alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第19部分

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pporting　Zabrinski　and　too　sick　at　heart　even　to　speak　to　each　other；　when　Rawlings　called　out　something　unintelligible。　I　leaned　closer　to　him　and　pulled　back　my　parka　hood。
　 〃A　light！〃　he　shouted。　〃A　light。　Look；　Docacross　there！〃
　 And　a　light　there　was；　a　long；　narrow；　strangely　white　vertical　strip　of　light　from　the　hut　opposite　the　charred　wreck　by　which　we　stood。　Leaning　sideways　into　the　storm；　we　dragged　Zabrinski　across　'the　intervening　gap。　For　the　first　time　my　flashlight　showed　something　that　was　more　than　a　bare　framework　of　steel。　This　was　a　hut。　A　blackened；　scorched；　and　twisted　hut　with　a　roughly　nailed…on　sheet　of　plywood　where　its　solitary　window　had　been；　but　nevertheless　a　hut。　The　light　was　ing　from　a　door　standing　just　ajar　at　the　sheltered　end。　I　laid　my　hand　on　the　door；　the　one　unscorched　thing　I'd　seen　so　far　in　Drift　Station　Zebra。　The　hinges　creaked　like　a　rusty　gate　in　a　cemetery　at　midnight　and　the　door　gave　beneath　my　hand。　We　went　inside。　
　 Suspended　from　a　hook　in　the　center　of　the　ceiling；　a　hissing　Coleman　lamp　threw　its　garish　light；　amplified　by　the　glittering　aluminum　ceiling；　over　every　corner　and　detail　of　that　eighteen…by…ten　hut。　A　thick　but　transparent　layer　of　ice　sheathed　the　aluminum　roof　except　for　a　three…foot　circle　directly　above　the　lamp；　and　the　ice　spread　from　the　ceiling　down　the　plywood　walls　all　the　way　to　the　floor。　The　wooden　floor；　too；　was　covered　with　ice；　except　where　the　bodies　of　the　men　lay。　There　may　have　been　ice　under　them　as　well。　I　couldn't　tell。
　 My　first　thought；　conviction　rather；　and　one　that　struck　at　me　with　a　heart…sapping　sense　of　defeat；　with　a　chill　that　even　the　polar　storm　outside　had　been　unable　to　achieve；　was　that　we　had　arrived　too　late。　I　had　seen　many　dead　men　in　my　life；　I　knew　what　dead　men　looked　like；　and　now　I　was　looking　at　just　that　many　more。　Shapeless；　huddled；　lifeless　forms　lying　under　a　shapeless　mass　of　blankets；　mackinaws；　duffels　and　furs；　I　wouldn't　have　bet　a　cent　on　my　chances　of　finding　one　heartbeat　among　the　bunch。　Lying　packed　closely　together　in　a　rough　semicircle　at　the　end　of　the　room；　far　from　the　door；　they　were　utterly　still；　as　unmoving　as　men　would　be　if　they　had　been　lying　that　way　for　a　frozen　eternity。　Apart　from　the　hissing　of　the　pressure　lamp；　there　was　no　sound　inside　the　hut　other　than　the　metallic　drumfire　of　the　ice　spicules　against　the　icesheathed　eastern　wall　of　the　hut。
　 Zabrinski　was　eased　down　into　a　sitting　position　against　a　wall。　Rawlings　unslung　the　heavy　load　he　was　carrying　on　his　back；　unwrapped　the　stove；　pulled　off　his　mittens；　and　started　fumbling　around　for　the　fuel　tablets。　Hansen　pulled　the　door　to　behind　him；　slipped　the　buckles　of　his　rucksack；　and　wearily　let　his　load　of　tinned　food　drop　to　the　floor　of　the　shack。
　 For　some　reason；　the　voice　of　the　storm　outside　and　the　hissing　of　the　Coleman　inside　served　only　to　heighten　the　deathly　stillness　in　the　hut；　and　the　unexpected　metallic　clatter　of　the　falling　cans　made　me　jump。　It　made　one　of　the　dead　men　jump；　too。　The　man　nearest　me　by　the　left…hand　wall　suddenly　moved；　rolled　over　and　sat　up；　bloodshot　eyes　staring　out　unbelievingly　from　a　frost…bitten；　haggard　and　cruelly　burned　face；　the　burns　patchily　covered　by　a　long；　dark　stubble　of　beard。　For　long　seconds　he　looked　at　us　unblinkingly；　then；　some　obscure　feeling　of　pride　making　him　ignore　the　offer　of　my　outstretched　arm；　he　pushed　himself　shakily　and　with　obvious　pain　to　his　feet。　Then　the　cracked　and　peeling　lips　broke　into　a　grin。
