p&c.icelimit-第50部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


dmission　was　intended　to　do　double；　or　even　triple　duty；　in　Glinn's　grand　scheme。
　Glinn　held　out　his　hand。　McFarlane　took　it；　and　laid　his　other　hand　on　Glinn's　shoulder。
　In　a　moment　Glinn　was　gone。
　It　was　only　later　that　McFarlane　realized　the　thick　padding　he'd　felt　under　his　fingers　was　not　a　heavy　coat　but　a　flak　vest。
　
　Franklin　Channel；
　8：40　P。M。
　
　GLINN　STOOD　at　the　bow　of　the　small　launch；　weling　the　frigid　air　that　streamed　across　his　face。　The　four　men　who　were　part　of　the　operation　sat　on　the　deck　of　the　dark　pilothouse；　suited　up；　silent　and　out　of　sight。　Directly　ahead；　the　lights　of　the　destroyer　wavered　in　the　calm　waters　of　the　sound。　As　he　predicted；　it　had　moved　up　channel。
　He　glanced　back　toward　the　island　itself。　An　immense　cluster　of　lights　surrounded　the　feverish　mining　activity。　Heavy　equipment　rumbled　back　and　forth。　As　he　watched；　the　faint　crump　of　a　distant　explosion　rolled　through　the　air。　By　parison；　the　real　work　taking　place　on　the　bluff　looked　incidental。　The　movement　of　the　Rolvaag　had　been　presented；　through　radio　traffic；　as　a　precaution　against　another　storm　…　the　big　ship　would　be　moving　into　the　lee　of　the　island　and　stringing　cables　to　shore。
　He　smelled　the　moisture…laden　sea　air；　breathed　in　the　deceptive　calm。　A　big　storm　was　certainly　ing。　Its　precise　nature　was　a　secret　shared　only　by　Glinn；　Britton；　and　the　on…duty　officers　of　the　Rolvaag；　there　had　seemed　no　need　to　distract　the　crew　or　the　EES　engineers　at　such　a　critical　moment。　But　satellite　weather　analysis　indicated　it　might　develop　into　a　panteonero；　a　cemetery　wind；　kicking　up　as　early　as　dawn。　Such　a　wind　always　started　out　of　the　southwest　and　then　swung　around　to　the　northwest　as　it　gained　strength。　Such　winds　could　grow　to　Force　15。　But　if　the　Rolvaag　could　get　through　the　Strait　of　Le　Maire　by　noon；　they　would　be　in　the　lee　of　Tierra　del　Fuego　before　the　worst　of　the　wind　started。　And　it　would　be　at　their　backs：　ideal　for　a　large　tanker；　hellish　for　a　small　pursuer。
　He　knew　that　Vallenar　must　now　be　aware　of　his　approach。　The　launch　moved　slowly；　its　full　plement　of　running　lights　on。　Even　without　radar　it　would　be　conspicuous　against　the　black；　moonless　night　water。
　The　launch　drew　within　two　hundred　yards　of　the　ship。　Glinn　heard　a　faint　splash　behind　him　but　did　not　turn　around。　As　expected；　three　other　splashes　quickly　followed。　He　was　aware　of　a　preternatural　calmness；　a　sharpening　of　his　senses；　that　always　came　before　an　op。　It　had　been　a　long　time；　and　the　feeling　was　pleasant；　almost　nostalgic。
　A　spotlight　on　the　destroyer's　fantail　snapped　on　and　swiveled　toward　the　launch；　blinding　him　with　its　brilliance。　He　remained　motionless　in　the　bow　as　the　launch　slowed。　If　he　was　going　to　be　shot；　this　would　be　the　moment。　And　yet　he　felt　an　unwavering　conviction　that　the　destroyer's　gun　would　remain　silent。　He　breathed　in；　then　exhaled　slowly；　once；　twice。　The　critical　moment　passed。
　They　met　him　at　the　boarding　hatch　and　led　him　up　through　a　series　of　foul　passageways　and　slippery　metal　stairways。　At　the　entrance　to　the　puente；　the　bridge；　they　paused。　Except　for　the　deck　officer；　Vallenar　was　alone。　He　stood　at　the　forward　windows；　looking　out　at　the　island；　cigar　in　his　mouth；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　It　was　cold；　either　the　heating　system　did　not　work；　or　it　had　been　turned　off。　Like　the　rest　of　the　ship；　the　bridge　smelled　of　engine　oil；　bilgewater；　and　fish。
