alistairmaclean.bearisland-第27部分

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　〃Disappeared　where？〃　It　wasn't　a　very　intelligent　question　but　then　it　wasn't　meant　to　be。
　〃That's　what　I'd　like　to　know。〃　I　didn't　much　care　for　the　way　he　looked　at　me　either。
　〃He　can't　just　have　disappeared。　I　mean；　you've　searched　for　him？〃
　〃We've　searched　for　him；　all　right。〃　The　voice　was　harsh　with　strain。
　Trom　anchor　locker　to　stern　post。　He's　not　aboard　the　Morning　Rose。〃
　〃My　God；〃　I　said。　〃This　is　awful。〃　I　looked　at　him　in　what　I　hoped　registered　as　puzzlement。　Tut　why　tell　me　all　this？〃
　Because　I　thought　you　might　be　able　to　help　us。〃
　〃Help　you？　I'd　like　to；　but　how？　I　assume　that　you　can　only　be　approaching　me　in　my　medical　capacity　and　I　can　assure　you　that　there's　absolutely　nothing　in　what　I've　seen　of　him　or　read　in　his　medical　history…〃
　I　wasn't　approaching　you　in　your　bloody　medical　capacity！〃　Captain　Imrie　had　started　to　breathe　very　heavily。　〃I　just　thought　you　might　help　me　in　other　ways。　Bloody　strange；　isn't　it；　mister；　that　you've　been　in　the　thick　of　everything　that's　been　happening？〃　I'd　nothing　to　say　to　this；　I'd　just　been　thinking　the　same　thing　myself。　〃How　it　was　you　who　just　〃happened〃　to　find　Antonio　dead。　How　it　was　you　who　just　〃happened〃　to　go　to　the　bridge　when　Smith　and　Oakley　were　ill。　How　it　was　you　who　went　straight　to　the　stewards〃　cabin　in　the　crew　quarters。　Next　thing；　I　suppose；　you'd　have　gone　straight　to　Mr。　Gerran's　cabin　and　found　him　dead　also；　if　Mr。　Goin　hadn't　had　the　good　luck　to　go　there　first。　And　isn't　it　bloody　strange；　mister；　that　a　doctor；　the　one　person　who　could　have　helped　those　people　and　seemingly　couldn't；　is　the　one　person　aboard　with　enough　medical　knowledge　to　make　them　sick　in　the　first　place？〃
　No　question…looking　at　it　from　his　angle…Captain　Imrie　was　developing　quite　a　reasonable　point　of　view。　I　was　more　than　vaguely　surprised　to　find　that　he　was　capable　of　developing　a　point　of　view　in　the　first　place。
　Clearly；　I'd　been　underestimating　him：　just　how　much　I　was　immediately　to　realise。
　〃And　just　why　were　you　spending　so　much　time　in　the　galley　late　the　night　before　last…when　I　was　in　my　bed；　damn　you？　The　place　where　all　the　poison　came　from。　Haggerty　told　me。　He　told　me　you　were　poking　around…and　got　him　out　of　the　galley　for　a　spell。　You　didn't　find　what　you　wanted。　But　you　came　back　later；　didn't　you？　Wanted　to　find　out　where　the　food　leftovers　were；　didn't　you？　Pretended　you　were　surprised　when　they　were　gone。　That　would　look　good　in　court。〃
　〃Oh；　for　heaven's　sake；　you　silly　old…〃
　〃And　you　were　very；　very　late　abroad　that　night；　weren't　you？　Oh；　making　enquiries。　Up　in　the　saloon…Mr。　Goin　told　me：　up　yes；　I've　been　on　the　bridge…Oakley　told　me：　down　in　the　lounge…Gilbert　told　me：　and'　…he　paused　dramatically…〃in　Halliday's　cabin…his　cabin…mate　told　me。
　And；　most　of　all；　who　was　the　man　who　stopped　me　from　going　to　Hammerfest　when　I　wanted　to　and　persuaded　the　others　to　sign　this　worthless　guarantee　of　yours　absolving　me　from　all　blame？　Tell　me　that；　eh；　mister？〃
　His　trump　card　played；　Captain　Imrie　rested　his　case。　I　had　to　stop　the　old　coot；　he　was　working　himself　up　to　having　me　clapped　in　irons。　I　sympathised　with　him；　I　was　sorry　for　what　I　would　have　to　say　to　him；　but　clearly　this　wasn't　my　morning　for　making　friends　anyway。　I　looked　at　him　coldly　and　without　expression　for　about　ten　seconds　then　said：　〃My　name's　〃Doctor〃　not　〃mister。〃　I'm　not　your　damned　mate。〃
　〃What？　What　was　that？〃
　I　opened　the　door　to　the　wheelhouse　and　invited　him　to　pass　through。
　‘You　just　mentioned　the　word　〃court。〃　just　step　out　there　and　repeat　those　slanderous　allegations　in　the　presence　of　witnesses　and　you'll　find　yourself　standing　in　a　part　of　a　court　you　never　expected　to　be　in。　Can　you　imagine　the　extent　of　the　damages？〃
