cc.vixen03-第42章

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　of　South　Af…rica。　He　urgently　warns　us　of　an　imminent　attack　on　the　United　States　mainland　by　the　AAR　and　apologizes　for　any　indirect　involvement　by　his　cabinet。〃
　〃It　doesn't　figure　that　Koertsmann　would　suggest　an　involvement　with　his　enemy；〃　March　said。　〃I　should　think　he'd　categorically　deny　any　connection。〃
　〃Probably　hedging　his　bets；〃　ventured　Jarvis。　〃Koertsmann　must　suspect　Operation　Wild　Rose　has　fallen　into　our　hands。〃
　The　President　kept　gazing　at　the　wording　on　the　paper　as　if　unwilling　to　accept　the　frightening　truth。
　〃It　looks；〃　he　said　solemnly；　〃as　if　all　hell　is　about　to　break　loose。〃
　The　bridge　had　been　his　only　miscalculation。　The　Iowa's　superstruc…ture　was　too　high　to　pass　under　the　one　man…made　obstacle　that　stood　between　Fawkes　and　his　target。　The　vertical　clearance　was　three　feet　lower　than　he'd　reckoned。
　He　heard；　rather　than　saw；　the　plywood　gun…director　housing　being　torn　off　the　forward　gun…control　platform　as　it　smashed　into　the　overhead　span　of　the　bridge。
　Howard　McDonald　slammed　on　his　brakes　and　skidded　to　a　sideways　stop；　toppling　stacked　crates　of　milk　bottles　in　his　delivery　van。　To　McDonald；　who　was　crossing　the　Harry　W。　Nice　Memorial　Toll　Bridge　to　begin　his　regular　milk　route；　it　appeared　that　an　airplane　had　crashed　through　the　supporting　girders　almost　on　top　of　his　truck。　He　sat　there　for　a　few　moments　in　shock；　his　headlights　illuminating　a　huge　pile　of　debris　blocking　the　two　narrow　north…　and　southbound　lanes。　Fearfully；　he　stepped　from　the　van　and　approached；　expecting　to　find　mangled　pieces　of　human　anatomy　embedded　in　the　wreckage。
　Instead；　all　he　discovered　were　splintered　sheets　of　gray…painted　wood。　His　initial　reaction　was　to　stare　at　a　low　overcast　sky；　but　all　he　saw　was　a　red　aircraft…obstruction　light　flashing　atop　the　main　span。　Then　McDonald　walked　over　to　the　railing　and　peered　down。
　Except　for　what　seemed　to　be　the　running　lights　of　a　string　of　vessels　disappearing　around　Mathias　Point；　to　the　north；　the　channel　was　empty。
　
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　Pitt；　Steiger；　and　Admiral　Sandecker　stood　around　a　drafting　table　in　Pitt's　hangar　at　the　Washington　National　Airport　and　examined　a　large…scale　map　of　the　area's　waterways。　〃Fawkes　did　a　radical　facelift　on　the　Iowa　for　a　damned　good　reason；〃　Pitt　was　saying。　〃Sixteen　feet。　That's　how　much　he　raised　her　waterline。〃
　〃You　certain　you　have　an　accurate　figure？〃　Sandecker　asked。　〃That　leaves　a　draft　of　only　twenty…two　feet。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　doesn't　seem　credible。〃
　〃I　got　it　from　the　man　who　should　know；〃　answered　Pitt。　〃While　Dale　Jarvis　was　on　the　phone　to　NSA　headquarters；　I　questioned　Metz；　the　shipyard　boss。　He　swore　to　the　measurements。〃
　〃But　for　what　purpose？〃　said　Steiger。　〃By　removing　all　the　guns　and　replacing　them　with　wooden　dummies；　the　ship　is　totally　useless。〃
　〃Number…two　turret　and　all　its　fire…control　equipment　is　still　in　place；〃　Pitt　said。　〃According　to　Metz；　the　Iowa　can　lob　a　salvo　of　two…thousand…pound　shells　twenty　miles　into　a　rain　barrel。〃
　Sandecker　concentrated　his　attention　on　lighting　a　large　cigar。　Satis…fied　that　it　was　properly　stoked；　he　blew　a　cloud　of　blue　smoke　at　the　ceiling　and　rapped　the　map　with　his　knuckles。　〃Your　plan　is　crazy；　Dirk。　We're　meddling　in　a　conflict　way　over　our　heads。〃
　〃We　can't　sit　here　and　piss　and　moan；〃　said　Pitt。　〃The　President　will　be　persuaded　by　the　Pentagon　strategists　either　to　blow　the　Iowa　out　of　the　water；　more　likely　than　not　spreading　the　QD　to　the　winds；　or　to　send　out　a　boarding　party　to　capture　the　gas　shells；　with　the　idea　of　incorporating　them　into　the　Army's　arsenal。〃
　〃But　what　good　is　a　plague　organism　that　can't　be　controlled？〃　asked　Steiger。
