p&c.icelimit-第59部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Lloyd；　instead　of　responding；　turned　to　Penfold；　who　had　been　hovering　unhappily　in　the　door　to　the　bridge。　〃Get　Ambassador　Throckmorton　on　the　horn　and　conference　him　into　the　vice　president's　office　in　Santiago。　I'll　be　down　in　a　minute。〃
　Penfold　disappeared。
　〃Mr。　Lloyd；〃　said　Glinn　quietly。　〃You　may　remain　on　the　bridge　and　observe。　That　is　all。〃
　〃It's　way　too　late　for　that；　Glinn。〃
　Glinn　turned　quietly　and　spoke　to　his　man　at　the　black　puter。　〃Kill　the　power　in　the　Lloyd　Industries　suite；　and　suspend　ship…to…shore　munications　across　the　board。〃
　There　was　a　shocked　silence。　〃You　son　of　a　bitch；〃　Lloyd　roared；　recovering　quickly。　He　turned　to　Britton。　〃I　contravene　that　order。　Mr。　Glinn　is　relieved　of　authority。〃
　It　appeared　that　Glinn　hadn't　heard。　He　punched　in　another　frequency　on　his　radio。　〃Mr。　Garza？　I'll　take　that　report　now。〃
　He　listened　for　a　moment；　then　replied；　〃Excellent。　With　the　covering　fog；　let's　start　an　early　evacuation　of　the　island。　Order　all　nonessential　personnel　back　on　board。　But　follow　the　game　plan　precisely：　instruct　them　to　leave　the　lights　on　and　the　equipment　running。　I've　had　Rachel　set　the　radio　transmission　routines　to　automatic。　Bring　the　tender　around　the　rear　of　the　island；　but　be　careful　to　always　keep　it　within　the　radar　shadow　of　the　island　or　the　Rolvaag。〃　
　Lloyd　broke　in；　his　voice　shaking　with　rage。　〃Aren't　you　forgetting；　Glinn；　who's　ultimately　in　charge　of　this　operation？　On　top　of　firing　you；　I'm　stopping　all　payments　to　EES。〃　He　turned　to　Britton。　〃Restore　power　to　my　suite。〃
　It　again　appeared　for　several　moments　as　if　Glinn　had　still　not　heard　Lloyd。　Britton；　also；　made　no　move。　Glinn　continued　speaking　calmly　into　the　radio；　giving　orders；　checking　on　progress。　A　sudden　gust　of　wind　buffeted　the　bridge　windows；　sending　streamers　of　rain　down　the　Plexiglas。　Lloyd's　face　flushed　a　deep　purple　as　he　looked　around　at　the　captain　and　the　crew。　But　no　one　met　his　eyes。　The　work　of　the　bridge　went　on。
　〃Did　any　of　you　hear　me？〃　he　cried。
　And　then　at　last　Glinn　turned　back。　〃I　am　not　forgetting　that　you　are　ultimately　in　charge；　Mr。　Lloyd；〃　he　answered；　his　voice　suddenly　conciliatory；　even　friendly。
　Lloyd　took　a　deep　breath；　momentarily　thrown　off　balance。
　Glinn　continued　to　speak　softly；　persuasively；　even　kindly。　〃Mr。　Lloyd；　in　any　operation；　there　must　be　a　single　mander。　You　know　that　better　than　anyone。　In　our　contract；　I　made　you　a　promise。　I'm　not　going　to　break　that　promise。　If　I　seem　insubordinate；　please　know　that　I　am　doing　it　for　you。　If　you　had　contacted　the　Chilean　vice　president；　all　would　have　been　lost。　I　know　him　personally：　we　used　to　play　polo　together　on　his　Patagonian　ranch。　He　would　like　nothing　better　than　to　give　the　Americans　a　swift　poke　in　the　eye。〃
　Lloyd　faltered。　〃You　played　polo　with　…　？〃
