alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第7部分

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d　round　either　wrist；　and　remembered　that　Jackstraw　had　said　something　about　her　back　being　injured。　But　there　was　no　time　for　such　things　now。
　
　I　jumped　down　and　a　couple　of　seconds　later　the　big　young　man　joined　me。　I　hadn't　intended　that　he　should　e；　but　there　was　no　harm　in　it：　he　had　to　go　sometime；　and　there　was　no　question　of　his　having　to　ride　on　the　sledge。
　
　The　wind　had　eased　a　little；　perhaps；　but　the　cold　was　crueller　than　ever。　Even　the　dogs　cowered　miserably　in　the　lee　of　the　plane：　now　and　again　one　of　them　stretched　out　a　neck　in　protest　and　gave　its　long；　mournful　wolf　call；　a　sound　eerie　beyond　description。　But　their　misery　was　all　to　the　good：　as　Jackstraw　said；　they　were　mad　to　run。
　
　And；　with　the　wind　and　ice…drift　behind　them；　run　they　did。　At　first　I　led　the　way　with　the　torch；　but　Balto；　the　big　lead　dog；　brushed　me　aside　and　raced　on　into　the　darkness：　I　had　sense　enough　to　let　him　have　his　head。　He　followed　the　twisting　route　of　the　plane's　snow…furrow；　the　bamboos；　homing　spool　and　antenna　line　as　swiftly　and　unerringly　as　if　it　had　been　broad　daylight；　and　the　polished　steel　runners　of　the　sledge　fairly　hissed　across　the　snow。　The　frozen　ground　was　smooth　and　flat　as　river　ice；　no　ambulance　could　have　carried　the　wireless　operator　as　fortably　as　our　sledge　did　that　night。
　
　It　took　us　no　more　than　five　minutes　to　reach　the　cabin；　and　in　three　more　minutes　we　were　on　our　way　again。　They　were　a　busy　three　minutes。　Jackstraw　lit　the　oil　stove；　oil　lamp　and　Colman　pressure　lamp；　while　Joss　and　I　put　the　injured　man　on　a　collapsible　cot　before　the　stove；　worked　him　into　my　sleeping…bag；　slid　in　half　a　dozen　heat　pads…waterproof　pads　containing　a　chemical　which　gave　off　heat　when　water　was　added…placed　a　rolled　up　blanket　under　his　neck　to　keep　the　back　of　his　head　off　the　cot；　and　zipped　the　sleeping…bag　shut。　I　had　surgical　instruments　enough　to　do　what　had　to　be　done；　but　it　had　to　wait：　not　so　much　because　we　had　others　still　to　rescue；　urgent　enough　though　that　was；　but　the　man　lying　at　our　feet；　so　still；　so　ashen…faced；　was　suffering　so　severely　from　shock　and　exposure　that　to　touch　him　would　have　been　to　kill　him：　I　was　astonished　that　he　had　managed　to　survive　even　this　long。
　
　I　told　the　stewardess　to　make　some　coffee；　gave　her　the　necessary　instructions；　and　then　we　left　her　and　the　big　young　man　together：　the　girl　heating　a　pan　over　a　pile　of　meta　tablets；　the　young　man　staring　incredulously　into　a　mirror　as　he　kneaded　a　frost…bitten　cheek　and　chin　with　one　hand；　and　with　another　held　a　cold　press　to　a　frozen　ear。　We　took　with　us　the　warm　clothes　we　had　lent　them；　some　rolls　of　bandages；　and　left。
　
　Ten　minutes　later　we　were　back　inside　the　plane。　Despite　its　insulation；　the　temperature　inside　the　main　cabin　had　already　dropped　at　least　thirty　degrees　and　almost　everyone　was　shivering　with　the　cold；　one　or　two　beating　their　arms　to　keep　themselves　warm。　Even　the　Dixie　colonel　was　looking　very　subdued。　The　elderly　lady；　fur　coat　tightly　wrapped　around　her；　looked　at　her　watch　and　smiled。
　
　〃Twenty　minutes；　exactly。　You　are　very　prompt；　young　man。〃
　
