alistairmaclean.bearisland-第47部分

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cliffs；　a　bleak；　forbidding；　and　repellent　stretch　of　grey　water　and　precipitous　limestone　that　offered　no　haven　to　those　in　peril　on　the　sea。
　I　stretched　out　gratefully　on　the　snow　and；　when　the　thumping　of　my　heart　and　the　rasping　of　my　breathing　had　quietened　sufficiently　for　me　to　hold　a　pair　of　binoculars　steady；　I　used　them　to　quarter　the　Evjebukta。　It　was　pletely　bereft　of　life。　The　sun　was　up　now；　low　over　the　southeastern　horizon；　but　even　although　it　was　in　my　eyes；　visibility　was　good　enough　and　the　resolution　of　the　binoculars　such　that　I　could　have　picked　up　a　seagull　floating　on　the　waters。　There　were　some　little　islands　to　the　north　of　the　bay　and；　of　course；　there　were　the　cliffs　immediately　below　me　that　blocked　off。　all　view　of　what　might　be　happening　at　their　feel？：　but　if　the　boat　was　concealed　either　behind　an　island　or　under　the　cliffs；　it　was　most　unlikely　that　Heissman　would　remain　in　such　positions　long　for　there　would　he　nothing　to　detain　him。
　I　looked　south　beyond　the　tip　of　Kapp　Kolthoff　and　there；　beyond　the　protection　of　the　headland；　the　sun　glinted　off。　the　broken　tops　of　white　water。　I　was　as　certain　as　one　could　be　without　absolute　proof　that　they　would　not　have　ventured　beyond　the　protection　of　the　point：　Heissman's　unseamanlike　qualities　apart；　Goin　was　far　too　prudent　a　man　to　step　unheedingly　into　anything　that　would　even　smack　of　danger。　How　long　I　lay　there　waiting　for　the　boat　to　appear　either　from　behind　an　island　or　out　from　under　the　concealment　of　the　nearest　cliffs　I　didn't　know：　what　I　did　know　was　that　I　suddenly　became　aware　of　the　fact　that　I　was　shaking　with　the　cold　and　that　both　hands　and　feel？　were　almost　pletely　benumbed。　And　I　became　aware　of　something　else。　For　several　minutes　now　I'd　had　the　binoculars　trained　not　on　the　north　end　of　the　bay　but　at　the　foot　of　the　cliffs　to　the　south　on　a　spot　where；　about　three　hundred　yards　northwest　of　the　tip　of　Kapp　Kolthoff；　there　was　a　peculiar　indentation　in　the　cliff　walls。　Partly　because　of　the　fact　that　it　appeared　to　bear　to　the　right　and　out　of　sight　behind　one　of　the　cliff　faces　guarding　the　entrance　and　partly　because；　due　to　the　height　of　the　cliffs　and　the　fact　that　the　sun　was　almost　directly　behind；　the　shadows　cast　were　very　deep；　I　was　unable　to　make　out　any　details　beyond　this　narrow　entrance。　But　that　it　was　an　entrance　to　some　cove　beyond　I　didn't　doubt。　Of　any　place　within　the　reach　of　my　binoculars　it　was　the　only　one　where　the　boat　could　have　lain　concealed：　Why　anyone　should　wish　to　lie　there　at　all　was　another　matter　altogether；　a　reason　for　which　I　couldn't　even　guess　at。　One　thing　was　for　certain；　a　landward　investigation　from　where　I　lay　was　out　of　the　question：　even　if　I　didn't　break　my　neck　in　the　minimum　of　the　two…hour　journey　it　would　take　me　to　get　there；　nothing　would　be　achieved　by　making　such　a　trip　anyway　for　not　only　did　the　descent　of　those　beetling　black　cliffs　seem　quite　suicidal　but；　even　if　it　were　impossibly　acplished；　what　lay　at　the　end　of　it　removed　any　uncertainty　about　the　permanency　of　the　awaiting　reception：　for　there　was　no　foreshore　whatever；　just　the　precipitous　plunge　of　those　limestone　walls　into　the　dark　and　icy　seas。
　Stiffly；　clumsily；　I　rose　and　headed　back　towards　the　cabin。　The　trip　back　was　easier　than　the　outwards　one　for　it　was　downhill　and　by　following　my　own　tracks　I　was　able　to　avoid　most　of　the　involuntary　descents　into　the　sunken　snowdrifts　that　had　punctuated　my　climb。　Even　so；　it　was　nearer　one　o'clock　than　noon　when　I　approached　the　cabin。　I　was　only　a　few　paces　distant　when　the　main　door　opened　and　Mary　Stuart　appeared。　One　look　at　her　and　my　heart　turned　over　and　something　cold　and　leaden　seemed　to　settle　in　the　pit　of　my　stomach。　Dishevelled　hair；　a　white　and　shocked　face；　eyes　wild　and　full　of　fear；　I'd　have　had　to　be　blind　not　to　know　that　somewhere；　close；　death　had　walked　by　again。
