alistairmaclean.bearisland-第15部分

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　To　say　that　there　was　an　air　of　panic　in　the　saloon　would　have　been　exaggeration；　albeit　a　forgivable　one；　but　to　say　that　there　was　a　marked　degree　of　apprehension；　concern；　and　uncertainty　would　have　erred　on　the　side　of　understatement。　Otto　Gerran；　perhaps；　was　more　upset　than　any　other　person　present；　and　understandably　so；　for　Otto　had　a　great　deal　more　to　lose　than　any　other　person　present。
　I　appreciate　the　reasons　for　your　anxiety；〃　Otto　said；　〃and　your　concern　for　us　all　does　you　the　greatest　credit。　But　I　think　this　concern　is　making　you　overcautious。　Dr。　Marlowe　says　that　this…ah…epidemic　is　definitely　over。　We　are　going　to　look　very　foolish　indeed　if　we　turn　and　run　now　and　then　nothing　more　happens。〃
　Captain　Imrie　said：　〃I'm　too　old；　Mr。　Gerran；　to　care　what　I　look　like。
　If　it's　a　choice　between　looking　a　fool　and　having　another　dead　man　on　my　hands；　then　I'd　rather　look　a　fool　any　time。〃
　〃I　agree　with　Mr。　Gerran；〃　Heissman　said。　He　still　looked　sick　and　he　sounded　sick。　〃To　throw　it　all　away　when　we're　so　near…just　over　a　day　to　Bear　Island。　Drop　us　off　there　and　then　go　to　Hammerfest…just　as　in　the　original　plan。　That　means…well；　you'd　be　in　Hammerfest　in　say　sixty　hours　instead　of　twenty…four。　What's　going　to　happen　in　that　extra　thirty…six　hours　that's　not　going　to　happen　in　the　next　twenty…four？　Lose　everything　for　thirty…six　hours　just　because　you're　running　scared？〃
　I　am　not　running　scared；　as　you　say。〃　There　was　something　impressive　about　Imrie's　quiet　dignity。　〃My　first…〃
　I　wasn't　referring　to　you　personally；〃　Heissman　said。
　〃My　first　concern　is　for　the　people　under　my　charge。　And　they　are　under　my　charge。　I　am　the　person　responsible。　I　must　make　the　decision。〃
　〃Granted；　Captain；　granted。〃　Goin　was　his　usual　imperturbable　self；　a　calm　and　reasonable　man。　〃But　one　has　to　strike　a　balance　in　those　matters　；　don't　you　think？　Against　what　Dr。　Marlowe　now　regards　as　being　a　very　remote　possibility　of　another　outbreak　of　food　poisoning　occurring；　there's　the　near　certainty…no；　I　would　go　further　and　say　that　there's　the　inevitability…that　if　we　go　directly　to　Hammerfest　we'll　be　put　in　quarantine　for　God　knows　how　long。　A　week；　maybe　two　weeks；　before　the　port　medical　authorities　give　us　clearance。　And　then　it'll　be　too　late；　we'd　just　have　to　abandon　all　ideas　about　making　the　film　at　all　and　go　home。〃　Less　than　a　couple　of　hours　previously；　I　recalled；　Heissman　had　been　making　most　disparaging　remarks　about　Otto's　mental　capacities；　but　he'd　backed　him　up　against　Captain　Imrie　and　now　here　was　Goin　doing　the　same　thing：　both　men　knew　which　side　of　their　bread　required　butter。　〃The　losses　to　Olympus　Productions　will　be　enormous。〃
　〃Don't　be　telling　me　that；　Mr。　Goin；〃　Imrie　said。　‘Mat　you　mean　is　that　the　losses　to　the　insurance　pany…or　panies…will　be　enormous。〃
　〃Wrong；〃　Stryker　said　and　from　his　tone　and　attitude　it　was　clear　that　directorial　solidarity　on　the　board　of　Olympus　Productions　was　plete。
　〃Severally　and　personally；　all　members　of　the　cast　and　crew　are　insured。
