alistairmaclean.bearisland-第42部分

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ing　every　possible　precaution；　we　should　proceed　with　the　business　in　hand…the　reason　why　we　came　to　this　island　at　all…in　as　normal　a　fashion　as　possible。　I　am　sure　you　will　all　agree　with　me　that　it　is　much　better　to　have　our　time　and　attention　taken　up…I　will　not　say　gainfully　employed…by　working　steadily　at　something　purposive　and　constructive　rather　than　sit　idly　by　and　have　those　awful　things　prey　upon　our　minds。　I　do　not　suggest　that　we　can　pretend　that　those　things　never　happened：　I　do　suggest　that　it　will　benefit　all　of　us　if　we　act　as　if　they　hadn't。
　〃Weather　permitting；　we　will　have　three　crews　in　the　field　tomorrow。〃
　Otto　wasn't　consulting；　he　was　telling：　I'd　have　done　the　same　in　his　place。　〃The　main　group；　under　Mr。　Divine　here；　will　go　north　up　Lerner's　Way…a　road　built　through　to　the　next　bay　about　the　turn　of　the　century　although　I　don't　suppose　there　are　many　traces　left　of　it　now。　The　Count；　Allen；　and　Cecil　here　will　of　course　acpany　him。　I　intend　to　go　along　myself　and　I'll　want　you　there　too；　Charles。〃　This　to　Conrad。
　Tou'll　require　me　along；　Mr。　Gerran？〃　This　from　Mary　Darling；　her　hand　upraised　like　a　little　girl　in　class。
　〃Well；　it'll　be　nearly　all　background…〃　He　broke　off；　glanced　at　Allen's　battered　face；　then　looked　again　at　Mary　with　what　I　took　to　be　a　roguish　smile。　If　you　wish　to；　certainly。　Mr。　Hendriks；　with　Luke；　Mark；　and　John　here；　will　try　to　capture　for　us　all　the　sounds　of　the　island…the　wind　on　the　fells；　the　birds　on　the　cliffs；　the　waves　breaking　against　the　shore。
　Mr。　Heissman　here　is　taking　a　hand　camera　out　in　the　boat　to　seek　out　some　suitable　seaward　locations…Mr。　Jungbeck　and　Mr。　Heyter；　who　have　nothing　on　tomorrow；　have　kindly　volunteered　to　acpany　him。
　〃These；　then；　are　our　decisions　for　tomorrow's　programme。　But　the　most　important　decision　of　all；　which　I　have　left　to　the　last；　is　in　no　way　connected　with　our　work。　We　have　decided　that　it　is　essential　that　we　seek　help　with　all　possible　speed。　By　help　I　mean　the　law；　police　or　some　such　recognised　authority。　It　is　not　only　our　duty；　it　may　well　be　essential　for　our　own　self…preservation；　to　have　a　thorough　and　expert　investigation　made　as　quickly　as　is　humanly　possible。　To　call　for　help　we　need　a　radio　and　the　nearest　is　at　the　Norwegian　Meteorological　Station　in　Tunbeim。〃
　I　carefully　refrained　from　looking　at　Smithy　and　was　confident　that　he　would　reciprocate。　〃Mr。　Smith；　your　presence　here　may　prove　to　be　a　blessing…you　are　the　only　professional　seaman　amongst　us。　What　would　be　the　chances　of　reaching　Tunheim　by　boat？〃
　Smithy　was　silent　for　a　few　seconds　to　lend　weight　to　his　observations　then　said：　〃In　the　present　conditions　so　poor　that　I　wouldn't　even　consider　trying　it；　not　even　in　those　desperate　circumstances。　We've　had　very　heavy　weather　recently；　Mr。　Gerran；　and　the　seas　won't　subside　for　quite　some　time。　The　drawback　with　those　workboats　is　that　if　one　does　encounter　rough　seas　ahead　you　can't　do　what　you　would　normally　do；　that　is；　turn　and　run　before　the　sea：　those　boats　are　pletely　open　at　the　back　and　would　almost　certainly　be　pooped…that　is；　they'd　fill　up　with　water　and　sink。　So　you'd　have　to　be　pretty　certain　of　your　weather　before　you　set　out。〃
　〃I　see。　Too　dangerous　for　the　moment。　When　the　sea　moderates；　Mr。　Smith？〃
　〃Depends　upon　the　wind。　It's　backing　to　the　west　right　now　and　if　it　were　to　stay　in　that　quarter…well；　it's　feasible。　If　it　moves　round　to　the　northwest　or　beyond；　no。　Not　on。〃　Smithy　smiled。　I　wouldn't　say　that　an　overland　trip　would　be　all　that　easier；　but　at　least　you　wouldn't　be　swamped　in　heavy　seas。〃
　〃Ah！　So　you　think　that　it　is　at　least　possible　to　reach　Tunheim　on　foot？〃
