rm.thenightboat-第1部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　…Alfred　Noyes；　A　Victory　Dance
　　
　　Evil。。。　has　infinite　forms。
　　…Blaise　Pascal；　Pensees
　　　
　　　Prologue
　　
　　CLOUDS　SWEPT　ACROSS　the　yellow　oval　of　the　moon；　one　moment　obscuring　it；　the　next　opening　chasms　so　that　its　ocher　light　could　stream　down　upon　the　plain　of　black　ocean　beneath。　The　moon　hung　motionless；　while　around　it　the　clouds　roiled。　It　was　as　if　they　possessed　a　life　of　their　own；　whirling　upon　themselves；　breaking　into　pieces　and　attaching　themselves；　leechlike；　onto　others。　They　were　first　the　maws　of　fantastic　monsters；　then　men's　faces　with　mouths　open　and　screaming；　then　bare；　bleached　skulls　shattered　slowly　into　fragments　by　the　Caribbean　winds。
　　There　were　two　lights　panning　across　the　surface　of　the　sea…one　high；　over　a　dark　mass　of　land；　flashing　intermittently；　and　the　other　floating　low；　just　above　the　stern　of　a　rusty…hulled　American　freighter　hauling　eight　thousand　tons　of　raw　sulfur。
　　And　one　hundred　yards　beyond　the　freighter's　wake　was　something　else。
　　Quietly　and　smoothly　a　dark　cylinder　of　iron　rose　up　from　the　depths　on　a　slender　tower。　The　metal　had　been　painted　black　to　avoid　reflection；　the　viewing　lens　sheathed　in　concrete…a　single　freezing　eye。
　　The　periscope　turned；　the　only　noise　betraying　its　presence　a　soft　hissssss　of　foam　rushing　around　the　tower；　it　sighted　the　island　beacon；　paused　a　few　seconds；　and　turned　several　degrees　to　study　the　specter　of　the　merchant　vessel。　Moonlight　glittered　off　railings；　off　porthole　rims；　off　the　glass　in　an　upper…deck　wheelhouse。
　　Easy　prey。
　　The　periscope　descended。　A　gurgle　of　water　and　gone。
　　Then；　with　a　noise　like　the　death　threat　of　a　striking　serpent；　the　first　G7A　concussion　torpedo；　loaded　with　eight　hundred　pounds　of　explosive；　left　its　forward　tube。　Powered　by　pressed　air；　it　left　a　thin　trail　of　silvery　bubbles　on　its　course　toward　the　freighter's　stern。　It　moved　with　a　fluid　grace；　a　smaller　replica　of　the　huge　machine　that　had　borne　it　across　six　thousand　miles　of　ocean。　Gradually　it　rose　to　within　ten　feet　of　the　surface　and　hurtled　onward　toward　its　rendezvous。
　　When　the　torpedo　slammed　into　the　freighter's　screws；　it　ripped　open　a　gash　below　the　waterline　with　an　explosion　that　lit　the　sea　with　fire　and　fury。　There　was　a　long　scream　of　iron　as　ton　after　ton　of　sea　broke　open　the　freighter's　stern　plates。　Then　there　came　a　second　explosion；　hotter　and　redder　than　the　first；　sending　up　a　gout　of　heavy　black　smoke　through　which　burning　men　leaped　over　the　shattered　deck　railing　for　the　sea。　Flame　spread　along　the　lower　deck；　greedily　chewing　its　way　toward　the　wheelhouse。　A　third　explosion；　a　spray　of　metal　and　timbers　tossed　into　the　sky。　Shuddering；　the　freighter　veered　toward　the　beacon　light　less　than　a　mile　away。　The　captain　did　not　fully　realize　what　had　happened。　He　was　perhaps　thinking　that　they　had　struck　something　underwater：　a　reefhead；　a　sunken　wreck。　He　did　not　know　the　screws　were　mangled　and　useless　or　that　the　fires　were　already　out　of　control；　he　did　not　know　the　great　shafts　of　the　diesel　engines　had　been　thrown　forward　by　the　blast；　grinding　men　to　bloody　pulps　before　them。
　　When　the　second　torpedo　hit；　just　to　starboard　of　the　first　strike；　the　explosion　collapsed　the　stern　section　of　the　lower　deck。　Supports　shattered　and　fell　away；　and　men　struggling　blindly　through　smoke　and　flame　were　crushed　beneath　tons　of　iron。　The　entire　superstructure　trembled　and　began　to　cave　in。
