alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第40部分

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　〃Missed　what？〃　He　still　wasn't　sure　that　I　wasn't　hysterical。
　
　〃e　on　back　to　the　tractor　sled　and　see。　Smallwood　claims　he　thinks　of　everything；　but　he's　missed　out　at　last。　He's　made　his　first　big　mistake；　but　oh；　brother；　what　a　mistake！　And　the　weather's　just　perfect　for　it！〃　I　turned　on　my　heel　and　actually　ran　up　the　glacier　towards　the　sled。
　
　Many　items　were　carried　as　standard　equipment　in　ICY　parties；　both　in　the　field　and　at　base　camps；　and　none　more　standard　than　the　magnesium　flares　which　first　came　into　mon　use　in　the　Antarctic　over　a　quarter　of　a　century　ago…they　are　indispensable　as　location　beacons　in　the　long　polar　nights…and　radiosondes。　We　carried　more　radio…sondes　than　any　other　item　of　equipment；　for　our　primary　purpose　on　the　ice…cap…the　garnering　of　information　about　density；　pressure；　temperature；　humidity　and　wind　direction　of　the　upper　atmosphere…was　impossible　without　them。　These　sondes；　still　crated　with　the　tents；　ropes；　axes　and　shovels　which　we　had　found　no　occasion　to　use　on　this　trip；　were　radio…carrying　balloons　which　wirelessed　back　information　from　heights　of　between　100；000　and　150；000　feet。　We　also　carried　rockoons；　radio　rockets　fired　from　balloons　which　took　them　clear　of　the　denser　parts　of　the　atmosphere　before　releasing　them。　But　right　then　rockoons　were　useless　to　me。　So；　too；　were　balloons　at　their　normal　operating　height：　5000　feet　should　serve　our　purpose　admirably。
　
　The　dim　glow　from　the　torch　was　more　than　sufficient；　Jackstraw　and　I　had　worked　with　these　things　a　hundred　times。　To　couple　the　balloon　to　the　hydrogen　cylinder；　disconnect　the　radio　and　substitute　a　group　of　three　magnesium　flares　fused　with　RDX　took　only　minutes。　We　lit　the　fuse；　cut　the　holding　cord　and　had　a　second　balloon　coupled　on　to　the　cylinder　before　the　first　was　500　feet　up。　Then；　just　as　we　had　the　third　on　the　cylinder　and　were　disconnecting　its　radio；　the　first　flare；　now　at　about　a　height　of　4000　feet；　burst　into　scintillating　brilliant　life。
　
　It　was　all　I　could　have　wished　for；　indeed　it　was　more　than　I'd　ever　hoped　for；　and　Zagero's　heavy　thump　on　my　back　showed　how　joyfully　he　shared　my　feelings。
　
　〃Dr　Mason；〃　he　said　solemnly；　〃I　take　it　all　back；　all　I　ever　said　about　you。　This；　Dr　Mason；　is　genius。〃
　
　〃It's　not　bad；〃　I　admitted；　and　indeed　if　anyone；　in　those　perfect　conditions　of　visibility；　couldn't　see　the　coruscating　dazzlement　of　those　flares　at　any　distance　up　to　thirty　miles；　he　would　have　to　be　blind。　If　they　were　looking　in　the　right　direction；　that　was；　but　I　was　sure　that　with　Hillcrest　carrying　five　men　and　everybody　almost　certainly　on　the　lookout　for　us；　the　chances　of　missing　it　were　remote。
　
　The　second　flare；　considerably　higher；　burst　into　life　just　as　the　first　went　sputtering　into　extinction　and　the　further　thought　struck　me　that　if　there　were　any　ships　patrolling　out　in　the　sea　beyond；　it　would　give　them　a　bearing　the　significance　of　which　none　of　them　could　surely　overlook。　And　then　I　saw　Jackstraw　and　Zagero　looking　at　me　and　though　I　couldn't　read　their　expressions　in　the　darkness　I　knew　from　their　stillness　what　they　were　both　thinking　and　suddenly　I　didn't　feel　so　happy　any　more。　The　odds　were　high　that　Corazzini　and　Smallwood…they　could　be　no　more　than　a　few　miles　distant…had　seen　the　flares　also。　They　would　know　what　it　signified；　they　would　know　it　was　the　first　tug　on　the　drawstring　of　the　net　that　might　even　then　be　starting　to　close　round　them。　In　addition　to　being　dangerous；　ruthless　killers；　they　would　bee　frightened　killers；　and　they　had　Margaret　and　Johnny　Zagero's　father　with　them。　But　I　knew　I'd　had　no　option；　tried　to　thrust　all　thought　of　the　hostages　from　my　mind；　turned　to　look　at　the　third　balloon　that　we　had　just　released；　then　winced　and　closed　my　eyes　involuntarily　as　the　third　flare；　through　some　flaw　or　mis　judgment　in　the　length　of　the　fuse；　ignited　not　more　than　five　hundred　feet　above　us；　the　blue…white　intensity　mingling　almost　immediately　with　a　bright　orange　flame　as　the　balloon　also　caught　fire　and　both　started　drifting　slowly　earthwards。
