p&c.icelimit-第54章

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ct　would　be　to　tell　him　everything　he　knew。
　Footsteps　approached；　then　the　oficial　de　guardia；　the　officer　of　the　deck；　appeared　at　his　side。　〃andante；〃　the　man　said；　snapping　a　salute。　〃Engine　room　reports　all　engines　on　line。〃
　〃Very　well。　Make　your　course　zero　nine　zero。　And　please　send　Mr。　Timmer　to　me。〃
　The　officer　saluted　again；　then　turned　and　left　the　flying　bridge。　Vallenar　scowled　as　he　watched　the　man　retreat　down　the　metal　stairway。　New　orders　had　e　in；　as　usual；　they　amounted　to　more　worthless　patrolling　in　desolate　waters。
　With　his　good　hand；　he　reached　into　the　pocket　of　his　jacket　and　found　the　chunk　of　rock　that　had　been　returned　with　the　letter。　It　was　barely　larger　than　a　prune。　And　yet　he　was　convinced　it　held　the　secret　to　what　the　Americans　were　doing。　They　had　learned　something　from　the　prospector's　machine　and　the　sack　of　rocks。　Something　important　enough　to　bring　a　vast　amount　of　money　and　equipment　to　this　remote；　dangerous　place。
　Vallenar　clutched　the　rock　tightly。　He　needed　to　know　what　the　Americans　knew。　If　the　moronic　geologist　at　the　university　could　not　help　him；　he　would　find　somebody　who　could。　He　knew　that　Australia　had　some　of　the　best　geologists　in　the　world。　That　was　where　he　would　send　it；　by　urgent　express。　They　would　unlock　the　pebble's　secret。　Then　he　would　know　what　they　were　after。　And　how　to　respond。
　〃Sir！〃　The　voice　of　Timmer　intruded　on　his　thoughts。
　Vallenar　glanced　over　at　the　man's　trim　figure；　standing　at　rigid　attention；　glanced　over　his　blue　eyes　and　sunbleached　hair；　his　spotless　uniform。　Even　in　a　crew　that　had　been　drilled　for　instant；　instinctive　obedience；　Oficial　de　unicaciones　Timmer　stood　out。　His　mother　had　e　to　Chile　from　Germany　in　1945；　a　beautiful　woman；　cultivated；　sensual。　Timmer　had　been　raised　with　discipline。　And　he　was　no　stranger　to　the　use　of　force。
　〃At　ease；〃　said　Vallenar；　his　tone　softening。　Timmer　relaxed　almost　imperceptibly。
　Vallenar　clasped　his　hands　behind　his　back　and　gazed　out　at　the　flawless　sky。　〃We　are　heading　east；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　will　return　here　tomorrow。　Bad　weather　is　expected。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Timmer　continued　staring　straight　ahead。
　〃On　that　day；　I　will　have　an　assignment　for　you。　It　will　involve　a　degree　of　risk。〃
　〃I　look　forward　to　it；　sir。〃
　andante　Vallenar　smiled。　〃I　knew　you　would；〃　he　said；　the　faintest　touch　of　pride　in　his　voice。
　
　Rolvaag；
　2：50　P。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　PAUSED　just　inside　the　outer　door　of　the　Rolvaag's　sick　bay。　He'd　always　had　a　morbid　fear　of　doctors'　offices　and　hospitals　…　any　place　with　intimations　of　mortality。　The　Rolvaag's　waiting　room　was　devoid　even　of　the　false　sense　of　tranquillity　such　places　ordinarily　tried　to　project。　The　well…thumbed　magazines；　the　shabby　Norman　Rockwell　reproductions；　were　missing。　The　only　decoration　was　a　large　medical　school　poster　detailing；　in　full　color；　various　diseases　of　the　skin。　The　place　smelled　so　strongly　of　rubbing　alcohol　and　iodine　that　McFarlane　believed　the　strange　old　doctor　must　be　using　them　for　rug　cleaner。
　He　hesitated　a　moment；　feeling　a　little　foolish。　This　errand　can　wait；　he　thought。　But　then；　with　a　deep　breath；　he　found　himself　walking　across　the　room　and　into　a　long　hallway。　He　stopped　at　the　last　door　and　rapped　on　the　frame。
　Captain　Britton　and　the　doctor　were　inside；　quietly　discussing　a　chart　that　lay　open　on　the　table　between　them。　Brambell　sat　back　in　his　chair；　casually　closing　the　folder　as　he　did　so。　〃Ah；　Dr。　McFarlane。〃　The　dry　voice　held　no　surprise。　He　stared　at　McFarlane；　eyes　unblinking；　waiting。　
　This　can　wait；　he　thought　again。　But　it　was　too　late；　they　were　both　looking　at　him　expectantly。　〃Masangkay's　effects；〃　he　said　aloud。　〃Those　things　with　the　body？　Now　that　you've　pleted　the　tests；　can　they　be　released？〃
　Brambell　continued　to　look　at　him。　It　was　a　stare　not　of　human　passion　but　of　clinical　interest。　〃There　was　nothing　of　value　among　them；〃　he　answered。
