cc.iceberg-第48节

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n　in　the　meadow　where　the　wide…set　landing　wheels　rolled　to　a　plete　stop　in　less　than　two　hundred　feet　from　touchdown。
　
　Pitt　turned　to　Andursson。　〃Well；　good…by；　Golfur。
　
　Thank　you　for　all　you've　done　for　me　。　。　。　for　all　of　US。
　
　Golfur　Andursson　shook　Pitts　hand。　〃It　is　I　who　thank　you；　Major。
　
　For　the　honor　and　opportunity　to　help　my　fellow　brother。　God　go　with　you。〃
　
　Pitt　couldn't　run；　his　cracked　ribs　wouldn't　permit　that；　but　he　covered　the　distance　to　the　trimotor　in　less　than　thirty　seconds。　Just　as　he　reached　the　right　side　of　the　fuselage；　the　door　flew　open　and　a　strong　arm　reached　down　and　pulled　him　into　the　cramped；　narrow　cabin。
　〃Are　you　Major　Pitt？〃
　
　Pitt　looked　into　the　face　of　a　great　bull　of　a　man；　tan…faced；　with　long　blond　sideburns。　〃Yes；　I'm　Pitt。〃
　〃Wele　back　to　the　roaring　twenties；　Major。
　
　This　is　a　helluva　idea；　using　this　old　flying　fossil　for　a　rescue　mission。〃　He　held　out　his　hand。　〃I'm　Captain　Ben　Hull。〃
　
　Pitt　took　the　massive　paw　and　said；　〃Best　we　move　out　if　we　expect　to　beat　the　snow。〃
　〃Right　you　are；〃　Hull　boomed　briskly。　〃No　sense　in　getting　ticketed　for　overparking。〃　If　Hull　was　mildly　shocked　at　Pitts　damaged　face　or　his　strange…looking　clothes；　he　concealed　it　well。　〃We　ranthis　trip　without　a　copilot；　a　reserved　seat　in　your　name；　Major。　Figured　you'd　want　front　row　balcony　to　lead　us　to　the　wreck。〃
　〃Before　I　signed　off；　I　asked　Admiral　Sandecker　for　a　couple　of　items…〃
　〃Got　news　for　you；　Major。　That　old　sea　dog　carries　a　big　mean　stick。　Seems　he　pulled　every　plug　to　get　them　on　board　before　we　took　off。〃　He　pulled　a　package　from　his　parka　and　raised　an　inquiring　eyebrow。
　〃Beats　the　hell　out　of　me　why　you'd　want　a　bottle　of　Russian　vodka　and　a　box　of　cigars　at　a　moment　like
　
　〃It's　for　a　couple　of　friends；〃　Pitt　said；　sniffing。　He　turned　and　made　his　way　past　ten　men　ranged　in　various　relaxed　positions　along　the　floor　of　the　cabin…large；　quiet；　purposeful…looking　men　dressed　in　arctic　weather　gear。　They　were　men　who　were　ed　in　scuba　diving；　parachute　jumping；　survival；　and　nearly　every　phase　of　emergency　medicine　except　surgery。　A　wave　of　confidence　surged　through　Pitt　just　from　observing　them。
　
　Ducking　his　head　to　clear　the　low　cockpit　door；　Pitt　moved　into　the　cramped　confines　and　eased　his　sore　body　into　the　worn　and　cracked　leather　bucket　seat；　sitting　vacant　on　the　copilot's　side。　As　soon　as　he　was　safely　strapped　in；　he　turned　and　found　himself　staring　into　the　grinning　face　of　Sergeant　Sam　Cashman。
　〃Howdy；　Major。〃　Cashman's　eyes　widened。　〃God　Amighty；　who　stomped　on　your　face？〃
　〃Tell　you　over　a　drink　sometime。〃　Pitt　glanced　at　the　instrument　panel；　quickly　familiarizing　himself　with　the　old…fashioned　gauges。　〃I'm　a　bit　surprised　to　see…〃
　〃To　see　a　sergeant　flyin'　this　mission　instead　of　a　genuine　flight　officer；〃　Cashman　bed。　〃You　got　no　choice；　Major。　Ahim　the　only　one　on　the　whole　island　who's　checked　out　on　this　old　bus。　Ain't　she　a　winner？
　
　She'll　take　off　and　land　on　a　dollar　bill　and　give　you　change。〃
