p&c.icelimit-第44节

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through　the　body。　I've　seen　it　before。　And　only　an　electrical　blast　on　the　order　of　lightning　could　cause　the　kind　of　scaling　and　shattering　those　bones　evidenced。　Lightning；　you　see；　not　only　burns　bones　and　instantly　boils　the　blood；　causing　an　explosive　release　of　steam；　but　it　also　triggers　sudden　muscle　contractions　that　shatter　bones。　In　some　cases；　it　strikes　the　body　with　such　force　that　it　mimics；　say；　being　hit　by　a　truck。　Dr。　Masangkay's　body　virtually　exploded。〃
　The　doctor　dawdled　over　the　word　〃exploded；〃　lingering　on　each　syllable　with　a　loving　drawl。　McFarlane　shuddered。
　〃Thank　you；　Doctor；〃　said　Glinn　dryly。　〃I　will　also　be　eager　to　hear　your　analysis　of　the　biota　found　in　the　eighty　bags　of　sample　earth　we　removed　from　the　vicinity　of　the　meteorite。　I'll　have　them　sent　down　to　the　medical　lab　right　away。〃
　Glinn　opened　his　folder。　〃If　the　meteorite　attracts　lightning；　that's　yet　another　reason　to　keep　it　covered。　Let's　move　on。　A　moment　ago；　I　said　we　could　proceed　on　schedule。　There　will；　however；　have　to　be　some　adjustments。　For　example；　the　weight　of　the　meteorite　is　so　great　that　we　are　now　forced　to　take　the　absolute　shortest　path　from　the　impact　site　to　the　ship。　That　means　bringing　the　meteorite　through　the　snowfield；　rather　than　around　it。　The　meteorite　can　only　be　moved　in　a　straight　line；　along　a　slope　of　constant　descent。　It　won't　be　easy；　and　it　will　mean　a　lot　of　cutting　and　filling；　but　it　can　be　done。　Also；　Captain　Britton　has　advised　me　that　a　winter　storm　is　moving　in　our　direction。　If　it　stays　on　course；　we　will　have　to　factor　it　into　our　plans。　To　a　certain　extent；　the　cover　will　be　wele。〃　He　stood　up。　〃I'll　be　preparing　letters　for　the　family　of　Gene　Rochefort　and　for　the　widow　of　Frank　Evans。　If　any　of　you　would　like　to　include　a　personal　note；　please　get　it　to　me　before　we　dock　in　New　York。　And　now；　one　final　thing。〃
　He　glanced　at　McFarlane。　〃You　told　me　that　the　coesite　and　impactite　around　the　meteorite　was　formed　thirty…two　million　years　ago。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　McFarlane。
　〃I　want　you　to　collect　samples　of　the　basalt　flows　and　volcanic　plug　beyond　the　camp　and　date　them　as　well。　We　clearly　need　to　know　more　about　the　geology　of　this　island。　Did　your　second　series　of　tests　bring　about　any　fresh　conclusions？〃
　〃Only　fresh　puzzles。〃
　〃In　that　case；　island　geology　will　be　your　next　project。〃　He　looked　around。　〃Anything　else　before　we　get　back　to　work？〃
　〃Yes；　guv；〃　came　the　reedy　voice　from　the　corner　of　the　library。　It　was　Puppup；　forgotten　by　all。　He　was　sitting　in　a　straight…backed　chair；　hair　disheveled；　raising　his　hand　and　waving　it　like　a　schoolboy。
　〃Yes？〃　Glinn　asked。
　〃You　said　that　two　people　died。〃
　Glinn　did　not　answer。　McFarlane；　watching；　noticed　that　Glinn　did　not　meet　Puppup's　eyes　in　the　way　he　met　everyone　else's。
　〃You　said　that　maybe　some　more　people　are　going　to　die。〃
　〃I　said　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　Glinn　crisply。　〃Now；　if　we're　finished　here　…　〃
