p&c.icelimit-第29节

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　〃Dr。　McFarlane？〃　Penfold　said　in　his　high；　nervous　voice。　〃This　way；　please。〃
　He　led　McFarlane　through　a　door；　down　a　corridor；　and　into　a　small　sitting　room；　with　black　leather　sofas　arranged　around　a　glass…　and　gold…leafed　table。　A　door　opened　into　yet　another　office；　and　from　it　McFarlane　could　hear　Lloyd's　basso　profundo　voice。
　〃Please　sit　down；〃　said　Penfold。　〃Mr。　Lloyd　will　be　with　you　shortly。〃　He　vanished；　and　McFarlane　settled　back　into　the　creaking　leather　sofa。　There　was　a　wall　of　television　sets　tuned　to　various　news　channels　from　around　the　world。　The　latest　magazines　lay　on　the　table：　Scientific　American；　the　New　Yorker；　and　the　New　Republic。　McFarlane　picked　one　up；　began　flipping　through　it　absently；　then　put　it　down　again。　Why　had　Lloyd　e　down　so　abruptly？　Had　something　gone　wrong？
　〃Sam！〃　Looking　up；　he　saw　the　huge　man　standing　in　the　doorway；　filling　it　with　his　bulk；　radiating　power；　good　humor；　and　boundless　self…confidence。
　McFarlane　rose。　Lloyd　moved　toward　him；　beaming；　arms　outstretched。　〃Sam；　it's　fine　to　see　you　again。〃　He　squeezed　McFarlane's　shoulders　between　his　beefy　palms　and　examined　him；　still　gripping　his　shoulders。　〃I　can't　tell　you　how　exciting　it　is　to　be　here。　e　in。〃
　McFarlane　followed　Lloyd's　broad　back；　beautifully　draped　in　Valentino。　Lloyd's　inner　office　was　spare：　a　row　of　windows；　the　cold　light　of　the　Antarctic　regions　flooding　in；　two　simple　wing　chairs；　a　desk　with　a　phone；　a　laptop　puter　…　and　two　wineglasses　beside　a　freshly　opened　bottle　of　Chateau　Margaux。
　Lloyd　gestured　at　the　wine。　〃Care　for　a　glass？〃
　McFarlane　grinned；　and　nodded。　Lloyd　poured　the　ruby　liquid　into　a　glass；　filling　another　for　himself。　He　settled　his　bulk　into　a　chair；　and　held　his　glass　up。　〃Cheers。〃
　They　clinked　and　McFarlane　sipped　the　exquisite　wine。　He　wasn't　much　of　a　connoisseur；　but　even　the　grossest　palate　could　appreciate　this。
　〃I　hate　Glinn's　habit　of　keeping　me　in　the　dark；〃　Lloyd　said。　〃Why　wasn't　I　told　about　this　being　a　dry　ship；　Sam？　Or　about　Britton's　history？　I　can't　fathom　Glinn's　thinking　on　this　one。　He　should　have　briefed　me　back　in　Elizabeth。　Thank　God　there's　been　no　problem。〃
　〃She's　an　excellent　captain；〃　McFarlane　said。　〃She's　handled　the　ship　with　great　skill。　Knows　it　inside　and　out。　Crew　respects　the　hell　out　of　her。　Doesn't　take　guff　from　anybody；　either。〃
　Lloyd　listened；　frowning。　〃That's　good　to　know。〃　The　phone　buzzed。　Lloyd　picked　it　up。　〃Yes？〃　he　said　impatiently。　〃I'm　in　a　meeting。〃
　There　was　a　pause　while　Lloyd　listened。　McFarlane　watched　him；　thinking　that　what　Lloyd　had　said　about　Glinn　was　true。　Secretiveness　was　a　habit　with　Glinn　…　or；　perhaps；　an　instinct。
　〃I'll　call　the　senator　back；〃　Lloyd　said　after　a　moment。　〃And　no　more　calls。〃　He　strode　over　to　the　window　and　stood；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　Although　the　worst　of　the　storm　had　passed；　the　panoramic　windows　remained　streaked　with　sleet。　〃Magnificent；〃　Lloyd　breathed；　something　like　reverence　in　his　voice。　〃To　think　we'll　be　at　the　island　within　the　hour。　Christ；　Sam；　we're　almost　there！〃
