cc.iceberg-第4节

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utiously；　turned　and　scrutinized　the　alleyway　outside　the　messroom。　He　could　see　his　little　game　was　working；　Koski　and　Dover　were　exchanging　confused　looks　between　taking　in　his　movements。　Finally；　seeming　satisfied　there　were　no　eavesdroppers；　Pitt　moved　to　the　table　and　sat　down；　leaning　close　to　the　two　Coast　Guard　officers；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　murmur。
　〃Okay；　gentlemen；　here's　the　story。　The　position　Dr。　Hunnewell　gave　you　is　the　approximate　location　of　an　extremely　important　iceberg。〃
　
　Koski　colored　slightly；　but　managed　to　keep　a　straight　face。　〃And　what；　if　I　may　ask　without　sounding　stupid；　Major；　do　you　class　as　an　important　iceberg？〃
　
　Pitt　paused　for　effect。　〃One　that　has　the　remains　of　a　ship　imbedded　under　its　mantle。　A　Russian　trawler；　to　be　exact；　crammed　with　the　latest　and　most　sophisticated　electronic　detection　gear　Soviet　science　has　yet　devised。　Not　to　mention　the　codes　and　data　for　their　entire　Western　Hemisphere　surveillance　program。〃
　
　Koski　didn't　even　blink。　Without　taking　his　eyes　off　Pitt；　he　took　a　pouch　from　under　his　jacket　and　calmly　began　loading　his　corncob。
　〃Six　months　ago；〃　Pitt　continued；　〃a　Russian　traller　；　bearing　the　name　Novgorod；　rode　just　a　few　mil　off　the　Greenland　coast　and　kept　watching　other　activities　at　the　U。S。　Air　Force　missile　base　on　Disko　Island。
　
　Aerial　photographs　showed　that　the　Novgorod　carried　every　electronic　reception　antenna　in　the　book；　and　then　some。　The　Russians　played　it　cool；　the　trawler　and　crew；　thirty…five　highly　trained　men；　and　yes；　women　too　never　strayed　within　Greenland's　territorial　limits。
　
　She　even　got　to　be　a　wele　sight　to　our　pilots；　who　used　her　as　a　checkpoint　during　poor　weather。　Most　Russian　spy　ships　are　relieved　of　duty　every　thirty　days；　but　this　one　maintained　its　position　for　a　solid　three　months。　The　Department　of　Naval　Intelligence　began　to　wonder　at　the　long　delay。　Then　one　stormy　morning；　the　Novgorod　was　gone。　It　was　nearly　three　weeks　before　her　relief　ship　appeared。　This　time　lag　pounded　the　mystery…the　Russians；　up　to　then；　had　never　broken　their　habit　of　relieving　a　spy　ship　until　another　one　appeared　on　station。〃
　
　Pitt　paused　to　tap　his　cigarette　in　an　ashtray。
　〃There　are　only　two　routes　the　Novgorod　would　have　taken　home　to　mother　Russia。　One　was　to　Leningrad　via　the　Baltic　Sea；　and　the　other　was　through　the　Barnets　Sea　to　Murmansk。　The　British　and　Norwegians　have　assured　us　the　Novgorod　took　neither。　In　short；　somewhere　between　Greenland　and　the　European　coast；　the　Novgorod　disappeared　with　all　hands。〃
　
　Koski　put　down　his　mug　and　stared　thoughtfully　at　its　stained　bottom。　〃It　strikes　me　a　bit　strange　that　the　Coast　Guard　was　never　notified。　I　know　for　a　fact　that　we've　received　no　report　of　a　missing　Russian　trawler。〃
　〃It　struck　Washington　a　bit　strange　too。　Why　would　the　Russians　keep　the　Novgorod's　loss　a　secret？　The　only　logical　answer　is　they　didn't　want　any　trace　of　their　most　advanced　spy　ship　found　by　a　Western　nation。〃
　
　Koski's　lips　twisted　in　a　sarcastic　grin。　〃You're　asking　me　to　buy　a　Soviet　spy　ship　locked　in　an　iceberg？
