alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第5部分

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ickly　inside。
　
　The　blast　of　hot　air　struck　me　in　the　face　like　an　almost　physical　biow。　I　gasped；　fought　off　a　passing　moment　of　weakness　when　my　legs　threatened　to　give　under　me；　then　recovered　sufficiently　to　bang　the　door　shut　behind　me。　With　the　motors　dead　and　the　arctic　chill　striking　through　the　thin　steel　of　the　fuselage　this　warmth；　no　matter　how　efficient　the　cabin　insulation；　wouldn't　last　long：　but　while　it　did；　it　might　be　the　saving　of　all　those　who　still　lived。　A　thought　struck　me　and；　ignoring　the　man　who　stood　swaying　before　me；　one　hand　clutching　a　seat　grip　for　support；　the　other　rubbing　at　a　blood…masked　forehead；　I　turned　to　Jackstraw。
　
　〃Carry　the　stewardess　in　here。　We'll　take　a　chance…and　it's　not　all　that　much　of　a　chance　either。　There's　a　damned　sight　more　hope　for　her　in　here　with　a（　broken　leg　than　out　there　with　only　a　bump　on　the　head。　Throw　her　blanket　over　the　wireless　operator　…but　whatever　you　do　don't　touch　him。〃
　
　Jackstraw　nodded　and　went　out；　closing　the　door　quickly　behind　him。　I　turned　to　the　man　who　still　stood　shakily　in　the　aisle；　still　dazedly　rubbing　his　hand；　a　big　brown　square　hand　matted　on　the　back　with　black　hair；　across　a　bleeding　forehead。　He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　stared　down　unprehendingly　at　the　blood　dripping　on　to　the　bright　red　tie　and　blue　shirt　that　contrasted　so　oddly　with　the　light　grey　gaberdine　suit。　He　closed　his　eyes　tightly；　then　shook　his　head　to　clear　it。
　
　〃Sorry　to　ask　the　inevitable　question。〃　The　voice　was　quiet；　deep；　well　under　control。　〃But…what　happened？〃
　
　〃You　crashed；〃　I　said　shortly。　〃What　do　you　remember？〃
　
　〃Nothing。　Well；　that　is；　just　a　bump；　then　a　loud　screeching　tearing　noise…〃
　
　〃Then　you　hit　the　door。〃　I　gestured　at　the　bloodstains　behind　me。　〃Sit　down　for　a　moment。　You'll　be　all　right。〃　I'd　lost　interest　in　him　and　was　staring　down　the　length　of　the　cabin。　I'd　expected　to　see　most　of　the　seats　wrenched　off　their　bases；　but　instead　they　were　all　there　exactly　as　they　should　have　been；　three　wide　to　the　left　of　me；　two　to　the　right；　the　seats　in　the　front　half　facing　aft；　those　to　the　rear　facing　forward。　More　than　that；　I　had　expected　to　see　people；　injured；　broken　and　moaning　people；　flung　all　over　the　seats　and　aisles：　but　the　big　passenger　partment　seemed　almost　empty；　and　there　wasn't　a　sound　to　be　heard。
　
　But　it　wasn't　empty；　not　quite。　Apart　from　the　man　by　my　side　there　were；　I　found；　nine　others　altogether。　Two　men　lay　in　the　front　part　of　the　aisle。　One；　a　big　broad…shouldered　man　with　curly　dark　hair；　was　propped　up　on　an　elbow；　staring　around　him　with　a　puzzled　frown　on　his　face；　near　him；　lying　on　his　side；　was　a　smaller；　much　older　man；　but　all　I　could　see　of　him　were　a　few　wisps　of　black　hair　plastered　across　a　bald　head；　a　Glenurquhart　plaid　jacket　that　seemed　a　couple　of　sizes　too　big　for　him　and　the　loudest　check　tie　it　had　ever　been　my　misfortune　to　see。　It　seemed　obvious　that　they　had　been　sitting　together　in　the　left…hand　seat　adjacent　to　them　and　had　been　flung　out　when　the　plane　crashed　into　the　ice…mound　and　slewed　violently　to　one　side。
　
　In　the　seat　beyond　that；　also　on　the　left；　a　man　sat　by　himself。　My　first　reaction　was　surprise　that　he；　too；　hadn't　been　hurled　into　the　aisle；　but　then　I　saw　that　he　was　awake　and　fully　conscious。　He　was　sitting　rigidly　in　his　seat；　pressed　in　hard　against　the　window；　legs　braced　on　the　floor；　holding　on　with　both　hands　to　the　table　fixed　to　the　seat　in　front：　tautened　tendons　ridged　the　backs　of　his　thin　white　hands；　and　his　knuckles　gleamed　in　the　torch…light。　I　lifted　the　beam　higher；　saw　that　he　was　wearing　a　close…fitting　clerical　collar。
