p&c.icelimit-第42部分

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wly；　hiking　up　the　talus　slope。　Near　the　base　of　the　plug；　McFarlane　stopped　at　an　unusual　rock　that　poked　out　from　the　snow。　He　gave　it　a　sharp　rap　with　his　rock　hammer；　slipped　two　chips　into　his　sample　pouch；　and　jotted　a　quick　note。
　〃Playing　with　rocks；〃　said　Rachel。　〃How　like　a　boy。〃
　〃That's　why　I　became　a　planetary　geologist。〃
　〃Bet　you　had　a　rock　collection　as　a　kid。〃
　〃Actually；　no。　What　did　you　collect？　Barbie　dolls？〃
　Rachel　snorted。　〃I　had　a　rather　eclectic　collection。　Bird's　nests；　snakeskins；　dried　tarantulas；　bones；　butterflies；　scorpions；　a　dead　owl；　unusual　roadkill　…　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　〃Dried　tarantulas？〃　
　〃Yeah。　I　grew　up　in　Portal；　Arizona；　at　the　foot　of　the　Chiricahua　Mountains。　In　the　fall；　the　big　male　tarantulas　would　e　out　onto　the　roads；　looking　to　get　laid。　I　had　about　thirty　of　them；　mounted　on　a　board。　Goddamn　dog　ate　my　whole　collection　one　day。〃
　〃Did　the　dog　die？〃
　〃Unfortunately；　no。　She　threw　them　up　all　over　my　mom's　bed；　though。　In　the　middle　of　the　night。　That　was　pretty　funny。〃　She　giggled　at　the　recollection。
　They　paused。　The　slope　beyond　grew　steeper。　Here　the　constant　wind　had　given　the　snow　a　thick　crust。
　〃Let's　ditch　the　snowshoes；〃　McFarlane　said。
　Despite　the　subzero　weather；　he　felt　overheated　and　tugged　down　the　zipper　of　his　parka。　〃We'll　head　for　the　saddle　between　the　two　peaks；〃　he　said；　fitting　crampons　to　his　boots　and　moving　forward　again。　〃What　kind　of　roadkill？〃
　〃Herps；　mostly。〃
　〃Herps？〃
　〃Herpetological　specimens。　Amphibians　and　reptiles。〃
　〃Why？〃
　Rachel　smiled。　〃Because　they　were　interesting。　Dry；　flat　easy　to　sort　and　store。　I　had　some　pretty　unusual　species。〃
　〃I　bet　your　mom　loved　that。〃
　〃She　didn't　know　about　it。〃
　They　lapsed　into　silence；　their　breath　leaving　white　trails　behind　them。　A　few　minutes　brought　them　to　the　saddle；　and　McFarlane　stopped　for　another　rest。　〃Three　weeks　on　that　damn　ship　has　put　me　out　of　shape；〃　he　gasped。
　〃You　did　all　right　last　night；　mister。〃　A　grin　began　to　spread　across　her　face。　Then　she　suddenly　flushed；　turning　her　face　away。
　He　did　not　respond。　Rachel　had　been　a　good　partner；　and　he　felt　that　he　could　trust　her　now；　despite　the　duplicity。　But　what　had　happened　last　night　was　an　unexpected　plication。　The　last　thing　he　wanted　now　were　plications。
　They　rested　for　a　few　minutes；　sharing　a　canteen　of　water。　Far　to　the　west；　McFarlane　could　see　a　dark　streak　lying　across　the　horizon：　a　harbinger　of　the　storm。
　〃You　seem　different　from　the　rest　of　Glinn's　team；〃　he　said。　〃Why's　that？〃
　〃I　am　different。　That's　no　accident。　Everyone　at　EES　is　super　cautious；　including　Glinn。　He　needed　somebody　who　took　risks。　And；　in　case　you　hadn't　noticed；　I'm　brilliant。〃
　〃I　had　noticed；〃　said　McFarlane；　taking　out　a　candy　and　handing　it　to　her。
　They　chewed　in　silence。　Then　McFarlane　stuffed　the　empty　wrappers　back　into　the　pack　and　swung　it　over　his　shoulder；　casting　an　appraising　eye　at　the　slope　above　them。
　〃It　looks　a　little　tricky　from　here。　I'll　go　…　〃
　But　Rachel　already　began　scrambling　up　the　icy　snowfield　ahead　of　him。　It　rose　to　the　bottom　of　the　rock；　getting　bluer　…　icier　…　as　it　became　steeper。
