p&c.icelimit-第71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！


　McFarlane　shook　his　head。　〃No。〃
　Rachel　looked　at　him。　〃Sam；　how　could　this　water　be　different　from　all　the　other　water　that's　touched　the　meteorite？〃
　And　then；　in　a　moment　of　revelation；　it　became　clear。　〃Salt；〃　he　said。　〃It's　salt　water　dripping　into　the　hold。〃
　After　a　shocked　moment；　Rachel　suddenly　gasped。
　〃That's　it；〃　she　said。　〃And　that's　why　Timmer　and　Masangkay　set　it　off　with　their　hands　…　their　sweaty　hands。　There　was　salt　in　their　touch。　But　Lloyd　put　his　cheek　to　it　on　a　bitterly　cold　day。　There　was　no　sweat　in　his　touch。　It　must　be　highly　reactive　to　sodium　chloride。　But　why；　Sam？　What's　it　reacting　to？〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　her；　then　beyond；　to　where　the　trickle　of　seawater　still　glistened　in　the　gloom；　swaying　with　the　gradual　motion　of　the　ship。　
　The　motion　of　the　ship。。。　
　〃We'll　worry　about　that　later；〃　he　said。　He　reached　for　his　radio；　snapped　it　on；　heard　the　hiss　of　static。
　〃God　damn　it！〃　he　said；　shoving　the　radio　back　in　his　belt。
　〃Sam　…　〃　Rachel　began。
　〃We've　got　to　get　out　of　here；〃　he　interrupted。　〃Otherwise；　when　the　next　big　roll　es；　we're　toast。〃
　He　stood　up　just　as　she　gripped　his　arm。
　〃We　can't　leave；〃　she　said。　〃Another　explosion　like　that　might　break　the　web。　If　the　meteorite　gets　loose；　we'll　all　die。〃
　〃Then　we　have　to　keep　the　water　from　the　rock。〃
　For　a　moment；　the　two　stared　at　each　other。　And　then；　as　with　a　single　thought；　they　sprinted　down　the　catwalk　toward　the　access　tunnel。
　
　Almirante　Ramirez；
　2：45　P。M。
　
　VALLENAR　STOOD　at　the　bridge；　looking　southward　over　the　heaving　seas；　an　old　pair　of　binoculars　cradled　in　his　hands。　The　officers　around　him　were　struggling　to　remain　on　their　feet　in　the　wildly　rolling　ship；　their　faces　frozen　masks　of　neutrality。　They　were　terrified。　But　now　his　regime　of　absolute　discipline　was　paying　off：　the　test　had　e；　and　those　who　remained　were　with　him。　They　would　follow　him　to　hell；　if　necessary　…　and　that；　he　thought　as　he　glanced　at　the　chart；　was　exactly　where　they　were　heading。
　The　snow　and　sleet　had　stopped；　and　the　sky　was　clearing。　Visibility　was　excellent。　But　the　wind　had；　if　anything；　picked　up；　and　the　seas　were　mounting　ever　higher。　When　the　ship　sank　into　the　bottom　of　the　troughs；　it　became　enshrouded　in　a　midnight　darkness；　and　the　walls　of　black　water　rising　on　either　side　made　him　feel　as　if　the　ship　were　at　the　bottom　of　a　vast　canyon。　At　the　bottom　of　these　troughs；　the　wave　crests　were　an　astonishing　twenty　meters　above　the　level　of　the　bridge。　He　had　never　seen　a　sea　like　this　in　his　life；　and　the　increase　in　visibility；　while　useful　to　his　plan；　made　it　appear　all　the　more　dreadful。　The　normal　procedure　would　be　to　head　into　the　wind　and　ride　it　out。　That　was　not　an　option。　He　had　to　keep　a　heading　that　put　the　wind　and　sea　almost　on　his　beam；　otherwise；　the　heavier　American　ship　would　escape。
