alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第18部分

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　moving　in　a　blind　world；　and　all　I　had　left　to　me　was　the　sense　of　touch。　For　the　first　time　fear　came　to　me；　and　I　all　but　gave　way　to　an　almost　overpowering　instinct　to　run。　But　there　was　no　place　to　run　to。
　
　I　pulled　the　drawstring　from　my　hood　and　with　numbed　and　clumsy　hands　lashed　together　two　of　the　bamboos　to　give　me　a　stick　seven　feet　in　length。　A　third　bamboo　I　thrust　into　the　snow；　then　lay　down　flat；　the　sole　of　my　boot　touching　it　while　I　described　a　plete　circle；　flailing　out　with　my　long　stick　into　the　darkness。　Nothing。　At　the　full　stretch　of　my　body　and　the　stick　I　stuck　the　last　two　bamboos　into　the　snow；　one　upwind；　the　other　downwind　from　the　central　bamboo；　and　described　horizontal　flailing　circles　round　both　of　these。　Again；　nothing。
　
　I　gathered　up　the　bamboos；　walked　ten　paces　more；　and　repeated　the　performance。　I　had　the　same　luck　again…and　again　and　again。　Five　minutes　and　seventy　paces　after　I　had　stopped　for　the　first　time　I　knew　I　had　pletely　missed　the　antenna　line　and　was　utterly　lost。　The　wind　must　have　backed　or　veered；　and　I　had　wandered　far　off　my　course：　and　then　came　the　chilling　realisation　that　if　that　were　so　I　had　no　idea　now　where　the　plane　lay　and　could　never　regain　it。　Even　had　I　known　the　direction　where　it　lay；　I　doubted　whether　I　could　have　made　my　way　back　anyway；　not　because　I　was　tired　but　because　my　only　means　of　gauging　direction　was　the　wind　in　my　face；　and　my　face　was　so　pletely　numbed　that　I　could　no　longer　feel　anything。　I　could　hear　the　wind；　but　I　couldn't　feel　it。
　
　Ten　more　paces；　I　told　myself；　ten　more　and　then　I　must　turn　back。　Turn　back　where；　a　mocking　voice　seemed　to　ask　me；　but　I　ignored　it　and　stumbled　on　with　leaden…footed　steps；　doggedly　counting。　And　on　the　seventh　step　I　walked　straight　into　one　of　the　big　antenna　poles；　staggered　with　the　shock；　all　but　fell；　recovered；　grabbed　the　pole　and　hugged　it　as　if　I　would　never　let　go。　I　knew　at　that　moment　what　it　must　be　like　to　be　condemned　to　death　and　then　live　again；　it　was　the　most　wonderful　feeling　I　had　ever　experienced。　And　then　the　relief　and　the　exultation　gradually　faded　and　anger　returned　to　take　its　place；　a　cold；　vicious；　all…consuming　anger　of　which　I　would　never　have　believed　myself　capable。
　
　With　my　stick　stretched　up　and　running　along　the　rimed　antenna　cable　to　guide　me；　I　ran　all　the　way　back　to　the　cabin。　I　was　vaguely　surprised　to　see　shadows　still　moving　in　the　lamp…lit　screen　that　surrounded　the　tractor…it　was　almost　impossible　for　me　to　realise　that　I　had　been　gone　no　more　than　thirty　minutes　…but　I　passed　by；　opened　the　hatch　and　dropped　down　into　the　cabin。
　
　Joss　was　still　in　the　far　corner；　working　on　the　big　radio；　and　the　four　women　were　huddled　close　round　the　stove。　The　stewardess；　I　noticed；　wore　a　parka…one　she　had　borrowed　from　Joss…and　was　rubbing　her　hands　above　the　flame。
　
　〃Cold；　Miss　Ross？〃　I　inquired　solicitously。　At　least；　I　had　meant　it　to　sound　that　way；　but　even　to　myself　my　voice　sounded　hoarse　and　strained。
　
　〃And　why　shouldn't　she　be；　Dr　Mason？〃　Marie　LeGarde　snapped。　〃Dr　Mason'；　I　noted。　〃She's　just　spent　the　last　fifteen　minutes　or　so　with　the　men　on　the　tractor。〃
　
　〃Doing　what？〃
　
　〃I　was　giving　them　coffee。〃　For　the　first　time　the　stewardess　showed　some　spirit。　〃What's　so　wrong　in　that？〃
