mreilly.icestation-第63部分

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　Schofield　did　another　sit…up　in　the　water。　Only　this　time；　when　he　broke　the　surface；　he　had　Petard's　crossbow　gripped　in　his　hands；　reloaded　and　ready　to　go。　
　He　took　his　aim　quickly　and　fired。　
　The　crossbow's　arrow　shot　across　the　expanse　of　E…deck　and　found　its　target。　It　slammed　into　the　Maghook's　launcher；　wedged　as　it　was　between　the　rungs　of　the　rung…ladder。　
　The　launcher　jolted　out　of　its　position　and　swung　free　from　the　rung…ladder；　swung　toward　the　pool。　When　it　had　been　wedged　in　between　the　rungs　of　the　rung…ladder；　the　Maghook's　rope　had　been　stretched　up　toward　the　retractable　bridge　on　C…deck　at　a　forty…five…degree　angle。　Now　that　it　was　released　from　the　rung…ladder…and　since　Schofield　was　floating　in　the　water　and；　therefore；　not　putting　any　weight　on　it　at　the　other　end…the　launcher　swung　back　like　a　pendulum；　out　over　the　pool；　and　smacked　into　the　middle　of　Schofield's　waiting　hand。　
　All　right！　
　He　looked　up　at　the　bridge　on　C…deck。　The　Maghook's　rope　was　now　stretched　over　the　bridge　like　a　block　and　tackle…with　the　length　of　rope　going　up　parallel　to　the　length　of　rope　going　down。　
　Schofield　gripped　the　launcher　tightly　as　he　hit　the　black　button　on　the　grip　of　the　Maghook。　Instantly　he　felt　himself　fly　up　out　of　the　bloodstained　water　as　the　reeling　mechanism　of　the　Maghook　hoisted　him　up　toward　the　bridge　on　C…deck；　its　rope　speeding　over　the　bridge　itself；　using　it　as　a　block　and　tackle。　
　Schofield　came　to　the　bridge　and　hauled　himself　up　onto　it　just　as　the　first　SAS　men　down　on　E…deck　reached　for　their　machine　guns。　
　Schofield　didn't　even　look　at　them。　He　was　already　running　off　the　bridge　when　they　started　firing。　
　
　Schofield　climbed　the　rung…ladder　up　to　B…deck　two　rungs　at　a　time。　
　When　he　got　up　onto　what　was　left　of　the　B…deck　catwalk；　he　reloaded　his　crossbow。　Then　he　dashed　toward　the　east　tunnel　and　headed　for　the　living　quarters。　He　had　to　find　Kirsty；　and　then　somehow　he　had　to　figure　out　a　way　to　get　out　of　here。　
　Suddenly　an　SAS　mando　rounded　the　corner　in　front　of　him。　Schofield　whipped　his　crossbow　up　and　fired。　The　SAS　mando's　head　snapped　backward　as　the　arrow　lodged　in　his　forehead　and　his　feet　went　out　from　under　him。　
　Schofield　quickly　went　over　to　the　body；　crouched　down　over　it。　
　The　SAS　mando　had　an　MP…5；　a　Glock…7　pistol；　and　two　blue　grenades　that　Schofield　recognized　as　nitrogen　charges。　Schofield　took　them　all。　The　SAS　man　also　had　a　lightweight　radio　headset。　Schofield　took　that；　too；　wrapped　it　around　his　head；　and　ran　off　down　the　tunnel。　
　Kirsty。　Kirsty。　
　Where　were　they　keeping　her？　Schofield　didn't　know。　He　presumed　somewhere　on　B…deck；　but　only　because　that　was　where　the　living　quarters　were。　
　He　entered　the　circular　outer　tunnel　of　B…deck　just　in　time　to　see　two　SAS　mandos　racing　toward　him。　They　raised　their　machine　guns　just　as　Schofield　brought　both　of　his　guns　up　and　fired　them　simultaneously。　The　two　SAS　men　went　down　in　an　instant。　Schofield　didn't　miss　a　step　as　he　strode　over　their　bodies。　
　He　moved　swiftly　round　the　circular　corridor；　looking　left；　looking　right。　
　Suddenly　a　door　to　his　left　opened　and　another　SAS　mando　emerged；　gun　up。　He　managed　to　get　a　shot　off　before　Schofield's　guns　blasted　to　life　and　sent　the　mando　flying　back　into　the　room　from　whence　he　had　e。　
　Schofield　entered　the　room　after　him。　It　was　the　mon　room。　