　〃What　happens　if　everybody　dies？〃　Puppup　asked；　his　voice　suddenly　loud。
　There　was　an　awkward　moment。
　〃Damn　lunatic；〃　Garza　muttered　under　his　breath。
　Puppup　merely　pointed　out　the　grimy　window。　All　eyes　turned。
　Just　beyond　the　rocky　outline　of　Isla　Deceit；　dark　against　the　failing　sky；　the　gaunt　prow　of　a　destroyer　was　easing　into　view；　its　guns　trained　on　the　tanker。
　
　Rolvaag；
　12：25　P。M。
　
　GLINNSLIPPED　a　hand　into　his　pocket；　withdrew　a　pair　of　miniature　binoculars；　and　examined　the　ship。　He　had　expected　Vallenar　to　make　another　move；　and　this；　apparently；　was　it。
　Britton　leapt　out　of　her　seat　and　strode　to　the　window。　〃He　looks　like　he's　about　to　blow　us　out　of　the　water；〃　she　said。
　Glinn　first　examined　the　masts；　and　then　the　four…inch　guns。　He　lowered　the　binoculars。　〃It's　a　bluff。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃
　〃Check　your　Slick　32。〃
　Britton　turned　to　Howell。
　〃Slick　shows　no　fire…control　radar　active　along　that　line　of　bearing。〃
　Britton　glanced　back　at　Glinn　with　a　curious　expression　in　her　face。
　Glinn　handed　her　the　binoculars。　〃He's　pointing　the　guns　at　us；　but　he　has　no　intention　of　firing　them。　You'll　notice　the　fire…control　radars　aren't　rotating。〃
　〃So　I　see。〃　Britton　returned　the　binoculars。　〃Stations　fore　and　aft；　Mr。　Howell。〃
　〃Mr。　Garza；　will　you　make　sure　our　reception　room　is　ready；　just　in　case？〃　Glinn　pocketed　the　binoculars　and　glanced　at　Puppup。　The　mestizo　had　slumped　back　in　his　chair　and　was　stroking　his　long；　drooping　mustaches。　〃Mr。　Puppup；　I　would　like　to　take　a　turn　with　you　on　deck；　if　you　please。〃
　Puppup's　expression　did　not　change。　He　stood　and　followed　Glinn　out　of　the　library　and　down　the　wide　corridor。　Outside；　a　bitter　wind　blew　across　the　bay；　raising　dancing　whitecaps。　Pieces　of　ice　skittered　across　the　deck。　Glinn　walked　ahead；　the　little　old　man　at　his　heels；　until　they　reached　the　great　rise　of　the　bow。　Here；　Glinn　stopped　and　leaned　against　an　anchor　windlass；　gazing　out　at　the　distant　destroyer。　Now　that　Vallenar　had　made　his　move；　the　problem　would　be　to　anticipate　his　future　actions。　Glinn　glanced　covertly　at　Puppup。　The　only　person　on　board　who　could　shed　light　on　Vallenar　was　the　one　he　understood　least。　He　had　found　himself　unable　to　predict　or　control　Puppup's　actions。　And　the　man　dogged　him　like　a　shadow。　It　had　proved　surprisingly　unsettling。
　〃Got　a　cigarette？〃　Puppup　asked。
　Glinn　slid　a　new　pack　out　of　his　pocket　…　Marlboros；　worth　their　weight　in　gold　…　and　handed　it　to　Puppup。　The　man　tore　it　open　and　tapped　out　a　cigarette。　〃Match？〃
　Glinn　lit　his　cigarette　with　a　lighter。
　〃Thanks；　guv。〃　Puppup　took　a　deep　drag　on　the　cigarette。　〃Bit　parky　out　today；　eh？〃
　〃Yes　it　is。〃　There　was　a　pause。　〃Where　did　you　learn　your　English；　Mr。　Puppup？〃
　〃From　the　missionaries；　didn't　I？　The　only　bit　of　schooling　I　had　was　from　them。〃
　〃Did　one　of　them　e　from　London；　by　chance？〃
　〃Both　of　them　as　did；　sir。〃
　Glinn　waited　a　moment　while　Puppup　smoked。　Even　considering　the　cultural　differences；　the　man　was　remarkably　difficult　to　read。　In　fact；　Glinn　had　never　met　such　an　opaque　individual。