　〃　Ypu　can　bet　every　biologist　in　the　country　will　be　funded　to　search　for　an　antidote；〃　Pitt　replied。　〃If　one　makes　a　breakthrough；　then　someday；　somewhere；　a　general　or　an　admiral　may　panic　and　give　the　order　for　its　dispersal。　Me；　I　don't　want　to　grow　old　knowing　I　had　an　opportunity　to　save　countless　lives　but　failed　to　act。〃
　〃Pretty　speech；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃I'm　in　total　agreement；　but　the　three　of　us　are　hardly　in　a　position　to　pete　with　the　Defense　Depart…ment　in　a　race　to　recover　the　two　remaining　QD　warheads。〃
　〃If　we　could　sneak　a　man　on　board　the　Iowa　first；　a　man　who　could　disarm　the　firing　mechanism　of　the　projectiles　and　dump　the　organism　pellets　over　the　side　into　the　water　。　。　。〃　Pitt　let　his　thought　linger。
　〃And　you　are　that　man？〃　ventured　Sandecker。
　〃Of　us　three；　I'm　the　best　qualified。〃
　〃Aren't　you　forgetting　me；　mister？〃　Steiger　said　acidly。
　〃If　all　else　fails；　we'll　need　a　good　man　at　the　controls　of　the　helicop…ter。　Sorry；　Abe；　but　I　can't　fly　one；　so　you're　elected。〃
　〃Since　you　put　it　that　way；〃　replied　Steiger　with　a　wry　smile；　〃how　can　I　refuse？〃
　〃The　trick　is　to　ferret　out　the　Iowa　before　the　boys　at　Defense；〃　said　Sandecker。　〃Not　a　likely　event；　since　they　have　the　advantage　of　satel…lite　reconnaissance。〃
　〃What　if　we　know　exactly　where　the　Iowa　is　headed？〃　Pitt　said；　grinning。
　〃How？〃　grunted　a　skeptical　Steiger。
　〃The　draft　was　the　giveaway；〃　answered　Pitt。　〃There's　only　one　waterway　within　Fawkes's　steaming　distance　that　would　require　a　draft　of　no　more　than　twenty…two　feet。〃
　Sandecker　and　Steiger　stood　silent　and　expressionless；　waiting　for　Pitt　to　unravel　the　knot。
　〃The　Capital；〃　Pitt　said　with　a　certain　finality。　〃Fawkes　is　going　to　run　the　Iowa　up　the　Potomac　River　and　hit　Washington。〃
　Fawkes's　arms　ached　and　the　sweat　of　intense　concentration　rolled　down　his　weathered　face　and　trickled　into　his　beard。　But　for　his　arm　movements；　he　might　have　been　cast　in　bronze。　He　was　desperately　tired。　He　had　stood　at　the　helm　of　thelowa　for　nearly　ten　hours；　wresting　the　mighty　ship　through　channels　she　was　never　designed　to　enter。　The　palms　of　his　hands　were　seeded　with　broken　blisters；　but　he　did　not　care。　
　He　was　in　the　homestretch　of　his　impossible　journey。　The　long；　lethal　guns　of　number…two　turret　were　already　within　range　of　Pennsylvania　Avenue。
　He　called　for　flank　speed　on　the　telegraph；　and　the　vibration　from　deep　belowdecks　increased。　Like　an　old　war…horse　at　the　sound　of　the　bugle；　the　Iowa　dug　her　screws　into　the　muddy　river　and　charged　up　the　narrows　beside　Cornwallis　Neck　on　the　Maryland　bank。
　Thelowa　looked　like　something　not　of　this　world；　rather；　it　looked　like　a　mammoth　smoke…breathing　monster　erupting　from　the　depths　of　hell。　She　forged　ahead　faster；　sweeping　past　the　channel　buoys　that　fell　back　toward　the　first　tendrils　of　dawn。　It　was　as　if　she　had　a　heart　and　soul　and　somehow　knew　this　was　her　final　voyage；　knew　she　was　about　to　die；　the　last　of　the　fighting　battleships。
　Fawkes　stared　in　fascination　at　the　glow　from　the　lights　of　Washington　looming　twenty　miles　ahead。　The　Marine　base　at　Quantico　fell　behind　the　stern　as　thelowa's　irresistible　mass　hurtled　around　Hallowing　Point　and　sped　past　Gunston　Cove。　Only　one　bend　remained　before　her　bows　entered　the　straight　channel　ending　on　the　edge　of　the　golf　course　at　East　Potomac　Park。
　〃Twenty…three　feet；〃　the　depth　reader's　voice　droned　over　the　speaker。　〃Twenty…three　。　。　。　twenty…two…five　。　。　。〃
　The　ship　dashed　by　the　next　channel　buoy；　her　eighteen…foot　five…bladed　outboard　propellers　flailing　at　the　bottom　silt；　her　bow　throwing　sheets　of　white　foam　as　she　plowed　against　the　five…knot　current。
　〃Twenty…two　feet；　Captain。〃　The　voice　had　a　tone　of　urgency。　〃Twenty…two；　holding　。　。　。　holding。　。。。　Oh　God；　twenty…one…five！〃