　〃We　try　to　be　of　service。〃　I　dumped　the　pile　of　clothes　I　was　carrying　on　a　seat；　nodded　at　them　and　the　contents　of　a　gunny　sack　Joss　and　Jackstraw　were　emptying。　〃Share　these　out　between　you　and　be　as　quick　as　you　can。　I　want　you　to　get　out　at　once…my　two　friends　here　will　take　you　back。　Perhaps　one　of　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　remain　behind。〃　I　looked　to　where　the　young　girl　still　sat　alone　in　her　back　seat；　still　holding　her　left　forearm　in　her　hand。　〃I'll　need　some　help　to　fix　this　young　lady　up。〃
　
　〃Fix　her　up？〃　It　was　the　expensive　young　woman　in　the　expensive　furs　speaking　for　the　first　time。　Her　voice　was　expensive　as　the　rest　of　her　and　made　me　want　to　reach　for　a　hairbrush。　〃Why？　What　on　earth　is　the　mattef　with　her？〃
　
　〃Her　collar…bone　is　broken；〃　I　said　shortly。
　
　〃Collar…bone　broken？〃　The　elderly　lady　was　on　her　feet；　her　face　a　nice　mixture　of　concern　and　indignation。　〃And　she's　been　sitting　there　alone　all　this　time…why　didn't　you　tell　us；　you　silly　man？〃
　
　〃I　forgot；〃　I　replied　mildly。　〃Besides；　what　good　would　it　have　done？〃　I　looked　down　at　the　girl　in　the　mink　coat。　Goodness　only　knew　that　I　didn't　particularly　want　her；　but　the　injured　girl　had　struck　me　as　being　almost　painfully　shy；　and　I　was　sure　she'd　prefer　to　have　one　of　her　own　sex　around。　〃Would　you　like　to　give　me　a　hand？〃
　
　She　stared　at　me；　a　cold　surprised　stare　that　would　have　been　normal　enough　had　I　made　some　outrageous　or　improper　request；　but　before　she　could　answer　the　elderly　lady　broke　in　again。
　
　〃I'll　stay　behind。　I'd　love　to　help。〃
　
　〃Well…〃　I　began　doubtfully；　but　she　interrupted　immediately。
　
　〃Well　yourself。　What's　the　matter？　Think　I'm　too　old；　hey？〃
　
　〃No；　no；　of　course　not；〃　I　protested。
　
　〃A　fluent　liar；　but　a　gallant　one。〃　She　grinned。　〃e　on；　we're　wasting　this　valuable　time　you're　always　so　concerned　about。〃　We　brought　the　girl　into　the　first　of　the　rear　seats；　where　there　was　plenty　of　space　between　that　and　the　first　of　the　rearward　facing　front　seats；　and　had　just　worked　her　coat　off　when　Joss　called　me。
　
　〃We're　off　now；　sir。　Back　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　
　As　the　door　closed　behind　the　last　of　them　and　I　broke　open　a　roll　of　bandage；　the　old　lady　looked　quizzically　at　me。
　
　〃Know　what　you're　doing；　young　man？〃
　
　〃More　or　less。　I'm　a　doctor。〃
　
　〃Doctor；　hey？〃　She　looked　at　me　with　open　suspicion；　and　what　with　my　bulky；　oil…streaked　and　smelly　furs；　not　to　mention　the　fact　that　I　hadn't　shaved　for　three　days；　I　suppose　there　was　justification　enough　for　it。　〃You　sure？〃
　
　〃Sure　I'm　sure；〃　I　said　irritably。　〃What　do　you　expect　me　to　do…whip　my　medical　degree　out　from　under　this　parka　or　just　wear　round　my　neck　a　brass　plate　giving　my　consulting　hours？〃
　
　〃We'll　get　along；　young　man；〃　she　chuckled。　She　patted　my　arm；　then　turned　to　the　young　girl。　〃What's　your　name；　my　dear？〃
　
　〃Helene。〃　We　could　hardly　catch　it；　the　voice　was　so　low：　her　embarrassment　was　positively　painful。
　
　〃Helene？　A　lovely　name。〃　And　indeed；　the　way　she　said　it　made　it　sound　so。　〃You're　not　British；　are　you？　Or　American？〃
　
　〃I'm　from　Germany；　madam。〃
　
　〃Don't　call　me　'madam'。　You　know；　you　speak　English　beautifully。　Germany；　hey？　Bavaria；　for　a　guess？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃　The　rather　plain　face　was　transfigured　in　a　smile；　and　I　mentally　saluted　the　old　lady　for　the　ease　with　which　she　was　distracting　the　young　girl's　thoughts　from　the　pain。　〃Munich。　Perhaps　you　know　it？〃
　
　〃Like　the　back　of　my　hand；〃　she　said　placently。　〃And　not　just　the　Hofbrauhaus　either。　You're　still　very　young；　aren't　you？〃
　
　〃I'm　seventeen。〃
　
