mreilly.icestation-第39部分

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　Schofield　stared　at　the　screen　intently。　
　The　Marine；　his　face　still　obscured　by　his　helmet；　bent　down　over　Schofield's　body　and　placed　two　fingers　on　Schofield's　blood…covered　throat。　
　〃He's　checking　your　pulse；〃　Renshaw　whispered。　
　That　was　exactly　what　he　was　doing；　Schofield　saw。　The　Marine　on　the　screen　waited　several　seconds　with　his　fingers　on　Schofield's　neck。　
　Schofield　didn't　take　his　eyes　off　the　screen。　
　The　Marine　on　the　screen　stood　up；　satisfied　that　Schofield　had　no　pulse。　He　uncocked　his　pistol；　put　it　back　in　its　holster。　
　〃And。。。　look　at　that；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃There's　nothing　there。〃　Renshaw　turned　to　face　Schofield。　〃Lieutenant；　I　do　believe　your　heart　just　stopped　beating。〃　
　Schofield　didn't　even　look　at　Renshaw　as　he　spoke。　His　eyes　were　glued　to　the　screen。　
　〃Now　look　at　what　he　does　here；〃　Renshaw　said。　'This　is　his　fatal　mistake。。。。〃　
　Schofield　watched　as　on　the　screen　the　Marine…his　face　still　masked　by　his　helmet…shoved　Schofield's　dead　body　across　the　deck　with　his　foot。　
　He　was　shoving　the　body　toward　the　pool。　
　After　two　strong　kicks；　Schofield's　body　was　lying　on　the　edge　of　the　deck；　right　next　to　the　water。　The　Marine　then　pushed　Schofield's　body　one　last　time　with　his　foot　and　the　body　fell　limply　into　the　water。　
　〃He　doesn't　know　it；〃　Renshaw　said；　〃but　that　guy　just　kick…started　your　heart。〃　
　〃How？〃　
　〃The　way　I　figure　it；　that　water's　so　cold；　it　acted　like　a　defibrillator…you　know；　those　electric…shock　paddles　they　use　on　TV　to　restart　peoples'　hearts。　The　shock　your　body　received　when　it　hit　that　water…and　let　me　tell　you；　that　would　have　been　one　hell　of　a　shock　to　a　body　that　wasn't　prepared　for　it…was　enough　to　jolt　your　heart　back　into　action。〃　
　Schofield　watched　the　screen。　
　The　Marine　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　deck　for　a　while；　watching　the　circle　of　ripples　that　indicated　the　spot　where　Schofield's　body　had　entered　the　inky　water。　After　about　thirty　seconds；　the　Marine　turned　and　looked　around　him。　
　And　at　that　moment；　as　the　Marine　turned；　Schofield　saw　something　that　made　his　blood　run　cold。　
　Oh；　no。。。；　he　thought。　
　The　Marine　then　turned　on　his　heel　and　quickly　walked　out　of　the　frame。　
　Schofield　turned　to　Renshaw；　his　mouth　agape。　
　〃It's　not　over　yet；〃　Renshaw　said；　interrupting　him　before　he　spoke。　〃Keep　watching。〃　
　Schofield　turned　back　to　face　the　screen。　
　He　saw　the　image　of　the　deck　and　the　pool。　Otherwise　there　was　nothing。　
　Nothing　was　happening。　
　Nothing　at　all。　
　There　was　no　one　on　the　deck。　No　movement　in　the　water。　
　A　full　minute　passed。　
　And　then　Schofield　saw　it。　
　〃What　the　hell。。。〃　he　said。　
　At　that　moment；　the　water　in　the　pool　seemed　to　part　of　its　own　accord　and　suddenly；　in　a　wash　of　bubbles　and　froth；　Schofield's　body…limp　and　lifeless…emerged　from　the　water。　
　Schofield　watched；　stunned。　
　But　it　was　what　came　after　his　body　that　truly　laid　him　cold。　
　Whatever　it　was；　it　was　absolutely　huge；　at　least　as　big　as　a　killer　whale。　
　But　this　was　no　killer　whale。　
　It　lifted　Schofield's　lifeless　body　out　of　the　water　and　deposited　it　gently　onto　the　deck。　Water　washed　out　onto　the　deck　all　around　Schofield's　limp　body　as　the　animal　leaped　up　onto　the　deck　after　him。　The　whole　deck　shuddered　under　its　immense　weight。　
　It　was　huge。　It　dwarfed　Schofield's　body。　Schofield　watched　it；　entranced。　