　 〃You've　been　a　bleedin'　long　time　getting　here。〃　The　voice　was　hoarse　and　weak　and　as　cockney　as　the　Bow　Bells　themselves。　〃My　name's　Kinnaird。　Radio　operator。〃
　 〃Whisky？〃　I　asked。
　 He　grinned　again；　tried　to　lick　his　cracked　lips；　and　nodded。　The　stiff　shot　of　whisky　went　down　his　throat　like　a　man　in　a　barrel　going　over　Niagara　Falls：　one　moment　there；　the　next　gone　forever。　He　bent　over；　coughing　harshly　until　the　tears　came　to　his　eyes；　but　when　he　straightened；　life　was　ing　back　into　those　same　lackluster　eyes　and　color　touching　the　pale；　emaciated　cheeks。
　 〃If　you　go　through　life　saying　'Hallo'　in　this　fashion；　mate；〃　he　observed；　〃then　you'll　never　lack　for　friends。〃　He　bent　and　shook　the　shoulder　of　the　man　beside　whom　he　had　been　lying。　〃C'mon；　Jolly；　old　boy；　where's　your　bleedin'　manners。　We　got　pany。〃
　 It　took　quite　a　few　shakes　to　get　Jolly　old　boy　awake；　but　when　he　did　e　to　he　was　pletely　conscious　and　on　his　feet　with　remarkable　speed　and　nimbleness。　He　was　a　short；　chubby　character　with　china…blue　eyes；　and　although　he　was　in　as　much　need　of　a　shave　as　Kinnaird；　there　was　still　color　in　his　face；　and　the　round；　good…humored　face　was　far　from　emaciated；　but　frostbite　had　made　a　bad　mess　of　both　mouth　and　nose。　The　china…blue　eyes；　flecked　with　red　and　momentarily　wide　in　surprise；　crinkled　into　a　grin　of　wele。　Jolly　old　boy；　I　guessed；　would　always　adjust　fast　to　circumstances。
　 〃Visitors；　eh？〃　His　deep　voice　held　a　rich　Irish　brogue。　〃And　damned　glad　we　are　to　see　you；　too。　Do　the　honors；　Jeff。〃
　 〃We　haven't　introduced　ourselves；〃　I　said。　〃I'm　Dr。　Carpenter　and　this〃
　 〃Regular　meeting　of　the　B。M。A。；　old　boy；〃　Jolly　said。　I　was　to　find　out　later　that　he　used　the　phrase　〃old　boy〃　in　every　second　or　third　sentence；　a　mannerism　that　went　strangely　with　his　Irish　accent。
　 〃Dr。　Jolly？〃
　 〃The　same。　Resident　medical　officer；　old　boy。〃
　 〃I　see。　This　is　Lieutenant　Hansen；　of　the　U。　S。　Navy　submarine　〃Dolphin〃〃
　 〃Submarine？〃　Jolly　and　Kinnaird　stared　at　each　other；　then　at　us。　〃You　said　'submarine；'　old　top？〃
　 〃Explanations　can　wait。　Torpedoman　Rawlings。　Radioman　Zabrinski。〃　I　glanced　down　at　the　huddled　men　on　the　floor；　some　of　them　already　stirring　at　the　sound　of　voices；　one　or　two　propping　themselves　up　on　their　elbows。　〃How　are　they？〃
　 〃Two　or　three　pretty　bad　burn　cases；〃　Jolly　said。　〃Two　or　three　pretty　far　gone　with　cold　and　exhaustion；　but　not　so　far　gone　that　food　and　warmth　wouldn't　have　them　right　as　rain　in　a　few　days。　I　made　them　all　huddle　together　like　this　for　mutual　warmth。〃
　 I　counted　them。　Including　Jolly　and　Kinnaird；　there　were　twelve　all　told。　I　said：　〃Where　are　the　others？〃
　 〃The　others？〃　Kinnaird　looked　at　me　in　momentary　surprise；　then　his　face　went　bleak　and　cold。　He　pointed　a　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　〃In　the　next　hut；　mate。〃
　 〃Why？〃
　 〃Why？〃　He　rubbed　a　weary　forearm　across　bloodshot　eyes。　〃Because　we　don't　fancy　sleeping　with　a　roomful　of　corpses；　that's　why。〃
　 〃Because　you　don't〃　I　broke　off　and　stared　down　at　the　men　at　my　feet。　Seven　of　them　were　awake　now；　three　of　them　propped　on　elbows；　four　still　lying　down；　all　seven　registering　various　degrees　of　dazed　bewilderment。　The　three　who　were　still　asleepor　unconscioushad　their　faces　covered　by　blankets。　I　said　slowly；　〃There　were　nineteen　of　you。〃
