cc.fireice-第5部分

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　〃Another　time；〃　Jenkins　said。　〃I'm　east　of　Rocky　Point。　Look；　Charlie；　we　don't　have　much　time。　There's　a　big　wave　heading　right　toward　town。〃
　
　He　heard　a　dry　chuckle　at　the　other　end。　〃Hell；　Roy；〃　the　chief　said；　〃town　like　ours　on　the　water　is　bound　to　get　lots　of　waves。〃
　〃Not　like　this　one。　You've　got　to　evacuate　the　people　from　near　the　harbor；　especially　the　new　motel。〃
　
　Jenkins　thought　the　phone　had　gone　dead。　Then　came　Charlie　Howes's　famous　guffaw。　〃I　didn't　know　today　was　April　Fool's。〃
　〃Charlie；　this　is　no　joke；〃　Jenkins　said　in　exasperation。　〃That　wave　is　going　to　slam　into　the　harbor。　I　don't　know　how　strong　it　will　be；　because　there　are　lots　of　unknowns；　but　that　motel　is　right　in　its　path。〃
　
　The　chief　laughed　again。　〃Hell；　some　people　would　be　real　happy　to　see　the　Harbor　View　washed　into　the　sea。〃
　
　The　two…story　edifice　that　extended　into　the　harbor　on　stilts　had　been　a　source　of　controversy　for　months。　It　had　gone　up　only　after　a　bitter　fight；　an　expensive　lawsuit　filed　by　the　developers　and　what　many　suspected　were　bribes　to　officials。
　
　〃They're　going　to　get　their　wish；　but　you've　got　to　get　the　guests　out　first。〃
　〃Hell；　Roy；　there　must　be　a　hundred　people　staying　there。　I　can't　roust　them　out　for　no　reason。　I'll　lose　my　job。　Even　worse；　I'll　be　a　laughingstock。〃
　
　Jenkins　checked　his　watch　and　cursed　under　his　breath。　He　hadn't　wanted　to　panic　the　chief；　but　he　had　reached　the　end　of　his　self…control。
　
　〃Goddarnnit；　you　old　fool！　How　will　you　feel　if　a　hundred　people　die　because　you're　afraid　of　being　laughed　at？〃
　〃You're　not　kidding；　are　you；　Roy？〃
　〃You　know　what　I　did　before　I　took　up　lobstering。〃
　〃Yeah；　you　were　a　professor　at　the　university　up　at　Orono。〃
　〃That's　right。　I　headed　up　the　Oceanography　Department。　We　studied　wave　action。　You've　heard　of　the　Perfect　Storm？　You've　got　the　perfect　tidal　wave　heading　your　way。　I　calculate　it　will　hit　in　twenty…five　minutes。　I　don't　care　what　you　tell　those　motel　people。　Tell　them　there's　a　gas　leak；　a　bomb　threat；　anything。　Just　get　them　out　and　to　higher　ground。　And　do　it　now。〃
　〃Okay；　Roy。　Okay。〃
　〃Is　there　anything　open　on　Main　Street？〃
　〃Coffee　shop。　Jacoby　kid　is　on　the　night　shift。　I'll　have　him　swing　by；　then　check　out　the　fish　pier。〃
　〃Make　sure　everybody　is　out　of　the　area　in　fifteen　minutes。　That　goes　for　you　and　Ed　Jacoby。〃
　〃Will　do。　Thanks；　Roy。　I　think。　'Bye。〃
　
　Jenkins　was　almost　dizzy　with　tension。　He　pictured　Rocky　Point　in　his　mind。　The　town　of　twelve　hundred　was　built　like　the　seats　in　an　amphitheater；　its　houses　clustered　on　the　side　of　a　small　hill　overlooking　the　roughly　circular　harbor。　The　harbor　was　relatively　sheltered；　but　the　town's　inhabitants　had　learned　after　a　couple　of　hurricane…driven　storm　surges　to　build　back　from　the　water。　The　old　brick　maritime　buildings　on　the　main　street　bordering　the　harbor　had　been　given　over　to　shops　and　restaurants　that　served　tourists。　The　fish　pier　and　the　motel　dominated　the　harbor。　Jenkins　cranked　up　the　throttle　and　prayed　that　his　warning　had　arrived　in　time。
　

　
　CHIEF　HOWES　IMMEDIATELY　regretted　agreeing　to　Roy's　urgent　pleas；　and　was　overe　by　a　numbing　sense　of　uncertainty。　Damned　if　he　did；　damned　if　he　didn't。　He'd　known　Jenkins　since　they　were　kids　and　Roy　was　the　smartest　one　in　class。　He　had　never　known　him　to　fail　as　a　friend。　Still。　Oh　hell；　he　was　near　retirement　anyhow。
