rm.thenightboat-第34部分

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sailors　could　hear　a　tug　chugging　off　in　the　harbor；　and　the　distant　wail　of　a　foghorn。　Boots　clattered　sharply　on　the　hardwood　floor。
　　Korrin　had　e　in　from　the　street；　two　other　men　had　acpanied　him；　but　now　they　stood　back　as　he　swung　his　gaze　around　the　bar；　meeting　the　eyes　of　the　crew　one　after　one。　〃Heil　Hitler！〃　he　said　sharply；　clicking　his　heels　together　and　raising　his　arm　in　the　Nazi　salute。
　　The　men　stood　to　attention。　〃Heil　Hitler；〃　they　replied　as　one。
　　Beneath　Korrin's　U…boat　officer's　cap　the　reddish…blond　hair　was　just　taking　on　flecks　of　gray；　and　his　face　was　hard；　the　eyes　fierce　and　pelling；　intensely　dark　and　powerful。　He　was　a　tall　man；　well　over　six　feet；　and　he　was　lean　and　athletic…looking。　A　slight　scar　slashed　across　his　upper　lip　gave　it　the　trace　of　a　scornful　curl；　and　his　cheeks　bore　the　jagged　scars　of　fencing　wounds。　He　wore　black　gloves；　a　dark　brown；　rain…dappled　coat　was　draped　over　his　shoulders。　Schiller　squirmed　under　his　gaze；　he　felt　like　an　insect　being　probed　by　a　microscope　lens。
　　〃My　name　is　Wilhelm　Korrin；〃　the　mander　said　quietly；　his　voice　softer　than　Schiller　would　have　expected。　〃So！〃　He　looked　around　the　room　again；　the　dark　eyes　narrowing；　as　cold　as　the　touch　of　ice　on　each　man's　spine。　〃This　is　to　be　my　crew。〃　He　turned　his　head　toward　one　of　the　men　who　had　e　in　with　him。　〃Gert；　they　bee　younger　with　every　new　mand。。。　but　they　age　quickly。〃　The　aide　gave　a　brief；　thin…lipped　smile　and　the　mander　returned　his　attention　to　the　seamen。
　　〃You'll　age；〃　he　said。　〃Some　of　you　may　be　old　men　when　we　return。　Some　of　you　may　die。　Some　of　you　may　be　heroes。　But　rest　assured　there　will　be　no　cowards。〃　He　held　his　gaze　steady　for　a　few　seconds；　and　the　man　under　his　scrutiny　nervously　shifted　his　position。
　　〃Some　of　you　I　know　from　other　boats；　some　of　you　will　be　under　my　mand　for　the　first　time。　What　I　require　is　very　simple：　You　will　carry　out　your　duties　as　seamen　under　the　German　flag；　and　you　will　obey　my　orders　without　question。〃
　　VonStagel　lifted　his　beer；　and　the　mander　immediately　sensed　the　movement；　Korrin　stared　at　him　in　silence；　and　VonStagel　lowered　the　mug　from　his　lips。　〃We　are　sailing　in　the　finest　weapon　the　German　navy　has　ever　built；〃　Korrin　continued。　〃And　as　long　as　you　sail　under　my　mand　each　one　of　you　will　be　a　vital　part　of　that　weapon。　You　will　breathe　with　the　boat；　you'll　roll　with　her；　you'll　feel　her　vibrations　down　in　the　pit　of　your　guts；　and　you'll　know　her　like　a　lover。〃
　　Korrin　rested　his　hands　on　the　back　of　a　chair；　the　fingers　in　those　black　gloves　as　long　and　delicate　as　a　surgeon's。　〃I　regret　I　won't　be　joining　you　for　the　evening；　but　I'm　needed　at　mand。　Enjoy　yourselves　tonight；　do　what　you　like　with　whom　you　like；　but　be　warned。　We　leave　harbor　at　first　light；　and　any　man　unable　to　report　must　answer　to　me。　Is　that　understood？〃　He　reached　down　for　a　bottle　of　red　wine；　poured　half　a　glass；　and　then　held　the　goblet　up。　For　an　instant　Schiller　saw　the　mander's　face　through　the　glass：　distorted；　something　barely　human　floating　in　a　sea　of　blood。　〃A　toast；　gentlemen；〃　Korrin　said。
　　Glasses　were　hurriedly　filled；　lifted　in　silence。　〃To　our　good　hunting；〃　the　mander　proposed。　He　drank　a　bit　of　the　wine　and　returned　the　goblet　to　the　table；　without　looking　at　his　crew　again　he　rejoined　the　other　two　officers　and　they　left　the　bar　together；　their　boots　clattering　in　the　street。
