rm.thenightboat-第50部分

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　　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Kip　asked；　his　voice　tight。
　　Cheyne　looked　from　side　to　side；　searching　for　the　bommies。　There　was　nothing。　He　turned　to　port　a　few　degrees。　The　wind　filtering　through　the　ceiling　stank　of　rot；　of　something　decayed；　yet　refusing　to　die。
　　The　sea　stretched　out　before　them；　huge　and　empty；　a　universe　of　water。　No　Big　Danny　Cay；　no　landmark　bommies。　Cheyne　eased　back　on　both　throttles；　his　skin　beginning　to　crawl。　The　boat。。。　where　was　the　boat。。。？
　　〃I　haven't　lost　it！〃　he　said　through　clenched　teeth。　〃I　haven't　lost　it！　No！　It's　out　there。　And　it's　waiting　for　me。〃
　　〃Where　are　we？〃　Jana　asked；　looking　first　at　Moore　and　than　at　the　Carib。
　　A　wave　slammed　hard　into　the　hull；　rocking　the　Pride　to　both　sides。　The　wind　pulled　at　the　windshield　frame。
　　Then　there　was　an　abrupt；　deafening　silence。
　　Sea　crashed　across　the　bow；　Cheyne　drove　straight　through　the　rising　wave；　and　on　the　other　side　of　it　he　clenched　his　hand　tight　around　the　wheel　and　stared。
　　The　ocean　had　flattened　into　a　black；　limitless　plain。　No　wind；　no　slap　of　sea　across　the　trawler。　There　was　a　strange；　unnerving　stillness。
　　〃Where　are　you；　bastard？〃　Cheyne　whispered。　〃e　on；　let's　be　done　with　it！〃
　　Cheyne　cut　back　the　engines　until　the　Pride　was　almost　sitting　still。　Lightning　flashed　across　his　field　of　vision。　Moore；　standing　beside　him；　gripped　the　instrumentation　panel　for　support。
　　〃Listen。。。！〃　Kip　said。
　　The　wind。　Rising　in　the　distance。　Shrieking；　turning；　thrashing　against　itself　like　a　maddened　beast。
　　Veins　of　yellow　broke　open　in　the　sky；　cutting　the　sea　into　a　jigsaw　pattern　of　black　and　ocher。　Lightning　made　the　water　shimmer。　In　the　half…light　Moore　caught　his　breath；　he'd　seen　the　entire　horizon　roiling。　The　hurricane　was　advancing　rapidly；　a　storm　of　gargantuan　magnitude。
　　At　the　same　instant　the　entire　plain　of　the　ocean　seemed　to　rise　up；　throwing　the　Pride　forward　so　fast　Jana　and　Kip　were　slammed　against　the　bulkheads。　Cheyne　fought　with　all　his　strength　to　hold　the　rudder；　shouting　for　Moore　to　help。　The　wind　howled　the　length　of　the　boat；　and　as　the　next　roaring　water　flooded　across　the　Pride　there　was　a　snapping　noise…wood　giving　way。　One　of　the　masts　toppling。
　　Moore's　head　was　thrown　back；　his　teeth　almost　biting　through　his　tongue。　Cheyne　gasped；　pushing　against　the　vibrating　wheel；　fearful　that　the　rudder　would　break。　The　Pride　was　thrown　high；　almost　free　of　the　water；　in　the　next　moment　it　was　toppling　down　a　black　wall；　the　sea　smashing　against　them　so　hard　Moore　thought　the　windshield　would　shatter。　Something　hit　the　boat；　there　was　a　grinding　noise　beneath。　Cheyne　cursed；　fought　the　rudder。
　　The　sea　was　littered　with　broken　planks；　pieces　of　boats；　here　a　huge　tree　with　naked　branches…they　could　see　it　all　by　the　intermittent　lightning's　illumination。　The　battered　tin　roof　of　a　house　whirled　past　the　starboard　beam。　Floating　crates；　the　bow　of　a　skiff；　jagged　bits　of　a　storm…broken　wharf　swept　by　on　each　side　of　the　trawler。　Sheets　of　spray　drove　over　the　boat；　the　scream　of　the　wind　like　a　man's　outcry。　As　Moore　watched；　his　shoulder　pressing　against　the　wheel；　a　dark　object　hurtled　across　the　prow　directly　toward　the　wheelhouse：　the　trunk　of　a　tree；　trailing　clumps　of　seaweed。　It　struck　the　windshield；　glass　cracked；　stinging　Moore's　face。　Water　exploded　into　the　wheelhouse；　breaking　out　more　of　the　glass。　The　tree　trunk　twisted；　broke　off；　plunged　away　into　the　sea　again。　Cheyne　wrenched　at　the　wheel；　his　back　about　to　give　way；　the　sweat　of　pain　running　down　his　face。　The　rudder　wouldn't　respond！
