alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第7章

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　〃Helene。〃　We　could　hardly　catch　it；　the　voice　was　so　low：　her　embarrassment　was　positively　painful。
　
　〃Helene？　A　lovely　name。〃　And　indeed；　the　way　she　said　it　made　it　sound　so。　〃You're　not　British；　are　you？　Or　American？〃
　
　〃I'm　from　Germany；　madam。〃
　
　〃Don't　call　me　'madam'。　You　know；　you　speak　English　beautifully。　Germany；　hey？　Bavaria；　for　a　guess？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃　The　rather　plain　face　was　transfigured　in　a　smile；　and　I　mentally　saluted　the　old　lady　for　the　ease　with　which　she　was　distracting　the　young　girl's　thoughts　from　the　pain。　〃Munich。　Perhaps　you　know　it？〃
　
　〃Like　the　back　of　my　hand；〃　she　said　placently。　〃And　not　just　the　Hofbrauhaus　either。　You're　still　very　young；　aren't　you？〃
　
　〃I'm　seventeen。〃
　
　〃Seventeen。〃　A　nostalgic　sigh。　〃Ah；　my　dear；　I　remember　when　I　was　seventeen。　A　different　world。　There　was　no　trans…Atlantic　airliner　in　those　days；　I　can　tell　you。〃
　
　〃In　fact；〃　I　murmured；　〃the　Wright　brothers　were　hardly　airborne。〃　The　face　had　been　more　than　familiar　to　me；　and　I　was　annoyed　that　I　should　have　taken　so　long　in　placing　it：　I　suppose　it　was　because　her　normal　setting　was　so　utterly　different　from　this　bleak　and　frozen　world。
　
　〃Being　insulting；　young　man？〃　she　queried。　But　there　was　no　offence　in　her　face。
　
　〃I　can't　imagine　anyone　ever　insulting　you。　The　world　was　at　your　feet　even　in　the　Edwardian　days；　Miss　LeGarde。〃
　
　〃You　know　me；　then？〃　She　seemed　genuinely　pleased。
　
　〃It　would　be　difficult　to　find　anyone　who　doesn't　know　the　name　of　Marie　LeGarde。〃　I　nodded　at　the　young　girl。　〃See；　Helene　knows　it　too。〃　And　it　was　clear　from　the　awe…struck　expression　on　the　young　German　girl's　face　that　the　name　meant　as　much　to　her　as　to　me。　Twenty　years　queen　of　the　music…hall；　thirty　years　queen　of　the　musical　edy　stage；　beloved　wherever　she　was　known　less　for　her　genius　than　for　the　innate　kindliness　and　goodness　which　she　tried　to　conceal　from　the　world　with　a　waspish　tongue；　*　for　the　half…dozen　orphanages　she　maintained　in　Britain　and　Europe；　Marie　LeGarde　was　one　of　the　few　truly　international　names　in　the　world　of　entertainment。
　
　〃Yes；　yes；　I　see　you　know　my　name。〃　Marie　LeGarde　smiled　at　me。　〃But　how　did　you　know　me？〃
　
　〃From　your　photograph；　naturally。　I　saw　it　in　Life　the　other　week；　Miss　LeGarde。〃
　
　〃　'Marie'；　to　my　friends。〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　you；〃　I　protested。
　
　〃I　paid　a　small　fortune　to　have　that　photograph　retouched　and　made　briefly　presentable；〃　she　answered　obliquely。　〃It　was　a　splendid　photograph；　inasmuch　as　it　bore　precious　little　resemblance　to　the　face　that　I　carry　about　with　me。　Anyone　who　recognises　me　from　that　is　my　friend　for　life。　Besides；〃　she　smiled；　〃I　bear　nothing　but　the　most　amicable　feelings　towards　people　who　save　my　life。〃
　
　I　said　nothing；　just　concentrated　on　finishing　the　job　of　strapping　up　Helene's　arm　and　shoulders　as　quickly　as　possible：　she　was　blue　with　cold；　and　shivering　uncontrollably。　But　she　hadn't　uttered　a　murmur　throughout；　and　smiled　gratefully　at　me　when　I　was　finished。　Marie　LeGarde　regarded　my　handiwork　approvingly。
　
　〃I　really　do　believe　you　have　picked　up　some　smattering　of　your　trade　along　the　way；　Doctor…ah…〃
　
　〃Mason。　Peter　Mason；　Peter　to　my　friends。〃
　
　〃　'Peter'　it　shall　be。　e　on；　Helene；　into　your　clothes　as　fast　as　you　like。〃
　
　Fifteen　minutes　later　we　were　back　in　the　cabin。　Jackstraw　went　to　unharness　the　dogs　and　secure　them　to　the　tethering　cable；　while　Joss　and　I　helped　the　two　women　down　the　ice…coated　steps　from　the　trap…door。　But　I　had　no　sooner　reached　the　foot　of　the　steps　than　I　had　forgotten　all　about　Marie　LeGarde　and　Helene　and　was　staring　unbelievingly　at　the　tableau　before　me。　I　was　just　vaguely　aware　of　Joss　by　my　shoulder；　and　anger　and　dismay　on　his　face　slowly　giving　way　to　a　kind　of　reluctant　horror。　For　what　we　saw；　though　it　concerned　us　all；　concerned　him　most　of　all。
