alistairmaclean.bearisland-第11部分

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　〃That's　very　kind。〃　I　nodded　at　Smithy　and　Oakley　in　turn。　〃They're　not　fit　to　go　below　yet。　If　they　try　to；　they'll　like　as　not　end　up　over　the　side。　Could　you　get　them　some　blankets？〃
　〃Of　course。〃　He　hesitated。　〃My　cabin…'
　is　locked。　Mine's　not。　There　are　blankets　on　the　bed　and　extra　ones　at　the　foot　of　the　hanging　locker。〃　The　Count　left　and　I　turned　to　Allison。
　〃Short　of　dynamiting　his　door　open；　how　do　I　attract　the　captain's　attention　。　He　seems　to　be　a　sound　sleeper。〃
　Allison　smiled　and　again　indicated　the　corner　exchange。　〃The　bridge　phone　hangs　just　above　his　head。　There's　a　resistance　in　the　circuit。　I　can　make　the　call…up　sound　like　the　Q。E。　2's　foghorn。〃
　〃Tell　him　to　e　along　to　Mr。　Gerran's　room　and　tell　him　it's　urgent。〃
　〃Well。〃　Allison　was　uncertain。　〃Captain　Imrie　doesn't　much　like　being　woken　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　Not　without　an　awfully　good　reason　；　that　is；　and　now　that　the　mate　and　bosun　are　all　right　again；　like…〃
　〃Tell　him　Antonio　is　dead。〃
　
　4
　
　At　least　Otto　wasn't　dead。　Even　above　the　sound　of　the　wind　and　the　sound　of　the　sea；　the　creakings　and　groanings　as　the　elderly　trawler　slammed　her　way　into　the　Arctic　gale；　Otto's　voice　could　be　distinctly　heard　at　least　a　dozen　feel？　from　his　cabin　door。　What　he　was　saying；　however；　was　far　from　distinct；　the　tearing　gasps　and　agonised　groans　boded　ill　for　what　we　would　see　when　we　opened　the　door。
　Otto　Gerran　looked　as　he　sounded；　not　quite　in　extremis　but　rapidly　heading　that　way。　As　Goin　had　said；　he　was　indeed　rolling　about　the　floor；　both　hands　clutching　his　throat　as　if　he　was　trying　to　throttle　himself　：　his　normally　puce　plexion　had　deepened　to　a　dark　and　dangerous　looking　purple；　his　eyes　were　bloodshot　and　a　purplish　foam　at　his　mouth　had　stained　his　lips　to　almost　the　same　colour　as　his　face：　or　maybe　his　lips　were　purplish　anyway；　like　a　man　with　cyanosis。　As　far　as　I　could　see　he　hadn't　a　single　symptom　in　mon　with　Smithy　and　Oakley：　so　much　for　the　toxicological　experts　and　their　learned　textbooks。　
　I　said　to　Goin：　〃Let's　get　him　on　his　feel？　and　along　to　the　bathroom。〃
　As　a　statement　of　intent　it　was　clear　and　simple　enough；　but　its　execution　was　far　from　simple：　it　was　impossible。　The　task　of　hoisting　245　lbs。　Of　unco…operative　jellyfish　to　the　vertical　proved　to　be　quite　beyond　us。　I　was　just　about　to　abandon　the　attempt　and　administer　what　would　certainly　be　a　very　messy　first　aid　on　the　spot　when　Captain　Imrie　and　Mr。
　Stokes　entered　the　cabin。　My　surprise　at　the　remarkable　promptness　with　which　they　had　put　in　an　appearance　was　as　nothing　pared　to　my　initial　astonishment　at　observing　that　both　men　were　fully　dressed：　it　was　not　until　I　noticed　the　horizontal　creases　in　their　trousers　that　I　realised　that　they　had　gone　to　sleep　with　all　their　clothes　on。　I　made　a　brief　prayer　for　Smithy's　swift　and　plete　recovery。
　〃What　in　the　name　of　God　goes　on？〃　Whatever　condition　Captain　Imrie　had　been　in　an　hour　or　so　ago；　he　was　pletely　sober　now。　〃Allison　says　that　Italian　fellow's　dead　and…〃　He　stopped　abruptly　as　Goin　and　I　moved　sufficiently　apart　to　let　him　have　his　first　glimpse　of　the　prostrate　moaning　Gerran。　〃Jesus　wept！〃　He　moved　forward　and　stared　down。
　〃What　the　devil…an　epileptic　fit？〃
　〃Poison。　The　same　poison　that　killed　Antonio　and　nearly　killed　the　mate　and　Oakley。　e　on；　give　us　a　hand　to　get　him　along　to　the　bathroom。
　〃Poison！〃　He　looked　at　Mr。　Stokes　as　if　to　hear　from　him　confirmation　that　it　couldn't　possibly　be　poison；　but　Mr。　Stokes　wasn't　in　the　mood　for　confirming　anything；　he　just　stared　with　a　kind　of　numbed　fascination　at　the　writhing　man　on　the　floor。　〃Poison！　On　my　ship。　What　poison？　Where　did　they　get　it？　Who　gave　it　to　them？　Why　should…〃