　　And　then　suddenly；　from　the　darkness　straight　ahead；　as　if　borne　toward　them　by　the　hurricane；　came　the　looming；　monstrous　war　machine。
　　The　Night　Boat。
　　Cheyne　glared　at　the　iron　behemoth。　〃PUSH！〃　he　shouted；　his　voice　ragged。　Kip　moved　forward　to　help；　his　feet　slipping　in　water。
　　The　rudder　was　still　sluggish；　the　sea　had　it　locked　in　a　powerful　grip。　The　Pride　began　to　turn　broadside；　helpless　before　the　rush　of　the　oning　monster。　It　would　strike　them　on　the　port　side；　crushing　across　the　wheelhouse；　Moore　opened　his　mouth　but　could　not　manage　to　cry　out。
　　The　iron　prow　lifted　up；　up；　towering　over　them。　Foam　roared　beneath　it；　the　noise　of　certain　destruction。
　　But　then　something　else　rose　out　of　the　storm：　an　apparition；　flaming　green　and　ghostly；　a　vision　from　a　nightmare。
　　A　freighter。　It　appeared　to　be　aflame…its　length　twisted；　glowing　metal。　Burning　figures　on　the　decks。　A　hideous　noise　of　screaming　and　moaning　that　made　Moore　cry　out　and　clap　his　hands　to　his　ears。
　　The　freighter；　moving　with　incredible　speed；　roared　between　the　trawler　and　the　Night　Boat；　Moore　could　still　see　the　submarine　through　a　mist　of　fiery　timbers。　The　U…boat　veered　away；　water　thundering　against　its　superstructure；　it　swept　past　the　trawler；　and　the　grim　freighter　disappeared　within　the　folds　of　the　sea。
　　Cheyne　strained　at　the　wheel；　his　teeth　clenched。　There　was　a　loud　crack　that　both　Moore　and　Kip　first　mistook　for　breaking　wood。　Cheyne　cried　out　in　pain；　bone　protruded　from　his　left　elbow。　The　rudder　came　free；　the　wheel　spinning。　The　Carib　fell　to　his　knees。　〃TAKE　THE　WHEEL！〃　he　shouted。
　　And　Moore；　his　senses　reeling；　found　himself　reaching　for　it；　gripping　it；　his　wrists　almost　breaking。　He　let　the　wheel　play　out　and　then　fought　back；　feeling　the　ocean's　tremendous　strength　wrenching　at　the　rudder。
　　〃KEEP　YOUR　HANDS　ON　IT！〃　Cheyne　roared；　pulling　himself　up；　his　arm　dragging　uselessly。　〃DON'T　LET　IT　SLIP！〃
　　Moore　held　on；　his　arms　about　to　rip　from　their　sockets。　Spray　whipped　into　his　eyes　through　the　broken　glass。
　　〃HOLD　HER　STEADY！〃　the　Carib　shouted。
　　The　wheelhouse　door　was　suddenly　torn　from　its　hinges；　in　the　next　white…hot　sear　of　lightning　Jana　saw　the　huge　form　take　shape；　saw　it　hurtling　toward　the　Pride's　starboard；　saw　the　waves　churning　at　its　prow。　〃It's　ing　back！〃　she　cried　out；　holding　herself　in　the　doorway。　〃There！　It's　ing　back！〃
　　Kip　twisted　his　head　around；　struggling　toward　her。　He　saw　it　approaching；　could　imagine　the　things　aboard　grinning　as　they　sighted　their　easy　prey。
　　It　raced　onward；　parting　the　sea；　the　rumble　of　its　diesels　and　oil…stink　filling　the　wheelhouse。　Jana　saw　the　dripping　holes　of　the　torpedo　tubes　as　the　submarine　was　lifted　high；　in　that　instant　she　fought　for　her　sanity。
　　In　the　far　distance　came　a　sound　of　metal　against　metal；　a　clattering　racket　borne　in　by　the　wind；　swiftly　carried　away。　The　buoys　marking　Jacob's　Teeth！
　　When　the　submarine　was　almost　upon　them　Moore　felt　the　rudder　respond；　he　spun　the　wheel　to　port。　The　Night　Boat　roared　alongside；　only　feet　away。
