cc.iceberg-第5节

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　〃Finding　the　right　berg　might　prove　difficult；　it's　already　been　four　days　since　the　Coast　Guard's　sighting。
　That　overgrown　ice　cube　could　have　drifted　halfway　to　the　Azores　by　now。〃
　
　Dr。　Hunnewell　has　charted　the　current　and　drift　rate　to　within　a　thirty…square…mile　area。　If　your　vision　is　good；　you　shouldn't　have　any　trouble　spotting　the　berg；　particularly　since　the　Coast　Guard　dropped　a　red　dye　marker　on　it。〃
　〃Spotting　it　is　one　thing；〃　Pitt　said　thoughtfully；　r；　〃landing　a　helicopter　on　it　is　another。　Wouldn't　it　be　more　convenient　and　less　dangerous　to　arrive　by…〃
　〃No！〃　Sandecker　interrupted。　〃No　ships。　If　that　thing　under　the　ice　is　as　important　as　I　think　it　is；　I　don't　want　anyone　except　you　and；Hunnewell　within　fifty　miles　of　it。〃
　〃This　may　e　as　a　surprise；　Admiral；　but　I've　never　set　a　copter　down　on　an　iceberg　before。〃
　〃It's　very　possible　no　one　else　has　either。　That's　why　I　requested　you　as　my　Special　Projects　Director。〃
　Sandecker　smiled　mischievously。　〃You　have　the　annoying　knack　of　successfully…shall　we　say…delivering　the　goods。〃
　〃This　time；〃　Pitt　asked　slyly；　〃do　I　have　the　opportunity　of　volunteering？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　have　it　any　other　way。〃
　Pitt　shrugged　helplessly。　〃I　don't　know　why　I　always　give　in　so　easily　to　you；　Admiral。　I'm　beginning　to　think　you　have　me　pegged　as　a　first…class　pigeon。〃
　A　broad　grin　rode　across　Sandecker's　face。　〃You　said　it；　not　me。〃
　
　The　latch　clicked　and　the　cabin　door　swung　open。
　
　Pitt　lazily　opened　one　eye　in　time　to　see　Dr。　Hunnewell　e　in。　The　overweight　doctor　did　a　tightrope　act　trying　to　maneuver　between　Pitts　cot　and　Dover's　clothes　locker　before　he　finally　reached　a　small　chair　by　a　writing　desk。　Audibly；　he　sighed　in　chorus　with　the　but　Dr。　Hunnewell'　chair's　creaking　protest　as　he　cased　his　bulk　past　the　seats。
　〃How　in　God's　name　does　a　titan　like　Dover　get　into　this　thing？〃　he　incredulously　asked　no　one　in　particular。
　〃You're　late；〃　Pitt　yawned。　〃I　expected　you　hours　ago。
　〃I　couldn't　go　sneaking　around　corners　or　slithering　through　ventilators　as　if　I　was　on　my　way　to　a　spy　convention。　I　had　to　wait　for　an　excuse　to　talk　to　you。〃
　〃Excuse？〃
　〃Yes。　mander　Koski's　pliments。　Dinner　is　served。〃
　〃Why　all　the　subterfuge？〃　Pitt　asked　with　a　cagey　grin。　〃We　have　nothing　to　hide。〃
　〃Nothing　to　hide！　Nothing　to　hide！　You　lie　there　like　an　innocent　virgin　waiting　for　her　first　munion　and　easy　say　we　have　nothing　to　hide？〃　Hunnewell　shook　his　head　hopelessly。　〃We'll　both　be　in　front　of　a　firing　squad　when　the　Coast　Guard　learns　we　flimflammed　them　out　of　the　use　of　one　of　their　new　cutters。〃
　〃Helicopters　have　a　nasty　habit；　they　won't　fly　with　air　in　their　fuel　tanks；〃　Pitt　said　sarcastically。　〃We　had　to　have　a　base　of　operations　and　a　place　to　refuel。
　〃The　Catawaba　was　the　only　ship　in　the　area　with　the　necessary　facilities。　Besides；　you　sent　that　phony　message　from　the　Coast　Guard　mandant…you're　on　the　hook　for　that　one。〃
　〃That　incredible　yarn　about　the　missing　Russian　trawler。　You　can't　deny　that's　yours　from　beginning　to　end。〃
