p&c.icelimit-第29章

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　The　bartender　roared　with　laughter。　〃Both。〃
　〃When　will　he　be　sober？〃
　The　man　leaned　down；　rummaged　through　Puppup's　pockets；　and　pulled　out　a　small　wad　of　dirty　bills。　He　counted　them；　then　shoved　them　back。
　〃He　will　be　sober　on　Tuesday　next。〃
　〃But　he　has　been　hired　by　our　vessel。〃
　The　bartender　laughed　again；　more　cynically。
　Glinn　thought　a　moment；　or　at　least　gave　the　appearance　of　doing　so。　〃We　have　orders　to　bring　him　on　board。　May　I　trouble　you　for　the　hire　of　two　of　your　customers　to　help　us？〃
　The　bartender　nodded　and　walked　back　to　the　bar；　returning　with　two　burly　men。　A　few　words　were　spoken；　money　was　exchanged；　and　the　two　lifted　Puppup　from　the　bench　and　slung　his　arms　around　their　shoulders。　His　head　lolled　forward。　In　their　grasp；　he　looked　as　light　and　fragile　as　a　dry　leaf。
　McFarlane　took　a　deep；　grateful　breath　of　air　as　they　stepped　outside。　It　stank；　but　it　was　better　than　the　stale　atmosphere　of　the　bar。　Britton；　who　had　been　standing　in　the　shadows　on　a　far　corner；　came　forward。　Her　eyes　narrowed　at　the　sight　of　Puppup。
　〃He's　not　much　to　look　at　now；〃　Glinn　said。　〃But　he'll　make　an　excellent　harbor　pilot。　He's　been　traversing　the　waters　of　the　Cape　Horn　islands　by　canoe　for　fifty　years；　he　knows　all　the　currents；　winds；　weather；　reefs；　and　tides。〃　
　Britton　raised　her　eyebrows。　〃This　old　man？〃
　Glinn　nodded。　〃As　I　told　Lloyd　this　morning；　he's　half　Yaghan。　They　were　the　original　inhabitants　of　the　Cape　Horn　islands。　He's　practically　the　last　one　left　who　knows　the　language；　songs；　and　legends。　He　spends　most　of　his　time　roaming　the　islands；　living　off　shellfish；　plants；　and　roots。　If　you　asked　him；　he'd　probably　tell　you　the　Cape　Horn　islands　are　his。〃
　〃How　picturesque；〃　said　McFarlane。
　Glinn　turned　to　McFarlane。　〃Yes。　And　he　also　happens　to　be　the　one　who　found　your　partner's　body。〃
　McFarlane　stopped　dead。
　〃That's　right；〃　Glinn　continued　in　an　undertone。　〃He's　the　one　who　collected　the　tomographic　sounder　and　the　rock　samples　and　sold　them　in　Punta　Arenas。　On　top　of　everything　else；　his　absence　in　Puerto　Williams　will　be　most　helpful　to　us。　Now　that　we　have　attracted　attention　to　Isla　Desolacion；　he　won't　be　around　to　gossip　and　spread　rumor。〃
　McFarlane　looked　again　at　the　drunk。　〃So　he's　the　bastard　who　robbed　my　partner。〃
　Glinn　laid　a　hand　on　McFarlane's　arm。　〃He's　extremely　poor。　He　found　a　dead　man　with　some　valuable　things。　It's　understandable；　and　forgivable；　that　he'd　look　to　make　a　small　profit。　There　was　no　harm　in　it。　If　not　for　him；　your　old　friend　might　still　be　lying　undiscovered。　And　you　would　not　have　the　opportunity　to　finish　his　work。〃
　McFarlane　pulled　away；　even　as　he　was　forced　to　admit　to　himself　that　Glinn　was　right。
　〃He　will　be　most　useful　to　us；〃　Glinn　said。　〃I　can　promise　you　that。〃
　Silently　McFarlane　followed　the　group　as　they　made　their　way　down　the　murky　hillside　toward　the　harbor。
　
　Rolvaag；
　2：50　P。M。
　
　BY　THE　time　the　launch　exited　the　Beagle　Channel　and　approached　the　Rolvaag；　a　heavy；　bitter　fog　had　enveloped　the　sea。　The　small　group　remained　inside　the　wheelhouse；　huddled　on　flotation　cushions；　barely　speaking。　Puppup；　who　was　propped　upright　between　Glinn　and　Sally　Britton；　showed　no　signs　of　regaining　consciousness。　However；　several　times　he　had　to　be　prevented　from　nodding　to　one　side　and　snuggling　himself　against　the　captain's　pea　coat。
　〃Is　he　shamming？〃　the　captain　asked；　as　she　plucked　the　old　man's　frail…looking　hand　from　her　lapel　and　gently　pushed　him　away。
　Glinn　smiled。　McFarlane　noticed　that　the　cigarettes；　the　racking　cough；　the　rheumy　eyes　had　all　vanished；　the　cool　presence　had　returned。
　Ahead；　the　ghostly　outline　of　the　tanker　now　appeared　above　the　heavy　swell；　its　sides　rising；　rising　above　them；　only　to　disappear　again　into　the　soupy　atmosphere。　The　launch　came　alongside　and　was　hoisted　into　its　davits。　As　they　went　aboard；　Puppup　began　to　stir。　McFarlane　helped　him　shakily　to　his　feet　in　the　swirling　fog。　Couldn't　weigh　more　than　ninety　pounds；　he　thought。
　〃John　Puppup？〃　Glinn　said　in　his　mild　voice。　〃I　am　Eli　Glinn。〃
