mreilly.icestation-第32章

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　Schofield　smiled　as　he　came　over　and　crouched　beside　her。　〃How　you　feeling？〃　he　asked。　
　Mother　still　didn't　open　her　eyes。　〃Methadone's　good。〃　
　Schofield　looked　down　at　what　was　left　of　Mother's　left　leg。　Book　had　bandaged　up　the　jagged　protrusion　at　her　knee　quite　well。　The　bandages；　however；　were　soaked　through　with　blood。　
　〃Guess　I　won't　be　playing　football　anymore；〃　Mother　said。　
　Schofield　looked　at　her　face；　and　he　saw　her　open　her　eyes。　
　〃That　fucking　fish　took　my　leg；〃　she　said　indignantly。　
　〃I　noticed。　Could　have　been　worse；　though。〃　
　〃Don't　I　know　it；〃　Mother　snorted。　
　Schofield　laughed。　
　Mother　looked　him　over　as　he　laughed。　〃Scarecrow。　Have　I　ever　told　you　that　you　are　one　damn　fine…lookin'　man？〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃I　think　that's　the　methadone　talking。〃　
　〃I　know　a　good　man　when　I　see　one；〃　Mother　said　as　she　leaned　back　against　the　wall　and　closed　her　eyes　slowly。　
　Schofield　spoke　softly。　〃I'm　not　certain　of　many　things；　Mother；　but　one　thing　I　am　certain　of　is　that　I　am　not　much　to　look　at。〃　
　Schofield　began　to　think　about　the　two　scars　that　cut　down　across　his　eyes　and　how　hideous　they　were。　People　instinctively　winced　when　they　saw　them。　When　he　was　back　home；　he　almost　always　wore　sunglasses。　
　As　he　thought　about　his　eyes；　Schofield　must　have　looked　away　from　Mother　for　an　instant；　because　when　he　looked　back　at　her　he　found　that　she　was　staring　at　him。　Her　eyes　were　hard　and　sharp；　not　glazed　or　drugged　out。　They　bored　right　through　his　reflective　silver　glasses。　
　〃Any　woman　who　won't　have　you　'cause　of　your　eyes　doesn't　deserve　you；　Scarecrow。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　Mother　let　it　go。　
　〃All　right；　then；〃　she　said。　〃Now　that　we　got　all　these　pleasantries　out　of　the　way〃…she　raised　her　eyebrows　suggestively…〃what　brings　you　down　to　my　neck　of　these　woods？　I'm　hoping　it　wasn't　just　to　check　up　on　my　health。〃　
　〃It　wasn't。〃　
　〃Well。。。　？〃　
　〃Samurai's　dead。〃　
　〃What？〃　Mother　said　seriously。　〃They　told　me　he　was　stable。〃　
　〃He　was　murdered。〃　
　〃By　the　French？〃　
　〃No；　later。　Much　later。　The　French　were　all　dead　when　he　was　killed。〃　
　〃It　wasn't　one　of　their　scientists？〃　
　〃Accounted　for。〃　
　Mother　spoke　evenly。　〃One　of　our　scientists？〃　
　〃If　it　was；　I　can't　figure　out　why；〃　Schofield　said。　
　There　was　a　short　silence。　
　Then　Mother　said；　〃What　about　the　one　that　was　shut　up　in　his　room　when　we　got　here？　You　know；　what's…his…name。　Renshaw。〃　
　Schofield's　head　snapped　up。　
　He　had　pletely　forgotten　about　James　Renshaw。　Renshaw　was　the　scientist　Sarah　Hensleigh　had　said　had　killed　one　of　his　fellow　scientists　only　days　before　the　Marines　had　arrived　at　Wilkes。　He　was　the　man　the　residents　of　Wilkes　had　locked　inside　his　room　on　B…deck。　After　Samurai's　death；　Schoneld　hadn't　even　checked　to　see　if　Renshaw　was　still　in　his　room。　If　Renshaw　had　escaped；　then　maybe　he　had　。。。　
　〃Shit；　I　forgot　all　about　him；〃　Schofield　said。　He　quickly　eyed　his　helmet　mike。　〃Book；　Rebound；　Snake；　you　out　there？〃　
　〃Copy；　Scarecrow；〃　Snake's　voice　replied。　
　〃Snake；　I　need　someone　up　there　to　go　down　to　B…deck　right　away　and　make　sure　that　that　guy　who　was　shut　up　in　his　room　is　still　there；　OK？〃　
　〃I'm　on　it；〃　Snake　said。　
　Schofield　clicked　off　his　inter。　
　Mother　smiled；　spread　her　arms　wide。　〃Honestly；　where　would　you　be　without　your　Mother；　Scarecrow？〃　
　〃Lost；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Don't　you　know　it；〃　Mother　said。　〃Don't　you　know　it。〃　She　eyed　Schofield　carefully；　he　was　staring　at　the　floor。　What's　wrong？〃　she　said　softly。　
　Schofield　kept　his　head　down。　He　shook　his　head　slowly。　
　〃I　should　have　known　they　were　soldiers；　Mother。　I　should　have　anticipated　it。〃　
　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　
