alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第9章

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　〃On　the　right；　Nils　Nielsen。　Take　a　good　look　at　him；　ladies　and　gentlemen。　At　this　very　moment　the　guardian　angels　of　your　respective　insurance　panies　are　probably　putting　up　a　prayer　f　46r　his　continued　well…being。　If　you　all　live　to　e　home　again；　〃toe　chances　are　that　you　will　owe　it　to　him。〃　I　was　to　remember　my　own　words　later。　〃He　probably　knows　more　than　any　man　living　about　survival　on　the　Greenland　ice…cap。〃
　
　〃I　thought　you　called　him　'Jackstraw'。〃　Marie　LeGarde　murmured。
　
　〃My　Eskimo　name。〃　Jackstraw　had　turned　and　smiled　at　her；　his　parka　hood　off　for　the　first　time；　I　could　see　her　polite　astonishment　as　she　looked　at　the　fair　hair；　the　blue　eyes；　and　it　was　as　if　Jackstraw　read　her　thoughts。　〃Two　of　my　grandparents　were　Danish…most　of　us　Greenlanders　have　as　much　Danish　blood　as　Eskimo　in　us　nowadays。〃　I　was　surprised　to　hear　him　talk　like　this；　and　it　was　a　tribute　to　Marie　LeGarde's　personality：　his　pride　in　his　Eskimo　background　was　equalled　only　by　his　touchiness　on　the　subject。
　
　〃Well；　well；　how　interesting。〃　The　expensive　young　lady　was　sitting　back　on　her　box；　hands　clasped　round　an　expensively…nyloned　knee；　her　expression　reflecting　accurately　the　well…bred　condescension　of　her　tone。　〃My　very　first　Eskimo。〃
　
　〃Don't　be　afraid；　lady。〃　Jackstraw's　smile　was　wider　than　ever；　and　I　felt　more　than　vaguely　uneasy；　his　almost　invariable　Eskimo　cheerfulness　and　good　nature　concealed　an　explosive　temper　which　he'd　probably　inherited　from　some　far　distant　Viking　forebear。　〃It　doesn't　rub　off。〃
　
　The　silence　that　followed　could　hardly　be　described　as　panionable；　and　I　rushed　in　quickly。
　
　〃My　own　name　is　Mason；　Peter　Mason；　and　I'm　in　charge　of　this　IGY　station。　You　all　know　roughly　what　we're　doing　stuck　out　here　on　the　plateau…meteorology；　glaciology；　the　study　of　the　earth's　magnetism；　the　borealis；　airglow；　ionosphere；　cosmic　rays；　magnetic　storms　and　a　dozen　other　things　which　I　suppose　are　equally　uninteresting　to　you。〃　I　waved　my　arm。　〃We　don't；　as　you　can　see；　normally　live　here　alone。　Five　others　are　away　to　the　north　on　a　field　expedition。　They're　due　back　in　about　three　weeks；　after　which　we　all　pack　up　and　abandon　this　place　before　the　winter　sets　in　and　the　ice…pack　freezes　on　the　coast。〃
　
　〃Before　the　winter　sets　in？〃　The　little　man　in　the　Glenurquhart　jacket　stared　at　me。　〃You　mean　to　tell　me　it　gets　colder　than　this？〃
　
　〃It　certainly　does。　An　explorer　called　Alfred　Wegener　wintered　not　fifty　miles　from　here　in　1930…1；　and　the　temperature　dropped　by　85　degrees　below　zero…117　degrees　of　frost。　And　that　may　have　been　a　warm　winter；　for　all　we　know。〃
　
　I　gave　some　time　to　allow　this　cheering　item　of　information　to　sink　in；　then　continued。
　
　〃Well；　that's　us。　Miss　LeGarde…Marie　LeGarde…needs　no　introduction　from　anyone。〃　A　slight　murmur　of　surprise　and　turning　of　heads　showed　that　I　wasn't　altogether　right。　〃But　that's　all　I　know；　I'm　afraid。〃
　
　〃Corazzini；〃　the　man　with　the　cut　brow　offered。　The　white　bandage；　just　staining　with　blood；　was　in　striking　contrast　to　the　receding　dark　hair。　〃Nick　Corazzini。　Bound　for　Bonnie　Scotland；　as　the　travel　posters　put　it。〃
　
　〃Holiday？〃
　
　〃No　luck。〃　He　grinned。　〃Taking　over　the　new　Global　Tractor　pany　outside　Glasgow。　Know　it？〃
　
　〃I've　heard　of　it。　Tractors；　eh？　Mr　Corazzini；　you　may　be　worth　your　weight　in　gold　to　us　yet。　We　have　a　broken…down　elderly　tractor　outside　that　can　usually　only　be　started　by　repeated　oaths　and　assaults　by　a　four…pound　hammer。〃
　
　〃Well。〃　He　seemed　taken　aback。　〃Of　course；　I　can　try…〃
　
　〃I　don't　suppose　you've　actually　laid　a　finger　on　a　tractor　for　many　years；〃　Marie　LeGarde　interrupted　shrewdly。　〃Isn't　that　it；　Mr　Corazzini？〃
　