　　Bulkheads　moaned；　split；　burst　as　the　sea　gnawed　its　way　through；　iron　crumpled　like　waxed　paper；　men　clawed　at　each　other　as　they　sank；　drowning。　Some；　above　decks；　were　quickly　burned　into　stiffened　crisps。　The　dying　ship；　filled　with　the　hideous　racket　of　screams　and　moans；　of　shattering　timber　and　glass；　lurched　sharply　to　starboard　and　began　to　sink　rapidly　at　the　stern。
　　A　red　emergency　flare　was　fired　from　the　remains　of　the　burning　wheelhouse；　it　exploded　in　the　sky　with　a　sharp　crack　and　floated　lazily　back　down　toward　the　sea。　Black　smoke　churned　over　the　freighter；　being　thicker　and　thicker；　filling　the　air　with　the　stench　of　scorched　iron　and　burned　flesh；　until　finally　it　turned　the　moon　ebon。
　　The　surface　of　the　sea　began　to　part　beyond　the　freighter's　fiery　shape。　A　rush　of　swirling　white　foam　marked　the　ascent　of　the　hunter。　Its　periscope　tower　broke　the　surface；　then　the　rectangular　shape　of　the　conning　tower　appeared；　and　finally　its　superstructure；　which　gleamed　as　the　sea　ran　off　it　in　red…reflecting　streams。　The　U…boat　began　to　move　nearer　its　victim；　its　bow　slicing　cleanly　through　a　carnage　of　bodies　and　timber；　crates；　pieces　of　railing；　ship's　furniture。　Here　a　man　holding　a　bleeding　rade　and　calling　out　for　help；　here　another　in　a　blackened　life　jacket；　raising　up　the　bloody　stumps　that　had　been　his　arms。　A　sheen　of　oil　had　spread　across　the　sea　from　the　freighter's　ruptured　tanks；　and　it　too　was　afire。　Flames　reflected　off　the　iron　hull　of　the　U…boat；　burned　in　the　eyes　of　the　men　who　watched　from　the　conning　tower's　bridge；　glowed　in　the　submarine　mander's　wolflike　eyes。
　　〃Ja。　A　good　hit；〃　he　said　over　the　noises　of　the　explosions。　It　had　been　ten　minutes　since　the　second　torpedo　left　its　tube。　The　freighter　was　doomed。　〃Die；〃　he　said　very　softly　to　the　floating　blanket　of　debris　and　the　mass　of　the　sinking　ship。　〃Die。〃
　　The　black　smoke；　carrying　the　scent　of　death　with　it；　drifted　around　the　U…boat　in　heavy　swirls。　Through　it　the　mander　could　hear　a　final；　long　shriek　as　the　freighter　headed　for　the　bottom。　This　was　deep　water；　a　thousand　feet　or　more；　a　trench　surrounded　by　steeply　sloping　coral　reef　and　sand　walls。　He　cocked　his　head；　listening　to　a　loud　gurgling　and　bubbling　of　water；　the　hissing　of　steam；　the　half…crazed　outcries　of　drowning　men。　This　was　a　symphony　to　him；　the　almost　overpowering　music　of　destruction。　He　narrowed　his　eyes　and　moved　his　gaze　to　an　object　floating　off　the　port　bow。　It　was　a　life　preserver。　〃All　slow；〃　he　said；　speaking　into　the　voice　tube　that　relayed　his　orders　to　the　control　room。　The　ring　would　bear　the　freighter's　name　and　possibly　the　registry　number；　he　was　fastidious　about　keeping　his　leather…bound　war　diary　accurate。　〃Schiller；〃　he　said　to　the　lean　blond　man　who　stood　nearest　him。　〃You　and　Drexil　get　that　ring　for　me。〃
　　The　two　crewmen　clambered　down　the　conning…tower　ladder　to　the　deck　and　began　to　move　forward；　careful　of　their　footing　on　the　slippery；　algae…slimed　wood。
　　The　U…boat's　bow　pushed　through　a　mass　of　blazing　wreckage。　Somewhere　a　man　was　calling　out　for　God；　over　and　over　again；　the　voice　died　away　abruptly；　as　if　the　man's　throat　had　filled　with　water。　Hanging　on　to　the　port…deck　railing；　the　oily；　littered　sea　washing　around　their　ankles；　the　two　sailors　waited；　watching　the　preserver　carried　toward　them　by　the　waves。　Three　more　of　the　choppy　swells　and　it　would　be　close　enough　to　grasp　by　hand。　The　mander　watched；　hands　folded　before　him；　as　Drexil；　with　Schiller　holding　his　legs；　reached　over　to　get　it。