　
　And　so　intently　was　I　watching　this　through　narrowed　eyes　that　I　all　but　missed　something　vastly　more　important；　but　Jackstraw　didn't。　He　never　missed　anything。　I　felt　his　hand　on　my　arm；　turned　to　see　the　strong　white　teeth　gleaming　in　the　widest　grin　I　had　seen　for　weeks；　then　half…turned　again　to　follow　the　direction　of　his　pointing　arm　just　in　time　to　see　low　on　the　horizon　in　the　south…east　and　not　more　than　five　miles　away　the　earthward　curving　red　and　white　flare　of　a　signal　rocket。
　
　Our　feelings　were　impossible　to　describe　…1　know；　at　least；　that　mine　were。　I　had　never　seen　anything　half　so　wonderful　in　all　my　life；　not　even　the　sight；　twenty　minutes　later；　of　the　powerful　wavering　headlight　beams　of　the　Sno…Cat　as　it　appeared　over　a　rise　in　the　plateau　and　headed　towards　the　spot…we　had　scrambled　up　from　the　glacier　to　the　flat　land　above…where　we　had　just　ignited　the　last　of　our　flares　and　were　waving　it　round　and　round　our　heads　on　the　end　of　a　long　metal　pole；　like　men　demented。　It　seemed　an　age；　although　I　don't　suppose　it　was　much　more　than　ten　minutes；　before　the　great　red　and　yellow　Sno…Cat　ground　to　a　halt　beside　us　and　willing　arms　reached　down　to　help　us　into　the　incredible　warmth　and　fort　of　that　superbly　equipped　and　insulated　cabin。
　
　Hillcrest　was　a　great　bull　of　a　man；　red…faced；　black…bearded；　jovial；　confident；　with　a　tremendous　zest　for　living；　a　deceptive　external　appearance　that　concealed　a　first…class　brain　and　a　petence　of　a　very　high　order　indeed。　It　did　me　good　just　to　sit　there；　glass　of　brandy　in　hand；　relaxed…if　only　for　a　moment…for　the　first　time　in　five　days　and　just　to　look　at　him。　I　could　tell　that　it　hadn't　done　him　the　same　good　to　look　at　us…in　the　bright　overhead　light　I　could　clearly　see　our　yellowed；　blistered；　emaciated　faces；　the　bleeding；　black…nailed；　suppurating　all　but　useless　hands；　and　I　was　shocked　myself…but　he　concealed　it　well；　and　busied　himself　with　handing　out　restoratives；　tucking　away　Mahler　and　Marie　LeGarde　in　two　deep；　heat…pad…filled　bunks；　and　supervising　the　efforts　of　the　cook　who　had　a　steaming　hot　meal　ready　prepared。　All　this　he　had　done　before　he　had　as　much　as　asked　us　a　question。
　
　〃Right；〃　he　said　briskly。　〃First　things　first。　Where's　the　Citroen？　I　presume　the　missile　mechanism　is　still　aboard　it。　Brother；　you　just　don't　begin　to　have　any　idea　how　many　heart　attacks　this　thing　is　causing。〃
　
　〃That's　not　the　first　thing；〃　I　said　quietly。　I　nodded　to　Theodore　Mahler；　whose　hoarse　gasping　breath　filled　the　room。　〃This　man　is　dying。〃
　
　〃All　under　control；〃　he　boomed。　He　jerked　a　thumb　at　Joss　who；　after　the　first　delighted　greeting；　had　returned　to　his　radio　set　in　the　corner。　〃The　boy　here　hasn't　left　his　set　for　over　twenty…four　hours…ever　since　we　got　your　'Mayday'　call。〃　He　looked　at　me　speculatively。　〃You　took　a　chance　there。　I　wonder　you　didn't　stop　a　bullet　for　your　pains。〃
　
　〃I　just　about　did。　。　。　。　We　were　talking　about　Mahler。〃
　
　〃Yes。　We've　been　in　constant　contact；　same　wave…length；　with　two　ships　hi　that　time…the　destroyer　Wykenham　and　the　carrier　Triton。　I　had　a　fair　idea　your　friends　must　be　heading　in　this　direction；　so　the　Wykenham　has　been　moving　up　overnight　and　is　lying　off　the　coast。　But　the　leads　and　patches　in　the　ice　aren't　big　enough　for　the　Triton　to　manoeuvre　to　fly　off　planes。　She's　about　eighty　miles　south；　in　clear　water。〃