　
　〃Relax；　Reverend；〃　I　said　soothingly。　〃Terra　firma　once　more；　and　this　is　as　far　as　you　are　going。〃　He　said　nothing；　just　stared　at　me　through　rimless　glasses；　so　I　left　him。　He　seemed　unhurt。
　
　Four　people　sat　in　the　right…hand　side　of　the　front　part　of　the　plane；　each　one　in　a　window　seat；　two　women；　two　men。　One　of　the　women　was　fairly　elderly；　but　so　heavily　made…up　and　with　her　hair　so　expensively　dyed　and　marcelled　that　I　couldn't　have　guessed　her　age　within　ten　years：　her　face；　somehow；　seemed　vaguely　familiar。　She　was　awake；　and　looking　slowly　about　her；　her　eyes　empty　of　understanding。　So；　too；　was　the　woman　in　the　next　seat；　an　even　more　expensive…looking　creature　with　a　mink　coat　flung　cape…wise　over　her　shoulders　to　show　a　simple　green　jersey　dress　that　I　suspected　cost　a　small　fortune：　she　was　about　twenty…five；　I　guessed；　and　with　her　blonde　hair；　grey　eyes　and　perfect　features　would　have　been　one　of　the　most　beautiful　women　I　had　ever　seen；　if　it　weren't　for　the　overfull　and　rather　sulky　mouth。　Maybe；　I　thought　uncharitably；　she　remembered　to　do　something　about　that　mouth　when　she　was　fully　awake。　But　right　then；　she　wasn't　fully　awake：　none　of　them　was；　they　all　behaved　as　if　they　were　being　dragged　up　from　the　depths　of　an　exhausting　sleep。
　
　Still　more　asleep　than　awake　were　the　other　two　men　in　the　front；　one　a　big；　burly；　high…coloured　man　of　about　fifty…five；　with　the　gleaming　thick　white　hair　and　moustache　of　the　caricature　of　a　Dixie　colonel：　the　other　was　a　thin　elderly　man；　his　face　heavily　lined；　unmistakably　Jewish。
　
　Not　bad　going　so　far；　I　thought　with　relief。　Eight　people；　and　only　one　cut　forehead　among　the　lot　of　them…the　perfect　argument；　if　ever　there　was　one；　for　having　all　seats　in　a　plane　face　towards　the　rear。　No　question　but　that　they　all　owed；　if　not　their　lives；　at　least　their　immunity　to　injury　to　the　fact　that　their　high…backed　seats　had　almost　pletely　cushioned　and　absorbed　the　shock　of　impact。
　
　The　two　passengers　in　the　rear　end　of　the　cabin　were　the　perfect　argument　for　not　having　the　seat　face　forward。　The　first　I　came　to…a　brown…haired　young　girl　of　about　eighteen　or　nineteen；　wearing　a　belted　raincoat…was　lying　on　the　floor　between　two　seats。　She　was　stirring；　and　as　I　put　my　hands　under　her　arms　to　help　her　up；　she　screamed　in　sudden　pain。　I　changed　my　grip　and　lifted　her　gently　on　to　the　seat。
　
　〃My　shoulder。〃　Her　voice　was　low　and　husky。　〃It　is　very　sore。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　surprised。〃　I'd　eased　back　the　blouse　at　the　neck　and　closed　it　again。　〃Your　clavicle…the　collar…bone…is　gone。　Just　sit　there　and　hold　your　left　arm　in　your　right　hand　。　。　。　yes；　so。　I'll　strap　you　up　later。　You　won't　feel　a　thing；　I　promise　you。〃
　
　She　smiled　at　me；　half…timidly；　half…gratefully；　and　said　nothing。　I　left　her；　went　to　the　very　rear　seat　in　the　plane；　stooped　to　examine　the　man　there　then　straightened　in　almost　the　same　instant：　the　weirdly　unnatural　angle　of　the　head　on　the　shoulders　made　any　examination　superfluous。
　
　I　turned　and　walked　forward；　everybody　was　awake　now；　sitting　upright　or　struggling　dazedly　to　their　feet；　their　half…formed　questions　as　dazed　as　the　expressions　on　their　faces。　I　ignored　them　for　a　moment；　looked　questioningly　at　Jackstraw　as　he　came　through　the　forward　door；　closely　followed　by　Joss。
　
　〃She　won't　e。〃　Jackstraw　jerked　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　〃She's　awake；　but　she　won't　leave　the　wireless　operator。〃
　
　〃She's　all　right？〃
　
　〃Her　back　hurts；　I　think。　She　wouldn't　say。〃
　
