rm.thenightboat-第25部分
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laced as stops against the plane's tires。 Moore carried the bags to his truck and then turned back to her。 〃What's the JHF stand for？〃
〃Jamaica Historic Foundation；〃 she said； straightening up。 She closed the cockpit door and locked it。 〃Will my plane be safe out here？〃
〃We haven't lost any so far。〃
〃I really didn't expect anyone to be meeting me；〃 she laughed as they climbed into the truck's cab。 〃But I appreciate the ride； Mr。…？〃
〃David Moore。〃 He started the engine and they began to move along the strip。 〃You would have had a long hike into the village。〃
He glanced across at her as they reached the jungle road。 It had been a long time since he'd seen a white woman as attractive as she was。 She wore very little makeup and didn't really need any； she was a natural beauty with high cheekbones and forehead and a striking facial structure； she was perhaps in her late twenties。 Her hair was tucked underneath the cap； of course； but he envisioned it as falling to just about shoulder length。 Her skin was deeply tanned； as if she spent a lot of time outdoors； the sun had deepened laugh…lines around her eyes and mouth。 She had the hands of a man； toughened and callused。 There was a simple gold chain around her neck； and she wore no rings。 Moore had seen a look of energy and intelligence； perhaps also of caution in her eyes。 They were calm now； and steady； but Moore thought they could probably cut like a heated scalpel when she was angry。
〃Where have you e from？〃 he asked her。 〃Kingston？〃
〃That's right。〃
〃Isn't it dangerous flying alone like that？〃
She smiled slightly； as if the question was one she heard often。 〃Not if you know what you're doing。 And I do。 There's an interesting reef out beyond your harbor。 Do you know anything about those two steamer wrecks to the south？〃
〃I've dived them；〃 he said。 〃They're in about sixty feet； but only the stern's left of one and the keel of the other。〃 Moore paused for a few seconds。 〃You're pretty good to recognize them as steamers from the air。〃
〃I know that type of wreck；〃 she said。 〃And there are objects lying near them that could only be broken steamship funnels。〃
〃What are you doing on Coquina？〃 Moore asked； fascinated with his passenger。 〃And what's your Foundation do； anyway？〃
〃I'm here to find the island's constable。 As to the Foundation； we're a research group in alliance with the British Museum。〃
〃I see。 Then you're here because of the U…boat。〃
She glanced over at him and nodded。 〃Let's say I'm here to investigate something the Foundation doesn't understand。 There was a story in the Jamaica Daily Gleaner about a submarine hulk surfacing。 We contacted the man who reported it…a mail…boat captain…who turned out to be sixty…eight years old and somewhat less than an expert。 I'm reserving judgment as to whether what's surfaced off your island actually is an authentic World War II relic。〃
Moore looked at her and noticed her eyes were suspicious and questing； like a cat's。 〃You can see for yourself。〃
〃I plan to。〃
They came off the jungle road； turned on Back Street； and drove toward the center of the village。 The Square was now pletely deserted； and Moore saw that Kip's jeep was still gone from its usual place in front of his office。
〃I don't think the constable's in right now；〃 he said。 He motioned toward the grocery store。 〃There's a café over there if you'd like something to eat while you wait。〃
〃I can do with some lunch；〃 she acknowledged； and Moore pulled the truck to the curb。
Everybody's Grocers and Cafe was a small stucco building painted a bright mustard yellow； the store was at the front； the cafe was a scattering of tables near a kitchen at the rear。 When they sat down； the rotund cook protested that she was leaving soon to go home； but Moore talked her into making lunch for them。 He asked for two orders of seafood bouillabaisse and coffee。
〃Is it Miss or Mrs。 Thornton？〃 he asked her casually after they'd seated themselves。
She extracted a cigarette from a pack of Players and lit it without waiting for him to find a match。 〃It's Dr。 Thornton；〃 she said coolly。
〃Oh？ A doctor of what？〃
〃A professor；〃 she corrected。 〃I'm a marine archaeologist； specializing in the study of sunken wrecks。〃
〃Sounds interesting。〃
〃It is。〃 She tapped ash off her cigarette。 She looked up； examining his eyes for a few seconds。 She could see intensity in this man's tanned； weather…lined face。 The eyes were strange； very blue； warm and yet distant at the same time。 There was curiosity and strength； but something dark and disturbing as well； lying deep inside。 Then she saw it vanish like the briefest of passing shadows。
〃What about you？〃 she asked； at last。 〃What are you doing here？〃
〃I own the Indigo Inn。 The hotel at the top of the hill。〃
〃Ah； yes。 I saw it from the air。〃 She tilted her chin and exhaled smoke。 〃I wouldn't think you would attract many guests。〃
〃Not during hurricane season； no。 But when the good breezes are blowing we get a few yachtsmen passing through。 And I enjoy the life。 It's not a bad way to pass the time。〃
