alistairmaclean.bearisland-第43部分

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ed　beam　of　my　torch：　a　single　line　of　tracks　led　outwards。
　〃Well；　now；〃　Smithy　said　softly。　〃Our　lad's　down　at　the　boats　or　the　sub。　If　we　go　to　investigate　we　might　bump　into　him。　If　we　go　down　to　the　end　of　the　jetty　for　a　quick　look…see　and　don't　bump　into　him　he's　still　bound　to　see　our　tracks　on　his　return　trip。　We　want　to　make　our　presence　known？〃
　No。　No　law　against　a　man　taking　a　stroll　when　he　feels　like　it；　even　though　it　is　in　a　blizzard。　And　if　we　declare　ourselves　you　can　be　damn　sure　he'll　never　put　another　foot　wrong　as　long　as　we　remain　on　Bear　Island。〃
　We　withdrew　to　the　shelter　of　some　rocks　only　a　few　yards　distant　along　the　beach；　an　almost　wholly　superfluous　precaution　in　that　close　to　zero　visibility。
　〃What　do　you　think　he's　up　to？〃　Smithy　said。
　〃Specifically；　no　idea。　Generally；　anything　between　the　felonious　and　the　villainous。　We'll　check　down　there　when　he's　gone。〃
　Whatever　purpose　he'd　had　in　mind；　it　hadn't　taken　him　long　to　achieve　it　for　he　was　gone　within　two　minutes；　The　snow　was　so　thick；　the　darkness　so　nearly　absolute；　that　he　might　well　have　passed　by　both　unseen　and　unheard　had　it　not　been　for　the　erratic　movement　of　the　small　torch　he　held　in　his　hand。　We　waited　for　some　seconds　then　straightened。
　〃Was　he　carrying　anything？〃　I　said。
　〃Same　thought　here；〃　Smithy　said。　〃He　could　have　been。　But　I　couldn't　swear　to　it。〃
　We　followed　the　double　tracks　in　the　snow　down　to　the　end　of　the　Jetty　where　they　ended　at　the　head　of　the　iron　ladder　leading　down　to　the　submarine　mock…up。　No　question　but　this　was　where　he'd　gone　for　apart　from　the　fact　that　there　was　nowhere　else　where　he　could　have　been　his　footprints　were　all　over　the　hull　and；　when　we'd　climbed　into　it；　the　platform　in　the　conning　tower。　We　dropped　down　into　the　hull　of　the　submarine。　Nothing　was　changed；　nothing　appeared　to　be　missing　from　our　earlier　visit。　Smithy　said：　〃I've　taken　a　sudden　dislike　to　this　place。　Last　time　we　were　here　I　called　it　an　iron　tomb。　I　wouldn't　want　it　to　be　our　tomb。〃
　〃You　feel　it　might？〃
　〃Our　friend　seemingly　didn't　take　anything　away。　But　he　must　have　had　some　purpose　in　ing　here　so　I　assume　he　brought　something。　On　the　track　record　to　date　that　purpose　wouldn't　be　anything　I'd　like　and　neither　would　be　that　something　he　brought。　How　would　it　be　if　he'd　planted　something　to　blow　the　damn　thing　up？〃
　〃Why　would　he　want　to　do　a　crazy　thing　like　that？〃　I　didn't　feel　as　disbelieving　as　I　sounded。
　〃Why　has　he　done　any　of　the　crazy　things　he's　done？　Right　now；　I　don't　want　a　reason。　I　just　want　to　know　whether；　as　of　now；　and　here　and　now；　he's　just　done　another　crazy　thing。　What　I　mean　is；　I'm　nervous。〃
　He　wasn't　the　only　one。　I　said：　〃Assuming　you're　right；　he　couldn't　blow　this　thing　up　with　a　little　itsy…bitsy　piece　of　plastic　explosive。　It　would　have　to　be　something　big　enough　to　make　a　big　bang。　So；　a　delayed　action　fuse。〃
　〃To　give　him　time　to　be　asleep　in　his　innocent　bed　when　the　explosion　goes　off？　I'm　more　nervous　than　ever。　I　wonder　how　long　he　figured　it　would　take　him　to　get　back　to　his　bed。〃
　〃He　could　do　it　in　a　minute。〃
　〃God's　sake；　why　are　we　standing　here　talking？〃　Smithy　flashed　his　torch　around。　〃Where　the　hell　would　a　man　put　a　device　like　that？〃
　〃Against　a　bulkhead；　I'd　say。　Or　on　the　bottom。〃
　We　examined　the　deck　first　but　all　the　bars　of　cast…iron　ballast　and　their　securing　wooden　battens　appeared　to　be　undisturbed　and　firmly　in　place。