　The　film　project…a　guarantee　as　to　its　successful　conclusion…was　uninsurable；　at　least　in　terms　of　the　premiums　demanded。　We；　and　we　alone；　bear　the　loss…and　I　would　add　that　for　Mr。　Gerran；　who　is　by　far　and　away　the　biggest　shareholder；　the　effects　would　be　ruinous。〃
　I　am　very　sorry　about　that。〃　Captain　Imrie　seemed　genuinely　sympathetic　but　he　didn't　for　a　moment　sound　like　a　man　who　was　preparing　to　abandon　his　position。　〃But　that's　your　concern；　I'm　afraid。　And　I　would　remind　you；　Mr。　Gerran；　of　what　you　yourself　said　earlier　on　this　evening。　〃Health；〃　you　said；　〃is　a　damned　sight　more　important　than　any　profit　we　might　make　from　this　film。　'Wouldn't　you　say　this　is　a　case　in　point？〃
　〃That's　nonsense　to　say　that；〃　Goin　said　equably。　He　had　the　rare　gift　of　being　able　to　make　potentially　offensive　statements　in　a　quietly　rational　voice　that　somehow　robbed　them　of　all　offence。　〃…Profit；〃　you　say；　was　the　word　Mr。　Gerran　used。　Certainly；　Mr。　Gerran　would　willingly　pass　up　any　potential　profit　if　the　need　arose；　and　that　need　wouldn't　have　to　be　very　pressing　or　demanding。　He's　done　it　before。〃　This　was　at　variance　with　the　impression　I'd　formed　of　Otto；　but　then　Goin　had　known　him　many　more　years　than　I　had　days。　〃Even　without　profit　we　could　still　make　our　way　by　breaking　even；　which　is　as　much　as　most　film　panies　can　hope　for　these　days。　But　you're　not　talking…we're　not　talking…about　lack　of　profit；　we're　talking　about　a　total　and　nonrecoverable　loss；　a　loss　that　would　run　into　six　figures　and　break　us　entirely。　We've　put　our　collective　shirt　on　this　one；　Captain　Imrie；　yet　you're　talking　airily　of　liquidating　our　pany；　putting　dozens　of　technicians…and　their　families…on　the　breadline　and　damaging；　very　likely　beyond　repair；　the　careers　of　some　very　promising　actors　and　actresses。　And　all　of　this　for　what？　The　remote　chance…according　to　Dr。　Marlowe；　the　very　remote　chance…that　someone　may　fall　ill　again。　Haven't　you　got　things　just　a　little　bit　out　of　proportion；　Captain　Imrie？〃
　If　he　had；　Captain　Imrie　wasn't　saying　so。　He　wasn't　saying　anything。　He　didn't　exactly　have　the　look　of　a　man　who　was　thinking　and　thinking　hard。
　〃Mr。　Goin　puts　it　very　succinctly；〃　Otto　said。　〃very　succinctly　indeed　and　there's　a　major　point　that　seems　to　have　escaped　you；　Captain　Imrie。　You　have　reminded　me　of　something　I　said　earlier。　May　I　remind　you　of　something　you　said　earlier。　May　I　remind　you…〃
　〃And　may　I　interrupt；　Mr。　Gerran；〃　I　said。　I　knew　damn　well　what　he　was　going　to　say　and　the　last　thing　I　wanted　was　to　hear　him　say　it。
　〃Please。　A　peace　formula；　if　you　wish。　You　want　to　continue。　So　does　Mr。　Goin；　so　does　Mr。　Heissman。　So　do　I…if　only　because　my　reputation　as　a　doctor　seems　to　depend　on　it。　Tadeusz？〃
　〃No　question；〃　said　the　Count。　〃Bear　Island。〃
　〃And；　of　course；　it　would　be　unfair　to　ask　either　Mr。　Smith　or　Mr。　Stokes。　So　I　propose…〃
　〃This　isn't　Parliament；　Dr。　Marlowe；〃　Imrie　said。　〃Not　even　a　local　town　council。　Decisions　aboard　a　vessel　at　sea　are　not　arrived　at　by　popular　vote。〃