　
　e　now；　Major；　I　gave　up　on　fairy　tales　when　I　discovered　there　was　no　Oz　over　the　rainbow　or　a　pot　of　gold　under　it。〃
　
　Pitt　matched　Koski's　grin。　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　it　was　olie　of　your　own　patrol　planes　that　spotted　a　ship　matching　the　outline　of　a　trawler　in　an　iceberg　at　47036'N…43017'W。〃
　〃It's　true；〃　Koski　said　coldly；　〃the　Catawaba　is　the　closest　rescue　ship　to　that　position；　but　why　haven't　my　orders　to　check　it　out　e　direct　from　District　mand　in　New　York？〃
　〃Cloak　and　dagger　stuff；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃The　last　thing　the　boys　in　Washington　wanted　was　a　public　announcement　going　out　over　the　radio。　Fortunately；　the　pilot　of　the　aircraft　who　spotted　the　berg　waited　until　he　landed　before　making　a　detailed　location　report。　The　idea；　of　course；　is　to　go　over　the　trawler　before　the　Russians　have　a　chance　to　catch　on。　I　think　you　can　appreciate；　mander；　how　invaluable　any　secret　information　concerning　the　Soviet　spy　fleet　is　to　our　government。〃
　〃It　would　seem　more　practical　to　place　investigators　on　the　iceberg　who　are　skilled　in　electronics　and　intelligence　interpretation。〃　The　subtle　change　in　Koski's　tone　could　hardly　be　called　a　softening；　but　it　was　there。　〃If　you　don't　mind　my　saying　so；　a　pilot　and　an　oceanographer　don't　make　sense。〃
　
　Pitt　looked　penetratingly　at　Koski；　across　to　Dover；　and　back　to　Koski　again。　〃A　false　front；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃but　one　with　a　purpose。　The　Russians　aren't　exactly　primitive　when　it　es　to　espionage　operations。　They　couldn't　help　but　bee　suspicious　of　military　aircraft　milling　about　an　area　of　open　sea　where　few；　if　any；　ships　ever　travel。　On　the　other　hand；　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency　aircraft　are　monly　known　to　conduct　scientific　projects　in　desolate　waters。〃
　〃And　your　qualifications？〃
　〃I'm　experienced　at　flying　a　helicopter　in　Arctic　weather；〃　Pitt　answered。　〃Dr。　Hunnewell　is；　with　little　doubt；　the　world's　leading　authority　on　ice　formations。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Koski　said　slowly。　〃Dr。　Hunnewell　will　study　the　berg　before　the　intelligence　boys　crash　the　party。〃
　〃You　have　it；〃　Hunnewell　acknowledged。　〃If　that　really　is　the　Novgorod　under　the　ice；　it's　up　to　me　to　determine　the　most　expedient　method　for　entering　the　ship's　hull。　I'm　sure　you're　aware；　mander；　icebergs　are　a　tricky　lot　to　play　with。　It's　like　cutting　a　diamond；　a　miscalculation　by　the　cutter；　and　the　prize　is　lost。　Too　much　thermite　in　the　wrong　place；　and　the　ice　can　crack　and　split　apart。　Or；　sudden　and　excessive　melting　might　cause　a　change　in　the　center　of　gravity；　forcing　the　berg　to　topple　upside…down。　So　you　see；　it　is　imperative　the　ice　mass　be　analyzed　before　the　Novgorod　can　be　entered　with　any　degree　of　safety。〃
　
　Koski　leaned　back　and　noticeably　relaxed。　His　eyes　locked　on　Pitts　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　smiled。
　〃Lieutenant　Dover！〃
　〃Sir？〃
　〃Kindly　oblige　these　gentlemen　and　lay　a　course　for　47'36'N…43017'W；　full　ahead。　And　signal　District　mand　in　New　York　of　our　intent　to　depart　station。〃