　There　was　just　no　room　there　for　even　the　smallest　explosive　device。　We　turned　to　the　rest　of　the　hull；　looked　behind　the　mushroom　anchors；　among　the　chains；　under　the　pressor　unit　and　the　windlass　and　behind　the　plastic　models　of　periscope　and　guns。　We　found　nothing。　We　even　peered　at　the　cleaning　plates　on　the　ballast　tanks　to　see　if　any　of　those　could　have　been　unscrewed　but　there　were　no　marks　on　them。　And　there　was　certainly　no　place　where　such　a　device　could　have　been　attached　to　the　bulkheads　themselves　without　being　instantly　detectable。
　Smithy　looked　at　me。　It　was　difficult　to　say　whether　he　was　perplexed　or；　like　me；　increasingly　and　unfortably　conscious　of　the　fact　that　if　such　a　time　device　did　exist　time　might　be　swiftly　running　out。　He　looked　towards　the　fore　end　of　the　hull　and　said：　〃Or　he　might　just　have　dropped　it　in　one　of　those　lockers。　Easiest　and　quickest　place　to　hide　anything；　after　all。〃
　〃Most　unlikely；〃　I　said；　but　I　reached　there　before　he　did。　I　ran　the　beam　of　the　torch　over　the　paint　locker　and　then　the　light　steadied　on　a　wooden　batten　close　by　the　floor　of　the　locker。　I　kept　the　light　where　it　was　and　said　to　Smithy：　〃You　see　it；　too？〃
　〃A　giveaway　piece　of　fresh　and　unmelted　snow。　From　a　boot。〃　He　reached　for　the　lid　of　the　locker。　〃Well；　time's　a…wasting。　Better　open　the　damn　thing。〃
　〃Better　not。〃　I'd　caught　his　arm。　〃How　do　you　know　it's　not　boobytrapped。〃
　〃There's　that。〃　He'd　snatched　back　his　band　like　a　man　seeing　a　tiger's　jaws　closing　on　it。　〃It　would　save　the　cost　of　a　time　fuse。　How　do　we　open　it；　then？〃
　〃Gradually。　It's　unlikely　that　he　had　the　time　to　rig　up　anything　so　elaborate　as　an　electrical　trigger　but　if　he　did　there'll　be　contacts　in　the　lid。　More　likely；　if　anything；　a　simple　pull　cord。　In　either　event　nothing　can　operate　in　the　first　two　inches　of　lift　for　he　must　have　left　at　least　that　space　to　withdraw　his　hand。〃
　So　we　gingerly　opened　the　lid　those　two　inches；　examined　the　rim　and　what　we　could　see　of　the　interior　of　the　locker　and　found　nothing。　I　pushed　the　locker　lid　right　back。　There　was　no　sign　of　any　explosive。　Nothing　had　been　put　inside。　But　something　had　been　removed…two　cans　of　the　quick…dry　paint　and　two　brushes。　Smithy　looked　at　me　and　shook　his　head。　Neither　of　us　said　anything。　The　reasons　for　removing　a　couple　of　paint　cans　were　so　wholly　inconceivable　that；　clearly；　there　was　nothing　that　could　be　gainfully　said。　We　closed　the　locker；　climbed　up　the　conning　tower　and　regained　the　pier。　I　said：　〃It's　very　unlikely　that　he　would　have　taken　them　back　to　the　cabin　with　him。　After　all；　they're　large　cans　and　not　easy　things　to　hide　in　a　tiny　cubicle　especially　if　any　of　your　friends　should　chance　to　e　calling。〃
　〃He　doesn't　have　to　hide　them　there。　As　I　said　earlier；　there　are　a　thousand　snowdrifts　where　you　can　hide　practically　anything。〃
　But　if　he'd　hidden　anything　he　hadn't　hidden　them　in　any　of　the　snowdrifts　between　the　jetty　and　the　cabin；　for　his　tracks　led　straight　back　to　the　latter　without　any　deviation　to　either　side。　We　followed　the　footprints　right　back　close　up　to　the　cabin　walls　and　there　they　were　lost　in　the　smudged　line　of　tracks　that　led　right　round　the　cabin's　perimeter。　Smithy　hooded　his　torch　and　examined　the　tracks　for　some　seconds。
　He　said：　I　think　that　track's　wider　and　deeper　than　it　was　before。　I　think　that　someone…and　it　doesn't　have　to　be　the　same　person…has　been　making　another　grand　tour　of　the　cabin。〃
　I　think　you're　right；〃　I　said。　I　led　the　way　back　to　the　window　of　our　own　cubicle　and　was　about　to　pull　it　open　when　some　instinct…or　perhaps　it　was　because　I　was　now　subconsciously　looking　for　the　suspicious　or　untoward　in　every　possible　situation…made　me　shine　my　torch　on　the　window　frame。　I　turned　to　Smithy。　〃Notice　something？〃
　I　notice　something。　The　wad　of　paper　we　left　jammed　between　the　window　and　frame…well；　it's　no　longer　jammed　between　window　and　frame。〃　He　shone　his　torch　on　the　ground；　stopped　and　picked　something　up。　〃Because　it　was　lying　down　there。　A　caller　or　callers。〃