　〃I　should　have　locked　them　up　as　soon　as　I　saw　them…〃　
　〃You　couldn't　do　that。〃　
　〃We　lost　three　men。〃　
　〃Honey；　we　won。〃　
　〃We　got　lucky；〃　Schofield　said　seriously。　〃We　got　very；　very　lucky。　They'd　flushed　four　of　my　men　out　onto　that　catwalk　and　were　about　to　slaughter　them　when　they　dropped　into　that　pool。　Christ；　look　at　what　happened　down　in　the　drilling　room。　They　had　a　plan　right　up　to　the　end。　If　Rebound　hadn't　caught　wind　of　it　beforehand；　they　would　have　got　us；　Mother；　even　at　the　very　end。　We　were　on　the　back　foot　the　whole　damn　time。　We　didn't　even　have　a　plan　at　all。〃　
　〃Scarecrow。　Listen　to　me；〃　Mother　said　firmly。　〃You　wanna　know　something？〃　
　〃What？〃　
　Mother　said；　〃Did　you　know　that　about　six　months　ago　I　was　offered　a　place　in　an　Atlantic　Recon　unit？〃　
　Schofield　looked　up　at　that。　No。　He　hadn't　known。　
　〃I　still　have　the　letter　back　home　if　you　want　to　see　it；〃　Mother　said。　〃It's　signed　by　the　mandant　himself。　You　know　what　I　did　after　I　got　that　letter；　Scarecrow？〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃I　wrote　back　to　the　mandant　of　the　United　States　Marine　Corps　and　said　thank　you　very　much；　but　I　would　like　to　stay　with　my　current　unit；　under　my　manding　officer；　Lieutenant　First　Class　Shane　M。　Schofield；　USMC。　I　said　that　I　could　find　no　better　unit；　under　no　better　mander；　than　the　one　I　was　currently　in。〃　
　Schofield　was　momentarily　stunned。　That　Mother　would　do　such　a　thing　was　quite　incredible。　To　reject　an　offer　to　join　an　Atlantic　Recon　Unit　was　one　thing；　but　to　politely　decline　the　personal　invitation　of　the　mandant　of　the　United　States　Marine　Corps　to　join　such　a　unit　was　something　else。　
　Mother　looked　Schofield　squarely　in　the　eye。　〃You　are　a　great　officer；　Scarecrow；　a　great　officer。　You　are　smart　and　you　are　brave　and　you　are　something　that　is　very；　very　rare　in　this　world：　you　are　a　good　man。　
　〃That's　why　I　stayed　with　you。　You've　got　a　heart；　Scarecrow。　You　care　about　your　men。　And　I'll　tell　you　right　now；　that　puts　you　above　every　other　mander　I　have　ever　known。　I　am　prepared　to　risk　my　life　at　your　judgment　because　I　know　that　whatever　the　plan　is；　you're　still　worried　about　me。　
　〃A　lot　of　manders；　they're　just　looking　for　glory；　looking　for　a　promotion。　They　ain't　gonna　care　if　that　dumb　ol'　bitch　Mother　gets　herself　killed。　But　you　do　care　and　I　like　that。　Shit；　look　at　you　now。　You're　beating　up　on　yourself　because　we　almost　got　our　asses　capped。　You　are　smart；　Scarecrow；　and　you　are　good；　and　don't　you　ever　doubt　that。　Ever。　You　just　have　to　believe　in　yourself。〃　
　Schofield　was　taken　aback　by　the　force　of　Mother's　words。　He　nodded。　〃I'll　try。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Mother　said；　her　tone　now　a　little　more　upbeat。　〃Now。　Was　there　anything　else　you　wanted　to　hear　from　'Dear　Abby'　while　you　were　down　here？〃　
　Schofield　snuffed　a　laugh。　〃No。　That's　it。　I　better　get　going；　check　on　this　Renshaw　guy。〃　He　stood　up　and　headed　for　the　doorway。　When　he　reached　the　doorway；　however；　he　stopped　suddenly　and　turned。　
　〃Mother；〃　he　said；　〃do　you　know　anything　about　men　being　planted　in　units？〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　
　Schofield　hesitated。　〃When　I　found　out　Samurai　had　been　murdered；　I　remembered　something　that　happened　a　couple　of　years　ago　to　a　friend　of　mine。　At　the　time；　this　friend　had　said　something　about　people　planting　men　inside　his　unit。〃　
　Mother　looked　hard　at　Schofield。　She　licked　her　lips；　didn't　speak　for　a　very　long　time。　
　〃It's　not　something　I　like　to　talk　about；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃But；　yes；　I　have　heard　about　it。〃　
　〃What　have　you　heard？〃　Schofield　stepped　back　into　the　storeroom。　
　〃Only　rumors。　Rumors　that　get　bigger　and　bigger　each　time　you　hear　'em。　As　an　officer；　you　probably　don't　hear　this　shit；　but　I'll　tell　you；　if　there's　one　thing　about　enlisted　men；　it's　that　they　gossip　like　a　bunch　of　old　women。〃　
