alistairmaclean.seawitch-第37节

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　outside　the　doorway　and　the　two　men　〃were　talking　in　animated　and　clearly　self…congratulatory　terms。
　After　the　first　few　steps；　Greenshaw　realized　that　there　could　be　nobody　left　alive　in　that　charnel　house。　Those　who　were　dead　were　very　dead　indeed；　most　of　them　destroyed　beyond　recognition；　either　cut　up　by　machine…gun　fire；　shattered　by　bazookas　or　shriveled　by　the　fiame…throwers。　But　he　did　find　the　primary　reason　of　his　visit…a　box　of　hand　grenades　in　prime　condition　and　a　couple　of　Schmeisser　subautomatics；　fully　loaded。　A　few　of　the　grenades　he　stuffed　into　the　bottom　of　his　medical　bag。　He　peered　out　one　of　the　shattered　windows　at　the　back　and　found　the　area　below　in　deep　shadow。　He　carefully　lowered　some　grenades　to　the　platform　and　the　two　Schmeissers　beside　them。　Then　he　made　his　way　outside　again。
　It　was　apparent　that　Cronkite　and　Lord　Worth　had　already　met；　although　the　meeting　could　not　have　been　a　normal　one。　Lord　Worth　was　lying　apparently　senseless　on　his　back；　blood　flowing　from　smashed　lips　and　apparently　broken　nose；　while　both　cheeks　were　badly　bruised。　Marina　was　bending　over　him；　daubing　at　his　wounds　with　a　flimsy　handkerchief。　Cronkite；　his　face　unmarked　but　his　knuckles　bleeding；　had　apparently；　for　the　moment　at　least；　lost　interest　in　Lord　Worth；　no　doubt　waiting　until　Lord　Worth　had　regained　full　consciousness　before　starting　in　on　him　again。
　Lord　Worth　whispered　between　smashed　lips：　〃Sorry；　my　darling；　sorry；　my　beloved。　My　fault　and　all　my　fault。　The　end　of　the　road。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Her　voice　was　as　low　as　his　own；　but　strangely　there　were　no　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃But　not　for　us。　Not　while　Michael　is　alive。〃
　Lord　Worth　looked　at　Michael　through　rapidly　closing　eyes。　〃What　can　a　cripple　like　that　do？〃
　She　said　quietly　but　with　utter　conviction：　〃He'll　kill　Cronkite　and　his　whole　mob。〃
　He　tried　to　smile　through　his　smashed　lips。　〃I　thought　you　hated　killing。〃
　〃Not　vermin。　Not　people　who　do　things　like　this　to　you。〃
　Mitchell　spoke　quietly　to　Dr。　Greenshaw；　then　botH　men　approached　Cronkite　and　Gregson；　who　broke　off　what　appeared　to　be　either　a　discussion　or　an　argument。　Dr。　Greenshaw　said：　〃You've　done　your　damn　murderous　work　all　too　well；　Gregson。　There's　hardly　a　soul　hi　there　even　recognizable　as　a　human　being。〃
　Cronkite　said：　〃Who's　he？〃
　〃A　doctor。〃
　Cronkite　looked　at　Mitchell；　who　was　looking　worse　by　the　minute；　〃And　this？〃
　〃A　scientist。　Shot　by　mistake。〃
　〃He's　in　great　pain；〃　Greenshaw　said。　〃Fve　no　X…ray　equipment；　but　I　suspect　the　arm's　broken　just　below　the　shoulder。〃
　Cronkite　was　almost　jovial；　the　joviality　of　a　man　now　almost　detached　from　reality。　〃An　hour　from　now　he　won't　be　feeling　a　thing。〃
　Greenshaw　said　wearily：　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。　I　want　to　take　him　back　to　the　sick　bay　and　give　him　a　pain…killing　injection。〃
　〃Why；　sure：　I　want　everyone　to　be　fully　prepared　for　what's　about　to　happen。〃
　〃And　what's　that？〃
　　〃Later；　later。〃