　He　saw　Kirsty　instantly。　He　also　saw　two　more　SAS　mandos　who　were　in　the　process　of　shoving　the　little　girl　toward　the　door。　
　Schofield　entered　the　mon　room　warily；　with　both　of　his　guns　up。　
　
　When　Kirsty　saw　Schofield　step　inside　the　mon　room　with　his　two　guns　raised；　she　thought　she　had　seen　a　ghost。　
　He　looked　awful。　
　He　was　soaked　to　the　skin；　his　nose　was　broken；　his　face　was　bruised；　and　his　body　armor　was　battered　all　over。　
　One　of　the　SAS　soldiers　behind　Kirsty　stopped　dead　in　his　tracks　when　he　saw　Schofield　step　into　the　room。　He　held　Kirsty　out　in　front　of　him；　put　a　gun　to　her　head；　used　her　as　a　shield。　
　〃I'll　kill　her；　mate；〃　the　mando　said　calmly。　〃I　swear　to　fucking　Christ；　I'll　paint　the　walls　of　this　room　with　her　brains。〃　
　〃Kirsty；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　calmly　leveled　his　pistol　at　the　SAS　man's　forehead　while　at　the　same　time　aiming　his　MP…5　at　the　other　SAS　mando's　brain。　
　〃Yeah；〃　Kirsty　said　meekly。　
　Schofield　said　evenly；　〃Shut　your　eyes；　honey。〃　
　Kirsty　shut　her　eyes　and　the　world　went　black。　
　And　then　suddenly　she　heard　the　double　boom！　boom！　of　guns　being　fired　and　she　didn't　know　whose　guns　had　fired　and　then　she　was　falling　backward；　still　in　the　grip　of　the　SAS　man　who　had　grabbed　hold　of　her　to　use　as　a　shield。　They　hit　the　floor　hard　and　Kirsty　felt　the　SAS　mando's　grip　loosen。　
　She　opened　her　eyes。　
　The　two　British　soldiers　were　lying　on　the　floor　beside　her。　She　saw　their　feet；　their　waists；　their　chests…　
　〃Don't　look　at　them；　honey；〃　Schofield　said；　moving　to　her。　〃You　don't　want　to　see　that。〃　
　Kirsty　turned　around　and　looked　up　at　Schofield。　He　picked　her　up　and　held　her　in　his　arms。　Then　Kirsty　buried　her　head　in　his　shoulder　plate　and　cried。　
　
　
　
　〃e　on。　It's　time　to　get　out　of　here；〃　Schofleld　said　gently。　
　He　quickly　reloaded　his　weapons　and　grabbed　Kirsty's　hand；　and　the　two　of　them　left　the　mon　room。　
　They　raced　around　the　curved　outer　tunnel；　heading　for　the　east　passageway。　They　turned　the　corner。　
　And　suddenly　Schofield　stopped。　
　Mounted　on　the　wall　to　his　left　he　saw　a　large　rectangular　black　partment。　Written　across　it　were　the　words：　fuse　box。　
　The　fuse　box；　he　thought。　This　must　have　been　where　the　French　cut　the　lights　earlier。。。。　
　Schofield　got　an　idea。　
　He　spun　where　he　stood　and　saw　the　door　leading　to　the　Biotoxin　Lab　behind　him。　Next　to　it　he　saw　a　door　marked：　
　STORAGE　CLOSET。　
　Yes。　
　Schofield　wrenched　open　the　door　to　the　storage　closet。　Inside　it；　he　saw　mops　and　buckets　and　old　wooden　shelves　loaded　with　cleaning　agents。　He　quickly　reached　up　and　grabbed　a　plastic　bottle　of　ammonia　from　one　of　the　shelves。　
　Schofield　emerged　from　the　closet　and　hurried　over　to　the　fuse　box。　He　yanked　open　the　door　and　saw　a　series　of　wires；　wheels；　and　power　units　inside。　
　Kirsty　was　standing　farther　down　the　east　tunnel；　looking　out　into　the　central　shaft　of　the　station。　
　〃Hurry　up；〃　she　whispered。　〃They're　ing！〃　
　Schofield　heard　voices　over　his　newly　acquired　headset：　
　〃…Hopkins；　report…〃　
　〃…going　after　the　girl…〃　
　〃…perimeter　team；　return　to　the　station　at　once。　We　have　a　problem　here…〃　
　At　the　fuse　box；　Schofield　quickly　found　the　wire　he　was　looking　for。　He　pulled　back　the　sheath；　exposed　the　copper　wire。　Then　he　punched　a　hole　in　the　plastic　ammonia　bottle　with　the　butt　of　his　gun　and　positioned　it　above　the　exposed　strand　of　wire。　A　small　trickle　of　ammonia　fluid　began　to　drip　slowly　out　of　the　bottle；　down　onto　the　exposed　wire。　