　Glinn　went　on；　speaking　rapidly。　〃I　alone　have　all　the　facts。　I　alone　know　the　path　to　success。　I　am　not　being　secretive　for　the　sake　of　coyness；　Mr。　Lloyd。　There　is　a　vital　reason　for　this：　it　is　essential　to　prevent　second…guessing　and　freelance　decision　making。　Frankly；　the　meteorite　bears　no　intrinsic　interest　for　me。　But　I　promised　to　move　this　thing　from　point　A　to　point　B；　and　no　one；　no　one；　is　going　to　stop　me。　So　I　hope　you　understand　now　why　I　am　not　going　to　relinquish　control　of　this　operation；　or　share　with　you　explanations　and　prognostications。　As　for　you　withholding　payment；　we　can　settle　that　question　like　gentlemen　once　we　are　back　on　American　soil。〃
　〃Look　here；　Glinn；　that's　all　very　well　and　good　…　〃
　〃This　discussion　is　over；　and　now；　sir；　you　will　obey　me。〃　Glinn's　voice；　still　soft；　suddenly　took　on　a　steely　edge。　〃Whether　that　means　staying　here　quietly；　or　disappearing　into　your　office；　or　being　escorted　to　the　brig；　is　a　matter　of　indifference　to　me。〃
　Lloyd　stared　at　him；　dumbfounded。　〃You　think　you　could　put　me　in　the　brig；　you　arrogant　bastard？〃
　The　expression　on　Glinn's　face　provided　the　answer。
　Lloyd　was　silent　for　a　moment；　his　face　almost　purple　with　rage。　Then　he　turned　to　Britton。　〃And　who　are　you　working　for？〃
　But　Britton's　eyes；　deep　and　green　as　the　ocean；　were　still　on　Glinn。　〃I'm　working　for　the　man　with　the　keys　to　the　car；〃　she　said　at　last。
　Lloyd　stood　there；　swelling　in　fury。　But　he　did　not　immediately　react。　Instead；　he　made　a　slow　circuit　of　the　bridge；　his　creaking　wingtips　leaving　a　trail　of　water；　until　he　stopped　at　the　bridge　windows。　There　he　stood；　breathing　heavily　a　moment；　looking　out　at　nothing　in　particular。　〃Once　again；　I　order　that　power　and　munications　be　restored　to　my　suite。〃
　There　was　no　sound；　no　answer。　It　was　clear　that　no　one；　not　even　the　lowest　officer；　intended　to　obey　Lloyd。
　Lloyd　slowly　turned；　and　his　eyes　fell　square　on　McFarlane。　He　spoke　in　a　low　voice。　〃And　you；　Sam？〃
　Another　hard　gust　buffeted　the　windows。　McFarlane；　standing　in　suspension；　felt　the　shudder　in　the　air。　The　bridge　had　fallen　deathly　quiet。　He　had　a　decision　to　make　…　and　he　found　it　one　of　the　easiest　decisions　of　his　career。
　〃I'm　working　for　the　rock；〃　said　McFarlane　quietly。
　Lloyd　continued　looking　at　him；　his　eyes　black；　adamantine。　Then；　all　at　once；　he　seemed　to　crumple。　The　bull…like　power　seemed　to　drain　out　of　his　massive　frame；　his　shoulders　slumped；　his　face　lost　its　fiery　color。　He　turned；　hesitated；　then　walked　slowly　off　the　bridge　and　disappeared　out　the　door。
　After　a　moment；　Glinn　bent　once　again　toward　the　black　puter　and　murmured　to　his　man　at　the　keyboard。
　
　Rolvaag；
　1：45　A。M。
　
　CAPTAIN　BRITTON　stared　straight　ahead；　betraying　nothing　of　her　feelings。　She　tried　to　measure　her　breathing；　the　rhythm　of　her　heart　…　everything　…　to　the　pulse　of　the　ship。　Over　the　past　hours；　the　wind　had　been　picking　up　steadily；　and　it　moaned　and　rattled　about　the　ship。　It　was　raining　harder　now；　fat　drops　that　shot　out　of　the　fog　like　bullets。　The　panteonero　was　not　far　away。