　Pitt　placed　his　hands　behind　his　head　and　stared　at　the　ceiling。　〃I　rather　thought　everyone　enjoyed　it。〃
　〃I　have　to　hand　it　to　you。　That　was　the　slickest　con　job　it's　been　my　misfortune　ever　to　witness。〃
　〃I　know。　There　are　times　when　I　hate　myself。〃
　〃Have　you　considered　what　may　happen　when　mander　Koski　sees　through　our　devious　little　plan？〃　Pitt　stood　up　and　stretched。　〃We　simply　do　what　any　good　con　man　would　do。〃
　〃And　that　is？〃　Hunnewell　prompted　dubiously。
　Pitt　smiled。　〃We　siply　worry　about　it　when　the　time　es。〃
　
　Chapter　2
　
　Of　all　the　oceans；　only　the　Atlantic　is　totally　unpredictable。　The　Pacific；　the　Indian；　even　the　Arctic　each　have　their　personal　idiosyncrasies；　but　all　have　one　trait　in　mon：　they　seldom　fail　to　provide　a　hint　of　their　ing　moods。　Not　so　the　Atlantic；　especially　north　of　the　15th　parallel　of　latitude。　In　a　matter　of　a　few　hours　a　glassy　calm　sea　might　be　transformed　into　a　foamwhipped　cauldron　instigated　by　a　Force　12　hurricane；　or　there　are　times　when　the　Atlantic's　fickle　nature　works　in　reverse。　Heavy　winds；　heavy　seas　during　the　night　may　give　every　indication　of　an　impending　storm；　yet　when　the　dawn　es；　there　is　nothing　to　see　but　an　azure　n=or　beneath　an　empty　sky。　And　so　it　was　for　the　men　on　the　Catawaba　as　the　new　sun　found　them　cruising　fortably　over　a　peaceful　seascape。
　
　Pitt　woke　slowly；　his　eyes　ing　into　focus　on　the　rear　of　a　pair　of　extra…large　white　shorts；　amply　filled　by　Dover；　who　was　bending　over　a　small　basin　brushing　his　teeth。
　〃You've　never　looked　lovelier；〃　Pitt　said。
　Dover　turned　around；　the　toothbrush　poised　over　his　bottom　left　molars。　〃Huh？〃
　〃I　said；　good　morning！〃
　
　Dover　merely　nodded；　mumbled　something　incoherent　through　the　toothpaste；　and　turned　back　to　the　basin。
　
　Pitt　sat　up　and　listened。　The　hum　of　engines　was　still　there；　and　the　only　other　mechanical　sound　came　from　the　rush　of　warm　air　through　the　ventilator。　The　motion　of　the　ship　seemed　so　smooth；　it　was　almost　imperceptible。
　〃I　don't　wish　to　appear　a　rude　host；　Major；〃　Dover　said；　smiling；　〃but　I　suggest　you　blossom　from　that　sack。　We　should　be　within　range　of　your　search　area　in　another　hour　and　a　half。〃
　Pitt　threw　off　the　blankets　and　stood　up。　〃First　things　first。　How　is　your　establishment　classed　when　it　es　to　breakfast？〃
　〃A　two…star　Michelin　rating；〃　Dover　said　cheerfully。　〃I'll　even　treat。〃
　
　Pitt　had　a　fast　wash；　decided　against　a　shave；　and　quickly　slipped　into　his　flight　clothes。　He　followed　Dover　into　the　passageway；　wondering　how　a　man　as　large　as　the　lieutenant　could　wander　around　the　ship　without　running　his　head　into　low　bulkheads　at　least　ten　times　a　day。
　
　They　had　just　finished　a　breakfast　that　Pitt　figured　would　have　cost　at　least　five　dollars　in　any　of　the　better　hotels　when　a　seaman　came　up　and　said　that　mander　Koski　wanted　to　see　them　in　the　bridge　control　room。　Dover　followed　him；　with　Pitt　lagging　a　few　steps　behind　carrying　a　cup　of　coffee。　The　mander　and　Hunnewell　were　crouched　over　a　chart　table　as　they　entered　the　room。
　
