p&c.icelimit-第32节

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　Isla　Desolacion；
　July　16；　8：42　A。M。
　
　MCFARLANE　LOOKED　out　over　the　new　gravel　road；　cut　through　the　brilliant　expanse　of　fresh　snow　like　a　black　snake。　He　shook　his　head；　smiling　to　himself　in　grudging　admiration。　In　the　three　days　since　his　first　visit；　the　island　had　been　transformed　almost　beyond　recognition。
　There　was　a　rough　lurch；　and　half　of　McFarlane's　coffee　splashed　from　his　cup　onto　his　snowpants。　〃Christ！〃　he　yelped；　holding　the　cup　at　arm's　length　and　swatting　at　his　pants。
　From　inside　the　cab；　the　driver；　a　burly　fellow　named　Evans；　smiled。　〃Sorry；〃　he　said。　These　Cats　don't　exactly　ride　like　Eldorados。〃
　Despite　its　massive　yellow　bulk；　and　tires　almost　twice　as　tall　as　a　man；　the　Cat　785's　cab　held　only　one　person；　and　McFarlane　had　ended　up　sitting；　cross…legged；　on　the　narrow　platform　beside　it。　Directly　beneath　him；　the　huge　diesel　engine　snarled。　He　didn't　mind。　Today　was　the　day。　Today　they　were　going　to　uncover　the　meteorite。
　He　thought　back　over　the　last　seventy…two　hours。　The　very　night　they　arrived；　Glinn　had　initiated　an　astonishing　process　of　unloading。　It　had　all　happened　with　ruthless　speed　and　efficiency。　By　morning；　the　most　incriminating　equipment　had　been　moved　by　heavy　equipment　to　prefab　hangars　on　the　island。　At　the　same　time；　EES　workers　under　Garza　and　Rochefort　had　blasted　and　leveled　the　beach　site；　built　jetties　and　breakwaters　with　riprap　and　steel；　and　graded　a　broad　road　from　the　landing　site　around　the　snowfield　to　the　meteorite　area　…　the　road　he　was　now　on。　The　EES　team　had　also　offloaded　some　of　the　portable　container　labs　and　workspaces　and　moved　them　to　the　staging　area；　where　they　had　been　arranged　among　rows　of　Quonset　huts。
　But　as　the　Caterpillar　785　Hauler　rounded　the　snowfield　and　approached　the　staging　area；　McFarlane　saw　that　the　most　astonishing　change　of　all　had　taken　place　on　an　escarpment　about　a　mile　away。　There；　an　army　of　workers　with　heavy　equipment　had　begun　gouging　out　an　open　pit。　A　dozen　huts　had　sprouted　up　along　its　verge。　Periodically；　McFarlane　could　hear　an　explosive　shudder；　and　clouds　of　dust　would　rise　into　the　sky　over　the　pit。　A　tailings　pile　was　growing　to　one　side；　and　a　leachpond　had　been　built　nearby。
　〃What's　going　on　over　there？〃　McFarlane　shouted　to　Evans　over　the　roar　of　the　engine；　pointing　to　the　escarpment。
　〃Mining。〃
　〃I　can　see　that。　But　what　are　they　mining？〃
　Evans　broke　into　a　grin。　〃Nada。〃
　McFarlane　had　to　laugh。　Glinn　was　amazing。　Anyone　looking　at　the　site　would　think　the　activity　on　the　escarpment　was　their　real　business；　the　staging　area　around　the　meteorite　looked　like　a　minor　supply　dump。
　He　turned　his　gaze　from　the　ersatz　mine　back　to　the　road　that　lay　ahead。　The　Hanuxa　snowfield　coruscated；　seeming　to　grab　the　light　and　draw　it　into　its　depths；　turning　it　to　infinite　hues　of　blue　and　turquoise。　The　Jaws　of　Hanuxa　stood　beyond；　their　grimness　softened　by　a　dusting　of　fresh　snow。
　McFarlane　hadn't　slept　at　all　the　night　before；　and　yet　he　felt　almost　too　wakeful。　In　less　than　an　hour；　they　would　know。　They　would　see　it。　They　would　touch　it。
