p&c.icelimit-第28节

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　My　name　is　Arthur　Gordon　Pym。　My　father　was　a　respectable　trader　in　sea　stores　at　Nantucket；　where　I　was　born。　My　maternal　grandfather　was　an　attorney　in　good　practice。　He　was　fortunate　in　everything；　and　had　speculated　very　successfully　in　stocks　of　the　Edgarton　New…Bank；　as　it　was　formerly　called。
　
　This　was　a　disappointingly　dry　beginning；　and　it　was　with　relief　that　he　saw　the　door　open　and　Glinn　enter。　Behind　him　followed　Puppup；　ducking　and　smiling；　barely　recognizable　from　the　drunk　they　had　brought　on　board　the　previous　afternoon。　His　long　gray　hair　was　braided　back　from　his　forehead；　and　the　neatly　groomed　but　still　wispy　mustache　drooped　from　his　pendulous　lip。
　〃Sorry　to　have　kept　you　waiting；〃　Glinn　said。　〃I've　been　speaking　to　Mr。　Puppup。　He　seems　content　to　assist　us。〃　Puppup　grinned　and　shook　hands　all　around　again。　McFarlane　found　his　hand　curiously　cool　and　dry。
　〃e　to　the　windows；〃　Glinn　said。　McFarlane　strolled　over　and　gazed　out。　Through　the　torn　and　roiling　mists　he　could　now　make　out；　to　the　northeast；　a　barren　island　rising　from　the　water；　little　more　than　the　jagged　top　of　a　drowned　mountain；　white　surf　clawing　and　leaping　at　its　base。
　〃That；〃　murmured　Glinn；　〃is　Isla　Barnevelt。　〃
　A　distant　squall　line　passed；　like　the　drawing　of　a　curtain　from　the　storm…wracked　horizon。　Another　island　came　into　view：　black；　rugged；　its　mountainous　heights　whirling　with　snow　and　fog。
　〃And　that　is　Isla　Deceit。　The　easternmost　of　the　Cape　Horn　islands。〃
　Beyond　it；　the　fresh　light　exposed　another　wilderness　of　drowned　mountaintops　poking　from　the　sea。　As　they　watched；　the　light　was　extinguished　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　Midnight　seemed　to　close　around　the　vessel；　and　another　squall　struck　them　full　on；　its　fury　battering　the　windows；　hail　rattling　off　the　ship　like　machine　gun　fire。　McFarlane　felt　the　big　ship　lean。
　Glinn　withdrew　a　folded　piece　of　paper。　〃I　received　this　message　half　an　hour　ago。〃　He　handed　it　to　McFarlane。
　McFarlane　unfolded　it　curiously。　It　was　a　brief　cable：　On　no　account　are　you　to　make　landfall　on　the　target　island　without　further　instructions　from　me。　Lloyd。　
　McFarlane　handed　it　back　to　Glinn；　who　returned　it　to　his　pocket。　〃Lloyd's　told　me　nothing　about　his　plans。　What　do　you　think　it　means？　And　why　not　simply　telephone　or　e…mail？〃
　〃Because　he　may　not　be　near　a　telephone。〃　Glinn　drew　himself　up。　〃The　view　from　the　bridge　is　even　nicer。　Care　to　e　along？〃
　Somehow；　McFarlane　did　not　think　the　EES　head　was　interested　in　the　view。　He　followed。　Glinn　was　correct；　however：　from　the　bridge；　the　fury　of　the　seas　was　even　more　awe…inspiring。　Angry　black　waves　broke　and　fought　among　themselves；　and　the　wind　worried　at　their　tops　and　ran　deep　runnels　through　their　troughs。　As　McFarlane　watched；　the　Rolvaag's　forecastle　nodded　downward　into　a　massive　sea；　then　struggled　up　again；　sheets　of　seawater　cascading　from　its　flanks。
　Britton　turned　toward　them；　her　face　spectral　in　the　artificial　glow。　〃I　see　you've　brought　the　pilot；〃　she　said；　glancing　a　little　dubiously　toward　Puppup。　〃Once　we　round　the　Horn；　we'll　see　what　advice　he　can　give　us　for　the　approach。〃