　〃What　do　they　say？〃　
　〃Enlisted　grunts　like　to　talk　about　infiltrators。　It's　their　favorite　myth。　A　campfire　story　designed　by　senior　line　animals　to　scare　the　booties　off　the　junior　troops　and　make　them　trust　one　another。　You　know；　if　we　can't　trust　each　other；　who　can　we　trust；　or　something　like　that。　
　〃You　hear　all　kinds　of　theories　about　where　these　infiltrators　e　from。　Some　folks　reckon　they're　inserted　by　the　CIA。　Deep…cover　agents　enlist　with　the　armed　forces　with　the　sole　purpose　of　infiltrating　elite　units…so　that　they　can　keep　tabs　on　us；　make　sure　we're　doin'　what　we're　supposed　to　be　doin。'　
　〃Others　say　it's　the　Pentagon　that　does　it。　Others　still　say　it's　the　CIA　and　the　Pentagon。　I　heard　one　guy…a　real　fruit…loop　named　Hugo　Boddington…say　once　that　he'd　heard　that　the　National　Reconnaissance　Office　and　the　Joint　Chiefs　of　Staff　had　a　joint　submittee　that　they　called　the　Intelligence　Convergence　Group　and　that　it　was　the　office　that　was　in　charge　of　infiltrating　American　military　units。　
　〃Boddington　said　the　ICG　was　some　kind　of　ultrasecret　mittee　charged　with　hoarding　intelligence。　Charged　with　ensuring　that　only　the　right　people　in　the　right　places　knew　about　certain　stuff。　That's　why　they　have　to　infiltrate　units　like　ours。　If　we're　on　a　mission　and　we　find　something　we're　not　supposed　to…I　don't　know；　like　a　crashed　space　shuttle　or　something…those　ICG　guys　are　there　to　wipe　us　out　and　make　sure　that　we　don't　tell　anybody　about　what　we　saw。〃　
　Schofield　shook　his　head。　It　sounded　like　a　ghost　story。　Double　agents　among　the　troops。　
　But　in　the　back　of　his　mind　there　was　a　single　doubt。　A　doubt　that　took　shape　in　the　form　of　Andrew　Trent's　voice　screaming　over　Schofield's　helmet　radio　from　inside　that　Incan　temple　in　Peru：　〃They　planted　men　in　my　unit！。。。　They　planted　fucking　men　in　my　unit！〃　Andrew　Trent　was　no　ghost　story。　
　〃Thanks；　Mother；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　headed　back　for　the　door。　〃I　better　get　going。〃　
　〃Ah；　yes；〃　Mother　said。　〃A　unit　to　run。　People　to　organize。　Responsibility　to　take。　I　wouldn't　be　an　officer　for　all　the　money　in　the　world。〃　
　〃I　wish　you'd　told　me　that　ten　years　ago。〃　
　〃Ah；　yes；　but　then　tonight　wouldn't　have　been　anywhere　near　as　much　fun。　You　take　care；　you　hear　me；　Scarecrow。　Oh；　and　hey；〃　she　said。　〃Nice　glasses。〃　
　Schofield　paused　for　a　moment　in　the　doorway。　He　realized　that　he　was　wearing　Mother's　antiflash　glasses。　He　smiled。　〃Thanks；　Mother。〃　
　〃Hey；　don't　thank　me；〃　she　said。　〃Hell；　the　Scarecrow　without　his　silver　glasses；　it's　like　Zorro　without　his　mask；　Superman　without　his　cape。　It　just　ain't　right〃　
　〃Call　me　if　you　need　anything；〃　Schofield　said。　
　Mother　gave　him　a　wicked　grin。　〃Oh；　I　know　what　I　need；　baby；〃　she　said。　
　Schofield　shook　his　head。　〃You　never　quit；　do　you？〃　
　Mother　smiled。　〃You　know　what？〃　she　said　coyly。　〃I　don't　think　you　realize　it　when　someone　has　their　eye　on　you；　honey。〃　
　Schofield　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Does　someone　have　their　eye　on　me？〃　
　〃Oh；　yes；　Scarecrow。　Oh；　yes。〃　
　Schofield　shook　his　head；　smiled。　〃Good…bye；　Mother。〃　
　〃Good…bye；　Scarecrow。〃　
　Schofield　left　the　storeroom　and　Mother　sank　back　against　the　wall。　
　When　Schofield　was　gone；　she　closed　her　eyes　and　said　softly　to　herself；　〃Does　someone　have　their　eye　on　you？　Oh；　Scarecrow。　Scarecrow。　If　only　you　could　see　the　way　she　looks　at　you。〃　
　
　
　
　Schofield　stepped　out　onto　the　pool　deck。　
　The　whole　station　was　deserted。　The　cavernous　shaft　was　silent。　Schofield　stared　at　the　pool；　at　the　stationary　cable　that　stretched　down　into　it。　
　〃Scarecrow；　this　is　Fox；〃　Gant's　voice　said　over　his　earpiece。　〃Are　you　still　up　there？〃　
　〃I'm　still　here；　where　are　you？〃　
　〃Dive　time　is　fifty