alistairmaclean.bearisland-第52部分

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ind　of　working　relationship　with　me　and　even　went　to　the　length　of　pressing　some　Scotch　upon　me　which　I　accepted　without　thanks　but　drank　nevertheless。　He　tried　to　make　some　feebly　jocular　remark　about　open　pores　and　it　being　obvious　that　I　didn't　intend　venturing　forth　again　that　night　and　I　didn't　tell　him；　not　just　yet；　that　I　did　indeed　intend　to　venture　forth　again　that　night　but　that　as　my　proposed　walk　would　take　me　no　farther　than　the　jetty　it　was　unlikely　that　all　the　open　pores　in　the　world　would　incapacitate　me。　I　looked　at　my　watch。　Another　ten　minutes；　no　more。　Then　we　would　all　go　for　that　little　walk；　the　four　directors　of　Olympus　Productions；　Lonnie；　and　myself。　just　the　six　of　us；　no　more。　The　four　directors　were　already　there　and；　given　the　time　Lonnie　normally　took　to　regain　contact　with　reality　after　a　prolonged　session　with　the　only　pany　left　in　the　world　that　gave　him　any　solace；　it　was　time　that　he　was　here　also。　I　went　down　the　passage　and　into　his　cabin。　It　was　bitterly　cold　in　there　because　the　window　was　wide　open　and　it　was　wide　open　because　that　was　the　way　that　Lonnie　had　elected　to　leave　his　cubicle　which　was　quite　empty。　I　picked　up　a　torch　that　was　lying　by　the　rumpled　cot　and　peered　out　the　window。　The　snow　was　still　falling　steadily　but　not　so　heavily　as　to　obscure　the　tracks　that　led　away　from　the　window。　There　were　two　sets　of　tracks。　Lonnie　had　been　persuaded　to　leave：　not　that　he　would　have　required　much　persuasion。　I　ignored　the　curious　looks　that　came　my　way　as　I　went　quickly　through　the　main　cabin　and　headed　for　the　provisions　hut。　Its　door　was　open　but　Lonnie　was　not　there　either。　The　only　sure　sign　that　he　had　been　there　was　a　half…full　bottle　of　Scotch　with　its　screw　top　off。　So　much　for　Lonnie　and　his　mighty　oath　taken　with　his　hand　on　a　vat　of　the　choicest　malt。　The　tracks　outside　the　but　were　numerous　and　confused：　it　was　clear　that　my　chances　of　isolating　and　following　any　particular　set　of　those　was　minimal。　I　returned　to　the　cabin　and　there　was　no　lack　of　immediate　volunteers　for　the　search：　Lonnie　had　never　made　an　unwitting　enemy　in　his　life。
　It　was　the　Count　who　found　him；　inside　a　minute；　face　down　in　a　deep　drift　behind　the　generator　shed。　He　was　already　shrouded　in　white；　so　he　must　have　been　lying　there　for　some　time。　He　was　clad　in　only　shirt；　pullover；　trousers；　and　what　appeared　to　be　a　pair　of　ancient　carpet　slippers。　The　snow　beside　his　head　was　stained　yellow　where　the　contents…or　part　of　the　contents…of　yet　another　bottle；　still　clutched　in　his　right　hand；　had　been　spilt。
　We　turned　him　over。　If　ever　a　man　looked　like　a　dead　man　it　was　Lonnie。　His　skin　was　ice…cold　to　the　touch；　his　face　the　colour　of　old　ivory；　his　glazed　unmoving　eyes　were　open　to　the　falling　snow；　and　there　was　no　rise　and　fall　to　his　chest　but　on　the　off。…chance　that　there　might　just　be　some　substance　in　the　old　saw　that　a　special　providence　looks　after　little　children　and　drunks　I　put　my　car　to　his　chest　and　thought　I　detected　a　faint　and　far…off。　murmur。　We　carried　him　inside　and　laid　him　on　his　cot。　While　oil　beaters；　hot　water　bags；　and　heated　blankets　were　being　brought　in　or　prepared…apart　from　the　general　esteem　in　which　Lonnie　was　held；　everyone　seemed　almost　pathetically　eager　to　contribute　to　something　constructive…I　used　my　stethoscope　and　established　that　he　did　indeed　have　a　heartbeat　if　such　a　term　could　be　applied　to　something　as　weak　and　as　fluttering　as　the　wings　of　a　wounded　captive　bird。　I　thought　briefly　of　a　heart　stimulant　and　brandy　and　dismissed　both　ideas；　both；　in　his　touch…and…go　condition；　were　as　likely　to　kill　him　off。　as　to　have　any　good　effect。　So　we　just　concentrated　on　heating　up　the　frozen　and　lifeless…seeming　body　as　quickly　as　was　possible　while　four　people　continuously　massaged　ominously　white　feel？　and　bands　to　try　to　restore　some　measure　of　circulation。
