cc.vixen03-第44章

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　the　copter　until　it　swept　over　the　decks　and　carried　away　the　radio　antennae。
　〃What　in　hell　was　that？〃　blurted　Kiebel　in　genuine　astonishment。
　Pitt　would　have　been　only　too　glad　to　supply　the　answer　if　he'd　had　the　time。　Strapped　in　the　harness；　dangling　under　the　NUMA　helicopter　only　thirty　feet　above　the　river；　he　barely　managed　to　extend　his　legs　forward　as　he　crashed　into　the　patrol　boat's　antennae。　His　feet　took　most　of　the　shock；　and　foftunately…　damned　fortunately；　he　thought　later…　none　of　the　wiring　had　entangled　his　body；　sectioning　him　like　a　lettuce　slicer。　As　it　was；　he　would　carry　a　nice　welt　across　his　buttocks　where　a　piece　of　thin　tubing　had　made　brief　contact。
　
　The　rising　sun　cooperated　by　hiding　behind　a　low　range　of　dark　clouds；　its　filtered　light　obscuring　any　detail　of　the　surrounding　countryside。　The　air　was　keen；　barbed　with　the　energy　of　its　chill；　a　polar　frigidity　that　stabbed　through　Pitt's　heavy　clothing。　His　eyes　were　watering　like　faucets　and　his　cheeks　and　forehead　smarted　with　the　intensity　of　over…loaded　pincushions。
　Pitt　was　on　a　ride　no　amusement　park　in　the　country　could　equal。　The　Potomac　was　a　blur　as　he　soared　over　its　lazy　current　at　nearly　two　hundred　miles　an　hour。　Trees　edging　the　banks　hurtled　by　like　cars　on　a　Los　Angeles　freeway。　He　looked　skyward　and　made　out　a　small　pale　oval　against　the　black　doorway　of　the　helicopter　and　recognized　it　as　the　anxious　face　of　Admiral　Sandecker。
　He　felt　a　sideways　motion　as　Steiger　banked　the　craft　around　a　wide　bend　in　the　river。　The　long　umbilical　cable　that　held　him　to　a　winch　in　the　cargo　partment　arched　in　the　opposite　direction；　swinging　him　out…ward；　like　the　end　child　in　a　playground　game　of　crack　the　whip。　The　momentum　twisted　him　sideways　and　he　found　himself　looking　at　the　grounds　of　Mount　Vernon。　Then　the　cable　straightened　and　the　huge　mass　of　the　Iowa　swung　into　view；　her　forward　guns　trained　ominously　upstream。
　Overhead；　Steiger　eased　back　on　the　throttle　and　slowed　the　flight　of　the　helicopter。　Pitt　felt　the　harness　straps　pressing　into　his　chest　at　the　deceleration　and　braced　himself　for　the　drop。　The　superstructure　of　the　ship　filled　up　the　windshield　in　front　of　the　control　cabin　when　Steiger　gently　eased　the　helicopter　into　a　hovering　position　above　the　starboard　side　of　the　ship；　behind　the　main　bridge。
　〃Too　fast！　Too　fast！〃　Steiger　muttered　over　and　over；　fearful　that　Pitt　would　be　swinging　ahead　of　the　hovering　helicopter　like　a　weight　on　the　bottom　of　a　pendulum。
　Steiger's　fears　were　justified。　Pitt　was　indeed　pitching　forward　on　an　uncontrollable　course；　high　above　the　main　deck；　where　he'd　planned　to　land。　Narrowly　missing　an　empty　five…inch…gun　turret；　he　came　to　the　end　of　his　arc。　It　was　now　or　never。　He　made　his　decision　and　hit　the　quick…release　buckle　and　dropped　clear　of　the　harness。
　From　the　doorway　of　the　helicopter　Sandecker's　eyes　strained　in　the　early…morning　gloom；　his　insides　knotted；　his　breath　halted；　as　Pitt's　huddled　figure　fell　behind　the　forward　superstructure　and　vanished。　Then　the　Iowa　was　gone；　too；　as　Steiger　snapped　the　helicopter　into　a　steep　angle；　the　rotor　blades　biting　the　air；　dipping　over　the　forested　shore　and　out　of　sight。　As　soon　as　the　craft　leveled；　Sandecker　released　his　safety　strap　and　made　his　way　back　into　the　cockpit。
　〃Is　he　away？〃　Steiger　asked　anxiously。
　〃Yes；　he's　down；〃　answered　Sandecker。
　〃In　one　piece？〃
　〃We　can　but　hope；〃　Sandecker　said；　so　quietly　that　Steiger　hardly　heard　him　above　the　roar　of　the　engine。　〃That's　all　any　of　us　has　left。〃
　
　59
　