　〃Take　it　easy；〃　he　called　up；　looking　out　from　the　face。　The　view　out　over　the　rugged　islands　of　the　Horn　group　was　spectacular。　Far　beyond；　over　the　horizon；　he　could　just　see　the　tops　of　the　Fuegian　mountains。　The　Rolvaag；　for　all　its　bulk；　looked　like　a　child's　bathtub　toy　in　the　black　water　of　the　bay。　The　destroyer　could　just　be　seen；　mostly　hidden　by　a　rugged　island。　At　the　limit　of　vision；　he　could　see　the　line　of　storm　eating　into　the　crystalline　sky。
　Looking　back　up；　he　was　alarmed　to　see　how　quickly　Rachel　had　climbed。　〃Slow　down！〃　he　called；　more　urgently　this　time。　
　〃Slowpoke！〃　was　the　taunting　reply。
　And　then　a　rock　clattered　past；　followed　by　another；　larger；　inches　from　his　ear。　With　a　crumpling　sound；　a　small　part　of　the　talus　slope　slid　away　from　Rachel's　feet；　exposing　a　dark　scar　beneath　the　snow。　She　dropped　heavily　onto　her　stomach；　legs　dangling　into　space。　A　strangle　of　fear　escaped　her　as　she　twisted；　scrabbling　for　a　purchase。
　〃Hold　on！〃　McFarlane　cried；　scrambling　upward。
　In　a　moment　he　was　on　a　broad　ledge　directly　beneath　her。　He　edged　closer；　cautious　now；　planting　his　feet　carefully　in　the　hard　surface。　He　reached　out　and　grasped　her　forearm。　〃I've　got　you；〃　he　panted。　〃Let　go。〃
　〃I　can't；〃　she　said　between　clenched　teeth。
　〃It's　okay；〃　he　repeated　quietly。　〃I've　got　you。〃
　She　gave　a　small　groan；　then　relaxed　her　grip。　He　felt　her　weight　ing　down　on　him　and　he　twisted；　guiding　her　feet　to　the　broad　ledge　below　him。　She　landed　hard　and　collapsed；　shaking；　onto　her　knees。
　〃Oh；　my　God；〃　she　said；　her　voice　quavering。　〃I　almost　fell。〃　She　put　an　arm　around　him。
　〃It's　okay；〃　he　said。　〃You　would've　fallen　all　of　five　feet。　Into　a　snowdrift。〃
　〃Really？〃　She　looked　down　and　made　a　wry　face。　〃It　felt　like　the　whole　mountain　was　falling　away　in　a　landslide。　I　was　going　to　say　you　saved　my　life；　but　I　guess　you　didn't。　Thanks　anyway。〃
　She　raised　her　head　to　his；　giving　him　a　quick　light　kiss　on　the　mouth。　She　paused　a　moment；　then　kissed　him　again；　more　deliberately　this　time。　Then；　sensing　resistance；　she　pulled　back；　regarding　him　intently　with　her　dark　eyes。　They　stared　at　each　other　in　silence　for　a　moment；　the　world　spread　out　a　thousand　feet　below　them。
　〃You　still　don't　trust　me；　Sam？〃　she　asked　quietly。
　〃I　trust　you。〃
　She　drew　closer　to　him　again；　her　eyebrows　knitting　in　a　look　of　consternation。　〃Then　what's　wrong？　Is　there　somebody　else？　Our　gallant　captain；　perhaps？　Even　Eli　seems　…　〃　She　stopped　abruptly；　her　eyes　cast　downward；　hugging　her　knees　closely　to　herself。
　Half　a　dozen　responses　came　to　McFarlane's　mind；　but　each　one　seemed　either　frivolous　or　patronizing。　For　want　of　a　better　reply；　he　simply　reshouldered　the　pack　and　shook　his　head；　smiling　foolishly。
　〃There's　a　good　sampling　spot　maybe　twenty　feet　up　the　slope；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。
　Rachel's　eyes　were　still　on　the　ground。　〃You　go　get　your　sample。　I　think　I'll　wait　here。〃
　It　was　the　work　of　a　few　minutes　to　reach　the　site；　hack　half　a　dozen　pieces　of　the　darker　basalt　from　the　rock　face；　and　return　to　Rachel。　She　stood　up　as　he　approached；　and　they　climbed　back　down　to　the　saddle　in　silence。
　〃Let's　take　a　breather；〃　McFarlane　said　at　last；　as　casually　as　he　could。　His　eyes　were　on　Rachel。　They　would　be　working　together　closely　for　the　rest　of　the　expedition；　the　last　thing　he　needed　was　to　have　an　awkwardness　between　them。　He　put　his　hand　on　her　elbow　and　she　turned　toward　him　expectantly。
　〃Rachel；〃　he　said。　〃Listen。　Last　night　was　wonderful。　But　let's　leave　it　like　that。　At　least　for　now。〃
　Her　look　sharpened。　〃Meaning？〃
