p&c.icelimit-第51部分

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le。　He　moved　rapidly　along　the　tunnel；　keeping　low。　This　was　like　no　gold　mine　he　had　ever　heard　of。　In　fact；　it　was　like　no　mine　at　all。
　Reaching　a　junction；　he　paused　to　look　around。　There　was　nobody：　no　sound；　no　movement。　He　licked　his　lips；　wondering　what　to　do　next。
　Then　he　paused。　Up　ahead；　the　tunnel　widened。　There　was　an　open　space　ahead；　with　something　very　large　in　it。　He　crept　to　the　edge　of　the　open　area　and　shined　his　light　around。　A　giant　cart。
　Timmer　approached　it　cautiously；　creeping　along　the　wall。　It　was　a　huge　steel　flatbed　trailer；　perhaps　a　hundred　feet　long。　Mounted　to　its　underside　were　big　tires：　hundreds　of　them；　on　gleaming　titanium　axles。　His　eyes　traveled　slowly　upward。　Built　on　the　cart　was　a　plex　pyramid　of　wooden　struts　and　members。　And　nestled　in　that　was　something　Timmer　had　never　seen　or　imagined　before。　Something　huge　and　red。　Something　that　gleamed　with　impossible　richness　in　the　artificial　light　of　the　tunnel。
　He　looked　around　again；　then　approached　the　cart。　Setting　one　foot　on　the　closest　tire；　he　pulled　himself　onto　the　platform；　breathing　heavily。　He　was　quickly　overheating　in　his　heavy　snowsuit；　but　he　ignored　the　disfort。　Overhead；　a　large　tarp　was　stretched　tightly　across　the　open　roof：　the　tarp　onto　which　he　had　stepped。　But　Timmer　had　no　interest　in　this。　His　eyes　were　on　the　thing　resting　in　the　huge　cradle。
　Very　carefully；　he　climbed　the　wooden　struts　toward　it。　There　was　no　doubt　about　it：　this；　this　was　what　the　Americans　had　e　for。　But　what　was　it？
　There　was　no　time　to　waste；　there　was　no　time　even　to　hunt　for　the　little　mestizo。　andante　Vallenar　would　want　to　know　about　this　right　away。　And　yet　still　Timmer　hesitated；　balanced　on　the　wooden　cradle。
　The　thing　was　almost　ethereal　in　its　beauty。　It　was　as　if　it　had　no　surface；　as　if　he　could　put　his　hand　forward　and　thrust　it　right　into　its　ruby　depths。　As　he　stared；　he　thought　he　could　see　subtle　patterns　within；　shifting　and　changing；　coruscating　in　the　light。　He　almost　imagined　a　coldness　emanating　from　it；　cooling　his　overheated　face。　It　was　the　most　beautiful；　otherworldly　thing　he　had　ever　seen。
　Without　taking　his　eyes　away；　Timmer　slipped　the　knife　into　a　pocket；　pulled　off　his　glove；　and　held　his　hand　forward；　slowly；　almost　reverently；　toward　the　rich　and　shining　surface。
　
　Isla　Desolacion；
　11：15　P。M。
　
　SAM　MCFARLANE　jerked　awake；　heart　pounding。　He　would　have　thought　it　a　nightmare；　if　the　sound　of　the　explosion　was　not　still　reverberating　across　the　landscape。　He　stood　bolt　upright；　the　chair　falling　to　the　floor　behind　him。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　that　Glinn；　too；　was　on　his　feet；　listening。　As　they　met　each　other's　gaze；　the　lights　in　the　hut　winked　out。　There　was　a　moment　of　pitch…blackness；　and　then　an　emergency　light　snapped　on　over　the　door；　bathing　the　room　in　pale　orange。
　〃What　the　hell　was　that？〃　McFarlane　said。　His　voice　was　almost　drowned　out　by　a　loud　gust　of　wind：　the　window　had　been　blown　out；　and　snow　swirled　into　the　hut；　mingling　with　wooden　splinters　and　shards　of　glass。
