mreilly.icestation-第71部分

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　The　seal　took　Schofield　down。　Down　and　down；　on　the　end　of　its　nose。　Bubbles　shot　out　from　its　heaving　mouth　as　it　expelled　vast　quantities　of　air　in　its　exertion。　
　Schofield　had　to　do　something。　
　He　reached　into　his　pocket；　searched　for　whatever　lay　in　there。　
　He　pulled　out　a　British　nitrogen　charge；　looked　at　it　for　a　second。　
　Oh；　what　the　hell；　he　thought　
　Schofield　quickly　pulled　the　pin　on　the　nitrogen　charge　and　ammed　the　live　grenade　into　the　open　jaws　of　the　big　elephant　seal。　
　Then　he　pushed　himself　off　the　big　animal's　fangs　and　the　seal　shot　past　him　in　the　water。　It　quickly　realized　that　it　had　lost　Schofield；　and　when　it　did；　the　big　seal　began　to　turn　around。　
　It　was　then　that　the　nitrogen　charge　went　off。　
　
　The　bull　seal's　head　exploded。　Then　it　imploded。　And　then　most　shocking　thing　of　all　happened。　A　wave　of　ice　shot　out　from　the　dead　seal's　body。　At　first　Schofield　didn't　know　what　it　was；　and　then　suddenly　he　realized。　
　It　was　the　liquid　nitrogen　from　the　charge；　expanding　through　the　water；　freezing　the　water　as　it　went！　Shit。　He　hadn't　counted　on　that！　The　wall　of　ice　shot　through　the　water　toward　Schofield；　constantly　expanding；　like　a　living；　breathing　ice　formation　growing　through　the　water。　
　Schofield　watched　it　with　wide　eyes。　If　it　enveloped　him；　he　would　be　dead　in　an　instant。　
　Get　out　of　here！　
　And　then　suddenly　Schofield　felt　something　nudge　against　his　shoulder　and　he　turned。　
　It　was　Wendy！　
　Schofield　grabbed　her　harness　and　Wendy　took　off　immediately。　
　The　wall　of　ice　behind　them　gave　chase；　expanding　through　the　water　at　phenomenal　speed；　building　upon　itself　at　an　exponential　rate。　
　Wendy　swam　hard；　pulling　Schofield　with　her。　She　was　small；　but　she　hauled　Schofield　through　the　water　at　incredible　speed。　
　The　ice　wall　closed　in　on　them。　
　Another　elephant　seal　swung　in　behind　them；　spying　an　easy　meal；　but　the　ice　wall　caught　the　big　seal；　enveloped　it　within　its　expanding　mass；　and　swallowed　it　whole；　froze　it　within　its　icy　belly。　
　Wendy　swam；　toward　the　surface；　deftly　avoiding　any　elephant　seals　that　tried　to　cut　across　her　path。　
　She　saw　the　surface；　pulled　Schofield　toward　it。　
　Behind　them；　the　wall　of　ice　had　lost　its　momentum。　The　nitrogen　from　the　charge　had　ceased　expanding。　The　ice　wall　fell　away　behind　them。　
　With　Schofield　clutching　onto　her　harness；　Wendy　made　her　run　for　the　surface。　Elephant　seals　came　at　them　from　every　side。　It　was　like　a　roller…coaster　ride　as　Wendy　ducked　and　weaved　and　banked　and　turned　to　avoid　the　biting　teeth　of　the　elephant　seals　charging　at　her　and　Schofield　from　every　side。　
　And　then　suddenly　Wendy　spotted　a　gap　and　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　surface。　
　She　went　for　it。　
　Elephant　seals　lunged　and　snapped　at　them　from　every　side；　but　Wendy　was　too　quick。　She　hit　the　surface　at　full　speed　and　exploded　out　of　the　water。　
　Wendy　shot　out　from　the　water；　with　Schofield　holding　onto　her　harness。　They　both　hit　the　icy　floor　of　the　cavern　with　a　clumsy　thud；　and　Schofield　found　himself　lying　on　his　belly。　He　quickly　rolled　over　onto　his　back…　
　…only　to　see　an　elephant　seal　leap　high　out　of　the　water　behind　him　and　e　rushing　down　toward　him！　
　Schofield　rolled。　The　elephant　seal　slammed　down　onto　the　ground　right　next　to　him。　Schofield　leaped　to　his　feet；　spun　around；　looked　for　the　others。　