　The　truck　lurched　again；　and　McFarlane　tightened　his　grip　on　the　metal　railing　with　one　hand　while　quickly　downing　his　coffee　with　the　other。　It　might　be　sunny　for　a　change；　but　it　was　also　hellishly　cold。　He　crushed　the　foam　cup　and　slid　it　into　a　pocket　of　his　parka。　The　big　Cat　was　only　slightly　less　shabby…looking　than　the　Rolvaag　itself；　but　McFarlane　could　see　that　this；　too；　was　an　illusion：　the　interior　of　the　cab　was　brand…new。
　〃Quite　a　machine；〃　he　yelled　over　to　Evans。
　〃Oh；　yeah；〃　the　man　replied；　his　breath　smoking。
　The　roadbed　grew　smoother　and　the　Cat　sped　up。　As　they　trundled　along；　they　passed　another　hauler　and　a　bulldozer　headed　back　toward　the　shore；　and　the　drivers　waved　cheerfully　at　Evans。　McFarlane　realized　he　knew　nothing　about　the　men　and　women　wielding　all　the　heavy　equipment　…　who　they　were；　what　they　thought　about　such　a　strange　project。　〃You　guys　work　for　Glinn？〃　he　asked　Evans。
　Evans　nodded。　〃To　a　man。〃　He　seemed　to　wear　a　perpetual　smile　on　his　craggy　face；　overhung　with　two　bristly　eyebrows。　〃Not　full…time；　though。　Some　of　the　boys　are　roughnecks　on　oil　rigs；　some　build　bridges；　you　name　it。　We　even　have　a　crew　from　the　Big　Dig　in　Boston。　But　when　you　get　the　call　from　EES；　you　drop　everything　and　e　running。
　〃Why's　that？〃
　Evans's　smile　widened。　〃The　pay　is　five　times　scale；　that's　why。〃
　〃Guess　I'm　working　the　wrong　end　of　the　job；　then。〃
　〃Oh；　I'm　sure　you're　doing　all　right　for　yourself；　Dr。　McFarlane。〃　Evans　throttled　down　to　let　a　grader　pass　them；　its　metal　blades　winking　in　the　brilliant　sunshine。
　〃Is　this　the　biggest　job　you've　seen　EES　take　on？〃
　〃Nope。〃　Evans　goosed　the　engine　and　they　lurched　forward　once　again。　〃Small　to　middling；　actually。〃
　The　snowfield　fell　behind　them。　Ahead；　McFarlane　could　now　see　a　broad　depression；　covering　perhaps　an　acre；　that　had　been　scraped　into　the　frozen　earth。　An　array　of　four　huge　infrared　dishes　surrounded　the　staging　area；　pointing　down。　Nearby　stood　a　row　of　graders；　lined　up　as　if　at　attention。　Engineers　and　other　workers　were　scattered　around；　huddled　together　over　plans；　taking　measurements；　speaking　into　radios。　In　the　distance；　a　snowcat　…　a　large；　trailerlike　vehicle　with　monstrous　metal　treads　…　was　crawling　toward　the　snowfield；　wielding　high…tech　instruments　held　out　on　booms。　Off　to　one　side；　small　and　forlorn；　was　the　cairn　he　and　Lloyd　had　built　over　Nestor　Masangkay's　remains。
　Evans　came　to　an　idle　at　the　edge　of　the　staging　area。　McFarlane　hopped　off　and　made　for　the　hut　marked　MISSARY。　Inside；　Lloyd　and　Glinn　sat　at　a　table　near　a　makeshift　kitchen；　deep　in　discussion。　Amira　was　standing　by　a　griddle；　loading　a　plate　with　food。　Nearby；　John　Puppup　was　curled　up；　napping。　The　room　smelled　of　coffee　and　bacon。
　〃About　time　you　got　here；〃　Amira　said　as　she　returned　to　the　table；　her　plate　heaped　with　at　least　a　dozen　slices　of　bacon。　〃Wallowing　in　your　bunk　until　all　hours。　You　should　be　making　an　example　for　your　assistant。〃　She　poured　a　cup　of　maple　syrup　over　the　mound　of　bacon；　stirred　it　around；　picked　up　a　dripping　piece；　and　folded　it　into　her　mouth。
