alistairmaclean.bearisland-第24部分

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　〃Well；　well；〃　I　said。　I　wonder　what　all　that　was　about。　A　clearly　offended　Miss　Haynes　but　I　can't　conceive　of　our　little　Mary　giving　offence　to　anybody。〃
　Tut　she　has　done；　my　boy；　she　has　done。　Our　Judith　is　one　of　those　sad　and　unfortunate　females　who　can't　abide　any　other　female　who　is　younger；　better　looking　or　more　intelligent　than　she　is。　Our　little　Mary　offends　on　at　least　two　of　those　counts。〃
　〃You　disappoint　me；〃　I　said。　〃Here　I　was；　manfully　trying　to　discount　…or　at　least　ignore…what　appears　to　be　the　universally　held　opinion　that　Judith　Haynes　is　a　plete　and　utter　bitch　and　now…'
　〃And　you　were　right。〃　Lonnie　regarded　his　empty　glass　with　an　expression　of　faint　astonishment。　〃She　isn't　a　bitch；　at　least　she　doesn't　make　a　career　out　of　it；　except　inadvertently。　To　those　who　offer　no　threat　or　petition；　little　children　or　pets；　she　is　capable　of　generous　impulses；　even　affection。　But　that　apart；　a　poor　poor　creature；　incapable　of　loving　or　inspiring　love　in　others；　to　wit　and　in　short；　a　loveless　soul；　perverse　but　pitiable；　a　person　who　having　once　seen　herself　and　not　liking　what　she　has　seen；　turns　away　from　reality　and　takes　refuge　in　misanthropic　fantasy。〃　Lonnie　executed　a　swift　sideways　scuttle　in　the　direction　of　an　unattended　Scotch　bottle；　replenished　his　glass　with　the　speed　and　expertise　born　of　a　lifetime　of　practice；　returned　happily　and　warmed　to　his　theme。
　〃Sick；　sick；　sick　and　it　is　the　sick；　not　the　whole；　who　require　our　help　and　sympathy。〃　Lonnie　could；　on　occasion；　sound　very　pontifical　indeed。
　〃She's　one　of　the　hapless　band　of　the　world's　willing　walking　wounded　…how's　that；　four　was　and　never　a　stutter…who　take　a　positive　delight　in　being　hurt；　in　being　affronted；　and　if　the　hurt　is　not　really　there；　why；　then；　all　the　better；　they　can　imagine　one　even　closer　to　the　heart's　desire。
　For　those　unfortunates　who　love　only　themselves　the　loving　embrace　of　self…pity；　close　hugged　like　an　old　and　dear　friend；　is　the　supreme；　the　most　precious　luxury　in　life。　I　can　assure　you；　my　dear　fellow；　that　no　hippo　ever　wallowed　in　his　African　mud　bath　with　half　the　relish…'
　〃I'm　sure　you're　right；　Lonnie；〃　I　said；　〃and　a　very　apt　analogy　that　is；　too。〃　I　wasn't　listening　to　him　any　more；　my　attention　had　been　caught　and　held　by　the　fleeting　glimpse　I'd　had　of　a　figure　hurrying　by　on　the　deck　outside。　Heissman；　I　was　almost　sure　it　was　Heissman；　and　if　it　were　I'd　three　immediate　questions　that　asked　for　equally　immediate　answers。
　Heissman　was　rarely　observed　to　move　at　any　but　the　most　deliberate　and　leisurely　speed　so　why　the　uncharacteristic　haste？　Why；　if　he　were　moving　aft；　did　he　choose　the　weather　instead　of　the　lee　side　of　the　superstructure　unless　he　hoped　to　avoid　being　observed　through　the　largely　snow…obscured　windows　on　the　weather　side　of　the　saloon？　And　what；　in　view　of　his　well…known　and　almost　pathological　aversion　to　cold…an　inevitable　legacy；　one　supposed；　of　his　long　years　in　Siberia…was　he　doing　on　the　upper　deck　anyway？　I　clapped　Lonnie　on　the　shoulder。　〃Tack；　as　the　saying　goes；　in　a　trice。　I　have　to　visit　the　sick。〃
　I　left；　not　hurriedly；　through　the　lee　door；　then　paused　to　see　if　anyone　was　interested　enough　in　my　departure　to　follow　me　out。　And　someone　did　follow　me；　almost　immediately；　but　if　he　had　any　interest　in　my　movements　he　wasn't　letting　me　see　it。　Gunther　Jungbeck　smiled　at　me　briefly；　indifferently；　and　hurried　forward　to　the　entrance　to　the　passenger　acmodation。　I　waited　a　few　more　seconds　then　climbed　up　the　vertical　steel　ladder　to　the　boat　deck；　immediately　abaft　the　bridge　and　radio　office。