　〃Thank　God！〃　Her　voice　was　husky　and　full　of　tears。　〃Thank　God　you're　here！　Please　e　quickly。　Something　terrible　has　happened。〃
　I　didn't　waste　time　asking　her　what；　clearly　I'd　find　out　soon　enough；　just　followed　her　running　footsteps　into　the　cabin　and　along　the　passage　to　Judith　Haynes's　opened　door。　Something　terrible　had　indeed　happened　but　there　had　been　no　need　for　haste。　Judith　Haynes　had　fallen　from　her　cot　and　was　lying　sideways　on　the　floor；　half…covered　by　her　blanket　which　she'd　apparently　dragged　down　along　with　her。　On　the　bed　lay　an　opened　and　three…part　empty　bottle　of　barbiturate　tablets；　a　few　scattered　over　the　bed：　on　the　floor；　its　neck　still　clutched　in　her　hand；　lay　a　bottle　of　gin；　also　three…parts　empty。　I　stooped　and　touched　the　marble　forehead：　even　allowing　for　the　icy　atmosphere　in　the　cubicle；　she　must　have　been　dead　for　hours。　Make　it　a　long　sleep；　she'd　said　to　me：　make　it　a　long　sleep。
　〃Is　she…is　she…？〃　The　dead　make　people　speak　in　whispers。
　〃Can't　you　tell　a　dead　person　when　you　see　one？〃　It　was　brutal　of　me　but　I　felt　flooding　into　me　that　cold　anger　that　was　to　remain　with　me　until　we'd　left　the　island。
　I…I　didn't　touch　her。　I…〃
　〃When　did　you　find　her？〃
　〃A　minute　ago。　Two。　I'd　just　made　some　food　and　coffee　and　I　came　to　see…〃
　〃Where　are　the　others？　Lonnie；　Sandy；　Eddie？〃
　〃Where　are…　I　don't　know。　They　left　a　little　while　ago…said　they　were　going　for　a　walk。〃
　A　likely　tale。　There　was　only　one　reason　that　would　make　at　least　two　of　the　three　walk　as　far　as　the　front　door。　I　said：　〃Get　them。　You'll　End　them　in　the　provision　shed。〃
　〃Provision　shed？　Why　would　they　be　there？〃
　〃Because　that's　where　Otto　keeps　his　Scotch。〃
　She　left。　I　put　the　gin　bottle　and　barbiturate　bottle　to　one　side；　then　I　lifted　Judith　Haynes　onto　the　bed　for　no　better　reason　than　that　it　seemed　cruel　to　leave　her　lying　on　the　wooden　floor。　I　looked　quickly　around　the　cubicle；　but　I　could　see　nothing　that　could　be　regarded　as　untoward　or　amiss。　The　window　was　still　screwed　in　its　closed　position；　the　few　clothes　that　she　had　unpacked　neatly　folded　on　a　small　chair。　My　eye　kept　returning　to　the　gin　bottle。　Stryker　had　told　me　and　I'd　overheard　her　telling　Lonnie　that　she　never　drank；　had　not　drunk　alcohol　for　many　years：　an　abstainer　does　not　habitually　carry　around　a　bottle　of　gin　just　on　the　offchance　that　he　or　she　may　just　suddenly　feel　thirsty。
　Lonnie；　Eddie；　and　Sandy　came　in；　trailing　with　them　the　redolence　of　a　Highland　distillery；　but　that　was　the　only　evidence　of　their　sojourn　in　the　provision　shed；　whatever　they'd　been　like　when　Mary　had　found　them；　they　were　shocked　cold　sober　now。　They　just　stood　there；　staring　at　the　dead　woman　and　saying　nothing：　understandably；　I　suppose；　they　thought　there　was　nothing　they　could　usefully　say。
　I　said：　〃Mr。　Gerran　must　be　informed　that　his　daughter　is　dead。　He's　gone　north　to　the　next　bay。　He'll　be　easy　to　find…you've　only　got　to　follow　the　Sno…Cat's　tracks。　I　think　you　should　go　together。〃
　〃Cod　love　us　all。〃　Lonnie　spoke　in　a　hushed　and　anguished　reverence。
　〃The　poor　girl。　The　poor　poor　lassie。　First　her　man…and　now　this。　Where's　it　all　going　to　end；　Doctor？〃
　I　don't　know；　Lonnie。　Life's　not　always　so　kind；　is　it？　No　need　to　kill　yourselves　looking　for　Mr。　Gerran。　A　heart　attack　on　top　of　this　we　can　do　without。〃
　〃Poor　little　Judith；〃　Lonnie　said。　〃And　what　do　we　tell　Otto　she　died　of？
　Alcohol　and　sleeping　tablets…it's　a　pretty　lethal　bination；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Frequently。〃
　They　looked　at　each　other　uncertainly；　then　turned　and　left。　Mary　Stuart　said：　〃What　can　I　do？〃