　Greenshaw　and　the　unsteady　Mitchell　moved　off。　They　reached　the　sick　bay；　passed　inside；　went　through　the　opposite　side　and　made　their　unobserved　way　to　the　radio　room。　Greenshaw　stood　guard　just　inside　the　door　while　Mitchell；　ignoring　the　bound　operator；　went　straight　to　the　transceiver。　He　raised　the　Roamer　inside　twenty　seconds。
　〃Give　me　Captain　Conde。〃
　〃Speaking。〃
　〃On　your　next　circuit　out　to　the　oil　tank　get　around　behind　it；　then　head　south　at　full　speed。　The　Seawitch　has　been　taken　over；　but　I'm　sure　there's　nobody　here　who　can　operate　the　antiaircraft　guns。　Stop　at　twenty　miles　and　issue　a　general　warning　to　all　ships　and　aircraft　not　to　approach　within　twenty　miles　of　the　Seawitch。　You　have　its　co…ordinates。〃
　〃Yes。　But　why…〃
　〃Because　there's　going　to　be　a　mighty　big　bang。　Christ's　sake；　don't　argue。〃
　〃Don't　argue　about　what？〃　a　voice　behind　Mitchell　said。
　Mitchell　turned　round　slowly。　The　man　behind　the　pistol　was　smiling　a　smile　that　somehow　lacked　a　genuine　warmth。　Greenshaw　had　been　pushed　to　one　side　and　the　gun　moved　in　a　slow　arc　covering　them　both。　〃I　got　a　hunch　Gregsoa　would　like　to　see　you　both。〃
　Mitchell　rose；　turned；　half…staggered　and　clutched　his　right　forearm　inside　the　sling。　Greenshaw　said　sharply：　〃God's　sake；　man；　can't　you　see　he's　ill？〃
　The　man　glanced　at　Greenshaw　for　just　a　second；　but　a　second　was　all　that　Mitchell　required。　The　bullet　from　the　silenced　。38　took　the　gunman　through　the　heart。　Mitchell　peered　through　the　doorway。　There　was　a　fair　degree　of　shadow　there；　no　one　in　sight　and　the　edge　of　the　platform　not　more　than　twenty　feet　away。　A　few　seconds　later　the　dead　man　vanished　over　the　edge。　Mitchell　and　Greenshaw　returned　to　the　main　body　of　the　pany　via　the　sick　bay。　Cronkite　and　Gregson　were　still　in　deep　discussion。　Larsen　stood　some　distance　apart；　apparently　in　a　state　of　profound　dejection。　Greenshaw　approached　him　and　said　quietly：　〃How　do　you　feel？〃
　〃How　would　you　feel　if　you　knew　they　intended　to　kill　us　all？〃
　〃You'll　feel　better　soon。　Round　the　back　of　the　building；　when　you　get　the　chance；　you'll　find　some　hand　grenades　which　should　rest　fortably　inside　that　lumberjacket　of　yours。　You'll　also　find　two　loaded　Schmeissers。　I　have　a　few　grenades　in　my　bag　here。　And　Mitchell　has　his　。38　inside　his　sling。〃
　Larsen　took　care　not　to　show　his　feelings。　He　looked　as　morose　as　ever。　All　he　said　was：　〃Boy；　oh　boy；　oh　boy。〃
　Lord　Worth　was　on　his　feet　now；　supported　by　his　daughter。　Mitchell　joined　them。　〃How　do　you　feel？〃
　Lord　Worth　mouthed　his　words　with　understandable　bitterness。　〃I'm　in　great　shape。〃
　〃You'll　feel　better　soon。〃　He　lowered　his　voice　and　spoke　to　Marina。　〃When　I　give　the　word；　say　you　want　to　go　to　the　ladies'　room。　But　don't　go　there。　Go　to　the　generator　room。　You'll　see　a　red　lever　there　marked　'Deck　Lights。'　Pull　it　down。　After　you　count　twenty；　throw　it　back　on　again。〃
　Cronkite　and　Gregson　appeared　to　have　finished　their　discussion。　From　Cronkite's　smile　it　appeared　that　his　view　had　prevailed。　Lord　Worth；　Marina；　Larsen；　Greenshaw　and　Mitchell　stood　together；　a　forlorn　and　huddled　group。　Facing　them　were　the　ranks　of　Cronkite；　Mul…hooney；　Easton；　and　the　bogus　Colonel　Farqu…harson；　Lieutenant…Colonel　Dewings；　Major　Breckley；　Gregson　and　his　killers；　a　formidable　group　and　armed　to　the　teeth。