　〃Afraid　it　is；〃　he　admitted　ruefully。　〃But　in　a　situation　like　this　I'd　gladly　lay　my　hands　on　another　one。〃
　
　〃You'll　have　your　chance；〃　I　promised　him。　I　looked　at　the　man　beside　him。
　
　〃Smallwood；〃　the　minister　announced。　He　rubbed　his　thin　white　hands　constantly　to　drive　the　cold　away。　〃The　Reverend　Joseph　Smallwood。　I'm　the　Vermont　delegate　to　the　international　General　Assembly　of　the　Unitarian　and　Free　United　Churches　in　London。　You　may　have　heard　of　it…our　biggest　conference　in　many　years？〃
　
　〃Sorry。〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃But　don't　let　that　disturb　you。　Our　paper　boy　misses　out　occasionally。　And　you；　sir？〃
　
　〃Solly　Levin。　Of　New　York　City；〃　the　little　man　in　the　check　jacket　added　unnecessarily。　He　reached　up　and　laid　a　proprietary　arm　along　the　broad　shoulders　of　the　young　man　beside　him。　〃And　this　is　my　boy；　Johnny。〃
　
　〃Your　boy？　Your　son？〃　I　fancied　I　could　see　a　slight　resemblance。
　
　〃Perish　the　thought；〃　the　young　man　drawled。　〃My　name　is　Johnny　Zagero。　Solly　is　my　manager。　Sorry　to　introduce　a　discordant　note　into　pany　such　as　this〃…his　eyes　swept　over　us；　dwelt　significantly　longer　on　the　expensive　young　lady　by　his　side　…〃but　I'm　in　the　way　of　being　a　mon　or　garden　pugilist。　That　means　'boxer'；　Solly。〃
　
　〃Would　you　listen　to　him？〃　Solly　Levin　implored。　He　stretched　his　clenched　fists　heavenwards。　〃Would　you　just　listen　to　him？　'pologisin'。　Johnny　Zagero；　future　heavyweight　champion；　apologisin'　for　being　a　boxer。　The　white　hope　for　the　world；　that's　all。　Rated　number　three　challenger　to　the　champ。　A　household　name　in　all…〃
　
　〃Ask　Dr　Mason　if　he's　ever　heard　of　me；〃　Zagero　suggested。
　
　〃That　means　nothing；〃　I　smiled。　〃You　don't　look　like　a　boxer　to　me；　Mr　Zagero。　Or　sound　like　one。　I　didn't　know　it　was　included　in　the　curriculum　at　Yale。　Or　was　it　Harvard？〃
　
　〃Princeton；〃　he　grinned。　〃And　what's　so　funny　about　that？　Look　at　Tunney　and　his　Shakespeare。　Roland　La　Starza　was　a　college　boy　when　he　fought　for　the　world　title。　Why　not　me？〃
　
　〃Exactly。〃　Solly　Levin　tried　to　thunder　the　word；　but　he　hadn't　the　voice　for　it。　〃Why　not？　And　when　we've　carved　up　this　British　champ　of　yours…a　doddery　old　character　rated　number　two　challenger　by　one　of　the　biggest　injustices　ever　perpetrated　in　the　long　and　glorious　history　of　boxin〃…when　we've　massacred　this　ancient　has…been；　I　say…〃
　
　〃All　right；　Solly；〃　Zagero　interrupted。　〃Desist。　There's　not　a　press　man　within　a　thousand　miles。　Save　the　golden　words　for　later。〃
　
　〃Just　keepin'　in　practice；　boy。　Words　are　ten　a　penny。　I've　got　thousands　to　spare…〃
　
　Tousands；　Solly；　t'ousands。　You're　slippin*。　Now　shut　up。〃
　
　Solly　shut　up；　and　I　turned　to　the　girl　beside　Zagero。
　
　〃Well；　miss？〃
　
　〃Mrs。　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg。　You　may　have　heard　of　me？〃
　
　〃No。〃　I　wrinkled　my　brow。　〃I'm　afraid　I　haven't。〃　I'd　heard　of　her　all　right；　and　I　knew　now　that　I'd　seen　her　name　and　picture　a　score　of　times　among　those　of　other　wealthy　unemployed　and　unemployable　built　up　by　the　tongue…in…the…cheek　gossip　columnists　of　the　great　national　dailies　into　an　ersatz　London　society　whose　frenetic；　frequently　moronic　and　utterly　unimportant　activities　were　a　source　of　endless　interest　to　millions。　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg；　I　seemed　to　recall；　had　been　particularly　active　in　the　field　of　charitable　activities；　although　perhaps　not　so　in　die　production　of　the　balance　sheets。
　
　She　smiled　sweetly　at　me。
　
　〃Well；　perhaps　it's　not　so　surprising　after　all。　You　are　a　bit　distant　from　the　centre　of　things；　aren't　you？〃　She　looked　across　to　where　the　youngster　with　the　broken　collar…bone　was　sitting。　〃And　this　is　Fleming。〃
　
　〃Fleming？〃　This　time　the　wrinkling　of　my　brow　was　genuine。　〃You　mean　Helene？〃
　
　〃Fleming。　My　personal　maid。〃
　