　Fifteen　minutes　after　we'd　first　found　him　he　was　perceptibly　breathing　again；　a　shallow　and　gasping　fight　for　Mr。；　but　breathing　nevertheless。　He　was　now　as　warm　as　artificial　aids　could　make　him　so　I　thanked　the　others　and　told　them　they　could　go：　I　asked　the　two　Marys　to　stay　behind　as　nurses；　because　I　couldn't　stay　myself：　by　my　watch；　I　was　already　ten　minutes　late。　Lonnie's　eyes　moved。　No　other　part　of　him　did；　but　his　eyes　moved。　After　a　few　moments　they　focussed　blearily　on　me：　he　was　as　conscious　as　he　was　likely　to　be　for　a　long　time。　
　〃You　bloody　old　fool！〃　I　said。　It　was　no　way　to　talk　to　a　man　with　one　foot　still　halfway　through　death's　door；　but　it　was　the　way　I　felt。　〃Why　did　you　do　it？〃
　〃Aha！〃　His　voice　was　a　far…off。　whisper。
　〃Who　took　you　out　of　here〃　Who　gave　you　the　drink？〃　I　was　aware　that　the　two　Marys　had　at　first　stared　at　me　then　at　each　other　but　the　time　was　gone　when　it　mattered　what　anyone　thought。　Lonnie's　lips　moved　soundlessly　a　few　times。　Then　his　eyes　flickered　shiftily　and　he　gave　a　drunken　cackle；　no　more　than　a　faint　rasping　sound　deep　in　his　throat。　〃A　kind　man；〃　he　whispered　weakly。　‘Very　kind　man。〃
　I　would　have　shaken　him　except　for　the　fact　that　I　would　certainly　have　shaken　the　life　out　of　him。　I　restrained　myself　with　a　considerable　effort　and　said：　〃What　kind　man；　Lonnie…
　〃Kind　man；〃　he　muttered。　〃Kind　man。〃　He　lifted　one　thin　wrist　and　beckoned。　I　bent　towards　him。　〃Know　something？〃　His　voice　was　a　fading　murmur。
　〃Tell　me；　Lonnie。〃
　〃In　the　end…〃　His　voice　trailed　away。
　〃Yes；　Lonnie？〃
　He　made　a　great　effort。　In　the　end〃…there　was　a　long　pause；　I　had　to　put　my　ear　to　his　mouth…〃iii　the　end；　there's　only　kindness。〃　He　lowered　his　waxen　eyelids。
　I　swore　and　I　kept　on　swearing　until　I　realised　that　both　girls　were　staring　at　me　with　shocked　eyes；　they　must　have　thought　that　I　was　swearing　at　Lonnie。　I　said　to　Mary　Stuart：　〃Go　to　Conrad…Charles。　Tell　him　to　tell　the　Count　to　e　to　my　cubicle。　Now。　Conrad　will　know　how　to　do　it。〃
　She　left　without　a　question。　Mary　Darling　said　to　me：　〃Will　Lonnie　live；　Dr。　Marlowe？〃
　I　don't　know；　Mary。〃
　〃But…but　he's　quite　warm　now…？'
　It　won't　be　exposure　that　will　kill　him；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃
　She　looked　at　me；　the　eyes　behind　the　horn…rims　at　once　earnest　and　scared。　〃You　mean…you　mean　he　might　go　from　alcoholic　poisoning？〃
　〃He　might。　I　don't　know。〃
　She　said；　with　a　flash　of　that　almost　touching　asperity　that　could　be　so　characteristic　of　her：　〃You　don't　really　care；　do　you；　Dr。　Marlowe？〃
　〃No；　I　don't。〃　She　looked　at　me；　the　pinched　face　shocked；　and　I　put　my　arm　round　the　thin　shoulders。　I　don't　care；　Mary；　because　he　doesn't　care。　Lonnie's　been　dead　a　long　time　now。〃
　I　went　back　to　my　cubicle；　found　the　Count　there　and　wasted　no　words。　I　said：　〃Are　you　aware　that　that　was　a　deliberate　attempt　on　Lonnie's　life？〃
　〃No。　But　I　wondered。〃　The　Count's　customary　cloak　of　badinage　had　fallen　away　pletely。
　〃Do　you　know　that　Judith　Haynes　was　murdered？〃
　〃Murdered！〃　The　Count　was　badly　shaken　and　there　was　no　pretence　about　it　either。
　〃Somebody　injected　her　with　a　lethal　dose　of　morphine。　just　for　good　measure；　it　was　my　hypodermic；　my　morphine。〃　He　said　nothing。　〃So　your　rather　illegal　bullionlunt　has　turned　out　to　be　something　more　than　fun　and　games。〃
　Indeed　it　has。〃
　‘You　know　you　have　been　consorting　with　murderers？〃
　I　know　now。〃
　‘You　know　now。　You　know　what　interpretation　the　law　will　put　on　that？〃
　〃I　know　that　too。〃
　‘You　have　your　gun？〃　He　nodded。　‘You　can　use　it？〃
　I　am　a　Polish　count；　sir。〃　A　touch　of　the　old　Tadeusz。
