alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第6章

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　〃I　fear　I　have。〃　I　smiled；　passed　by；　then　turned。　These　wide　shoulders　and　large　capable　hands　could　be　more　than　useful　to　us。　〃How　are　you　feeling？〃
　
　〃Recoverin'　rapidly。〃
　
　〃You　are　indeed。　You　didn't　look　so　good　a　minute　ago。〃
　
　〃Just　takin'　a　long　count；〃　he　said　easily。　〃Can　I　help？〃
　
　〃That's　why　I　asked；〃　I　nodded。
　
　〃Glad　to　oblige。〃　He　heaved　himself　to　his　feet；　towering　inches　above　me。　The　little　man　in　the　loud　tie　and　the　Glenurquhart　jacket　gave　an　anguished　sound；　like　the　yelp　of　an　injured　puppy。
　
　〃Careful；　Johnny；　careful！〃　The　voice；　the　rich；　nasal　and　rather　grating　twang；　was　pure　Bowery。　〃We　got　our　responsibilities；　boy；　big　mitments。　We　might　strain　a　ligament…〃
　
　〃Relax；　Solly。〃　The　big　man　patted　him　soothingly　on　his　bald　head。　〃Just　takin'　a　little　walk　to　clear　my　head。〃
　
　〃Not　till　you　put　this　parka　and　pants　on　first。〃　I'd　no　time　to　bother　about　the　eccentricities　of　little　men　in　loud　jackets　and　louder　ties。　〃You'll　need　them。〃
　
　〃Cold　doesn't　bother　me；　friend。〃
　
　〃This　cold　will。　Outside　that　door　it's　110　degrees　below　the　temperature　of　this　cabin。〃
　
　I　heard　a　murmur　of　astonishment　from　some　of　the　passengers；　and　the　large　young　man；　suddenly　thoughtful；　took　the　clothes　from　Jackstraw。　I　didn't　wait　until　he　had　put　them　on；　but　went　out　with　Joss。
　
　The　stewardess　was　bent　low　over　the　injured　wireless　operator。　I　pulled　her　gently　to　her　feet。　She　offered　no　resistance；　just　looked　wordlessly　at　me；　the　deep　brown　eyes　huge　in　a　face　dead…white　and　strained　with　shock。　She　was　shivering　violently。　Her　hands　were　like　ice。
　
　〃You　want　to　die　of　cold；　Miss？〃　This　was　no　time　for　soft　and　sympathetic　words；　and　I　knew　these　girls　were　trained　how　to　behave　in　emergencies。　〃Haven't　you　got　a　hat；　coat；　boots；　anything　like　that？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃　Her　voice　was　dull；　almost　devoid　of　life。　She　was　standing　alone　by　the　door　now；　and　I　could　hear　the　violent　rat…a…tat　of　her　elbow　as　it　shook　uncontrollably　and　knocked　against　the　door。　〃I'll　go　and　get　them。〃
　
　Joss　scrambled　out　through　the　windscreen　to　get　the　collapsible　stretcher。　While　we　were　waiting　I　went　to　the　exit　door　behind　the　flight　deck　and　tried　to　open　it；　swinging　at　it　with　the　back　of　my　fire　axe。　But　it　was　locked　solid。
　
　We　had　the　stretcher　up　and　were　lashing　the　wireless　operator　inside　as　carefully　as　we　could　in　these　cramped　conditions；　when　the　stewardess　reappeared。　She　was　wearing　her　uniform　heavy　coat　now；　and　high　boots。　I　tossed　her　a　pair　of　caribou　trousers。
　
　〃Better；　but　not　enough。　Put　these　on。〃　She　hesitated；　and　I　added　roughly；　〃We　won't　look。〃
　
　〃I　…1　must　go　and　see　the　passengers。〃
　
　〃They're　all　right。　Bit　late　in　thinking　about　it；　aren't　you？〃
　
　〃I　know。　I'm　sorry。　I　couldn't　leave　him。〃　She　looked　down　at　the　young　man　at　her　feet。　〃Do　you…I　mean…〃　She　broke　off；　then　it　came　out　with　a　rush。　〃Is　he　going　to　die？〃
　
　〃Probably；〃　I　said；　and　she　flinched　away　as　if　I　had　struck　her　across　the　face。　I　hadn't　meant　to　be　brutal；　just　clinical。
　
　〃We'll　do　what　we　can　for　him。　It's　not　much；　I'm　afraid。〃
　
　Finally　we　had　him　securely　lashed　to　the　stretcher；　his　head　cushioned　against　the　shock　as　best　we　could。　When　I　got　to　my　feet；　the　stewardess　was　just　pulling　her　coat　down　over　the　caribou　pants。
　
　〃We're　taking　him　back　to　our　cabin；〃　I　said。　〃We　have　a　sledge　below。　There's　room　for　another。　You　could　protect　his　head。　Want　to　e？〃
　
　〃The　passengers…〃　she　began　uncertainly。
　
　〃They'll　be　all　right。〃
　
