p&c.icelimit-第32章

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　The　captain　stared　at　him。　〃In　this　weather？〃
　Banks　stepped　back　out　of　the　radio　room。　〃They're　requesting　permission　to　land；　ma'am。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Howell　cried。　〃We're　in　the　middle　of　a　Force　8　gale。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you　have　a　choice；〃　Glinn　said。
　
　Over　the　next　ten　minutes；　there　was　an　explosion　of　activity　as　preparations　were　made　for　a　landing。　When　McFarlane　arrived　at　the　hatchway　leading　out　onto　the　fantail；　Glinn　at　his　side；　a　stern…looking　crewman　wordlessly　issued　them　safety　harnesses。　McFarlane　tugged　the　bulky　thing　on　and　snapped　it　into　place。　The　crewman　gave　it　a　quick　tug；　grunted　his　approval；　then　undogged　the　hatch。
　As　McFarlane　stepped　through；　the　blast　of　wind　threatened　to　carry　him　over　the　railing。　With　an　effort；　he　snapped　his　harness　to　the　external　railing　and　moved　toward　the　landing　pad。　Crewmen　were　stationed　along　the　deck；　their　harnesses　securely　strapped　to　the　metal　railings。　Even　though　the　ship　had　throttled　back　her　engines　to　just　enough　power　to　claw　a　steerageway　through　the　seas；　the　deck　pitched。　A　dozen　flares　were　snapped　on　and　placed　around　the　perimeter；　fitful　sprays　of　crimson　against　the　driving　sleet　and　snow。
　〃There　it　is！〃　somebody　cried。
　McFarlane　squinted　into　the　storm。　In　the　distance；　the　huge　form　of　a　Chinook　helicopter　hung　in　the　air；　running　lights　glowing。　As　he　watched；　the　helicopter　approached；　yawing　from　left　to　right　as　gusts　of　wind　hit　it。　An　alarm　suddenly　screamed　nearby；　and　a　series　of　orange　warning　lights　lit　up　the　Rolvaag's　superstructure。　McFarlane　could　hear　the　beat　of　the　chopper's　engines　straining　against　the　fury　of　the　storm。　Howell　shouted　directions　through　a　bullhorn　even　as　he　kept　the　radio　plastered　to　his　face。
　Now　the　chopper　was　banking　into　hover　position。　McFarlane　could　see　the　pilot　in　the　nose；　struggling　with　the　controls。　The　sleet　pelted　them　with　the　redoubled　blast　from　the　blades。　The　chopper's　belly　bucked　from　side　to　side　as　it　gingerly　approached　the　swaying　deck。　A　violent　gust　sent　it　shearing　to　one　side；　and　the　pilot　quickly　banked　away；　ing　around　for　a　second　attempt。　There　was　a　desperate　moment　where　McFarlane　felt　sure　the　pilot　would　lose　control；　but　then　its　tires　settled　onto　the　pad　and　crewmen　rushed　to　place　wooden　chocks　beneath　its　wheels。　The　cargo　door　rolled　open。　A　flurry　of　men；　women；　machines；　and　equipment　tumbled　out。
　And　then　McFarlane　saw　the　unmistakable　figure　of　Lloyd　drop　to　the　wet　surface　of　the　pad；　larger　than　life　in　foul…weather　gear　and　boots。　He　jogged　from　the　underside　of　the　aircraft；　the　sou'wester　on　his　head　whipping　back　in　the　storm。　Catching　sight　of　McFarlane　and　Glinn；　he　gave　an　enthusiastic　wave。　A　crewman　raced　to　secure　a　safety　belt　and　harness　to　him；　but　Lloyd　motioned　him　away。　He　walked　up；　wiping　the　rain　from　his　face；　and　grasped　McFarlane　and　Glinn　by　the　hands。
　〃Gentlemen；〃　he　boomed　over　the　storm；　a　huge　smile　on　his　face。　〃The　coffee's　on　me。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　11：15　A。M。
　
　GLANCING　AT　his　watch；　McFarlane　entered　the　elevator　and　punched　a　button　for　the　middle　bridge　deck。　He'd　passed　this　empty　deck　many　times；　wondering　why　Glinn　had　always　kept　it　off…limits。　Now；　as　the　elevator　rose　smoothly；　he　realized　what　it　had　been　reserved　for。　It　was　as　if　Glinn　had　known　all　along　that　Lloyd　would　be　dropping　in。
　The　elevator　doors　opened　to　a　scene　of　frantic　activity：　the　ringing　of　phones；　the　whirr　of　faxes　and　printers；　and　the　bustle　of　people。　There　were　several　secretaries　at　desks　ranged　along　one　wall；　men　and　women　taking　calls；　typing　at　workstations；　scuttling　about　on　Lloyd　Holdings　business。
　A　man　in　a　light…colored　suit　approached　him；　threading　his　way　through　the　hubbub。　McFarlane　recognized　the　oversized　ears；　drooping　mouth；　and　fat　pursed　lips　as　belonging　to　Penfold；　Lloyd's　personal　assistant。　Penfold　never　seemed　to　walk　toward　anything；　but　instead　approached　from　an　angle；　as　if　a　direct　approach　would　be　too　brazen。
　〃Dr。　McFarlane？〃　Penfold　said　in　his　high；　nervous　voice。　〃This　way；　please。〃