　
　〃Eighty　miles！〃　I　didn't　bother　to　conceal　my　shock　and　my　disappointment；　I'd　begun　to　have　a　faint　irrational　hope　that　we　might　yet　save　the　dying　man。　〃Eighty　miles！〃
　
　〃I　have　news　for　you；　Doctor；〃　Hillcrest　announced　jovially。　〃We　have　moved　into　the　air　age。〃　He　turned　towards　Joss　and　raised　an　inquiring　eyebrow。
　
　〃A　Scimitar　jet　fighter　is　just　taking　off。〃　Joss　tried　to　speak　unemotionally；　but　failed。　〃It's　airborne…now。　Time…check　0933。　We're　to　fire　our　first　rocket　at　0946…thirteen　minutes　from　now。　Then　two　more　at　intervals　of　thirty　seconds。　At　0948　we're　to　set　off　a　slow…burning　magnesium　flare　where　we　want　the　stuff　dropped；　at　least　two　hundred　yards　from　the　tractor。〃　Joss　listened　for　another　few　moments　and　grinned。　〃He　says　we're　to　get　the　hell　out　of　it　after　we've　lit　the　flare　or　we're　liable　to　collect　a　headache　or　worse。〃
　
　I　didn't　know　what　to　say；　where　to　look；　moments　like　this　came　all　too　seldom。　Not　until　that　moment　did　I　realise　how　much　of　a　symbol　Theodore　Mahler　had　bee；　how　much　his　survival　had　meant　for　me。　Hillcrest　must　have　had　some　intuitive　understanding　of　how　I　felt；　for　he　spoke　at　once；　his　voice　normal；　matter　of　fact。
　
　〃Service；　old　boy。　Sorry　we　couldn't　have　laid　it　on　earlier；　but　the　Triton　refused　to　risk　an　expensive　plane　and　an　even　more　expensive　pilot　flying　low　over　virtually　uncharted　territory　unless　they　definitely　knew　that　Mahler　was　alive。〃
　
　〃They've　done　all　anyone　could　ask。〃　A　sudden　thought　struck　me。　〃These　planes　don't　usually　carry　ammunition　in　peace…time；　do　they？〃
　
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Hillcrest　said　grimly。　He　ladled　some　steaming　stew　on　to　our　plates。　〃Nobody's　playing　any　more。　There's　been　a　flight　of　Scimitars　standing　by　since　midnight；　and　every　cannon's　loaded。　。　。　。　Right；　Doctor。　Give　with　the　story。〃
　
　I　gave；　as　briefly　and　concisely　as　possible。　At　the　end；　he　clapped　his　hands　together。
　
　〃Maybe　five　miles　ahead；　eh？　Then　it's　tallyho　down　the　old　glacier　and　after　'em。〃　He　rubbed　his　hands　in　anticipation。　〃We're　three　times　as　fast　and　we've　three　times　as　many　rifles。　This　is　the　way　any　decent　IGY　expedition　should　be　run！〃
　
　I　smiled　faintly；　a　token　response　to　his　bubbling　enthusiasm。　I　never　felt　less　like　smiling：　now　that　the　worry　of　Mahler…and　in　that　warmth　and　with　hot　food；　almost　certainly　also　the　worry　of　Marie　LeGarde…was　off　my　hands；　my　anxiety　about　Margaret　had　returned　with　redoubled　force。
　
　〃We're　not　tallyho…ing…down　any　old　glacier；　Captain　Hillcrest。　Apart　from　the　fact　that　it's　a　rotten　surface；　which　would　bring　your　speed　down　to　about　the　same　as　the　Citroen's；　open　pursuit　is　a　pretty　sure　way　of　guaranteeing　that　Margaret　Ross　and　Mr　Levin　get　a　bullet　through　their　heads。　Incidentally；　Mr　Levin　is　the　father　of　Mr　Zagero。〃
　
　〃What？〃　Both　Hillcrest　and　Joss　had　spoken　at　the　same　time。
　
　〃Yes。　But　later。　Have　you　a　map　of　the　area？〃
　
　〃Sure。〃　Hillcrest　handed　it　over。　Like　most　Greenland　maps　it　showed　topographical　detail　for　no　more　than　the　first　twenty　miles　inland；　but　it　was　sufficient　for　my　purpose。　It　showed　the　twisting　Kangalak　glacier　debouching　into　the　Kangalak　Fjord；　the　wide　deep　bay　beyond　the　southern　headland　of　the　fjord；　the　northern　headland　continuing　in　a　wide　shallow　smooth　curve　for　many　miles　to　the　north。
　
　〃Where　did　you　say　the　destroyer　was？〃　I　asked。
　
　〃The　Wykenhaml　I'm　not　sure。〃
　
　〃Blocking　the　Kangalak　Fjord　here；　perhaps？〃　I　indicated　the　spot　on　the　map。
　
　〃No；　that　I'm　certain　of。〃　He　shook　his　head　regretfully。　〃Captain　said　the　pack…ice　was　too　heavy；　he　couldn't　risk　his　destroyer　in　any　of　the　leads　in　case　they　closed。〃　Hillcrest　snorted　in　disgust。　〃