　Then　she　struck　the　rising　riverbed　like　a　hammer　into　a　pillow。　The　impact　seemed　a　sensation　more　known　than　felt　as　the　bows　bored　into　the　mud。　The　engines　continued　to　hum　and　the　screws　went　on　thrash…ing；　but　thelowa　lay　still。
　She　had　e　to　rest　below　the　sloping　grounds　of　Mount　Vernon。
　
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　〃I　didn't　believe　it　possible；〃　said　Admiral　Joseph　Kemper　as　he　gazed　in　admiration　at　the　Iowa's　image　on　the　viewing　screen。　〃Sailing　a　steel　fortress　ninety　miles　up　a　narrow；　meandering　river　in　the　dead　of　night　is　a　remarkable　feat　of　seamanship。〃
　The　President　looked　pensive。　He　massaged　his　temples。　〃What　do　we　know　about　this　fellow　Fawkes？〃
　Kemper　nodded　to　an　aide；　who　passed　a　blue　folder　to　the　President。
　〃The　British　Admiralty　obliged　my　request　for　Captain　Fawkes's　service　record。　Mr。　Jarvis　has　added　an　addendum　from　NSA　files。〃
　The　President　slipped　on　a　pair　of　reading　glasses　and　opened　the　folder。　After　a　few　minutes　he　peered　over　the　horn…rims　at　Kemper。　〃A　damn　fine　record。　Whoever　picked　him　for　the　job　knew　his　onions。　But　why　would　a　man　of　his　reputable　background　suddenly　involve　himself　with　such　a　bizarre　venture？〃
　Jarvis　shook　his　head。　〃The　best　guess　is　that　the　massacre　of　his　wife　and　children　by　terrorists　pushed　him　off　the　deep　end。〃
　The　President　mulled　over　Jarvis's　words　and　turned　to　the　Joint　Chiefs。　〃Gentlemen；　I'm　open　for　proposals。〃
　General　Higgins　took　the　cue　and　pushed　back　his　chair　and　stepped　to　the　screen。　〃Our　staff　planners　have　programmed　a　number　of　alterna…tives；　all　based　on　the　assumption　that　the　Iowa　is　carrying　a　deadly　biological　agent。　First；　we　can　call　up　a　squadron　of　Air　Force　F…one…twenty　Specter　jets　to　blast　thelowa　with　Copperhead　missiles。　The　attack　would　coincide　with　supporting　firepower　by　Army　units　on　shore。〃
　〃Too　uncertain；〃　said　the　President。　〃If　the　destruction　is　not　im…mediate　and　total；　you　may　well　disperse　the　Quick　Death　agent。〃
　〃Second；〃　Higgins　continued；　〃we　send　in　a　team　of　Navy　SEALs　to　board　the　Iowa　from　the　water　and　secure　the　stern　section；　which　contains　a　helicopter　landing　pad。　Then　Marine　assault　troops　can　land　and　seize　the　ship。〃　Higgins　paused；　waiting　for　ments。
　〃And　if　the　ship　was　battened　down〃…this　from　Kemper…〃how　would　the　Marines　gain　entry？〃
　Jarvis　fielded　the　question。　〃According　to　the　shipyard　people；　most　of　the　Iowa's　armor　and　superstructure　were　replaced　with　wood。　The　Marines　could　blast　through　to　the　ship's　interior；　providing；　of　course；　Fawkes's　men　hadn't　cut　them　down　while　they　were　landing。〃
　〃If　all　else　fails；〃　said　Higgins；　〃our　final　alternative　is　to　finish　the　job　with　a　low…yield　nuclear　missile。〃
　For　nearly　a　minute　no　one　in　the　room　spoke；　each　man　unwilling　to　air　the　unthinkable　consequences　to　the　general's　last　proposal。　Finally；　as　he　knew　he　must；　the　President　took　the　initiative。　〃It　seems　to　me　a　small　neutron　bomb　would　be　a　more　practical　out。〃　〃Radioactivity　alone　won't　kill　the　QD　agent；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃Also；〃　Kemper　injected；　〃I　doubt　if　the　lethal　rays　could　penetrate　the　turret。　They're　nearly　airtight　when　buttoned　up。〃
　The　President　looked　at　Higgins。　〃I　must　assume　your　people　have　weighed　the　terrible　possibilities。〃
　Higgins　solemnly　nodded。　〃It　es　down　to　the　age…old　choice　of　sacrificing　a　few　to　save　many。〃　〃What　do　you　call　a　few？〃
　〃Fifty　to　seventy…five　thousand　dead。　Perhaps　twice　that　number　injured。　The　small　munities　closest　to　the　Iowa　and　the　congested　sector　of　Alexandria　would　be　the　hardest　hit。　Washington　proper　would　receive　minor　damage。〃
　〃How　soon　before　the　Marines　can　go　in？〃　asked　the　President。　〃They　are　boarding　helicopters　at　the　staging　area　this　very　minute；〃　answered　General