　
　The　injured　wireless　operator　still　lay　where　we　had　left　him。　All　the　others　were　there　too；　grouped　in　a　rough　semi…circle　round　him　and　round　a　cleared　space　to　the　left　of　the　stove。　By　their　feet　in　the　centre　of　this　space；　upside　down　and　with　one　corner　pletely　stove　in　on　the　wooden　floor；　lay　the　big　metal　RCA　radio　transmitter　and　receiver；　our　sole　source　of　contact　with；　our　only　means　of　summoning　help　from　the　outer　world。　I　knew　next　to　nothing　about　radios；　but　it　was　chillingly　obvious　to　me…as　it　was；　I　could　see；　to　the　semi…circle　of　fascinated　onlookers…that　the　RCA　was　smashed　beyond　recovery。
　
　
　CHAPTER　THREE…Monday　2　A。M。…3　A。M。
　
　Half　a　minute　passed　in　plete　silence；　half　a　minute　before　I　could　trust　myself　to　speak；　even　bring　myself　to　speak。　When　at　last　I　did；　my　voice　was　unnaturally　low　in　die　unnatural　hush　that　was　broken　only　by　the　interminable　clacking　of　the　anemometer　cups　above。
　
　〃Splendid。　Really　splendid。　The　perfect　end　to　the　perfect　day。〃　I　looked　round　them　slowly；　one　by　one；　then　gestured　at　the　smashed　transmitter。　〃What　bloody　idiot　was　responsible　for　this…this　stroke　of　genius？〃
　
　〃How　dare　you；　sir！〃　The　white…haired　man　whom　I　had　mentally　labelled　as　the　Dixie　colonel　took　a　step　forward；　face　flushed　with　anger。　〃Mind　your　tongue。　We're　not　children　to　be…〃
　
　〃Shut　up！〃　I　said；　quietly　enough；　but　there　must　have　been　something　in　my　voice　rather　less　than　reassuring；　for　he　fell　silent；　though　his　fists　still　remained　clenched。　I　looked　at　them　all　again。　〃Well？〃
　
　〃I'm　afraid…I'm　afraid　I　did　it；〃　the　stewardess　faltered。　Her　brown　eyes　were　as　unnaturally　large；　her　face　as　white　and　strained　as　when　I　had　first　seen　her。　〃It's　all　my　fault。〃
　
　〃You！　The　one　person　here　who　should　know　just　how　vital　radio　really　is。　I　don't　believe　it。〃
　
　〃You　must；　I'm　afraid。〃　The　quiet　controlled　voice　belonged　to　the　man　with　the　cut　brow。　〃No　one　else　was　anywhere　near　it　at　the　time。〃
　
　〃What　happened　to　you？〃　I　could　see　he　was　nursing　a　bruised　and　bleeding　hand。
　
　〃I　dived　for　it　when　I　saw　it　toppling。〃　He　smiled　wryly。　〃I　should　have　saved　myself　the　trouble。　That　damned　thing's　heavy。〃
　
　〃It's　all　that。　Thanks　for　trying　anyway。　I'll　fix　your　hand　up　later。〃　I　turned　to　the　stewardess　again；　and　not　even　that　pale　and　exhausted　face；　the　contrition　in　the　eyes；　could　quieten　my　anger…and；　to　be　honest；　my　fear。　〃I　suppose　it　just　came　to　pieces　in　your　hand？〃
　
　〃I've　told　you　I'm　sorry。　I…I'was　just　kneeling　beside　Jimmy　here…〃
　
　〃Who？〃
　
　〃Jimmy　Waterman…the　Second　Officer。　I…〃
　
　〃Second　Officer？〃　I　interrupted。　〃That's　the　radio　operator；　I　take　it？〃
　
　〃No；　Jimmy　is　a　pilot。　We've　three　pilots　…we　don't　carry　a　radio　operator。〃
　
　〃You　don't…〃　I　broke　off　my　surprised　question；　asked　another　instead。　〃Who's　the　man　in　the　crew　rest　room？　Navigator？〃
　
　〃We　don't　carry　a　navigator　either。　Harry　Williamson　is…was　…the　Flight　Engineer。〃
　
　No　wireless　operator；　no　navigator。　There　had　been　changes　indeed　since　I'd　flown　the　Atlantic　some　years　previously　in　a　Stratocruiser。　I　gave　it　up；　returned　to　my　original　question　and　nodded　at　the　smashed　RCA。
　
　〃Well；　how　did　it　happen？〃
　
　〃I　brushed　the　table　as　I　rose　and…well；　it　just　fell。〃　Her　voice　trailed　off　uncertainly。
　
　〃It　just　fell；〃　I　echoed　incredulously。　〃One　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　of　transmitter　and　you　flicked　it　off　the　table　just　like　that？〃
　
　〃I　didn't　knock　it　off。　The　legs　collapsed。〃
