alistairmaclean.bearisland-第53部分

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　things　to　hide　in　a　tiny　cubicle　especially　if　any　of　your　friends　should　chance　to　e　calling。〃
　〃He　doesn't　have　to　hide　them　there。　As　I　said　earlier；　there　are　a　thousand　snowdrifts　where　you　can　hide　practically　anything。〃
　But　if　he'd　hidden　anything　he　hadn't　hidden　them　in　any　of　the　snowdrifts　between　the　jetty　and　the　cabin；　for　his　tracks　led　straight　back　to　the　latter　without　any　deviation　to　either　side。　We　followed　the　footprints　right　back　close　up　to　the　cabin　walls　and　there　they　were　lost　in　the　smudged　line　of　tracks　that　led　right　round　the　cabin's　perimeter。　Smithy　hooded　his　torch　and　examined　the　tracks　for　some　seconds。
　He　said：　I　think　that　track's　wider　and　deeper　than　it　was　before。　I　think　that　someone…and　it　doesn't　have　to　be　the　same　person…has　been　making　another　grand　tour　of　the　cabin。〃
　I　think　you're　right；〃　I　said。　I　led　the　way　back　to　the　window　of　our　own　cubicle　and　was　about　to　pull　it　open　when　some　instinct…or　perhaps　it　was　because　I　was　now　subconsciously　looking　for　the　suspicious　or　untoward　in　every　possible　situation…made　me　shine　my　torch　on　the　window　frame。　I　turned　to　Smithy。　〃Notice　something？〃
　I　notice　something。　The　wad　of　paper　we　left　jammed　between　the　window　and　frame…well；　it's　no　longer　jammed　between　window　and　frame。〃　He　shone　his　torch　on　the　ground；　stopped　and　picked　something　up。　〃Because　it　was　lying　down　there。　A　caller　or　callers。〃
　〃So　it　would　seem。〃　We　clambered　inside　and　while　Smithy　started　screwing　the　window　back　in　place　I　turned　up　the　oil　lamp　and　started　to　look　around　partly　for　some　other　evidence　to　show　that　an　intruder　had　been　there　but　mainly　to　try　to　discover　the　reason　for　his　being　there。　Inevitably；　my　first　check　was　on　the　medical　equipment　and　my　first　check　was　my　last　and　very　brief　it　was　too。　
　〃Well；　well；〃　I　said。　〃Two　birds　with　one　stone。　We're　a　brilliant　pair。〃
　〃We　are？〃
　〃The　lad　you　saw　with　his　face　pressed　against　that　window。　Probably　had　it　stuck　against　it　for　all　of　five　minutes　until　he'd　made　sure　he'd　been　seen。　Then　to　make　certain　you　were　really　interested；　he　went　and　shone　his　torch　into　Judith　Haynes's　window。　No　two　actions；　he　must　have　calculated；　could　have　been　designed　to　lure　us　out　into　the　open　more　quickly。〃
　〃He　was　right　at　that；　wasn't　he？〃　He　looked　at　my　opened　medical　kit　and　said　carefully：　〃I'm　to　take　it；　then；　that　there's　something　missing　there？〃
　〃You　may　so　take　it。〃　I　showed　him　the　velvet…lined　gap　in　the　tray　where　the　something　missing　had　been。　〃A　lethal　dose　of　morphine。〃
　
　11
　
　〃Four　bells　and　all's　well；〃　Smithy　said；　shaking　my　shoulder。　Neither　the　call　nor　the　shake　was　necessary；　I　was　by　this　time；　even　in　my　sleep；　in　so　keyed…up　a　state　that　his　turning　of　the　door　handle　had　been　enough　to　have　me　instantly　awake。　〃Time　to　report　to　the　bridge。　We've　made　some　fresh　coffee。〃