　It　was　a　seal　of　some　sort。　
　An　enormous；　gigantic　seal。　
　It　had　a　huge　blubbery　body；　layer　upon　layer　of　undulating　fat；　and　it　propped　itself　up　on　two　massive　foreflippers。　The　impression　that　Schofield　got　of　the　animal's　strength　was　overwhelming…to　hold　up　that　enormous　body　required　phenomenal　musculature。　It　must　have　weighed　at　least　eight　tons。　
　The　strangest　feature　of　all；　however；　was　the　animal's　teeth。　This　enormous　seal　had　two　long　inverted　fangs…fangs　that　protruded　from　its　lower　jaw　and　rose　up　in　front　of　its　nose。　
　〃What　the　hell　is　that？〃　Schofield　said　softly。　
　〃I　have　no　idea；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃The　nose；　the　eyes；　the　shape　of　the　head。　It　looks　like　an　elephant　seal。　But　I've　never　seen　one　so　big。　Or　with　teeth　like　that。　Elephant　seals　have　large　lower　canines；　but　I've　never　seen　one　with　lower　canines　that　big　before。〃　
　The　seal　on　the　screen　was　on　the　deck　now。　It　ducked　its　head　over　Schofield's　body。　It　seemed　to　be　sniffing　him。　It　slowly　made　its　way　up　his　inanimate　body；　until　finally　its　long　whiskers　brushed　against　his　nose。　Schofield　didn't　move　at　all。　
　And　then；　slowly；　very　slowly；　the　big　seal　began　to　open　its　mouth。　
　Right　in　front　of　Schofield's　face！　
　Its　jaws　parted…a　hideous；　obscene　yawn…revealing　the　animal's　enormous　lower　fangs。　The　massive　seal　leaned　forward　and　lowered　its　head。　Its　mouth　began　to　close　around　Schofield's　head。。。。　
　Schofield　stared　at　the　screen；　his　eyes　went　wide。　
　The　seal　was　about　to　bite　his　head　off。　
　It　was　going　to　eat　him！　
　And　then　suddenly　the　giant　seal　spun。　At　first；　Schofield　was　surprised　at　how　quickly　the　big　animal　moved。　The　deck　beneath　it　shook　as　it　turned　its　hulking　frame　around。　
　It　had　seen　something　offscreen。　
　The　seal　began　to　bark。　
　There　was　no　sound　on　the　monitor；　but　Schofield　could　see　it　barking。　It　bared　its　teeth。　Barked　and　barked。　It　shuffled　around；　agitated；　adopted　an　aggressive　stance。　The　muscles　on　its　huge　foreflippers　bulged　as　it　moved。　
　And　then　suddenly　the　big　seal　turned　and　dived　back　into　the　pool。　The　huge　splash　it　created　sent　waves　sloshing　up　over　the　deck；　all　over　Schofield's　unmoving　body。　
　〃Wait　for　it；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Here's　my　big　entrance。〃　
　At　that　moment；　Schofield　saw　another　man　step　into　the　frame。　This　man　was　not　wearing　a　Marine　helmet；　and　his　face　was　clearly　visible。　It　was　Renshaw。　
　On　the　screen；　Renshaw　hurried　forward　and　grabbed　Schofield's　body　by　the　armpits　and　dragged　him　quickly　out　of　the　camera's　field　of　vision…　
　Renshaw　hit　the　STOP　button　on　the　video　recorder。　
　〃And　that's　all　there　is；〃　he　said。　
　At　first；　Schofield　didn't　say　anything。　It　was　all　just　too　overwhelming。　
　First；　the　Marine　shooting　him　and　checking　his　pulse…　to　make　sure　that　he　was　dead…and　then　kicking　him　into　the　pool　so　that　there　would　be　no　trace。　
　And　then　the　elephant　seal。　
　The　massive　creature　that　had　lifted　Schofield's　body　out　of　the　water　and　placed　it　gently　on　the　poolside　deck　and　had　then　disappeared　back　into　the　murky　water。　
　Renshaw　said；　〃Now　do　you　understand　what　I　was　saying　about　you　being　clinically　dead？　That　guy　we　just　saw；　I　think　he　was　pretty　sure　that　you　were　dead。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃He　was　ready　to　put　a　bullet　in　my　head　if　he　wasn't　sure。〃　
