p&c.icelimit-第76部分

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g　into　a　crooked　line　of　brilliance。　Britton　shielded　her　eyes　as　the　surface　of　the　water；　the　deck　of　the　tanker；　the　wall　of　the　ice　island；　shed　their　colors　under　the　terrible　illumination。　As　the　worst　of　the　brightness　eased；　she　squinted　out　the　windows　once　again。　The　guns　on　the　Ramirez　lowered　their　elevation；　pointing　at　them　until　all　that　could　be　seen　were　the　black　holes　of　the　muzzles。　The　ship　was　now　halfway　through　the　gap　and　slowing　fast。　The　shooting　would　be　almost　point…blank。
　An　explosion　cracked　through　the　air；　echoing　and　reverberating　between　the　islands。　Britton　jerked　back　instinctively；　and　felt　Glinn's　hand　bear　down　on　hers。　This　was　it；　then。　She　murmured　a　silent　prayer　for　her　daughter；　and　for　death　to　be　merciful　and　quick。
　But　no　burst　of　flame　had　e　from　the　destroyer's　guns。　Britton's　eyes　scanned　the　scene　in　confusion。　She　saw　movement　far　above。
　At　the　top　of　the　ice　cliff　above　the　Ramirez；　splinters　and　chunks　of　ice　were　spinning　lazily　into　the　air；　rising　above　four　drifting　puffs　of　smoke。　The　echoes　died；　and　for　a　moment　the　stillness　returned。　And　then　the　ice　island　seemed　to　shift。　The　face　of　the　cliff　above　the　Ramirez　began　to　slip；　and　the　blue　fissure　opened　between　it　and　the　rest　of　the　island；　rapidly　widening；　now　Britton　could　see　that　a　gigantic　piece　of　ice；　nearly　two　hundred　feet　high；　was　peeling　away。　The　great　plate　of　ice　separated　from　the　cliff　and　began　to　descend；　breaking　into　several　pieces　as　it　did　so；　in　a　kind　of　slow；　majestic　ballet。　As　it　merged　with　the　sea；　a　wall　of　water　began　to　rise：　black　at　first；　then　green　and　white。　Higher　and　higher　the　water　rose；　propelled　by　the　great　plunging　mass　of　the　ice；　and　then　the　sound　began　to　reach　her；　a　mingled　cacophony　of　noise　that　grew　steadily　in　volume。　And　still　the　wave　mounted；　so　precipitous　it　began　breaking　over　itself　even　as　it　formed；　climbing；　breaking；　climbing　again。　The　vast　block　of　ice　disappeared；　driven　below　the　surface　by　its　own　momentum；　and　the　steep…walled　wave　broke　free　and　headed；　broadside；　for　the　Ramirez。　
　There　was　a　roar　from　its　steam　turbines　as　the　destroyer　tried　to　maneuver。　But　in　an　instant　the　wave　was　upon　it；　the　destroyer　yawed；　rose；　and　rose　still　farther；　heeling；　the　rust　red　of　its　bowplates　exposed。　For　a　sickening　moment　it　seemed　to　pause；　slanting　far　to　starboard；　its　two　masts　almost　horizontal　to　the　sea；　as　the　crest　of　the　monstrous　wave　foamed　over　it。　Seconds　ticked　by　as　the　ship　hovered　there；　clinging　to　the　wave；　poised　between　righting　itself　and　foundering。　Britton　felt　her　heart　pounding　violently　in　her　chest。　Then　the　ship　wavered　and　began　to　e　upright；　water　shedding　from　its　deck。　It　didn't　work；　she　thought；　God；　it　didn't　work。　