　I　circled　the　funnel　and　engine　intake　fans　casing　and　found　no　one　there。　I　hadn't　expected　to；　even　a　polar　bear　wouldn't　have　hung　around　that　bitter　and　totally　exposed　boat　deck　without　a　very　pelling　reason。　I　moved　aft　by　one　of　our　two　motorised　lifeboats；　took　what　illusory　shelter　I　could　find　beside　a　ventilator　and　peered　out　over　the　afterdeck。
　For　the　first　few　moments　I　could　see　nothing；　nothing；　that　was；　that　was　likely　to　be　of　any　interest　to　me；　not　so　much　because　of　the　driving　snow　as　the　fact　that　all　objects　crowding　the　afterdeck…and　there　were　well　over　a　score　of　them；　ranging　from　fuel　drums　to　a　sixteen…foot　work　boat　on　a　special　cradle…were　so　deeply　shrouded　in　their　shapeless　cocoons　of　snow　that；　in　most　cases；　it　was　virtually　impossible　to　decide　upon　not　only　their　identity　but　whether　they　were　inanimate　or　not。　Not　until　any　of　them　might　move。
　One　of　the　cocoons　stirred；　a　slender　ghostly　form　detaching　itself　from　the　shelter　of　a　square　bulky　object　which　I　knew　to　be　the　cabin　for　a　Sno…Cat。　The　figure　half…turned　in　my　direction　and　although　the　face　was　almost　entirely　hidden　by　a　hand　that　held　both　sides　of　the　parka　hood　closed　against　the　snow；　enough　of　straw…coloured　hair　showed　to　let　me　identify　the　only　person　aboard　with　that　colour　of　hair。　Almost　at　once　she　was　joined　by　a　person　moving　into　my　line　of　vision　from　behind　the　break　of　the　boat　deck　and　I　didn't　even　have　to　see　the　thin　ascetic　face　to　know　that　this　was　Heissman。
　He　approached　the　girl　directly；　took　her　arm　without；　as　far　as　I　could　see；　any　kind　of　opposition　being　offered；　and　said　something　to　her。　I　sank　to　my　knees；　partly　to　reduce　the　risk　of　detection　if　either　chanced　to　look　up；　partly　to　try　and　make　out　what　was　being　said。　The　concealment　part　worked　but　the　eavesdropping　failed；　partly　because　the　wind　was　in　the　wrong　direction　but　chiefly　because　they　had　their　heads　very　close　together　either　because　they　regarded　suitably　low　and　conspiratorial　conversation　as　being　appropriate　to　the　occasion　or　because　they　were　affording　each　other's　faces　protection　from　the　snow。　I　inched　forwards　to　the　very　end　of　the　boat　deck　and　squatted　back　on　my　heels　with　my　head　bent　forward　but　this　was　of　no　help　either。　
　Heissman　now　had　an　arm　around　Mary　Stuart's　shoulders　and　this　time　the　gesture　of　intimacy　did　produce　a　reaction　although　scarcely　the　expected　one　for　she　reached　up　an　arm　around　his　neck　and　put　her　head　on　his　shoulder。　At　least　another　two　minutes　were　spent　in　this　highly　confidential　tete…a…tete；　then　they　walked　slowly　away　towards　the　living　acmodation；　Heissman　still　with　his　arm　around　the　girl's　shoulders。　I　made　no　move　to　follow　them；　for　such　a　move　would　not　only　have　almost　certainly　resulted　in　quick　detection　but　it　would　have　been　pointless：　whatever　personal　they'd　had　to　say　had　already　been　said。　
　〃Yoga　in　the　Barents　Sea；〃　a　voice　said　behind　me。　〃That's　dedication　for　you。〃
　'Fanatics　always　carry　everything　to　excess；〃　I　said。　I　rose　awkwardly　but　without　too　much　haste　before　turning　round　for　I　knew　I　had　nothing　to　fear　from　Smithy。　Clad　in　a　hooded　duffle　coat　and　looking　a　great　deal　fitter　than　he　had　been　doing　just　before　midnight；　he　was　looking　at　me　with　what　might　have　been　an　expression　of　quizzical　amusement　except　that　his　eyes　didn't　seem　to　find　anything　humorous　in　what　they　saw。　〃You　have　to　be　regular　in　these　things；〃　I　explained。　
　〃Of　course。〃　He　walked　past　me；　looked　over　the　boat　deck　guardrail　and　examined　the　deep　tracks　left　in　the　snow　by　Mary　and　Heissman。　
　〃Bird…watching？〃
　〃The　haunts　of　coot　and　tern。〃
　〃Yes；　indeed。　But　an　oddly　assorted　pair　of　love　birds；　wouldn't　you　say？〃
　〃It's　this　film　world；　Smithy。　It　seems　to　be　full　of　very　oddly　assorted　birds。〃