　Cronkite　spoke　to　a　man　by　his　side。　〃Check。〃
　The　man　lifted　a　walkie…talkie；　spoke　into　it　and　nodded。　He　said　to　Cronkite：　〃Charges　secured　in　position。〃
　〃Excellent。　Teh1　them　to　go　due　north　for　twenty　miles　and　stay　there。〃　This　was　done。　Unfortunately　for　Cronkite；　his　view　to　the　west　was　blocked　by　the　shattered　building　behind　him　and　he　could　not　see　that　the　Roomer　was　already　proceeding　steadily　to　the　south。
　
　Cronkite　smiled。　〃Well；　Worth；　it's　the　end　of　the　road　for　both　you　and　the　Seawitch。〃　He　dug　into　a　pocket　and　produced　a　black　pear…shaped　metal　container。　〃This　is　a　radioactive　detonating　device。　Note　this　small　switch　here。　It's　supposed　to　be　good　for　sixty　minutes；　but　I　have　already　run　off　ten　minutes　of　it。　Fifty　more　minutes　and　poof：　the　Seawitch；　you；　Worth；　and　everyone　aboard　will　be　vaporized。　Nobody's　going　to　feel　a　thing；　I　assure　you。〃
　〃You　mean　you　intend　to　kill　all　my　innocent　employees　aboard　the　rig？　Cronkite；　you　are　stark　raving　mad。〃
　〃Never　saner。　Can't　have　any　witnesses　left　to　identify　us。　Then　we　destroy　two　of　the　helicopters；　cripple　your　derrick　crane；　smash　your　radio　room　and　take　off　in　the　other　two　helicopters。　You　could；　of　course；　figure　on　jumping　into　the　Gulf；　but　your　chances　of　survival　would　be　about　the　same　as　a　suicide　jumping　off　the　Golden　Gate　Bridge。〃
　Mitchell　nudged　Marina。　She　said　in　a　faint　voice：　〃May　I　go　to　the　ladies'　room？〃
　Cronkite　was　joviality　itself。　〃　'Course。　But　make　it　snappy。〃
　Fifteen　seconds　later　the　deck　lights　went　out。
　In　the　end　it　was　Mitchell；　with　his　extraordinary　capacity　to　see　in　the　dark；　who　ran　round　the　corner　of　the　shattered　building；　retrieved　the　two　Schmeissers…he　didn't　bother　about　the　grenades…returned　and　thrust　one　into　Larsen's　hands。　In　eight　seconds　two　men　with　submachine　guns　can　achieve　an　extraordinary　amount　of　carnage。　Larsen　was　firing　blind　but　Mitchell　could　see　and　pick　out　his　targets。　They　were　helped　in　a　most　haphazard　fashion　by　Dr。　Greenshaw；　who　flung　grenades　at　random；　inflicting　even　more　damage　on　the　already　shattered　building　but　not　actually　injuring　anyone。
　The　lights　came　on　again。
　There　were　still　seven　people　left　alive…Cron…kite；　Mulhooney；　Easton；　Gregson　and　three　of　his　men。　To　those　seven　Mitchell　said：　〃All　right；　drop　your　guns。〃　Shattered　and　stunned　though　the　survivors　were；　they　still　had　enough　wits　left　to　ply　at　once。
　Marina　arrived　back　and　was　promptly　sick　in　a　very　unladylike　fashion。
　Mitchell　put　down　his　Schmeisser　and　advanced　on　Cronkite。　〃Give　me　that　detonating　device。〃
　Cronkite　removed　it　slowly　from　his　pocket　and　lifted　his　arm　preparatory　to　throwing　it　over　the　side。　Whatever　else；　it　would　have　meant　the　destruction　of　the　Seawitch。　Cronkite　screamed　in　agony　as　the　bullet　from　MitchelTs　。38　shattered　his　right　elbow。　Mitchell　caught　the　detonating　device　even　before　it　could　reach　the　deck。