cc.iceberg-第3部分

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ing　it　in。〃
　
　Koski　picked　up　the　hand　transmitter　and　acknowledged。　Then　he　turned　to　Dover。　〃I　fear；〃　he　said　casually；　〃a　plot　is　brewing。〃
　〃You're　wondering　why　all　the　urgency　to　take　on　passengers？〃　Dover　asked。
　〃Aren't　you？〃
　〃I　am　indeed。　I'm　also　wondering　why　the　orders　to　stand　by　station　and　receive　a　civilian　helicopter　came　direct　from　the　mandant's　Headquarters　in　Washington　instead　of　our　own　district　mand。〃
　〃Damned　inconsiderate　of　the　mandant；〃　Koski　growled；　〃Dot　to　tell　us　what　these　people　want。　One　thing's　certain；　they're　not　going（；　to　find　themselves　on　a　pleasure　cruise　to　Tahiti…〃　Koski　suddenly　stiffened　and　cocked　an　ear　in　the　direction　of　the　unmistakably　thumping　beat　of　a　helicopter's　rotor　blade。　For　half　a　minute　it　was　invisible　in　the　heavy　overcast。　Then　both　men　spotted　it　at　the　same　time。　It　was　ing　from　the　west；　through　the　light　rain；　and　heading　in　a　direct　line　toward　the　ship。
　
　Koski　recognized　it　immediately　as　a　two…seater　civilian　version　of　the　Ulysses　Q…55；　a　craft　capable　of　nearly　two　hundred　and　fifty　miles　an　hour。
　〃He's　nuts　to　try　it；〃　Dover　said　dryly。
　Koski　didn't　ment。　He　grabbed　the　transmitter　again　and　exploded　into　it。　〃Signal　the　pilot　of　that　copter；　and　tell　him　not　to　attempt　a　touchdown　while　we're　pushing　through　ten…foot…high　swells。　Tell　him　I　won't　be　responsible　for　any　insane　actions　on　his　part。〃
　Koski　waited　for　a　few　seconds；　his　eyes　glued　to　the　helicopter。　〃Well？〃
　
　The　speaker　crackled　in　reply。　〃The　pilot　says　he's　most　grateful　for　your　concern；　Captain；　and　he　respectfully　requests　that　you　have　some　men　on　hand　to　secure　the　landing　gear　the　instant　he　touches　the　pad。〃
　〃He's　a　courteous　bastard；〃　Dover　grunted。　〃I'll　say　that　for　him。〃
　
　Jutting　his　chin　out　an　extra　half　inch；　Koski　took　another　viselike　grip　on　the　pipe　stem。　〃Courteous；　hell！　There's　every　possibility　that　idiot　will　wreck　a　good…sized　piece　of　my　ship。〃　Then　he　shrugged　in　resignation　and　picked　up　a　…bull　horn；　shouting　into　the　mouthpiece。　〃Chief　Thorp！　Have　your　men　ready　to　secure　that　bird　the　second　it　lands。　But　for　God's　sake；　keep　them　under　cover　until　it's　firmly　on　the　pad…and　have　a　crash　crew　standing'by。
　〃Right　about　now；〃　Dover　said　softly；　〃I　wouldn't　trade　places　with　those　guys　up　there　for　all　the　sex　goddesses　in　Hollywood　〃　'　The　Catawaba　could　not　head　squarely　into　the　wind；　Koski　calculated；　because　the　ttirbulenc'e　dealt　by　the　superstructure　would　litirl　the　aircraft　to　sure　destruction。　On　the　other　hand；　if　the　ship　ran　abeam　of　the　sea；　the　roll　would　be　far　too　excessive　for　the　helicopter　to　land　firmly　on　the　pad。　All　the　years　of　skill　and　judgment；　coupled　with　the　knowledge　of　the　Catawaba's　handling　characteristics；　made　his　decision　almost　routine。
　〃We'll　take　them　in　with　the　wind　and　sea　broad　on　the　bow。　Reduce　speed　and　make　the　necessary　course　change。〃
　
　Dover　nodded　and　disappeared　into　the　wheelhouse。　He　returned　a　few　moments　later。　〃Broad　on　the　bow　as　ordered　and　as　steady　as　the　sea　allows。〃
　
　Caught　in　the　cold　grip　of　apprehension；　Koski　and　Dover　stared　at　the　bright　yellow　helicopter　as　it　swept　through　the　mist；　headed　into　the　wind　and　approached　the　Catawaba's　stern　on　a　thirty…degree　angle　above　the　ship's　spreading　wake。　Though　the　wind　was　buffeting　the　Ulysses　badly；　the　pilot　somehow　managed　to　keep　it　in　a　level　position。　About　a　hundred　yards　back；　it　began　slackening　speed　until　it　finally　stopped　in　midair；　hovering　like　a　hummingbird　over　the　rising　and　falling　landing　pad。　For　what　seemed　an　eternity　to　Koski；　the　helicopter　maintained　its　height　while　the　pilot　gauged　the　high　point　of　the　cutter's　fantail　each　time　it　lifted　on　the　crest　of　a　passing　swell。　Then　abruptly；　when　the　landing　pad　hit　its　apogee；　the　copter's　pilot　cut　back　his　throttles；　and　the　Ulysses　dropped　neatly　onto　the　Catawaba；　a　bare　instant　before　the　stern　lurched　downward　in　the　trouch　of　the　next　wave。
　
