mreilly.icestation-第85部分

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oom　on　the　way。　When　she　got　to　the　pool　deck；　she　saw　Renshaw's　thirty…year…old　scuba　gear；　lying　on　the　deck；　with　a　cable　attached　to　it。　
　A　steel　cable　that　had　led…with　the　help　of　the　last　remaining　British　sea　sled…all　the　way　back　to　Little　America　IV；　one　mile　off　the　coast。　
　Schofield　was　amazed。　He　congratulated　Mother　and　said　his　good…byes；　said　he　would　see　her　back　at　Pearl。　And　as　they　took　Mother　away　at　the　other　end　to　sedate　her；　Schofield　heard　her　shout；　〃And　I　remember　you　kissed　me！　You　hot　dog！〃　
　Schofield　just　laughed。　
　
　Five　days　later；　the　USS　Wasp　sailed　into　Pearl　Harbor　in　Hawaii。　
　A　cluster　of　TV　cameras　was　waiting　on　the　dock　when　it　arrived。　Two　days　earlier；　a　charter　plane　flying　over　the　South　Pacific　had　spotted　the　Wasp　and　seen　its　damaged　flight　deck。　One　of　the　pilots　had　captured　the　damage　on　video　camera。　The　TV　news　stations　had　eaten　it　up；　and　now　they　were　keen　to　find　out　what　had　happened　to　the　great　ship。　
　At　the　top　of　the　gangway；　Schofield　watched　as　two　midshipmen　carried　Gant　off　the　ship　on　a　stretcher。　She　was　still　in　a　a。　They　were　taking　her　to　the　nearby　military　hospital。　
　Renshaw　and　Kirsty　met　Schofield　at　the　top　of　the　gangway。　
　〃Hey　there；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Hi；〃　Kirsty　said。　She　was　holding　onto　Renshaw's　hand。　
　Renshaw　put　on　a　bad　Marlon　Brando　accent。　〃Who'd　have　thought　it？　I'm　the　Godfather。〃　
　Schofield　laughed。　
　Kirsty　spun　around。　〃Say；　where's…〃　
　At　that　moment；　Wendy　slid　out　from　a　nearby　doorway。　She　loped　straight　up　to　Schofield　and　began　nuzzling　his　hand。　From　tip　to　tail；　the　little　fur　seal　was　dripping　wet。　
　〃She's；　ah；　taken　a　bit　of　a　liking　to　the　ship's　dive　preparation　pool；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃So　I　see；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　gave　Wendy　a　gentle　pat　behind　the　ears。　Wendy　preened；　then　she　dropped　to　the　deck　and　rolled　onto　her　back。　Schofield　shook　his　head　as　he　dropped　to　his　haunches　and　gave　her　a　quick　pat　on　her　belly。　
　〃The　captain　even　said　she　could　stay　here　until　we　found　somewhere　else　for　her　to　live；〃　Kirsty　said。　
　〃Good；〃　Schofield　said。　〃I　think　it's　the　least　we　can　do。〃　He　gave　Wendy　a　final　pat　and　the　little　seal　leaped　to　her　feet　and　dashed　away；　heading　back　downstairs　toward　her　favorite　pool。　
　Schofield　stood　up　again　and　turned　to　face　Renshaw。　〃Mr。　Renshaw；　I　have　a　question　for　you。〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃What　time　did　the　people　from　your　station　dive　down　to　the　cave？〃　
　〃What　time？〃　
　〃Yes；　the　time；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Was　it　day　or　night？〃　
　〃Uh；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃Night；　I　believe。　I　think　it　was　somewhere　around　nine　o'clock。〃　
　Schofield　began　to　nod　to　himself。　
　〃Why？〃　Renshaw　said。　
　〃I　think　I　know　why　the　elephant　seals　attacked　us。〃　
　〃Why？〃　
　〃Remember　I　said　that　the　only　group　of　divers　to　have　approached　that　cave　unharmed　was　Gant's　group？〃　
　〃Yeah。〃　
