p&c.icelimit-第64章

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t　the　meteorite　on　board　the　ship。
　Of　course；　he　would　never　allow　that　to　happen。　Once　Timmer　was　safely　back；　Vallenar　would　disable　the　tanker　to　prevent　their　leaving；　and　then　municate　the　news　of　their　attempted　theft。　It　would　preserve　the　honor　of　his　country。　When　the　politicians　saw　the　meteorite　…　when　they　learned　how　the　Americans　had　tried　to　steal　it　…　they　would　understand。　With　that　meteorite；　he　might　even　be　promoted　out　of　Puerto　Williams。　It　would　be　the　corrupt　bastards　in　Punta　Arenas；　not　he；　who　would　suffer。　But　the　timing　was　everything。。。
　His　smile　faded　as　he　thought　of　Timmer；　locked　in　the　brig　of　that　tanker。　That　he　had　killed　someone　was　no　surprise；　young　Timmer　was　a　quick　thinker；　eager　to　impress。　What　surprised　Vallenar　was　that　he　had　been　caught。　He　looked　forward　to　the　debriefing。
　He　did　not　allow　himself　to　think　about　the　other　possibility：　that　the　American　had　lied；　and　Timmer　was　dead。　There　was　a　rustle；　and　the　oficial　de　guardia　came　up　behind　him。　〃andante？〃
　Vallenar　nodded　without　looking　at　him。
　〃We　have　received　a　second　order　to　return　to　base；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　said　nothing。　He　waited；　thinking。
　〃Sir？〃
　Vallenar　looked　back　out　into　the　darkness。　The　expected　fog　was　now　rolling　in。　〃Observe　radio　silence。　Acknowledge　nothing。〃
　There　was　a　faint　flickering　in　the　officer's　eyes　at　this　request；　but　the　man　was　far　too　well　trained　to　question　an　order。　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　Vallenar　watched　the　fog。　It　drifted　in　like　smoke；　creeping　out　of　nowhere　to　shroud　the　seascape。　The　lights　of　the　great　tanker　began　flickering　in　and　out；　blotted　by　patches　of　fog；　until　they　disappeared。　In　the　middle　of　the　island；　the　brilliant　light　of　the　worksite　gave　way　to　an　indistinct　glow；　then　yielded　pletely；　leaving　a　wall　of　darkness　before　the　bridge。　He　bent　his　head　toward　the　FLIR　scope；　where　the　ship　was　outlined　in　a　hazy　yellow。
　Vallenar　straightened；　then　stepped　back　from　the　scope。　He　thought　of　Glinn。　There　was　something　strange　about　him；　something　unreadable。　His　visit　to　the　Almirante　Ramirez　had　been　brazen。　It　had　taken　cojones。　And　yet　it　bothered　him。
　He　stared　out　into　the　fog　another　moment。　Then　he　turned　to　the　deck　officer。　〃Have　the　oficial　central　de　informaciones　de　bate　report　to　the　bridge；〃　he　said　softly　but　carefully。
　
　Rolvaag；
　Midnight
　
　WHEN　MCFARLANE　arrived　on　the　bridge；　he　found　a　troubled…looking　group　of　officers　huddled　over　the　mand　station。　A　claxon　had　gone　off　and　all　hands　had　been　called　to　quarters　over　the　ship's　PA。　Britton；　who　had　sent　him　an　urgent　summons；　seemed　not　to　notice　his　arrival。　Outside　the　bank　of　windows　lay　a　haze　of　fog。　The　powerful　lights　on　the　ship's　forecastle　were　faint　pinpricks　of　yellow。
　〃Has　he　got　a　lock　on　us？〃　Britton　asked。
　〃Affirmative；〃　answered　a　nearby　officer。　〃With　targeting　radar。〃
　She　drew　the　back　of　her　hand　across　her　forehead；　then　glanced　up　and　caught　sight　of　McFarlane。　〃Where　is　Mr。　Glinn？〃　she　asked。　〃Why　isn't　he　responding？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　He　disappeared　soon　after　returning　from　the　Chilean　ship。　I've　been　trying　to　reach　him　myself。〃
　Britton　turned　to　Howell。
　〃He　may　not　be　on　the　ship；〃　the　chief　mate　said。
　〃He's　on　the　ship。　I　want　two　search　parties；　one　forward　and　one　aft。　Have　them　work　their　way　midships。　Do　a　high…order　search。　Bring　him　to　the　bridge　immediately。〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary。〃　Glinn；　noiseless　as　ever；　had　materialized　at　McFarlane's　side。　Behind　him　were　two　men　that　McFarlane　didn't　remember　having　seen　before。　Their　shirts　bore　the　small　circular　EES　insignia。
　〃Eli；〃　McFarlane　began；　〃Palmer　Lloyd　has　been　on　the　phone　again　…　〃
　〃Dr。　McFarlane；　silence　on　the　bridge；　if　you　please！〃　Britton　barked。　The　note　of　mand　in　her　voice　was　overwhelming。　McFarlane　fell　silent。
　Britton　turned　toward　Glinn。　〃Who　are　these　men；　and　why　are　they　on　my　bridge？〃
　〃They　are　EES　employees。〃