　He　swiveled　away　from　the　window。　The　frown　was　gone；　replaced　by　a　look　of　elation。　〃I've　made　a　decision。　Eli　needs　to　hear　it；　too；　but　I　wanted　you　to　know　first。〃　He　paused；　exhaled。　〃I'm　going　to　plant　the　flag；　Sam。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　Lloyd。　〃You're　going　to　what？〃
　〃This　afternoon；　I'm　taking　the　launch　to　Isla　Desolacion。〃
　〃Just　you？〃　McFarlane　felt　a　strange　sensation　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。
　〃Just　me。　And　that　crazy　old　Puppup；　of　course；　to　guide　me　to　the　meteorite。〃
　〃But　the　weather　…　〃
　〃The　weather　couldn't　be　better！〃　Lloyd　stepped　away　from　the　windows　and　paced　restlessly　between　the　wing　chairs。　This　kind　of　moment；　Sam；　isn't　given　to　many。〃
　McFarlane　sat　in　his　chair；　the　strange　feeling　growing。　〃Just　you？〃　he　repeated。　〃You　won't　share　the　discovery？〃
　〃No；　I　won't。　Why　the　hell　should　I？　Peary　did　the　same　thing　on　his　last　dash　to　the　Pole。　Glinn's　got　to　understand。　He　may　not　like　it；　but　it's　my　expedition。　I'm　going　in　alone。〃
　〃No；〃　McFarlane　said　quietly。　〃No；　you're　not。〃
　Lloyd　stopped　pacing。
　〃You're　not　leaving　me　behind。〃
　Lloyd　turned　in　surprise；　his　piercing　eyes　on　McFarlane。　〃You？〃
　McFarlane　said　nothing；　maintaining　eye　contact。
　After　a　moment；　Lloyd　began　to　chuckle。　〃You　know；　Sam；　you're　not　the　man　I　first　met　hiding　behind　a　bush　in　the　Kalahari　Desert。　It　never　occurred　to　me　you'd　care　about　something　like　this。〃　His　smile　suddenly　vanished。　〃What　would　you　do　if　I　said　no？〃
　McFarlane　stood　up。　〃I　don't　know。　Something　rash　and　ill…advised；　probably。〃
　Lloyd's　whole　frame　seemed　to　swell。　〃Are　you　threatening　me？〃
　McFarlane　held　his　eyes。　〃Yeah。　I　guess　I　am。〃
　Lloyd　continued　looking　at　him　steadily。　〃Well；　well。〃
　〃You　sought　me　out。　You　knew　what　I'd　dreamed　of　my　entire　life。〃　McFarlane　carefully　watched　Lloyd's　expression。　This　was　a　man　unused　to　being　challenged。　〃I　was　out　there　trying　to　put　the　past　behind　me。　And　you　arrived；　dangling　it；　like　a　carrot　on　a　stick。　You　knew　I'd　bite。　And　now　I'm　here；　and　you　can't　leave　me　out。　I　won't　miss　this。〃　There　was　a　tense　silence　in　which　McFarlane　could　hear　the　distant　clatter　of　keys；　the　ringing　of　phones。　Then；　abruptly；　Lloyd's　hard　features　softened。　He　placed　a　hand　on　his　bald　head　and　smoothed　his　shiny　pate。　Then　he　ran　his　fingers　down　through　his　goatee。　〃If　I　bring　you；　then　what　about　Glinn？　Or　Amira？　Or　Britton？　Everyone's　going　to　want　a　piece　of　this。〃
　〃No。　It'll　be　just　us　two。　I've　earned　it；　you've　earned　it。　That's　all。　You　have　the　power　to　make　it　happen。〃
　Lloyd　continued　to　stare　at　him。　〃I　think　I　like　the　new　Sam　McFarlane；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　never　fully　bought　that　tough…guy　cynic　act　anyway。　But　I　have　to　tell　you；　Sam：　this　interest　of　yours　had　better　be　healthy。　Do　I　have　to　speak　more　plainly？　I　don't　want　a　repeat　of　that　Tornarssuk　business。〃
　McFarlane　felt　a　stab　of　anger。　〃I'll　just　pretend　I　didn't　hear　that。〃
　〃You　heard　it。　Let's　not　play　coy。〃
　McFarlane　waited。