　
　〃Nothing；〃　I　said　shortly。　Takes　you　a　damned　long　time　to　pour　a　cup　of　coffee；　I　thought　savagely。　〃Most　kind；　I'm　sure。〃　Massaging　my　frozen　face；　I　walked　away　into　the　food　tunnel；　nodding　to　Joss。　He　joined　me　immediately。
　
　〃Somebody　just　tried　to　murder　me　out　there；〃　I　said　without　preamble。
　
　〃Murder　you！〃　Joss　stared　at　me　for　a　long　moment；　then　his　eyes　narrowed。　〃I'll　believe　anything　in　this　lot。〃
　
　〃Meaning？〃
　
　〃I　was　looking　for　some　of　the　radio　spares　a　moment　ago…a　few　of　them　seem　to　be　missing；　but　that's　not　the　point。　The　spares；　as　you　know；　are　next　to　the　explosives。　Someone's　been　tampering　with　them。〃
　
　The　explosives！〃　I　had　a　momentary　vision　of　some　maniac　placing　a　stick　of　gelignite　under　the　tractor。　〃What's　missing？〃
　
　〃Nothing；　that's　what　so　damned　funny。　I　checked；　all　the　explosives　are　there。　But　they're　scattered　everywhere；　all　mixed　up　with　fuses　and　detonators。〃
　
　〃Who's　been　in　here　this　afternoon？〃
　
　He　shrugged。　〃Who　hasn't？〃
　
　It　was　true　enough。　Everyone　had　been　ing　and　going　there　all　afternoon　and　evening；　the　men　for　a　hundred　and　one　pieces　of　equipment　for　the　tractor　body；　the　women　for　food　and　stores。　And；　of　course；　our　primitive　toilet　lay　at　the　farthest　end　of　the　tunnel。
　
　〃What　happened　to　you；　sir？〃　Joss　asked　quietly。
　
　I　told　him；　and　watched　his　face　tighten　till　the　mouth　was　a　thin　white　line　in　the　dark　face。　Joss　knew　what　it　meant　to　be　lost　on　the　ice…cap。
　
　〃The　murderous；　cold…blooded　she…devil；〃　he　said　softly。　〃We'll　have　to　nail　her；　sir；　we'll　have　to；　or　God　only　knows　who's　next　on　her　list。　But…but　won't　we　have　to　have　proof　or　confession　or　something？　We　can't　just…〃
　
　〃I'm　going　to　get　both；〃　I　said。　The　bitter　anger　still　dominated　my　mind　to　the　exclusion　of　all　else。　〃Right　now。〃
　
　I　walked　out　of　the　tunnel　and　across　the　cabin　to　where　the　stewardess　was　sitting。
　
　〃We've　overlooked　something；　Miss　Ross；〃　I　said　abruptly。　〃The　food　in　your　galley　on　the　plane。　It　might　make　all　the　difference　between　life　and　death。　How　much　is　there？〃
　
　〃In　the　galley？　Not　very　much；　I'm　afraid。　Only　odds　and　ends　for　snacks；　if　anyone　was　hungry。　It　was　a　night　flight；　Dr　Mason；　and　they　had　already　had　their　evening　meal。〃
　
　Followed　by　a　very　special　brand　of　coffee；　I　thought　grimly。　〃Doesn't　matter　how　little　it　is；〃　I　said。　〃It　might　be　invaluable。　I'd　like　you　to　e　and　show　me　where　it　is。〃
　
　〃Can't　it　wait？〃　The　protest　came　from　Marie　LeGarde。　〃Can't　you　see　that　the　poor　girl　is　chilled　to　death？〃
　
　〃Can't　you　see　that　I　am　too？〃　I　snapped。　It　was　a　measure　of　the　mood　I　was　in　when　I　could　bring　myself　to　speak　like　that　to　Marie　LeGarde。　〃ing；　Miss　Ross？〃
　
　She　came。　I　was　taking　no　chances　this　time；　so　I　carried　with　me　the　big　searchlight　with　its　portable　battery　and　another　torch；　and　gave　the　stewardess　an　armful　of　bamboos。　When　we　had　reached　the　top　of　the　hatchway　steps　she　waited　for　me　to　lead　the　way；　but　I　told　her　to　walk　in　front。　I　wanted　to　watch　her　hands。
　
　The　snow　was　easing　now；　the　wind　dropping　and　visibility　just　a　little　improved。　We　walked　the　length　of　the　antenna　line；　angled　off　a　little　way　north　of　east；　setting　down　an　occasional　bamboo；　and　were　at　the　plane　within　ten　minutes　of　leaving　the　cabin。
　
　〃Right；〃　I　said。　〃You　first；　Miss　Ross。　Up　you　go。〃
　