　He　watched　for　a　change　of　expression　on　Pitts　face。
　
　There　was　none。
　〃No　offense；〃　Pitt　said　equably。　〃I　suggest　you　drop　that　signal　to　your　District　mand。〃
　〃I'm　not　suspicious　or　anything；　Major；〃　Koski　offered　apologetically。　〃It's　just　that　I'm　not　in　the　habit　of　cruising　all　over　the　North　Atlantic　without　letting　the　Coast　Guard　know　where　their　property　is。〃
　〃Okay；　but　I'd　appreciate　it　if　you　didn't　mention　our　destination。〃　Pitt　snuffed　out　his　cigarette。　〃Also；　please　notify　the　NUMA　office　in　Washington　that　Dr。　Hunnewell　and　I　have　arrived　safely　on　board　the　Catawaba　and　will　continue　our　flight　to　Reykjavik　when　the　weather　clears。〃
　Koski　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃Reykjavik；　Iceland？〃
　〃Our　final　destination；〃　Pitt　explained。
　
　Koski　started　to　say　something；　thought　better　of　it；　then　shrugged。　〃I'd　better　show　you　to　your　quarters；　gentlemen。〃　He　turned　to　Dover。　〃Dr。　Hunnewell　can　bunk　with　our　engineering　officer。　Major　Pitt　can　move　in　with　you；　Lieutenant。
　
　Pitt　grinned　at　Dover；　then　stared　back　at　Koski。
　〃The　better　to　keep　an　eye　on　me？〃
　〃You　said　it；　not　me；〃　Koski　replied；　surprised　at　the　pained　expression　that　crossed　Pitts　face。
　
　Four　hours　later　Pitt　was　dozing　on　a　cot　that　had　been　squeezed　into　the　iron　womb　Dover　called　his　cabin。　He　was　tired；　almost　to　the　aching　point；　but　too　many　thoughts　were　running　through　his　mind　to　allow　him　entry　into　the　paradise　of　deep　sleep。　One　week　ago　at　this　time　he　had　been　sitting　with　a　gorgeous；　sexmad　redhead　on　the　terrace　of　the　Newporter　Inn；　overlooking　the　picturesque　waterfront　of　Newport　Beach；　California。　He　fondly　remembered　caressing　the　girl　with　one　hand　while　holding　a　scotch…rocks　in　the　other；　contentedly　watching　the　ghost…like　pleasure　yachts　glide　across　the　moonlit　harbor。　Now　he　was　alone　and　regrettably　suffering　on　a　plank…hard　folding　cot　aboard　a　tossing　Coast　Guard　cutter　somewhere　in　the　refrigerated　North　Atlantic　Ocean。　I　must　be　a　cardcarrying　masochist；　he　thought；　to　volunteer　for　every　madcap　project　that　Admiral　Sandecker　keeps　dreaming　up。　Admiral　James　Sandecker；　Chief　Director　of　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency；　would　have　shied　at　the　term　madcap　project…damned　bung　twister　would　have　been　more　his　style。
　〃Damned　sorry　to　drag　you　from　sunny　California；　but　this　damned　bung　twister　has　been　dumped　in　our　lap。〃　Sandecker；　a　small；　fire…haired；　griffon…faced　man；　waved　a　seven…inch　cigar　in　the　air　like　a　baton。　〃We're　supposed　to　be　engaged　in　scientific　underwater　research。　Why　us？　Why　not　the　Navy？　You'd　think　the　Coast　Guard　could　handle　its　own　problems。〃　He　shook　his　head　in　irritation；　puffed　on　the　cigar。　〃Anyway；　we're　stuck　with　it。〃
　
　Pitt　finished　reading　and　then　laid　a　yellow　folder　marked　confidential　on　the　admiral's　desk。　〃I　didn't　think　it　was　possible　for　a　ship　to　freeze　up　in　the　middle　of　an　iceberg。〃
　〃It's　extremely　strange　o　it　couldn't　happen。〃
　〃Finding　the　right　berg　might　prove　difficult；　it's　already　been　four　days　since　the　Coast　Guard's　sighting。
　That　overgrown　ice　cube　could　have　drifted　halfway