　He　led　McFarlane　through　a　door；　down　a　corridor；　and　into　a　small　sitting　room；　with　black　leather　sofas　arranged　around　a　glass…　and　gold…leafed　table。　A　door　opened　into　yet　another　office；　and　from　it　McFarlane　could　hear　Lloyd's　basso　profundo　voice。
　〃Please　sit　down；〃　said　Penfold。　〃Mr。　Lloyd　will　be　with　you　shortly。〃　He　vanished；　and　McFarlane　settled　back　into　the　creaking　leather　sofa。　There　was　a　wall　of　television　sets　tuned　to　various　news　channels　from　around　the　world。　The　latest　magazines　lay　on　the　table：　Scientific　American；　the　New　Yorker；　and　the　New　Republic。　McFarlane　picked　one　up；　began　flipping　through　it　absently；　then　put　it　down　again。　Why　had　Lloyd　e　down　so　abruptly？　Had　something　gone　wrong？
　〃Sam！〃　Looking　up；　he　saw　the　huge　man　standing　in　the　doorway；　filling　it　with　his　bulk；　radiating　power；　good　humor；　and　boundless　self…confidence。
　McFarlane　rose。　Lloyd　moved　toward　him；　beaming；　arms　outstretched。　〃Sam；　it's　fine　to　see　you　again。〃　He　squeezed　McFarlane's　shoulders　between　his　beefy　palms　and　examined　him；　still　gripping　his　shoulders。　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　exciting　it　is　to　be　here。　e　in。〃
　McFarlane　followed　Lloyd's　broad　back；　beautifully　draped　in　Valentino。　Lloyd's　inner　office　was　spare：　a　row　of　windows；　the　cold　light　of　the　Antarctic　regions　flooding　in；　two　simple　wing　chairs；　a　desk　with　a　phone；　a　laptop　puter　…　and　two　wineglasses　beside　a　freshly　opened　bottle　of　Chateau　Margaux。
　Lloyd　gestured　at　the　wine。　〃Care　for　a　glass？〃
　McFarlane　grinned；　and　nodded。　Lloyd　poured　the　ruby　liquid　into　a　glass；　filling　another　for　himself。　He　settled　his　bulk　into　a　chair；　and　held　his　glass　up。　〃Cheers。〃
　They　clinked　and　McFarlane　sipped　the　exquisite　wine。　He　wasn't　much　of　a　connoisseur；　but　even　the　grossest　palate　could　appreciate　this。
　〃I　hate　Glinn's　habit　of　keeping　me　in　the　dark；〃　Lloyd　said。　〃Why　wasn't　I　told　about　this　being　a　dry　ship；　Sam？　Or　about　Britton's　history？　I　can't　fathom　Glinn's　thinking　on　this　one。　He　should　have　briefed　me　back　in　Elizabeth。　Thank　God　there's　been　no　problem。〃
　〃She's　an　excellent　captain；〃　McFarlane　said。　〃She's　handled　the　ship　with　great　skill。　Knows　it　inside　and　out。　Crew　respects　the　hell　out　of　her。　Doesn't　take　guff　from　anybody；　either。〃
　Lloyd　listened；　frowning。　〃That's　good　to　know。〃　The　phone　buzzed。　Lloyd　picked　it　up。　〃Yes？〃　he　said　impatiently。　〃I'm　in　a　meeting。〃
　There　was　a　pause　while　Lloyd　listened。　McFarlane　watched　him；　thinking　that　what　Lloyd　had　said　about　Glinn　was　true。　Secretiveness　was　a　habit　with　Glinn　…　or；　perhaps；　an　instinct。
　〃I'll　call　the　senator　back；〃　Lloyd　said　after　a　moment。　〃And　no　more　calls。〃　He　strode　over　to　the　window　and　stood；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　Although　the　worst　of　the　storm　had　passed；　the　panoramic　windows　remained　streaked　with　sleet。　〃Magnificent；〃　Lloyd　breathed；　something　like　reverence　in　his　voice。　〃To　think　we'll　be　at　the　island　within　the　hour。　Christ；　Sam；　we're　almost　there！〃
　He　swiveled　away　from　the　window。　The　frown　was　gone；　replaced　by　a　look　of　elation。　〃I've　made　a　decision。　Eli　needs　to　hear　it；　too；　but　I　wanted　you　to　know　first。〃　He　paused；　exhaled。　〃I'm　going　to　plant　the　flag；　Sam。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　Lloyd。　〃You're　going　to　what？〃
　〃This　afternoon；　I'm　taking　the　launch　to　Isla　Desolacion。〃
　〃Just　you？〃　McFarlane　felt　a　strange　sensation　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。
　〃Just　me。　And　that　crazy　old　Puppup；　of　course；　to　guide　me　to　the　meteorite。〃
　〃But　the　weather　…　〃
　〃The　weather　couldn't　be　better！〃　Lloyd　stepped　away　from　the　windows　and　paced　restlessly　between　the　wing　chairs。　This　kind　of　moment；　Sam；　isn't　given　to　many。〃
　McFarlane　sat　in　his　chair；　the　strange　feeling　growing。　〃Just　you？〃　he　repeated。　〃You　won't　share　the　discovery？〃
　〃No；　I　won't。　Why　the　hell　should　I？　Peary　did　the　same　thing　on　his　last　dash　to　the　Pole。　Glinn's　got　to　understand。　He　may　not　like　it；　but　it's　my　expedition。　I'm　going　in　alone。〃
　〃No；〃　McFarlane　said　quietly。　〃No；　you're　not。〃
　Lloyd　stopped　pacing。
　〃You're　not　leaving　me　behind。〃
　Lloyd　tu