alistairmaclean.nightwithoutend-第38节

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Jackstraw。　I　swung　my　arms　behind　me；　bent　my　knees　then　remained　frozen　in　that　ridiculous　position　as　a　rope　came　uncoiling　down　from　above　and　struck　me　across　the　shoulder。　I　glanced　up　and　saw　Corazzini　smiling　down　at　me。
　
　〃You　two　characters　fixin'　on　stayin'　down　there　all　day？　e　on　up。〃
　
　It　would　be　useless　to　try　to　describe　the　maelstrom　of　thoughts　and　emotions　that　whirled　through　my　mind　in　the　ninety　seconds　that　elapsed　before　Jackstraw　and　I　stood　once　more　in　incredulous　safety　on　the　trail　above。　They　ranged　from　hope　to　bafflement　to　wild　relief　to　the　conviction　that　Corazzini　was　playing　a　cat…and…mouse　game　with　us；　and　no　one　thought　was　in　my　mind　for　more　than　seconds　at　a　time。　Even　when　I　was　safe；　I　still　didn't　know　what　to　think；　the　overwhelming　relief　and　gladness　and　reaction　blotted　out　everything。　I　was　trembling　violently；　and　although　Corazzini　must　have　noticed　it　he　affected　not　to。　He　stepped　forward　and　handed　me　the　Beretta；　butt　first。
　
　〃You're　a　mite　careless　about　where　you　stow　your　armoury；　Doc。　I've　known　for　a　long　time　where　you　kept　this。　But　I　guess　it　may　have　been　fairly　useful　these　last　few　minutes。〃
　
　〃But…but　why…？〃
　
　〃Because　I've　got　a　damned　good　job　and　a　chair　behind　a　vice…president's　desk　waiting　for　me　in　Glasgow；〃　he　snapped。　〃I'd　appreciate　the　chance　to　sit　in　that　chair　some　day。〃　Without　another　word；　he　turned　away。
　
　I　knew　what　he　meant；　all　right。　I　knew　we　owed　him　our　lives。　Corazzini　was　as　convinced　as　I　that　someone　had　engineered　the　whole　thing。　It　didn't　require　any　thought　at　all　to　guess　who　that　someone　was。
　
　My　first　thought　was　for　Jackstraw。　Jackstraw　with　a　broken　arm　was　going　to　make　things　very　difficult　for　me：　it　might　well　make　things　quite　impossible。　But　when　I'd　worked　his　parka　off　it　required　only　one　glance　at　the　unnatural　twist　of　the　left　arm　to　see　that　though　Jackstraw　had　had　every　excuse　for　thinking　his　arm　gone；　it　was；　in　fact；　an　elbow　dislocation。　He　made　no　murmur　and　his　face　remained　quite　expressionless　as　I　manipulated　the　bone　back　into　the　socket；　but　the　wide　white　grin　that　cracked　his　face　immediately　afterwards　was　proof　enough　of　his　feelings。
　
　I　walked　over　to　where　Helene　Fleming　sat　on　the　sledge；　still　shaking　from　the　shock；　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg　and　Margaret　Ross　doing　their　best　to　soothe　her。　The　uncharitable　thought　struck　me　that　it　was　probably　the　first　time　that　Mrs　Dansby…Gregg　had　ever　tried　to　soothe　anyone；　but　I　was　almost　ashamed　of　the　thought　as　soon　as　it　had　occurred　to　me。
　
　〃That　was　a　close　call；　young　lady；〃　I　said　to　Helene。　〃But　all's　well。。　。　。　Any　more　bones　broken；　eh？〃　I　tried　to　speak　jocularly；　but　it　didn't　sound　very　convincing。
　
　〃No；　Dr　Mason。〃　She　gave　a　long　shuddering　sigh。　〃I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you　and　Mr　Nielsen…〃
　
　〃Don't　try；〃　I　advised。　〃Who　pushed　you？〃
　
　〃What？〃　She　stared　at　me。
　
