p&c.icelimit-第33章

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　〃No；〃　McFarlane　said　quietly。　〃No；　you're　not。〃
　Lloyd　stopped　pacing。
　〃You're　not　leaving　me　behind。〃
　Lloyd　turned　in　surprise；　his　piercing　eyes　on　McFarlane。　〃You？〃
　McFarlane　said　nothing；　maintaining　eye　contact。
　After　a　moment；　Lloyd　began　to　chuckle。　〃You　know；　Sam；　you're　not　the　man　I　first　met　hiding　behind　a　bush　in　the　Kalahari　Desert。　It　never　occurred　to　me　you'd　care　about　something　like　this。〃　His　smile　suddenly　vanished。　〃What　would　you　do　if　I　said　no？〃
　McFarlane　stood　up。　〃I　don't　know。　Something　rash　and　ill…advised；　probably。〃
　Lloyd's　whole　frame　seemed　to　swell。　〃Are　you　threatening　me？〃
　McFarlane　held　his　eyes。　〃Yeah。　I　guess　I　am。〃
　Lloyd　continued　looking　at　him　steadily。　〃Well；　well。〃
　〃You　sought　me　out。　You　knew　what　I'd　dreamed　of　my　entire　life。〃　McFarlane　carefully　watched　Lloyd's　expression。　This　was　a　man　unused　to　being　challenged。　〃I　was　out　there　trying　to　put　the　past　behind　me。　And　you　arrived；　dangling　it；　like　a　carrot　on　a　stick。　You　knew　I'd　bite。　And　now　I'm　here；　and　you　can't　leave　me　out。　I　won't　miss　this。〃　There　was　a　tense　silence　in　which　McFarlane　could　hear　the　distant　clatter　of　keys；　the　ringing　of　phones。　Then；　abruptly；　Lloyd's　hard　features　softened。　He　placed　a　hand　on　his　bald　head　and　smoothed　his　shiny　pate。　Then　he　ran　his　fingers　down　through　his　goatee。　〃If　I　bring　you；　then　what　about　Glinn？　Or　Amira？　Or　Britton？　Everyone's　going　to　want　a　piece　of　this。〃
　〃No。　It'll　be　just　us　two。　I've　earned　it；　you've　earned　it。　That's　all。　You　have　the　power　to　make　it　happen。〃
　Lloyd　continued　to　stare　at　him。　〃I　think　I　like　the　new　Sam　McFarlane；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　never　fully　bought　that　tough…guy　cynic　act　anyway。　But　I　have　to　tell　you；　Sam：　this　interest　of　yours　had　better　be　healthy。　Do　I　have　to　speak　more　plainly？　I　don't　want　a　repeat　of　that　Tornarssuk　business。〃
　McFarlane　felt　a　stab　of　anger。　〃I'll　just　pretend　I　didn't　hear　that。〃
　〃You　heard　it。　Let's　not　play　coy。〃
　McFarlane　waited。
　Lloyd　dropped　his　hand　with　a　deprecating　smile。　〃It's　been　years　since　someone　stood　up　to　me　like　that。　It's　bracing。　God　damn　you；　Sam；　all　right。　We'll　do　it　together。　But　you　realize　Glinn's　going　to　try　to　scotch　everything。〃　He　walked　back　toward　the　bank　of　windows；　checking　his　watch　as　he　did　so。　〃He's　going　to　be　an　old　woman　about　this。〃
　As　if　he　had　timed　the　moment　…　and　later；　McFarlane　realized　he　probably　had　…　Glinn　came　gliding　into　the　office。　Behind　followed　Puppup；　silent　and　wraithlike；　rapidly　being　a　fixture　in　Glinn's　shadow；　his　alert　black　eyes　filled　with　some　private　amusement。　Puppup　covered　his　mouth；　bowing　and　genuflecting　in　the　strangest　fashion。
　〃Right　on　time；　as　always；〃　Lloyd　boomed；　turning　toward　Glinn　and　taking　his　hand。　〃Listen；　Eli；　there's　something　I've　decided。　I'd　like　your　blessing；　but　I　know　I'm　not　going　to　get　it。　So　I　want　to　warn　you　in　advance；　there's　no　power　on　heaven　or　earth　that's　going　to　prevent　me　from　carrying　it　out。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Very　clear；〃　said　Glinn；　settling　fortably　into　one　of　the　wing　chairs　and　crossing　his　legs。
　〃There's　no　use　arguing　with　me　about　this。　The　decision's　made。〃
　〃Wonderful。　I　wish　I　could　go　along。〃
　For　an　instant；　Lloyd　appeared　to　be　dumbfounded。　Then　his　look　turned　into　fury。　〃You　son　of　a　bitch；　you've　got　the　ship　wired。〃
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous。　I　knew　from　the　very　beginning　you　would　insist　on　making　the　first　visit　to　the　meteorite。〃
　〃But　that's　impossible。　Even　I　didn't　know…〃
　Glinn　waved　his　hand。　〃Don't　you　think　that；　in　analyzing　every　possible　path　of　failure　and　success；　we　had　to　take　your　psychological　profile　into　account？　We　knew　what　you　were　going　to　do　even　before　you　knew　yourself。〃　He　glanced　at　McFarlane。　〃Did　Sam　here　insist　on　going　along；　too？〃
　Lloyd　simply　nodded。
　〃I　see。　The　port　stern　launch　will　be　your　best　bet。　It's　the　smallest　and　most　maneuverable。　I've　arranged　for　Mr。　Howell　to　take　you　in。　I've　also　ordered　haversacks　with　food；　water；　matches；　fuel；　flashlights；　and　so　forth　…　and；　of　course；　a　GPS　unit　and　two…way　radios。　I　assume　you'll　want　Puppup　to　guide　you？〃