　He　began　slowly。　〃That's　a　nice　ring；〃　he　said；　pointing　offhandedly　at　a　little　gold　ring　on　the　mestizo's　pinkie。
　Puppup　held　it　up　with　a　grin。　〃That　it　is。　Pure　gold；　a　pearl；　two　rubies；　and　all。〃
　〃A　gift　from　Queen　Adelaide；　I　presume？〃
　Puppup　started；　the　cigarette　jiggling　in　his　mouth。　But　he　recovered　quickly。　〃Right　you　are。〃
　〃And　what　happened　to　the　queen's　bonnet？〃
　Puppup　looked　at　him　curiously。　〃Buried　with　the　missus。　Looked　a　fair　old　treat　in　it；　too。〃
　〃Was　Fuegia　Basket　your　great…great…great…grandmother；　then？〃
　〃In　a　manner　of　speaking。〃　Puppup's　eyes　remained　veiled。
　〃You　e　from　a　distinguished　family。〃　As　Glinn　spoke；　he　looked　very　closely　at　Puppup's　eyes。　When　they　flicked　away；　he　knew　the　ment　had　had　its　intended　effect。　Still；　it　was　essential　that　this　be　handled　with　the　greatest　finesse。　He　would　have　only　one　chance　to　unlock　John　Puppup。
　〃Your　wife　must　have　died　a　long　time　ago。〃
　Puppup　still　didn't　answer。
　〃Smallpox？〃
　Puppup　shook　his　head。　〃Measles。〃
　〃Ah；〃　Glinn　said。　〃My　grandfather　died　of　measles；　also。〃　This　was；　in　fact；　true。
　Puppup　nodded。
　〃We　have　something　else　in　mon；〃　said　Glinn。
　Puppup　looked　at　him　sideways。
　〃My　great…great…great…grandfather　was　Captain　Fitzroy。〃　Glinn　spoke　the　lie　very　carefully；　keeping　his　eyes　unmoving。
　Puppup's　own　eyes　slid　back　out　to　sea；　but　Glinn　could　see　the　uncertainty　in　them。　The　eyes　betrayed；　every　time。　Unless；　of　course；　you　trained　them。
　〃Strange　how　history　repeats　itself；〃　he　went　on。　〃I　have　an　engraving　of　your　great…great…great…grandmother；　when　she　was　a　little　girl；　meeting　the　queen。　It　hangs　in　my　parlor。〃　For　the　Yaghan；　establishing　the　family　connection　was　everything；　if　Glinn's　reading　of　the　ethnographic　literature　was　correct。
　As　he　listened；　Puppup　grew　tense。
　〃John；　may　I　see　the　ring　again？〃
　Without　looking　at　him；　Puppup　raised　his　brown　hand　Glinn　took　it　gently　in　his　own；　applying　a　warm　pressure　to　the　palm。　He　had　noticed　the　ring　the　first　time　he　had　seen　him；　drunk　in　the　snug　in　Puerto　Williams。　It　had　taken　his　people　back　in　New　York　a　few　days　to　determine　what　it　was；　and　where　it　had　e　from。
　〃Fate　is　a　strange　thing；　John。　My　great…great…greatgrandfather；　Captain　Fitzroy；　of　the　HMS　Beagle；　kidnapped　your　great…great…great…grandmother；　Fuegia　Basket；　and　took　her　to　England　to　meet　the　queen。　And　now　I　have　kidnapped　you；〃　he　added　with　a　smile。　〃Ironic；　isn't　it？　Except　that　I　won't　be　taking　you　to　England。　Soon；　you'll　be　home　again。〃　It　was　popular　in　those　days　to　bring　〃primitives〃　back　from　the　farthest　reaches　of　the　earth　to　display　at　court。　Fuegia　Basket　had　gone　back　to　Tierra　del　Fuego　on　the　Beagle　several　years　later；　with　the　bonnet　and　ring　given　her　by　the　queen。　Another　passenger　on　that　voyage　had　been　Mr。　Charles　Darwin。
　Although　Puppup　did　not　look　at　him；　the　opacity　seemed　to　be　fading　from　his　eyes。
　〃What　will　happen　to　the　ring？〃　Glinn　asked。
　〃It'll　stay　with　me　into　the　grave。〃
　〃No　children？〃　Glinn　already　knew　that　Puppup　was　the　last　of　the　Yaghan；　but　he　wanted　to　gauge　the　answer。