　〃Meaning　we　have　a　job　to　do。　Together。　And　it's　plicated　enough　as　it　is。　So　let's　not　push　things；　okay？〃　She　blinked　quickly；　then　nodded；　a　brief　smile　covering　the　disappointment；　even　hurt；　that　had　flashed　across　her　face。　〃Okay；〃　she　said；　looking　away。
　McFarlane　put　his　arms　around　her。　With　her　heavy　parka；　it　was　like　embracing　the　Michelin　man。　With　a　gloved　finger；　he　gently　raised　her　face　toward　his。
　〃Is　it　okay？〃　he　asked。
　She　nodded　again。　〃It's　not　the　first　time　I've　heard　it；〃　she　said。　〃It　gets　easier。〃
　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　She　shrugged。　〃Nothing。　I　guess　I'm　just　not　very　good　at　this　kind　of　thing；　that's　all。〃
　They　held　each　other　as　the　cold　wind　eddied　around　them。　McFarlane　looked　down　at　the　stray　hairs　curling　away　from　the　hood　of　Rachel's　parka。　And　then；　on　impulse；　he　asked　a　question　he'd　been　wondering　about　since　the　first　night　on　the　fly　deck。　〃Was　there　ever　anything　between　you　and　Glinn？〃
　She　looked　at　him；　then　pulled　away；　her　expression　being　guarded。　Then　she　sighed；　relaxing。　〃Oh；　why　the　hell　not　tell　you。　It's　true。　Once　upon　a　time；　Eli　and　I　had　a　thing。　Just　a　little　thing；　I　suppose。　It　was。。。　very　nice。〃　A　smile　rose　on　her　lips；　then　slowly　faded。　She　turned　away　and　sat　down　in　the　snow；　legs　kicked　out　before　her；　gazing　out　over　the　white　vista　beneath　them。
　McFarlane　sat　down　beside　her。　〃What　happened？〃
　She　glanced　over。　〃Do　I　really　need　to　spell　it　out？　Eli　broke　it　off。〃　She　smiled　coldly。　〃And　you　know　what？　Everything　was　going　great。　There　was　nothing　wrong。　I'd　never　been　happier　in　my　life。〃　She　paused。　〃I　guess　that's　what　spooked　him。　He　couldn't　bear　the　thought　that　it　wouldn't　always　stay　that　great。　So　when　things　couldn't　get　any　better；　he　cut　it　off。　Just　like　that。　Because　if　things　can't　get　any　better；　they　can　only　get　worse。　That　would　be　a　failure。　Right？　And　Eli　Glinn　is　a　man　who　can't　fail。〃　She　laughed　mirthlessly。
　〃But　you　two　still　think　alike；　in　some　ways；〃　said　McFarlane。　〃Like　yesterday；　in　the　library。　I　kind　of　figured　you'd　speak　up。　About　what　happened　to　Rochefort　and　Evans；　I　mean。　But　you　didn't。　Does　that　mean　their　deaths　are　okay　with　you；　too？〃
　〃Please；　Sam。　No　death　is　okay。　But　almost　every　project　I've　worked　on　with　EES　has　seen　casualties。　It's　the　nature　of　this　business。〃
　They　sat　a　moment；　looking　away　from　each　other。　Then　Rachel　rose　to　her　feet。
　〃e　on；〃　she　said　quietly；　dusting　herself　off。　〃Last　one　back　has　to　clean　the　test　tubes。〃
　
　Almirante　Ramirez；
　2：45　P。M。
　
　ANDANTE　EMILIANO　Vallenar　stood　on　the　destroyer's　puente　volante；　the　flying　bridge；　scanning　the　enormous　tanker　with　his　field　binoculars。　Slowly；　carefully；　his　eyes　traveled　from　the　bow；　along　the　maindeck；　on　and　on　and　on；　until　at　last　he　reached　the　superstructure。　As　always；　it　was　an　interesting　journey。　He　had　lingered　on　it　so　long；　and　so　carefully；　that　he　felt　he　knew　every　rusted　porthole；　every　davit；　every　smear　of　oil。　There　were　certain　things　on　this　so…called　ore　carrier　that　he　found　suspicious：　those　antennas；　hidden　low；　that　looked　distinctly　as　if　they　belonged　to　some　passive　electronic　surveillance　measuring　device。　And　a　very　tall　antenna　at　the　top　of　the　mast；　despite　its　broken　appearance；　looked　like　an　air…search　radar。
　He　lowered　the　binoculars；　reached　into　his　coat　with　a　gloved　hand；　and　pulled　out　the　letter　from　the　geologist　in　Valparais