p&c.icelimit-第58章

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　small　blue　screen　flickered　into　life。
　〃We've　got　multiple　burnouts；　up　and　down　the　line；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。
　〃What　about　the　surge　suppressors？〃
　〃Whatever　it　was；　it　caused　one　hell　of　a　spike。　Over　a　billion　volts　in　under　a　millisecond；　with　a　current　exceeding　fifty　thousand　amps。　No　dampeners　or　surge　suppressors　could　protect　against　that。〃
　〃A　billion　volts？〃　McFarlane　said　in　disbelief。　〃Not　even　lightning　is　that　powerful。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　Garza　said；　pulling　the　tool　from　the　panel　and　dropping　it　into　a　pocket　of　his　snowsuit。　〃A　burst　of　this　size　makes　lightning　look　like　static　cling。〃
　〃Then　what　was　it？〃
　Garza　shook　his　head。　〃God　knows。〃
　Glinn　stood　still　a　moment；　gazing　at　the　fused　ponents。　〃Let's　check　the　rock。〃
　They　stepped　back　out　into　the　storm；　moved　past　the　huts；　and　struggled　across　the　staging　area。　Even　from　a　distance；　McFarlane　could　see　that　the　tarp　had　been　torn　from　its　tethers。　As　they　drew　nearer；　Glinn　made　a　suppressing　motion　with　his　hand；　then　instructed　Rocco　and　Thompson　to　enter　the　shack　and　descend　into　the　tunnel。　Pulling　out　his　pistol；　Glinn　moved　forward　carefully；　Garza　at　his　side。　McFarlane　stepped　up　to　the　edge　of　the　trench；　the　tattered　remains　of　the　tarp　billowing　skyward　like　ghostly　linen。　Glinn　angled　the　beam　of　the　torch　downward；　into　the　tunnel。
　Dirt；　rocks；　and　charred　wood　were　scattered　everywhere。　Part　of　the　cart　was　twisted　and　fused；　hissing　faintly。　sending　up　clouds　of　steam。　Globs　of　foamy　metal；　now　resolidified；　spattered　the　tunnel。　Beneath　the　cart；　several　rows　of　tires　had　melted　together　and　were　now　burning；　sending　up　foul　clouds　of　smoke。
　Glinn's　eyes　moved　rapidly　around　the　scene；　following　his　torch。　〃Was　it　a　bomb？〃
　〃Looks　more　like　a　gigantic　electrical　arc。〃
　Lights　wavered　at　the　far　end　of　the　tunnel；　then　Thompson　and　Rocco　approached　beneath　them；　waving　away　the　pall　of　smoke。　They　began　spraying　fire　suppressant　on　the　burning　tires。
　〃See　any　damage　to　the　meteorite？〃　Glinn　called　down。
　There　was　a　pause　as　the　men　below　made　a　visual　inspection。　〃Can't　see　a　scratch　on　it。〃
　〃Thompson；〃　Glinn　said；　pointing　down　into　the　trench。　〃Over　there。〃
　McFarlane　followed　his　arm　to　a　spot　beyond　the　cart。　Something　was　burning　fitfully。　Nearby；　ragged　clumps　of　matter　and　bone　glistened　in　the　flickering　light。　Thompson　shined　his　torch　toward　one　of　them。　There　was　a　hand；　a　piece　of　what　looked　like　a　flayed　human　shoulder；　a　twisted　length　of　grayish　entrails。
　〃Christ；〃　McFarlane　groaned。
　〃Looks　like　we　found　Hill；〃　said　Garza。
　〃Here's　his　gun；〃　Thompson　said。
　Glinn　shouted　down　into　the　tunnel。　〃Thompson；　I　want　you　to　check　the　rest　of　the　tunnel　system。　Report　anything　you　find。　Rocco；　roust　up　a　med　team。　Let's　get　those　remains　gathered　up。〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　Glinn　looked　back　toward　Garza。　〃Get　the　perimeter　secured。　Gather　all　surveillance　data　and　get　it　analyzed　right　away。　Call　back　to　the　ship　for　a　general　alert。　I　want　a　new　power　grid　up　and　running　in　six　hours。〃
　〃All　munications　with　the　ship　are　down；〃　said　Garza。　〃We're　getting　nothing　but　noise　on　all　channels。〃
　Glinn　turned　back　toward　the　tunnel。　〃You！　Thompson！　When　you're　done　here；　take　a　snowcat　to　the　beach。　Contact　the　ship　from　the　landing　area。　Use　Morse　if　you　have　to。〃
　Thompson　saluted；　then　turned　and　made　his　way　down　the　tunnel。　In　a　moment　he　disappeared　from　view　in　the　smoke　and　darkness。
　Glinn　turned　to　McFarlane。　〃Go　get　Amira　and　any　diagnostic　tools　you'll　need。　I'm　going　to　have　a　team　sweep　the　tunnels。　Once　the　area's　secured；　and　Hill's　body　is　removed；　I　want　you　to　examine　the　meteorite。　Nothing　elaborate　for　the　time　being。　Just　determine　what　happened　here。　And　don't　touch　that　rock。〃
　McFarlane　looked　down。　At　the　base　of　the　cart；　Rocco　was　slipping　what　looked　like　a　lung　onto　a　folded　section　of　tarp。　Above；　the　meteorite　steamed　in　its　wooden　bed。　He　wasn't　about　to　touch　it；　but　he　said　nothing。