　He　watched　as　the　bow　of　his　destroyer　plowed　into　the　sea　at　the　bottom　of　the　long　trough　and　came　up　slowly；　the　castillo　thunderously　shedding　water；　the　ship　leaned　to　starboard　until　the　bridge　was　hanging　over　the　open　ocean；　wracked　with　foam。　Everyone　grabbed　a　handhold。　The　bridge　hung　for　frightening　seconds；　then　slowly　righted　itself；　the　momentum　dipping　it　to　port。　It　was　an　especially　ugly　roll。
　Vallenar　knew　the　ship；　knew　what　it　could　and　could　not　do。　He　could　feel　when　the　wind　and　water　took　charge。　They　had　not　…　at　least；　not　yet。　It　would　take　vigilance；　and　adroit　seamanship；　to　keep　the　ship　from　foundering。　He　would　do　it　himself；　not　leave　it　to　the　conning　officer。
　He　saw　a　foaming　swell　looming　in　the　distance；　towering　over　the　rest；　thrusting　itself　through　the　storm　like　a　whale。　He　spoke　calmly；　almost　nonchalantly。　〃Ease　your　rudder　to　left　standard；　starboard　engine　back　one…third；　port　engine　ahead　two…thirds。　Keep　calling　your　head。〃
　〃ing　around　easy；　sir；〃　said　Aller。　〃Heading　one　seven　five；　heading　one　seven　zero　…　〃
　〃Steady　on　one　six　five。〃
　The　wave　began　to　take　the　ship　in　its　embrace；　the　Ramirez　rose；　strained；　canted。　Vallenar　held　on　to　the　engine…room　telegraph　as　they　heeled　sickeningly；　the　inclinometer　reading　close　to　forty　degrees；　before　the　wave　finally　crested。　For　a　moment；　he　had　a　long　view　across　the　southern　ocean；　all　the　way　to　the　horizon。　He　quickly　fitted　the　binoculars　to　his　eyes　and　scanned　the　tumultuous　sea　until　they　subsided　into　the　next　trough。　It　was　a　terrifying　sight：　the　monumental　peaks　and　valleys　of　water；　the　absolute　promiscuity　of　chaos。　It　temporarily　unnerved　him。
　As　the　ship　fell；　he　calmed　himself。　They　rose　again；　and　so　did　Vallenar's　binoculars。　He　felt　a　sudden　lurch　in　his　chest：　there　it　was；　a　dark　silhouette　against　the　sea；　bordered　in　white。　It　was　larger；　and　closer；　than　he　thought　it　would　be。　He　kept　the　binoculars　trained；　almost　afraid　to　blink；　as　the　ship　subsided；　then　slowly　began　to　rise　on　the　next　foam…webbed　mountain　of　water。　As　they　topped　it；　and　the　bing　crest　creamed　over　the　port　railing　and　slanted　the　ship　over；　Vallenar　saw　the　tanker　again。
　〃Port　engine　back　one…third。　Right　standard　rudder。　Steady　on　one　eight　zero。〃
　Once　more　the　deck　heaved　up　and　fell　to　starboard。
　〃What　is　our　fuel？〃
　〃Thirty　percent。〃
　He　turned　to　the　ingeniero　de　guardia；　the　engineer　of　the　watch。　〃Ballast　the　tanks。〃　Filling　the　empty　tanks　with　seawater　would　slow　them　down　half　a　knot；　but　it　would　add　a　stability　they　would　need　for　what　was　about　to　e。
　〃Ballasting　the　tanks；〃　said　the　engineer；　with　evident　relief。
　Vallenar　turned　to　the　quartermaster。　〃Barometer？〃
　〃Twenty…nine　point　two　eight；　falling。〃
　He　called　his　tactical　action　officer　to　the　bridge。　〃We　have　visual　contact　with　the　American　ship；〃　he　said；　handing　the　man　the　binoculars。
　The　man　raised　them　to　his　eyes。　〃I　see　it；　sir；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。
　Vallenar　turned　toward　the　officer　of　the　deck。　〃It　bears　one　nine　zero；　or　thereabouts。　Have　CIC　give　me　a　course　to　intercept。〃
　The　orders　were　relayed；　the　new　course　given。　Everything　now　was　crisp；　correct。