　Britton　paused　a　moment；　as　if　digesting　this。　〃Mr。　Glinn；　I　wish　to　remind　you　…　and　Dr。　McFarlane；　as　the　onboard　representative　of　Lloyd　Industries　…　that；　as　master　of　the　Rolvaag；　I　am　the　ultimate　authority　as　to　the　handling　and　disposition　of　this　vessel。〃
　Glinn　nodded。　Or；　at　least；　McFarlane　thought　he　did；　the　gesture　was　so　slight　as　to　be　imperceptible。
　〃I　now　intend　to　exercise　my　prerogative　under　such　authority。〃
　McFarlane　noticed　that　the　faces　of　Howell　and　the　other　bridge　officers　were　hard…set。　Clearly；　something　was　about　to　happen。　And　yet　Glinn　seemed　to　receive　this　stiff　announcement　without　concern。
　〃And　how　do　you　plan　to　exercise　this　prerogative？〃
　〃That　meteorite　is　not　ing　aboard　my　ship。〃
　There　was　silence　while　Glinn　looked　at　her　mildly。　〃Captain；　I　think　it　would　be　better　if　we　discussed　this　in　private。〃
　〃No；　sir。〃　She　turned　to　Howell。　〃Begin　preparations　to　vacate　the　island。　We　leave　in　ninety　minutes。〃
　〃One　moment；　if　you　please；　Mr。　Howell。〃　Glinn's　eyes　remained　on　the　captain。　〃May　I　ask　what　precipitated　this　decision？〃
　〃You　know　my　misgivings　about　that　rock。　You've　given　me　no　assurances；　beyond　guesswork；　that　the　thing　is　safe　to　bring　aboard。　And　just　five　minutes　ago；　that　destroyer　painted　us　with　fire…control　radar。　We're　a　sitting　duck。　Even　if　the　meteorite　is　safe；　the　conditions　aren't。　A　severe　storm　is　on　its　way。　You　don't　load　the　heaviest　object　ever　moved　by　man　when　you're　staring　down　the　business　end　of　a　four…inch　gun。〃
　〃He　will　not　fire。　At　least；　not　yet。　He　believes　we　have　his　man　Timmer　in　the　brig。　And　he　seems　remarkably　eager　to　get　him　back　safely。〃
　〃I　see。　And　what　will　he　do　when　he　finds　Timmer's　dead？〃
　Glinn　did　not　answer　this　question。　〃Running　away　without　a　proper　plan　is　a　guaranteed　way　to　fail。　And　Vallenar　won't　let　us　leave　until　Timmer　is　returned。〃
　〃All　I　can　say　is　that　I'd　rather　try　running　now　than　with　a　bellyful　of　meteorite　slowing　us　down。〃
　Glinn　continued　to　regard　her　with　a　mild；　almost　sad　expression。
　A　technician　cleared　his　throat。　〃I've　got　an　inbound　air　contact　bearing　zero　zero　nine　at　thirty…five　miles。〃
　〃Track　it　and　get　me　a　call　sign；〃　Britton　said；　without　shifting　position　or　dropping　her　gaze　from　Glinn。
　There　was　a　short；　tense　silence。
　〃Have　you　forgotten　the　contract　you　signed　with　EES？〃　Glinn　asked。
　〃I've　forgotten　nothing；　Mr。　Glinn。　But　there　is　a　higher　law　which　supersedes　all　contracts：　the　law　and　custom　of　the　sea。　The　captain　has　the　last　word　on　matters　pertaining　to　her　vessel。　And；　under　present　circumstances；　I　will　not　allow　that　meteorite　on　board。〃
　〃Captain　Britton；　if　you　will　not　speak　privately　with　me；　all　I　can　do　is　assure　you　there　is　no　need　to　worry。〃　Glinn　nodded　to　his　men。　One　of　them　stepped　forward；　sitting　down　at　an　unused　puter　console　of　black　steel。　The　words　SECURE　DATAMETRICS　were　stamped　into　its　side。　The　other　man　took　up　a　position　behind　him；　his　back　to　the　console；　facing　the　bridge　officers。　McFarlane　realized　this　console　was　a　smaller　cousin　of　the　mysterious　machine　Britton　had　pointed　out　to　him　in　the　cargo　control　room。
　Britton　watched　the　two　strangers　darkly。　〃Mr。　Howell；　remove　all　EES　personnel　from　the　bridge。〃
　〃That；〃　said　Glinn　sorrowfully；　〃will　not　be　possible。〃
　Something　in　his　tone　seemed　to　make　Britton　hesitate。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃The　Rolvaag　is　a　marvelous　ship；　the　latest　in　maritime　puterization。　As　a　precaution；　EES　has　used　that　puterization　against　a　contingency　such　as　this。　You　see；　our　systems　control　the　main　puter。　Normally；　this　control　is　transparent。　But　after　the　Rolvaag　was　brought　in　to　shore；　I　deactivated　the　bypass。　Now　we　alone　have　the　authorization　codes　to　control　the　main　engines。　You　cannot　transmit　any　engine　or　rudder　orders　until　the　correct　sequence　is　punched　in。〃
　Britton　looked　at　him；　silent　fury　on　her　face。
　Howell　picked　up　a　telephone　on　the　mand　console。　〃Security　to　the　bridge；　on　the　double。〃
　Britton　turned　to　the　watch　officer。　〃Initiate　engine　sequence。〃
　There　was　a　pause　as　the　officer　entered　a　series　of　mands。　〃No　response　from　the　engines；　ma'am。　I've　got　a　dead　board。〃
　〃Run　a　diagnostic；〃　she　said。
　〃Cap