　The　skids　had　hardly　kissed　the　pad　when　five　of　the　cutter's　crewmen　dashed　across　the　tilting　deck　and　began　struggling　under　the　strong　gusts　to　secure　the　helicopter　before　it　was　blown　over　the　side　into　the　water。　The　engine　exhaust　soon　died　away；　the　rotor　blades　idled　to　a　stop；　and　a　door　opened　on　the　side　of　the　cockpit。　Then　two　men；　their　heads　bowed　against　the　driving　mist；　leaped　to　the　platform。
　〃That　son　of　a　bitch；〃　Dover　murmured　in　wonder。　〃He　actually　made　it　look　easy。〃
　Koski's　face　tightened。　〃Their　credentials　had　better　be　first…rate…and　their　authority　better　e　from　Coast　Guard　Headquarters　in　Washington。〃
　Dover　smiled。　〃Maybe　they're　congressmen　on　an　inspection　tour。〃
　〃Not　likely；〃　Koski　said　curtly。
　〃Shall　I　escort　them　to　your　cabin？〃
　Koski　shook　his　head。　〃No。　Offer　them　my　pliments　and　bring　them　to　the　officers'　mess。〃　Then　he　grinned　slyly。　〃Right　about　now；　the　only　thing　that　truly　interests　me　is　a　hot　cup　of　coffee。〃
　
　In　precisely　two　minutes；　mander　Koski　was　sitting　at　a　table　in　the　officers'　messroom；　his　cold　hands　gratefully　encircling　a　steaming　mug　of　black　coffee。　It　was　nearly　half　drained　when　the　door　opened　and　Dover　entered　the　room；　followed　by　a　chubby　character　with　large　rimless　spectacles　mounted　on　a　bald　head　that　was　edged　by　long　unkempt　white　hair。
　
　Although　the　initial　effect　reminded　Koski　of　a　stereotypic　mad　scientist；　the　face　was　round　and　goodnatured；　and　the　brown　eyes　had　a　crinkled　grin。　The　stranger　caught　sight　of　the　mander　and　marched　up　to　the　table　and　extended　his　hand。
　〃mander　Koski；　I　take　it。　Hunnewell…Dr。　Bill　Hunnewell。　Sorry　to　inconvenience　you　like　this。〃
　Koski　rose　and　shook　Hunnewell's　hand。　〃Wele　aboard；　Doctor。　Please　sit　down　and　have　a　cup　of　coffee。〃
　〃Coffee？　Can't　stand　the　stuff；〃　Hunnewell　said　mournfully。　〃I'd　sell　my　soul　for　a　nip　of　hot　cocoa　though。〃
　〃Cocoa　we've　got；〃　Koski　said　agreeably。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　raised　his　voice。　〃Brady！〃
　A　steward　wearing　a　white　jacket　ambled　from　the　galley。　He　was　long　and　lean　and　walked　with　a　gait　that　could　only　spell　Texas。　〃Yessir；　Captain。　What'll　it　be？〃
　〃A　cup　of　cocoa　for　our　guest　and　two　more　coffees　for　Lieutenant　Dover　and…〃　Koski　stopped　and　peered　questioningly　behind　Dover。　〃I　believe　we're　missing　Dr。　Hunnewell's　pilot？〃
　〃He'll　be　along　in　a　minute。〃　Dover　bore　an　unhappy　look　on　his　face。　It　was　as　if　he　tried　to　signal　a　warning　to　Koski。　〃He　wanted　to　be　sure　the　helicopter　was　tied　down　securely。〃
　Koski　stared　back　speculatively　at　Dover；　but　then　he　let　it　go。　〃There　you　have　it；　Brady。　And　bring　the　pot；　I　could　use　a　refill。〃
　
　Brady　simply　nodded　in　acknowledgment　and　returned　to　the　galley。
　
　Hunnewell　said；　〃It's　true　luxury　to　have　four　solid　walls　around　me　again。　Sitting　in　that　vibrating　kite　with　nothing　between　me　and　the　elements　but　a　plastic　bubble　was　enough　to　turn　a　man's　hair　gray。〃
　
　He　ran　his　hand　through　the　few　remaining　white　strands　surrounding　his　dome　and　grinned。
　
　Koski　set　down　his　mug；　and　he　wasn't　smiling。　〃I　don't　think　you　realize；　Dr。　Hunnewell；　just　how　close　you　came　to　losing　the　rest　of　your　hair　and　yourself　as　well。　It　was　pure　recklessness　on　the　part　of　your　pilot　to　even　consider　making　a　flight　in　this　weather。〃
　〃I　can　assure　you；　sir；　that　this　trip　was　necessary。〃　Hunnewell　spoke　in　a　benevolent　tone；　the　same　tone　he　might　have　used　lecturing　a　schoolboy。　〃You；　your　crew；　your　ship　has　a　vital　function　to　perform；　and　time　is　the　critical　dimension。　We　cannot　afford　to　lose　a　single　minute。〃　He　pulled　a　slip　of　paper　from　his　breast　pocket　and　passed　it　across　the　table　to　Koski。
　〃While　I　explain　our　presence；　I　must　ask　you　to　set　an　immediate　course　for　this　position。〃
　
　Koski　took　the　paper　without　reading　its　contents。
　〃Forgive　me；　Dr。　Hunnewell；　I　am　not　in　a　position　to　grant　your　request。　The　only　order　I　have　from　the　mandant's　Headquarters　is　to　take　aboard　two　passengers。　Nothing　was　mentioned　about　giving　you　carte　blanche　to　run　my　ship。〃
　〃You　don't　understand。〃
　Koski　stared　piercingly　over　his　coffee　mug　at　Hunnewell。　〃That；　Doctor；　is　the　unde