cc.iceberg-第8节

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　Hunnewell　looked　thoughtful。　He　seemed　to　be　weighing　what　Pitt　had　said。　〃I'm　not　sure　what　you're　hinting　at。〃　Then　he　smiled；　suddenly　his　old　cheerful　self　again。　〃But　I'm　getting　wise　to　your　siv　mind。　You　must　have　something　up　your　sleeve…〃
　〃No　magic。　You　said　it　yourself。　by　every　known　law　of　current　and　drift；　this　berg　should　be　floating　ninety　miles　to　the　southwest。〃
　〃True。〃　Hunnewell　looked　at　Pitt　with　a　new　respect。　〃And　the　conclusion；　exactly　what　do　you　have　in　mind？〃
　〃Not　what；　but　who；　Doc。　Someone　who　is　leading　all　of　us　on　the　proverbial　wild…coose　chase。　Someone　who　removed　the　red　dye　from　the　iceberg　containing　the　lost　ship　and　spread　more　of　the　same　over　a　decoy　ninety　miles　off　the　track。〃
　〃Of　course；　the　iceberg　we　flew　over　hours　ago。
　The　same　size；　configuration　and　weight；　but　no　red　stain。〃
　〃That's　where　we'll　find　our　mystery　ship；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Right　where　you　calculated　it　was　supposed　to　be。〃
　〃But　who's　playing　games？〃　Hunnewell　asked；　his　face　set　in　a　contemplative　twist。　〃Obviously　it　isn't　the　Russians：　they're　as　confused　as　we　were。〃
　〃At　the　moment　it　doesn't　matter；〃　Pitt　said。　〃The　important　thing　is　to　bid　fond　farewell　to　this　floating　ice　palace　and　fly　off　into　the　blue。　Our　uninvited　guests　have　arrived。〃　He　nodded　down　the　slope　of　the　berg。
　〃Or　perhaps　you　hadn't　noticed？〃
　
　And　Hunnewell　hadn't。　But　he　noticed　it　now。　The　first　of　the　landing　party　from　the　submarine　came　piling　on　the　berg；　walking　cautiously　onto　the　edge　of　the　ice。　Within　a　few　seconds；　five　Pitt　and　Hunnewell's　direction。　They　were　dressed　in　black…Russian　marines…and　heavily　armed。　Even　at　a　hundred　yards；　Pitt　could　discern　the　unmistakable　look　of　men　who　knew　exactly　what　they　were　out　to　do。
　
　Pitt　casually　climbed　aboard　the　helicopter；　turned　the　ignition　switch　and　pushed　the　starter。　Even　before　the　rotor　blades　swung　into　their　first　revolution；　Hunnewell　was　ensconced　in　the　passenger's　seat　with　his　safety　belt　tightly　secured。
　
　Before　he　closed　the　door　to　the　cockpit；　Pitt　leined　out；　cupped　both　hands　to　his　mouth　and　shouted　to　the　advancing　Russians；　〃Enjoy　your　stay；　but　don't　forget　to　Pick　up　your　litter。〃
　
　The　officer　leading　the　men　from　the　submarine　cocked　an　ear；　then　shrugged　unprehendingly。　He　was　certain　that　Pitt　was　hardly　likely　to　shout　in　Russian　for　his　benefit。　As　if　to　signal　the　occupants　of　the　helicopter　of　his　peaceful　intentions；　the　officer　lowered　his　automatic　weapon　and　waved　a　salute　as　Pitt　and　Hunnewell　relinquished　possession　of　the　iceberg　and　rose　into　the　radiant　blue　sky。
　
　Pitt　took　his　time；　keeping　the　helicopter　at　a　Minimum　cruising　speed　and　holding　on　a　northward　course　for　fifteen　minutes。　Then；　after　they　were　out　of　sight　and　radar　range　of　the　submarine；　he　swung　around　in　a　long　circle　to　the　southwest　and　by　eleven　fifteen　they　had　found　the　derelict。
　