　He　shook　his　head　at　the　thought　of　what　he　had　just　seen。　Death；　it　seemed；　had　just　saved　him　from　death。　〃Holy　shit。。。；〃　he　breathed。　
　He　stared　blankly　into　space　for　a　few　moments；　taking　it　all　in。　Then　he　blinked　quickly；　returning　to　the　present。　
　〃Can　you　rewind　that　tape；　please；〃　he　said　to　Renshaw。　He　had　just　remembered　something　about　the　image　of　the　Marine　who　had　shot　him；　something　that　the　sight　of　the　elephant　seal　had　temporarily　pushed　from　his　mind。　
　Renshaw　rewound　the　tape；　pressed　PLAY。　
　Schofield　saw　himself　walk　out　onto　the　deck。　
　〃Fast…forward　through　this；〃　he　said。　
　Renshaw　fast…forwarded　through　the　tape。　Schofield　watched　as　he　walked　around　the　deck　in　fast　motion　and　then　suddenly　fell　to　the　ground；　shot。　
　The　Marine　arrived。　Checked　Schofield's　pulse。　He　then　stood　up　and　starting　rolling　the　body　toward　the　pool　with　his　foot。　
　〃OK；　slow　down　here；〃　Schofield　said。　
　The　image　returned　to　normal　speed　just　as　the　Marine　shoved　Schofield's　body　a　final　time　and　the　body　dropped　into　the　water。　
　〃OK；　get　ready　to　stop　it；〃　Schofield　said；　watching　the　screen　intently。　
　On　the　screen；　the　Marine　was　standing　at　the　water's　edge；　looking　down　into　the　pool　at　the　spot　where　Scho…field's　body　had　entered　the　water。　
　Then　the　Marine　turned　and　looked　about　himself。　
　〃There！〃　Schofield　said。　〃Stop　it　there！〃　
　Renshaw　quickly　hit　the　PAUSE　button　on　the　VCR；　and　the　image　on　the　screen　froze。　
　The　screen　showed　the　top　portion　of　the　Marine's　helmet。　The　man's　shoulders　had　also　rotated　upward　slightly　as　he　had　turned　to　look　about　himself。　
　〃I　don't　get　it；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃You　still　can't　see　his　face。〃　
　〃I'm　not　looking　at　his　face；〃　Schofield　said。　
　And　he　wasn't。　
　He　was　looking　at　the　man's　shoulders。　At　the　man's　right　shoulder　plate。　
　The　image　on　the　screen　was　grainy；　but　Schofield　could　see　the　shoulder　plate　clearly。　
　A　picture　had　been　painted　onto　it。　
　Schofield　felt　a　sliver　of　ice　run　down　his　spine　as　he　stared　at　the　picture　that　had　been　tattooed　onto　the　man's　shoulder　plate。　
　It　was　a　picture　of　a　cobra；　with　its　jaws　bared　wide。　
　
　
　
　In　the　dark　storeroom　down　on　E…deck；　Mother　rested　her　head　gently　against　the　cold；　icy　wall。　
　She　shut　her　eyes。　It　had　been　about　a　half　hour　since　anyone　had　e　to　check　on　her；　and　she　expected　Buck　Riley　to　e　by　soon。　Her　leg　was　starting　to　ache；　and　she　was　itching　for　another　hit　of　methadone。　
　She　took　a　deep　breath；　tried　to　shut　out　the　pain。　
　After　a　moment；　however；　she　had　a　strange　sensation　thai　someone　else　was　in　the　room　with　her。。。。　
　Slowly；　Mother　opened　her　eyes。　
　Someone　was　standing　in　the　doorway。　
　A　man。　A　Marine。　
　He　just　stood　there；　like　a　statue；　silhouetted　in　the　doorway。　His　face　was　cloaked　in　shadow。　He　didn't　say　a　word。　
　〃Book？〃　Mother　said；　sitting　upright。　She　squinted；　took　a　closer　look；　tried　to　see　who　it　was。　
　She　stopped；　startled。　
　It　wasn't　Book。　
　Book　was　shorter　than　whoever　this　was；　more　rounded。　This　Marine　was　tall　and　lean。　
　The　Marine　still　didn't　speak。　He　just　stood　there；　staring　at　Mother；　his　features　covered　in　darkness。　Mother　realized　who　it　was。　
　〃Snake；〃　she　said。　〃What's　the　matter？　Don't　you　talk　anymore？　Cat　got　your　tongue？〃　
　Snake　didn't　move　from　the　doorway。　He　just　kept　staring　at　Mother。　
　When　he　spoke；　Mother　didn't　see　his　mouth　move。　Hisface　was　low；　rough。　〃I'm　here　instead　of　Book；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　here　to　take　ca