　〃You　heard；　Helene。　Who　did　it？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　…1　was　pushed；〃　she　murmured　reluctantly。　〃But　it　was　an　accident；　I　know　it　was。〃
　
　〃Who？〃　I　persisted。
　
　〃It　was　me；〃　Solly　Levin　put　in。　He　was　twisting　his　hands　nervously。　〃Like　the　lady　said；　Doc；　it　was　an　accident。　I　guess　I　kinda　stumbled。　Someone　tapped　my　heels　and…〃
　
　〃Who　tapped　your　heels？〃
　
　〃For　cryin'　out　loud！〃　I'd　made　no　attempt　to　hide　the　cold　disbelief　in　my　voice。　〃What　would　I　want　to　do　a　thing　like　that　for？〃
　
　〃Suppose　you　tell　me；〃　I　said；　and　turned　away；　leaving　him　to　stare　after　me。　Zagero　stepped　in　my　way；　but　I　brushed　roughly　past　him　and　went　up　towards　the　tractor。　On　the　sled　behind　I　saw　the　Rev。　Smallwood　sitting　nursing　a　bleeding　mouth。　Corazzini　was　apologising　to　him。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Reverend；　I'm　really　and　truly　sorry。　I　didn't　for　a　moment　think　you　were　one　of　them；　but　I　couldn't　afford　to　take　any　chances　back　there。　I　hope　you　understand；　Mr　Smallwood。〃
　
　Mr　Smallwood　did；　and　was　suitably　Christian　and　forgiving。　But　I　didn't　wait　to　hear　the　end　of　it。　I　wanted　to　get　through　the　Vindeby　Nunataks；　and　get　through　with　as　little　loss　of　time　as　possible；　preferably　before　it　became　dark。　There　was　something　that　I　knew　now　that　I　had　to　do；　and　as　soon　as　possible：　but　I　didn't　want　to　do　it　while　we　were　all　teetering　on　the　edge　of　that　damned　crevasse。
　
　We　were　through　without　further　incident　and　at　the　head　of　that　long　almost　imperceptible　slope　that　fell　away　for　thousands　of　feet　towards　the　ice…bare　rocks　of　the　Greenland　coast；　before　the　last　of　the　noon　twilight　had　faded　from　the　sky。　I　halted　the　tractor；　spoke　briefly　to　Jackstraw；　told　Margaret　Ross　to　start　thawing　out　some　corned　beef　for　our　belated　mid…day　meal；　and　had　just　seen　Mahler；　now　semi…conscious；　and　Marie　LeGarde　once　again　safely　ensconced　in　the　tractor　cabin　when　Margaret　Ross　came　up　to　me；　her　brown　eyes　troubled。
　
　〃The　tins；　Dr　Mason…the　corned　beef。　I　can't　find　them。〃
　
　〃What's　that？　The　bully？　They　can't　be　far　away；　Margaret。〃　It　was　the　first　time　I'd　called　her　that；　but　my　thoughts　had　been　fixed　exclusively　on　something　else；　and　it　wasn't　until　I　saw　the　slight　smile　touching　her　lips…if　she　was　displeased　she　was　hiding　it　quite　well…that　I　realised　what　I　had　said。　I　didn't　care；　it　was　worth　it；　it　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　seen　her　smile；　and　it　transformed　her　rather　plain　face…but　I　told　my　heart　that　there　was　a　time　and　a　place　for　somersaults；　and　this　wasn't　it。　〃e　on；　let's　have　a　look。〃
　
　We　looked；　and　we　found　nothing。　The　tins　were　gone　all　right。　This　was　the　excuse；　the　opportunity　I　had　been　waiting　for。　Jackstraw　was　by　my　side；　looking　at　me　quizzically　as　we　bent　over　the　sled；　and　I　nodded。　〃Behind　him；〃　I　murmured。
　
　I　moved　back　to　where　the　others　were　grouped　round　the　rear　of　the　tractor　cabin　and　took　up　a　position　where　I　could　watch　them　all…but　especially　Zagero　and　Levin。
　
　〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃you　heard。　Our　last　tins　of　beef　have　gone。　They　didn't　just　vanish。　Somebody　stole　them。　That　somebody　had　better　tell　me；　for　I'm　going　to　find　out　anyway。〃
