p&c.icelimit-第62章

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casional　explosions；　naturally；　and　lots　of　radio　traffic。　Just　before　dawn；　something　will　be　found。　Or　at　least　it　will　look　that　way　to　the　Almirante　Ramirez。　There　will　be　great　excitement。　The　workmen　will　take　a　break　to　discuss　the　discovery。〃　He　flicked　the　butt　away；　watching　it　sail　into　the　darkness。　〃The　Rolvaag's　tender　is　hidden　on　the　far　side　of　the　island。　As　soon　as　we　depart；　the　tender　will　load　up　the　men　and　meet　us　behind　Horn　Island。　Everything　else　will　be　left　behind。〃
　〃Everything？〃　McFarlane　let　his　mind　run　over　the　shacks　full　of　equipment；　the　dozers；　the　container　labs；　the　huge　yellow　haulers。
　〃Yes。　The　generators　will　be　running；　all　the　lights　will　be　left　on。　Millions　of　dollars'　worth　of　heavy　equipment　will　be　left　on　the　island　in　plain　view。　When　Vallenar　sees　us　move；　he'll　assume　we're　ing　back。〃
　〃He　won't　give　chase？〃
　Glinn　did　not　respond　for　a　moment。　〃He　might〃
　〃What　then？〃
　Glinn　smiled。　〃Every　path　has　been　analyzed；　every　contingency　planned　for。〃　He　raised　his　radio　again。　〃Bring　the　vessel　in　toward　the　bluff。〃
　After　a　pause；　McFarlane　could　feel　the　vibration　of　the　big　engines。　Slowly；　very　slowly；　the　great　ship　began　to　turn。
　Glinn　looked　back　toward　McFarlane。　〃You　have　a　critical　role　in　this；　Sam。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　〃Me？〃
　Glinn　nodded。　〃I　want　you　to　stay　in　munication　with　Lloyd。　Keep　him　informed；　keep　him　calm；　and；　above　all；　keep　him　where　he　is。　It　might　be　disastrous　if　he　came　down　now。　And　now；　farewell。　I　must　prepare　for　my　meeting　with　our　Chilean　friend。〃　He　paused　and　looked　McFarlane　steadily　in　the　face。　〃I　owe　you　an　apology。〃
　〃What　for？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　〃You　know　very　well　what　for。　I　couldn't　have　wished　for　a　more　consistent　or　reliable　scientist。　At　the　conclusion　of　the　expedition；　our　file　on　you　will　be　destroyed。〃
　McFarlane　didn't　quite　know　what　to　make　of　this　confession。　It　seemed　sincere；　but　then；　everything　about　the　man　was　so　calculated　that　he　wondered　if　even　this　admission　was　intended　to　do　double；　or　even　triple　duty；　in　Glinn's　grand　scheme。
　Glinn　held　out　his　hand。　McFarlane　took　it；　and　laid　his　other　hand　on　Glinn's　shoulder。
　In　a　moment　Glinn　was　gone。
　It　was　only　later　that　McFarlane　realized　the　thick　padding　he'd　felt　under　his　fingers　was　not　a　heavy　coat　but　a　flak　vest。
　
　Franklin　Channel；
　8：40　P。M。
　
　GLINN　STOOD　at　the　bow　of　the　small　launch；　weling　the　frigid　air　that　streamed　across　his　face。　The　four　men　who　were　part　of　the　operation　sat　on　the　deck　of　the　dark　pilothouse；　suited　up；　silent　and　out　of　sight。　Directly　ahead；　the　lights　of　the　destroyer　wavered　in　the　calm　waters　of　the　sound。　As　he　predicted；　it　had　moved　up　channel。
　He　glanced　back　toward　the　island　itself。　An　immense　cluster　of　lights　surrounded　the　feverish　mining　activity。　Heavy　equipment　rumbled　back　and　forth。　As　he　watched；　the　faint　crump　of　a　distant　explosion　rolled　through　the　air。　By　parison；　the　real　work　taking　place　on　the　bluff　looked　incidental。　The　movement　of　the　Rolvaag　had　been　presented；　through　radio　traffic；　as　a　precaution　against　another　storm　…　the　big　ship　would　be　moving　into　the　lee　of　the　island　and　stringing　cables　to　shore。
　He　smelled　the　moisture…laden　sea　air；　breathed　in　the　deceptive　calm。　A　big　storm　was　certainly　ing。　Its　precise　nature　was　a　secret　shared　only　by　Glinn；　Britton；　and　the　on…duty　officers　of　the　Rolvaag；　there　had　seemed　no　need　to　distract　the　crew　or　the　EES　engineers　at　such　a　critical　moment。　But　satellite　weather　analysis　indicated　it　might　develop　into　a　panteonero；　a　cemetery　wind；　kicking　up　as　early　as　dawn。　Such　a　wind　always　started　out　of　the　southwest　and　then　swung　around　to　the　northwest　as　it　gained　strength。　Such　winds　could　grow　to　Force　15。　But　if　the　Rolvaag　could　get　through　the　Strait　of　Le　Maire　by　noon；　they　would　be　in　the　lee　of　Tierra　del　Fuego　before　the　worst　of　the　wind　started。　And　it　would　be　at　their　backs：　ideal　for　a　large　tanker；　hellish　for　a　small　pursuer。
