alistairmaclean.icestationzebra-第53部分

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　 〃I　know；〃　Swanson　admitted。　〃I'm　damned　sorry　about　it。　Later　on；　whenand　ifthe　air　gets　really　bad；　we'll　start　up　the　air…purifying　systems　again　but　blank　off　every　place　except　the　lab　and　the　sick　bay。〃　He　broke　off　and　turned　around　as　a　fresh　wave　of　dark　smoke　rolled　in　from　the　suddenly　opened　after　door。　The　man　with　the　smoke　mask　was　back　from　the　engine　room；　and　even　with　my　eyes　streaming　in　that　smoke…filled；　acrid　atmosphere；　I　could　see　he　was　in　a　pretty　bad　way。　Swanson　and　two　others　rushed　to　meet　him；　two　of　them　catching　him　as　he　staggered　into　the　control　room；　the　third　quickly　swinging　the　heavy　door　shut　against　the　darkly　evil　clouds　of　smoke。
　 Swanson　pulled　off　the　man's　smoke　mask。　It　was　Murphy；　the　man　who　had　acpanied　me　when　we'd　closed　the　torpedo　tube　door。　People　like　Murphy　and　Rawlings；　I　thought；　always　got　picked　for　jobs　like　this。
　 His　face　was　white　and　he　was　gasping　for　air；　his　eyes　upturned　in　his　head。　He　was　hardly　more　than　half　conscious；　but　even　that　foul　atmosphere　in　the　control　center　must　have　seemed　to　him　like　the　purest　mountain　air　pared　to　what　he'　had　just　been　breathing；　for　within　thirty　seconds　his　head　had　begun　to　clear　and　he　was　able　to　grin　up　painfully　from　where　he'd　been　lowered　into　a　chair。
　 〃Sorry；　Captain；〃　he　gasped。　〃This　smoke　mask　was　never　meant　to　cope　with　the　stuff　that's　in　the　engine　room。　Pretty　hellish　in　there；　I　tell　you。〃　He　grinned　again。　〃Good　news；　Captain。　No　radiation　leak。〃
　 〃Where's　the　Geiger　counter？〃　Swanson　asked　quietly。
　 〃It's　had　it；　I'm　afraid；　sir。　I　couldn't　see　what　I　was　doing　in　there。　Honest；　sir；　you　can't　see　three　inches　in　front　of　your　face。　I　tripped　and　damn　near　fell　down　into　the　machinery　space。　The　counter　did　fall　down。　But　I'd　a　clear　check　before　then。　Nothing　at　all。〃　He　reached　up　to　his　shoulder　and　unclipped　his　ifim　badge。　〃This'll　show；　sir。〃
　 〃Have　that　developed　immediately。　That　was　very　well　done；　Murphy；〃　he　said　warmly。　〃Now　get　for'ard　to　the　mess　room。　You'll　find　some　really　clear　air　there。〃
　 The　film　badge　was　developed　and　brought　back　in　minutes。　Swanson　took　it；　glanced　at　it　briefly；　smiled；　and　let　out　his　breath　in　a　long；　slow　whistle　of　relief。　〃Murphy　was　right。　No　radiation　leak。　Thank　God　for　that；　anyway。　If　there　had　beenwell；　that　was　that；　I'm　afraid。〃
　 The　for'ard　door　of　the　control　room　opened；　a　man　came　in；　and　the　door　was　as　quickly　closed。　I　guessed　who　it　was　before　I　could　see　him　properly。
　 〃Permission　from　chief　torpedoman　Patterson　to　approach　you；　sir；〃　Rawlings　said　with　brisk　formality。　〃We've　just　seen　Murphy。　He's　pretty　groggy；　and　both　the　chief　and　I　think　that　youngsters　like　that　shouldn't　be〃
　 〃Am　I　to　understand　that　you　are　volunteering　to　go　next；　Rawlings？〃　Swanson　asked。　The　screws　of　responsibility　and　tension　were　turned　down　hard　on　him；　but　I　could　see　that　it　cost　him　some　effort　to　keep　his　face　straight。
　 〃Well；　not　exactly　volunteering；　sir。　But；　wellwho　else　is　there？〃
　 〃The　torpedo　department　aboard　this　ship；〃　Swanson　observed　acidly；　〃always　did　have　a　phenomenally　high　opinion　of　itself。〃
　 〃Let　him　try　an　underwater　oxygen　set；〃　I　said。　〃Those　smoke　masks　seem　to　have　their　limitations。〃
　 〃A　steam　leak；　Captain？〃　Rawlings　asked。　〃That　what　you　want　me　to　check　on？〃
　 〃Well；　you　seem　to　have　been　nominated；　voted　for；　and　elected　by　yourself；〃　Swanson　said。　〃Yes；　a　steam　leak。〃
　 〃That　the　suit　Murphy　was　wearing？〃　Rawlings　pointed　to　the　clothes　on　the　deck。
　 〃Yes。　Why？〃
　 〃You'd　have　thought　there　would　be　some　signs　of　moisture　or　condensation　if　there　had　been　a　steam　leak；　sir。〃
　 〃Maybe。　Maybe　soot　and　smoke　particles　are　holding　the　condensing　steam　in　suspension。　Maybe…　it　was　hot　enough　in　there　to　dry　off　any　moisture　that　did　reach　his　suit。　Maybe　a　lot　of　things。　Don't　stay　too　long　in　there。〃
　 〃Just　as　long　as　it　takes　me　to　get　things　fixed　up；〃　Rawlings　said　confidently。　He　turned　to　Hansen　and　grinned。　〃You　stopped　me　once　back　out　there　on　the　ice　cap；　Lieutenant；　but　sure　as　little　apples　I'm　going　to　get　that　little　old　medal　this　time。　Bring　undying　credit　to　the　whole　ship；　I　will。〃
