alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第41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！


t　the　tailboard　and　slid　slowly　to　the　ground；　unseeing　eyes　turned　up　to　the　first　driving　flakes　of　the　newly　fallen　snow。　I　had　never　seen　a　blow　delivered　with　such　power：　nor　do　I　ever　want　to　see　it　again。
　
　For　perhaps　five　seconds　no　one　moved；　no　one　spoke；　men　were　held　in　thrall。　The　soughing；　wailing　moan　of　the　wind　on　the　ice…cap　sounded　weirdly；　unnaturally　loud。　I　was　the　first　to　break　the　silence。　I　was　still　sitting　on　my　canvas　stool。
　
　〃Corazzini！〃　I　said。　〃Corazzini！〃　My　voice　was　barely　more　than　a　whisper；　but　Zagero　heard　me。
　
　〃Sure　it's　Corazzini；〃　he　said　levelly。　〃It　always　was。〃　He　stooped；　thrust　his　hand　under　the　unconscious　man's　coat　and　brought　out　his　gun。　〃You'd　better　keep　this；　Doc。　Not　only　do　I　not　trust　our　little　playmate　here　with　toys　like　these；　but　the　state　prosecutor　or　district　attorney　or　whatever　you　call　the　guy　in　England　will　find　that　the　riflin'　on　this　barrel　matches　the　riflin'　marks　on　some　very　interestin'　bullets。〃
　
　He　tossed　the　gun　across；　and　automatically　I　caught　it。　It　was　a　pistol；　not　an　automatic；　and　it　had　a　strange…looking　cylinder　screwed　on　to　the　front　of　the　barrel。　A　silencer；　I　supposed；　I　had　never　seen　one　before。　Nor　had　I　ever　seen　that　type　of　gun　before。　I　didn't　like　the　look　of　it　at　all；　and　I　guessed　it　might　be　wise　to　have　a　gun　in　my　hand　when　Corazzini　came　round。　Jackstraw；　I　could　see；　already　had　his　rifle　lined　up　on　the　unconscious　man。　I　placed　the　pistol　on　the　ground　beside　me　and　pulled　out　the　Beretta。
　
　〃You　were　ready　for　him。〃　I　was　still　trying　to　put　things　in　order　in　my　own　mind。　〃You　were　waiting　for　the　break。　How…〃
　
　〃Do　I　have　to　draw　a　diagram；　Doc？〃　There　was　no　insolence　in　his　voice；　only　weariness。　〃I　knew　it　wasn't　me。　I　knew　it　wasn't　Solly。　So　it　had　to　be　Corazzini。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　see。　It　had　to　be　Corazzini。〃　The　words　were　automatic；　meaningless。　My　thoughts　were　in　a　state　of　utter　confusion；　as　confused；　no　doubt；　as　those　of　Corazzini　who　was　now　pushing　himself　groggily　into　a　sitting　position；　but　for　the　past　fifteen　seconds　another　bell　had　been　ringing　far　back　in　my　mind；　not　so　loud　as　the　first　but　even　more　desperately　insistent；　and　all　at　once　I　had　it　and　began　to　rise　to　my　feet。　〃But　there　were　two　of　them；　two　of　them！　Corazzini　had　an　acplice…〃　That　was　as　far　as　I　got　when　some　metal　object　smashed　across　my　wrist　with　brutal　force；　sending　my　Beretta　flying；　and　something　small　and　hard　ground　viciously　into　the　back　of　my　neck。
　
　〃Don't　move；　Dr　Mason。〃　The　voice；　flat；　controlled　but　alive　with　a　vibrant　power　that　I　had　never　heard　before；　was　almost　unrecognisable　as　the　Rev。　Joseph　Smallwood's。　〃Nobody　is　to　move。　Nielsen；　drop　that　rifle…now！　Just　one　suspicious　move　and　Dr　Mason　gets　his　head　blown　off。〃
　
