p&c.icelimit-第30部分

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〃
　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　the　cold。　Although　he　knew　the　Rolvaag　was　less　than　a　mile　away；　he　nevertheless　wished　it　was　within　eyesight。　Nestor　was　right；　he　thought。　This　is　the　very　edge　of　the　world。　
　Well；　Sam；　we've　got　two　hours；〃　Lloyd　said　with　a　broad　grin。　〃Let's　make　the　best　of　it。〃　He　dug　into　his　pocket　and　pulled　out　a　small　camera。　〃Let's　get　Puppup　to　take　a　picture　of　our　first　landfall。〃　He　glanced　around。　〃Now　where　did　he　get　to？〃
　McFarlane　looked　around　the　small　beach。　Puppup　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
　〃Puppup！〃　Lloyd　cried。
　〃Up　here；　guv！〃　came　a　faint　cry　from　above。　Looking　up；　McFarlane　made　out　his　silhouette　at　the　top　of　the　ledge；　framed　by　the　darkening　sky。　One　skinny　arm　was　waving；　the　other　pointing　at　a　nearby　ravine　that　bisected　the　cliff　face。
　〃How'd　he　get　up　there　so　fast？〃　McFarlane　asked。　〃He's　a　queer　little　fellow；　isn't　he？〃　Lloyd　shook　his　head。　〃I　hope　to　hell　he　remembers　the　way。〃
　They　walked　up　the　shingles　to　the　base　of　the　ledge。　Chunks　of　ice；　washed　ashore　by　storms；　littered　the　strand　The　air　smelled　sharply　of　moss　and　salt。　McFarlane　squinted　at　the　black　basalt　cliff。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　then　started　up　the　narrow　crevasse。　It　was　a　tougher　climb　than　it　looked：　the　ravine　was　slick　with　packed　snow；　and　the　last　fifteen　feet　was　a　treacherous　scramble　over　icy　boulders。　Beneath　him；　he　could　hear　Lloyd　puffing　as　he　followed。　But　he　kept　a　good　pace；　fit　for　a　man　of　sixty；　and　they　soon　found　themselves　clambering　onto　the　top　of　the　cliff。
　〃Good！〃　cried　Puppup；　bowing　and　applauding。　〃Very　good！〃
　McFarlane　bent　forward；　resting　his　palms　on　his　knees。　The　cold　air　seared　his　lungs；　while　the　rest　of　him　sweated　beneath　the　parka。　Beside　him；　he　could　hear　Lloyd　catching　his　breath。　Nothing　more　was　said　about　the　camera。
　Straightening　up；　McFarlane　saw　they　were　standing　on　a　rock…strewn　plain。　A　quarter　mile　beyond　lay　the　long　snowfield　that　stretched　back　into　the　center　of　the　island。　Clouds　now　covered　the　sky；　and　the　falling　snow　grew　heavier。
　Without　a　word；　Puppup　turned　and　set　off　at　a　brisk　pace。　Lloyd　and　McFarlane　scrambled　to　keep　up　as　they　climbed　the　steady　rise。　With　remarkable　speed；　the　snow　developed　into　a　flurry；　shutting　their　world　down　into　a　circle　of　white。　Puppup　was　barely　visible　twenty　feet　ahead；　a　bobbing　specter。　As　they　gained　altitude　the　wind　picked　up；　driving　the　snow　horizontally　across　McFarlane's　field　of　vision。　Now　he　was　glad　that　Glinn　had　insisted　on　the　subzero　boots　and　Arctic　parkas。
　They　crested　the　rise。　The　snow　flurries　swept　aside；　giving　McFarlane　a　glimpse　into　the　valley　beyond。　They　were　on　the　edge　of　a　saddle　overlooking　the　snowfield。　It　looked　much　larger　from　up　here：　a　great　blue…white　mass；　almost　glacial　in　its　irresistibility。　It　ran　down　the　center　of　the　valley；　surrounded　by　low　hills。　Beyond；　the　twin　volcanic　peaks　thrust　up　like　fangs。　McFarlane　could　see　another　snowsquall　boiling　up　toward　them　from　the　valley：　an　unrelieved　wall　of　white　that　swallowed　the　landscape　as　it　approached。