　〃So　it　would　seem。〃　We　clambered　inside　and　while　Smithy　started　screwing　the　window　back　in　place　I　turned　up　the　oil　lamp　and　started　to　look　around　partly　for　some　other　evidence　to　show　that　an　intruder　had　been　there　but　mainly　to　try　to　discover　the　reason　for　his　being　there。　Inevitably；　my　first　check　was　on　the　medical　equipment　and　my　first　check　was　my　last　and　very　brief　it　was　too。　
　〃Well；　well；〃　I　said。　〃Two　birds　with　one　stone。　We're　a　brilliant　pair。〃
　〃We　are？〃
　〃The　lad　you　saw　with　his　face　pressed　against　that　window。　Probably　had　it　stuck　against　it　for　all　of　five　minutes　until　he'd　made　sure　he'd　been　seen。　Then　to　make　certain　you　were　really　interested；　he　went　and　shone　his　torch　into　Judith　Haynes's　window。　No　two　actions；　he　must　have　calculated；　could　have　been　designed　to　lure　us　out　into　the　open　more　quickly。〃
　〃He　was　right　at　that；　wasn't　he？〃　He　looked　at　my　opened　medical　kit　and　said　carefully：　〃I'm　to　take　it；　then；　that　there's　something　missing　there？〃
　〃You　may　so　take　it。〃　I　showed　him　the　velvet…lined　gap　in　the　tray　where　the　something　missing　had　been。　〃A　lethal　dose　of　morphine。〃
　
　11
　
　〃Four　bells　and　all's　well；〃　Smithy　said；　shaking　my　shoulder。　Neither　the　call　nor　the　shake　was　necessary；　I　was　by　this　time；　even　in　my　sleep；　in　so　keyed…up　a　state　that　his　turning　of　the　door　handle　had　been　enough　to　have　me　instantly　awake。　〃Time　to　report　to　the　bridge。　We've　made　some　fresh　coffee。〃
　I　followed　him　into　the　main　cabin；　said　a　greeting　to　Conrad　who　was　bent　over　pot　and　cups　at　the　oil　stove　and　went　to　the　front　door。　To　my　surprise　the　wind；　now　fully　round　to　the　west；　had　dropped　away　to　something　of　not　more　than　the　order　for　a　Force　3；　the　snow　had　thinned　to　the　extent　that　it　promised　to　cease　altogether　pretty　soon　and　I　even　imagined　I　could　see　a　few　faint　stars　in　a　clear　patch　of　sky　to　the　south；　beyond　the　entrance　of　the　Sor…Hamna。　But　the　cold；　if　anything；　was　even　more　intense　than　it　had　been　earlier　in　the　night。　I　closed　the　door　quickly；　turned　to　Smithy　and　spoke　softly。
　〃An　unlooked　for　change　in　the　weather。　If　this　improvement　maintains　itself　I　can　see　Otto　calling　on　you…and　if　he　doesn't　someone's　going　to　remind　him　by　suggesting　it…to　carry　out　your　offer　of　last　night　and　strike　out　for　Tunheim　and　the　law。〃
　〃I'm　beginning　to　regret　I　ever　made　the　offer…but　I　didn't　seem　to　have　much　option　at　the　time。〃
　〃And　you　won't　have　any　option　if；　e　the　dawn；　the　sun　is　shining。　No　way　to　pull　out　now。　Watch　Heyter；　though；　watch　him　very　very　closely。〃
　Smithy　was　silent　for　a　considering　moment。　〃You　think　he　bears　watching？〃
　。He's　one　of　thirteen　potential　murderers　and　for　me　those　odds　are　small　enough　to　make　them　all　deserving　of　as　close　an　eye　as　the　crown　jewels。　And　if；　in　that　thirteen；　you　were　to　cut　out　Conrad；　Lonnie；　and　the　Three　Apostles…and　mentally　I've　already　cut　them　out…you've　brought　the　odds　down　to　one　in　eight。　Perhaps　two　in　eight…perhaps　even　a　very　unfortable　three　in　eight。〃
　〃You're　very　encouraging；〃　Smithy　said。　〃What　makes　you　so　sure　that　those　five…〃　He　broke　off。　as　Luke；　yawning　and　stretching　vastly；　entered　the　main　cabin。　Luke　was　a　thin；　awkward；　gangling　creature；　a　towheaded　youth　urgently　in　need　of　the　restraining　influences　of　either　a　barber　or　a　ribbon。
　I　said：　〃Do　you　see　him　as　a　gun　for　hire？〃
　I　could　have　him　up　for　mitting　musical　atrocities　with　a　guitar；　I　should　think。　Otherwise…yes；　I　agree。　Very　little　threat　to　life　and　limb。
　And；　yes　again；　that　would　go　for　the　other　four；　too。〃　He　watched　as　Conrad　went　into　one　of　the　passages；　carrying　a　cup　of　coffee。　〃I'd　put　my　money　on　our　leading　man　any　day。〃
　〃Where　on　ear