atlantis.found-第105部分

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　　　　　He　quickly　unbuckled　his　harness　and　dropped　the　parachute　system　that　had　carried　him　safely　to　his　destination。　Then　he　knelt　down　and　prepared　his　Spartan　Q…99　Eradicator；　locking　and　loading　it　for　immediate　use。
　　　　　Garnet；　Sharpsburg；　and　Jacobs　were　at　his　side　within　thirty　seconds。　They　coordinated　briefly；　checking　their　position　and　making　final　preparations　for　their　movement　toward　the　control　center　of　the　facility。　After　issuing　final　instructions　to　Sharpsburg；　who　would　be　in　charge　of　the　assault　team　if　Cleary　was　killed　or　badly　wounded；　he　peered　at　the　facility　through　his　field　glasses。　Not　seeing　any　signs　of　defensive　activity；　Cleary　ordered　the　teams　to　move　out　tactically；　with　himself　in　the　middle　of　the　patrol。
　
　　　　　Loath　to　die；　the　wind　struggled　to　stay　alive　until　there　was　no　more　strength　left　in　it。　Then　it　was　gone；　leaving　the　sun　to　transform　the　last　of　the　windblown　ice　crystals　into　sparkling　diamond　dust。　The　dismal　gray　light　gave　way　to　a　blue　sky　that　returned　as　the　Snow　Cruiser　forged　relentlessly　across　the　ice　shelf。　The　mighty　machine　had　proven　herself　a　tough　customer。　Engines　running　faultlessly；　wheels　churning　through　the　snow　and　ice；　she　never　stalled　or　floundered　during　the　malicious　blizzard。　But　for　the　muffled　tone　of　her　exhaust；　the　stillness　that　settled　over　the　desolate　ice　shelf　made　it　seem　like　oblivion。
　　　　　Warmed　finally　by　the　engines；　Pitt　felt　ready　to　face　reality　again。　He　took　over　the　wheel　from　Giordino；　who　found　a　broom　in　the　bunk　partment　and　used　it　to　brush　the　ice　buildup　off　the　windshields。　Released　from　their　frozen　bondage；　the　windshield　wipers　finished　sweeping　the　glass　clean。　The　Rockefeller　Mountains　materialized　in　the　distance　and　rose　above　the　bow　of　the　vehicle。　They　were　that　close。
　　　　　Pitt　pointed　to　a　series　of　black　smudges　on　the　sun…splashed　white　horizon　slightly　off　to　his　left。　〃There　lies　the　Wolf　mining　works。〃
　　　　　〃We　did　good；〃　said　Giordino。　〃We　couldn't　have　wandered　more　than　a　mile　off　our　original　track　during　the　storm。〃
　　　　　〃Another　three　or　four　miles　to　go。　We　should　be　there　in　twenty　minutes。〃
　　　　　〃Are　you　going　to　crash　the　party　unannounced？〃
　　　　　〃Not　a　wise　move　against　an　army　of　security　guards；〃　answered　Pitt。　〃That　low　rock　ridge　protruding　from　the　ice　that　angles　toward　the　base　of　the　mountains？〃
　　　　　〃I　see　it。〃
　　　　　〃We　can　run　along　out　of　sight　of　the　pound；　using　it　for　cover　while　we　close　the　final　two　miles。〃
　　　　　〃We　just　might　make　it；〃　said　Giordino；　〃if　they　don't　spot　our　exhaust。〃
　　　　　〃Keep　your　fingers　crossed；〃　Pitt　said　with　a　tight　grin。
　　　　　They　left　the　great　ice　plain　of　the　Ross　Ice　Shelf　and　crossed　onto　ice…mantled　land　and　skirted　the　ridge　that　trailed　down　from　the　mountain　like　a　giant　tongue；　keeping　below　the　summit　out　of　sight　of　the　mining　pound　as　they　crept　ever　closer。　Soon　they　were　driving　beneath　towering　gray　rock　cliffs；　with　streams　of　ice　hanging　from　their　crests　like　frozen　waterfalls；　gleaming　blue…green　under　the　radiant　sun。　The　path　they　took　along　the　base　of　the　mountains　was　not　flat　or　smooth　but　strewn　with　wavelike　undulations。
　　　　　Pitt　downshifted　the　Snow　Cruiser　into　second　gear　to　climb　the　series　of　low　mounds　and　valleys。　The　burly　machine　took　the　uneven　terrain　in　stride；　her　wide　wheels　moving　the　great　mass　up　and　down　the　grades　without　effort。　His　eyes　swept　the　instrument　panel　for　the　tenth　time　in　as　many　minutes。　The　temperature　gauges　indicated　that　the　slow　speeds　at　high　rpms　were　causing　the　diesels　to　overheat　again；　but　this　time　they　could　keep　the　door　open　without　suffering　the　agonies　of　a　blizzard。
　　　　　They　were　passing　the　mouth　of　a　narrow　box　canyon　when　Pitt　suddenly　stopped　the　Snow　Cruiser。
　　　　　〃What's　up？〃　Giordino　asked；　staring　at　Pitt。　〃You　see　something？〃
　　　　　Pitt　pointed　downward　through　the　windshield。　〃Tracks　in　the　snow　leading　into　the　canyon。　They　could　have　only　been　made　by　the　treads　from　a　big　Sno…cat。〃