　〃Grand　view　up　here；　eh？〃　said　Puppup。
　Lloyd　nodded。　The　fringe　of　his　parka　was　dusted　with　snow；　and　his　goatee　was　flecked　with　ice。　〃I've　been　wondering　about　that　large　central　snowfield。　Does　it　have　a　name？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Puppup；　bobbing　his　head　several　times；　his　wispy　mustache　swaying　in　time。　〃They　call　it　the　Vomit　of　Hanuxa。〃
　〃How　picturesque。　And　those　two　peaks？〃
　〃The　Jaws　of　Hanuxa。〃
　〃Makes　sense；〃　said　Lloyd。　〃Who　is　Hanuxa？〃
　〃A　Yaghan　Indian　legend；〃　Puppup　replied。　He　did　not　offer　more。
　McFarlane　looked　sharply　at　Puppup。　He　remembered　the　mention　of　the　Yaghan　legends　in　Masangkay's　journal。　He　wondered　if　this　was　the　legend　that　had　led　Masangkay　down　there。
　〃I'm　always　interested　in　old　legends；〃　he　said　casually。　〃Will　you　tell　us　about　it？〃
　Puppup　shrugged；　nodding　his　head　again　cheerfully。　〃I　don't　believe　any　of　those　old　superstitions；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　a　Christian。〃
　Once　again；　he　turned　suddenly　and　began　walking；　setting　a　rapid　pace　down　the　hillside　toward　the　snowfield。　McFarlane　almost　had　to　jog　to　keep　up。　He　could　hear　Lloyd　laboring　behind　him。
　The　snowfield　lay　in　a　deep　fold　of　the　land；　mounds　of　broken　boulders　and　debris　lining　its　edges。　As　they　came　up　to　it；　the　fresh　squall　fell　about　them。　McFarlane　bowed　under　the　wind。
　〃e　on；　you　lot！〃　cried　Puppup　out　of　the　storm。　They　walked　parallel　to　the　snowfield；　which　rose　steeply　above　them　like　the　flank　of　a　huge　beast。　Now　and　then；　Puppup　stopped　to　examine　it　more　closely。　〃Here；〃　he　said　at　last；　kicking　at　the　vertical　wall　to　make　a　toehold；　pulling　himself　up；　and　kicking　again。　Cautiously；　McFarlane　crawled　up　behind　him；　using　Puppup's　toeholds；　keeping　his　face　turned　away　from　the　wind。
　The　steep　sides　of　the　snowfield　gradually　leveled　out；　but　the　wind　swirled　around　them　ever　more　violently。　〃Tell　Puppup　to　slow　down！〃　Lloyd　shouted　from　behind。　But　if　anything；　Puppup　walked　faster。
　〃Hanuxa；〃　he　suddenly　began　in　his　strange；　singsong　accent；　〃was　the　son　of　Yekaijiz；　god　of　the　night　sky。　Yekaijiz　had　two　children：　Hanuxa　and　his　twin　brother；　Haraxa。　Haraxa　was　always　the　favorite　of　the　father。　The　apple　of　his　eye；　like。　As　time　went　on；　Hanuxa　grew　more　and　more　jealous　of　his　brother。　And　he　wanted　his　brother's　power　for　himself。〃
　〃Aha；　the　old　story　of　Cain　and　Abel；〃　Lloyd　said。
　The　snow　in　the　center　of　the　field　had　been　scoured　away；　leaving　blue　ice。　It　seemed　impossibly　strange　somehow；　McFarlane　thought；　to　be　trudging　through　the　center　of　this　nothingness；　this　child's　snow　globe　of　white；　toward　a　huge　mysterious　rock　and　the　grave　of　his　former　partner　…　while　listening　to　this　old　man　relate　the　legend　of　Isla　Desolacion。
　〃The　Yaghans　believe　that　blood　is　the　source　of　life　and　power；〃　Puppup　continued。　〃So　one　day；　Hanuxa　killed　his　brother。　Slit　Haraxa's　throat　and　drank　his　blood；　he　did。　And　his　own　skin　turned　the　color　of　blood；　and　he　got　the　power。　But　Yekaijiz；　the　father；　found　out。　He　imprisoned　Hanuxa　inside　the　island；　entombing　hi