　〃Odd　birds；　period。〃　He　nodded　foreword；　towards　the　charthouse。
　〃Warmth　and　cheer；　Doe；　just　the　place　for　some　more　ornithological　research。〃
　There　wasn't　a　great　deal　of　warmth　owing　to　the　fact　that　Smithy　had　left　the　side　door　open　after　he'd　looked　out　through　the　window　and　observed　me　moving　cautiously　along　the　boat　deck　but　there　was　a　certain　amount　of　cheer　in　the　shape　of　a　bottle　he　produced　from　a　cupboard。　He　said：　〃Shall　we　send　for　the　king's　taster？〃
　I　looked　at　the　unbroken　lead　seal。　〃Not　unless　you　think　someone　has　brought　his　own　bottling　plant　aboard。〃
　〃I've　checked。〃　Smithy　broke　the　seal。　〃We　talked　last　night。　At　least；　I　did。　You　may　or　may　not　have　listened。　I　was　worried　last　night。　I　thought　you　might　not　be　levelling　with　me。　I'm　worried　stiff　now。　Because　I　know　you're　not。〃
　〃Because　I've　taken　up　ornithology？〃　I　said　mildly。
　〃That　among　other　things。　This　wholesale　poisoning；　now。　I've　had　time　to　think；　just　a　bit。　Of　course　you　couldn't　have　had　any　idea　who　the　poisoner　was…it's　hardly　conceivable　that　if　you　knew　the　person　who　had　done　in　that　Italian　boy　that　you'd　have　let　him　do　the　same　to　six　others；　two　of　whom　were　to　die。　In　fact　you　couldn't　even　have　been　sure　that　the　whole　thing　wasn't　accidental；　the　poisoning　was　on　so　apparently　haphazard　a　basis。〃
　〃Thank　You　kindly；〃　I　said。　My　opinion　of　Smithy　had　fallen　sharply。
　〃Except　that　it　wasn't　on　an　apparently　haphazard　basis。　It　was　haphazard　That　was　last　night。〃　It　was　as　if　he　hadn't　heard　me。　〃Then　you　couldn't　have　had　any　idea。　Now　you　can。　Things　have　happened；　haven't　they？〃
　〃What　things？〃　My　opinion　of　Smithy　had　risen　sharply。　He　was　sure　that　there　was　mayhem　afoot；　but　why？　Was　he　making　a　mental　short　list；　guessing　as　to　who　might　be　the　handy　lad　with　the　aconite…not　that　he　could　possibly　know　the　poison　used　was　aconite…wondering　where　he　had　got　it；　where　he　kept　it　now；　where　he　had　learned　to　prepare　it　so　skilfully　that　it　could　indetectably　be　introduced　into　food？　And　not　only　who　was　the　poisoner　but　why　was　the　poisoner　acting　as　he　did？　And　why　the　random　nature　of　the　poisoning？　Was　he　basing　his　guesses　just　on　my　stealthy　behaviour？
　〃Lots　of　things；　not　all　of　which　have　necessarily　lately　happened；　just　things　that　have　e　to　light　or　seem　odd　in　view　of　what　we　might　call　recent　developments。　For　instance；　why　have　Captain　Imrie　and　Mr。　Stokes　been　chosen　for　the　job　instead　of　any　two　young　and　efficient　yacht　and　charter　skippers　and　engineers　who　usually　find　themselves　unemployed　at　this　time　of　year？　Because　they're　so　old　and　so　soaked　in　Scotch　and　rum　that　they　can't　tell　the　time　of　day　twenty　hours　out　of　the　twenty…four。　They　just　don't　see　what　goes　on　and　even　if　they　were　to　they'd　probably　attach　no　significance　to　it　anyway。〃
　I　didn't　put　down　my　glass；　look　keenly　at　Smithy　or　in　any　other　way　indicate　that　I　was　not　listening　with　undivided　attention。　But　I　was。　This　thought　had　never　occurred　to　me。
　Smithy　continued。　I　said　last　night　that　I　thought　the　presence　of　Mr。　Gerran　and　his　pany　up　here　at　this　time　in　the　year　was　a　bit　odd。　I　don't　think　so　any　more。　I　think　it's　damned　peculiar　and　calls　for　some　sort　of　rational　explanation　from　your　friend　Otto；　which　we're　not　likely　to　get。〃
　〃He's　not　my　friend；〃　I　said。
　〃And　this。〃　He　pulled　out　a　copy　of　the　Olympus　Productions　manifesto。　〃A　load　of　meaningless　rubbish　that　old　smoothie　Goin　has　been　inflicting　on　everybody　in　sight。　Have　you…〃
　〃Goin？　A　smoothie？〃
　〃An　untrustworthy；　time…serving；　money…grubbing　smoothie　with　his　two　hands　never　on　speaking　terms　and　I'd　say　that　even　if　he　weren't　a　professional　accountant。〃
　〃Maybe　he'd　better　not　be　my　friend　either；〃　I　said。
　〃All　this　ridiculous　secrecy　they　harp　on　in　thi