　〃Delighted　to　be　of　assistance；〃　sung　out　Puppup。
　Lloyd　glanced　from　Glinn　to　Puppup　and　back　again。　After　a　moment；　he　gave　a　rueful　chuckle。　〃Nobody　likes　to　be　predictable。　Does　anything　surprise　you？〃
　〃You　didn't　hire　me　to　be　surprised；　Mr。　Lloyd。　You're　only　going　to　have　a　few　hours　of　daylight；　so　you　need　to　push　off　as　soon　as　the　ship　arrives　in　the　Franklin　Channel。　You　might　want　to　consider　waiting　until　tomorrow　morning。〃
　Lloyd　shook　his　head。　〃No。　My　time　is　short　here。〃
　Glinn　nodded；　as　if　he　had　expected　as　much。　〃Puppup　tells　me　of　a　small　half…moon　beach　on　the　lee　end　of　the　island。　You　can　run　the　motor　launch　right　up　on　the　shingle。You'll　need　to　be　in　and　out　of　there　fairly　quickly。〃
　Lloyd　sighed。　〃You　really　know　how　to　take　the　romance　out　of　life。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Glinn；　standing　up。　〃I　only　take　out　the　uncertainty。〃　He　nodded　out　the　windows。　〃If　you　want　romance；　e　take　a　look　out　there。〃
　They　stepped　forward。　McFarlane　could　see　a　small　island；　just　ing　into　view；　even　darker　than　the　black　water　around　it。
　〃That；　gentlemen；　is　Isla　Desolacion。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　it；　mingled　curiosity　and　trepidation　quickening　within　him。　A　single　shaft　of　light　moved　across　the　brutal　rocks；　vanishing　and　reappearing　at　the　caprice　of　the　enshrouding　fogs。　Immense　seas　tore　at　its　rocky　shore。　At　its　northern　end；　he　made　out　a　cloven　volcanic　plug：　a　double　spire　of　rock。　Snaking　through　the　central　valley　was　a　deep　snowfield；　its　icy　center　exposed　and　polished　by　the　wind：　a　turquoise　jewel　in　the　monochromatic　seascape。
　After　a　moment；　Lloyd　spoke：　〃By　God；　there　it　is；〃　he　said。　〃Our　island；　Eli；　at　the　edge　of　the　world。　Our　island。　And　my　meteorite。〃
　There　was　a　strange；　low　giggle　behind　them。　McFarlane　turned　to　see　Puppup；　who　had　remained　silent　throughout　the　entire　conversation；　covering　his　mouth　with　narrow　fingers。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Lloyd　asked　sharply。
　But　Puppup　did　not　answer；　and　continued　to　giggle　as　he　backed　and　bowed　and　scraped　his　way　out　of　the　office；　unwavering　black　eyes　fixed　on　Lloyd。
　
　Isla　Desolacion；
　12：45　P。M。
　
　WITHIN　AN　hour；　the　tanker　had　eased　its　bulk　into　Franklin　Channel；　which　was　less　a　channel　than　an　irregular　bay；　circled　by　the　craggy　peaks　of　the　Cape　Horn　islands。　Now；　McFarlane　sat　in　the　center　of　the　open　launch；　his　hands　gripping　the　gunwales；　aware　of　the　awkward　bulk　of　the　life　preserver　strapped　over　his　heavy　jacket　and　slicker。　The　seas　that　caused　the　Rolvaag　to　roll　unfortably　were　now　tossing　the　launch　around　like　a　child's　paper　boat。　The　chief　mate；　Victor　Howell；　stood　at　the　helm；　his　face　furrowed　with　concentration　as　he　fought　to　keep　his　heading。　John　Puppup　had　scrambled　into　the　bow　and　was　flopped　down　like　an　excited　boy；　each　hand　gripping　a　cleat。　Over　the　last　hour；　he　had　acted　as　an　impromptu　harbor　pilot　for　the　Rolvaag；　and　his　infrequent　murmured　words　had　turned　what　would　have　been　a　harrowing　approach　into　one　that　was　merely　nail…biting。　Now　his　face　was　turned　to　the　island；　light　snow　settling　on　his　narrow　shoulders。
　The　launch　bucked　and　twisted；　and　McFarlane　clung　tighter。
　The　chop　eased　as　the　launch　approached　the　lee　of　Isla　Desolacion。　The　island　reared　up　before　them；　true　to　its　name：　black　rocks　poking　up　like　broken　knuckles　through　windblown　patches　of　snow。　A　cove　came　into　sight；　dark　under　the　shadow　of　a　ledge。　Following　Puppup's　signal；　Howell　turned　the　launch　toward　it。　At　ten　yards　out　he　cut　the　engine；　raising　the　propeller　shaft　simultaneously。　The　boat　glided　in；　crunching　lightly　onto　the　shingle　beach。　Puppup　sprang　out　like　a　monkey；　and　McFarlane　followed。　He　turned　to　offer　Lloyd　a　hand。
　〃I'm　not　that　old；　for　chrissakes；〃　Lloyd　said　as　he　grabbed　a　pack　and　hopped　out。
　Howell　backed　the　boat　off　with　a　roar。　〃I'll　be　back　at　three　o'clock；〃　he　called。
　McFarlane　watched　the　boat　slap　its　way　from　shore。　Beyond；　he　could　make　out　a　zinc…colored　wall　of　bad　weather　ing　toward　them。　McFarlane　hugged　himself　against