　I　stood　stock…still。　The　man　behind　that　voice　meant　every　word　he　said。　I　didn't　need　any　convincing　of　that。　The　cold　certainty　in　his　voice　only　reinforced　the　knowledge　I　already　had　that　the　sanctity　of　human　life　was　a　factor　which　could　never　enter　into　this　man's　considerations。
　
　〃All　right；　Corazzini？〃　Smallwood　was　speaking　again；　his　voice　empty　of　all　concern　for　and　interest　in　his　acplice：　his　only　anxiety；　if　one　could　by　any　stretch　of　imagination　call　it　that；　lay　in　his　desire　for　Corazzini's　effectively　continued　co…operation。
　
　〃All　right；〃　Corazzini　said　softly。　He　was　standing　now　and　that　both　mind　and　reactions　were　back　to　normal　was　evident　from　the　dexterity　with　which　he　caught　the　gun　Smallwood　threw　back　to　him。　〃Never　thought　any　man　could　move　so　fast　with　his　feet　tied。　But　he　won't　catch　me　again。　Everybody　out；　eh？〃
　
　〃Everybody　out；〃　Smallwood　nodded。　No　question；　he　was　the　leader　of　the　two；　ridiculously　improbable　though　that　would　have　seemed　only　two　minutes　ago：　but　it　didn't　seem　improbable　any　longer；　it　seemed　inevitable。
　
　〃Jump　down！　All　of　you；〃　Corazzini　ordered。　Gun　in　one　hand；　he　held　back　a　flap　of　canvas　screen　with　the　other。　〃Hurry　it　up。〃
　
　〃Mahler　can't　jump　down；〃　I　protested。　〃He　can't　move…he's　in　a。　He…〃
　
　〃Shut　up！〃　Corazzini　interrupted。　〃All　right；　Zagero；　inside　and　get　him　out。〃
　
　〃You　can't　move　him！〃　I　shouted　furiously。　〃You'll　kill　him　if…〃　My　last　word　was　choked　off　in　a　grunt　of　pain　as　Smallwood's　gun　barrel　caught　me　viciously　across　the　side　of　the　head。　I　fell　to　my　hands　and　knees　in　the　snow　and　remained　there　for　several　seconds；　head　down　and　shaking　it　from　side　to　side　as　I　tried　to　overe　the　dizziness　and　the　pain。
　
　〃Corazzini　said　'shut　up'。　You　must　learn　to　listen。〃　Small…wood's　voice　was　chillingly　devoid　of　all　emphasis　and　inflection。　He　stood　waiting　quietly　until　the　last　of　the　passengers　had　descended　or　been　carried　from　the　tractor　cabin；　then　waved　us　all　into　a　straight　line　facing　towards　Corazzini　and　himself。　Both　of　them　had　their　backs　to　the　canvas　screen；　while　we　were　placed　just　far　enough　clear　of　the　shelter　to　be　blinded　by　the　increasingly　heavy　snowfall　that　swirled　down　into　our　eyes；　but　not　so　far　off　as　not　to　be　clearly　seen　by　them。　Whatever　these　two　did；　I　was　beginning　to　discover；　betrayed　that　economy　of　movement　and　unquestioning　sureness　of　the　plete　professionals　who　had　long　ago　worked　out　the　answers　to　and　counters　against　any　of　a　vast　range　and　permutation　of　situations　they　were　ever　likely　to　encounter。
　
　Smallwood　beckoned　me。
　
　〃You　haven't　finished　your　radio　call；　Dr　Mason。　Finish　it。　Your　friend　Hillcrest　must　be　wondering　at　the　delay。〃　The　gun　in　his　hand　came　forward　a　fraction　of　an　inch；　just　enough　for　the　movement　to　be　perceptible。　Tor　your　own　sake；　do　nothing　to　arouse　his　suspicions。　Don't　be　clever。　Keep　it　brief。〃
　
　I　kept　it　brief。　I　excused　the　interruption　of　transmission　on　the　grounds　that　Mahler　had　taken　a　sudden　turn　for　the　worse…as　indeed；　I　thought　bitterly；　he　had…said　that　I'd　guard　the　missile　mechanism　with　my　life　and　apologised　for　cutting　the　call　short；　but　said　it　was　essential　to　get　Mahler　to　Uplavnik　with　all　speed。