　〃Seventeen。〃　A　nostalgic　sigh。　〃Ah；　my　dear；　I　remember　when　I　was　seventeen。　A　different　world。　There　was　no　trans…Atlantic　airliner　in　those　days；　I　can　tell　you。〃
　
　〃In　fact；〃　I　murmured；　〃the　Wright　brothers　were　hardly　airborne。〃　The　face　had　been　more　than　familiar　to　me；　and　I　was　annoyed　that　I　should　have　taken　so　long　in　placing　it：　I　suppose　it　was　because　her　normal　setting　was　so　utterly　different　from　this　bleak　and　frozen　world。
　
　〃Being　insulting；　young　man？〃　she　queried。　But　there　was　no　offence　in　her　face。
　
　〃I　can't　imagine　anyone　ever　insulting　you。　The　world　was　at　your　feet　even　in　the　Edwardian　days；　Miss　LeGarde。〃
　
　〃You　know　me；　then？〃　She　seemed　genuinely　pleased。
　
　〃It　would　be　difficult　to　find　anyone　who　doesn't　know　the　name　of　Marie　LeGarde。〃　I　nodded　at　the　young　girl。　〃See；　Helene　knows　it　too。〃　And　it　was　clear　from　the　awe…struck　expression　on　the　young　German　girl's　face　that　the　name　meant　as　much　to　her　as　to　me。　Twenty　years　queen　of　the　music…hall；　thirty　years　queen　of　the　musical　edy　stage；　beloved　wherever　she　was　known　less　for　her　genius　than　for　the　innate　kindliness　and　goodness　which　she　tried　to　conceal　from　the　world　with　a　waspish　tongue；　*　for　the　half…dozen　orphanages　she　maintained　in　Britain　and　Europe；　Marie　LeGarde　was　one　of　the　few　truly　international　names　in　the　world　of　entertainment。
　
　〃Yes；　yes；　I　see　you　know　my　name。〃　Marie　LeGarde　smiled　at　me。　〃But　how　did　you　know　me？〃
　
　〃From　your　photograph；　naturally。　I　saw　it　in　Life　the　other　week；　Miss　LeGarde。〃
　
　〃　'Marie'；　to　my　friends。〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　you；〃　I　protested。
　
　〃I　paid　a　small　fortune　to　have　that　photograph　retouched　and　made　briefly　presentable；〃　she　answered　obliquely。　〃It　was　a　splendid　photograph；　inasmuch　as　it　bore　precious　little　resemblance　to　the　face　that　I　carry　about　with　me。　Anyone　who　recognises　me　from　that　is　my　friend　for　life。　Besides；〃　she　smiled；　〃I　bear　nothing　but　the　most　amicable　feelings　towards　people　who　save　my　life。〃
　
　I　said　nothing；　just　concentrated　on　finishing　the　job　of　strapping　up　Helene's　arm　and　shoulders　as　quickly　as　possible：　she　was　blue　with　cold；　and　shivering　uncontrollably。　But　she　hadn't　uttered　a　murmur　throughout；　and　smiled　gratefully　at　me　when　I　was　finished。　Marie　LeGarde　regarded　my　handiwork　approvingly。
　
　〃I　really　do　believe　you　have　picked　up　some　smattering　of　your　trade　along　the　way；　Doctor…ah…〃
　
　〃Mason。　Peter　Mason；　Peter　to　my　friends。〃
　
　〃　'Peter'　it　shall　be。　e　on；　Helene；　into　your　clothes　as　fast　as　you　like。〃
　
　Fifteen　minutes　later　we　were　back　in　the　cabin。　Jackstraw　went　to　unharness　the　dogs　and　secure　them　to　the　tethering　cable；　while　Joss　and　I　helped　the　two　women　down　the　ice…coated　steps　from　the　trap…door。　But　I　had　no　sooner　reached　the　foot　of　the　steps　than　I　had　forgotten　all　about　Marie　LeGarde　and　Helene　and　was　staring　unbelievingly　at　the　tableau　before　me。　I　was　just　vaguely　aware　of　Joss　by　my　shoulder；　and　anger　and　dismay　on　his　face　slowly　giving　way　to　a　kind　of　reluctant　horror。　For　what　we　saw；　though　it　concerned　us　all；　concerned　him　most　of　all。
　
　The　injured　wireless　operator　still　lay　where　we　had　left　him。　All　the　others　were　there　too；　grouped　in　a　rough　semi…circle　round　him　and　round　a　cleared　space　to　the　left　of　the　stove。　By　their　feet　in　the　centre　of　this　space；　upside　down　and　with　one　corner　pletely　stove　in　on　the