　　There　was　a　long　silence　in　the　room；　someone　muttered；　and　very　slowly　the　activity　resumed。
　　Bruno　shook　his　head。　〃It's　the　Paradise　for　me；〃　he　said。　〃Now　or　never。〃
　　Wreckage　Discovered。　Those　two　words　had　been　seared　across　Schiller's　brain。　Was　it　the　wreckage　of　U…198？　And　if　so；　why　wasn't　it　where　it　was　supposed　to　be；　down　in　the　murky　vault　of　the　sea？　He　had　been　the　only　one　to　escape；　that　terrible　night　so　long　ago；　and　now　the　past　had　resurfaced；　summoning　him　here　to　this　forgotten　place。
　　They　were　all　dead；　of　course。　All　his　friends　and　crewmates。　He　had　been　there　at　the　end；　watching　the　slow　fall　of　the　depth　charges；　seeing　the　ocean　erupt　again　and　again　in　geysers　of　white；　roiling　foam。　But　something　still　bound　him　to　them；　even　after　all　these　years；　he　was　still　part　of　them；　still　part　of　that　weapon；　U…198。　Though　he　was　older　now；　weaker；　with　failing　eyesight　and　migraine　headaches；　living　a　life　very　different　from　the　one　he　had　once　envisioned　for　himself；　he　was　still　a　sailor　in　the　German　navy；　and　still　a　crewman　of　U…198。
　　And　perhaps；　he　thought；　if　it　was　his　boat　he　should　be　there　to　say　a　final　good…bye　to　his　panions。
　　He　held　up　a　hand　for　the　bartender　to　see；　and　when　the　man　approached　he　said；　〃Please。　I'd　like　another　beer。。。〃
　　　
　　　Eighteen
　　
　　KIP　RAISED　THE　HAMMER；　brought　it　sharply　down　on　a　nail；　another　blow　and　the　nailhead　was　flush　with　the　plank。　He　reached　for　a　third　piece　of　wood　from　a　pile　lying　next　to　the　shelter　wall　and　carefully　hammered　it　into　place　across　the　closed　door。　Kip　pulled　at　the　timber　reinforcement；　decided　another　was　needed；　and　hammered　until　the　door　was　sealed　tight。　He　stepped　back　a　few　paces；　wiping　the　moisture　from　his　forehead。
　　He　was　soaked　with　sweat　from　his　efforts　and　exhausted　from　carrying　the　planks　across　the　boatyard。　He　stood　where　he　was　for　a　moment；　staring　at　the　blocked　doorway。　He　needed　a　chain；　a　thick　chain　to　pull　across　the　door。　And　a　padlock；　something　heavy　and　tough。　There　must　be　a　length　of　chain　here　somewhere；　he　thought；　or　else　I　could　get　one　off　a　boat　moored　in　the　harbor。　But　the　shelter　must　be　sealed。　It　must　be　sealed　so　nothing。。。　so　none　of　them。。。　can　get　out。　Another　timber；　he　thought。　Nail　another　timber　in　place　there　at　the　bottom　of　the　door。
　　〃Hey！　What　in　God's　name　are　you　doin'　there！〃
　　Kip　tensed；　turned　toward　the　voice。　A　heavyset　black　in　denims　and　a　bright…blue　shirt　was　walking　quickly　and　purposefully　across　the　yard。　The　man　was　almost　bald　except　for　tufts　of　white　hair　on　both　sides　of　his　head；　and　his　eyes　were　wary；　untrusting。　He　clenched　a　pipe　between　his　teeth；　and　trailed　gray　whorls　of　smoke　behind　him。　Kip　stood　where　he　was；　the　hammer　still　in　his　hand；　and　watched　Kevin　Langstree　approach。
　　The　boatyard　owner　stopped　abruptly；　his　eyes　moving　from　the　hammer　to　the　timbers　and　back　again。　〃What　do　you　think　you're　doin'？〃　he　asked；　not　taking　the　pipe　from　his　mouth。
　　Kip　moved　past　him；　laying　the　hammer　down　on　the　jeep's　rear　floorboard；　beside　the　loaded　rifle　he'd　brought　along　as　a　measure　of　safety。　Langstree　snorted　in　anger；　stepped　forward；　and　wrenched　at　the　timbers。
　　〃STOP　THAT！〃　Kip　yelled　angrily。
　　Langstree　whirled　on　him；　teeth　bared。　〃You　lost　your　mind？　Goddamn　it；　what　goin'　on　here；　mon？〃