　〃Up？〃　She　turned　towards　me；　and　though　the　big　searchlight　lying　on　the　ground　was　no　help　in　letting　me　see　the　expression　of　her　face；　the　puzzled　tone　of　her　voice　was　exactly　right。　〃How？〃
　
　〃Same　way　as　you　did　before；〃　I　said　harshly。　My　anger　was　almost　out　of　control　now；　I　couldn't　have　restrained　myself　any　longer。　〃Jump　for　it。〃
　
　〃The　same　way…〃　She　stopped　in　mid…sentence　and　stared　at　me。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Her　voice　was　only　a　whisper。
　
　〃Jump　for　it；〃　I　said　implacably。
　
　She　turned　away　slowly　and　jumped。　Her　fingers　didn't　e　within　six　inches　of　the　sill。　She　tried　again；　got　no　nearer；　and　on　her　third　attempt　I　boosted　her　so　that　her　hands　hooked　over　the　sill。　She　hung　there　for　a　moment；　then　pulled　herself　up　a　few　inches；　cried　out　and　fell　heavily　to　the　ground。　Slowly；　dazedly　she　picked　herself　up　and　looked　at　me。　A　splendid　performance。
　
　〃I　can't　do　it；〃　she　said　huskily。　〃You　can　see　I　can't。　What　are　you　trying　to　do　to　me？　What's　wrong？〃　I　didn't　answer；　and　she　rushed　on。　〃I…I'm　not　staying　here。　I'm　going　back　to　the　cabin。〃
　
　〃Later。〃　I　caught　her　arm　roughly　as　she　made　to　move　away。　〃Stand　there　where　I　can　watch　you。〃　I　jumped　up；　wriggled　inside　the　control　cabin；　reached　down　and　pulled　her　up　after　me；　none　too　gently；　and　without　a　word　I　led　her　straight　into　the　galley。
　
　〃The　Mickey　Finn　dispensary；〃　I　observed。　〃An　ideal　quiet　spot　it　is；　too。〃　She　had　her　mask　off　now；　and　I　held　up　my　hand　to　forestall　her　as　she　opened　her　mouth　to　speak。　〃Dope；　Miss　Ross。　But　of　course　you　wouldn't　know　what　I'm　talking　about。〃
　
　She　stared　at　me　unblinkingly；　made　no　answer。
　
　〃You　were　sitting　here　when　the　plane　crashed；〃　I　went　on。　〃Possibly　on　this　little　stool　here？　Right？〃
　
　She　nodded；　again　without　speaking。
　
　〃And；　of　course；　were　flung　against　this　front　bulkhead　here。　Tell　me；　Miss　Ross；　where's　the　metal　projection　that　tore　this　hole　in　your　back？〃
　
　She　stared　at　the　lockers；　then　looked　slowly　back　to　me。
　
　〃Is…is　that　why　you've　brought　me　here…〃
　
　〃Where　is　it？〃　I　demanded。
　
　〃I　don't　know。〃　She　shook　her　head　from　side　to　side　and　took　a　backward　step。　〃What　does　it　matter？　And…and　dope…what　is　the　matter？　Please。〃
　
　I　took　her　arm　without　a　word　and　led　her　through　to　the　radio　cabin。　I　trained　the　torch　beam　on　to　the　top　of　the　radio　cabinet。
　
　〃Blood；　Miss　Ross。　And　some　navy　blue　fibres。　The　blood　from　the　cut　on　your　back；　the　fibres　from　your　tunic。　Here's　where　you　were　sitting…or　standing…when　the　plane　crashed。　Pity　it　caught　you　off　balance。　But　at　least　you　managed　to　retain　your　hold　on　your　gun。〃　She　was　gazing　at　me　now　with　sick　eyes；　and　her　face　was　a　mask　carved　from　white　papiermache。　〃Missed　your　cue；　Miss　Ross…your　next　line　of　dialogue　was　'What　gun？'。　I'll　tell　you…the　one　you　had　lined　up　on　the　second　officer。　Pity　you　hadn't　killed　him　then；　isn't　it？　But　you　made　a　good　job　of　it　later。　Smothering　makes　such　a　much　less　messy　job；　doesn't　it？〃
　
　〃Smothering？〃　She　had　to　try　three　times　before　she　got　the　word　out。
　
　〃On　cue；　on　time；〃　I　approved。　〃Smothering。　When　you　murdered　the　second　officer　in　the　cabin　last　night。〃
　
　〃You're　mad；〃　she　whispered。　Her　lips；　startlingly　red　against　the　ashen　face；　were　parted　and　the　brown　eyes；　enormous　with　fear　and　sick　despair。　〃You're　mad；〃　she　repeated　unsteadily。
　
　〃Crazy　as　a　loon；〃　I　agreed。　Again　I　caught　her　arm；　pulled　her