　Vallenar　swiveled　back　to　the　tactical　action　officer。　〃Report　when　we　are　within　gun　range。　Do　not　engage　without　my　order。〃
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　tactical　action　officer；　in　a　carefully　neutral　tone。
　The　destroyer　began　to　yaw　as　it　cleared　another　ugly　wave；　its　prow　dropping　into　the　next　trough　with　a　rumble　of　water。　The　deck　heaved；　careening　to　starboard。　The　head　began　swinging　to　port；　a　heavy；　uncontrolled　motion。
　〃I　can't　hold　her　at　one　nine　zero。〃
　〃Use　full　rudder　to　maintain　your　heading。〃
　The　ship　steadied。　Vallenar　could　see　a　tigre　approaching　from　due　west。
　〃Ease　your　rudder　to　standard。　Ease　it！〃
　The　ship　began　a　slow；　dangling　roll　as　it　mounted　the　side　of　the　enormous　wave。　When　the　wave　broke；　a　sheet　of　water　came　racing　across　the　deck：　they　were　actually　shipping　water　on　the　bridge。
　〃Right　hard　rudder！　Right　hard！〃
　The　ship　skidded　sideways。
　〃Rudder's　out　of　the　water；　sir！〃　the　helmsman　cried；　the　wheel　loose　in　his　hands。
　〃Port　engine　back　two…thirds！　Starboard　ahead　flank！〃
　The　operator　worked　the　engine　telegraph。　The　ship　continued　sideways。
　〃She's　not　answering　…　〃
　Vallenar　felt　a　twinge　of　fear　…　not　for　himself；　but　for　his　unpleted　mission　…　and　then　he　felt　the　stern　settle　in　the　sea　and　the　screws　bite　into　the　water。
　He　slowly　released　his　breath；　then　leaned　into　the　squawk　box　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　〃Report　any　air　contacts。〃　No　ship　would　be　ing　to　the　aid　of　the　Americans　in　this　weather；　he　was　sure　of　that；　but　he　felt　less　sure　about　aircraft。…
　〃No　air　contact　out　to　two　hundred　miles；〃　returned　the　CIC。　〃Ice　to　the　south。〃
　〃What　kind　of　ice？〃
　〃Two　large　ice　islands　and　assorted　growlers　and　drift　ice。〃　
　They're　running　to　the　ice；　Vallenar　thought　with　satisfaction。　It　was　a　desperate　measure；　taking　a　tanker　below　the　Ice　Limit；　deliberately　heading　for　the　ice；　in　a　storm　like　this。　But　it　was　their　only　move；　and　he　had　expected　it。　Perhaps　they　thought　they　could　play　hide…and…seek　among　the　bergs；　or　escape　under　cover　of　darkness。　Perhaps　they　were　hoping　for　fog。　It　would　not　succeed。　On　the　contrary；　the　ice　would　work　to　his　advantage　by　dampening　the　heavy　seas。　And　in　ice；　a　destroyer　was　far　more　maneuverable　than　a　tanker。　He　would　kill　them　in　the　ice　…　if　the　ice　didn't　get　them　first。
　〃Drawing　into　gun　range；　sir；〃　said　the　tactical　action　officer。
　Vallenar　looked　out　over　the　storm…tossed　ocean。　Now；　even　without　the　binoculars；　he　could　occasionally　glimpse　the　dark　speck　of　the　American　ship。　It　was　perhaps　eight　miles　away；　but　even　at　that　distance　it　made　a　big；　fat　target。
　〃Do　you　have　visual　contact　acceptable　for　targeting？〃　he　asked。
　〃Not　yet；　sir。　Visual　targeting　will　be　difficult　in　this　sea；　at　this　range。〃
　〃Then　we　wait　until　we　are　closer。〃
　The　minutes　dragged　on　as　they　gained；　very　slowly；　on　the　American　ship。　The　sky　darkened　as　the　wind　held　steady　at　eighty　knots。　The　fear　that　had　gripped　the　bridge　remained；　a　healthy　tonic。　The　sun　was　setting。　Vallenar　continued　to　issue　a　stream　of　carefully　nuanced　rudder　and　engine　instructions；　responding　to　the