　Glinn　approached　the　window　and　gazed　out　into　the　stormy　darkness。　Then　he　glanced　at　Garza。　He；　too；　was　on　his　feet。　〃Who's　got　duty？〃
　〃Hill。〃
　Glinn　raised　a　radio。　〃Hill。　This　is　Glinn。　Report。〃　He　took　his　thumb　from　the　transmit　button　and　listened。　〃Hill！〃　he　called　again。　Then　he　switched　frequencies。　〃Forward　post？　Thompson？〃　He　was　answered　by　a　loud　hiss　of　static。
　He　dropped　the　radio。　〃Radio's　out；　I'm　not　getting　any　responses。〃　He　turned　back　to　Garza；　who　was　pulling　on　his　snowsuit。　〃Where　are　you　going？〃
　〃To　the　electrical　hut。〃
　〃Negative。　We'll　go　together。〃
　Glinn's　tone　had　bee　sharper；　military。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Garza　replied　briskly。
　There　was　a　clattering　outside；　then　Amira　tumbled　in　from　the　munications　hut；　snow　clinging　to　her　shoulders。
　〃Power's　down　everywhere；〃　she　gasped。　〃All　we've　got　is　the　reserve。〃
　〃Understood；〃　Glinn　said。　A　small　Glock　17　pistol　had　appeared　in　his　hand。　He　checked　the　magazine；　then　tucked　it　into　his　belt。
　McFarlane　had　turned　to　reach　for　his　own　snowsuit。　As　he　thrust　his　arms　into　the　sleeves；　he　saw　Glinn　look　at　him。　〃Don't　even　say　it；〃　McFarlane　began。　〃I'm　ing　with　you。〃
　Glinn　hesitated；　and　saw　his　resolve。　He　turned　to　Amira。　〃You　stay　here。〃
　〃But　…　〃
　〃Rachel；　we　need　you　here。　Lock　the　door　after　we　leave。　We'll　have　a　guard　here　shortly。〃
　Within　moments；　three　of　Glinn's　men；　Thompson；　Rocco；　and　Sanders；　appeared　at　the　door；　powerful　torches　in　their　hands　and　Ingram　M10　submachine　guns　slung　over　their　shoulders。
　〃Everyone　accounted　for　except　Hill；　sir；〃　Thompson　said。
　〃Sanders；　have　guards　posted　at　every　hut。　Thompson；　Rocco；　you　e　with　me。〃　Glinn　strapped　on　snowshoes；　grabbed　a　torch；　and　led　the　way　out　into　the　swirling　dark。
　McFarlane　struggled　with　the　unfamiliar　snowshoes。　Hours　of　drowsing　by　the　stove　had　made　him　forget　how　cold　it　was　outside；　how　sharp　the　snowflakes　felt　when　the　wind　drove　them　against　his　face。
　The　electrical　hut　lay　only　fifty　yards　away。　Garza　unlocked　the　door　and　they　entered　the　small　space；　Thompson　and　Rocco　sweeping　it　with　their　torches。　The　smell　of　burnt　wiring　hung　in　the　air。　Garza　knelt　to　pull　open　the　gray　metal　cover　of　the　master　control　cabinet。　As　he　did　so；　a　cloud　of　acrid　smoke　billowed　out　into　the　light　of　the　torches。
　Garza　ran　his　finger　down　the　panel。　〃Totally　fried；〃　he　said。
　〃Estimated　time　to　repair？〃　Glinn　asked。
　〃Main　switching　box；　ten　minutes；　max。　Then　we　can　run　diagnostics。〃
　〃Do　it。　You　men；　get　outside　and　guard　the　door。〃
　The　construction　chief　worked　in　silence　while　McFarlane　looked　on。　Glinn　tried　the　radio　again；　finding　it　was　still　broadcasting　nothing　but　noise；　he　replaced　it　in　his　pocket。　At　length；　Garza　stepped　back　and　threw　a　series　of　switches。　There　was　a　click　and　a　hum；　but　no　lights。　With　a　grunt　of　surprise；　Garza　opened　a　nearby　metal　locker；　withdrew　a　palmtop　diagnostic　puter；　plugged　it　into　a　jack　on　the　master　control　cabinet；　and　switched　it　on。　A　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