　〃And　I　said　that　it　was　because　her　group　had　used　low…audibility　breathing　gear。〃　
　Renshaw　said；　〃Yeah。　So　did　we。　And　as　I　recall　it；　the　seals　attacked　us　anyway。〃　
　Schofield　smiled　a　crooked　smile。　〃Yeah。　I　know。　But　I　think　I　figured　out　why。　We　dived　at　night。〃　
　〃At　night？〃　
　〃Yes。　And　so　did　your　people；　and　so　did　Barnaby's　men。　Your　people　dived　at　nine　o'clock。　Barnaby's　at　around　8：00　p。m。　Gant's　team；　however；　went　down　at　two　in　the　afternoon。　They　were　the　only　dive　team　to　go　down　to　that　cavern　in　the　daytime。〃　
　Renshaw　picked　up　what　Schofield　was　saying。　〃You　think　those　elephant　seals　are　diurnal？〃　
　〃I　think　that's　a　good　possibility；〃　Schofield　said。　
　Renshaw　nodded　slowly。　It　was　quite　mon　among　unusually　aggressive　or　poisonous　animals　to　operate　on　what　is　known　as　a　diurnal　cycle。　A　diurnal　cycle　is　essentially　a　twelve…hour　passive…aggressive　cycle…the　animal　is　passive　by　day；　aggressive　by　night。　
　〃I'm　glad　you　figured　that　out；〃　Renshaw　said。　〃I'll　keep　it　in　mind　for　the　next　time　I　stumble　onto　a　nest　of　radiation…infected　elephant　seals　who　want　to　defend　their　territory。〃　
　Schofield　smiled。　The　three　of　them　descended　the　gangway。　At　the　bottom；　they　were　met　by　a　middle…aged　Marine　Sergeant。　
　〃Lieutenant　Schofield；〃　the　Sergeant　saluted　Schofield。　〃There's　a　car　waiting　for　you；　sir。〃　
　〃Sergeant。　I'm　going　nowhere　but　the　hospital；　to　check　on　Lance　Corporal　Gant。　If　anybody　wants　me　to　go　anywhere　else；　I　ain't　going。〃　
　〃That's　OK　with　me；　sir；〃　the　Sergeant　smiled。　〃My　orders　are　to　take　you；　Mr。　Renshaw；　and　Miss　Hensleigh　to　wherever　you　want　to　go。〃　
　Schofield　nodded；　looked　to　Renshaw　and　Kirsty。　They　shrugged；　sure。　
　〃Sounds　good　to　me；〃　he　said。　〃Lead　the　way。〃　
　The　sergeant　led　them　to　a　navy　blue　Buick　with　dark　tinted　windows。　He　held　the　car　door　open　and　Schofield　got　in。　
　A　man　was　already　sitting　in　the　backseat　when　Schofield　sat　down。　
　Schofield　froze　when　he　saw　the　gun　in　the　man's　hand。　
　
　
　
　〃Have　a　seat；　Scarecrow；〃　Sergeant　Major　Charles　〃Chuck〃　Kozlowski　said　as　Schofleld　sat　down　in　the　backseat　of　the　Buick。　Renshaw　and　Kirsty　got　in　behind　Schofield。　Kirsty　inhaled　sharply　when　she　saw　Kozlowski's　gun。　
　Kozlowski　was　a　short　man；　with　a　clean…shaven　face　and　thick　black　eyebrows。　He　was　wearing　a　khaki　Marine　day　uniform。　
　The　sergeant　got　into　the　driver's　seat　and　started　the　car。　
　〃I'm　terribly　sorry；　Scarecrow；〃　the　highest…ranking　nonmissioned　officer　in　the　Marine　Corps　said。　〃But　you　and　your　friends　here　represent　a　loose　end　that　cannot　be　allowed　to　stand。〃　
　〃And　what's　that？〃　Schofield　said；　exasperated。　
　〃You　know　about　the　ICG。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃I　told　Jack　Walsh　about　the　ICG。　Are　you　going　to　kill　him；　too？〃　
　〃Maybe　not　immediately；〃　Kozlowski　said。　〃But　in　good　time；　yes。　You；　on　the　other　hand；　represent　a　more　immediate　threat。　We　wouldn't　want　you　going　to　the　press；　now；　would　we？　No　doubt；　they　will　find　out　about　what　went　on　down　at　Wilkes　Ice　Station；　but　the　media　will　get　what　the　ICG　tells　them；　not　what　you　tell　them。〃　
　〃How　can　you　kill　your　own　men？〃　Schofield　said。　
　Kozlowski　said；　〃You　still　don't　get　it；　do　you；　Scarecrow。〃　
