alistairmaclean.bearisland-第67节

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indow…I'd　screwed　it　shut　so　that　it　was　impossible　for　anyone　to　have　entered　from　the　outside。　I'd　also　found　that　a　hypodermic　and　a　phial　of　morphine　had　been　stolen。　You　don't　have　to　admit　any　of　this…both　Jungbeck　and　Heyter　will　sing　like　canaries。〃
　〃I　admit　everything。〃　Otto　spoke　with　a　massive　calm。　〃You　are　correct　in　every　detail。　Not　that　I　see　that　any　Of　it　is　going　to　do　you　any　good。〃　I'd　said　that　he　was　an　artist　in　palming　things　and　he　proceeded　to　prove　it。　The　very　unpleasant…looking　little　black　automatic　that　he　held　in　his　hand　just　seemed　to　have　materialised　there。　〃I　don't　see　that　that's　going　to　do　you　any　good　either；〃　I　said。　〃After　all；　you've　just　admitted　that　you're　guilty　of　everything　I　claimed　you　were。〃
　I　was　standing　directly　under　the　conning　tower　hatchway；　where　I'd　deliberately　and　advisedly　positioned　myself　as　soon　as　we'd　arrived；　and　I　could　see　things　that　Otto　couldn't。　〃Where　do　you　think　the　Morning　Rose　is　now？〃
　〃What　was　that？〃　I　didn't　much　like　the　way　his　pudgy　little　hand　tightened　round　the　butt　of　his　gun。　〃She　never　went　farther　than　Tunbeim　where　there　have　been　people　up　there　waiting　to　hear　from　me。　True；　they　couldn't　hear　by　direct　radio　contact；　because　you'd　had　one　of　your　hard　men　smash　the　trawler's　transceiver；　hadn't　you？　But　before　the　Morning　Rose　left　here　I'd　left　aboard　a　radio　device　that　tunes　into　a　radio　homer。　They　bad　clear　instructions　as　to　what　to　do　the　moment　that　device　was　actuated　by　the　homer　transmitter。　It's　been　transmitting　for　almost　ninety　minutes　now。　There　are　armed　soldiers　and　police　officers　of　both　Norway　and　Britain　aboard　that　trawler。　Rather；　they　were。　They're　aboard　this　vessel　now。　Please　take　my　word　for　it。　Otherwise　we　have　useless　bloodshed。〃
　Otto　didn't　take　my　word　for　it。　He　stepped　forward　quickly；　raising　his　gun　as　he　peered　up　towards　the　conning　tower。　Unfortunately　for　Otto；　he　was　standing　in　a　brightly　lit　spot　while　peering　up　into　the　darkness。　The　sound　of　a　shot；　hurtful　to　the　ears　in　that　enclosed　space；　came　at　the　same　instant　as　his　scream　of　pain　followed　by　a　metallic　clunk　as　the　gun　falling　from　his　bloodied　hand　struck　a　bar　of　bullion。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said。　〃You　didn't　give　me　time　to　tell　you　that　they　were　specially　picked　soldiers。〃
　Four　men　descended　into　the　body　of　the　vessel。　Two　were　in　civilian　clothes；　two　in　Norwegian　army　uniforms。　One　of　the　civilians　said　to　me：　〃Dr。　Marlowe？〃　I　nodded；　and　he　went　on：　〃Inspector　Matthewson。　This　is　Inspector　Nielsen。　It　looks　as　if　we　were　on　time？〃
　〃Yes；　thank　you。〃　They　weren't　in　time　to　save　Antonio　and　Halliday　the　two　stewards；　Judith　Haynes　and　her　husband。　But　that　was　entirely　my　fault。　〃You　were　very　prompt　indeed。〃
　〃We've　been　here　for　some　time。　We　actually　saw　you　go　below。　We　came　ashore　by　rubber　dinghy　from　the　outside；　north　of　Makehl。　Captain　Imrie　didn't　much　fancy　ing　up　the　Sor…Hamna　at　night。　I　don't　think　he　sees　too　well。〃
　'But　I　do。〃　The　harsh　voice　came　from　above。　〃Drop　that　gun！　Drop　it　or　I'll　kill　you。〃　Heyter's　voice　carried　utter　conviction。　There　was　only　one　person　carrying　a　gun；　the　soldier　who　had　shot　Otto；　and　he　dropped　it　without　hesitation　at　a　sharp　word　from　the　Norwegian　inspector。　Heyter　climbed　down　into　the　hull；　his　eyes　watchful；　his　gun　moving　in　a　slight　arc。　〃Well　done；　Heyter；　well　done；〃　Otto　moaned　from　the　pain　of　his　shattered　hand。　〃Well　done？〃　I　said。　〃You　want　to　be　responsible　for　another　death？　You　want　this　to　be　the　last　thing　Heyter　ever　does；　well　or　not？〃
　〃Too　late　for　words。〃　Otto's　puce　face　had　turned　grey；　the　blood　was　dripping　steadily　on　to　the　gold。　〃Too　late。〃
　〃Too　late？　You　fool；　I　knew　that　Heyter　was　mobile。　You'd　forgotten　I　was　a　doctor；　even　if　not　much　of　a　one。　He'd　a　badly　cut　ankle　inside　a　thick　leather　boot。　That　could　only　have　been　caused　by　a　pound　fracture。　There　was　no　such　fracture。　A　sprained　ankle　doesn't　cut　the　skin　open。　A　self…inflicted　injury。　As　in　killing　Stryker；　so　in　killing　Smith　…a　crude　and　total　lack　of　imagination。　You　did　kill　him；　didn't　you；　Heyter？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　turned　his　gun　on　me。　〃I　like　killing　people。〃