　　Kip　and　Jana　were　shoved　aside　by　the　boat's　turning。　Cheyne；　his　broken　arm　hanging；　stood　between　them；　his　eyes　blazing。　Then　he　staggered　along　the　bucking　deck；　moving　for　the　bow。　He　stumbled；　fell；　regained　his　footing。　The　noise　of　the　buoys　was　more　strident　now；　closer。　The　Night　Boat　shuddered；　struck　the　Pride；　and　then　was　thrown　back　by　a　wave。　It　came　in　again；　iron　grinding　along　the　trawler's　hull。　Timbers　shattered。
　　And　finally　Cheyne　had　reached　the　bow；　he　grasped　a　thick　line　and　pulled　at　it。　There　was　a　crude　twin…grappled　anchor　attached　to　the　other　end　used　for　mooring　on　reefs。　The　thick；　coarse　line　was　coiled　on　the　deck　and　made　fast　to　a　winch。　He　heard　the　buoys　rattling　dead　ahead。　If　he　could　lift　the　anchor；　throw　it；　get　it　hooked　into　the　submarine's　deck　railing　there　was　a　chance　of　dragging　it　across　the　reefs　and　splitting　that　hull　open。　With　one　arm　he　hefted　the　anchor；　the　muscles　cramping；　he　couldn't　find　strength　enough　to　throw　it。　The　Night　Boat　again　crashed　against　the　starboard　gunwale。　There　was　no　time。　In　another　moment　it　would　be　veering　off　from　the　Teeth。
　　Cheyne　pulled　the　anchor　with　him　and　leaped　over　the　gunwale。
　　He　slammed　against　the　superstructure；　pain　taking　his　breath　away。　He　began　to　slide　down　the　iron；　his　feet　scrabbling　at　vents。　With　his　good　hand　he　sought　to　spike　the　anchor　in；　like　a　harpoon；　but　there　was　no　place　to　hook　it。　The　sea　pounded　him。　He　drove　out　with　the　anchor；　feeling　it　catch　into　something：　A　collapsed；　hanging　section　of　railing。
　　The　rope　snapped　tight　before　his　face　and　he　clung　to　it；　dragging　in　the　water。　Beside　him；　the　monster　vibrated。　Hold！　he　manded　the　bolts　around　the　winch　on　deck。　Hold！　〃I'VE　GOT　YOU！〃　he　shouted；　his　mouth　filling　with　water。
　　And　then　the　Night　Boat　swerved　toward　the　Pride。　Cheyne　was　caught　between；　but　still　he　held　the　anchor　firm　into　the　railing；　gasping　for　breath。
　　The　two　vessels　crashed　together；　the　entire　starboard　gunwale　split　open。　When　the　submarine　pulled　away；　tightening　the　rope　again；　Moore　looked　for　Cheyne　but　saw　he　was　gone。
　　The　rattling　of　the　warning　buoys　rang　through　the　wheelhouse　and　Moore　saw　one　of　the　red　cans　pass　to　port。　They　were　in　the　danger　zone。　He　threw　the　throttles　forward；　the　Pride's　diesels　screaming。　Ahead　were　the　twisted　outgrowths　of　coral；　he　turned　directly　for　them。　The　only　hope　was　the　trawler's　powerful　engines　against　the　submarine's　ancient　ones。　The　Pride；　shuddering　with　the　weight；　pulled　the　Night　Boat　onward。
　　There　was　a　splitting　noise；　a　snapping　of　coral；　Moore　heard　iron　being　scraped　and　gouged　as　the　Night　Boat　was　dragged　alongside。　Kip　saw　figures　on　the　conning　tower；　the　terrible　things　watching　with　greedy；　flaming　eyes。　A　flash　of　lightning　revealed　a　grim；　jawless　face。
　　Moore　continued　on　into　the　field　of　reefs；　feeling　the　Pride　being　bitten　and　knifed　by　the　coral。　Water　streamed　into　the　wheelhouse；　almost　pulling　him　away　from　the　wheel；　but　he　fought　it　off；　steering　straight　for　the　treacherous　growths。　Kip　and　Jana；　holding　on　at　the　doorway；　saw　the　submarine　slam　onto　a　sharp　coral　slab；　iron　shrieked；　began　to　fold　back。
　　And　then；　the　diesels　still　racketing；　the　Pride　was　held　firm　by　the　Teeth's　bite；　mere　feet　away　the　Night　Boat　came　to　a　stop；　its　guts　pierced　by　a　reef　spear；　oil　leaking　from　its　tank。　The　two　boats　hung　side　by　side；　each　doomed。　Waves　swirled　around　them；　seeking　to　break　them　free。
　　Moore