　Koski　looked　up。　The　outthrust　jaw　no　longer　set　like　the　bow　of　an　icebreaker；　and　the　intense　blue　eyes　seemed　almost　tranquil。
　〃Good　morning；　Major。　Are　you　enjoying　your　stay？〃
　〃The　acmodations　are　a　bit　cramped；　but　the　food　is　superb。〃
　The　hard　but　genuine　smile　came　on。　〃What　do　you　think　of　our　little　electronic　wonderland？〃
　
　Pitt　made　a　three…hundred…and…sixty…degree　scan　of　the　control　room。　It　was　like　something　out　of　a　science　fiction　space　movie。　From　floor　to　ceiling　the　four　steel　bulkheads　stood　buried　behind　a　mechanical　avalanche　of　puters；　television　monitors；　and　instrumented　consoles。　Endless　rows　of　technically　labeled　switches　and　knobs　crisscrossed　the　equipment；　garnished　by　enough　colored　indicator　lights　to　fin　a　casino　marque　Las　Vegas。
　〃Very　impressive；〃　Pitt　said　casually；　sipping　his　coffee。　〃Air…search　radar　and　surface…search　radar　scanners。　the　latest　Loran…type　navigational　equipment　of　medium；　high　and　ultra…high　frequencies；　not　to　mention　puterized　navigational　plotting。〃　Pitt　spoke　with　the　nonchalant　air　of　a　public　relations　director　employed　by　the　boatyard　that　laid　the　Catawaba's　keel。
　〃The　Catawaba　es　equipped　from　the　factory　with　more　extensive　oceanographic；　munications；　navigational；　aerological　and　plotting　equipment　than　any　ship　its　size　in　the　world。　Basically；　mander；　your　vessel　is　designed　to　remain　in　midocean　under　any　atmospheric　conditions　as　a　weather　station；　to　conduct　search　and　rescue　operations；　and　to　assist　in　oceanographic　research　work。　I　might　add　that　she　is　manned　by　seventeen　officers　and　one　hundred　sixty　enlisted　men；　and　cost　between　twelve　and　thirteen　million　dollars　to　build　at　the　Northgate　Shipyards　in　Wilmington；　Delaware。〃
　
　Koski；　Dover　and　all　the　other　men　in　the　bridge　control　room；　with　the　exception　of　Hunnewell；　who　remained　intent　on　the　chart；　froze。　If　Pitt　had　been　the　first　Martian　to　visit　earth；　he　couldn't　have　possibly　been　the　object　of　more　incredulous　apprehensiveness。
　〃Don't　be　surprised；　gentlemen；〃　Pitt　said；　feeling　the　warmth　of　self…satisfaction。　〃I　make　it　a　habit　to　do　my　homework。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Koski　said　grimly。　It　was　obvious　that　he　didn't　see。　〃Perhaps　you　might　give　us　a　clue　as　to　why　you've　studied　your　lessons　so　diligently。〃
　Pitt　shrugged。　〃As　I've　said；　it's　a　habit。〃
　〃An　irritating　one　at　that。〃　Koski　looked　at　Pitt　with　a　hint　of　uneasiness。　〃I　wonder　if　you're　really　what　you　say　you　are。〃
　〃Dr。　Hunnewell　and　I　are　bona　fide；〃　Pitt　said　reassuringly。
　〃We'll　know　for　certain　in　approximately　two　minutes；　Major。〃　Koski's　tone　suddenly　turned　cynical。　〃I　like　to　do　my　homework　too。〃
　〃You　don't　trust　me；〃　Pitt　said　dryly。　〃A　pity。　Your　mental　anxiety　is　all　for　nothing。　Dr。　Hunnewell　and　I　have　no　intent；　or　the　means；　for　that　matter；　of　endangering　the　safety　of　your　ship　or　crew。〃
　〃You've　given　me　no　opportunity　for　trust。〃　Koski's　eyes　were　bleak；　his　voice　icy。　〃You　carry　no　written　orders；　I've　received　no　radio　signals　regarding　your　authority；　nothing　。　。　。　nothing　but　a　vague　message　from