　From　his　face　and　the　perceptible　shrinking　of　his　burly　frame　it　was　apparent　that　Captain　Imrie　immediately　could。　I　was　a　long；　long　way　from　being　proud　of　myself；　he　was　a　worried　old　man　saying　honestly　what　he　thought　had　to　be　said；　but　he'd　left　me　with　no　option。　I　closed　the　door　and　wondered　how　best　to　begin。
　I　wasn't　given　the　time　to　begin。　The　knock　on　the　door　and　the　opening　of　the　door　came　on　the　same　instant。　Oakley　had　an　urgent　and　rather　apprehensive　look　about　him。
　I　think　you'd　better　e　down　to　the　saloon　right　away；　sir；〃　he　said　to　Imrie。　He　looked　at　me。　〃You；　too；　I'm　afraid；　Dr。　Marlowe。　There's　been　a　fight　down　there；　a　bad　one。〃
　〃Great　God　Almighty！〃　If　Captain　Imrie　still　had　had　any　lingering　hopes　that　he　was　running　a　happy　ship；　the　last　of　them　was　gone。　For　a　man　of　his　years　and　bulk　he　made　a　remarkably　rapid　exit：　I　followed　more　leisurely。
　Oakley's　description　had　been　reasonably　accurate。　There　had　been　a　fight　and　a　very　unpleasant　affair　it　must　have　been　too　during　the　period　it　had　lasted…obviously；　the　very　brief　period　it　had　lasted。　There　were　only　half…a…dozen　people　in　the　saloon　altogether…one　or　two　were　still　suffering　sufficiently　from　the　rigours　or〃　the　Barents　Sea　to　prefer　the　solitude　of　their　cabins　to　the　forbidding　beauties　of　Bear　Island；　while　the　Three　Apostles；　as　ever；　were　down　in　the　recreation　room；　still　cacophonously　searching　for　the　bottom　rung　on　the　ladder　to　musical　immortality。
　Three　of　the　six　were　standing；　one　sitting；　one　kneeling　and　the　last　stretched　out　on　the　deck　of　the　saloon。　The　three　on　their　feel？　were　Lonnie　and　Eddie　and　Hendriks；　all　with　the　air　of　concerned　but　hesitant　helplessness　that　afflicts　unmitted　bystanders　on　such　occasions。
　Michael。　Stryker　was　sitting　in　a　chair　at　the　captain's　table；　using　a　very　blood…stained　handkerchief　to　dab　a　deep　cut　on　the　right　cheekbone：　it　was　noticeable　that　the　knuckles　of　the　hand　that　held　the　handkerchief　were　quite　badly　skinned。　The　kneeling　figure　was　Mary　Darling。　All　I　could　see　was　her　back；　the　long　blond　tresses　falling　to　the　deck　and　her　big　horn…rimmed　spectacles　lying　about　two　feel？　away。　She　was　crying；　but　crying　silently；　the　thin　shoulders　shaking　convulsively　in　incipient　hysteria。　I　knelt　and　raised　her；　still　kneeling；　to　an　upright　position。　She　stared　at　me；　ashen…faced；　no　tears　in　her　eyes；　not　recognising　me：　without　her　glasses　she　was　as　good　as　blind。
　〃It's　all　right；　Mary；〃　I　said。　〃Only　me。　Dr。　Marlowe。〃　I　looked　at　the　figure　on　the　floor　and　recognised　him；　not　without　some　difficulty；　as　young　Allen。　〃e　on；　now；　be　a　good　girl。　Let　me　have　a　look　at　him。〃
　He's　terribly　hurt；　Dr。　Marlowe；　terribly　hurt！〃　She　had　difficulty　in　getting　her　words　out　during　long　and　almost　soundless　gasps。　〃Oh；　look　at　him；　look　at　him；　it's　awful！〃　Then　she　started　crying　in　earnest；　not　quietly　this　time。　Her　whole　body　shook。　I　looked　up。
　〃Mr。　Hendriks；　will　you　please　go　to　the　galley　and　ask　Mr。　Haggerty　for　some　brandy？　Tell　him　I　want　it。　If　he's　not　there；　take　it　anyway。〃
　Hendriks　nodded　and　hurried　away。　I　said　to　Captain　Imrie：　〃Sorry；　I　should　have　asked　permission。〃
　〃That's　all　right；　Doctor。〃　We　were　back　on　professional　terms　again；　however　briefly：　perhaps　it　was　because　his　reply　was　largely　automatic　for　the　bulk　of　his　interest；　and　all　that　clearly　hostile；　was　for　the　moment　centred　on　Michael　Stryker。　I　turned　back　to　Mary。
　〃Go　and　sit　on　the　settee；　there。　And　take　some　of　that　brandy。　You　hear？〃
　〃No！　No！　I…〃