　I　followed　him　into　the　main　cabin；　said　a　greeting　to　Conrad　who　was　bent　over　pot　and　cups　at　the　oil　stove　and　went　to　the　front　door。　To　my　surprise　the　wind；　now　fully　round　to　the　west；　had　dropped　away　to　something　of　not　more　than　the　order　for　a　Force　3；　the　snow　had　thinned　to　the　extent　that　it　promised　to　cease　altogether　pretty　soon　and　I　even　imagined　I　could　see　a　few　faint　stars　in　a　clear　patch　of　sky　to　the　south；　beyond　the　entrance　of　the　Sor…Hamna。　But　the　cold；　if　anything；　was　even　more　intense　than　it　had　been　earlier　in　the　night。　I　closed　the　door　quickly；　turned　to　Smithy　and　spoke　softly。
　〃An　unlooked　for　change　in　the　weather。　If　this　improvement　maintains　itself　I　can　see　Otto　calling　on　you…and　if　he　doesn't　someone's　going　to　remind　him　by　suggesting　it…to　carry　out　your　offer　of　last　night　and　strike　out　for　Tunheim　and　the　law。〃
　〃I'm　beginning　to　regret　I　ever　made　the　offer…but　I　didn't　seem　to　have　much　option　at　the　time。〃
　〃And　you　won't　have　any　option　if；　e　the　dawn；　the　sun　is　shining。　No　way　to　pull　out　now。　Watch　Heyter；　though；　watch　him　very　very　closely。〃
　Smithy　was　silent　for　a　considering　moment。　〃You　think　he　bears　watching？〃
　。He's　one　of　thirteen　potential　murderers　and　for　me　those　odds　are　small　enough　to　make　them　all　deserving　of　as　close　an　eye　as　the　crown　jewels。　And　if；　in　that　thirteen；　you　were　to　cut　out　Conrad；　Lonnie；　and　the　Three　Apostles…and　mentally　I've　already　cut　them　out…you've　brought　the　odds　down　to　one　in　eight。　Perhaps　two　in　eight…perhaps　even　a　very　unfortable　three　in　eight。〃
　〃You're　very　encouraging；〃　Smithy　said。　〃What　makes　you　so　sure　that　those　five…〃　He　broke　off。　as　Luke；　yawning　and　stretching　vastly；　entered　the　main　cabin。　Luke　was　a　thin；　awkward；　gangling　creature；　a　towheaded　youth　urgently　in　need　of　the　restraining　influences　of　either　a　barber　or　a　ribbon。
　I　said：　〃Do　you　see　him　as　a　gun　for　hire？〃
　I　could　have　him　up　for　mitting　musical　atrocities　with　a　guitar；　I　should　think。　Otherwise…yes；　I　agree。　Very　little　threat　to　life　and　limb。
　And；　yes　again；　that　would　go　for　the　other　four；　too。〃　He　watched　as　Conrad　went　into　one　of　the　passages；　carrying　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃I'd　put　my　money　on　our　leading　man　any　day。〃
　〃Where　on　earth　is　he　off。　to？〃
　〃Bearing　sustenance　for　his　lady…love；　I　should　imagine。　Miss　Stuart　spent　much　of　our　watch　with　us。〃
　I　was　on　the　point　of　observing　that　the　alleged　lady…love　had　a　remarkable　predilection　for　moving　around　in　the　darker　watches　of　the　night　but　thought　better　of　it。　That　Mary　Stuart　was　involved　in　matters　dark　and　devious…Heissman's　being　her　uncle　didn't　even　begin　to　account　for　the　earlier　oddity　of　her　behaviour…I　didn't　for　a　moment　doubt：　that　she　was　engaged　in　any　murderous　activities　I　couldn't　for　a　moment　believe。
　Smithy　went　on：　〃It's　important　that　I　reach　Turtheim？〃
　〃It　hardly　matters　whether　you　do　or　not。　With　Heyter　along；　only　the　weather　and　the　terrain　can　decide　that。　If　you　have　to　turn　back；　that's　fine　with　me；　I'd　rather　have　you　here：　if　you　get　to　Tunheim；　just　stay　there。〃
　〃Stay　there？　How　can　I　stay　there？　I'm　going　there　for　help；　am　I　not？
　And　Heyter　will　be　shouting　to　e　back。〃
