mreilly.icestation-第60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！


　Because　no　sooner　had　the　nitrogen　charge　gone　off　than　the　first　SAS　mando　was　charging　out　of　the　water　with　his　gun　pressed　to　his　shoulder　and　his　finger　jamming　down　on　the　trigger。　
　
　
　
　The　diving　bell　was　almost　at　the　surface　now。　It　continued　its　slow　rise　upward。　
　After　Schofield　had　seen　Barnaby　feed　Book　Riley　to　the　killer　whales；　his　anger　had　bee　intense。　He　wanted　to　kill　Barnaby。　He　wanted　to　rip　his　heart　out　and　serve　it　up　to　him　on　a…　
　Schofield　untied　the　length　of　cable　wrapped　around　his　waist　and　ripped　the　two　bulky　sixties　wet　suits　off　his　body。　Then　he　grabbed　his　MP…5　and　chambered　a　round。　If　he　didn't　kill　Barnaby；　then　he　was　damn　well　going　to　take　out　as　many　of　them　as　he　could。　
　As　he　readied　his　gun；　Schofield　saw　a　small　Samsonite　carry　case　on　one　of　the　shelves　of　the　diving　bell。　He　opened　it。　And　saw　a　row　of　blue　nitrogen　charges　sitting　in　a　cushioned　interior；　like　eggs　in　an　egg　box。　
　The　SAS　must　have　left　them　here　when　they　went　down　to　the　cave；　he　thought　as　he　grabbed　one　of　the　nitrogen　charges　and　put　it　in　his　pocket。　
　Schofield　looked　outside。　The　killer　whales；　it　seemed；　had　disappeared　for　the　moment。　For　a　brief　instant；　he　wondered　where　they　had　gone。　
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃You'll　see；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　stepped　around　the　circular　pool　at　the　base　of　the　diving　bell。　
　〃You're　going　out　there？〃　Renshaw　said　in　disbelief。　〃You're　leaving　me　here？〃　
　〃You'll　be　OK。〃　Schofield　tossed　Renshaw　his　Desert　Eagle　pistol。　〃If　they　e　for　you；　use　that。〃　
　Renshaw　caught　the　gun。　Schofield　didn't　even　notice。　He　just　turned　around　and；　without　even　a　second　glance　back　at　Renshaw；　stepped　off　the　metal　deck　of　the　diving　bell　and　dropped　into　the　water。　
　
　The　water　was　near　freezing；　but　Schofield　didn't　care。　
　He　kept　hold　of　the　diving　bell　and　climbed　up　one　of　its　exterior　pipes；　pulled　himself　up　onto　its　spherical　roof。　
　They　were　almost　up　at　the　station　now。　
　And　as　soon　as　they　got　there；　Schofield　thought；　as　soon　as　they　broke　the　surface；　he　was　going　to　let　rip　with　the　most　devastating　burst　of　gunfire　the　SAS　had　ever　seen…　aimed　first　and　foremost　at　Trevor　J。　Barnaby。　
　
　The　diving　bell　rose　through　the　water；　approaching　the　surface。　
　Any　second　now；　Schofield　thought　as　he　gripped　his　MP…5。　
　Any　second。。。　
　The　diving　bell　broke　the　surface　with　a　loud　splash。　
　And　there；　standing　on　top　of　it；　holding　onto　its　winch　cable；　dripping　with　water；　was　Lieutenant　Shane　Schofield；　with　his　MP…5　raised。　
　But　Schofield　didn't　fire。　
　He　blanched。　
　The　whole　of　E…deck　was　lined　with　at　least　twenty　SAS　troopers。　They　stood　in　a　ring　around　the　pool；　surrounding　the　diving　bell。　
　And　they　all　had　their　guns　trained　on　Shane　Schofield。　
　Barnaby　stepped　out　from　the　southern　tunnel；　smiling。　Schofield　turned　and　saw　him；　and　as　he　did　so；　he　cursed　himself；　cursed　his　anger；　cursed　his　impulsiveness；　for　he　knew　then　that　in　the　heat　of　the　moment；　in　the　pure　anger　that　he　had　felt　following　Book's　death；　he　had　just　made　the　biggest　mistake　of　his　life。　
　
　
　
　Schofield　tossed　his　MP…5　over　to　the　deck。　It　clattered　against　the　metal　decking。　The　SAS　mandos　caught　hold　of　the　diving　bell　with　a　long　hook　and　pulled　it　through　the　water　toward　the　deck。　