　　And　then　there　was　a　high；　piercing　noise　that　made　the　mander　whirl　around。　His　eyes　widened。　The　noise；　ing　from　the　midst　of　the　black　smoke；　rose　until　it　became　a　metallic　shriek。　From　the　open　tower　hatch　the　exec's　black…bearded　face　emerged；　his　mouth　a　silent　O。　At　once　the　mander　understood。　A　battle…station　siren。　A　subchaser；　ing　up　fast　on　their　stern。　He　roared　into　the　voice　tube；　〃CRASH　DIVE！　CRASH　DIVE！〃　even　as　the　U…boat's　alarm　bells　shrilled　below。　Then　a　second　shrieking　siren：　a　second　subchaser　joining　the　first。　Both　of　them　roaring　full…speed；　bearing　down　on　the　U…boat。　The　exec　dropped　through　the　hatchway；　and　the　mander　peered　anxiously　out　across　the　bulwark。　His　sailors　had　the　preserver　and　were　frantically　making　their　way　through　the　deepening　black　troughs。
　　A　bright　circular　light　hit　the　sea　just　across　the　U…boat's　bow；　and　now　the　sea　vibrated　with　the　noise　of　the　subchasers'　engines。　With　a　muffled　thud　a　geyser　of　water　rose　up　to　starboard　of　the　conning　tower；　followed　by　an　explosion　that　almost　tore　through　the　eardrums。　The　sea　heaved　around　them。
　　The　mander　looked　into　the　spotlight；　his　eyes　aching　from　its　brightness；　his　teeth　clenched。　Schiller　and　Drexil　would　not　make　the　bridge　in　time。　Without　a　second　glance；　he　threw　himself　into　the　yawning　hatch　and　sealed　the　lid　shut　over　his　head。
　　Like　a　huge　reptilian　beast；　the　great　gleaming　U…boat　slid　without　hesitation　into　the　depths。　The　two　sailors；　floundering　in　rising　water；　felt　iron　and　wood　drop　away　beneath　their　feet。　They　clutched　at　a　railing；　screaming　out；　focused　in　the　eye　of　the　light。
　　〃THE　RING！〃　Schiller　shouted　to　his　mate。　〃HOLD　ON　TO　IT！〃
　　But　then　a　churn　of　white　water　tore　it　from　Drexil's　grasp；　and　it　skittered　away　into　the　flames。　Schiller　opened　his　mouth　to　cry　out；　seeing　the　conning　tower　sink　away；　passing　him　like　a　descending　monster's　fin；　but　salt　water　streamed　into　his　throat　and　he　almost　choked。　He　kicked　forward；　trying　to　grasp　hold　of　the　periscope　tower；　but　as　he　did　his　leg　slammed　against　something；　and　he　felt　himself　being　pulled　down。　He　jerked　at　the　leg；　jerked　again；　it　was　useless。　Something　had　caught　his　ankle　and　was　pulling　him　after　the　boat。　The　sea　blinded　him；　closing　over　his　head。　Get　free！　he　heard　himself　shriek。　Get　free！　The　currents　enveloped　him；　carrying　him　down。　He　cried　out；　air　bursting　from　between　his　teeth；　and　wrenched　at　the　leg。　It　came　free　at　last；　but　there　was　a　sharp　cracking　noise　and　pain　almost　overcame　him。　He　fought　his　way　to　the　surface。　Stroke！　the　mind　manded　the　failing　body。　Stroke！
　　Schiller　found　himself　amidst　a　maelstrom　of　noise　and　foaming　sea。　The　sky　was　filled　with　the　smell　of　cordite　and　the　spinning　red　and　green　ets　of　flares。　Shells　were　dropping　all　around　him；　hammering　at　his　brain；　and　through　the　nightmare　he　grasped　on　to　an　empty　crate　and　wrapped　both　arms　around　it。
　　When　Schiller　cleared　his　eyes　he　saw　Drexil's　head　bobbing　only　a　few　yards　away。　He　cried　out；　〃DREXIL！　HOLD　ON！〃　and　began　swimming；　his　leg　a　useless　appendage。　In　another　moment　he　realized　he　was　weak　and　growing　weaker；　that　he　could　not　tread　water；　and　lan