　As　they　bore　down　on　the　great　ice　giant；　Pitt　and　Hunnewell　shared　a　strange　sense　of　emptiness。　It　wasn't　just　the　end　of　the　long　hours　of　uncertaintythey　were　already　past　the　time　limit　set　by　mander　Koski…it　was　the　eerie　appearance　of　the　mystery　ship　itself。
　
　Neither　man　had　ever　seen　anything　quite　like　it。
　
　The　atmosphere　around　the　berg　had　a　terrifying　desolation　that　belonged　not　to　earth　but　to　some　dead　and　distant　planet。　Only　the　rays　of　the　sun　broke　the　inertness；　penetrating　the　ice　and　distorting　the　lines　of　the　ship's　hull　and　superstructure　into　a　constantly　changing　series　of　abstract　shadows。　The　sight　seemed　so　unreal　that　it　was　difficult　for　Pitt　to　accept　the　visible　fact　of　its　existence。　As　he　adjusted　the　controls　and　lowered　the　helicopter　to　the　ice；　he　half　expected　the　entombed　vessel　to　vanish。
　
　Pitt　tried　to　land　on　a　smooth　spot　near　the　berg's　edge；　but　the　sloping　angle　of　the　ice　proved　too　great；　he　finally　put　down　directly　on　top　of　the　derelict。　Hunnewell　leaped　from　the　helicopter　just　before　the　skids　kissed　the　ice；　and　had　already　paced　the　derelict　from　bow　to　stern　when　Pitt　joined　him。
　〃Odd；〃　Hunnewell　murmured；　〃most　odd。　Nothing　Protrudes　above　the　surface；　not　even　the　masts　and　radar　antenna。　Every　square　inch　is　sealed　solidly　under　the　ice。〃
　
　Pitt　pulled　a　handkerchief　from　his　flight　jacket　and　blew　his　nose。　Then　he　sniffed　the　air；　as　if　testing　it。
　〃Smell　anything　out　of　the　ordinary；　Doc？〃
　Hunnewell　tilted　his　head　back　and　inhaled　slowly。
　〃There　is　something　of　an　odor。　Too　faint　though。　I　can't　make　it　out。〃
　〃You　don't　travel　in　the　right　circles；〃　Pitt　said；　grinning。　〃If　you'd　get　out　of　your　laboratory　more　often　and　learn　a　bit　about　life；　you'd　recognize　the　distinct　aroma　of　burnt　rubbish。〃
　〃Where's　it　ing　from？〃
　Pitt　nodded　at　the　derelict　under　his　feet。　〃Where　else　but　down　there。〃
　Hunnewell　shook　his　head。　〃No　way。　It's　a　scientific　fact；　you　can't　smell　an　inorganic　substance　inside　a　block　of　ice　from　the　outside。〃
　〃The　old　proboscis　never　lies。〃　The　midday　warmth　was　beginning　to　overe　the　cold；　so　Pitt　unzipped　his　flight　jacket。　〃There　must　be　a　leak　in　the　ice。〃
　〃You　and　your　educated　nose；〃　Hunnewell　said　acidly。　〃I　suggest　you　stop　playing　bloodhound　and　start　placing　the　thermite　charges。　The　only　way　we're　going　to　get　inside　the　wreck　is　by　melting　the　ice　mantle。〃
　〃We'll　be　taking　a　risk。〃
　〃Trust　me；〃　Hunnewell　said　mildly。　〃I'm　not　about　to　split　the　berg　al）d　lose　the　derelict；　the　helicopter；　and　ourselves　as　well。　I　intend　to　begin　with　small　loads　and　work　our　way　down　by　degrees。〃
　〃I　wasn't　thinking　of　the　iceberg。　I　was　thinking　of　the　wrecked　ship。　There's　a　damn　good　chance　the　fuel　tanks　have　ruptured　and　allowed　diesel　oil　to　slosh　the　entire　length　of　the　keel。　If　we　miscalculate　and　ignite　as　much　as　a　drop；　the　whole　derelict　goes　up　in　one　fiery　puff。〃
　Hunnewell　stamped　his　foot　on　the　hard…packed　ice。　〃How　do　you　expect　to　get　through　that…with　an　ice　pick。