　The　drops　of　ammonia　smacked　rhythmically　against　the　wire。　
　Smack…smack。　Smack…smack。　
　At　that　moment；　in　time　with　the　rhythm　of　the　ammonia　drops　hitting　the　exposed　wire；　every　light　in　the　tunnel…　indeed；　every　light　in　the　whole　station…began　to　flicker　on　and　off；　like　a　strobe。　On。　Off。　On。　Off。　
　In　the　flickering　light　of　the　tunnel；　Schofield　grabbed　Kir…sty's　hand　and　took　off　toward　the　central　shaft。　Once　they　got　to　the　catwalk；　they　hurried　up　the　nearest　rung…ladder　to　A…deck。　
　Schofield　strode　around　the　A…deck　catwalk；　heading　toward　the　main　entrance　to　the　station。　The　station　around　him　nickered　black　and　white。　Darkness；　light；　darkness；　light。　
　If　he　could　just　get　to　the　British　hovercrafts；　he　thought；　he　might　be　able　to　get　away　and　get　back　to　McMurdo。　
　There　was　movement　everywhere。　Shouts　echoed　through　the　station　as　the　shadows　of　SAS　mandos　raced　around　the　catwalks　in　the　flickering　light；　searching　for　Schofield。　
　Schofield　saw　that　some　of　the　British　mandos　had　tried　to　put　on　night…vision　goggles。　
　But　night　vision　would　be　useless　now。　With　the　station's　lights　flickering　on　and　off；　anyone　wearing　night…vision　goggles　would　be　blinded　every　time　the　lights　came　on…which　was　every　couple　of　seconds。　
　They　reached　the　main　entrance　passageway；　just　as　an　SAS　soldier　came　bursting　out　of　it　onto　the　catwalk。　The　SAS　man　collided　with　Schofield；　and　Schofield　was　almost　bowled　over　the　catwalk's　railing。　
　The　SAS　man　hit　the　deck；　rose　to　his　knees；　raised　his　gun　to　fire；　but　Schofield　let　fly　with　a　powerful　kick　that　connected　with　the　soldier's　jaw　and　sent　him　crashing　down　to　the　catwalk。　
　Schofield　was　about　to　step　over　the　downed　soldier's　body　when　suddenly　he　saw　a　large　black　satchel　stretched　over　the　man's　shoulder。　He　grabbed　it；　opened　it。　
　He　saw　two　silver　canisters　inside　the　satchel。　Two　silver　canisters　with　green　bands　painted　around　them。　
　Tritonal　80/20　charges。　
　Schofield　frowned。　
　He　had　wondered　earlier　why　the　British　would　bring　Tritonal　charges　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Tritonal　was　an　extremely　powerful　explosive；　usually　used　for　demolition　purposes。　Why　would　Barnaby　have　it　here？　
　Schofield　grabbed　the　satchel　off　the　unconscious　man's　shoulder。　
　As　he　did　so；　however；　he　heard　shouts　ing　from　inside　the　entrance　passageway。　Then　he　heard　footsteps；　and　the　click　of　safeties　being　removed　from　MP…5s。　
　The　SAS　mandos　outside；　the　perimeter　team。。。　
　They　were　ing　back　inside！　
　〃Kirsty！　Get　down！〃　he　yelled。　He　spun　quickly　and　brought　both　of　his　guns　up　just　as　the　first　SAS　mando　charged　in　through　the　main　entrance　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　
　The　first　man　went　down　in　a　hail　of　blood　and　bullets。　
　The　second　and　the　third　learned　from　his　error；　and　they　entered　the　station　firing。　
　〃Back　inside！〃　Schofield　yelled　to　Kirsty。　〃We　can't　go　this　way！〃　
　
　Schofield　slid　down　the　nearest　rung…ladder　with　Kirsty　on　his　back。　
　They　hit　B…deck。　A　bullet　pinged　off　the　steel　ladder　next　to　Schofield's　eyes。　
　Schofield　heard　more　voices　over　his　British　headset：　
　〃…the　fuck　did　he　go…〃　
　〃…took　the　girl！　Killed　Maurice；　Hoddle；　and　Hopkins…〃　
　〃…saw　him　on　A…deck…〃　
　And　then　Schofield　heard　Barnaby's　voice。　〃Nero！　The　lights！　Either　get　them　on　or　get