　At　her　side；　Victor　Howell　stirred。　〃There　it　is　now；〃　he　said。　Far　ahead　of　the　ship；　a　break　in　the　storm　threw　a　gleam　of　light　upon　a　fissured　crag；　taller　and　darker　than　the　others；　rising　from　the　frantic　seas。
　〃Cabo　de　Hornos；〃　said　Glinn。　〃Cape　Horn。　But　I've　e　about　something　else。　We　should　expect　a　visitor　momentarily…〃
　〃Captain！〃　the　third　officer　interrupted；　bent　over　a　screen。　〃The　Slick　32　is　picking　up　radar。　I've　got　an　air　contact；　approaching　from　the　northeast。〃
　〃Bearing？〃
　〃Zero　four　zero　true；　ma'am。　Directly　for　us。〃
　The　air　on　the　bridge　grew　tense。　Victor　Howell　walked　quickly　to　the　third　officer　and　peered　over　his　shoulder　at　the　screen。
　〃Range　and　speed？〃　Britton　asked。
　〃Forty　miles；　and　approaching　at　about　one　hundred　and　seventy　knots；　ma'am。〃
　〃Reconnaissance　aircraft？〃
　Howell　straightened　up。　〃In　this　weather？〃
　A　wild　gust　of　wind　sent　rain　rattling　against　the　windows。
　〃Well；　it　sure　isn't　some　hobbyist　in　a　Cessna；〃　Britton　murmured。　〃Could　it　be　a　mercial　aircraft；　straying　off　course？〃
　〃Unlikely。　The　only　things　that　fly　down　here　are　chartered　puddle　jumpers。　And　they'd　never　be　up　in　something　like　this。〃
　Nobody　answered。　Except　for　the　howl　of　the　wind　and　the　crash　of　the　sea；　the　bridge　remained　pletely　silent　for　the　space　of　a　minute。
　〃Bearing？〃　the　captain　asked　again；　more　quietly。　〃Still　dead　on；　ma'am。〃
　She　nodded　slowly。　〃Very　well。　Sound　stations；　Mr。　Howell。〃
　Suddenly；　the　munications　officer；　Banks；　leaned　out　of　the　radio　room。　〃That　bird　out　there？　It's　a　Lloyd　Holdings　helicopter。〃
　〃Are　you　sure？〃　Britton　asked。
　〃I've　verified　the　call　sign。〃　〃Mr。　Banks；　contact　that　chopper。〃
　Glinn　cleared　his　throat。　As　McFarlane　watched；　he　replaced　the　folded　sheet　into　his　jacket。　Throughout　the　sudden　excitement　he　had　shown　neither　alarm　nor　surprise。　〃I　think；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃you　had　better　prepare　a　landing　area。〃
　The　captain　stared　at　him。　〃In　this　weather？〃
　Banks　stepped　back　out　of　the　radio　room。　〃They're　requesting　permission　to　land；　ma'am。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Howell　cried。　〃We're　in　the　middle　of　a　Force　8　gale。〃
　〃I　don't　believe　you　have　a　choice；〃　Glinn　said。
　
　Over　the　next　ten　minutes；　there　was　an　explosion　of　activity　as　preparations　were　made　for　a　landing。　When　McFarlane　arrived　at　the　hatchway　leading　out　onto　the　fantail；　Glinn　at　his　side；　a　stern…looking　crewman　wordlessly　issued　them　safety　harnesses。　McFarlane　tugged　the　bulky　thing　on　and　snapped　it　into　place。　The　crewman　gave　it　a　quick　tug；　grunted　his　approval；　then　undogged　the　hatch。
　As　McFarlane　stepped　through；　the　blast　of　wind　threatened　to　carry　him　over　the　railing。　With　an　effort；　he　snapped　his　harness　to　the　external　railing　and　moved　toward　the　landing　pad。　Crewmen　were　stationed　along　the　deck；　their　harnesses　securely　strapped　to　the　metal　railings。　Even　though　the　ship　had　throttled　back　her　engines　to　just　enough　power　to　claw　a　steerageway　through　the　seas；　the　deck　pitched。　A　dozen　flares　were　snapped　on　and　placed　around　the　perimeter；　fitful　sprays　of　crimson　against　the　driving　sleet　and　snow。
