alistairmaclean.seawitch-第38节

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hattered　his　right　elbow。　Mitchell　caught　the　detonating　device　even　before　it　could　reach　the　deck。
　He　said　to　Larsen：　〃Are　there　two　absolutely　secure　places；　with　no　windows　and　iron　doors；　which　can　be　locked　without　any　possibility　of　opening　them　from　the　inside？〃
　〃Just　two。　Safe　as　Fort　Knox　vaults。　Along　here。〃
　〃Search　these　guys　and　search　them　thoroughly。　Make　sure　they　haven't　even　got　a　penknife。〃
　Larsen　searched。　〃Not　even　a　penknife。〃　He　led　them　to　a　steel…reinforced　cell…like　structure　and　he　and　Mitchell　ushered　them　inside。
　In　spite　of　his　agony；　Cronkite　said：　〃You're　not　going　to　leave　us　in　here；　for　God's　sake！〃
　〃Same　as　you　were　going　to　leave　us。〃　Mitchell　paused；　then　added　soothingly：　〃As　you　said；　you　won't　feel　a　thing。〃　He　closed　the　door；　double…locked　it　and　put　the　key　in　his　pocket。　He　said　to　Larsen：　〃The　other　cell？〃
　〃Along　here。〃
　〃This　is　madness！〃　Lord　Worth's　voice　was　almost　a　shout。　〃The　Seawitch　is　safe　now。　Why　in　God's　name　destroy　it？〃
　Mitchell　ignored　him。　He　glanced　at　the　timing　device　on　the　detonator。　〃Twenty…nine　minutes　to　go。　We'd　better　move。〃　He　placed　the　device　on　the　floor　of　the　cell；　locked　the　door　and　sent　the　key　spinning　far　out　over　the　Gulf。　〃Get　the　men　out　of　the　occidental　buildings；　and　out　of　the　sensory；　radar；　sonar　and　radio　rooms　and　make　sure　that　all　the　helicopter　pilots　are　safe。〃　He　glaaced　at　his　watch。　〃Twenty…five　minutes。〃
　
　Everyone　moved　with　alacrity　except　for　Lord　Worth；　who　merely　stood　with　a　stunned　look　on　his　face。　Larsen　said：　〃Do　we　need　this　mad　rush？〃
　Mitchell　said　mildly：　〃How　do　we　know　that　the　settings　on　that　detonator　are　accurate？〃
　The　mad　rush　redoubled　itself。　Thirteen　minutes　before　the　deadline　the　last　of　the　helicopters　took　off　and　headed　south。　The　first　to　land　on　the　Roomer's　helipad　held　Mitchell；　Larsen；　Lord　Worth　and　his　daughter；　in　addition　to　the　doctor　and　several　rig　men；　while　the　other　helicopters　still　hovered　overhead。　They　were　still　only　about　fourteen　miles　south　of　the　Seawitch；　which　was　as　far　as　the　Roamer　had　succeeded　in　getting。　But　Mitchell　reckoned　the　margin　of　safety　more　than　sufficient。　He　spoke　to　Conde；　who　assured　him　that　every　vessel　and　aircraft　had　been　warned　to　keep　as　far　away　as　possible　from　the　danger　area。
　When　the　Seawitch　blew　up；　dead　on　schedule；　it　did　so　with　a　spectacular　effect　that　would　have　satisfied　even　the　most　ghoulish。　There　was　even　a　miniature　mushroom　cloud　such　as　the　public　had　bee　accustomed　to　in　the　photographs　of　detonating　atom　bombs。　Seventeen　seconds　later；　those　on　the　Roamer　heard　the　thunderclap　of　sound；　and　shortly　afterward　a　series　of　miniature　but　harmless　tidal　waves　rocked　but　did　not　unduly　disturb　the　Roamer。
　
　After　Mitchell　had　told　Conde　to　broadcast　the　news　to　all　aircraft　and　shipping；　he　turned　to　find　a　stony…faced　Marina　confronting　him。
　〃Well；　you've　lost　Daddy　his　Seawitch。　I　do　hope　you're　satisfied　with　yourself。〃
　〃My；　my；　how　bitter　we　are。　Yes；　it's　a　satisfactory　job；　even　if　I　have　to　say　it　myself：　obviously　nobody　else　is　going　to。〃
　〃Why？　Why？　Why？〃
　〃Every　man　who　died　there　was　a　murderer；　some　of　them　mass　murderers。　They　might　have　got　away　to　countries　with　no　extradition　treaties　with　us。　Even　if　they　were　caught；　their　cases　might　have　dragged　on　for　years。　It　would　have　been　very　difficult　to　get　proof。　And；　of　course；　parole　after　a　few　years。　This　way；　we　know　they'll　never　kill　again。〃
　〃And　it　was　worth　it　to　destroy　Daddy's　pride　and　joy？〃
　〃Listen；　stupid。　My　father…in…law…to…be　is…〃
　〃That　he'll　never　be。〃　She　was　glaring　at　him。
　〃So　okay。　The　old　pirate　is　almost　as　big　a　crook　as　any　of　them。　He　associated　with　and　hired　for　lethal　purposes　known　criminals。　He　broke　into　two　federal　arsenals　and　mounted　the　equipment　on　the　Seawitch。　If　the　Seawitch　had　survived；　federal　investigators　would　have　been　aboard　in　an　hour　or　so。　He'd　have　got　at　least　fifteen　to　twenty　years　hi　prison；　and　he'd　probably　have　died　in　prison。〃　Now　her　eyes　were　wide；　with　fear　and　understanding。　〃But　now　every　last　bit　of　evidence　is　at　the　bottom　of　the　Gulf。　Nothing　can　ever　be　traced　against　him。〃
　〃That's　really　why　you　vaporized　the　Sea…witch？〃
　He　eyed　her　affectionately。　〃Why　should　I　admit　anything　to　an　ex…fiancee？〃
　〃Mrs。　Michael　Mitchell。〃　She　mused。　〃I　suppose　I　could　go　through　life　with　a　worse　name。〃
　
　
　
　
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