　〃And　very　impressive　a　Polish　count　should　look　in　a　witness　box；　too。〃
　I　said。　〃You　are　aware　of　course　that　your　only　hope　is　to　turn　Queen's　Evidence？〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　that　too。〃
　
　13
　
　〃Mr。　Gorran；〃　I　said；　〃I'd　be　grateful　if　you；　Mr。　Heissman；　Mr。　Goin；　and　Tadeusz　here　would　step　outside　with　me　for　a　moment。〃
　〃Step　outside？〃　Otto　looked　at　his　watch；　his　three　fellow　directors；　his　watch　again　and　me　in　that　order。　〃On　a　night　like　this　and　an　hour　like　this？　Whatever　for？〃
　〃Please。〃　I　looked　at　the　others　in　the　cabin。　〃I'd　also　be　grateful　if　the　rest　of　you　remained　here；　in　this　room；　till　I　return。　I　hope　I　won't　be　too　long。　You　don't　have　to　do　as　I　ask　and　I'm　certainly　in　no　position　to　enforce　my　request；　but　I　suggest　it　would　be　in　your　own　best　interests　to　do　so。　I　know　now；　I've　known　since　this　morning；　who　the　killer　amongst　us　is。　But　before　I　put　a　name　to　this　man　I　think　it　is　only　fair　and　right　that　I　should　first　discuss　the　matter　with　Mr。　Gerran　and　his　fellow　directors。〃
　This　brief　address　was　received；　not　unsurprisingly；　in　total　silence。　Otto；　predictably；　was　the　one　to　break　the　silence：　he　cleared　his　throat　and　said　carefully：　〃You　claim　to　know　this　man's　identity？〃
　I　do。〃
　‘You　can　substantiate　this　claim！'
　〃Prove　it；　you　mean？〃
　〃Yes。
　〃No；　I　can't。〃
　〃Ah！〃　Otto　said　significantly。　He　looked　around　the　pany　and　said：　〃You're　taking　rather　much　upon　yourself；　are　you　not？〃
　In　what　way？〃
　〃This　rather　dictatorial　attitude　you've　been　increasingly　adopting。　Good　God；　man；　if　you've　found；　or　think　you've　found　our　man；　for　God's　sake　tell　us　and　don't　make　this　big　production　out　of　it。　It　ill　bees　any　man　to　play　God。　Dr。　Marlowe；　I　would　remind　you　that　you're　but　one　of　a　group；　an　employee；　if　you　like；　of　Olympus　Productions；　just　like…〃
　I　am　not　an　employee　of　Olympus　Productions。　I　am　an　employee　of　the　British　Treasury　who　has　been　sent　to　investigate　certain　aspects　of　Olympus　Productions　Ltd。　Those　investigations　are　now　pleted。〃
　Otto　overreacted　to　the　extent　that　he　let　his　drop。　Goin　didn't　react　much　but　his　smooth　and　habitually　bland　face　took　a　wary　expression　that　was　quite　foreign　to　it。　Heissman　said　incredulously：　〃A　government　agent！　A　secret　service…〃
　〃You've　got　your　countries　mixed　up。　Government　agents　work　for　the　U。　S。　Treasury；　not　the　British　one。　I'm　just　a　civil　servant　and　I've　never　fired　a　pistol　in　my　life　far　less　carry　one。　I　have　as　much　official　power　as　a　postman　or　a　Whitehall　clerk。　No　more。　That's　why　I'm　asking　for　cooperation。〃　I　looked　at　Otto。　〃That's　why　I'm　offering　you　what　I　regard　as　the　courtesy　of　a　prior　consultation。〃
　〃Investigations〃　〃　Clearly；　I'd　lost　Otto　at　least　half　a　minute　previously。
　〃What　kind　of　investigations？　And　how　does　it　e　that　a　man　hired　as　doctor　Otto　broke　off。；　shaking　his　head　in　the　classic　manner　of　one　baffled　beyond　all　hope　of　illumination。
　〃How　do　you　think　it　came　that　none　of　the　seven　other　applicants　for　the　post　of　medical　officers　turned　up　for　an　interview？　They　don't　teach　us　much　about　manners　in　medical　school　but　we're　not　as　rude　as　that。
　Shall　we　go？〃
　Goin　said　calmly：　〃I　think；　Otto；　that　we　should　hear　what　he　has　to　say。〃
　I　think　I'd　like　to　hear　what　you　have　to　say；　too；〃　Conrad　said。　He　was　one　of　the　very　few　in　the　cabin　who　wasn't　looking　at　me　as　if　I　were　some　creature　from　outer　space。
　〃I'm　sure　you　would。　However；　I'm　afraid　you'll　have　to　remain。　But　I　would　like　a　private　word　with　You；　if　I　may。　I　turned　without　waiting　for　an　answer　and　made　for　my　cubicle。　Otto　barred　my　way。
　〃There's　nothing　you　can　have　to　say　to　Charles　that　you　can't　say　to　all　of　us。〃
　〃How　do　you　know？〃　I　brushed　roughly　b