p&c.icelimit-第35节

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　〃How　poisonous？〃
　McFarlane　shrugged。　〃Palmer　touched　it；　and　he's　still　alive。〃
　〃He'll　be　the　last　one　to　do　that；〃　Glinn　replied。　〃I've　given　orders　that　nobody　is　to　e　into　direct　contact　with　the　meteorite；　under　any　circumstances。〃　He　paused。　〃Anything　else？　Could　it　be　harboring　viruses？〃
　〃It's　been　sitting　there　for　millions　of　years；　so　any　alien　microbes　would　have　dispersed　long　ago。　It　might　be　worth　taking　soil　samples　and　collecting　moss；　lichen；　and　other　plants　from　the　area；　to　see　if　anything's　unusual。〃
　〃What　would　one　look　for？〃
　〃Mutations；　perhaps；　or　signs　of　low…level　exposure　to　toxins　or　teratogens。〃
　Glinn　nodded。　〃I'll　speak　to　Dr。　Brambell　about　it。　Dr。　Amira；　any　thoughts　on　its　metallurgical　properties？　It　is　a　metal；　isn't　it？〃
　There　was　another　crunch　of　candy。　〃Yes；　very　likely；　since　it's　ferromagnetic。　Like　gold；　it　doesn't　oxidize。　However；　I　can't　figure　out　how　a　metal　can　be　red。　Dr。　McFarlane　and　I　were　just　discussing　the　need　to　take　a　sample。〃
　〃Sample？〃　Lloyd　asked。　The　room　fell　silent　at　the　change　in　his　voice。
　〃Of　course；〃　said　McFarlane　after　a　moment。　〃It's　standard　procedure。〃
　〃You're　going　to　cut　a　piece　off　my　meteorite？〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　Lloyd；　and　then　at　Glinn。　〃Is　there　a　problem　with　that？〃
　〃You're　damn　right　there's　a　problem；〃　Lloyd　said。　〃This　is　a　museum　specimen。　We're　putting　it　on　display。　I　don't　want　it　chopped　up　or　drilled。〃
　〃There　isn't　a　major　meteorite　found　that　hasn't　been　sectioned。　We're　only　talking　about　coring　out　a　five…kilogram　piece。　That'll　be　enough　for　all　the　tests　anyone　could　conceivably　think　of。　A　piece　that　large　could　be　worked　on　for　years。〃
　Lloyd　shook　his　head。　〃No　way。〃
　〃We　must　do　it；〃　McFarlane　said　with　vehemence。　〃There's　no　way　to　study　this　meteorite　without　vaporizing；　melting；　polishing；　etching。　Given　the　size　of　this　thing；　the　sample　would　be　a　drop　in　the　bucket。〃
　〃It　ain't　the　Mona　Lisa；〃　Amira　murmured。
　〃That's　an　ignorant　ment；〃　Lloyd　said；　rounding　on　her。　Then　he　sank　back　with　a　sigh。　〃Cutting　it　up　seems　like　such　a　…　well；　a　sacrilege。　Couldn't　we　just　leave　it　a　mystery？〃
　〃Absolutely　not；〃　said　Glinn。　〃We　need　to　know　more　about　it　before　I'll　authorize　moving　it。　Dr。　McFarlane　is　right。〃
　Lloyd　stared　at　him；　his　face　reddening。　〃Before　you'll　authorize　moving　it？　Listen　to　me；　Eli。　I've　gone　along　with　all　your　little　rules。　I've　played　your　game。　But　let's　get　one　thing　straight：　I'm　paying　the　bills。　This　is　my　meteorite。　You　signed　a　contract　to　get　it　for　me。　You　like　to　brag　that　you've　never　failed。　If　this　ship　returns　to　New　York　without　that　meteorite；　you　will　have　failed。　Am　I　right？〃
　Glinn　looked　at　Lloyd。　Then　he　spoke　calmly；　almost　as　one　might　speak　to　a　child。　〃Mr。　Lloyd；　you　will　get　your　meteorite。　I　merely　want　to　see　you　have　it　without　anyone　getting　unnecessarily　hurt。　Isn't　that　what　you　want；　too？〃
　Lloyd　hesitated。　〃Of　course　it　is。〃
　McFarlane　was　amazed　at　how　quickly　Glinn　had　put　the　man　on　the　defensive。
