（外文电子版资料）A. Bertram Chandler - Familiar Pattern.pdf

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, /abclit.html Familiar Pattern By A. Bertram Chandler writing as George Whitley When Captain Lessing had written his Night Orders the previous night, he had asked to be called either when Hunter Island Light was sighted or, if the light was not seen, when the vessel was within the extreme range. He had, therefore, turned in with the expectation of being aroused at approximately 0530 hours. He did not anticipate being called before; the weather was fine and, according to the forecasts and the behavior of the aneroid barometer, would continue so. His three officers were trustworthy and almost as experienced on the trade as he was himself. He was awakened by the irritating buzzing of the telephone at the head of his bunk. This, by itself, gave slight cause for alarm—usually, if all was clear, the officer of the watch would come down from the bridge to call the master in person. Before answering the phone, Lessing switched on his bunkside reading lamp and looked at the clock on his cabin bulkhead. The time was 0335.Something, thought the captain,is wrong. To have been within range of the light at this time we should have had to have done twelve knots—and this underpowered tub never did twelve even downhill with a following wind … The instrument buzzed again. Lessing lifted the handset from its rest, barked into the receiver, Yes? Second officer here, Captain. Theres a big aircraft just come down in the sea, about five miles ahead of us— Ill be right up, said Lessing as he swung his long legs out of his bunk, his feet searching for his slippers. He pulled his dressing gown on, lit the inevitable cigarette, and hurried up to the bridge. He found the second officer out in the starboard wing, staring through his binoculars at a pulsing luminosity on the dark h