　Puppup　took　his　hand　and　gave　it　a　silent　shake。　He　then　solemnly　shook　hands　with　everyone　else　around　him；　including　the　launch　tender；　a　steward；　and　two　surprised　deckhands。　He　shook　the　captain's　hand　last　and　longest　of　all。
　〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Glinn　asked。
　The　man　looked　around　with　bright　black　eyes；　stroking　his　thin　mustache。　He　seemed　to　be　neither　surprised　nor　perturbed　by　the　strange　surroundings。
　〃Mr。　Puppup；　you're　probably　wondering　what　you're　doing　here。〃
　Puppup's　hand　suddenly　dove　into　his　pocket　and　removed　the　wad　of　soiled　money；　he　counted　it；　grunted　with　satisfaction　that　he　hadn't　been　robbed；　and　replaced　it。
　Glinn　gestured　toward　the　steward。　〃Mr。　Davies　here　will　see　you　to　your　cabin；　where　you　can　get　washed　up　and　put　on　a　fresh　change　of　clothes。　Does　that　suit　you？〃
　Puppup　looked　at　Glinn　curiously。
　〃Maybe　he　doesn't　speak　English；〃　McFarlane　murmured。
　Puppup's　eyes　swiftly　fixed　on　him。　〃Speaks　the　king's　own；　I　does。〃　His　voice　was　high　and　melodious；　and　through　it　McFarlane　heard　a　plex　fugue　of　accents；　Cockney　English　strongly　predominating。
　〃I'll　be　happy　to　answer　all　your　questions　once　you've　had　a　chance　to　settle　in；〃　Glinn　said。　〃We　will　meet　in　the　library　tomorrow　morning。〃　He　nodded　to　Davies。
　Without　another　word；　Puppup　turned　away。　All　eyes　followed　him　as　the　steward　led　the　way　into　the　aft　superstructure。
　Overhead；　the　ship's　blower　rasped　into　life。　〃Captain　to　the　bridge；〃　came　the　metallic　voice　of　Victor　Howell。
　〃What's　up？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　Britton　shook　her　head。　〃Let's　find　out。〃
　
　The　bridge　looked　out　into　an　all…enveloping　cloud　of　gray。　Nothing；　not　even　the　deck　of　the　ship；　was　visible。　As　he　stepped　through　the　door；　McFarlane　caught　the　tense　atmosphere　within。　Instead　of　the　normal　skeleton　plement；　there　were　half　a　dozen　ship's　officers　on　the　bridge。　From　the　radio　room；　he　could　hear　the　high…speed　clatter　of　a　puter　keyboard。
　〃What　do　we　have；　Mr。　Howell？〃　Britton　asked　calmly。
　Howell　looked　up　from　a　nearby　screen。　〃Radar　contact。〃
　〃Who　is　it？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　〃Unknown。　They're　not　responding　to　our　hails。　Given　its　speed　and　radar　cross…section；　it's　probably　a　gunboat。〃　He　peered　back；　throwing　some　switches。　〃Too　far　to　get　a　good　look　on　the　FLIR。〃
　〃Where　away？〃　Britton　asked。
　〃They　seem　to　be　circling；　as　if　searching　for　something。　Wait　a　moment；　the　course　has　steadied。　Eight　miles；　bearing　one　six　zero　true；　and　closing。　The　ESM's　picking　up　radar。　We're　being　painted。〃
　The　captain　joined　him　quickly　and　peered　into　the　radar　hood。　〃They're　CBDR。　Estimated　time　to　CPA？〃
　〃Twelve　minutes；　at　current　speed　and　heading。〃
　〃What　does　all　that　alphabet　soup　mean？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　Britton　glanced　at　him。　〃CBDR　…　constant　bearing　and　decreasing　range。〃
　〃Collision　course；〃　Howell　murmured。
　Britton　turned　to　the　third　officer；　who　was　manning　the　mand　station。　〃Are　we　under　way？〃
　The　officer　nodded。　〃Steam's　up；　ma'am。　We're　on　dynamic　positioning。〃
　〃Tell　the　engine　room　to　goose　it。〃
　〃Aye；　aye。〃　The　officer　picked　up　a　black…handled　telephone。
　There　was　a　low　shudder　as　the　ship's　engines　revved。　Anticollision　alarms　began　to　sound。
　〃Taking　evasive　action？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　Britton　shook　her　head。　〃We're　too　big　for　that；　even　with　engine　steering。　But　we're　going　to　give　it　a　shot。〃
　From　far　above　on　the　radar　mast；　the　ship's　foghorn　gave　a　deafening　blast。
　〃Course　unchanged；〃　Howell　said；　head　glued　to　the　radar　hood。
　〃Helm's　answering；〃　said　the　third　officer。
　〃Rudder　amidships。〃　Britton　walked　toward　the　radio　room　and　opened　the　gray　metal　door。　〃Any　luck；　Banks？〃
　〃No　response。〃
　McFarlane　walked　to　the　forward　bank　of　windows。　The　line　of　wipers　was　clearing　the　film　of　mist　and　sleet　that　seemed　to　constantly　renew　itself。　Sunlight　struggled　to　break　through　the　heavy　gauze　beyond。　〃Can't　they　hear　us？〃　he　asked。
　〃Of　course　they　can；〃　Glinn　said　quietly。　〃They　know　perfectly　well　we're　here。〃
　〃Course　unchanged；〃　Howell　murmured；　peering　into　the　radar　hood。