　〃Lieutenant！　Over　here！　Over　here！〃　Sarah　Hensleigh's　voice　yelled。　
　Schofield　snapped　around　and　saw　Hensleigh　waving　from　inside　a　small　horizontal　hole　in　the　wall　about　fifty　yards　away。　
　Renshaw；　Kirsty…and　Wendy；　too…were　already　moving　toward　the　horizontal　fissure。　Schofield　took　off　after　them。　As　he　ran　across　the　cavern；　he　saw　Kirsty　roll　in　through　the　horizontal　hole；　then　he　saw　Wendy　go　in　after　her；　then　Renshaw。　
　Suddenly　a　wash　of　static　cut　across　his　consciousness　and　a　voice　yelled　loudly　in　his　ear。　
　〃…you　out　there？　Scarecrow；　are　you　out　there？　Please　respond！〃　It　was　Romeo。　
　〃What　is　it；　Romeo？〃　
　〃Jesus！　Where　have　you　been？　I've　been　trying　to　get　you　for　the　last　ten　minutes。〃　
　〃I've　been　busy。　What　is　it？〃　
　〃Get　out　of　the　station。　Get　out　of　the　station　now。〃　
　〃I　can't　do　that　now；　Romeo；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　ran。　
　〃Scarecrow；　you　don't　understand。　Air　Force　just　called　us。　A　group　of　F…22s　just　shot　down　a　British　fighter　about　250　nautical　miles　out；　but　the　bogey　got　a　shot　off　before　it　was　hit。〃　Romeo　paused。　〃Scarecrow；　it's　heading　right　for　Wilkes　Ice　Station。　Satellite　scans　of　radiation　emissions　from　the　missile　indicate　that　it　is　nuclear。〃　
　Schofield　felt　a　chill　run　down　his　spine　as　he　ran。　He　came　to　the　fissure　in　the　wall　and　dropped　to　the　ground；　baseball…style；　and　slid　through　the　horizontal　fissure。　
　〃How　long？〃　he　asked　when　he　landed　inside　the　small　tunnel。　He　ignored　the　others　standing　around　him。　
　〃Two　hundred　and　forty…three　miles　at　400　miles　per　hour。　That　gives　you　thirty…seven　minutes　until　detonation。　But　that　was　nine　minutes　ago；　Scarecrow。　I've　been　trying　to　get　through　to　you；　but　you　haven't　been　responding。　You　have　twenty…eight　minutes　until　a　live　nuke　hits　that　ice　station。　Twenty…eight　minutes。〃　
　〃Swell；〃　Schofield　said；　looking　at　his　watch。　
　〃Scarecrow。　I'm　sorry；　but　I　can't　stay　here。　I've　got　to　get　my　men　to　a　safe　distance。　I'm　sorry；　but　you　're　on　your　own　now；　buddy。〃　
　
　
　
　Schofield　looked　at　his　watch。　
　It　was　10：32　p。m。　
　Twenty…eight　minutes。　The　nuclear　missile　would　hit　Wilkes　Ice　Station　at　11：00　P。M。　
　He　looked　up　at　the　group　around　him。　Sarah　Hensleigh；　Renshaw；　Kirsty；　and　Wendy。　And　Gant。　It　was　only　then　that　Schofield　realized　that　Gant　was　in　the　tunnel；　too；　sitting　down　on　the　icy　floor。　He　saw　the　ugly　red　stain　in　her　side　and　rushed　over　to　her。　
　〃Montana？〃　he　said。　
　She　nodded。　
　〃Where　is　he？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃He's　dead。　The　seals　got　him。　But　he　killed　Santa　Cruz　and　he　winged　me。〃　
　〃Are　you　OK？〃　
　〃No。〃　Gant　winced。　
　It　was　then　that　Schofield　saw　the　wound。　It　was　a　gut　shot；　to　the　side　of　Gant's　stomach。　The　bullet　must　have　sneaked　past　the　clasp　on　the　side　of　her　body　armor。　It　wasn't　a　nice　wound　to　have…a　gut　shot　was　a　slow　and　painful　way　to　die。　
　〃Hold　on；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　get　you　outta　here…〃　
　He　began　to　move　Gant；　but　as　he　did　so；　Gant　brushed　roughly　against　his　leg　and　dislodged　something　from　his　ankle　pocket。　
　It　was　a　silver　locket。　
　Sarah　Hensleigh's　silver　locket。　The　locket　that　she　had　given　to　Schofield　before　she　had　gone　down　to　the　cave。　
　The　locket　landed　face　down　on　the　icy　ground；　and　in　a　fleeting　instant；　Schofield　saw　the　writing　engraved　on　the　back　of　it：　
　
　To　Our　Daughter；　
　Sarah　Therese　Parkes　
　On　Your　Twenty…first　Birthday。　