　〃Put　that　gun　down　or　you're　a　dead　man。〃
　He　swore　at　me；　viciously　and　in　contempt；　and　was　still　swearing　when　the　red　rose　bloomed　in　the　centre　of　his　forehead。　The　Count　lowered　his　Beretta；　dark　smoke　still　wisping　from　its　muzzle　and　said　apologetically：　〃Well；　I　was　a　Polish　count。　But　we　do　get　out　of　practice；　you　know。〃
　〃I　can　see　that；〃　I　said。　〃A　rotten　shot　but　I　guess　it's　worth　a　royal　pardon　at　that。〃
　On　the　jetty；　the　police　inspectors　insisted　on　handcuffing　Goin；　Heissman；　and　even　the　wounded　Otto。　I　persuaded　them　that　the　Count　was　not　a　danger　and　further　persuaded　them　to　let　me　have　a　word　with　Heissman　while　they　made　their　way　up　to　the　cabin。　When　we　were　alone　I　said：　〃The　water　in　the　harbour　there　is　below　the　normally　accepted　freezing　point。　With　those　heavy　clothes　and　your　wrists　handcuffed　behind　your　back　you'll　be　dead　in　thirty　seconds。　That's　the　advantage　of　being　a　doctor；　one　can　be　fairly　definite　about　those　things。〃　I　took　him　by　the　arm　and　pushed　him　towards　the　edge　of　the　jetty。
　He　said　in　a　big…strained　voice：　〃You　had　Heyter　deliberately　killed；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Of　course。　Didn't　you　know…there's　no　death　penalty　in　England　now。　Up　here；　there's　no　problem。　Goodbye；　Heissman。〃
　〃I　swear　it！　I　swear　it！〃　His　voice　was　now　close　to　a　scream。　〃I'll　have　Mary　Stuart's　parents　released　and　safely　reunited。　I　swear　it！　I　swear　it！〃
　It's　your　life；　Heissman。〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　shivered　violently　and　it　wasn't　because　of　the　bitter　wind。
　〃Yes；　I　know　that。〃
　The　atmosphere　in　the　cabin　was　extraordinarily　quiet　and　subdued。　It　stemmed；　I　suppose；　from　that　reaction　which　is　the　inevitable　conitant　of　profound　and　still　as　yet　unbelieving　relief。
　Matthewson；　clearly；　had　been　explaining　things。
　Jungbeck　was　lying　on　the　floor；　his　right　hand　clutching　his　left　shoulder　and　moaning　as　in　great　pain。　I　looked　at　Conrad　who　looked　at　the　fallen　man　and　then　pointed　to　the　broken　shards　of　glass　on　the　floor。　〃I　did　as　you　asked；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　afraid　the　bottle　broke。〃　
　〃I'm　sorry　about　that；〃　I　said。　〃The　Scotch；　I　mean。〃　I　looked　at　Mary　Darling；　who　was　sobbing　bitterly　and　at　Mary　Stuart　who　was　trying　to　fort　her　and　looked　only　fractionally　less　unhappy。　I　said　reprovingly：　〃Tears；　idle　tears；　my　two　Marys。　It's　all　over　now。〃
　〃Lonnie's　dead。〃　Big　blurred　eyes　staring　miserably　from　behind　huge　glasses。　〃Five　minutes　ago。　He　just　died。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said。　〃But　no　tears　for　Lonnie。　His　words；　not　mine。　〃He　hates　him　much　that　would　upon　the　rack　of　this　tough　world　stretch　him　out　longer。〃
　She　looked　at　me　unprehendingly。　〃Did　he　say　that？〃
　〃No。　Chap　called　Kent。〃
　〃He　said　something　else；〃　Mary　Stuart　said。　〃He　said　we　were　to　tell　the　kindly　healer…I　suppose　he　meant　you…to　bring　his　penny　to　toss　for　the　first　round　of　drinks　in　some　bar。　I　didn't　understand。　A　four…ale　bar。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　have　been　in　purgatory〃
　〃Purgatory？　Oh；　I　don't　know。　It　didn't　make　any　sense　to　me。〃
　〃It　makes　sense　to　me；〃　I　said。　〃I　won't　forget　my　penny。〃
　
　A　film　to　be　made　on　location　high　above　the　Arctic　Circle　and　a　movie　pany　with　an　international　cast　which　included。。。
　OTTO　GERRAN：　his　ruthless　determination　had　made　him　a　famous　but　hated　director　CHARLES　CONRAD：　ruggedly　handsome；　the　male　lead　in　the　film　MARY　STUART：　a　quiet；　beautiful　blonde　surrounded　by　mystery　JUDITH　HAYNES：　a　venomous　woman　devoted　only　to　herself　COUNT　TADEUSZ　LESZCZYNSKI：　with　the　lean　and　aquiline　face；　the　black　pencil　moustache　。。。　and　evil　intentions　MICHAEL　STRYKER：　tall　and　handsome；　cynical　and　immoral；　he　was　held　to　his　wife　only　by　blackmail　DR。　MARLOWE：　the　pany's　doctor　who　knew　from　the　outset　that　something　was　amiss；　but　had　no　idea　how　to　deal　with　it　And　terror　and　death；　acpanied　them　on　the　journey　to　。。。



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