　〃Stay　there。〃　The　harshness　in　my　voice　surprised　me　almost　as　much　as　it　clearly　surprised　her。　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　I　found　a　towel　and　a　handkerchief；　wrapped　the　gin　bottle　in　the　former　and　the　barbiturate　bottle　in　the　latter。　I　had　a　glimpse　of　Mary　watching　me；　wide…eyed；　in　what　could　have　been　wonder　or　fear　or　both；　then　crossed　to　examine　the　dead　woman；　to　see　whether　there　were　any　visible　marks　on　her。　There　wasn't　much　to　examine…although　she'd　been　in　bed　with　blankets　over　her；　she'd　been　fully　clothed　in　parka　and　some　kind　of　fur　trousers。　I　didn't　have　to　look　long。　I　beckoned　Mary　across　and　pointed　to　a　tiny　puncture　exposed　by　pushing　back　the　hair　on　Judith　Haynes's　neck。　Mary　ran　the　tip　of　her　tongue　across　dry　lips　and　looked　at　me　with　sick　eyes。
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃Murdered。　How　do　you　feel　about　that；　Mary　dear？〃　The　term　was　affectionate；　the　tone　not。
　〃Murdered！〃　she　whispered。　〃Murdered！〃　She　looked　at　the　wrapped　bottles；　licked　her　lips　again；　made　as　if　to　speak　and　seemingly　couldn't。
　〃There　may　be　some　gin　inside　her；〃　I　conceded。　Possibly　even　some　barbiturate。　I'd　doubt　it；　though…it's　very　hard　to　make　people　swallow　anything　when　they're　unconscious。　Maybe　there　are　no　other　fingerprints　on　the　bottles…they　could　have　been　wiped　off。　But　if　we　find　only　her　forefinger　and　thumb　round　the　neck…well；　you　don't　drink　three…quarters　of　a　bottle　of　gin　holding　it　by　the　finger　and　thumb。〃　She　stared　in　fascinated　horror　at　the　pinprick　in　the　neck　and　then　I　let　the　hair　fall　back。
　I　don't　know；　but　I　think　an　injection　of　an　overdose　of　morphine　killed　her。　How　do　you　feel　about　it；　Mary　dear？〃
　She　looked　at　me　pitifully　but　I　wasn't　wasting　my　pity　on　the　living。
　She　said：　〃That's　the　second　time　you　said　that。　Why　did　you　say　that？〃
　〃Because　it's　partly　your　fault…and　it　may　be　a　very　large　part…that　she's　dead。　Oh；　and　very　cleverly　dead；　I　assure　you。　I'm　very　good　at　finding　those　things　out…when　it's　too　damn　late。　Rigged　for　suicide…only；　I　know　she　never　drank。　Well？〃
　I　didn't　kill　her！　Oh；　God；　I　didn't　kill　her！　I　didn't；　I　didn't；　I　didn't！〃
　〃And　I　hope　to　God　you're　not　responsible　for　killing　Smithy；　too；〃　I　said　savagely。　〃If　he　doesn't　e　back；　you're　first　in　line　as　accessory。　After　murder。〃
　〃Mr。　Smith！〃　Her　bewilderment　was　total　and　totally　pathetic。　And　I　was　totally　unmoved。　She　said：　〃Before　God；　I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃
　〃Of　course　not。　And　you　won't　know　what　I'm　talking　about　when　I　ask　you　what's　going　on　between　Gerran　and　Heissman。　How　could　you　a　sweet　and　innocent　child　like　you？　Or　you　wouldn't　know　what's　going　on　between　you　and　your　dear　lovable　Uncle　Johann？〃
　She　stared　at　me　in　a　dumb　animal…like　misery　and　shook　her　head。　I　struck　her。　Even　although　I　was　aware　that　the　anger　that　was　in　me　was　directed　more　against　myself　than　at　her　still　it　could　not　be　contained　and　I　struck　her　and　when　she　looked　at　me　the　way　a　favourite　pet　would　look　at　a　person　who　has　shot　it　but　not　quite　killed　it　I　lifted　my　hand　again　but　this　time　when　she　closed　her　eyes　and　flinched　away　turning　her　head　to　one　side　I　let　my　hand　drop　helplessly　to　my　side　then　did　what　I　should　have　done　in　the　first　place；　I　put　my　arms　around　her　and　held　her　tight。　She　didn't　try　to　fight　or　struggle；　just　stood　quite　still。　She　had　nothing　left　to　fight　with　any　more。
　〃Poor　Mary　dear；〃　I　said。　〃You've　got　no　place　left　to　run　to；　have　you？〃
　She　made　no　answer；　her　eyes　were　still　closed。　〃Uncle　Johann　is　no　more　your　uncle　than　I　am。　Your　immigration　papers　state　that　your　father　and　mother　are　dead。　It　is　my　belief　that　they　are　still　alive　and　that　Heissman　is　no　more　your　mother's　brother　than　he　is　yo