　Vallenar　did　not　turn。　Glinn　let　a　very　long　silence　ensue　before　he　began。
　〃andante；〃　he　said　in　polite；　measured　Spanish；　〃I　have　e　to　pay　you　my　respects。〃
　A　faint　noise　issued　from　Vallenar；　which　Glinn　took　for　amusement。　The　man　still　did　not　turn。　The　atmosphere　around　Glinn　seemed　charged　with　superhuman　clarity；　his　body　felt　light；　as　if　made　of　air。
　Vallenar　removed　a　letter　from　his　pocket；　unfolded　it；　and　paused。　Glinn　could　see　the　letterhead　of　a　well…known　Australian　university。　Vallenar　spoke　at　last。　〃It's　a　meteorite；〃　he　said；　his　voice　flat　and　dry。　
　So　he　knew。　It　had　seemed　the　most　unlikely　path　of　those　they　had　analyzed；　but　now　it　became　the　path　they　must　follow。
　〃Yes。〃
　Vallenar　turned。　His　heavy　woolen　coat　fell　back；　displaying　an　old　Luger　snugged　into　his　belt。
　〃You　are　stealing　a　meteorite　from　my　country。〃
　〃Not　stealing；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　are　within　international　law。〃
　Vallenar　barked　out　a　laugh；　hollow　on　the　nearly　deserted　bridge。　〃I　know。　You　are　a　mining　operation；　and　it　is　metal。　I　was　wrong　after　all：　you　did　e　down　here　for　iron。〃
　Glinn　said　nothing。　With　every　word　of　Vallenar's；　he　was　getting　priceless　information　about　the　man；　information　that　would　allow　him　to　make　ever　more　accurate　predictions　on　future　behavior。
　〃But　you；　senor；　are　outside　my　law。　The　law　of　andante　Vallenar。〃
　〃I　do　not　understand；〃　said　Glinn；　although　he　did。
　〃You　will　not　leave　Chile　with　this　meteorite。〃
　〃If　we　find　it；〃　said　Glinn。
　Vallenar　paused　ever　so　slightly；　and　in　that　pause　Glinn　saw　that　he　did　not；　in　fact；　know　they　had　found　it。
　〃What　is　to　prevent　me　from　simply　reporting　this　to　the　authorities　in　Santiago？　They；　at　least；　have　not　been　bribed。〃
　〃You　are　free　to　report　it　to　anyone　you　wish；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　are　doing　nothing　illegal。〃　He　knew　Vallenar　would　never　report　it。　Vallenar　was　the　kind　of　man　who　would　settle　things　his　own　way。
　Vallenar　took　a　long　drag　on　the　cigar；　blowing　the　smoke　in　Glinn's　direction。　〃Tell　me；　senor。。。　Ishmael；　was　it　not？〃
　〃Actually；　my　name　is　Glinn。〃
　〃I　see。　So　tell　me；　Mr。　Glinn；　why　have　you　e　to　my　ship？〃
　Glinn　knew　he　had　to　answer　this　carefully。　〃I　was　hoping；　andante；　that　we　could　work　out　an　arrangement　with　you。〃
　He　saw　the　expected　anger　in　the　captain's　face；　and　pressed　on。　〃I　am　authorized　to　give　you　one　million　dollars；　gold；　for　your　cooperation。〃
　Vallenar　suddenly　smiled；　his　eyes　veiled。　〃You　have　it　on　you？〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃
　The　andante　lazily　puffed　on　the　puro。　〃Perhaps；　senor；　you　think　I　have　a　price　like　the　others。　Because　I　am　a　South　American；　a　dirty　Latin；　that　I　am　always　willing　to　cooperate　in　exchange　for　la　mordida。〃
　〃It　has　been　my　experience　that　no　one　is　incorruptible；〃　said　Glinn。　〃Americans　included。〃　He　watched　the　andante　carefully。　He　knew　he　would　refuse　the　bribe；　but　even　in　the　refusal　there　would　be　information。
　〃If　that　has　been　your　experience；　then　you　have　led　a　corrupt　life；　surrounding　yourself　with　whores；　degenerates；　and　homosexuals。　You　will　not　leave　Chile　with　this　meteorite。　I　request　you　to　take　your　gold；　senor；　and　fill　your　mother's　whorish　cono　with　it。〃
　Glinn　did　not　respond　to　this　strongest　of　Spanish　insults。　Vallenar　lowered　his　cigar。　〃There　is　another；　matter。　I　sent　a　man　over　to　make　a　reconnaissance　of　the　island；　and　he　has　not　returned。　His　name　is　Timmer。　He　is　my　oficial　de　unicaciones；　my　signal　officer。〃