　〃Your　personal　maid；〃　I　said　slowly。　I　could　feel　the　incredulous　anger　stirring　inside　me。　〃Your　own　maid？　And　you　didn't　even　bother　to　volunteer　to　stay　while　I　fixed　her　shoulder　up？〃
　
　〃Miss　LeGarde　did　it　first；〃　she　said　coolly。　〃Why　should　I？〃
　
　〃Quite　right；　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg；　why　should　you？〃　Johnny　Zagero　said　approvingly。　He　looked　at　her　long　and　consideringly。　〃You　might　have　got　your　hands　dirty。〃
　
　For　the　first　time　the　carefully　cultivated　facade　cracked；　the　smile　stiffened　mechanically；　and　her　colour　deepened。　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg　made　no　reply；　maybe　she　had　none　to　make。　People　like　Johnny　Zagero　never　got　close　enough　even　to　the　fringes　of　her　money…sheltered　world　for　her　to　know　how　to　deal　with　them。
　
　〃Well；　that　leaves　just　the　two　of　you；〃　I　said　hastily。　The　large　Dixie　colonel　with　the　florid　face　and　white　hair　was　sitting　next　to　the　thin　wispy…haired　little　Jew。　They　made　an　incongruous　pair。
　
　〃Theodore　Mahler；〃　the　little　Jew　said　quietly。　I　waited；　but　he　added　nothing。　A　municative　character。
　
　〃Brewster；〃　the　other　announced。　He　made　a　significant　pause。　〃Senator　Hoffman　Brewster。　Glad　to　help　in　any　way　I　can；　Dr　Mason。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Senator。　At　least　I　know　who　you　are。〃　Indeed；　thanks　to　his　magnificent　flair　for　self…publicity；　half　the　Western　world　knew　who　this　outspoken；　bitterly…but　fairly…anti…munist；　near　isolationist　senator　from　the　south…west　was。　〃On　a　European　tour？〃
　
　〃You　might　say　that。〃　He　had　the　politician's　gift　for　investing　even　the　most　insignificant　words　with　a　statesmanlike　consideration。　〃As　Chairman　of　one　of　our　Appropriation　mittees；　I　…well；　let's　call　it　a　fact…finding　tour。〃
　
　〃Wife　and　secretaries　gone　ahead　by　humble　passenger　steamer；　I　take　it；〃　Zagero　said　mildly。　He　shook　his　head。　〃That　was　a　fearful　stink　your　Congressional　investigation　boys　raised　recently　about　the　expenses　of　US　senators　abroad。〃
　
　〃That　was　quite　unnecessary；　young　man；〃　Brewster　said　coldly。　〃And　insulting。〃
　
　〃I　believe　it　was；〃　Zagero　apologised。　〃Not　really　intended　as　such。　Sorry；　Senator。〃　He　meant　it。
　
　What　a　bunch；　I　thought　despairingly；　what　a　crowd　to　be　stuck　with　in　the　middle　of　the　Greenland　ice…plateau。　A　business　executive；　a　musical　edy　star；　a　minister　of　religion；　a　boxer　with　an　uninhibited　if　cultured　tongue；　his　zany　manager；　a　London　society　playgirl　and　her　young　German　maid；　a　Senator；　a　taciturn　Jew　and　a　near…hysterical　hostess…or　one　apparently　so。　And　a　gravely　injured　pilot　who　might　live　or　die。　But　willy…nilly　I　was　stuck　with　them；　stuck　with　the　responsibility　of　doing　my　damnedest　to　get　these　people　to　safety；　and　the　prospect　appalled　me。　How　on　earth　was　I　even　to　start　to　go　about　it；　go　about　it　with　people　with　no　arctic　clothing　to　ward　off　the　razor…edged　winds　and　inhuman　cold；　people　lacking　in　all　knowledge　and　experience　of　arctic　travel；　even　lacking；　with　two　or　three　exceptions；　the　endurance　and　sheer　muscular　strength　to　cope　with　the　savagery　of　the　Greenland　ice…cap？　I　couldn't　even　begin　to　guess。
　
　But　whatever　else　they　were　lacking　in　at　that　moment；　it　wasn't　volubility：　the　life…giving　warmth　of　the　brandy　had　had　the　unfortunate　side　effect　of　loosening　their　tongues。　Unfortunate；　that　is；　from　my　point　of　view：　they　had　a　hundred　and　one　questions　to　ask；　and　they　seemed　to　think　that　I　should　have　the　answer　to　all　of　them。
　
　More　accurately；　they　had　only　half　a　dozen　questions　to　ask；　with　a　hundred　and　one　variations　of　these。　How　was　it　possible　for　a　pilot　to　veer　so　many　hundreds　of　miles　off　course？　Could　the　passes　have　gone　wrong？　Could　the　pilot　have　had　a　brain…storm？　But　then　surely　both　co…pilot　and　second　pilot