　 〃If　torpedoman　Rawlings　will　ease　up　with　his　ravings　for　a　moment；〃　Hansen　said；　〃I　have　a　suggestion　to　make；　Captain。　I　know　he　won't　be　able　to　take　off　his　mask　inside　there　but　if　he　gave　a　call…up　signal　on　the　engine　telephone　or　rang　through　on　the　engine　answering　telegraph　every　four　or　five　minutes　we'd　know　he　was　okay。　If　he　doesn't；　someone　can　go　in　after　him。〃
　 Swanson　nodded。　Rawlings　pulled　on　suit　and　oxygen　apparatus　and　left。　That　made　it　the　third　time　the　door　leading　to　the　engine　partment　had　been　opened　in　a　few　minutes　and　each　time　fresh　clouds　of　that　black　and　biting　smoke　had　e　rolling　in。　Conditions　were　now　very　bad　inside　the　control　room；　but　someone　had　issued　a　supply　of　goggles　all　around　and　a　few　were　wearing　smoke　masks。
　 A　phone　rang。　Hansen　answered；　spoke　briefly；　and　hung　up。
　 〃That　was　Jack　Cartwright；　skipper。〃　Lieutenant　Cartwright　was　the　main…propulsion　officer；　who　had　been　on　watch　in　the　maneuvering　room　and　had　been　forced　to　retreat　to　the　stern　room。　〃Seems　he　was　overe　by　the　fumes　and　was　carried　back　into　the　stern　room。　Says　he's　okay　now　and　could　we　send　smoke　masks　or　breathing　apparatus　for　him　and　one　of　his　men。　They　can't　get　at　the　ones　in　the　engine　room。　I　told　him　yes。〃
　 〃I'd　certainly　feel　a　lot　happier　if　Jack　Cartwright　was　in　there…　investigating　in　person；〃　Swanson　admitted。　〃Send　a　man；　will　you？〃
　 〃I　thought　I'd　take　them　myself。　Someone　else　can　double　on　the　ice　machine。〃
　 Swanson　glanced　at　Hansen's　injured　hand；　hesitated；　then　nodded。　〃Right。　But　straight　through　the　engine　room　and　straight　back。〃
　 Hanson　was　on　his　way　in　a　minute。　Five　minutes　later　he　was　back　again。　He　stripped　off　his　breathing　equipment。　His　face　was　pale　and　covered　with　sweat。
　 〃There's　fire　in　the　engine　room；　all　right；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃Hotter　than　the　hinges　of　hell。　No　trace　of　sparks　or　flames；　but　that　doesn't　mean　a　thing；　the　smoke　in　there　is　so　thick　that　you　couldn't　see　a　blast　furnace　a　couple　of　feet　away。〃
　 〃See　Rawlings？〃　Swanson　asked。
　 〃No。　Hasn't　he　rung　through？〃
　 〃Twice；　but〃　He　broke　off　as　the　engine…room　telegraph　rang。　〃So。　He's　still　okay。　How　about　the　stern　room；　John？〃
　 〃Damn　sight　worse　than　it　is　here。　The　sick　men　aft　there　are　in　a　pretty　bad　way；　especially　Bolton。　Seems　the　smoke　got　in　before　they　could　get　the　door　shut。〃
　 〃Tell　Harrison　to　start　up　his　air　scrubbers。　But　for　the　lab　only。　Shut　off　the　rest　of　the　ship。〃
　 Fifteen　minutes　passed；　fifteen　minutes　during　which　the　engine…room　telegraph　rang　three　times；　fifteen　minutes　during　which　the　air　became　thicker　and　fouler　and　steadily　less　breathable；　fifteen　minutes　during　which　a　pletely　equipped　fire…fighting　team　was　assembled　in　the　control　center；　then　another　billowing　cloud　of　black　smoke　announced　the　opening　of　the　after　door。
　 It　was　Rawlings。　He　was　very　weak　and　had　to　be　helped　out　of　his　breathing　equipment　and　his　suit。　His　face　was　white　and　streaming　sweat；　his　hair　and　clothes　so　saturated　with　sweat　that　he　might　easily　have　e　straight　from　an　immersion　in　the　sea。　But　he　was　grinning　triumphantly。
　 〃No　steam　leak；　Captain；　that's　for　certain。〃　It　took　him　three　breaths　to　get　that　out。　〃But　fire　down　below　in　the　machinery　space。　Sparks　flying　all　over　the　shop。　Some　flame；　not　much。　I　located　it；　sir。　Starboard　high…pressure　turbine。　The　sheathing's　on　fire。〃
　 〃You'll　get　that　medal；　Rawlings；〃　Swanson　said；　〃even　if　I　have　to　make　the　damn　thing　myself。〃　He　turned　to　the　waiting　firemen。　〃You　heard。　Starboard　turbine。　Four　at　a　time；　fifteen　minutes　maximum。　Lieutenant　Raeburn；　the　first　party。　Knives；　claw　hammers；　pliers；　crow　bars；　CO2。　Saturate　the　sheathing　first；　then　rip　it　off。　Watch　out　for　flash　flames　when　you're　pulling　it　off。　I　don't　have　to　warn　you　about　the　steam　pipes。　Now；　on　your　way。〃
　 They　left。　I　said　to　Swanson：　〃Doesn't　sound　so　much。　How　long　will　it　take？　Ten　minutes；　quarter　of　an　hour？〃
　 He　looked　at　me　somberly。