　〃I've　no　intention　that　they　should　be。　I　suggest　we　draw　up　a　document。　I　suggest　we　note　Captain　Imrie's　proposals　and　considered　opinions。　I　suggest　if　more　illness　occurs　we　run　immediately　for　Hammerfest；　even　though　we　are　at　the　time　only　one　hour　distant　from　Bear　Island。　I　suggest　it　be　recorded　that　Captain　Imrie　be　protected　and　absolved　from　any　accusation　of　hazarding　the　health　of　his　crew　and　passengers　in　light　of　the　medical　officer's　affidavit…which　I　will　write　out　and　sign…that　no　such　hazard　exists：　the　only　charge　the　captain　has　to　worry　about　at　any　time　is　the　physical　hazarding　of　his　vessel　and　that　doesn't　exist　here。　Then　we　will　state　that　the　captain　is　absolved　from　all　blame　and　responsibility　for　any　consequences　arising　from　our　decision：　the　navigation　and　handling　of　the　vessel　remains；　of　course；　his　sole　responsibility。　Then　all　five　of　us　sign　it。　Captain　Imrie？〃
　〃Agreed。〃　There　is　a　time　to　be　prompt　and　Captain　Imrie　clearly　regarded　this　as　such　a　time。　At　best；　the　proposal　was　a　lame　promise；　but　one　he　was　glad　to　accept。　〃Now；　if　you　gentlemen　will　excuse　me。　I　have　to　be　up　betimes…4　A。M。　to　be　precise。〃　I　wondered　when　he　had　last　risen　at　that　unearthly　hour…not；　probably；　since　his　fishing　days　had　ended：　but　the　illness　of　mate　and　bosan　made　for　exceptional　circumstances　。　He　looked　at　me。　I　will　have　that　document　at　breakfast？〃
　〃At　breakfast。　I　wonder；　Captain；　if　on　your　way　to　bed　you　could　ask　Haggerty　to　e　to　see　me。　I'd　ask　him　personally；　but　he's　a　bit　touchy　about　civilians　like　myself。〃
　〃A　lifetime　in　the　Royal　Navy　is　not　forgotten　overnight。　Now？〃
　〃Say　ten　minutes？　In　the　galley。〃
　〃Still　pursuing　your　enquiries；　is　that　it？　It's　not　your　fault；　Dr。　Marlowe。〃
　If　it　wasn't　my　fault；　I　thought；　I　wished　they'd　all　stop　making　me　feel　it　was。　Instead　I　thanked　him　and　said　good　night　and　he　said　good　night　to　us　and　left　acpanied　by　Smithy　and　Mr。　Stokes。　Otto　steepled　his　fingers　and　regarded　me　in　his　best　chairman…of…the…board　fashion。
　〃We　owe　you　our　thanks；　Dr。　Marlowe。　That　was　well　done；　an　excellent　face…saving　proposal。〃　He　smiled。　〃I　am　not　accustomed　to　suffering　interruption　lightly　but　in　this　case　it　was　justified。〃
　If　I　hadn't　interrupted　we'd　all　be　on　our　way　to　Hammerfest　now。　You　were　about　to　remind　him　of　that　part　of　your　contract　with　him　which　states　that　he　will　obey　all　your　orders　other　than　those　that　actually　endanger　the　vessel。　You　were　about　to　point　out　that　as　no　such　physical　danger　exists；　he　was　technically　in　breach　of　contract　and　so　would　be　legally　liable　to　the　forfeiture　of　the　entire　contract　fee；　which　would　certainly　have　ruined　him。　But　for　a　man　like　that　money　ranks　a　long；　long　way　behind　pride　and　Captain　Imrie　is　a　very　proud　man。　He'd　have　told　you　to　go　to　hell　and　turned　his　ship　for　Hammerfest。〃
　〃I'd　say　that　our　worthy　physician's　assessment　is　a　hundred　percent　accurate。〃　The　Count　had　found　some　brandy　and　now　helped　himself　freely。　〃You　came　close　there；　Otto；　my　boy。〃
　If　the　pany　chairman　felt　annoyance　at　being　thus　familiarly　addressed　by　his　cameraman；　he　showe