　〃Okay；　Sergeant。　You're　in　mand。　Now　let's　swing　this　bird　into　the　wind　and　get　her　up。　Bear　due；　west　along　the　river　until　I　tell　you　to　cut　south。〃
　
　Cashman　merely　nodded。　Deftly　he　jockeyed　the　Tin　Goose　on　a　hundred…and…eighty…degree　turn　until　it　faced　into　the　wind　at　the　far　side　of　the　meadow。　Then　he　shoved　the　three　throttles　forward　and　sent　the　lumbering　old　airliner　bouncing　and　shuddering　on　its　way；　ever　closer　to　the　fence　on　the　opposite　end　of　the　field；　no　more　than　three　hundred　feet　away。
　
　As　they　lurched　past　the　front　of　Golfur　Andursson's　little　house　with　the　plane's　tail　wheel　still　glued　to　the　ground；　Pitt　began　to　have　a　vague　idea　of　what　Charles　Lindbergh's　thoughts　must　have　been　when　he　urged　his　heavily　laden　Spirit　of　St。　Louis　off　the　muddy　runway　of　Roosevelt　Field　back　in　1927。　It　seemed　impossible　to　Pitt　that　any　aircraft　short　of　a　helicopter　or　light　two…seater　could　leave　the　earth　in　so　small　a　space。　He　shot　a　fast　look　at　Cashman　and　saw　only　icy　calmness　and　total　relaxation。　Cashman　was　indifferently　whistling　a　tune；　but　Pitt　couldn't　quite　make　out　the　melody　above　the　roar　of　the　trio　of　two…hundredhorsepower　engines。
　
　There　was　no　doubt；　Pitt　reflected。　Cashman　certainly　displayed　the　image　of　a　man　who　knew　how　to　handle　a　plane；　especially　this　one。
　
　With　two…thirds　of　the　meadow　gone；　Cashman　eased　the　control　column　forward　and　lifted　the　tail　wheel　and　then　pulled　back；　floating　the　plane　a　few　feet　above　the　turf。　Then　to　Pitts　horror；　Cashman　suddenly　dropped　the　trimotor　back　hard　on　the　ground　no　more　than　fifty　feet　in　front　of　the　fence。　Pitts　horror　turned　to　amazement　as　Cashman　jerked　the　controls　back　against　his　chest　and　literally　bounced　the　old　Tin　Goose　over　the　fence　and　threw　it　into　the　air。
　〃Where　in　hell　did　you　learn　that　little　trick？〃　Pitt　said；　exhaling　a　great　sigh　of　relief。　It　was　then　he　recognized　the　tune　Cashman　was　whistling　as　the　theme　from　the　old　movie；　〃Those　Magnificent　Men　in　Their　Flying　Machines。〃
　〃Used　to　be　a　crop　duster　in　Oklahoma；〃　Cashman　replied。
　〃How　did　you　wind　up　as　a　mechanic　in　the　Air　Force？〃
　〃One　day　the　junker　ah　was　flyin'　developed　a　nasty　cough。　Plowed　up　a　farmer's　pasture　and　butchered　his　champion　beef　sire　years　before　its　time。　Everybody　in　the　county　was　out　to　sue　me。　Ah　was　flat　broke　so　ah　split　the　scene　and　enlisted。〃
　
　Pitt　couldn't　help　smiling　as　he　peered　through　the　windshield　at　the　river　two　hundred　feet　below。　From　that　height　he　could　easily　spot　the　sloping　ridge　where　Andursson　had　found　him。　He　saw　something　now　he　didn't　expect　to　find。　Almost　imperceptibly；　he　became　aware　of　a　long　even　line　against　the　landscape　that　trailed　off　toward　the　south。　He　pushed　open　the　little　side　window　and　looked　again。　It　was　there　all　right：　the　dark　shade　of　green　against　the　lighter　tinted　tundra。
　
　His　footprints；　where　they　had　sunk　into　the　soft　vegetation；　had　left　a　path　that　was　easy　to　follow　as　the　white　line　down　the　center　of　a　highway。
　