　'I'm　a　doctor；　not　a　detective。　I　don't　know　anything　about　who；　where；　when；　why；　what。　All　I　know　is　that　a　man's　dying　while　we're　talking。〃
　It　took　the　four　of　us　less　than　thirty　seconds　to　get　Otto　Gerran　along　to　the　bathroom。　It　was　a　pretty　rough　piece　of　manhandling　but　it　was　a　fair　assumption　that　he　would　rather　be　Otto　Gerran；　bruised　but　alive；　than　Otto　Gerran；　unmarked　but　dead。　The　emetic　worked　just　as　swiftly　and　effectively　as　it　had　with　Smithy　and　Oakley　and　within　three　minutes　we　had　him　back　in　his　bunk　under　a　mound　of　blankets。　He　was　still　moaning　incoherently　and　shivering　so　violently　that　his　teeth　chattered　uncontrollably；　but　the　deep　purple　had　begun　to　recede　from　his　cheeks　and　the　foam　had　dried　on　his　lips。
　〃I　think　he's　OK　now　but　please　keep　an　eye　on　him；　will　you？〃　I　said　to　Goin。　I'll　be　back　in　five　minutes。〃
　Captain　Imrie　stopped　me　at　the　door。　〃If　you　please；　Dr。　Marlowe；　a　word　with　you。〃
　〃Later。〃
　〃Now。　As　master　of　this　vessel…〃　I　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　he　became　silent。　I　felt　like　saying　that　as　master　of　this　vessel　he'd　been　awash　in　Scotch　and　snoring　in　his　bunk　when　people　were　all　around　dropping　like　flies　but　it　would　have　been　less　than　fair：　I　was　irritable　because　unpleasant　things　were　happening　that　should　not　have　been　happening　and　I　didn't　know　why；　or　who　was　responsible。
　〃Otto　Gerran　will　live；〃　I　said。　〃He'll　live　because　he　was　lucky　enough　to　have　Mr。　Goin　here　stop　by　his　cabin。　How　many　other　people　are　lying　on　their　cabin　floors　who　haven't　been　lucky　enough　to　have　someone　stop　by；　people　so　far　gone　that　they　can't　even　reach　their　doors？　Four　casualties　so　far：　Who's　to　say　there　isn't　a　dozen？〃
　〃A　dozen？　Aye。　Aye；　of　course。〃　If　I　was　out　of　my　depth；　Captain　Imrie　was　submerged。　〃We'll　e　with　you。〃
　〃I　can　manage。〃
　〃Like　you　managed　with　Mr。　Gerran　here？〃
　We　made　our　way　directly　to　the　recreation　room。　There　were　ten　people　there；　all　men；　mostly　silent；　mostly　unhappy：　it　is　not　easy　to　be　talkative　and　cheerful　when　you're　hanging　on　to　your　scat　with　one　hand　and　your　drink　with　the　other。　The　Three　Apostles；　whether　because　of　exhaustion　or　popular　demand；　had　laid　the　tools　of　their　trade　aside　and　were　having　a　drink　with　their　boss　Josh　Hendriks；　a　small；　thin；　stern；　and　middle…aged　Anglo…Dutchman　with　a　perpetual　worried　frown。　Even　when　off…duty；　he　was　festooned　with　a　mass　of　strap…hung　electronic　and　recording　equipment：　word　had　it　that　he　slept　so　accoutred。　Stryker；　who　appeared　far　from　overe　by　concern　for　his　ailing　wife；　sat　at　a　table　in　a　corner；　talking　to　Conrad　and　two　other　actors；　Gunther　Jungbeck　and　Jon　Heyter。　At　a　third　table　John　Halliday；　the　stills　photographer；　and　Sandy；　the　props　man；　made　up　the　pany。　No　one；　as　far　as　I　could　judge；　was　suffering　from　anything　that　couldn't　be　accounted　for　by　the　big　dipper　antics　of　the　Morning　Rose。　One　or　two　glances　of　mildly　speculative　curiosity　came　our　way；　but　I　volunteered　no　explanation　for　our　unaccustomed　visit　there：　explanations　take　time　but　the　effects　of　aconitine　；　as　was　being　relentlessly　borne　in　upon　me；　waited　for　no　man。
　Allen　and　Mary　Darling　we　found　in　the　otherwise　deserted　lounge；　more　green…faced　than　ever　but　clasping　hands　and　gazing　at　each　other　with　the　rapt　intensity　of　those　who　know　there　will　be　no　tomorrow：
　their　noses　were　so　close　together　that　they　must　have　been　cross…eyed　from　their　attempts　to　focus。　For　the　first　time　since　I'd　met　her　Mary　Darling　had　removed　her　enormous　spectacles…misted　lenses　due　to　Allen's　heavy　breathing；　I　had　no　doubt…and　without　them　she　really　was　a　very　pretty　young　girl　with　none　of　that　rather　naked　and　defenceless　look　that　so　often　characterises　the　habitual　wearer　of　glasses　when　those　are　removed。　One　thing　was　for　sure；　there　was　nothing　wrong　with　Allen's　eyesight。