　She　transferred　her　attention　to　the　spiderwebbed　tower　that　rose　out　of　the　ship's　tank。　It　was　still　well　below　the　level　of　the　bluff；　and　yet　it　seemed　to　be　plete。　She　had　no　idea　what　the　next　step　would　be。　It　was　unfortable；　even　humiliating；　not　knowing。　She　glanced　over　toward　the　EES　puter　and　the　man　operating　it。　She　had　thought　she　knew　everyone　on　board。　And　yet　this　man　was　a　stranger　who　seemed　to　know　a　great　deal　about　the　operation　of　a　supertanker。　She　pressed　her　lips　more　tightly　together。
　There　were　times；　of　course；　when　she　relinquished　mand　…　taking　on　fuel；　say；　or　when　a　harbor　pilot　came　aboard。　But　those　were　fortable；　familiar　patterns　of　running　a　ship；　established　over　decades。　This　was　not　fortable：　it　was　a　humiliation。　Strangers　were　running　the　loading　process；　after　lashing　the　ship　to　the　shore　and　leaving　her　a　sitting　duck　three　thousand　yards　from　a　warship。。。　Once　again；　she　struggled　to　tuck　away　the　feelings　of　anger　and　hurt。　After　all；　her　own　feelings　were　not　important　…　not　when　she　thought　about　what　waited　for　them；　out　there　in　the　murk。　
　Anger　and　hurt。。。　Her　eyes　flickered　to　Glinn；　standing　beside　the　black　console；　occasionally　whispering　words　to　his　operative。　He　had　just　humiliated；　even　crushed；　the　world's　most　powerful　industrialist；　and　yet　he　looked　so　slender；　so　ordinary。　She　continued　looking　covertly　at　him。　She　could　understand　her　anger。　But　hurt　was　something　else。　More　than　once　she　had　lain　awake　at　night；　wondering　what　went　on　in　his　mind；　what　made　him　tick。　She　wondered　how　a　man　who　was　so　physically　inconsequential　…　a　man　she　might　pass　in　the　street　without　a　second　glance　…　could　take　up　residence　in　her　imagination　so　vividly。　She　wondered　how　he　could　be　so　ruthless；　so　disciplined。　Did　he　really　have　a　plan；　or　was　he　simply　good　at　covering　up　a　series　of　ad　hoc　reactions　to　unexpected　events？　The　most　dangerous　people　were　those　who　knew　they　were　always　right。　And　yet　Glinn　had　been　always　right。　He　seemed　to　know　everything　in　advance；　he　seemed　to　understand　everybody。　He　certainly　had　understood　her　…　at　least；　the　professional　Sally　Britton。　Success　now　depends　on　a　certain　subordination　of　your　authority　as　captain；　he　had　said。　She　found　herself　wondering　if　he　really　knew　how　she　felt　about　having　her　mand　subordinated；　even　temporarily；　or　if　he　even　cared。　She　wondered　why　she　cared　that　he　cared。
　She　felt　a　shudder　as　pumps　came　on　along　both　sides　of　the　ship。　Jets　of　seawater　blasted　through　discharge　pipes　into　the　sea。　The　ship　began　to　rise　almost　imperceptibly　as　the　ballast　tanks　emptied。　Of　course：　that's　how　the　squat…looking　tower　would　be　raised　to　the　level　of　the　meteorite　on　the　bluff。　The　whole　ship　would　rise　to　meet　it；　bringing　the　platform　flush　with　the　rock。　Again　she　felt　humiliated　at　having　control　of　the　tanker　taken　from　her；　and　yet　awed　at　the　audacity　of　the　plan。
　She　remained　stiffly　at　attention；　speaking　to　no　one；　as　the　great　ship　rose　in　the　water。　It　was　a　strange　feeling；　to　see　the　ship　going　through　the　traditional；　motions　of　deballasting　…　lashing　the　sea　suctions；　aligning　the　loading　arms；　opening　the　manifold　blocks　…　and　yet　seeing　them　as　an　observer　rather　than　a　participant。　And　to　observe　it　under　such　circumst