　
　Howes　switched　on　his　flasher；　nailed　the　accelerator　and；　with　a　smoky　screech　of　tires；　roared　toward　the　waterfront。　While　he　drove　the　short　distance；　he　got　the　deputy　on　the　radio　and　told　him　to　clear　out　the　coffee　shop　then　to　go　along　Main　Street　with　his　PA　system　blasting；　warning　people　to　get　to　high　ground。　The　chief　knew　the　diurnal　rhythms　of　his　town：　who　would　be　up；　who　would　be　walking　a　dog。　Luckily；　most　businesses　didn't　open　before　ten。
　
　The　motel　was　another　story。　Howes　pulled　over　two　empty　buses　on　their　way　to　pick　up　schoolchildren　and　told　the　drivers　to　follow　him。　The　cruiser　squealed　to　a　stop　beneath　the　motel's　canopy；　and　the　chief　huffed　his　way　to　the　front　door。　Howes　had　been　on　the　fence　about　the　motel。　It　would　spoil　the　integrity　of　the　harbor；　but　it　might　bring　in　jobs　for　locals；　not　everyone　in　town　wanted　to　be　a　fisher…　man。　On　the　other　hand；　he　didn't　like　the　way　the　project　was　rammed　through　to　approval。　He　couldn't　prove　it；　but　he　was　sure　there　had　been　bribes　at　town　hall。
　
　The　developer　was　a　local　named　Jack　Shrager；　an　unprincipled　land　raper　who　was　building　condos　along　the　river　that　ran　off　the　harbor；　further　despoiling　the　town's　quiet　beauty。　Shrager　never　did　hire　locals；　preferring　foreigners　who　worked　long　and　cheap。
　
　The　desk　clerk；　a　young　Jamaican；　looked　up　with　a　startled　expression　on　his　thin；　dark　face　as　the　chief　burst　into　the　lobby　and　shouted：　〃Get　everyone　out　of　the　motel！　This　is　an　emergency！〃
　〃What's　the　problem；　mon？〃
　〃I've　been　told　there's　a　bomb　here。〃　The　desk　clerk　gulped。　Then　he　got　on　the　switchboard　and　began　to　call　rooms。
　
　〃You've　got　ten　minutes；〃　Howes　emphasized。　〃There　are　buses　waiting　in　front。　Get　everyone　out；　including　yourself。　Tell　anyone　who　refuses　that　the　police　will　arrest　them。〃
　
　The　chief　strode　down　the　nearest　hallway　and　pounded　on　doors。　〃Police！　You　must　evacuate　this　building　immediately。　You　have　ten　minutes；〃　he　yelled　at　the　sleepy　faces　that　peered　out。　〃There　has　been　a　bomb　threat。　Don't　stop　to　gather　your　belongings。〃
　
　He　repeated　the　message　until　he　was　hoarse。　The　hallways　filled　with　people　in　bathrobes　and　pajamas　or　with　blankets　wrapped　around　them。　A　swarthy　man　with　an　unpleasant　scowl　on　his　face　stepped　from　one　room。　〃What　the　hell　is　going　on？〃　Jack　Shrager　demanded。
　
　Howes　swallowed　hard。　〃There's　been　a　bomb　threat；　Jack。　You've　got　to　get　out。〃
　
　A　young　blond　woman　poked　her　head　out　of　the　room。　〃What's　wrong；　babe？〃
　〃There's　a　bomb　in　the　motel；〃　the　chief　said；　being　more　specific。
　
　The　woman's　face　went　pale　and　she　stepped　into　the　hallway。　She　was　still　in　her　silk　bathrobe。　Shrager　tried　to　hold　her；　but　she　pulled　away。
　
　〃I'm　not　staying　here；〃　she　said。
　
　〃And　I'm　not　moving；〃　Shrager　said。　He　slammed　the　door。
　
　Howes　shook　his　head　in　frustration；　then　guided　the　woman　by　the　arm；　joining　the　throng　heading　for　the　front　door。　He　saw　the　buses　were　almost　filled　and　yelled　at　the　drivers。
　
　〃Get　out　of　here　in　five　minutes。　Drive　to　the　highest　hill　in　town。〃
　
　He　slid　behind　the　wheel　of　his　cruiser　and　drove　to　the　fish　pier。　The　deputy　was　arguing　with　three　fishermen。　Howes　saw　what　was　happening　and　yelled　out　the　window；　〃Get　your　asses　into　those　trucks　and　go　to　the　top　of　Hill　Street　or　you'll　be　arrested。〃