　〃I'm　sure　they'll　understand　if　you　explain　that　you're　tired　and　need　a　rest。　If　Heyter　makes　a　noise；　have　him　locked　up…I'll　give　you　a　letter　to　the　Met。　officer　in　charge。〃
　〃You'll　do　that；　will　you？　And　what　if　the　Met。　officer　point…blank　refuses？〃
　I　think　you'll　find　some　people　up　there　who'll　be　only　too　happy　to　oblige　you。〃
　He　looked　at　me　without　a　great　deal　of　enthusiasm。　〃Friends　of　yours；　of　course？〃
　〃There's　a　visiting　meteorological　team　from　Britain　staying　there　briefly。　Five　of　them。　Only；　they're　not　meteorologists。〃
　Naturally　not。〃　The　lack　of　enthusiasm　deteriorated　into　a　coldness　that　was　just　short　of　outright　hostility。　〃You　play　your　cards　mighty　close　to　the　chest；　don't　you；　Dr。　Marlowe？〃
　〃Don't　get　angry　with　me。　I'm　not　asking　you　that；　I'm　telling　you。
　Policy…I　obey　orders；　even　if　you　don't。　A　secret　shared　is　never　a　secret　halved…even　a　peck　at　my　cards　and　who　knows　who's　kibitzing？　I'll　give　you　that　letter　early　this　morning。〃
　〃OK。〃　Smithy　was　obviously　restraining　himself　with　no　small　difficulty。
　He　went　on　morosely：　I　suppose　I　shouldn't　be　too　surprised　to　find　even　the　Morning　Rose　up　there？〃
　〃Let　me　put　it　this　way；〃　I　said。　I　wouldn't　put　it　beyond　the　bounds　of　possibility。〃
　Smithy　nodded；　turned　and　walked　to　the　oil　stove　where　Conrad；　now　returned；　was　pouring　coffee。　We　sat　for　ten　minutes；　drinking　and　talking　about　nothing　much；　then　Smithy　and　Conrad　left。　The　next　hour　or　so　passed　without　event　except　that　after　five　minutes　Luke　fell　sound　asleep　and　stayed　that　way。　I　didn't　bother　to　wake　him　up；　it　wasn't　necessary；　I　was　in　an　almost　hypernatural　state　of　alertness：　unlike　Luke；　I　had　things　on　my　mind。
　A　door　in　a　passage　opened　and　Lonnie　appeared。　As　Lonnie；　by　his　own　account；　wasn't　given　to　sleeping　much　and　as　he　wasn't　on　my　list　of　suspects　anyway；　this　was　hardly　call　for　alarm。　He　came　into　the　cabin　and　sat　heavily　in　a　chair　by　my　side。　He　looked　old　and　tired　and　grey　and　the　usual　note　of　badinage　was　lacking　in　his　tone。
　〃Once　again　the　kindly　healer；〃　he　said；　〃and　once　again　looking　after　his　little　flock。　I　have　e；　my　boy；　to　share　your　midnight　vigil。〃　
　〃It's　twenty…five　to　four；〃　I　said。
　‘A　figure　of　speech。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　have　not　slept　well。　In　fact；　I　have　not　slept　at　all。　You　see　before　you；　Doctor；　a　troubled　old　man。〃
　〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；　Lonnie。〃
　〃No　tears　for　Lonnie。　For　me；　as　for　most　of　pitiful　mankind；　ray　troubles　are　my　own　making。　To　be　an　old　man　is　bad　enough。　To　be　a　lonely　old　man；　and　I　have　been　lonely　for　many　years；　makes　a　man　sad　for　much　of　the　time。　But　to　be　a　lonely　old　man　who　can　no　longer　live　with　his　conscience…ah；　that　is　not　to　be　borne。〃　He　sighed　again。　I　am　feeling　unmonly　sorry　for　myself　tonight。〃
　〃What's　your　conscience　doing　now？〃
　It's　keeping　me　awake；　that's　what　it's　doing。　Ah；　my　boy；　my　boy；　to　cease　upon　the　midnight　with　no　pain。　What　more　could　a　man　want；　Then　it's　evening　and　time　to　be　gone？〃
　〃This　wine　shop　on　the　far　shore？〃
　〃Not　even　that。〃　He　shook　his　head　mournful