alistairmaclean.bearisland-第51节
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〃Those are inescapable facts and entirely conceivable possibilities so please don't for a moment imagine that I'm trying to minimise the seriousness of the situation。 On the contrary； it would be impossible to exaggerate it； impossible to exaggerate an impossible situation。 Here we are； marooned in the high Arctic and beyond any reach of help； with the knowledge that there are those of us who have e to a violent end and that this violence may not yet be over。〃 He looked unhurriedly around the pany and I did the same： I could see that there were quite a number who were as impressed by Otto's calm assessment of the situation as I was。 He went on： 〃It is precisely because the state of affairs in which we find ourselves is so unbelievable and so abnormal that I suggest we port ourselves in the most rational and normal fashion possible。 A descent into hysteria will achieve no reversal of the awful things that have just occurred and can only harm all of us。 〃Accordingly； my colleagues and I have decided that； subject； of course； to taking every possible precaution； we should proceed with the business in hand…the reason why we came to this island at all…in as normal a fashion as possible。 I am sure you will all agree with me that it is much better to have our time and attention taken up…I will not say gainfully employed…by working steadily at something purposive and constructive rather than sit idly by and have those awful things prey upon our minds。 I do not suggest that we can pretend that those things never happened： I do suggest that it will benefit all of us if we act as if they hadn't。
〃Weather permitting； we will have three crews in the field tomorrow。〃
Otto wasn't consulting； he was telling： I'd have done the same in his place。 〃The main group； under Mr。 Divine here； will go north up Lerner's Way…a road built through to the next bay about the turn of the century although I don't suppose there are many traces left of it now。 The Count； Allen； and Cecil here will of course acpany him。 I intend to go along myself and I'll want you there too； Charles。〃 This to Conrad。
Tou'll require me along； Mr。 Gerran？〃 This from Mary Darling； her hand upraised like a little girl in class。
〃Well； it'll be nearly all background…〃 He broke off； glanced at Allen's battered face； then looked again at Mary with what I took to be a roguish smile。 If you wish to； certainly。 Mr。 Hendriks； with Luke； Mark； and John here； will try to capture for us all the sounds of the island…the wind on the fells； the birds on the cliffs； the waves breaking against the shore。
Mr。 Heissman here is taking a hand camera out in the boat to seek out some suitable seaward locations…Mr。 Jungbeck and Mr。 Heyter； who have nothing on tomorrow； have kindly volunteered to acpany him。
〃These； then； are our decisions for tomorrow's programme。 But the most important decision of all； which I have left to the last； is in no way connected with our work。 We have decided that it is essential that we seek help with all possible speed。 By help I mean the law； police or some such recognised authority。 It is not only our duty； it may well be essential for our own self…preservation； to have a thorough and expert investigation made as quickly as is humanly possible。 To call for help we need a radio and the nearest is at the Norwegian Meteorological Station in Tunbeim。〃
I carefully refrained from looking at Smithy and was confident that he would reciprocate。 〃Mr。 Smith； your presence here may prove to be a blessing…you are the only professional seaman amongst us。 What would be the chances of reaching Tunheim by boat？〃
Smithy was silent for a few seconds to lend weight to his observations then said： 〃In the present conditions so poor that I wouldn't even consider trying it； not even in those desperate circumstances。 We've had very heavy weather recently； Mr。 Gerran； and the seas won't subside for quite some time。 The drawback with those workboats is that if one does encounter rough seas ahead you can't do what you would normally do； that is； turn and run before the sea： those boats are pletely open at the back and would almost certainly be pooped…that is； they'd fill up with water and sink。 So you'd have to be pretty certain of your weather before you set out。〃
〃I see。 Too dangerous for the moment。 When the sea moderates； Mr。 Smith？〃
〃Depends upon the wind。 It's backing to the west right now and if it were to stay in that quarter…well； it's feasible。 If it moves round to the northwest or beyond； no。 Not on。〃 Smithy smiled。 I wouldn't say that an overland trip would be all that easier； but at least you wouldn't be swamped in heavy seas。〃
