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ight up into the attacking plane； the helicopter's rotor blade！ shattering as they sliced through the jet's horizontal stabilizer。 Instinctively Pitt flicked the ignition switch off as the turbine engine； without the drag from the rotor； raced wildly mid the howl of tortured metal。 Then the racket stopped； and the sky was silent except for the wind that whistled in Pitts ears。
He snatched a glance at the strange jet just before it crashed into the sea； nose first； it's tail section hanging like a broken arm。 Pitt and the unconscious Hunnewell weren't much better off。 All they could do was sit and wait for the crippled helicopter to drop like a stone nearly seventy feet into the cold Atlantic water。
When the crash came； it was much worse than Pitt had anticipated。 The Ulysses fell on its side into the Iceland surf in six feet of water； a scant football field length from shore。 Pitts head whipped sideways and glanced off the door frame； sending him into a vortex of darkness。 Fortunately the agonizing shock of the icy water jolted him back to dizzy wakefulness。 Waves of nausea swept over him； and he knew he was only a hairbreadth away from saying To hell with it and drifting off to sleep for the last time。
His face twisted with pain； Pitt undid his seat belt and shoulder harness； taking a gulp of air before a breaking wave crest passed over the helicopter； then quickly he unfastened the insensible Hunnewell and lifted his head above the swirling water。 At that instant； Pitt slipped and lost his balance as a crashing breaker knocked him from the Ulysses into the surf。 Still grasping Hunnewell by a death grip on the coat collar； he battled the rolling surge as it swept him toward shore； rolling him end…over…end across the uneven rocky bottom。
If Pitt ever wondered what it was like to drown； he had a pretty good idea now。 The freezing water stung every square inch of his skin like a million bees。 His ears failed to pop； and his head was one tormenting ache； his nostrils filled with water； stabbing like a knife at his frontal sinus； and the thin membranes of his lungs felt as if they'd been dipped in nitric acid。 Finally； after bashing his knees into a bed of rocks； he struggled to his feet； his head bursting gratefully into the pure Icelandic air。 He swore to himself then and there that if he should ever decide to mit suicide； it definitely wouldn't be by drowning。
He staggered from the water onto a pebble…strewn beach； half carrying； half dragging Hunnewell like a drunk leading a drunk。 A few steps beyond the tideline Pitt eased his burden down and checked the doctor's pulse and breathing； both were on the fast side but regular。
Then he saw Hunnewell's left arm。 It had been terribly mangled at the elbow by the machine gun bullets。 As quickly as his numbed hands would allow； Pitt took off his shirt； tore off the sleeves； and tightly wrapped them around the wound to stem the flow of blood。 As bad as the tissue damage looked； there was no artery spurt； so he automatically discarded the idea of a tourniquet in favor of direct pressure。 Then he sat Hunnewell up against a large rock； made a crude sling； and elevated the wound to aid the control of bleeding。
Pitt could do nothing more for his friend； so he lay down on the lumpy carpet of stone and let the unwele pain in his body and the hated currents of nausea sweep through his body。 Relaxing as much as the sickness would let him； he closed his eyes； shutting out a magnificent view of the cloud…dotted Arctic sky。
Deep unconsciousness should have held Pitt for at least several hours； but a distant alarm in the depths of his brain； began signaling； and instinctively； in response to the stimuli； his eyes popped open only twenty minutes after they had closed。 The scene was different； the sky and clouds were still there； but something stood in front of them。 It took a second for Pitts eyes to focus on the five children standing around him。 There was no fear in their faces as they stared down at Pitt and Hunnewell。
Pitt sat up on one elbow； forced a smile…it wasn't easy…and said； 〃Good morning； group。 Up a bit early； aren't you？〃
As if on cue； the younger children looked at the oldest； a boy。 He hesitated several moments； collecting his words before he spoke。 〃My brothers and sisters and I were herding our father's cows on the meadow above the cliffs。 We saw your…〃 he paused； his face blank。
〃Helicopter？〃 Pitt prompted。
〃Yes； that is it。〃 The boy's face brightened。 〃Helicopter。 We saw your helicopter lying in the ocean。〃 A slight blush reddened his flawless Scandinavian plexion。 〃I am ashamed that my English is not so good。〃
〃No；〃 Pitt said softly。 〃I'm the one who is ashamed。 You speak English like an Oxford professor； while I can't even offer you two words in Icelandic。〃
The boy beamed at the pliment as he helped Pitt struggle awkwardly to his feet。 〃You are hurt； sir。 Your head bleeds。〃
〃I'll survive。 It's my friend who is injured seriously。 We must get him to the nearest doctor quickly。〃
〃I sent my younger sister to fetch my father when We discovered you。 He will bring his truck soon。〃
Just then； Hunnewell moaned softly。 Pitt leaned over him； cradling the bald head。 The old man was conscious now。 His eyes rolled and stared at Pitt briefly； and then stared at the children。 He was breathing heavily。 and tried to speak； but the words caught in his throat。 There was a strange kind of serenity in his eyes as he gripped Pitts hand； and in a strained effort murmured； 〃God save thee…〃 Then he trembled and gave a little gasp。
Dr。 Hunnewell was dead。
Chapter 6
The farmer and his oldest boy carried Hunnewell to the Land Rover。 Pitt rode in the back holding the oceanographer's head in his lap。 He closed the glazed； sightless eyes and smoothed the few long strands of white hair。
Most children would have been terrified of death； but the boys and girls who surrounded Pitt in the bed of the truck sat silently and calmly； their expressions devoid of all but total acceptance of the only certainty that waits for everyone。
The farmer； a big handsome outdoor…hardened man； drove slowly up a narrow road to the top of the cliff and through the meadows； pulling a small cloud of volcanic red dust behind the tailgate。 Within minutes he stopped at a small cottage on the outskirts of a village of white farmhouses dominated by the traditional Icelandic churchyard。
A somber little man with soft green eyes enlarged by thick steelrimmed glasses came out； introduced himself as Dr。 Jonsson and； after examining Hunnewell； led Pitt into the cottage where he stitched and bandaged Pitts three…inch head gash and made him change into some dry clothes。 Later； as Pitt was drinking a strong brew of coffee and schnaps forced on him by the doctor； the boy and his father entered。
The boy nodded to Pitt and spoke。 〃My father would consider it a great honor if he could transport you and your friend to Reykjavik if that is where you wish to go。〃
Pitt stood and stared a moment into the father's warm gray eyes。 〃You tell your father that I am deeply grateful； and that the honor is mine。〃 Pitt held out his hand and the Icelander gripped it hard。
The boy translated。 His father simply nodded and then they both turned and left the room without another word。
Pitt lit a cigarette and looked quizzically at Dr。 Jonsson。 〃You're a member of a strange people； Doctor。 You all seem to be brimming with warmth and courtesy within； but your exterior seems pletely dry of any emotion。〃
〃You'll find the citizens of Reykjavik more open。 This is the country； we are born into an isolated and stark but beautiful land。 Icelanders who live away from the city are not noted for gossip； we can almost e to understand each other's thoughts before we speak。 Life and love are monplace； death is merely an accepted occurrence。〃
〃I wondered why the children appeared so unconcerned when sitting next to a corpse。〃
〃Death to us is merely a separation； and only a visual one at that。 For you see；〃 the doctor's hand pointed through a large picture window at the gravestones in the churchyard； 〃they who went before us