　I　glanced　at　the　liquor　cupboard　in　the　corner。　The　glass…fronted　doors　were　intact　from　which　I　assumed　that　Lonnie　Gilbert's　bunch　of　keys　were　capable　of　opening　most　things：　had　they　failed　here　I　would　have　looked　for　signs　of　the　use　of　some　other　instrument；　not；　perhaps；　the　berserk　wielding　of　a　fire　axe　but　at　least　the　discreet　employment　of　a　wood　chisel：　but　there　were　no　such　signs。
　Heissman　was　asleep　in　his　cabin；　uneasily；　restlessly　asleep；　but　clearly　not　ill。　Next　door　Neal　Divine；　his　bedboard　raised　so　high　that　he　was　barely　visible；　looked　more　like　a　medieval　bishop　than　ever；　but　a　happily　unconscious　one　this　time。　Lonnie　was　sitting　upright　in　his　bunk；　his　arms　folded　across　his　ample　midriff；　and　from　the　fact　that　his　right　hand　was　out　of　sight　under　the　coverlet；　almost　certainly　and　lovingly　wrapped　round　the　neck　of　a　bottle　of　purloined　Scotch；　did　the　further　fact　that　he　wore　a　beatific　smile；　it　was　clear　that　his　plethora　of　keys　could　be　put　to　a　very　catholic　variety　of　uses。　
　I　passed　up　Judith　Haynes's　cabin…she'd　had　no　dinner…and　went　into　what　I　knew　to　be；　at　that　moment；　the　last　occupied　cabin。　The　unit's　chief　electrician；　a　large；　fat；　red…faced　and　chubby…checked　individual　rejoicing　in　the　name　of　Frederick　Crispin　Harbottle；　was　propped　on　an　elbow　and　moodily　eating　an　apple：　appearances　to　the　contrary　he　was　an　invincibly　morose　and　wholly　pessimistic　man。　For　reasons　I　had　been　unable　to　discover；　he　was　known　to　all　as　Eddie：　rumour　had　it　that　he　had　been　heard　to　speak；　in　the　same　breath；　of　himself　and　that　other　rather　better…known　electrician；　Thomas　Edison。　
　〃Sorry；〃　I　said。　〃We've　got　some　cases　of　food　poisoning。　You're　not　one　of　them；　obviously。〃　I　nodded　towards　the　recumbent　occupant　of　the　other　bed；　who　was　lying　curled　up　with　his　back　to　us。　〃How's　the　Duke？〃
　〃Alive。〃　Eddie　spoke　in　a　tone　of　philosophical　resignation。　〃Moaning　and　groaning　about　his　bellyache　before　he　dropped　off。　Moans　and　groans　nearly　every　night；　e　to　that。　You　know　what　the　Duke's　like；　he　just　can't　help　himself。〃
　We　all　knew　what　he　was　like。　If　it　is　possible　for　a　person　to　bee　a　legend　within　the　space　of　four　days　then　Cecil　Golightly　had　bee　just　that。　His　unbridled　gluttony　lay　just　within　the　bounds　of　credibility　and　when　Otto；　less　than　an　hour　previously；　had　referred　to　him　as　a　little　pie；　who　never　lifted　his　eyes　from　the　table　he　had　spoken　no　more　than　the　truth。　The　Duke's　voracious　capacity　for　food　was　as　abnormal　as　his　obviously　practically　defunct　metabolic　system　for　he　resembled　nothing　so　much　as　a　man　newly　emerged　from　a　long　stay　in　a　concentration　camp。
　More　out　of　habit　than　anything　I　bent　over　to　give　him　a　cursory　glance　and　I　was　glad　I　did　for　what　I　saw　were　wide…open；　pain…dulled　eyes　moving　wildly　and　purposelessly　from　side　to　side；　ashen　lips　working　soundlessly　in　an　ashen　face　and　the　hooked　fingers　of　both　hands　digging　deep　into　his　stomach　as　if　he　were　trying　to　tear　it　open。
　I'd　told　Goin　that　I'd　be　back　in　Otto's　cabin　in　five　minutes：　I　was　back　in　forty…five。　The　Duke；　because　he　had　been　so　very　much　longer　without　treatment　than　Smithy；　Oakley；　or　Gerran；　had　gone　very　very　close　to　the　edge　indeed；　to　the　extent　that　I　had　on　one　occasion　almost　given　up　his　case　as　being　intractably　hopeless；　but　the　Duke　was　a　great　deal　more　stubborn　than　I　was　and　that　skeletal　frame　harboured　an　iron　constitution：　even　so；　without　almost　continuous　artificial　respiration；　a　heart　stimulant　injection　and　the　copious　use　of　oxygen；　he　would　surely　have　died：　now　he　would　as　surely　live。