　Pitt　caught　Cashman's　eye　and　motioned　earthward。　〃To　the　south。　Follow　that　dark　trail　to　the　south。〃
　
　Cashman　banked　the　plane　and　stared　for　a　moment　out　the　side　window。　Then　he　cocked　his　head　in　acknowledgment　and　turned　the　nose　of　the　trimotor　southward。　Fifteen　minutes　later　he　could　only　wonder　at　the　unerring　trail　Pitt　had　made　during　his　trek　to　the　river。　Except　for　a　few　occasional　deviations　around　rough　or　uneven　ground；　the　man…made　mark　on　the　earth　was　almost　as　straight　as　a　plumb　line。　Fifteen　minutes；　that　was　all　the　old　antique　needed　to　cover　the　same　distance　that　had　taken　Pitt　several　hours。
　〃I　have　it　now；〃　Pit　shouted。　〃There；　that　cracklike　depression　where　my　path　ends。〃
　〃Where　do　you　want　me　to　set　her　down；　Major？〃
　〃Parallel　to　the　ran　of　the　ravine。　There's　a　flat　area　running　about　five　hundred　feet　east　and　west。〃
　
　The　sky　was　darkening　by　the　moment…darkening　with　the　mist　of　falling　snow。　Even　as　Cashman　made　his　landing　approach；　the　first　flakes　began　dotting　the　windshield；　streaking　to　the　edges　of　the　glass　before　being　blown　into　the　sky　by　the　airstream。
　
　Pitts　race　had　been　won；　but　only　by　the　barest　of　margines。
　
　Cashman　made　a　safe　landing；　a　smooth　landing　considering　the　rugged　terrain　and　the　difficult　wind　conditions。　He　timed　his　run　so　that　the　cabin　door　of　the　trimotor　ended　up　within　ten　yards　of　the　steep　drop…off。
　
　The　wheels　had　hardly　rolled　to　a　halt　when　Pitt　leaped　from　the　plane　and　was　stumbling；　sliding　to　the　bottom　of　the　ravine。　Behind　him；　Hull's　men　began　methodically　unloading　supplies　and　arranging　them　on　the　dampening　ground。　Two　of　the　paramedics　uncoiled　ropes　and　threw　them　down　the　slopes　in　preparation　of　bringing　up　the　survivors。
　
　Pitt　ignored　all　this。　He　had　one　driving　desire：　to　be　the　first　into　that　chilling　pit　of　hell。
　
　He　came　upon　Lillie　still　stretched　out　on　his　back　with　Tidi　huddled　over　him；　his　head　cradled　in　her　arms。　She　was　talking　to　Lillie；　saying　words　Pitt　couldn't　understand；　her　voice　no　more　than　a　weak；　hoarse　whisper；　she　seemed　to　be　trying　her　best　to　smile；　but　her　lips　barely　curved　in　a　pitiful　grimace　and　there　was　little　pleasantry　in　either　the　voice　or　the　eyes。　Pitt　walked　up　behind　her　and　gently　touched　her　wetstreaked　hair。
　〃It　seems　you　two　have　bee　rather　close　friends。〃
　
　Tidi　twisted　around　and　stared　dazedly　at　the　figure　standing　over　her。　〃Good　Lord；　you've　e　back。〃
　
　She　reached　out　and　touched　his　hand。　〃I　thought　I　heard　an　airplane。　Oh；　God；　this　is　wonderful；　you've　e　back。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Pitt　smiled　faintly；　then　nodded　at　Lillie。
　〃How　is　he？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said　wearily。　〃I　just　don't　know。　He　slipped　into　unconsciousness　about　half　an　hour　ago。〃
　
　Pitt　knelt　down　and　listened　to　Lillie's　breathing。　it　was　slow　and　steady。　〃He'll　make　it。　This　guy　has　guts　ten　miles　long。　The　big　question　is　whether　he'll　ever　walk　again。〃
　
　Tidi　pressed　her　face　against　Pitts　hand　and　began　to　sob；　her　breath　ing　in　convulsive　shudders；　the　shock；　the　pain；　and　the　relief