〃Ah！ So you think that it is at least possible to reach Tunheim on foot？〃
〃Well； I don't know。 I'm no expert on Arctic travel； I'm sure Mr。 Heissman here…I'm told he's been giving a lecture about this already…is much more qualified to speak about it than I am。〃
〃No； no。〃 Heissman waved a deprecating hand。 〃Let's hear what you think； Mr。 Smith。〃
So Smithy let them hear what he thought which was more or less a verbatim repetition of what I'd said to him in our cubicle earlier。 When he'd finished； Heissman； who probably knew as much about winter travel in Arctic regions as I did about the back side of the moon； nodded sagely and said： 〃Succinctly and admirably put。 I agree entirely with Mr。 Smith。〃
There was a thoughtful silence eventually broken by Smithy who said diffidently： 〃I'm the supernumerary here。 If the weather eases； I don't mind trying。〃
〃And now I have to disagree with you；〃 Heissman said promptly。 〃Suicidal； just suicidal； my boy。〃
〃Not to he thought of for an instant；〃 Otto said firmly。 〃For safety…for mutual safety…nothing short of an expedition would do。〃
I wouldn't want an expedition；〃 Smithy said mildly。 〃I don't see that the blind leading the blind would help much。〃
〃Mr。 Gerran。〃 It was Jon Heyter speaking。 〃Perhaps I could be of help here？〃
〃You？〃 Otto looked at him in momentary perplexity then his face cleared。 〃Of course。 I'd forgotten about that。〃 He said in explanation： Jon here was my stuntman in The High Sierra。 A climbing picture。 He doubled for the actors who were too terrified or too valuable for the climbing sequences。 A really first…class alpinist； I assure you。 How about that； then； eh； Mr。 Smith？〃
I was about to wonder how Smith would field that one when he answered immediately。 〃That's about the size of the expedition I'd have in mind。 I'd be very glad to have Mr。 Heyter along…he'd probably have to carry me most of the way there。〃
〃Well； that's settled； then；〃 Otto said。 〃Very grateful to you both。 But only； of course； if the weather improves。 Well； I think that covers everything。〃 He smiled at me。 〃As co…opted board member； wouldn't you agree？〃
〃Well； yes；〃 I said。 〃Except with your assumption that everyone will be here in the morning to play the parts you have assigned to them。〃
〃Ah！〃 Otto said。
〃Precisely；〃 I said。 ‘You weren't seriously contemplating that we should all retire for the night； were you？ For certain people with certain purposes in mind there is no time like the still small hours。 When I say 〃people；〃 I'm not going out of the bounds of this cabin： when I say 〃purposes；〃 I refer to homicidal ones。〃
〃My colleagues and I have； in fact； discussed this；〃 Otto said。 〃You propose we set watches？〃
It might help some of us to live a little longer；〃 I said。 I moved two or I three steps until I was in the centre of the cabin。 〃From here I can see into all Eve corridors。 It would be impossible for any person to leave or enter any of the cubicles without being observed by a person standing here。〃
〃Going to call for a rather special type of person； isn't it？〃 Conrad said。
〃Someone with his neck mounted on swivels。〃
〃Not if we have two on watch at the same time；〃 I said。 〃And as the time's long gone when anybody's hurt feelings are a matter of any importance； two people on watch who are not only watching the corridors but watching each other。 A suspect； shall we say； and a nonsuspect。
Among the nonsuspects； I think we might gallantly exclude the two Marys。 And I think that Allen； too； could do with a full night's sleep。 That would leave Mr。 Gerran； Mr。 Goin； Mr。 Smith； Cecil； and myself。 Five of us； which would work out rather well for two…hour watches between； say； ten P。m。 and eight A。M。〃
〃An excellent suggestion；〃 Otto said。 〃Well； then； five volunteers。〃
There were thirteen potential volunteers and all thirteen immediately offered their services。 Eventually it was agreed that Goin and Hendriks should share the ten to midnight watch； Smith and Conrad the midnight to two； myself and Luke the two to four； Otto and Jungbeck the four to six and Cecil and Eddie the six to eight。 Some of the others； notably the Count and Heissman； protested； not too strongly； that they were being discriminated against： the reminder that there would be still another twenty…one nights after this one was sufficient to ensure that the protest was no more than a token one。 The decision not to linger around in small talk and socialising was reached with a far from surprising unanimity。 There was； really； only one thing to talk about and nobody wished to talk about it in