　
　Schofield　froze　when　he　saw　the　engraving。　He　quickly　pulled　out　his　printed　copy　of　Andrew　Trent's　e…mail。　He　scanned　the　list　of　ICG　informers。　And　he　found　it。　
　PARKES。　SARAH　T。　USD　PLNTLGST　
　
　Schofield　snapped　up　to　look　at　Sarah　Hensleigh。　〃What's　your　maiden　name；　Sarah？〃　he　asked。　
　Snick…snick。　
　Schofield　heard　the　sound　of　the　gun　cocking　before　he　saw　it　emerge　from　behind　Sarah　Hensleigh's　back。　
　
　Sarah　Hensleigh　held　the　pistol　out　at　arm's　length；　pointed　it　at　Schofield's　head。　With　her　spare　hand；　she　pulled　Santa　Cruz's　helmet　headset　out　from　behind　her　and　adjusted　the　channel　dial　on　the　belt　clip。　She　spoke　into　the　headset。　
　〃SEAL　team；　this　is　Hensleigh。　e　in。〃　
　There　was　no　reply。　Hensleigh　frowned。　
　〃SEAL　team；　this　is　Hensleigh。　e　in。〃　
　〃There's　no　one　up　there；　Sarah；〃　Schofield　said；　cradling　Gant　in　his　arms。　〃They've　evacuated　the　station。　They're　gone。　There's　a　cruise　missile　on　its　way　here　right　now　and　it's　nuclear；　Sarah。　Those　SEALs　are　long　gone。　We　have　to　get　out　of　here；　too。〃　
　Suddenly　Schofield　heard　a　voice　e　over　Sarah's　headset。　〃Hensleigh；　this　is　SEAL　mander　Riggs。　Report。〃　
　Schofield　cringed；　looked　at　his　watch。　
　10：35　p。m。　Twenty…five　minutes　to　go。　
　He　wasn't　to　know　that　the　SEALs　up　in　the　station　had　switched　over　to　a　closed…circuit　channel　to　launch　their　attack　on　Wilkes。　He　wasn't　to　know　that　they　didn't　know　about　the　nuclear　missile　ing　toward　the　station。　
　Hensleigh　said；　〃SEAL　mander。　I　have　the　Marine　leader　down　here　with　me　in　the　cavern。　I　have　him　under　forced　arrest。〃　
　〃We'll　be　down　there　soon；　Hensleigh。　You　have　authority　to　kill　him　if　you　have　to。　SEAL　team　out。〃　
　〃Sarah；　what　are　you　doing？〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃Shut　up；〃　Hensleigh　said；　swinging　the　gun　round　so　that　its　cold　barrel　touched　Renshaw's　nose。　〃Get　over　there；〃　she　said；　waving　Renshaw　and　Kirsty　to　Schofield's　side　of　the　tunnel。　Schofield　noticed　that　Sarah　Hensleigh　held　the　gun　with　confidence　and　authority。　She　had　used　guns　before。　
　Schofield　said；　〃Where　are　you　from；　Sarah？　Army　or　Navy？〃　
　Sarah　looked　at　him　for　a　moment。　Then　she　said；　〃Army。〃　
　〃What　section？〃　
　〃I　was　at　the　CDC　in　Atlanta　for　a　while。　Then　I　did　some　work　for　the　Chem　Weapons　Division。　And　then；　wouldn't　you　know　it；　I　suddenly　felt　the　urge　to　teach。〃　
　〃Were　you　ICG　before　or　after　you　went　to　teach　at　the　university？〃　
　〃Before；〃　Hensleigh　said。　〃Long　before。　Hell；　Lieutenant；　the　ICG　sent　me　to　teach　at　USC。　They　asked　me　to　retire　from　the　Army；　gave　me　a　lifetime　pension；　and　sent　me　off　to　the　university。〃　
　〃Why？〃　
　〃They　wanted　to　know　what　was　going　on　there。　In　particular；　they　wanted　to　know　about　ice　core　research…they　wanted　to　know　about　the　chemical　gases　people　like　Brian　Hensleigh　were　finding　buried　in　the　ice。　Gases　from　highly　toxic　environments　that　disappeared　hundreds　of　millions　of　years　ago。　Carbon　monoxide　variants；　pure　chlorine　gas　molecules。　The　ICG　wanted　to　know　about　it…they　can　find　uses　for　that　sort　of　thing。　So　I　got　into　the　field；　and　I　got　to　know　Brian　Hensleigh。〃　
　Renshaw　said；　〃You　married　him　to　get　information　out　of　him？〃　
　Over　in　the　corner　of　the　tunnel；　Kirsty　watched　this　conversation　with　almost　stunned　interest。　
　〃I　got　what　I　wanted；〃　Sarah　Hensleigh　said。　〃So　did　Brian。〃　
　〃Did　you　kill　him？〃　Renshaw　asked。　〃The　car　accident？〃　
　〃No；〃　Hensleigh　said。　〃I　didn't。　ICG　wasn