　　　　　Giordino's　eyes　followed　Pitt's　outstretched　finger。　〃You've　got　good　eyes。　The　tracks　are　barely　visible。〃
　　　　　〃The　blizzard　should　have　covered　them；〃　said　Pitt。　〃But　they　still　show　because　the　vehicle　that　made　them　must　have　passed　through　just　as　the　storm　was　ending。〃
　　　　　〃Why　would　a　Sno…cat　travel　up　a　dead…end　ravine？〃
　　　　　〃Another　entrance　to　the　mining　pound？〃
　　　　　〃Could　very　well　be。〃
　　　　　〃Shall　we　find　out？〃
　　　　　Giordino　grinned。　〃I'm　dying　of　curiosity。〃
　　　　　Pitt　cranked　the　steering　wheel　to　its　stop　and　sharply　turned　the　Snow　Cruiser　into　the　canyon。　The　cliffs　rose　ominously　above　the　ravine；　their　height　escalating　until　the　sun's　light　paled　the　deeper　they　drove　into　the　mountain。　Fortunately；　the　twists　and　turns　were　not　severe；　and　the　Snow　Cruiser　was　able　to　deftly　navigate　her　bulk　around　and　through　them。　Pitt's　only　worry　was　that　they'd　find　nothing　but　a　rock　wall；　and　then　have　to　back　the　vehicle　through　the　canyon；　since　there　was　no　room　to　turn　her　around。　A　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　canyon's　mouth；　Pitt　braked　the　vehicle　to　a　stop　before　a　solid　wall　of　ice。
　　　　　It　was　a　dead　end。　Disillusionment　circled　their　minds。
　　　　　They　both　stepped　down　from　the　Snow　Cruiser　and　stared　at　the　vertical　sheet　of　ice。　Pitt　peered　down　at　the　tracks　that　traveled　up　the　canyon　and　stopped　at　the　wall。　〃The　plot　thickens。　The　Sno…cat　could　not　have　backed　out　of　here。〃
　　　　　〃Certainly　not　without　making　a　second　set　of　tracks；〃　observed　Giordino。
　　　　　Pitt　moved　until　his　face　was　inches　from　the　ice；　cupped　his　hands　around　his　eyes　to　block　out　the　light；　and　stared。　He　could　make　out　vague　shadows　beyond　the　ice　barrier。　〃Something　is　in　there；〃　he　said。
　　　　　Giordino　gazed　into　the　ice　and　nodded。　〃Is　this　where　somebody　says；　‘Open　Sesame'？〃
　　　　　〃No　doubt　the　wrong　code；〃　Pitt　said　pensively。
　　　　　〃It　has　to　be　a　good　three　feet　thick。〃
　　　　　〃Are　you　thinking　what　I'm　thinking？〃
　　　　　Giordino　nodded。　〃I'll　stay　on　the　ground　outside　and　cover　you　with　my　Bushmaster。〃
　　　　　Pitt　climbed　back　into　the　Snow　Cruiser；　shifted　the　gear　lever　into　reverse；　and　sent　the　vehicle　back　about　fifty　feet；　keeping　the　tires　in　the　packed　depressions　made　by　the　Sno…cat　for　better　traction。　He　paused；　grasped　the　wheel　tightly　in　both　hands；　and　burrowed　down　in　the　seat；　in　case　the　ice　should　crash　through　the　windshield。　Then　he　shifted　into　first　and　jammed　the　accelerator　pedal　flat　against　the　floorboards。　With　a　roar　from　its　exhaust；　the　big　mechanical　goliath　leaped　forward；　gathered　speed；　and　then　smashed　into　the　frozen　wall；　rumbling　the　ground　beneath　Giordino's　feet。
　　　　　The　ice　exploded　and　shattered　into　a　great　splash　of　glittering　fragments　that　showered　over　the　red　Snow　Cruiser　like　so　many　glass　shards　from　a　fallen　crystal　chandelier。　The　sound　of　the　impact　came　like　a　giant　gnashing　his　teeth。　At　first；　Giordino　thought　the　vehicle　might　have　to　ram　the　thick；　solidified　ice　wall　several　times　before　breaking　through；　but　he　was　almost　left　behind　as　it　bulldozed　its　way　through　on　the　first　try　and　disappeared　on　the　other　side。　He　chased　after　it；　gun　cradled　in　his　arms；　like　an　infantryman　following　a　tank　for　cover。
　　　　　Once　through；　Pitt　brought　the　Snow　Cruiser　to　a　halt　and　brushed　the　glass　from　his　face　and　chest。　A　large　block　of　ice　had　burst　through　the　center　windshield；　narrowly　missing　him　before　it　fell　to　the　floor　and　shattered。　His　face　was　cut　on　one　cheek　and　across　the　forehead。　Neither　gash　was　deep　enough　to　require　stitches；　but　the　blood　that　flowed　made　him　look　as　though　he　were　badly　injured。　He　wiped　the　crimson　from　his　eyes　onto　his　sleeve　and　looked　to　see　where　the　Snow　Cruiser　had　e　to　rest。
　　　　　They　were　sitting　inside　a　large…diameter　ice　tunnel；　with　the　vehicle's　front　end　firmly　embedded　in　a　frozen　wall　opposite　the　shattered　entry。　In　both　directions　the　tunnel　looked　deserted。　Seeing　no　sign　of　hostility；　Giordino　rushed　into　the　Snow　Cruiser　and　climbed　the　ladder　to　the　control　cabin。　He　found　Pitt　smiling　hideously　through　a　mask　of　blood。
　　　　　〃You　look　bad；〃　he　said；　attempting　to　help　Pitt　from