　〃Well；　I　don't　know。　I'm　no　expert　on　Arctic　travel；　I'm　sure　Mr。　Heissman　here…I'm　told　he's　been　giving　a　lecture　about　this　already…is　much　more　qualified　to　speak　about　it　than　I　am。〃
　〃No；　no。〃　Heissman　waved　a　deprecating　hand。　〃Let's　hear　what　you　think；　Mr。　Smith。〃
　So　Smithy　let　them　hear　what　he　thought　which　was　more　or　less　a　verbatim　repetition　of　what　I'd　said　to　him　in　our　cubicle　earlier。　When　he'd　finished；　Heissman；　who　probably　knew　as　much　about　winter　travel　in　Arctic　regions　as　I　did　about　the　back　side　of　the　moon；　nodded　sagely　and　said：　〃Succinctly　and　admirably　put。　I　agree　entirely　with　Mr。　Smith。〃
　There　was　a　thoughtful　silence　eventually　broken　by　Smithy　who　said　diffidently：　〃I'm　the　supernumerary　here。　If　the　weather　eases；　I　don't　mind　trying。〃
　〃And　now　I　have　to　disagree　with　you；〃　Heissman　said　promptly。　〃Suicidal；　just　suicidal；　my　boy。〃
　〃Not　to　he　thought　of　for　an　instant；〃　Otto　said　firmly。　〃For　safety…for　mutual　safety…nothing　short　of　an　expedition　would　do。〃
　I　wouldn't　want　an　expedition；〃　Smithy　said　mildly。　〃I　don't　see　that　the　blind　leading　the　blind　would　help　much。〃
　〃Mr。　Gerran。〃　It　was　Jon　Heyter　speaking。　〃Perhaps　I　could　be　of　help　here？〃
　〃You？〃　Otto　looked　at　him　in　momentary　perplexity　then　his　face　cleared。　〃Of　course。　I'd　forgotten　about　that。〃　He　said　in　explanation：　Jon　here　was　my　stuntman　in　The　High　Sierra。　A　climbing　picture。　He　doubled　for　the　actors　who　were　too　terrified　or　too　valuable　for　the　climbing　sequences。　A　really　first…class　alpinist；　I　assure　you。　How　about　that；　then；　eh；　Mr。　Smith？〃
　I　was　about　to　wonder　how　Smith　would　field　that　one　when　he　answered　immediately。　〃That's　about　the　size　of　the　expedition　I'd　have　in　mind。　I'd　be　very　glad　to　have　Mr。　Heyter　along…he'd　probably　have　to　carry　me　most　of　the　way　there。〃
　〃Well；　that's　settled；　then；〃　Otto　said。　〃Very　grateful　to　you　both。　But　only；　of　course；　if　the　weather　improves。　Well；　I　think　that　covers　everything。〃　He　smiled　at　me。　〃As　co…opted　board　member；　wouldn't　you　agree？〃
　〃Well；　yes；〃　I　said。　〃Except　with　your　assumption　that　everyone　will　be　here　in　the　morning　to　play　the　parts　you　have　assigned　to　them。〃
　〃Ah！〃　Otto　said。
　〃Precisely；〃　I　said。　‘You　weren't　seriously　contemplating　that　we　should　all　retire　for　the　night；　were　you？　For　certain　people　with　certain　purposes　in　mind　there　is　no　time　like　the　still　small　hours。　When　I　say　〃people；〃　I'm　not　going　out　of　the　bounds　of　this　cabin：　when　I　say　〃purposes；〃　I　refer　to　homicidal　ones。〃
　〃My　colleagues　and　I　have；　in　fact；　discussed　this；〃　Otto　said。　〃You　propose　we　set　watches？〃
　It　might　help　some　of　us　to　live　a　little　longer；〃　I　said。　I　moved　two　or　I　three　steps　until　I　was　in　the　centre　of　the　cabin。　〃From　here　I　can　see　into　all　Eve　corridors。　It　would　be　impossible　for　any　person　to　leave　or　enter　any　of　the　cubicles　without　being　observed　by　a　person　standing　here。〃
　〃Going　to　call　for　a　rather　special　type　of　person；　isn't　it？〃　Conrad　said。
　〃Someone　with　his　neck　mounted　on　swivels。〃
　〃Not　if　we　have　two　on　watch　at　the　same　time；〃　I　said。　〃And　as　the　time's　long　gone　when　anybody's　hurt　feelings　are　a　matter　of　any　importance；　two　people　on　watch　who　are　not　only　watching　the　corridors　but　watching　each　other。　A　suspect；　shall　we　say；　and　a　nonsuspect。
　Among　the　nonsuspects；　I　think　we　might　gallantly　exclude　the　two　Marys。　And　I　think　that　Allen；　too；　could　do　with　a　full　night's　sleep。　That　would　leave　Mr。　Gerran；　Mr。　Goin；　Mr。　Smith；　Cecil；　and　myself。　Five　of　us；　which　would　work　out　rather　well　for　two…hour　watches　between；　say；　ten　P。m。　and　eight　A。M。〃
　〃An　excellent　suggestion；〃　Otto　said。　〃Well；　then；　five　volunteers。〃