　McFarlane　leaned　against　the　doorframe　and　waited；　refusing　to　betray　anything　to　the　watchful　eyes。　At　last；　the　doctor　sighed。　〃Once　they've　been　photographed；　I　see　no　reason　to　keep　them。　What　precisely　are　you　interested　in？〃
　〃Just　let　me　know　when　they're　ready；　will　you？〃　McFarlane　pushed　himself　away　from　the　frame；　nodded　to　Britton；　and　turned　back　toward　the　waiting　room。　As　he　pulled　open　the　outer　door；　he　heard　quick　footsteps　behind　him。
　〃Dr。　McFarlane。〃　It　was　Captain　Britton。　〃I'll　walk　topside　with　you。〃
　〃Didn't　mean　to　break　up　the　party；〃　McFarlane　said；　swinging　out　into　the　hall。
　〃I　have　to　get　back　up　to　the　bridge　anyway。　I'm　expecting　an　update　on　that　approaching　storm。〃
　They　moved　down　the　wide　corridor；　dark　except　for　the　regular　stripes　of　sunlight　that　slanted　inward　from　the　round　portholes。
　〃I'm　sorry　about　your　friend　Masangkay；　Dr。　McFarlane；〃　she　said　with　unexpected　kindness。
　McFarlane　glanced　at　her。　〃Thanks。〃　Even　in　the　dim　corridor；　her　eyes　were　bright。　He　wondered　if　she　was　going　to　probe　his　nostalgic　desire　for　Nestor's　effects；　but　she　remained　silent。　Once　again；　he　was　struck　by　an　indefinable　feeling　of　kinship。　〃Call　me　Sam；〃　he　said。
　〃Okay；　Sam。〃
　They　stepped　out　of　the　stairwell　onto　the　maindeck。
　〃Take　a　turn　around　the　deck　with　me；〃　Britton　said。
　Surprised；　McFarlane　followed　her　back　through　superstructure　to　the　fantail。　Something　in　her　stately　bearing；　in　the　sway　of　her　walk；　reminded　him　of　his　ex…wife；　Malou。　A　pale　golden　light　lay　over　the　ship's　stern。　The　water　of　the　channel　shone　a　rich；　deep　blue。
　Britton　walked　past　the　landing　pad　and　leaned　against　the　rail；　squinting　into　the　sun。　〃Sam；　I　have　a　dilemma。　I　frankly　don't　like　what　I'm　hearing　about　that　meteorite。　I　fear　it　will　endanger　the　ship。　A　seaman　always　trusts　her　gut。　And　I　really　don't　like　seeing　that　out　there。〃　She　motioned　toward　the　low；　slender　line　of　the　Chilean　destroyer　lying　in　the　waters　beyond　the　channel。　〃On　the　other　hand；　from　what　I've　seen　of　Glinn；　I　have　every　reason　to　expect　success。〃　She　glanced　at　him。　〃You　see　the　paradox？　I　can't　trust　Eli　Glinn　and　my　own　instincts　both。　And　if　I　need　to　act；　I　need　to　act　now。　I'm　not　going　to　put　anything　in　the　hold　of　my　ship　that　isn't　safe。〃
　In　the　pitiless　sunlight；　Britton　looked　older　than　her　years。　She's　thinking　of　aborting　the　mission；　he　thought　in　surprise。
　〃I　don't　think　Lloyd　would　be　very　happy　if　you　balked　now；〃　he　said。
　〃Lloyd　isn't　the　master　of　the　Rolvaag。　I'm　speaking　to　you；　as　I　did　before；　because　you're　the　only　one　I　can　speak　to。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　her。
　〃As　captain；　I　can't　confide　in　any　of　my　officers　or　crew。　And　I　certainly　can't　speak　to　EES　personnel　about　these　concerns。　That　leaves　you；　the　meteorite　expert。　I　need　to　know　if　you　think　that　meteorite　will　endanger　my　ship。　I　need　your　view；　not　Mr。　Lloyd's。〃
　McFarlane　held　her　gaze　a　moment　longer。　Then　he　turned　back　toward　the　sea。
　〃I　can't　answer　your　question；〃　he　said。　〃It's　dangerous　enough　…　we've　learned　that　the　hard　way。　But　will　it　specifically　endanger　the　ship？　I　don't　know。　But　I　think　maybe　it's　too　late　for　us　to　stop；　even　if　we　wanted　to。〃
　〃But　in　the　library；　you　spoke　up。　You　had　concerns。　Just　as　I　did。〃
　〃I'm　very　concerned。　But　it　isn't　that　simple。　That　meteorite　is　as　deep　a　mystery　as　any　in　the　universe。　What　it　represents　is　so　important　that　I　think　we've　got　no　choice　but　to　continue。　If　Magellan　had　soberly　taken　into　account　all　the　risks；　he　never　would　have　begun　his　voyage　around　the　world。　Columbus　would　never　have　discovered　America。〃
　Britton　was　silent；　studying　him　intently。　〃You　think　this　meteorite　is　a　discovery　on　a　par　with　Magellan　or　Columbus？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said　finally。　〃I　do。〃
　〃In　the　library；　Glinn　asked　you　a　question。　You　didn't　answer　it。〃
　〃I　couldn't　answer　it。〃
　〃Why？〃
　He　turned　and　looked　into　her　steady　green　eyes。　〃Because　I　realized　…　despite　Rochefort；　despite　everything　…　I　want　that　meteorite。　More　than　I've　ever　wanted　anything。〃
　After　a　pause；　Britton　drew　herself　up。　〃Thank　you；　Sam；〃　she　said。　Then；　turning　smartly；　she　headed　for　the　bridge。
　
　Isla　Desolacion；
　July　20；　2：05　P。M。
　
　MCFA