　〃What　the　hell　is　going　on；　Charlie？〃　Howes　lowered　his　voice。　〃Look；　Buck；　you　know　me。　Just　do　as　I　say　and　I'll　explain　later。〃
　
　The　fisherman　nodded；　then　he　and　the　others　got　into　their　pickups。　Howes　told　his　deputy　to　follow　them　and　made　one　last　sweep　along　the　fish　pier；　where　he　picked　up　an　elderly　man　who　sorted　through　the　rubbish　bins　for　cans　and　bottles。　Then　he　scoured　Main　Street；　saw　that　it　was　quiet　and　headed　for　the　top　of　Hill　Street。
　
　Some　of　the　people　who　stood　shivering　in　the　cool　air　of　morning　shouted　at　him。　Howes　ignored　their　insults；　got　out　of　his　cruiser　and　walked　partway　down　the　steep　hill　that　led　toward　the　harbor。　Now　that　the　adrenaline　rush　was　over；　he　felt　weak…kneed。　Nothing。　He　checked　his　watch。　Five　minutes　came　and　went。　And　so　did　his　dreams　of　a　peaceful　retirement　on　a　police　pension。　I'm　dead；　he　thought；　sweating　despite　the　coolness。
　
　Then　he　saw　the　sea　rise　above　the　horizon　and　heard　what　sounded　like　distant　thunder。　The　townspeople　stopped　shouting。　A　darkness　loomed　out　near　the　channel　entrance　and　the　harbor　emptied　out　…　he　could　actually　see　bottom　…　but　the　phenomenon　lasted　only　a　few　seconds。　The　water　roared　back　in　with　a　noise　like　a　747　taking　off；　and　；the　sea　lifted　the　moored　fishing　boats　as　if　they　were　toys。　It　was　reinforced　by　two　more　waves；　seconds　apart；　each；　taller　than　the　one　before。　They　surged　over　the　shore。　When'　they　receded；　the　motel　and　the　fish　pier　had　vanished。　
　
　
　THE　ROCKY　POINT　that　Jenkins　returned　to　was　far　different　from　the　one　he　had　left　that　morning。　The　boats　moored　in　the　harbor　were　jumbled　together　along　the　shore　in　a　tangled　heap　of　wood　and　fiberglass。　Smaller　craft　had　been　thrown　up　onto　Main　Street。　Shop　windows　were　smashed　as　if　by　a　gang　of　vandals。　The　water　was　littered　with　debris　and　seaweed；　and　a　sulfuric　smell　of　sea　bottom　mixed　with　the　odor　of　dead　fish。　The　motel　had　vanished。　Only　pilings　remained　of　the　fish　pier；　although　the　sturdy　concrete　bulkhead　showed　no　sign　of　damage。　Jenkins　pointed　his　boat　toward　a　figure　waving　his　arms　on　the　bulkhead。　Chief　Howes　grabbed　the　mooring　lines　and　tied　them　off；　then　he　stepped　aboard。
　
　〃Anybody　hurt？〃　Jenkins　said；　his　eyes　sweeping　the　harbor　and　town。
　
　〃Jack　Shrager　was　killed。　He's　the　only　one　as　far　as　we　know。　We　got　everyone　else　out　of　the　motel。〃
　〃Thanks　for　believing　me。　Sorry　I　called　you　an　old　fool。〃
　
　The　chief　puffed　his　cheeks　out。　〃That's　what　I　would　have　been　if　I'd　sat　on　my　ass　and　done　nothing。〃
　〃Tell　me　what　you　saw；〃　Jenkins　said；　the　scientist　re…　asserting　itself　over　the　Samaritan。
　
　Howes　laid　out　the　details。　〃We　were　standing　at　the　top　of　Hill　Street。　Sounded　and　looked　like　a　thunderstorm；　then　the　harbor　emptied　out　like　a　kid　pulling　the　plug　in　a　bathtub。　I　could　actually　see　bottom。　That　only　lasted　a　few　seconds　before　the　water　roared　in　like　a　jet　plane。〃
　〃That's　an　apt　parison。　On　the　open　ocean；　a　tsunami　can　go　six　hundred　miles　an　hour。〃
　〃That's　fast！〃　the　chief　said。
　
　〃Luckily；　it　slows　down　as　it　approaches　land　and　hits　shallower　water。　But　the　wave　energy　doesn't　diminish　with　the　speed。〃
　〃It　wasn't　like　I　pictured。　You　know；　a　wall　of　water　fifty　feet　high。　This　was　more　like　a　wave　surge。　I　counted　three　of　them；　each　bigger　than　the　last。　Thirty　feet；　maybe。　They　whacked　the　motel　an