　〃Doctor's　orders。〃　I　looked　at　Eddie　and　Lonnie　and　without　a　word　from　me　they　took　her　across　to　the　nearest　settee。　I　didn't　wait　to　see　whether　she　followed　doctor's　orders　or　not：　a　now　stirring　Allen　had　more　pressing　claims　on　my　attention。　Stryker　had　done　a　hatchet　job　on　him：　he　had　a　cut　forehead；　a　bruised　cheek；　an　eye　that　was　going　to　be　closed　by　night；　blood　ing　from　both　nostrils；　a　split　lip；　one　tooth　missing　and　another　so　loose　that　it　was　going　to　be　missing　very　soon　also。
　I　said　to　Stryker：　〃You　do　this　to　him？〃
　〃Obvious；　isn't　it？〃
　〃You　have　to　savage　him　like　this？　Christ；　man；　he's　only　a　kid。　Why　don't　you　pick　on　someone　your　own　size　next　time？〃
　Like　you；　for　instance？〃
　〃Oh；　my　God！〃　I　said　wearily。　Beneath　Stryker's　tissue…thin　veneer　of　civilisation　lay　something　very　crude　indeed。　I　ignored　him；　asked　Lonnie　to　get　water　from　the　galley　and　cleaned　up　Allen　as　best　I　could。　As　was　invariable　in　such　cases　the　removal　of　surface　blood　improved　his　appearance　about　eighty　percent。　A　plaster　on　his　forehead；　two　cottonwool　plugs　for　his　nose　and　two　stitches　in　a　frozen　lip　and　I'd　done　all　I　could　for　him。　I　straightened　as　an　indignant　Captain　Imrie　started　questioning　Stryker。
　〃What　happened；　Mr。　Stryker？〃
　〃A　quarrel。〃
　〃A　quarrel；　was　it　now？〃　Captain　Imrie　was　being　heavily　ironic。　〃And　what　started　the　quarrel？〃
　〃An　insult。　From　him。〃
　〃From　that…from　that　child？〃　The　captain's　feelings　clearly　matched　my　own。　〃What　kind　of　insult　to　do　that　to　a　boy？〃
　〃A　private　insult。〃　Stryker　dabbed　the　cut　on　his　cheek　and；　Hippocrates　in　temporary　abeyance；　I　felt　sorry　that　it　wasn't　deeper；　even　although　it　looked　quite　unpleasant　enough　as　it　was。　〃He　just　got　what　anyone　gets　who　insults　me；　that's　all。〃
　〃I　shall　endeavour　to　keep　a　still　tongue　in　my　head；〃　Captain　Imrie　said　drily。　〃However；　as　captain　of　this　ship…〃
　〃I'm　not　a　member　of　your　damned　crew。　If　that　young　fool　there　doesn't　lodge　a　plaint…and　he　won't…I'd　be　obligated　if　you'd　mind　your　own　business。〃　Stryker　rose　and　left　the　saloon。　Captain　Imrie　made　as　if　to　follow；　changed　his　mind；　sat　down　wearily　at　the　head　of　his　own　table　and　reached　for　his　own　private　bottle。　He　said　to　the　three　men　now　clustered　round　Mary：　〃Any　of　you　see　what　happened？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃　It　was　Hendriks。　〃Mr。　Stryker　was　standing　alone　over　by　the　window　there　when　Allen　went　up　to　speak　to　him；　I　don't　know　what；　and　next　moment　they　were　rolling　about　the　floor。　It　didn't　last　more　than　seconds。〃
　Captain　Imrie　nodded　wearily　and　poured　a　considerable　measure　into　his　glass；　he　was　obviously　and　rightly　depending　on　Smithy　to　make　the　approach　to　the　anchorage。　I　got　Allen；　now　quite　conscious；　to　his　feel？
　and　led　him　towards　the　saloon　door。　Captain　Imrie　said：　〃Taking　him　below？〃
　I　nodded。　〃And　when　I　e　back　I'll　tell　you　all　about　how　I　started　it。〃　He　scowled　at　me　and　returned　to　his　Scotch。　Mary；　I　noticed；　was　sipping　at　the　brandy　and　shuddering　at　every　sip。　Lonnie　held　her　glasses　in　his　hand　and　I　escaped　with　Allen　before　he　gave　them　back　to　her。　I　got　Allen　into　his　bunk　and　covered　him　up。　He　had　a　little　colour　in　his　battered　cheeks　now　but　still　hadn't　spoken。
　I　said：　〃What　was　all　that　about？〃
　He　hesitated。　〃I'm　sorry。　I'd　rather　not　say。〃
　‘Why　ever　not？〃
　〃I'm　sorry　again。　It's　a　bit　private。〃
　〃Someone　could　be　hurt？〃
　〃Yes；　I…〃　He　stopped。
　〃It's　all　right。　You　must　be　very　fond　of　her。〃　He　looked　at　me　for　a　few　silent　moments；　then　nodded。　I　went　on：　Shall　I　bring　her　down？〃
　〃No；　Doctor；　no！　I　don't　want…I　mean；　with　my　face　like　this。　No；　no；　I　couldn't！〃
　‘Your　face　was　an　awful　sight　worse　just　five　minutes　ago。　She　was　doing　a　fair　job　of　breaking　her　heart　even　then。〃
　〃Was　she？〃　He　tried　to　smile　and　winced。　〃Well；　all　right。〃
　I　left　and　went　to　Stryker's　cabin。　He　answered　my　knock　and　his　face　didn't