　Schofield's　mind　was　working　again；　and　with　crystal　clarity。　In　the　moment　that　he　had　broken　the　surface　and　seen　the　SAS　troops　with　their　guns　pointed　at　him；　his　senses　had　returned　with　all　their　force。　
　He　hoped　to　hell　that　Renshaw　was　keeping　himself　hidden　inside　the　diving　bell。　
　Schofield　jumped　down　off　the　diving　bell　and　landed　with　a　loud　clang　on　E…deck。　He　breathed　a　hidden　sigh　of　relief　when　the　SAS　mandos　released　the　diving　bell　and　let　it　float　back　out　into　the　center　of　the　pool。　They　hadn't　seen　Renshaw。　
　Then　two　big　SAS　men　grabbed　Schofield　roughly；　pinned　his　arms　behind　his　back；　and　slapped　a　pair　of　handcuffs　around　his　wrists。　Another　SAS　soldier　frisked　him　thoroughly　and　pulled　the　nitrogen　charge　out　of　his　pocket。　He　also　took　Schofield's　Maghook。　
　Trevor　Barnaby　came　over。　〃So；　Scarecrow。　At　last　we　meet。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　He　noticed　that　Barnaby　was　wearing　a　black　thermal　wet　suit。　
　He's　planning　on　sending　another　team　down　to　the　cave；　Schofield　thought；　with　himself　included。　
　〃You've　been　watching　us　from　the　diving　bell；　haven't　you；〃　Barnaby　said；　grinning。　〃But　so；　too；　have　we　been　watching　you。〃　Barnaby　smiled　as　he　indicated　a　small　gray　unit　mounted　on　the　edge　of　the　pool。　It　looked　like　a　camera　of　some　sort；　pointed　down　into　the　water。　
　〃One　never　leaves　any　flank　unguarded；〃　Barnaby　said。　〃You　of　all　people　should　know　that。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　Barnaby　began　to　pace。　〃You　know；　when　I　was　told　that　you　were　leading　the　American　protective　force　on　this　mission；　I'd　hoped　that　we　might　get　a　chance　to　meet。　But　then；　when　I　arrived；　you　flew　the　coop。〃　Barnaby　stopped　his　pacing。　〃And　then　I　heard　that　you　were　last　seen　flying　off　a　cliff　in　a　hovercraft　and　suddenly　I　was　sure　we　wouldn't　be　meeting。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　〃But　now；　well〃…Barnaby　shook　his　head…〃I'm　so　glad　I　was　wrong。　What　a　pleasure　it　is　to　see　you　again。　It's　really　quite　a　shame　that　we　have　to　meet　in　these　circumstances。〃　
　〃Why　is　that？〃　Schofield　said；　speaking　for　the　first　time。　
　〃Because　it　means　that　one　of　us　has　to　die。〃　
　〃My　sympathies　to　your　family；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Aha！〃　Barnaby　said。　〃Some　fight。　I　like　that。　That's　what　I　always　liked　about　you；　Scarecrow。　You've　got　fight　in　you。　You　may　not　be　the　greatest　strategic　mander　in　the　world；　but　you're　a　damned　determined　son　of　a　bitch。　If　you　don't　pick　up　something　right　away；　you　knuckle　down　and　learn　it。　And　if　you　find　yourself　on　the　back　foot；　you　never　give　up。　You　can't　buy　that　sort　of　courage　these　days。〃　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　〃Take　heart；　Scarecrow。　Truth　be　told；　you　never　could　have　won　this　crusade。　You　were　hobbled　from　the　start。　Your　own　men　weren't　even　loyal　to　you。〃　
　Barnaby　turned　to　look　at　Snake　Kaplan　on　the　far　side　of　the　pool。　Schofield　turned　to　look；　too。　
　〃You'd　like　to　kill　him；　wouldn't　you；〃　Barnaby　said；　staring　at　Snake。　
　Schofield　said　nothing。　
　Barnaby　turned；　his　eyes　narrowing。　〃You　would；　wouldn't　you？〃　
　Schofield　remained　silent。　
　Barnaby　seemed　to　think　about　something　for　a　moment。　When　he　turned　back　to　face　Schofield；　he　had　a　glint　in　his　eye。　
　〃You　know　what？〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　the　chance　to　do　exactly　that。　A　sporting　chance；　of　course；　but　a　chance　nonetheless。〃　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　
