sound　of　jets：　but　I　had　never　seen　so　wele　a　sight；　heard　so　wonderful　a　sound　in　all　my　life。
　
　〃Jet　fighters；　Smallwood；〃　I　cried　exultantly。　〃Jet　fighters　from　a　naval　carrier。　We　called　them　up　by　radio。〃　He　was　staring　at　the　circling　planes　with　his　thin　lips　drawn　back　wolfishly　over　his　teeth；　and　I　went　on　more　softly：　〃They've　had　orders　to　shoot　and　destroy　any　person　seen　going　down　that　glacier…any　person；　especially；　with　a　case　or　radio　in　his　hand。〃　It　was　a　lie；　but　Smallwood　wasn't　to　know　that；　the　very　presence　of　the　jets　above　must　have　seemed　confirmation　of　the　truth　of　my　words。
　
　〃They　wouldn't　dare；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃They'd　kill　the　girl　too。〃
　
　〃You　fool！〃　I　said　contemptuously。　〃Not　only　doesn't　human　life　matter　a　damn　to　either　side　pared　to　the　recovery　of　the　mechanism…you　should　know　that　better　than　anyone；　Small…wood…but　these　planes　have　been　told　to　watch　out　for　and　kill　two　people　going　down　the　glacier。　Wrapped　in　these　clothes；　Miss　Ross　is　indistinguishable　from　a　man…especially　from　the　air。　They'll　think　it's　you　and　Corazzini　and　they'll　blast　you　both　off　the　face　of　the　glacier。〃
　
　I　knew　Smallwood　believed　me；　believed　me　absolutely；　this　was　so　exactly　the　way　his　own　killer's　mind　would　have　worked　in　its　utterly　callous　indifference　to　human　life　that　conviction　could　not　be　stayed。　But　he　had　courage；　I'll　grant　him　that；　and　that　first…class　brain　of　his　never　stopped　working。
　
　〃There's　no　hurry；〃　he　said　fortably。　He　was　back　on　balance　again。　〃They　can　circle　there　as　long　as　they　like；　they　can　send　out　relief　planes　to　take　over；　it　doesn't　matter。　As　long　as　I'm　with　you　here；　they　won't　touch　me。　And　in　just　over　an　hour　or　so　it　will　be　dark　again；　after　which　I　can　leave。　Meantime；　stay　close　to　me；　gentlemen：　I　don't　think　you　would　so　willingly　sacrifice　Miss　Ross's　life。〃
　
　〃Don't　listen　to　him；〃　Margaret　said　desperately。　Her　voice　was　almost　a　sob；　her　face　twisted　in　pain。　〃Go　away；　please；　all　of　you；　go　away。　I　know　he's　going　to　kill　me　in　the　end　anyway。　It　may　as　well　be　now。〃　She　buried　her　face　in　her　hands。　〃I　don't　care　any　more；　I　don't；　I　don't！〃
　
　〃But　I　care；〃　I　said　angrily。　Soft　words；　sympathetic　words　were　useless　here。　〃We　all　care。　Don't　be　such　a　little　fool。　Everything　will　be　all　right；　you'll　see。〃
　
　〃Spoken　like　a　man；〃　said　Smallwood　approvingly。　〃Only；　my　dear；　I　wouldn't　pay　much　attention　to　the　last　pan　of　his　speech。〃
　
　〃Why　don't　you　give　up；　Smallwood？〃　I　asked　him　quietly。　I　had　neither　hope　nor　intention　of　persuading　this　fanatic；　I　was　only　talking　for　time；　for　I　had　seen　something　that　had　made　my　heart　leap：　moving　quietly　out　over　the　right…hand　side　of　the　glacier；　from　the　self…same　spot　where　we　had　lain　in　ambush；　was　a　file　of　about　a　dozen　men。　〃Bombers　have　already　taken　off　from　the　carrier；　and；　believe　me；　they're　carrying　bombs。　Bombs　and　incendiaries。　And　do　you　know　why；　Smallwood？〃
　
　They　were　dressed　in　khaki；　this　landing　party　from　the　Wykenham；　not　navy　blue。　Marines；　almost　certainly；　unless　they　had　been　carrying　soldiers　on　some　bined　manoeuvres。　They　were　heavily　armed；　and　had　that　indefinable　but　unmistakable　look　of　men　who　knew　exactly　what　they　were　about。　Their　leader；　I　noticed；　wasn't　fooling　around　with　the　usual　pistol　a　naval　officer　in　charge　of　a　landing　party　traditionally　carried：　he　had　a　sub…machine…gun　under　his　arm；　the　barrel　gripped　in　his　left　hand。　Three　others　had　similar　weapons；　the　rest　rifles。
　
　〃Because　they're　going　to　make　good　and　sure　you're　never　going　to　get　off　this　glacier　alive；　Smallwood；〃　I　went　on。　〃At　least；　not　out　of　the　fjord　alive。　Neither　you　nor　any　of　your　friends　ing　to　meet　you…nor　any　of　the　men　waiting　aboard　that　trawler　down　there。〃
　
　God；　how　slowly　they　were　ing！　Why　didn't　one　of　their　marksmen　with　a　rifle　shoot　Smallwood　there　and　then…at　that　moment；　the　thought　that　a　rifle　bullet　would　have　gone　clear　though　Smallwood　and　killed　the　girl　held　so　tightly　in　front　of　him　never　occurred　to　me。　But　if　I　could　hold　his　attention　another　thirty　seconds；　if　none　of　the　others　standing　by　my　side　betrayed　by　the　slightest　flicker　of　expression…
　