　〃I　don't　get　how　you　can　kill　your　own　men　and　think　you're　doing　the　country　a　favor。〃　
　〃Jesus；　Scarecrow；　you　weren't　even　supposed　to　be　there　in　the　first　place。〃　
　That　stopped　Schofield。　〃What？〃　
　〃Think　about　it；〃　Kozlowski　said。　〃How　did　you　e　to　get　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station　before　anybody　else？〃　
　Schofield　thought　back；　right　to　the　very　beginning。　He　had　been　on　the　Shreveport；　in　Sydney。　The　rest　of　the　fleet　had　gone　back　to　Pearl；　but　the　Shreveport　had　stayed　down　there　for　repairs。　It　was　then　that　the　distress　signal　had　e　through。　
　〃That's　right；〃　Kozlowski　said；　reading　Schofield's　thoughts。　〃You　were　in　for　repairs　in　Sydney　when　the　Shreveport　received　the　distress　signal　from　Wilkes。　And　then　some　dumb…fuck　civilian　sent　you　down　there　right　away。〃　
　Schofield　remembered　the　voice　of　the　Undersecretary　of　Defense　ing　in　over　the　speakers　of　the　briefing　room　on　board　the　Shreveport；　instructing　him　to　go　down　to　Wilkes　and　protect　the　spacecraft。　
　Kozlowski　said；　〃Scarecrow；　the　Intelligence　Convergence　Group　doesn't　set　out　to　kill　American　units。　It　exists　to　protect　Americans…〃　
　〃From　what？　The　truth？〃　Schofield　retorted。　
　〃We　could　have　had　an　Army　Ranger　unit　filled　with　ICG　men　down　at　that　station　six　hours　after　you　got　there。　They　could　have　taken　that　station…even　if　the　French　had　already　got　there…and　held　it　and　no　American　soldiers　would　have　had　to　have　been　killed。〃　
　Kozlowski　shook　his　head。　〃But　no；　you　just　happened　to　be　in　the　area。　And　that's　why　we　stack　units　like　yours　with　ICG　men…for　this　very　eventuality。　In　a　perfect　world；　the　ICG　would　get　there　first　every　time。　But　if　the　ICG　can't　get　there　first；　then　we　make　sure　that　Reconnaissance　Units　like　yours　are　properly　constituted　so　as　to　ensure　that　whatever　information　is　found　at　the　site　stays　at　the　site。　For　the　sake　of　national　security；　of　course。〃　
　〃You　kill　your　own　countrymen；〃　Schofield　said。　
　〃Scarecrow。　This　didn't　have　to　happen。　You　were　just　in　the　wrong　place　at　the　wrong　time。　If　anything；　you　got　to　Wilkes　Ice　Station　too　fast。　If　this　had　all　been　done　as　it　should　have　been　done；　I　wouldn't　have　to　kill　you　now。〃　
　The　Buick　came　to　the　guard　station　at　the　outer　fence　of　the　dockyard。　A　boom　gate　was　lowered　in　front　of　it。　The　driver　wound　down　his　window　and　had　a　short　conversation　with　the　boom　gate　guard。　
　And　then　suddenly　the　door　next　to　Kozlowski　was　yanked　open　from　the　outside　and　an　armed　Naval　Policeman　appeared　in　the　open　doorway　with　his　gun　aimed　squarely　at　Kozlowski's　head。　
　〃Sir；　would　you　please　get　out　of　the　car？〃　Kozlowski's　face　darkened。　〃Son；　do　you　have　any　idea　who　you　are　talking　to？〃　he　growled。　
　〃No；　he　doesn't；〃　a　voice　said　from　outside　the　car。　〃But　I　do；〃　Jack　Walsh　said　as　he　appeared　outside　the　open　car　door。　
　
　Schofield；　Kirsty；　and　Renshaw　all　got　out　of　the　car；　totally　confused。　The　navy　blue　Buick　was　surrounded　by　a　swarm　of　Naval　Police；　all　with　their　guns　out。　
　Schofield　turned　to　Walsh。　〃What's　going　on？　How　did　you　know？〃　
　Walsh　nodded　over　Schofield's　shoulder。