　　〃I've　sealed　the　shelter；〃　Kip　said　evenly；　〃so　no　one　can　get　in。〃
　　〃And　I　know　what　you　got　in　there；　too！　Oh；　yeah；　Cochran　told　me　all　about　it　this　mornin'！　I　know　you　got　that　bastard　boat　in　there！　Now　you　listen　to　me！　I　own　this　yard。。。　ain't　nobody　else　own　it　but　Kevin　Langstree！　What　damn　right　you　got　to　use　my　yard　while　I'm　away？〃
　　〃I　had　to　get　the　boat　out　of　the　harbor。。。〃
　　〃I　DON'T　WANT　TO　HEAR　THAT　FUCKIN'　STUFF！〃　Langstree　yanked　the　pipe　out　of　his　mouth；　he　was　trembling　with　rage；　and　Kip　fully　expected　the　man　to　strike　him。　〃You　got　no　right；　no　right　at　all！　Any　other　boat　maybe　okay。。。　but　NOT　THAT　ONE！〃　He　motioned　with　a　hand　toward　the　shelter。　〃YOU　KNOW　WHAT　THAT　THING　DONE　TO　ME？　Do　you？　Blew　my　yard　to　bits　forty　years　back；　set　it　afire；　and　killed　a　score　of　my　best　men！　Those　men　died　bad…crushed　by　metal；　burned　to　crisps；　torn　apart…and　me　standin'　there　in　the　middle　of　it；　watchin'　the　hell　e　down　on　us！　No；　mon；　I　can't　forget　that！　AND　NOW　THE　GODDAMN　THING　BACK　AGAIN！　I　don't　know　where　from；　or　how；　but　by　God　I　want　it　out　of　my　yard！〃　He　turned　again　toward　the　doorway　and　began　to　pull　at　the　timbers。　There　was　a　crack　as　one　of　the　nails　came　loose。
　　Kip　grasped　Langstree's　shoulder；　he　said　in　a　grim；　forceful　voice；　〃I　told　you　not　to　do　that。〃
　　There　was　heat　burning　behind　Kip's　eyes。　The　boatyard　owner　started　to　tell　Kip　to　get　away　from　him；　but　he　thought　better　of　it　and　took　his　hands　from　the　timbers。　〃This　is　still　my　yard；　by　God。。。〃　he　began。
　　〃Your　yard；　yes；〃　Kip　said。　〃My　island。〃
　　〃I　won't　have　you　tellin'　me　what　I　can　and　can't　do；　mon；　no　matter　if　you　the　law　here　or　not！　I'm　away　a　week　and　the　whole　place　gone　to　hell。。。　this　goddamn　boat　in　here；　my　supply　shed　broke　open　and　God　knows　what　all　stolen；　everybody　scared　and　not　wantin'　to　even　e　to　their　doors。。。〃
　　〃What　was　stolen　from　your　supply　shed？〃　Kip　asked　him；　a　note　of　urgency　in　his　voice。
　　Langstree　paused；　searching　the　other　man's　eyes。　〃Take　a　walk　over　there　and　you　see；　by　God！　The　whole　thing　broke　into；　crates　of　oil；　rope；　timbers；　barrels　of　fuckin'　diesel　fuel　gone。　I　don't　know　what　else…marine　batteries；　heavy…duty　cable。。。〃
　　〃Maybe　it　was　requisitioned　while　you　were　gone？〃
　　〃Hell；　no！　Ain't　no　way　that　much　stuff　be　used　in　a　week's　time。　We　just　got　paintin'　and　patchin'　jobs　in　the　yard　now。。。　That's　heavy　stuff　been　stolen；　right　out　from　under　your　damn　eyes！〃
　　Kip　caught　the　man's　collar。　〃Now　you　listen　to　me；　Langstree；〃　he　said　very　quietly。　〃You　do　as　I　say　and　leave　the　shelter　alone。　We're　towing　the　U…boat　out　in　the　morning　and　sinking　it；　but　for　now　just　leave　it　alone！　DO　YOU　HEAR　WHAT　I'M　SAYING？〃
　　The　other　man　nodded；　frightened　by　Kip's　intensity。　He　pulled　free　of　the　constable's　grasp　and　stepped　back　a　few　paces。　〃You　crazy；　mon；　you　crazy　as　all　hell！〃
　　But　Kip　had　already　turned　away。　He　climbed　into　his　jeep　and　started　the　engine。　Leaving　Langstree　standing　there　alone；　he　wheeled　past　the　shelter　and　raced　back　for　the　village；　anxious　to　get　home　and　make　sure　his　wife　and　daughter　were　safe。　Kip　felt　infected　by　a　strange　madness；　a　fear　that　threatened　to　rise　up　and　crush　him。　He　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　truth　today；　and　he　realized　how　powerless　he　was　to　prevent　what　would　happen。　Oil；　Langstree　had　said。　Barrels　of　diesel　fuel；　ropes；　cable。　And　batteries。　God；　no