　I　made　no　answer　and　moved　across　to　the　main　door…the　one　we'd　failed　to　open　from　the　outside。　I　supposed　it　no　business　of　mine　if　the　stewardess　chose　to　devote　her　attention　to　a　member　of　the　crew　instead　of　to　the　passengers　who　were　her　charges。　But　it　was　damned　queer　all　the　same…almost　as　queer　as　the　fact　that　though　the　inevitability　of　the　crash　must　have　been　known　for　at　least　fifteen　minutes　before　the　actual　event；　not　one　of　the　ten　passengers　in　the　cabin　had　been　wearing　a　seat…belt…and　the　stewardess；　wireless　operator　and　the　crew　member　in　the　rest　room　appeared　to　have　been　caught　pletely　unprepared。
　
　The　circular　door　handle　refused　to　budge。　I　called　Jackstraw；　but　even　the　extra　weight　made　not　the　slightest　impression　on　it。　Obviously；　it　was　immovably　jammed…there　must　have　been　a　slight　telescoping　effect　along　the　entire　length　of　the　fuselage　as　the　plane　had　crashed　into　the　ice…mound。　If　the　door　I　had　noticed　behind　the　control　cabin　was　as　badly　warped　as　this　one　…and；　being　nearer　the　point　of　impact；　it　almost　inevitably　would　be…then　they'd　all　have　to　leave　via　the　windscreens　of　the　control　cabin。　I　thought　of　the　wireless　operator　with　his　dreadful　head　wound　and　wondered　bleakly　whether　even　trying　to　move　him　out　could　be　more　than　a　futile　gesture；　anyway。
　
　A　figure　barred　my　way　as　I　turned　from　the　door。　It　was　the　white…haired；　white…moustached　Dixie　colonel。　His　face　was　dark　red；　his　eyes　light　blue；　choleric　and　protuberant。　It　only　required　someone　to　get　this　man　good　and　mad　and　he　would　be　no　more　than　a　debit　entry　in　the　account　book　of　some　life　assurance　pany。　And　he　seemed　good　and　mad　now。
　
　〃What's　happened？　What　in　the　devil　is　all　this？〃　He　had　a　voice　like　a　Dixie　colonel　too；　the　Mason…Dixon　line　lay　far　to　the　north　of　wherever　he　had　been　born。　〃We've　landed。　Why？　What　are　we　doing　here？　What's　the　noise　outside？　And…　and　who　in　the　name　of　heaven　are　you？〃
　
　A　big　business　tycoon；　I　thought　wryly；　with　money　enough　and　power　enough　to　indulge　an　obviously　over…generous　capacity　for　righteous　indignation：　if　I　was　going　to　meet　any　trouble；　it　wasn't　hard　to　guess　the　direction　it　was　going　to　e　from。　But；　right　then；　there　was　some　excuse　for　his　attitude：　I　wondered　how　I　would　have　felt　if　I　had　gone　to　sleep　in　a　trans…Atlantic　airliner　and　woken　up　to　find　myself　landed　in　the　freezing　middle　of　nowhere　with　three　fur…clad　people；　plete　with　snow…goggles　and　snow…masks；　waddling　about　the　aisle　of　the　plane。
　
　〃You've　crash…landed；〃　I　said　briefly。　〃I　don't　know　why…how　the　hell　should　I？　The　noise　outside　is　an　ice…blizzard　rattling　against　the　fuselage。　As　for　us；　we　are　scientists　managing　an　International　Geophysical　Year　station　half　a　mile　from　here。　We　saw　and　heard　you　just　before　you　crashed。〃
　
　I　made　to　push　past　him；　but　he　barred　my　way。
　
　〃Just　a　minute；　if　you　don't　mind。〃　The　voice　was　more　authoritative　than　ever　and　there　was　a　surprising　amount　of　muscle　in　that　arm　across　my　chest。　〃I　think　we　have　a　right　to　know…〃
　
　〃Later。〃　I　knocked　his　arm　away　and　Jackstraw　pleted　the　job　by　pushing　him　down　into　his　seat。　〃Don't　make　a　damned　nuisance　of　yourself。　There's　a　critically　injured　man　who　has　to　have　attention；　and　at　once。　We'll　take　him　to　safety　and　then　e　back　for　you。　Keep　the　door　shut。〃　I　was　addressing　all　of　them　now；　but　the　white…haired　man's　wrathful　spluttering　attracted　my　attention　again。　〃And　if　you　don't　shut　up　and　co…operate；　you　can　stay　here。　If　it　weren't　for　us　you'd　be　dead；　stiff　as　a　board；　in　a　couple　of　hours。　Maybe　you　will　be　yet。〃
　
　I　moved　up　the　aisle；　followed　by　Jackstraw。　The　young　man　who　had　been　lying　on　the　floor　pulled　himself　on　to　a　seat；　and　he　grinned　at　me　as　I　passed。
　
　〃How　to　win　friends　and　influence　people。〃　He　had　a　slow　cultured　drawl。　〃I　fear　you　have　offended　our　worthy　friend。〃
　
　〃I　fear　I　have。〃　I　smiled；　passed　by；　then　turned。　These　wide　shoulders　and　large　capable　hands　could　be　more　than　useful