　〃Then　all　I　am　asking　is　that　we　proceed　with　care。〃
　Lloyd　licked　his　lips。　〃It's　just　that　everything's　e　to　a　grinding　halt。　Why？　The　meteorite's　red。　So　I　ask　you；　what's　wrong　with　red？　I　think　it's　great。　Has　everybody　forgotten　about　our　friend　in　the　destroyer？　Time　is　the　one　thing　we　don't　have　here。〃
　〃Mr。　Lloyd！〃　Penfold　said；　holding　up　the　radio　appealingly；　like　a　beggar　might　hold　up　an　alms　cup。　〃The　helicopter。　Please！〃　
　〃God　damn　it！〃　Lloyd　cried。　After　a　moment；　he　spun　away。　〃All　right；　for　chrissakes；　take　your　sample。　Just　cap　the　hole　so　it　isn't　visible。　And　do　it　fast。　By　the　time　I　get　back　to　New　York；　I　want　that　son　of　a　bitch　on　the　move。〃　
　He　stomped　out　of　the　hut；　Penfold　at　his　heels。　The　door　banged　shut　behind　them。　For　a　minute；　maybe　two；　the　room　was　still。　Then　Amira　rose　to　her　feet。
　〃e　on；　Sam；〃　she　said。　〃Let's　drill　this　sucker。〃
　
　Isla　Desolacion；
　2：15　P。M。
　
　AFTER　THE　warmth　of　the　hut；　the　wind　felt　keen　as　a　knife。　McFarlane　shivered　as　he　followed　Amira　to　tech　stores；　thinking　longingly　of　the　dry　heat　of　the　Kalahari。
　The　container　was　longer　and　wider　than　the　rest；　dingy　on　the　outside；　clean　and　spacious　on　the　inside。　Monitors　and　rack…mounted　diagnostic　tools；　powered　by　the　central　generator　in　a　neighboring　hut；　glowed　in　the　dim　light。　Amira　made　for　a　large　metal　table；　which　held　a　collapsed　tripod　and　a　high…speed　portable　mining　drill。　If　it　weren't　for　the　leather　sling　around　the　drill；　McFarlane　would　never　have　suspected　it　of　being　particularly　〃portable。〃　It　looked　like　a　twenty…first…century　bazooka。
　Amira　patted　the　drill　affectionately。　〃Don't　you　just　love　high…tech　toys　that　break　things？　Look　at　this　mother。　Ever　seen　one　of　these　before？〃
　〃Not　one　so　big。〃　McFarlane　watched　as　she　expertly　broke　the　drill　down　and　examined　its　ponents。　Satisfied；　she　slapped　it　back　together；　plugged　the　end　of　a　heavy　cord　into　a　socket；　and　ran　the　machine　through　its　diagnostics。
　〃Check　this　out。〃　She　hefted　a　long；　cruel…looking　shaft　of　metal；　one　end　bulbous　and　pocked　like　a　club；　with　a　hollow　core。　〃Ten　carats　of　industrial　diamond　in　the　bit　alone。〃　She　pressed　a　button　and　the　electronic　chuck　loosened　with　a　snap。　She　slung　the　drill　over　her　shoulder　with　a　grunt　and　pressed　its　trigger；　filling　the　room　with　a　deep…throated　growl。　〃Time　to　make　a　hole；〃　she　said；　grinning。
　They　left　the　equipment　hut　and　headed　out　into　the　gloom；　McFarlane　playing　out　the　electrical　cord　behind　them。　A　shoddy…looking　maintenance　shack　had　been　erected　over　the　exposed　meteorite；　concealing　it　from　view。　Inside；　banks　of　halogen　lights　bathed　the　shallow　cut　in　a　cool　glow。　Glinn　was　already　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　hole；　peering　down；　radio　in　one　hand；　his　small　frame　set　into　sharp　relief　by　the　light。
　They　joined　Glinn　at　the　edge　of　the　hole。　In　the　white　light；　the　meteorite　below　their　feet　glowed　almost　purple；　like　a　fresh　bruise。　Pulling　off　her　gloves；　Amira　took　the　tripod　from　McFarlane；　quickly　set　its　legs；　and　fitted　the　drill　into　its　housing。　〃This　thing　has　a　terrific　vacuum　system；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　a　narrow　manifold　that　curved　beneath　the　bit。　〃Sucks　up　every　particle　of　dust。　If　the　metal's　poisonous；　it　won't　matter。〃