　I　went　back　inside　the　main　cabin；　closing　the　door　behind　me；　and　handed　my　torch　to　the　man　with　the　cut　brow。　The　two　feeble　night　or　emergency　lights　that　burned　inside　were　poor　enough　for　illumination；　worse　still　for　morale。
　
　〃We're　taking　the　wireless　operator　and　stewardess　with　us；〃　I　explained。　〃Back　in　twenty　minutes。　And　if　you　want　to　live；　just　keep　this　door　tight　shut。〃
　
　〃What　an　extraordinarily　brusque　young　man；〃　the　elderly　lady　murmured。　Her　voice　was　low…pitched；　resonant；　with　an　extraordinary　carrying　power。
　
　〃Only　from　necessity；　madam；〃　I　said　dryly。　〃Would　you　really　prefer　long…winded　and　flowery　speeches　the　while　you　were　freezing　to　death？〃
　
　〃Well；　do　you　know；　I　really　don't　think　I　would；〃　she　answered　mock…seriously；　and　I　could　hear　her　chuckling…there　was　no　other　word　for　it…as　I　closed　the　door　behind　me。
　
　Working　in　the　cramped　confines　of　that　wrecked　control　cabin；　in　almost　pitch　darkness　and　with　that　ice…laden　bitter　gale　whistling　through　the　shattered　windscreens；　we　had　the　devil's　own　time　of　it　trying　to　get　the　injured　wireless　operator　down　to　that　waiting　sledge　below。　Without　the　help　of　the　big　young　stranger　I　don't　think　we　would　ever　have　managed　it；　but　manage　it　we　eventually　did：　he　and　I　lowered　and　slid　the　stretcher　down　to　Jackstraw　and　Joss；　who　took　and　strapped　it　on　the　sledge。　Then　we　eased　the　stewardess　down：　I　thought　I　heard　her　cry　out　as　she　hung　supported　only　by　a　hand　round　either　wrist；　and　remembered　that　Jackstraw　had　said　something　about　her　back　being　injured。　But　there　was　no　time　for　such　things　now。
　
　I　jumped　down　and　a　couple　of　seconds　later　the　big　young　man　joined　me。　I　hadn't　intended　that　he　should　e；　but　there　was　no　harm　in　it：　he　had　to　go　sometime；　and　there　was　no　question　of　his　having　to　ride　on　the　sledge。
　
　The　wind　had　eased　a　little；　perhaps；　but　the　cold　was　crueller　than　ever。　Even　the　dogs　cowered　miserably　in　the　lee　of　the　plane：　now　and　again　one　of　them　stretched　out　a　neck　in　protest　and　gave　its　long；　mournful　wolf　call；　a　sound　eerie　beyond　description。　But　their　misery　was　all　to　the　good：　as　Jackstraw　said；　they　were　mad　to　run。
　
　And；　with　the　wind　and　ice…drift　behind　them；　run　they　did。　At　first　I　led　the　way　with　the　torch；　but　Balto；　the　big　lead　dog；　brushed　me　aside　and　raced　on　into　the　darkness：　I　had　sense　enough　to　let　him　have　his　head。　He　followed　the　twisting　route　of　the　plane's　snow…furrow；　the　bamboos；　homing　spool　and　antenna　line　as　swiftly　and　unerringly　as　if　it　had　been　broad　daylight；　and　the　polished　steel　runners　of　the　sledge　fairly　hissed　across　the　snow。　The　frozen　ground　was　smooth　and　flat　as　river　ice；　no　ambulance　could　have　carried　the　wireless　operator　as　fortably　as　our　sledge　did　that　night。
　
　It　took　us　no　more　than　five　minutes　to　reach　the　cabin；　and　in　three　more　minutes　we　were　on　our　way　again。　They　were　a　busy　three　minutes。　Jackstraw　lit　the　oil　stove；　oil　lamp　and　Colman　pressure　lamp；　while　Joss　and　I　put　the　injured　man　on　a　collapsible　cot　before　the　stove；　worked　him　into　my　sleeping…bag；　slid　in　half　a　dozen　heat　pads…waterproof　pads　containing　a　chemical　which　gave　off　heat　when　water　was　added…placed　a　rolled　up　blanket　under　his　neck　to　keep　the　back　of　his　head　off　the　cot；　and　zipped　the　sleeping…bag　shut。　I　had　surgical　instruments　enough　to　do　what　had　to　be　done；　but　it　had　to　wait：　not　so　much　because　we　had　others　still　to　rescue；　urgent　enough　though　that　was；　but　the　man　lying　at　our　feet；　so　still；　so　ashen…faced；　was　suffering　so　severely　from　shock　and　exposure　that　to　touch　him　would　have　been　to　kill　him：　I　was　astonished　that　he　had　managed　to　survive　even　this　long。
　