　
　〃Finish　it　off；〃　Smallwood　said　softly　in　my　ear。　I　nodded。
　
　〃That's　the　lot　then；　Captain　Hillcrest。　Will　make　the　noon　schedule。　This　is　Mayday　signing　off。　Mayday；　Mayday。〃
　
　I　switched　off；　and　turned　indifferently　away。　I　had　taken　only　one　step　when　Smallwood　caught　my　shoulder　and　whirled　me　round。　For　such　an　apparently　slight　man；　he　was　phenomenally　strong。　I　gasped　as　his　pistol　barrel　dug　into　my　stomach。
　
　〃　'Mayday'；　Dr　Mason？〃　he　asked　silkily。　〃What　is　'Mayday'？〃
　
　〃Our　call…sign；　of　course；〃　I　said　irritably。
　
　〃Your　call…sign　is　GFK。〃
　
　〃Our　call…up　is　GFK。　Our　signing…off　is　'Mayday'。〃
　
　〃You're　lying。〃　I　wondered　how　I　could　ever　have　thought　this　face　meek　and　nervous　and　colourless。　The　mouth　was　a　thin　hard　line；　the　upper　eyelids　bar…straight　and　hooded　above　the　unwinking　eyes。　Flat　marbled　eyes　of　a　faded　light…blue。　A　killer's　eyes。　〃You're　lying；〃　he　repeated。
　
　〃I'm　not　lying；〃　I　said　angrily。
　
　〃Count　five　and　die。〃　His　eyes　never　left　mine；　the　pressure　of　the　gun　increased。　〃One　。　。　。　two　。　。　。　three…〃
　
　〃I'll　tell　you　what　it　is！〃　The　cry　came　from　Margaret　Ross。　　'Mayday'　is　the　international　air　distress　signal；　the　SOS。。。　I　had　to　tell　him；　Dr　Mason；　I　had　to！〃　Her　voice　was　a　shaking　sob。　〃He　was　going　to　kill　you。〃
　
　〃I　was　indeed；〃　Smallwood　agreed。　If　he　felt　either　anger　or　apprehension；　no　trace　of　either　appeared　in　the　calm　conversational　voice。　〃I　should　do　it　now…you've　lost　us　four　hours'　head　start。　But　courage　happens　to　be　one　of　the　few　virtues　I　admire。　。　。　。　You　are　an　extremely　brave　man；　Dr　Mason。　Your　courage　is　a　fair　match　for　your…ah…lack　of　perspicacity；　shall　we　say。〃
　
　〃You'll　never　get　off　the　ice…cap；　Small　wood；〃　I　said　steadily。　〃Scores　of　ships　and　planes　are　searching　for　you；　thousands　of　men。　They'll　get　you　and　they'll　hang　you　for　these　five　dead　men。〃
　
　〃We　shall　see。〃　He　gave　a　wintry　smile；　and　now　that　he　had　removed　his　rimless　glasses　I　could　see　that　the　man's　smile　left　his　eyes　untouched；　left　them　flat　and　empty　and　lifeless；　like　the　stained　glass　in　a　church　and　no　sun　behind　it。　〃All　right；　Corazzini；　the　box。　Dr　Mason；　bring　one　of　the　maps　from　the　driver's　seat。〃
　
　〃In　a　moment。　Perhaps　you　would　care　to　explain…〃
　
　〃Explanations　are　for　children。〃　The　voice　was　level；　curt；　devoid　of　all　inflection。〃　I'm　in　a　hurry；　Dr　Mason。　Bring　the　map。〃
　
　I　brought　it　and　when　I　returned　Corazzini　was　sitting　on　the　front　of　the　tractor　sled　with　a　case　before　him。　But　it　wasn't　the　leather…covered　portable　radio：　it　was　Smallwood's　robe　case。
　
　Corazzini　snapped　open　the　catches；　pulled　out　Bible；　robes　and　divinity　hood；　tossed　them　to　one　side　then　carefully　brought　out　a　metal　box　which　looked　exactly　like　a　tape…recorder：　indeed；　when　he　shone　his　torch　on　it　I　could　clearly　see　the　word　'Grundig'。　But　it　soon　became　apparent　that　it　was　like　no　tape…recorder　that　I　had　ever　seen。
　
　The　twin　spools　he　ripped　off　the　top　of　the　machine　and　sent　spinning　away　into　the　darkness　and　the　snow；　the　tape　unwinding　in　a　long　convoluted