　〃Even　so；　I'm　evacuating　the　area；〃　said　Glinn；　who　raised　the　radio　and　spoke　rapidly　into　it。　〃And　remember；　keep　well　back。　Do　not　touch　it。〃　He　motioned　for　the　workmen　to　leave。
　McFarlane　watched　as　Amira　snapped　on　the　power　switch；　checked　the　indicator　lights　along　the　drill's　flank；　and　deftly　positioned　the　bit　above　the　meteorite。　〃Looks　like　you've　done　this　before；〃　he　said。
　〃Damn　right。　Eli　here　put　me　through　this　a　dozen　times。〃
　McFarlane　looked　at　Glinn。　〃You　rehearsed　this？〃
　〃Every　step；〃　Amira　said　as　she　pulled　a　large　remote　from　her　pocket　and　began　calibrating　it。　〃And　not　just　this。　Everything。　He　plans　all　our　projects　like　an　invasion。　D…Day。　You　practice　your　ass　off；　because　you　only　get　one　shot　at　the　real　thing。〃　She　stepped　back　and　blew　on　her　hands。　〃Man；　you　should've　seen　the　big　ball　of　iron　Eli　made　us　dig　up　and　schlepp　all　over　creation；　again　and　again。　We　called　it　Big　Bertha。　I　really　learned　to　hate　that　damn　rock。〃
　〃Where　did　you　do　this？〃
　〃Up　at　the　Bar　Cross　Ranch　near　Bozeman；　Montana。　You　didn't　really　think　this　was　a　first　run；　did　you？〃
　With　the　remote　calibrated　and　the　drill　fixed　into　position　over　the　naked　surface　of　the　meteorite；　Amira　turned　to　a　nearby　case　and　snapped　its　hinges　open。　Pulling　out　a　small　metal　can；　she　tore　off　its　lid　and　…　keeping　well　back　…　upended　it　over　the　meteorite。　A　black；　gluey　substance　poured　out；　spreading　over　the　red　surface　in　a　viscous　layer。　With　a　small　brush；　she　applied　the　remainder　to　the　end　of　the　diamond　bit。　Then；　reaching　into　the　case　again；　she　pulled　out　a　thin　sheet　of　rubber　and　gingerly　pressed　it　down　over　the　sealant。
　〃We'll　give　that　a　moment　to　get　tacky；〃　she　explained　〃We　don't　want　even　the　slightest　speck　of　meteorite　dust　escaping　into　the　air。〃　She　fumbled　in　her　parka；　extracted　the　cigar　tube；　glanced　at　the　expressions　on　Glinn's　and　McFarlane's　faces；　sighed；　and　began　cracking　peanuts　instead。
　McFarlane　shook　his　head。　〃Peanuts；　candy；　cigars。　What　else　do　you　do　that　your　mother　would　disapprove　of？〃
　She　looked　at　him。　〃Hot　monkey　sex；　rock　and　roll；　extreme　skiing；　and　high…stakes　blackjack。〃
　McFarlane　laughed。　Then　he　asked；　〃Are　you　nervous？〃
　〃Not　so　much　nervous　as　incredibly　excited。　You？〃
　McFarlane　thought　about　this　for　a　moment。　It　was　almost　as　if　he　was　allowing　himself　to　bee　excited；　to　grow　used　to　the　idea　that　this　was；　after　all；　the　very　thing　he　had　hunted　for　all　those　years。
　〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃Excited。〃
　Glinn　pulled　out　his　gold　pocket　watch；　flicked　open　its　cover；　and　glanced　at　its　face。　〃It's　time。〃
　Amira　returned　to　the　drill　and　adjusted　a　dial。　A　low　rumble　began　to　fill　the　close　air　of　the　shack。　She　checked　the　position　of　the　bit；　then　took　a　step　back；　making　an　adjustment　with　the　remote。　The　rumble　rose　to　a　whine。　She　maneuvered　a　small　hat　switch　on　the　remote；　and　the