　〃Well；　since　I'm　going　to　kill　you　both　anyway；　I　figure　I　might　as　well　leave　it　up　to　the　two　of　you　to　decide　who　gets　fed　to　the　lions　and　who　dies　on　his　feet。〃　
　Schofield　frowned　for　a　second；　not　understanding；　and　then　he　looked　back　at　the　pool。　He　saw　the　high　black　dorsal　fin　of　one　of　the　killer　whales　cut　through　the　water　toward　him。　
　The　killers　were　back。　
　〃Unlock　him；〃　Barnaby　called　to　the　SAS　soldiers　guarding　Snake。　〃Gentlemen；　to　the　drilling　room。〃　
　
　With　his　hands　cuffed　firmly　behind　his　back；　Schofield　was　led　down　the　southern　tunnel　of　E…deck。　As　he　walked　past　the　storeroom；　he　stole　a　quick　glance　inside　it。　
　The　storeroom　was　empty。　
　Mother　was　gone。　
　But　Barnaby　hadn't　said　anything　about　Mother　before。。。。　
　They　hadn't　found　her。　
　The　SAS　men　marched　Schofield　down　the　long；　narrow　corridor　and　shoved　him　into　the　drilling　room。　Schofield　stumbled　inside　and　spun　around。　
　Snake　was　shoved　into　the　drilling　room　a　couple　of　seconds　later。　His　handcuffs　had　been　removed。　
　Schofield　looked　at　the　drilling　room　around　him。　In　the　center　of　the　room　stood　the　large　black　core…drilling　apparatus。　It　looked　like　a　miniature　oil　well；　with　a　long；　cylindrical　plunger　suspended　in　the　middle　of　a　black　skeletal　rig。　The　plunger；　Schofield　guessed；　was　the　part　of　the　machine　that　drilled　down　into　the　ice　and　obtained　the　ice　cores。　
　On　the　far　side　of　the　core…drilling　machine；　however；　Schofield　saw　something　else。　
　A　body。　
　Lying　on　the　floor。　
　It　was　the　crumpled；　blood…smeared　body　of　Jean　Petard；　untouched　since　Petard　had　been　shredded　by　the　hailstorm　of　shrapnel　from　his　own　Claymore　mines　several　hours　earli…　
　〃Gentlemen；〃　Barnaby　said　suddenly　from　the　doorway。　It　was　the　only　way　in　or　out　of　the　room。　〃You　are　about　to　fight　for　the　privilege　of　living。　I　will　return　in　five　minutes。　When　I　return；　I　expect　one　of　you　to　be　dead。　If；　after　that　time；　both　of　you　are　still　alive；　I　will　shoot　you　both　myself。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　one　of　you　is　dead；　the　winner　will　get　to　live　for　a　short　while　and　die　in　a　more　noble　fashion。　Any　questions？〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃What　about　these　cuffs？〃　His　hands　were　still　handcuffed　behind　his　back。　Snake's　were　free。　
　〃What　about　them？〃　Barnaby　said。　〃Any　more　questions？〃　
　There　were　none。　
　〃Then；　do　as　you　will；〃　Barnaby　said　before　he　left　the　room　and　closed　the　door　behind　him；　locking　it。　
　
　Schofield　immediately　turned　to　Snake。　〃All　right；　listen；　we　have　to　figure　out　a　way　to…〃　
　Snake　slammed　into　Schofield　hard。　
　Schofield　was　lifted　clean　off　the　floor　and　rammed　with　stunning　force　into　the　wall　behind　him。　He　doubled　over；　gasped　for　breath；　and　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　Snake's　open　palm　rushing　at　his　face。　He　ducked　quickly　and　Snake's　hand　hit　the　wall。　
　Schofield's　mind　went　into　overdrive。　Snake　had　just　e　at　him　with　a　standard　hand…to…hand　bat　move…an　open…palmed　punch　that　was　designed　to　send　the　other　guy's　nose　back　into　his　brain；　killing　him　with　one　hit。　
　Snake　was　out　to　kill　him。　
　In　five　minutes。　
　The　two　men　were　still　close；　so　Schofield　thrust　up　hard　with　his　knee　and　caught　Snake　in　the　groin。　Schofield　leaped　clear　of　the　wall。　Once　he　was　clear　of　Snake　and　the　wall；　he　jumped　up　quickly　and　brought　his　cuffed　hands　forward…　under　his　feet…so　that　they　were　now　in　front　of　his　body。　
　Snake　came　at　him　with　a　flurry　of　kicks　and　punches。　Schofield　parrie