　I　told　the　stewardess　to　make　some　coffee；　gave　her　the　necessary　instructions；　and　then　we　left　her　and　the　big　young　man　together：　the　girl　heating　a　pan　over　a　pile　of　meta　tablets；　the　young　man　staring　incredulously　into　a　mirror　as　he　kneaded　a　frost…bitten　cheek　and　chin　with　one　hand；　and　with　another　held　a　cold　press　to　a　frozen　ear。　We　took　with　us　the　warm　clothes　we　had　lent　them；　some　rolls　of　bandages；　and　left。
　
　Ten　minutes　later　we　were　back　inside　the　plane。　Despite　its　insulation；　the　temperature　inside　the　main　cabin　had　already　dropped　at　least　thirty　degrees　and　almost　everyone　was　shivering　with　the　cold；　one　or　two　beating　their　arms　to　keep　themselves　warm。　Even　the　Dixie　colonel　was　looking　very　subdued。　The　elderly　lady；　fur　coat　tightly　wrapped　around　her；　looked　at　her　watch　and　smiled。
　
　〃Twenty　minutes；　exactly。　You　are　very　prompt；　young　man。〃
　
　〃We　try　to　be　of　service。〃　I　dumped　the　pile　of　clothes　I　was　carrying　on　a　seat；　nodded　at　them　and　the　contents　of　a　gunny　sack　Joss　and　Jackstraw　were　emptying。　〃Share　these　out　between　you　and　be　as　quick　as　you　can。　I　want　you　to　get　out　at　once…my　two　friends　here　will　take　you　back。　Perhaps　one　of　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　remain　behind。〃　I　looked　to　where　the　young　girl　still　sat　alone　in　her　back　seat；　still　holding　her　left　forearm　in　her　hand。　〃I'll　need　some　help　to　fix　this　young　lady　up。〃
　
　〃Fix　her　up？〃　It　was　the　expensive　young　woman　in　the　expensive　furs　speaking　for　the　first　time。　Her　voice　was　expensive　as　the　rest　of　her　and　made　me　want　to　reach　for　a　hairbrush。　〃Why？　What　on　earth　is　the　mattef　with　her？〃
　
　〃Her　collar…bone　is　broken；〃　I　said　shortly。
　
　〃Collar…bone　broken？〃　The　elderly　lady　was　on　her　feet；　her　face　a　nice　mixture　of　concern　and　indignation。　〃And　she's　been　sitting　there　alone　all　this　time…why　didn't　you　tell　us；　you　silly　man？〃
　
　〃I　forgot；〃　I　replied　mildly。　〃Besides；　what　good　would　it　have　done？〃　I　looked　down　at　the　girl　in　the　mink　coat。　Goodness　only　knew　that　I　didn't　particularly　want　her；　but　the　injured　girl　had　struck　me　as　being　almost　painfully　shy；　and　I　was　sure　she'd　prefer　to　have　one　of　her　own　sex　around。　〃Would　you　like　to　give　me　a　hand？〃
　
　She　stared　at　me；　a　cold　surprised　stare　that　would　have　been　normal　enough　had　I　made　some　outrageous　or　improper　request；　but　before　she　could　answer　the　elderly　lady　broke　in　again。
　
　〃I'll　stay　behind。　I'd　love　to　help。〃
　
　〃Well…〃　I　began　doubtfully；　but　she　interrupted　immediately。
　
　〃Well　yourself。　What's　the　matter？　Think　I'm　too　old；　hey？〃
　
　〃No；　no；　of　course　not；〃　I　protested。
　
　〃A　fluent　liar；　but　a　gallant　one。〃　She　grinned。　〃e　on；　we're　wasting　this　valuable　time　you're　always　so　concerned　about。〃　We　brought　the　girl　into　the　first　of　the　rear　seats；　where　there　was　plenty　of　space　between　that　and　the　first　of　the　rearward　facing　front　seats；　and　had　just　worked　her　coat　off　when　Joss　called　me。
　
　〃We're　off　now；　sir。　Back　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　
　As　the　door　closed　behind　the　last　of　them　and　I　broke　open　a　roll　of　bandage；　the　old　lady　looked　quizzically　at　me。
　
　〃Know　what　you're　doing；　young　man？〃
　
　〃More　or　less。　I'm　a　doctor。〃
　
　〃Doctor；　hey？〃　She　looked　at　me　with　open　suspicion；　and　what　with　my　bulky；　oil…streaked　and　smelly　furs；　not　to　mention　the　fact　that　I　hadn't　shaved　for　three　days；　I　suppose　there　was　justification　enough　for　it。　〃You　sure？〃
　
　〃Sure　I'm　sure；〃　I　said　irritably。　〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do…whip　my　medical　degree　out　from　under　this　parka　or　just　wear　round　my　neck　a　brass　plate　giving　my　consulting　hours？〃
　
　〃We'll　get　along；　young　man；〃　she　chuckled。　She　patted　my　arm；　then　turned　to　the　young　girl。　〃What's　your　name；　my　dear？〃
　
　〃Helene。〃　We　could　hardly　catch　it；　the　voice　was　so　low：　her　embarrassment　was　positively　painful。
　
　〃Helene？