　Glinn　was　faintly　surprised　at　this。　He　did　not　believe　the　andante　would　bring　up　the　subject；　let　alone　admit　the　man　was　on　a　spying　expedition。　After　all；　this　man　Timmer　had　failed；　and　Vallenar　was　clearly　someone　to　whom　failure　was　contemptible。
　〃He　slit　the　throat　of　one　of　our　men。　We　are　holding　him。
　The　andante's　eyes　narrowed；　and　for　a　moment　his　control　seemed　to　slip。　But　he　recovered　and　smiled　again。　〃You　will　return　him　to　me；　please。〃
　〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Glinn。　〃He　mitted　a　crime。〃
　〃You　will　return　him　to　me　at　once；　or　I　will　blow　your　ship　out　of　the　water；〃　Vallenar　said；　his　voice　rising。
　Again；　Glinn　felt　a　twinge　of　puzzlement。　This　rash　threat　was　far　out　of　proportion　to　the　situation。　A　signal　officer　was　easily　replaced；　not　of　high　rank。　There　was　something　more　here　than　met　the　eye。　His　mind　raced　over　the　possibilities　even　as　he　was　formulating　his　answer。　〃That　would　be　unwise；　since　your　man　is　in　the　ship's　brig。〃
　The　andante　stared　hard　at　Glinn。　When　he　spoke　again；　his　voice　was　even　once　more。　〃Give　me　back　Timmer；　and　I　may　consider　letting　you　take　the　meteorite。〃
　Glinn　knew　this　was　a　lie。　Vallenar　would　no　more　let　them　go　if　they　returned　Timmer　than　they　could　return　the　man。　The　andante；　he　understood　from　Puppup；　had　a　fanatically　loyal　crew。　Now；　perhaps；　he　could　understand　why：　Vallenar　returned　their　loyalty　just　as　fiercely。　Glinn　had　believed　the　andante　to　be　a　man　to　whom　other　people　were　dispensable。　This　was　a　side　of　Vallenar　that　he　had　not　anticipated。　It　didn't　fit　the　profile　that　his　people　back　in　New　York　had　drawn　up；　or　the　background　dossier　he　had　obtained。　Still；　it　was　useful。　He　would　have　to　reconsider　Vallenar。　At　any　rate；　he　now　had　the　information　he　needed：　he　knew　now　what　Vallenar　knew。　And　his　own　team　had　had　ample　time　to　do　what　needed　to　be　done。
　〃I　will　relay　your　offer　to　our　captain；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　think　it　might　be　possible　to　arrange。　I　will　have　an　answer　for　you　by　noon。〃　Glinn　bowed　slightly。　〃And　now；　with　your　permission；　I　will　return　to　my　ship。〃
　Vallenar　smiled；　making　an　almost　successful　effort　to　cover　up　a　simmering　anger。　〃You　do　that；　senor。　Because　if　I　do　not　see　Timmer　with　my　own　eyes　by　noon；　then　I　will　know　that　he　is　dead。　And　your　lives　will　not　be　worth　dog　dirt　under　my　heel。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　11：50　P。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　TOOK　the　call　in　Lloyd's　suite　of　deserted　offices。　Outside　the　wide　span　of　windows；　a　breeze　had　sprung　up；　and　a　swell　was　rolling　in　from　the　west。　The　great　ship　stood　in　the　lee　of　the　sheer　basaltic　cliffs；　its　hawsers　strung　to　the　shore；　affixed　to　steel　bolts　in　the　bedrock　itself。　All　was　in　readiness；　awaiting　the　cloaking　fog　that　Glinn　said　was　predicted　for　midnight。
　The　phone　on　Lloyd's　desk　began　to　blink　angrily；　and　McFarlane　reached　for　it　with　a　sigh。　It　would　be　his　third　conversation　with　Lloyd　that　evening。　He　hated　this　new　role；　a　go…between；　a　secretary。　〃Mr。　Lloyd？〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　I'm　here。　Has　Glinn　returned？〃　There　was　that　same　loud；　continuous　noise　in　the　background　he　had　heard　during　their　last　conversation。　Idly；　McFarlane　wondered　where　Lloyd　was　calling　from。
　〃He　came　back　two　hours　ago。〃
　〃What　did　he　say？　Did　Vallenar　take　the　bribe？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Maybe　he　didn't　offer　eno