　
　〃It's　got　no　legs　to　collapse；〃　I　said　shortly。　〃Hinges。〃
　
　〃Well；　hinges；　then。〃
　
　I　looked　at　Joss；　who　had　been　responsible　for　the　erection　of　the　table　as　well　as　the　radio。　〃Is　it　possible？〃
　
　〃No。〃　His　voice　was　flat；　definite。
　
　Again　the　silence　in　the　cabin；　the　hush；　the　tension　that　grew　from　the　merely　unfortable　to　the　all　but　unbearable。　But　I　was　beginning　to　see　that　there　was　nothing　to　be　gained　now　by　further　questioning；　much　to　be　lost。　The　radio　was　wrecked。　Finish。
　
　I　turned　away　without　a　word；　hung　up　my　caribou　furs　on　nails　on　the　walls；　took　off　goggles　and　gloves　and　turned　to　the　man　with　the　cut　brow。
　
　〃Let's　have　a　look　at　your　head　and　your　hand…it's　a　pretty　nasty　gash　on　your　forehead。　Forget　the　radio　for　the　moment；　Joss…let's　have　coffee　first；　lots…of　it。〃　I　turned　to　Jackstraw；　who　had　just　e　down　the　steps　from　the　hatch　and　was　staring　at　the　smashed　radio。　〃I　know；　Jackstraw；　I　know。　I'll　explain　later…　not　that　I　know　anything　about　it。　Bring　seme　empty　cases　for　seats　out　of　the　food　tunnel；　will　you。　And　a　bottle　of　brandy。　We　all　need　it。〃
　
　I'd　just　started　to　wash　the　cut　forehead…a　nasty　gash；　as　I　had　said；　but　surprisingly　little　signs　of　bruising…when　the　big　amiable　young　man　who　had　helped　us　lower　the　second　officer　from　the　wrecked　plane　came　to　us。　I　looked　across　up　at　him；　and　saw　that　I　could　be　wrong　about　the　amiability：　his　face　wasn't　exactly　hostile；　but　his　eyes　had　the　cool　measuring　look　of　one　who　knew　from　experience　that　he　could　cope　with　most　of　the　situations；　pleasant　and　unpleasant；　that　he　was　ever　likely　to　e　up　against。
　
　〃Look；〃　he　began　without　preamble；　〃I　don't　know　who　you　are　or　what　your　name　is；　but　I'm　sure　we　are　all　most　grateful　to　you　for　what　you　have　done　for　us。　It's　more　than　probable　that　we　owe　our　lives　to　you。　We　acknowledge　that。　Also；　we　know　you're　a　field　scientist；　and　we　realise　that　your　equipment　is　of　paramount　importance　to　you。　Agreed？〃
　
　〃Agreed。〃　I　dabbed　iodine　fairly　liberally　on　the　injured　man's　head…he　was　tough；　all　right；　he　didn't　even　wince…and　looked　at　the　speaker。　Not　at　all　a　man　to　ignore；　I　thought。　Behind　the　strong　intelligent　face　lay　a　hardness；　a　tenacity　of　purpose　that　hadn't　been　acquired　along　with　the　cultured　relaxed　voice　at　the　Ivy　League　college　I　was　pretty　certain　he　had　attended。　〃You'd　something　else　to　say？〃
　
　〃Yes。　We　think…correction；　I　think…that　you　were　unnecessarily　rough　on　our　air　hostess。　You　can　see　the　state　the　poor　kid's　in。　OK；　so　your　radio's　bust；　so　you're　hoppin'　mad　about　it…but　there's　no　need　for　all　this　song　and　dance。〃　His　voice　was　calm；　conversational　all　the　time。　〃Radios　aren't　irreplaceable。　This　one　will　be　replaced；　I　promise　you。　You'll　have　a　new　one　inside　a　week；　ten　days　at　the　most。〃
　
　〃Kind；〃　I　said　dryly。　I　finished　tying　the　head　bandage　and　straightened　up。　〃The　offer　is　appreciated；　but　there's　one　thing　you　haven't　taken　into　account。　You　may　be　dead　inside　that　ten　days。　You　may　all　be　dead　in　ten　days。〃
　
　〃We　may　all…〃　He　broke　off　and　stared　at　me；　his　expression　perceptibly　hardening。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　
　〃What　I'm　talking　about　is　that　without　this　radio　you　dismiss　so　lightly　your　chances…our　chances…of　survival　aren't　all　that　good。　In　fact；　they're　not　good　at　all。　I　don't　give　a　tuppenny　damn　about　the　radio；　as　such。〃　I　eyed　him　curiously；　and　a　preposterous　thought　struck　me：　at　least；　it　was　preposterous　for　all　of　a　couple　of　seconds；　before　the　truth　hit　me。　〃Have　you…have　any　of　you　any　idea　just　where　you　are；　right　here；　at　the　present　moment？〃
　
　〃Sure　we　have。〃　The　young　man　lifted　his　shoulders　fractionally。　〃Just　can't　say　how　far　to　the　nearest　drugsto