　〃Dr。　Hunnewell；〃　Pitt　said　quietly；　〃I　won't　argue　the　fact　that　your　name　is　known　far　and　wide　for　your　hyper…scientific　intellect。　However；　like　most　superbrains；　your　mental　depth　for　practical；　everyday　runof…the…mill　matters　is　sadly　lacking。　Thermite　charges；　ice　picks；　you　say。　Why　bother　with　plex　and　muscle…exerting　sclemes　when　we　can　simply　perform　an　open　sesame　routine？〃
　〃You're　standing　on　glacial　ice；〃　Hunnewell　said。
　〃It's　hard　and　it's　solid。　You　can't　walk　through　it。〃
　〃Sorry；　my　friend；　you're　dead　wrong；〃　Pitt　said。
　Hunnewell　eyed　him　suspiciously。　〃Prove　it！〃
　〃What　I'm　getting　at　is；　the　labor　has　already　been　done。　Our　Machiavelli　and　his　merry　band　of　busy　helpers　have　obviously　been　here　before　us。〃　He　pointed　dramatically　up…ward。　〃Please　observe。〃
　
　Hunnewell　lifted　a　quizzical　eyebrow　and　looked　upward　and　intently　studied　the　broad　face　of　the　steep　ice　slope。　Along　the　outer　edges　and　near　the　lower　base；　only　a　few　yards　from　where　Pitt　and　Hunnewell　stood；　the　ice　was　smooth　and　even。　But　beginning　at　the　summit　and　working　downward　into　the　middle　of　the　slope；　the　ice　was　as　pockmarked　as　the　backside　of　the　moon。
　〃Well　now；〃　Hunnewell　murmured；　〃it　does　appear　that　someone　went　to　a　lot　of　trouble　to　remove　the　Ice　Patrol's　red；　dye　stain。〃　He　gave　a　long　expressionless　look　at　the　towering　ice　pinnacle；　then　turned　back　to　Pitt。　〃Why　would　someone　chip　the　stain　out　by　hand　when　they　could　have　easily　erased　all　trace　with　explosives？〃
　〃I　can't　answer　that；〃　Pitt　said。　〃Maybe　they　were　afraid　of　cracking　the　berg；　or　maybe　they　didn't　have　explosives；　who　can　say？　However；　I'll　lay　a　month's　wage　that　our　clever　little　pals　did　more　than　merely　chip　ice。　They　most　certainly　found　a　way　to　enter　the　derelict。〃
　〃So　all　we　do　now　is　look　for　a　flashing　sign　that　says　enter　here。〃　Hunnewell's　tone　was　sarcastic。　He　wasn't　used　to　being　outguessed；　and　his　expression　showed　that　he　didn't　like　it。
　〃A　soft　spot　in　the　ice　would　be　more　appropriate。〃
　〃I　suppose；〃　Hunnewell　said；　〃you're　suggesting　a　camouflaged　cover　over　some　sort　of　ice　tunnel。〃
　〃The　thought　had　crossed　my　mind。〃
　
　The　doctor　peered　over　the　top　of　his　glasses　at　Pitt。　〃Let's　get　on　with　it　then。　If　we　stand　around　here　theorizing　much　longer；　my　testicles　will　probably　get　an　acute　case　of　frostbite。〃
　
　It　shouldn't　have　been　all　that　difficult；　not　by　a　long　shot；　yet　it　didn't　go　as　easily　as　Pitt　had　figured。
　
　The　unpredictable　occurred　when　Hunnewell　lost　his　footing　on　the　slope　and　slid　helplessly　toward　a　steep　ledge　that　dropped　into　the　icy　sea。　He　fell　forward；　desperately　clawing　at　the　ice；　his　nails　scratching　and　bending　painfully　backward　through　the　hard　surface。
　
　He　slowed　momentarily；　but　not　enough。　His　fall　happened　so　abruptly　that　his　ankles　were　already　scraping　the　edge　of　the　thirty…foot　drop　before　he　thought　of　shouting　for　help。
　
　Pitt　had　been　busily　prying　up　a　chunk　of　loose　ice　when　he　heard　the　cry。　He　swung　around；　took　in　Hunnewell's　deteriorating　plight；　had　a　lightning　impression　of　how　impossible　rescue　would　be　once　the　doctor　had　fallen　into　the　freezing　water；　and　in　one　swift　movement　tore　off　his　flight　jack