　〃There　it　is！〃　somebody　cried。
　McFarlane　squinted　into　the　storm。　In　the　distance；　the　huge　form　of　a　Chinook　helicopter　hung　in　the　air；　running　lights　glowing。　As　he　watched；　the　helicopter　approached；　yawing　from　left　to　right　as　gusts　of　wind　hit　it。　An　alarm　suddenly　screamed　nearby；　and　a　series　of　orange　warning　lights　lit　up　the　Rolvaag's　superstructure。　McFarlane　could　hear　the　beat　of　the　chopper's　engines　straining　against　the　fury　of　the　storm。　Howell　shouted　directions　through　a　bullhorn　even　as　he　kept　the　radio　plastered　to　his　face。
　Now　the　chopper　was　banking　into　hover　position。　McFarlane　could　see　the　pilot　in　the　nose；　struggling　with　the　controls。　The　sleet　pelted　them　with　the　redoubled　blast　from　the　blades。　The　chopper's　belly　bucked　from　side　to　side　as　it　gingerly　approached　the　swaying　deck。　A　violent　gust　sent　it　shearing　to　one　side；　and　the　pilot　quickly　banked　away；　ing　around　for　a　second　attempt。　There　was　a　desperate　moment　where　McFarlane　felt　sure　the　pilot　would　lose　control；　but　then　its　tires　settled　onto　the　pad　and　crewmen　rushed　to　place　wooden　chocks　beneath　its　wheels。　The　cargo　door　rolled　open。　A　flurry　of　men；　women；　machines；　and　equipment　tumbled　out。
　And　then　McFarlane　saw　the　unmistakable　figure　of　Lloyd　drop　to　the　wet　surface　of　the　pad；　larger　than　life　in　foul…weather　gear　and　boots。　He　jogged　from　the　underside　of　the　aircraft；　the　sou'wester　on　his　head　whipping　back　in　the　storm。　Catching　sight　of　McFarlane　and　Glinn；　he　gave　an　enthusiastic　wave。　A　crewman　raced　to　secure　a　safety　belt　and　harness　to　him；　but　Lloyd　motioned　him　away。　He　walked　up；　wiping　the　rain　from　his　face；　and　grasped　McFarlane　and　Glinn　by　the　hands。
　〃Gentlemen；〃　he　boomed　over　the　storm；　a　huge　smile　on　his　face。　〃The　coffee's　on　me。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　11：15　A。M。
　
　GLANCING　AT　his　watch；　McFarlane　entered　the　elevator　and　punched　a　button　for　the　middle　bridge　deck。　He'd　passed　this　empty　deck　many　times；　wondering　why　Glinn　had　always　kept　it　off…limits。　Now；　as　the　elevator　rose　smoothly；　he　realized　what　it　had　been　reserved　for。　It　was　as　if　Glinn　had　known　all　along　that　Lloyd　would　be　dropping　in。
　The　elevator　doors　opened　to　a　scene　of　frantic　activity：　the　ringing　of　phones；　the　whirr　of　faxes　and　printers；　and　the　bustle　of　people。　There　were　several　secretaries　at　desks　ranged　along　one　wall；　men　and　women　taking　calls；　typing　at　workstations；　scuttling　about　on　Lloyd　Holdings　business。
　A　man　in　a　light…colored　suit　approached　him；　threading　his　way　through　the　hubbub。　McFarlane　recognized　the　oversized　ears；　drooping　mouth；　and　fat　pursed　lips　as　belonging　to　Penfold；　Lloyd's　personal　assistant。　Penfold　never　seemed　to　walk　toward　anything；　but　instead　approached　from　an　angle；　as　if　a　direct　approach　would　be　too　brazen。
　〃Dr。　McFarlane？〃　Penfold　said　in　his　high；　nervous　voice。　〃This　way；　please。〃
　He　led　McFarlane　through　a　door；　down　a　c