　Lloyd　was　warming　his　hands　around　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃With　your　eating　habits；　Rachel；〃　he　said　good…humoredly；　〃you　should　be　dead　by　now。〃
　Amira　laughed。　〃The　brain　uses　more　calories　per　minute　thinking　than　the　body　does　jogging。　How　do　you　think　I　stay　so　svelte　and　sexy？〃　She　tapped　her　forehead。
　〃How　soon　until　we　uncover　the　rock？〃　McFarlane　asked。
　Glinn　sat　back；　slid　out　his　gold　pocket　watch；　and　flicked　it　open。　〃Half　an　hour。　We're　just　going　to　uncover　enough　of　the　surface　to　allow　you　to　perform　some　tests。
　Dr。　Amira　will　assist　you　with　testing　and　analyzing　the　data。〃
　McFarlane　nodded。　This　had　already　been　carefully　discussed；　but　Glinn　always　went　over　everything　twice。　Double　overage；　he　thought。
　〃We'll　have　to　christen　it；〃　Amira　said；　thrusting　another　piece　of　bacon　into　her　mouth。　〃Anybody　bring　the　champagne？〃
　Lloyd　frowned。　〃Unfortunately；　it's　more　like　a　Temperance　meeting　around　here　than　a　scientific　expedition。〃
　〃Guess　you'll　have　to　break　one　of　your　thermoses　of　hot　chocolate　over　the　rock；〃　McFarlane　said。
　Glinn　reached　down；　drew　out　a　satchel；　removed　a　bottle　of　Perrier…Jouet　and　placed　it　carefully　on　the　table。
　〃Fleur　de　Champagne；〃　Lloyd　whispered　almost　reverentially。　〃My　favorite。　Eli；　you　old　liar；　you　never　told　me　you　had　bottles　of　champagne　aboard。〃
　Glinn's　only　reply　was　a　slight　smile。
　〃If　we're　going　to　christen　this　thing；　has　anybody　thought　up　a　name？〃　Amira　asked。
　〃Sam　here　wants　to　call　it　the　Masangkay　meteorite；〃　Lloyd　said。　He　paused。　〃I'm　inclined　to　go　with　the　usual　nomenclature　and　call　it　the　Desolacion。〃
　There　was　an　awkward　silence。
　〃We've　got　to　have　a　name；〃　Amira　said。
　〃Nestor　Masangkay　made　the　ultimate　sacrifice　finding　this　meteorite；〃　said　McFarlane　in　a　low　voice；　looking　hard　at　Lloyd。　〃We　wouldn't　be　here　without　him。　On　the　other　hand；　you　financed　the　expedition；　so　you've　won　the　right　to　name　the　rock。〃　He　continued　gazing　steadily　at　the　billionaire。
　When　Lloyd　spoke；　his　voice　was　unusually　quiet。　〃We　don't　even　know　if　Nestor　Masangkay　would　have　wanted　the　honor；〃　he　said。　〃This　isn't　the　time　to　break　with　tradition；　Sam。　We'll　call　it　the　Desolacion　meteorite；　but　we'll　name　the　hall　it's　in　after　Nestor。　We'll　erect　a　plaque；　detailing　his　discovery。　Is　that　acceptable？〃
　McFarlane　thought　a　moment。　Then　he　gave　the　briefest　of　nods。
　Glinn　passed　the　bottle　to　Lloyd；　then　rose。　They　all　went　out　into　the　brilliant　morning　sun。　As　they　walked；　Glinn　came　up　to　McFarlane's　side。　〃Of　course；　you　realize　that　at　some　point　we're　going　to　have　to　exhume　your　friend；〃　he　said；　nodding　in　the　direction　of　the　stone　cairn。
　〃Why？〃　McFarlane　asked；　surprised。
　〃We　need　to　know　the　cause　of　death。　Dr。　Brambell　must　examine　the　remains。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃It's　a　loose　end。　I'm　sorry。〃
　McFarlane　began　to　object；　then　stopped。　As　usual；　there　was　no　arguing　with　Glinn's　logic。
　Soon　they　were　standing　along　the　edge　of　the　graded　area。　Ne