〃I want to know about this submarine；〃 she said quietly； after their coffee had been served。 〃Where is it now？〃
〃Locked away in an old naval shelter down in the island boatyards。 All two hundred feet of the damned thing。〃
〃Two hundred twenty feet；〃 Jana corrected him。 〃Width twenty feet； displacing approximately 749 tons of water。 And； if it is。 a German boat； most probably a vessel from the VII…C series； if that means anything to you。〃
〃No； it doesn't；〃 Moore admitted。
〃The workhorse of the Nazi submarine fleet。 They operated by the dozens both in the North Atlantic and in the Caribbean during the war。 I've dived on the wrecks of several just off Jamaica； but of course there's not much left to b through。 That's what the Foundation fails to understand； Mr。 Moore： The word we received is that this U…boat surfaced unaided。。。 and in almost perfect condition。 Now； since you're a diver yourself； you tell me how that's possible。〃
〃Okay；〃 he said。 〃First of all； I guess I should let you know that I'm the one who found the thing。 It was buried in sand at a hundred and fifty feet； and an unexploded depth charge blew it free。 Both the constable and myself have been inside it。 Yes； that's right。 It's authentic。 The hull's holding tight； all the equipment's still in place； and。。。〃 He paused。 Bodies？ Tell her about his vision in that dank tomb？ No。 〃It's still seaworthy；〃 he said。 〃And I have a theory。〃
〃Fine。 I'm listening。〃
〃The U…boat was buried in one hell of a lot of sand。 I believe a ledge just above it had given way and covered it over； and it remained there until the last big blow whipped the sea around and slid some of the sand back。 If the submarine were pletely buried there'd be no way the usual marine organisms could attach themselves to the iron。 The sand was a natural buffer against corrosion。〃
〃That would be a great deal of weight crushing the superstructure； wouldn't it？〃 she reminded him。
〃I didn't say the superstructure was unscratched。 How much pressure could those boats withstand？〃
〃Their shipyard guarantee was a little over three hundred feet；〃 Jana said； sipping at her coffee。 〃Some of them made it to six hundred and back with only minor structural damages。 Others may have gone even deeper before they imploded。〃
〃So it depended on the boat？〃
〃There may have been a difference of degree in the elasticity of the iron from shipyard to shipyard； or even from year to year。 But tell me this： Even if your theory is correct； it doesn't explain why the boat surfaced。〃
〃No；〃 Moore agreed； 〃you're right。 But couldn't the explosion have jarred a mechanism or something？〃
She gave him a patient smile。 〃That's rather remote。 There is； however； the possibility of a gas buildup within the boat。 You see； a submarine rises and falls by means of pressed air； filling the buoyancy cells with air to force the water out lifts it up； and letting the sea flood the cells again will make it descend。 It's rather like the action of the human lungs； if you can envision a U…boat breathing。 The captain can control the speed of an ascent or descent by regulating the amount of air or water in the cells。 Leonardo da Vinci came up with the idea of an underwater boat used for warfare centuries ago； but the concept so frightened him that he never executed a model。 Anyway； I can't see that the machinery to pump pressed air into the tanks would still be operable。 Of course。。。〃 She paused for a moment； tapping her finger on the table。 〃There might already have been pressed air in the tanks； though not enough to displace the weight that lay over it。 When the weight shifted the hulk began to rise。 One of the crewmen may have bled air into the tanks at the same time your suspected ledge collapsed。 But then it was too late。〃
The cook； still muttering about the lateness of the hour； brought a pot of bouillabaisse filled with chunks of snapper； crabmeat； and scallops simmered with tomatoes and peppers。 Moore began eating at once； but Jana tested it cautiously with a spoon before trusting her stomach to the exotic fare。
〃Of course；〃 Jana said after she'd taken a bite； 〃all of the systems were duplicated in each boat。 One mechanized； one manual。 But I doubt very seriously if there would have been any hands left aboard to operate the levers。 I presume the crew got out by means of an escape hatch； or perhaps through the torpedo tubes。〃
Moore sat motionless。 He held a spoonful of food near his mouth； then slowly put it back down onto his plate。 The tension in his stomach was palpable。 〃No；〃 he said huskily。
〃What？〃 Jana asked； looking up； seeing his face cloud over； the look of it put her on edge。
〃No；〃 Moore repeated。 〃That's not what happened at all。〃
Jana didn't know what he was talking about at first； and then it dawned on her。 Of course。 Skeletons。 〃How many are left？〃 she asked。
〃I。。。 I'm not sure。 I don't think。。。 I saw all of them。〃
〃You went from bow to stern？〃
He shook his head。 〃Just from the bow to the control room。〃
〃I'll want to go all the way aft；〃 Jana s