　〃They're　going　to　destroy　that　trawler；　Smallwood；〃　I　rushed　on　quickly。　The　men　advancing　up　from　the　foot　of　the　glacier　were　waving　their　arms　furiously　now；　shouting　wildly　in　warning；　and　even　at　over　three…quarters　of　a　mile　their　voices　were　carrying　clearly。　I　had　to　try　to　drown　their　voices；　to　make　sure　that　Smallwood　kept　his　eyes　fixed　only　on　me。　〃They're　going　to　blow　it　out　of　the　water；　it　and　you　and　that　damned　missile　mechanism。　What's　the　use　of…〃
　
　But　it　was　too　late。　Smallwood　had　heard　the　shouts　even　as　I　had　begun　to　speak；　twisted　his　head　to　look　down　the　valley；　saw　the　direction　of　the　pointing　arms；　glanced　briefly　over　his　shoulder；　then　turned　to　face　me　again；　his　face　twisted　in　a　bestial　snarl；　that　monolithic　calm　shattered　at　last：
　
　〃Who　are　they？〃　he　demanded　viciously。　〃What　are　they　doing？　Quick…or　the　girl　gets　it！〃
　
　〃It's　a　landing　party　from　the　destroyer　in　the　next　bay；〃　I　said　steadily。　〃This　is　the　end；　Smallwood。　Maybe　you'll　stand　trial　yet。〃
　
　〃I'll　kill　the　girl！〃　he　whispered　savagely。
　
　〃They'll　kill　you。　They've　been　ordered　to　recover　that　mechanism　at　all　costs。　Nobody's　playing　any　more；　Smallwood。　Give　up　your　gun。〃
　
　He　swore；　vilely；　blasphemously；　the　first　time　I　had　ever　heard　such　words　from　him；　and　leapt　for　the　driving　cabin　of　the　tractor；　pushing　the　girl　in　front　of　him　while　his　pistol　swung　in　a　wide　arc　covering　all　of　us。　I　understood　what　he　was　going　to　do；　what　this　last　desperate　suicidal　gamble　was　going　to　be；　and　hurled　myself　at　the　door　of　the　driving　cabin。
　
　〃You　madman！〃　My　voice　was　a　scream。　〃You'll　kill　yourself；　you'll　kill　the　girl…〃
　
　The　gun　coughed　softly；　I　felt　the　white…hot　burning　pain　in　my　upper　arm　and　crashed　backward　on　to　the　ice　just　as　Smallwood　released　the　brakes　of　the　Citroen。　At　once　the　big　tractor　started　to　move；　those　murderous　treads　passing　inches　from　me　as　Jackstraw　leapt　forward　and　dragged　me　to　safety　a　second　before　they　would　have　run　over　my　face。　The　next　moment　I　was　on　my　feet；　running　after　the　tractor；　Jackstraw　at　my　heels：　I　suppose　that　wound　just　below　my　shoulder　must　have　been　hurting　like　hell；　but　the　truth　is　that　I　felt　nothing　at　all。
　
　The　tractor；　with　next　to　no　adhesion　left　on　the　steepening　slope　of　ice；　accelerated　with　dismaying　speed；　soon　outdistancing　us。　At　first　it　seemed　as　if　Smallwood　was　making　some　attempt　to　steer　it；　but　it　was　obvious　almost　immediately　that　any　such　attempts　were　utterly　useless：　five　tons　of　steel　ran　amok；　it　was　pletely　out　of　control；　skidding　violently　first　to　one　side　then　the　other；　finally　making　a　plete　half…circle　and　sliding　backward　down　the　glacier　at　terrifying　speed；　following　the　slope　of　the　ice　which　led　from　the　right…hand　side　where　we　had　been　standing　to　the　big　nunataks　thrusting　up　through　the　ice　on　the　far　left…hand　corner　of　the　dog…leg　half…way　down。
　
　How　it　missed　all　the　crevasses…it　went　straight　across　some　narrow　ones；　thanks　to　its　treads…and　all　the　ice…mounds　on　the　way　down　and　across　the　glacier　I　shall　never　know；　but　miss　them　it　did；　increasing　speed　with　every　second　that　passed；　its　treads　screeching　out　a　shrilly　metallic　cacophony　of　sound　as　they　scored　their　serrated　way　across　and　through　the　uneven　ice　of　the　glacier。　But　then；　I　shall　never　know　either　how　Jackstraw　and　I　survived　all　the　crazy　chances　we　took　on　our　mad　headlong　run　down　that　glacier；　unable　to　stop；　leaping　across　crevasses　we　would　never　have　dared　attempt　in　our　normal　minds；　pounding　our　sliding　way　alongside　others　where　the　slip　of　either　foot　would　have　been　our　death。
　
　We　were　still　two　hundred　yards　behind　the　tractor　when；　less　than　fifty　yards　from　the　corner；　it　struck　an　ice…mound；　spun　round　crazily　several　times　and　then　smashed；　tail　first；　with　horrifying　force　into　the　biggest　of　the　nunataks…a　fifty…foot　pinnacle　of　rock　at　the　very　corner。　We　were　still　over　a　hundred　yards　away　when　we　saw　Small　wood；　obviously　dazed；　half…fall　out　of　the　still　upright　driving　cabin；　hat…box　in　hand；　followed　by　the　girl。　Whether　she　flung　herself　at　him　or　just　stumbled　against　him　it　was　impossible　to　say；　but　both　of　them　slipped　and　fell　together　and　next　moment　had　disappeared　from　sight　against　the　face　of　the　nunatak。
　
　Still　fifty　yards　away；　already　trying　all　we　could　to　brake　ourselves；　we　heard　the　staccato　roar　of　can