　There　were　thirteen　potential　volunteers　and　all　thirteen　immediately　offered　their　services。　Eventually　it　was　agreed　that　Goin　and　Hendriks　should　share　the　ten　to　midnight　watch；　Smith　and　Conrad　the　midnight　to　two；　myself　and　Luke　the　two　to　four；　Otto　and　Jungbeck　the　four　to　six　and　Cecil　and　Eddie　the　six　to　eight。　Some　of　the　others；　notably　the　Count　and　Heissman；　protested；　not　too　strongly；　that　they　were　being　discriminated　against：　the　reminder　that　there　would　be　still　another　twenty…one　nights　after　this　one　was　sufficient　to　ensure　that　the　protest　was　no　more　than　a　token　one。　The　decision　not　to　linger　around　in　small　talk　and　socialising　was　reached　with　a　far　from　surprising　unanimity。　There　was；　really；　only　one　thing　to　talk　about　and　nobody　wished　to　talk　about　it　in　case　he　had　picked　the　wrong　person　to　talk　to。　In　ones　and　twos；　and　within　a　very　few　minutes；　almost　everybody　had　moved　off　to　their　cubicles。　Apart　from　Smithy　and　myself；　only　Conrad　remained　and　I　knew　that　he　wished　to　talk　to　me。　Smithy　glanced　briefly　at　me　then　left　for　our　cubicle。
　〃How　did　you　know？〃　Conrad　said。　〃About　Lonnie　and　his　family？〃
　I　didn't。　I　guessed。　He's　talked　to　you？〃
　〃A　little。　Not　much。　He　had　a　family。〃
　〃Had？〃
　〃Had。　Wife　and　two　daughters。　Two　grown…up　girls。　A　car　crash。　I　don't　know　if　they　hit　another　car；　I　don't　know　who　was　driving。　Lonnie　just　clammed　up　as　if　he　had　already　said　too　much。　He　wouldn't　even　say　whether　he　had　been　in　the　car　himself；　whether　anyone　else　had　been　present；　not　even　when　it　had　taken　place。〃
　And　that　was　all　that　Conrad　had　learnt。　We　talked　in　a　desultory　fashion　for　some　little　time　and　when　Goin　and　Hendriks　appeared　to　begin　the　first　watch　I　left　for　my　cubicle。　Smithy　was　not　in　his　camp　bed。　Fully　clothed；　he　was　just　removing　the　last　of　the　screws　I'd　used　to　secure　the　window　frame：　he'd　the　flame　of　the　little　oil　lamp　turned　so　low　that　the　cubicle　was　in　semidarkness。
　〃Leaving？〃　I　said。
　〃Somebody　out　there。〃　Smithy　reached　for　his　anorak　and　I　did　the　same。　I　thought　maybe　we　shouldn't　use　the　front　door。〃
　〃Who　is　it？〃
　〃No　idea。　He　looked　in　here　but　his　face　was　just　a　white　blur。　He　doesn't　know　I　saw　him；　I'm　sure　of　that；　for　he　went　from　here　and　shone　a　torch　through　Judith　Haynes's　window　and　he　wouldn't　have　done　that　if　he　thought　anyone　was　watching。〃　Smithy　was　already　clambering　through　the　window。　〃He　put　his　torch　out　but　not　before　I　saw　where　he　was　heading。　Down　to　the　jetty；　I'm　sure。〃
　I　followed　Smithy　and　jammed　the　window　shut　as　I　had　done　before。　The　weather　was　very　much　as　it　had　been　earlier；　still　that　driving　snow；　the　deepening　cold；　the　darkness　and　that　bitter　wind　which　was　still　boxing　the　pass　and　had　moved　around　to　the　southwest。　We　moved　across　to　Judith　Haynes's　window；　hooded　our　torches　to　give　thin　pencil　beams　of　light；　picked　up　tracks　in　the　snow　that　led　off　in　the　direction　of　the　jetty　and　were　about　to　follow　them　when　it　occurred　to　me　that　it　might　be　instructive　to　see　where　they　came　from。　But　we　couldn't　find　where　they　came　from：　whoever　the　unknown　was　he'd　walked；　keeping　very　close　to　the　walls；　at　least　twice　round　the　cabin；　obviously　dragging　his　feel？　as　he　had　gone；　so　that　it　was　quite　impossible　to　discover　which　cubicle　window　he'd　used　as　an　exit　route　from　the　cabin。　That　he　should　have　so　effectively　covered　his　tracks　was　annoying：　that　he　should　have　thought　to　do　it　at　all　was　disconcerting　for　it　plainly　demonstrated　at　least　the　awareness　that　such　late…night　sorties　might　be　expected。　We　made　our　way　quickly　but　cautiously　down　to　the　jetty；　giving　the　unknown's　tracks　a　prudently　wide　berth。　At　the　head　of　the　jetty　I　risked　a　quick　Hash　with　the　narrowed　beam　of　my　torch：　a　single　line　of　tracks　led　outwards。
　〃Well；　now；〃　Smithy　said　softly。　〃Our