　〃Rocco；〃　Glinn　called　out；　pointing　to　an　area　just　to　the　rear　of　the　damaged　cart；　where　there　was　a　faint　flickering　〃You've　got　another　small　fire　over　there。〃
　Rocco　approached　it　with　the　extinguisher；　then　stopped　short。　He　looked　up　at　them。　〃I　think　it's　a　heart；　sir。〃
　Glinn　pursed　his　lips。　〃I　see。　Extinguish　it；　Mr。　Rocco；　and　carry　on。〃
　
　Isla　Desolacion；
　July　21；　12：05　A。M。
　
　AS　MCFARLANE　trudged　across　the　staging　area　toward　the　row　of　huts；　the　wind　pressed　rudely　at　his　back；　as　if　trying　to　force　him　to　his　knees。　Beside　him；　Rachel　stumbled；　then　recovered。
　〃Is　this　storm　ever　going　to　end？〃　she　asked。
　McFarlane；　his　mind　a　whirlwind　of　speculation；　did　not　reply。
　In　another　minute　they　were　inside　the　medical　hut。　He　peeled　out　of　his　suit。　The　air　was　rich　with　the　smell　of　roasted　meat。　He　saw　that　Garza　was　speaking　into　a　radio。
　〃How　long　have　you　had　munications？〃　he　asked　Glinn。
　〃Half　an　hour；　or　thereabouts。　Still　spotty；　but　improving。〃
　〃That's　odd。　We　just　tried　to　contact　you　from　the　tunnel　and　got　nothing　but　radio　noise。〃　McFarlane　began　to　speak　again；　but　fell　silent；　forcing　his　mind　to　work　through　the　weariness。
　Garza　lowered　his　radio。　〃It's　Thompson；　from　the　beach。　He　says　Captain　Britton　refuses　to　send　anyone　over　with　the　equipment　until　the　storm　dies　down。　It's　too　dangerous。〃
　〃That's　not　acceptable。　Give　me　that　radio。〃　Glinn　spoke　rapidly。　〃Thompson？　Explain　to　the　captain　that　we've　lost　munications；　the　puter　network；　and　the　power　grid。　We　need　the　generator　and　the　equipment；　and　we　need　them　now。　Lives　are　at　risk。　If　you　encounter　any　more　difficulties；　let　me　know　and　I'll　see　to　it　personally。　Get　Brambell　out　here；　too。　I　want　him　to　examine　Hill's　remains。〃
　Distantly；　McFarlane　watched　Rocco；　hands　and　forearms　hidden　by　heavy　rubber　gloves；　removing　charred　body　parts　from　a　tarp　and　placing　them　in　a　freezer…locker。
　〃There's　something　else；　sir；〃　Garza　said；　listening　once　again　to　the　radio。　〃Palmer　Lloyd's　in　munication　with　the　Rolvaag。　He　demands　to　be　patched　through　to　Sam　McFarlane。〃
　McFarlane　felt　himself　shocked　back　into　the　stream　of　events。　〃It's　not　exactly　the　best　time；　is　it？〃　he　said　with　a　disbelieving　laugh；　looking　at　Glinn。　But　the　expression　on　Glinn's　face　took　him　by　surprise。
　〃Can　you　rig　up　a　squawk　box？〃　Glinn　asked。
　〃I'll　grab　one　from　the　munications　hut；〃　Garza　said。
　McFarlane　spoke　to　Glinn。　〃You're　not　really　going　to　chitchat　with　Lloyd；　are　you？　Now；　of　all　times？〃
　Glinn　returned　the　look。　〃It　beats　the　alternative；〃　he　replied。
　Only　much　later　did　McFarlane　realize　what　Glinn　meant。
　
　Within　minutes；　the　hut's　transmitter　had　been　jury…rigged　with　an　external　speaker。　As　Garza　attached　his　radio；　a　wash　of　static　filled　the　room。　It　faded　into　silence；　grew　louder；　then　faded　again。　McFarlane　glanced　around：　at　Rachel；　huddled　near　the　stove　for　warmth；　at　Glinn；　pacing　in　front　of　the　radio；　at　Rocco；　industriously　sorting　body　parts　in　the　back　of　the　room。　He　had　a　theory　…　or　the　beginnings　of　one。　It　was　still　too　raw；　too　full　of　holes；　to　be　shared。　And　yet　he　knew　he　had　little　choice。
　There　was　a　squeal　of　feedback；　then　a　ragged　voice　emerged　from　the　speaker。　〃Hello？〃　it　said。　〃Hello？〃　It　was　Lloyd；　distorted。
　Glinn　leaned　forward。　〃This　is　Eli　Glinn；　Mr。　Lloyd。　Can　you　hear　me？〃
　〃Yes！　Yes；　I　can！　But　you're　damned　faint；　Eli。〃
　〃We're　experiencing　some　kind　of　radio　interference。　We'll　have　to　be　brief。　There's　a　great　deal　going　on　at　the　moment；　and　our　battery　power　is　limited。〃
　〃Why？　What　the　hell　is　going　on？　Why　didn't　Sam　call　in　for　his　daily　briefing？　I　couldn't　get　a　straight　answer　from　that　bloody　captain　of　yours。〃
　〃There's　been　an　accident。　One　of　our　men　is　dead。〃
　〃Two　men；　you　mean。　McFarlane　told　me　about　that　incident　with　the　meteorite。　Damn　shame　about　Rochefort。〃
　〃There's　been　a　new　fatality。　A　man　named　Hill。〃
　There　was　a　piercing　shriek　from　the　speaker。　Then　Lloyd's　voice　returned；　even　fainter　now：　〃　…　happened　to　him？〃
　〃We　don't　know　yet；〃　Glinn　said。　〃McFarlane　and　Rachel　Amira　have　just　returned　from　examining　the　meteorite。〃　He　moti