　The　righting　movement　slowed；　the　ship　paused　again；　and　then　it　sagged　back　into　the　water。　There　was　a　sigh　of　air　from　the　superstructure；　jets　of　spray　shot　in　all　directions；　and　the　destroyer　turned　over；　its　slimy　keel　rolling　heavily　toward　the　sky。　There　was　another；　louder　sigh；　a　moiling　of　water　and　foam　and　bubbling　air　around　the　hull；　and　then；　with　hardly　a　swirl；　it　disappeared　into　the　icy　deep。　There　was　a　second　brief　explosion　of　bubbles；　and　then　those；　too；　disappeared；　leaving　behind　black　water。
　It　had　taken　less　than　ninety　seconds。
　Britton　saw　the　freakish　wave　race　toward　them；　spreading　and　attenuating　as　it　did　so。
　〃Hang　on；〃　murmured　Glinn。
　Positioned　lengthwise　to　the　wave；　the　tanker　rose　sharply；　heeled；　then　came　easily　to　rest。
　Britton　disengaged　her　hand　from　Glinn's　and　raised　her　binoculars；　feeling　the　cold　rubber　against　the　sockets　of　her　eyes。　She　could　hardly　prehend　that　the　destroyer　was　gone。　Not　a　man；　not　a　life　raft　…　not　even　a　cushion　or　bottle　…　appeared　on　the　surface。　The　Almirante　Ramirez　had　disappeared　without　a　trace。
　Glinn's　eyes　were　on　the　island；　and　she　followed　his　gaze。　There；　at　the　edge　of　the　ice　plateau；　were　four　dark　specks：　men　in　dry　suits；　crossing　their　arms　over　their　heads；　fists　together。　One　by　one；　the　flares　dropped　into　the　sea；　each　with　a　faint　hiss。　Darkness　returned。
　Glinn　raised　his　radio。
　〃Op　acplished；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Prepare　to　receive　the　launch。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　5：40　P。M。
　
　PALMER　LLOYD　found　himself　momentarily　unable　to　speak。　He　had　been　so　certain　of　impending　death　that　to　stand　here　on　the　bridge；　drawing　breath；　seemed　a　miracle。　When　he　finally　found　his　voice；　he　turned　to　Glinn。　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃
　〃The　chance　of　success　was　too　slim。　I　myself　did　not　believe　it　would　succeed。〃　His　lips　twitched　briefly　in　an　ironic　smile。　〃It　required　luck。〃
　In　a　sudden　physical　display　of　emotion　Lloyd　leapt　forward；　wrapping　Glinn　in　a　bear　hug。　〃Christ；〃　he　said；　〃I　feel　like　a　condemned　man　getting　a　reprieve。　Eli；　is　there　anything　you　can't　do？〃　He　found　himself　crying。　He　didn't　care。
　〃It's　not　over　yet。〃
　Lloyd　simply　grinned　at　the　man's　false　modesty。
　Britton　turned　to　Howell。　〃Are　we　taking　in　water？〃
　〃Nothing　that　the　bilge　pumps　can't　handle；　Captain。　As　long　as　we　have　auxiliary　power。〃
　〃And　how　long　is　that？〃
　〃By　shutting　down　all　but　essential　systems；　with　the　emergency　diesel；　more　than　twenty…five　hours。〃
　〃Splendid！〃　Lloyd　said。　〃We're　in　fine　shape。　We'll　repair　the　engines　and　be　on　our　way。〃　He　beamed　at　Glinn　and　then　Britton；　and　then　faltered　a　little。　He　wondered　why　they　looked　so　grim。　〃Is　there　a　problem？〃
　〃We're　DIW；　Mr。　Lloyd；〃　said　Britton。　〃The　current's　moving　us　back　into　the　storm。〃
　〃DIW？〃
　〃Dead　in　the　water。〃
　〃We've　weathered　it　so　far。　It　can't　get　any　worse　than　this。　Can　it？〃
　No　one　answered　his　question。
　Britton　spoke　to　Howell。　〃Give　me　status　on　our　munications。〃
　〃All　long…range　and　satellite　munications　down。〃
　〃Issue　an　SOS。　Raise　South　Georgia　on　the　emergency　channel　sixteen。〃
　Lloyd　felt　a　sudden　chill。　〃What's　this　about　an　SOS？〃
　Again　no　one　answered。　Britton　said；　〃Mr。　Howell；　what　is　the　status　on　engine　damage？〃
　After　a　moment　Howell　reported　back。　〃Both　turbines　beyond　repair；　ma'am。〃