　
　There　was　an　utter　silence　that　was　broken　only　occasionally　by　the　stirring　of　the　dogs　on　the　tethering　cable。　No　one　said　anything；　no　one　as　much　as　looked　at　his　neighbour。　The　silence　stretched　on　and　on；　then；　as　one　man；　they　all　swung　round　startled　at　the　heavy　metallic　click　from　behind　them。　Jackstraw　had　just　cocked　the　bolt　of　his　rifle；　and　I　could　see　the　slow　stiffening　of　Zagero's　back　and　arms　as　he　realised　that　the　barrel　was　lined　up　on　his　own　head。
　
　〃It's　no　coincidence；　Zagero；〃　I　said　grimly。　I　had　my　own　automatic　in　my　hand　by　the　time　he　turned　round。　〃That　rifle's　pointed　just　where　it's　meant　to。　Bring　your　bag　here。〃
　
　He　stared　at　me；　then　called　me　an　unprintable　name。
　
　〃Bring　it　here；〃　I　repeated。　I　pointed　the　Beretta　at　his　head。　〃Believe　me；　Zagero；　I'd　as　soon　kill　you　as　let　you　live。〃
　
　He　believed　me。　He　brought　the　bag；　flung　it　at　my　feet。
　
　〃Open　it；〃　I　said　curtly。
　
　〃It's　locked。〃
　
　〃Unlock　it。〃
　
　He　looked　at　me　without　expression；　then　searched　through　his　pockets。　At　last　he　stopped　and　said；　〃I　can't　find　the　keys。〃
　
　〃I'd　expected　nothing　else。　Jackstraw…〃　I　changed　my　mind；　one　gun　was　not　enough　to　cover　a　killer　like　Zagero。　I　glanced　round　the　pany；　made　my　choice。　〃Mr　Small　wood；　perhaps　you…〃
　
　〃No；　thank　you；〃　Mr　Smallwood　said　hastily。　He　was　still　holding　a　handkerchief　to　his　puffed　mouth。　He　smiled　wryly。　〃I've　never　realised　so　clearly　before　now　how　essentially　a　man　of　peace　I　am；　Dr　Mason。　Perhaps　Mr　Corazzini…〃
　
　I　glanced　at　Corazzini；　and　he　shrugged　indifferently。　I　understood　his　lack　of　eagerness。　He　must　have　known　that　I'd　had　him　high　up　among　my　list　of　suspects　until　very　recently　indeed　and　a　certain　delicacy　of　sentiment　might　well　prevent　him　from　being　too　forthing　too　soon。　But　this　was　no　time　for　delicacy。　I　nodded；　and　he　made　for　Zagero。
　
　He　missed　nothing；　but　he　found　nothing。　After　two　minutes　he　stepped　back；　looked　at　me　and　then；　thoughtfully；　at　Solly　Levin。　Again　I　nodded；　and　again　he　began　to　search。　In　ten　seconds　he　brought　out　a　bunch　of　keys；　and　held　them　up。
　
　〃It's　a　frame…up；〃　Levin　yelped。　〃It's　a　plant！　Corazzini　tnusta　palmed　'em　and　put　'em　there。　I　never　had　no　keys…〃
　
　〃Shut　up！〃　I　ordered　contemptuously。　〃Yours；　Zagero？〃
　
　He　nodded　tightly；　said　nothing。
　
　〃OK；　Corazzini；〃　I　said。　〃Let's　see　what　we　can　find。〃
　
　The　second　key　opened　the　soft　leather　case。　Corazzini　dug　under　the　clothes　on　top　and　brought　out　the　three　corned　beef　tins。
　
　〃Thank　you；〃　I　said。　〃Our　friend's　iron　rations　for　his　take…off。　Miss　Ross；　our　lunch。　。　。　。　Tell　me；　Zagero；　can　you　think　of　any　reason　why　I　shouldn't　kill　you　now？〃
　
　〃You've　made　nothin'　but　mistakes　ever　since　I　met　you；〃　Zagero　said　slowly；　〃but；　brother；　this　is　the　biggest　you　ever　made。　Do　you　think　I　would　be　such　a　damn　fool　as　to　incriminate　myself　that　way？　Do　you　think　I　would　be　so　everlastingly　obvious…〃
　
　〃I　think　that's　exactly　the　way　you　expected　me　to　think；〃　I　said　wearily。　〃But　I'm　learning；　I'm　learning