　Lloyd　dropped　his　hand　with　a　deprecating　smile。　〃It's　been　years　since　someone　stood　up　to　me　like　that。　It's　bracing。　God　damn　you；　Sam；　all　right。　We'll　do　it　together。　But　you　realize　Glinn's　going　to　try　to　scotch　everything。〃　He　walked　back　toward　the　bank　of　windows；　checking　his　watch　as　he　did　so。　〃He's　going　to　be　an　old　woman　about　this。〃
　As　if　he　had　timed　the　moment　…　and　later；　McFarlane　realized　he　probably　had　…　Glinn　came　gliding　into　the　office。　Behind　followed　Puppup；　silent　and　wraithlike；　rapidly　being　a　fixture　in　Glinn's　shadow；　his　alert　black　eyes　filled　with　some　private　amusement。　Puppup　covered　his　mouth；　bowing　and　genuflecting　in　the　strangest　fashion。
　〃Right　on　time；　as　always；〃　Lloyd　boomed；　turning　toward　Glinn　and　taking　his　hand。　〃Listen；　Eli；　there's　something　I've　decided。　I'd　like　your　blessing；　but　I　know　I'm　not　going　to　get　it。　So　I　want　to　warn　you　in　advance；　there's　no　power　on　heaven　or　earth　that's　going　to　prevent　me　from　carrying　it　out。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Very　clear；〃　said　Glinn；　settling　fortably　into　one　of　the　wing　chairs　and　crossing　his　legs。
　〃There's　no　use　arguing　with　me　about　this。　The　decision's　made。〃
　〃Wonderful。　I　wish　I　could　go　along。〃
　For　an　instant；　Lloyd　appeared　to　be　dumbfounded。　Then　his　look　turned　into　fury。　〃You　son　of　a　bitch；　you've　got　the　ship　wired。〃
　〃Don't　be　ridiculous。　I　knew　from　the　very　beginning　you　would　insist　on　making　the　first　visit　to　the　meteorite。〃
　〃But　that's　impossible。　Even　I　didn't　know…〃
　Glinn　waved　his　hand。　〃Don't　you　think　that；　in　analyzing　every　possible　path　of　failure　and　success；　we　had　to　take　your　psychological　profile　into　account？　We　knew　what　you　were　going　to　do　even　before　you　knew　yourself。〃　He　glanced　at　McFarlane。　〃Did　Sam　here　insist　on　going　along；　too？〃
　Lloyd　simply　nodded。
　〃I　see。　The　port　stern　launch　will　be　your　best　bet。　It's　the　smallest　and　most　maneuverable。　I've　arranged　for　Mr。　Howell　to　take　you　in。　I've　also　ordered　haversacks　with　food；　water；　matches；　fuel；　flashlights；　and　so　forth　…　and；　of　course；　a　GPS　unit　and　two…way　radios。　I　assume　you'll　want　Puppup　to　guide　you？〃
　〃Delighted　to　be　of　assistance；〃　sung　out　Puppup。
　Lloyd　glanced　from　Glinn　to　Puppup　and　back　again。　After　a　moment；　he　gave　a　rueful　chuckle。　〃Nobody　likes　to　be　predictable。　Does　anything　surprise　you？〃
　〃You　didn't　hire　me　to　be　surprised；　Mr。　Lloyd。　You're　only　going　to　have　a　few　hours　of　daylight；　so　you　need　to　push　off　as　soon　as　the　ship　arrives　in　the　Franklin　Channel。　You　might　want　to　consider　waiting　until　tomorrow　morning。〃
　Lloyd　shook　his　head。　〃No。　My　time　is　short　here。〃
　Glinn　nodded；　as　if　he　had　expected　as　much。　〃Puppup　tells　me　of　a　small　half…moon　beach　on　the　lee　end　of　the　island。　You　can　run　the　motor　launch　right　up　on　the　shingle。You'll　need　to　be　in　and　out　of　there　fairly　quickly。〃
　Lloyd　sighed。　〃You　really　know　how　to　take　the　romance　out　of　life。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Glinn；　standing　up。　〃I　only　take　out　the　uncertainty。〃　He　nodded　out　the　windows。　〃If　you　want　romance；　e　take　a　look　out　there。〃
　They　stepped　forward。　McFarlane　could　see　a　small　isl