　 〃Nineteen　of　us；〃　Kinnaird　echoed　emptily。　〃The　others　well；　they　never　had　a　chance。〃
　 I　said　nothing。　I　looked　carefully　at　the　faces　of　the　conscious　men；　hoping　to　find　among　them　the　one　face　I　wanted　to　see；　hoping　that　perhaps　I　had　not　immediately　recognized　it　because　frostbite　or　hunger　or　burns　had　made　it　temporarily　unrecognizable。　I　looked　very　carefully　indeed；　and　I　knew　that　I　had　never　seen　any　of　those　faces　before。
　 I　moved　over　to　the　first　of　the　three　still　sleeping　figures　and　lifted　the　blanket　covering　the　face。　The　face　of　a　stranger。　I　let　the　blanket　drop。　Jolly　said　in　puzzlement：　〃What's　wrong？　What　do　you　want？〃
　 I　didn't　answer　him。　I　picked　my　way　around　recumbent　men；　all　staring　unprehendingly　at　me；　and　lifted　the　blanket　from　the　face　of　the　second　sleeping　man。　Again　I　let　the　blanket　drop　and　I　could　feel　my　mouth　go　dry；　the　slow；　heavy　pounding　of　my　heart。　I　crossed　to　the　third　man；　then　stood　there　hesitating；　knowing　I　must　find　out；　dreading　what　I　must　find。　Then　I　stooped　quickly　and　lifted　the　blanket。　A　man　with　a　heavily　bandaged　face。　A　man　with　a　broken　nose　and　a　thick　blond　beard。　A　man　I　had　never　seen　in　my　life　before。　Gently　I　spread　the　blanket　back　over　his　face　and　straightened　up。　Rawlings；　I　saw；　already　had　the　solid…fuel　stove　going。
　 〃That　should　bring　the　temperature　up　to　close　to　freezing；〃　I　said　to　Dr。　Jolly。　〃We've　plenty　of　fuel。　We've　also　brought　food；　alcohol；　a　plete　medical　kit。　If　you　and　Kinnaird　want　to　start　in　on　those　things　now；　I'll　give　you　a　hand　in　a　minute。　Lieutenant；　that　was　a　polynya；　that　smooth　stretch　we　crossed　just　before　we　got　here？　A　frozen　lead？〃
　 〃Couldn't　be　anything　else。〃　Hansen　was　looking　at　me　peculiarly；　a　wondering　expression　on　his　face。　〃These　people　are　obviously　in　no　fit　state　to　travel　a　couple　of　hundred　yards；　much　less　four　or　five　miles。　Besides；　the　skipper　said　be　was　going　to　be　squeezed　down　pretty　soon。　So　we　call　the　〃Dolphin〃　and　have　them　surface　at　the　back　door？〃
　 〃Can　he　find　that　polynyawithout　the　ice　machine；　I　mean？〃
　 〃Nothing　simpler。　I'll　take　Zabrinski's　radio；　move　a　measured　two　hundred　yards　to　the　north；　send　a　bearing　signal；　move　two　hundreds　to　the　south；　and　do　the　same。　They'll　have　our　range　to　a　yard。　Take　a　couple　of　hundred　yards　off　that　and　the　〃Dolphin〃　will　find　itself　smack　in　the　middle　of　the　polynya。〃
　 〃But　still　under　it。　I　wonder　how　thick　that　ice　is。　You　had　an　open　lead　to　the　west　of　the　camp　some　time　ago；　Dr。　Jolly。　How　long　ago？〃
　 〃A　month。　Maybe　five　weeks。　I　can't　be　sure。〃
　 〃How　thick？〃　I　asked　Hansen。
　 〃Five　feet；　maybe　six。　Couldn't　possibly　break　through　it。　But　the　captain's　always　had　a　hankering　to　try　out　his　torpedoes。〃　He　turned　to　Zabrinski。　〃Still　able　to　operate　that　radio　of　yours？〃
　 I　left　them　to　it。　I'd　hardly　been　aware　of　what　I'd　been　saying；　anyway。　I　felt　sick　and　old　and　empty　and　sad　and　deathly　tired。　I　had　my　answer　now。　I'd　e　12；000　miles　to　find　it；　I'd　have　gone　a　million　to　avoid　it。　But　the　inescapable　fact　was　there　and　now　nothing　could　ever　change　it。　Mary；　my　sister…in…law；　and　her　three　wonderful　childrenshe　would　never　see　her　husband　again；　they　would　never　see　their　father　again。　My　brother　was　dead；　and　no　one　was　ever　going　to　see　him　again。　Except　me。　I　was　going　to　see　him　now。
　 I　went　out；　closing　th