　〃Prepare　for　possible　evacuation　of　the　ship。〃
　Lloyd　could　hardly　believe　what　he　was　hearing。　〃Just　what　the　hell　are　you　talking　about？　Is　the　ship　sinking？〃
　Britton　turned　a　pair　of　cool　green　eyes　on　him。　〃That's　my　meteorite　down　there。　I'm　not　leaving　this　ship。〃
　〃Nobody's　leaving　the　ship；　Mr。　Lloyd。　We'll　only　abandon　ship　as　a　last　resort。　Putting　lifeboats　out　into　this　storm　would　probably　be　suicide　anyway。〃
　〃For　God's　sake；　then；　let's　not　overreact。　We　can　weather　the　storm　and　get　a　tow　to　the　Falklands。　Things　aren't　that　bad。〃
　〃We　have　no　steerage；　no　headway。　Once　we　drift　back　into　that　storm；　we'll　have　eighty…knot　winds；　a　hundred…foot　sea；　and　a　six…knot　current　all　pushing　us　in　one　direction；　toward　the　Bransfield　Strait。　That's　Antarctica；　Mr。　Lloyd。　Things　are　that　bad。〃
　Lloyd　felt　stunned。　Already；　he　could　feel　a　swell　rolling　the　ship。　A　gust　of　air　came　into　the　bridge。
　〃Listen　to　me；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　don't　care　what　you　have　to　do；　or　how　you　do　it；　but　don't　you　lose　my　meteorite。　Is　that　understood？〃
　Britton　gave　him　a　steady；　hostile　look。　〃Mr。　Lloyd；　right　now　I　couldn't　give　a　shit　about　your　meteorite。　My　sole　concern　is　my　ship　and　crew。　Is　that　understood？〃
　Lloyd　turned　to　Glinn；　looking　for　support。　But　Glinn　had　remained　perfectly　silent　and　still；　his　face　its　usual　mask。
　〃When　can　we　get　a　tow？〃
　〃Most　of　our　electronics　are　down；　but　we're　trying　to　raise　South　Georgia。　It　all　depends　on　the　storm。〃
　Lloyd　broke　away　impatiently　and　turned　to　Glinn。　〃What's　happening　in　the　holding　tank？〃
　〃Garza　is　reinforcing　the　web　with　fresh　welds。〃
　〃And　how　long　will　that　take？〃
　Glinn　did　not　answer。　He　did　not　need　to；　because　now　Lloyd　could　feel　it；　too。　The　motion　of　the　ship　was　growing　worse　…　ghastly；　slow　rolls　that　took　forever　to　plete。　And　at　the　top　of　each　roll；　the　Rolvaag　cried　in　pain：　a　deep　groaning　that　was　half　sound　and　half　vibration。　It　was　the　dead　hand　of　the　meteorite。
　
　Rolvaag；
　5：45　P。M。
　
　HOWELL　EMERGED　from　the　radio　room　and　spoke　to　Britton。　〃We've　got　South　Georgia；　ma'am；〃　he　said。
　〃Very　good。　Put　them　on　voice；　please。〃
　The　bridge　inter　came　to　life。　〃South　Georgia　to　tanker　Rolvaag；　acknowledged。〃　The　voice　was　tinny　and　faint；　and　Britton　could　recognize　a　Home　Counties　accent　barely　recognizable　through　the　static。
　She　picked　up　a　transmitter　and　opened　the　channel。　〃South　Georgia；　this　is　an　emergency。　We　are　severely　damaged；　without　propulsion；　repeat；　without　propulsion。　We're　drifting　south…southeastward　at　a　rate　of　nine　knots。〃
　〃Acknowledged；　Rolvaag。　State　your　position。〃
　〃Our　position　is　61°15'12〃　South；　60°5'33〃　West。〃
　〃Advise　as　to　your　cargo。　In　ballast　or　oil？〃
　Glinn　glanced　up　at　her；　a　sharp　look。　Britton　closed　the　channel。
　〃From　this　point　on；〃　Glinn　said；　〃we　begin　telling　the　truth。　Our　truth。〃
　Britton　turned　back　to　the　transmitter。　〃South　Georgia；　we're　converted　to　an　ore　carrier。　We're　fully　loaded　with；　ah；　a　meteorite；　mined　on　the　Cape　Horn　islands。〃
　There　was　another　silence。
　〃D