　He　knew　that　Vallenar　must　now　be　aware　of　his　approach。　The　launch　moved　slowly；　its　full　plement　of　running　lights　on。　Even　without　radar　it　would　be　conspicuous　against　the　black；　moonless　night　water。
　The　launch　drew　within　two　hundred　yards　of　the　ship。　Glinn　heard　a　faint　splash　behind　him　but　did　not　turn　around。　As　expected；　three　other　splashes　quickly　followed。　He　was　aware　of　a　preternatural　calmness；　a　sharpening　of　his　senses；　that　always　came　before　an　op。　It　had　been　a　long　time；　and　the　feeling　was　pleasant；　almost　nostalgic。
　A　spotlight　on　the　destroyer's　fantail　snapped　on　and　swiveled　toward　the　launch；　blinding　him　with　its　brilliance。　He　remained　motionless　in　the　bow　as　the　launch　slowed。　If　he　was　going　to　be　shot；　this　would　be　the　moment。　And　yet　he　felt　an　unwavering　conviction　that　the　destroyer's　gun　would　remain　silent。　He　breathed　in；　then　exhaled　slowly；　once；　twice。　The　critical　moment　passed。
　They　met　him　at　the　boarding　hatch　and　led　him　up　through　a　series　of　foul　passageways　and　slippery　metal　stairways。　At　the　entrance　to　the　puente；　the　bridge；　they　paused。　Except　for　the　deck　officer；　Vallenar　was　alone。　He　stood　at　the　forward　windows；　looking　out　at　the　island；　cigar　in　his　mouth；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　It　was　cold；　either　the　heating　system　did　not　work；　or　it　had　been　turned　off。　Like　the　rest　of　the　ship；　the　bridge　smelled　of　engine　oil；　bilgewater；　and　fish。
　Vallenar　did　not　turn。　Glinn　let　a　very　long　silence　ensue　before　he　began。
　〃andante；〃　he　said　in　polite；　measured　Spanish；　〃I　have　e　to　pay　you　my　respects。〃
　A　faint　noise　issued　from　Vallenar；　which　Glinn　took　for　amusement。　The　man　still　did　not　turn。　The　atmosphere　around　Glinn　seemed　charged　with　superhuman　clarity；　his　body　felt　light；　as　if　made　of　air。
　Vallenar　removed　a　letter　from　his　pocket；　unfolded　it；　and　paused。　Glinn　could　see　the　letterhead　of　a　well…known　Australian　university。　Vallenar　spoke　at　last。　〃It's　a　meteorite；〃　he　said；　his　voice　flat　and　dry。　
　So　he　knew。　It　had　seemed　the　most　unlikely　path　of　those　they　had　analyzed；　but　now　it　became　the　path　they　must　follow。
　〃Yes。〃
　Vallenar　turned。　His　heavy　woolen　coat　fell　back；　displaying　an　old　Luger　snugged　into　his　belt。
　〃You　are　stealing　a　meteorite　from　my　country。〃
　〃Not　stealing；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　are　within　international　law。〃
　Vallenar　barked　out　a　laugh；　hollow　on　the　nearly　deserted　bridge。　〃I　know。　You　are　a　mining　operation；　and　it　is　metal。　I　was　wrong　after　all：　you　did　e　down　here　for　iron。〃
　Glinn　said　nothing。　With　every　word　of　Vallenar's；　he　was　getting　priceless　information　about　the　man；　information　that　would　allow　him　to　make　ever　more　accurate　predictions　on　future　behavior。
　〃But　you；　senor；　are　outside　my　law。　The　law　of　andante　Vallenar。〃
　〃I　do　not　understand；〃　said　Glinn；　although　he　did。
　〃You　will　not　leave　Chile　with　this　meteorite。〃
　〃If　we　find　it；〃　said　Glinn。
　Vallenar　paused　ever　so　slightly；　and　in　that　pause　Glinn　saw　that　he　did　not；　in　fact；　know　they　had　found　it。
　〃What　is　to　prevent　me　from　simply　reporting　this　to　the　authorities　in　Santiago？　They；　at　least；　have　not　been　bribed。〃
　〃You　are　free　to　report　it　to　anyone　you　wish；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　are　doing　nothing　illegal。〃　He　knew　Vallenar　would　never　report　it。　Vallenar　was　the　kind　of　man　who　would　settle　things　his　own　way。
　Vallenar　took　a　long　drag　on　the　cigar；　blowing　the　smoke　in　Glinn's　direction。　〃Tell　me；　senor。。。　Ishmael；　was　it　not？〃
　〃Actually；　my　name　is　Glinn。〃
　〃I　see。　So　tell　me；　Mr。　Glinn；　why　have　you　e　to　my　ship？〃
　Glinn　knew　he　had　to　answer　this　carefully。　〃I　was　hoping；　andante；　that　we　could　work　out　an　arrangement　with　you。〃
　He　saw　the　expected　anger　in　the　captain's　face；　and　pressed　on。　〃I　am　authorized　to　give　you　one　million　dollars；　gold；　for　your　cooperation。〃
　Vallenar　suddenly　smiled；　his　eyes　veiled。　〃You　have　it　on　you？〃
　〃Of　course　not。〃
　The　andante　lazily　puffed　on　the　puro。　〃Perhaps；　senor；　you　think　I　have　a　price　like　the　others。　Because　I　am　a　South　American；　a　dirty　Latin；　that　I　am　always　willing　to　cooperate　in　exchange　for　la　mordida。〃
　〃It