　Fawkes　was　not　overly　concerned　with　the　helicopter　so　long　as　it　continued　on　its　way。　He　did　not　see　a　human　form　drop　out　of　the　twilight；　as　his　attention　was　directed　to　the　boat　that　was　approaching　downriver　at　high　speed。　There　was　no　doubt　in　his　mind　that　it　was　a　weling　mittee；　courtesy　of　the　United　States　government。　He　spoke　into　a　microphone。
　〃Mr。　Shaba。〃
　〃Sir？〃　Shaba's　voice　crackled　back。
　〃Please　see　to　it　the　machine…gun　crews　man　their　stations　and　prepare　to　repel　boarders。〃　Repel　boarders。　My　God；　Fawkes　thought。　When　was　the　last　time　a　captain　of　a　capital　ship　gave　that　mand？
　〃Is　this　a　drill；　sir？〃
　〃No；　Mr。　Shaba；　this　is　no　drill。　I　fear　American　extremists　who　support　the　enemies　of　our　country　may　attempt　to　take　the　ship。　You　will　instruct　your　men　to　fire　at　any　person；　vessel；　or　aircraft　that　endangers　the　welfare　of　this　ship　and　her　crew。　Your　men　may　begin　by　driving　off　a　terrorist　boat　that　is　approaching　from　the　west。〃
　〃Aye；　Captain。〃　The　radio　could　not　hide　the　excitement　in　Shaba's　voice。
　Fawkes　felt　a　growing　urge　to　order　his　unsuspecting　crew　off　the　Iowa；　but　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　admit　he　was　murdering　sixty…eight　innocent　men；　men　who　had　been　deceived　into　believing　they　were　serving　a　country　that　treated　them　little　better　than　cattle。　Fawkes　had　a　method　of　casting　off　any　cold　tentacles　of　guilt。　He　forced　an　image　of　a　burned…out　farm　and　the　charred　bodies　of　his　wife　and　children　into　his　mind　and　his　resolve　for　the　task　at　hand　quickly　hardened。
　He　picked　up　the　mike　again。　〃Main　battery。〃
　〃Main　battery　ready；　Captain。〃
　〃Single　fire　on　mand。〃　He　glanced　once　more　at　his　putations　on　the　chart　beside　him。　〃Range；　twenty…three　thousand　nine　hundred　yards。　Target　bearing；　oh…one…four　degrees。〃
　Fawkes　stared　hypnotically　at　the　three　sixty…eight…foot　guns　stretch…ing　out　of　the　number…two　main…battery　turret；　each　barrel　and　its　mechanism　weighing　134　tons；　obediently　lifting　its　herculean　muzzle　to　an　elevation　of　fifteen　degrees。　Then　they　stopped；　waiting　for　the　mand　to　unleash　their　awesome　power。　Fawkes　paused；　took　a　deep　breath；　and　pushed　the　〃transmit〃　button。
　〃Are　you　in　position；　Angus　Two？〃
　〃Say　the　word；　man；〃　replied　the　spotter。
　〃Mr。　Shaba？〃
　〃Standing　by　to　fire；　sir。〃
　This　was　it。　The　journey　that　had　begun　on　a　farm　in　Natal　had　relentlessly　run　its　course　to　this　moment。　Fawkes　stepped　outside　to　the　bridge　wing　and　raised　the　AAR　battle　flag　on　a　makeshift　staff。　Then　he　returned　to　the　control　room　and　spoke　the　fateful　words。
　〃You　may　fire；　Mr。　Shaba。〃
　To　the　men　on　the　Coast　Guard　patrol　boat　it　was　as　if　they　had　sailed　into　a　holocaust。　Though　only　one　gun　of　the　triple　battery　had　fired　directly　over　the　Iowa's　bow；　the　blast　created　a　path　of　turbulence　and　a　great　arm　of　incandescent　gas　that　reached　out　and　engulfed　the　small　craft。　Most　of　the　men　standing　were　knocked　to　the　deck。　The　ones　facing　the　Iowa　at　the　moment　of　discharge　actually　had　their　hair　singed　and　were　blinded　for　the　next　several　moments　by　the　flash。
　Almost　before　the　effects　of　the　muzzle　blast　had　dissipated；　Lieuten…ant　mander　Kiebel　had　taken　the　helm　and　thrown　the　boat　in　a　sharply　cut　S　turn。　Then　the　windshield　across　the　bridge　shattered　and　fell　away。　For　a　fraction　of　a　second　he　thought　he　was　being　attacked　by　wasps。　He　could　feel　the　hum　as　they　flew　past　his　cheeks　and　hair。　Only　after　his　right　arm　was　jerked　from　the　wheel　and　he　looked　down　to　see　an　evenly　spaced　set　of　reddening　holes　through　his　jacket　sleeve　did　it　dawn　on　him　what　was　happening。
　〃Get　your　men　over　the　side！〃　he　yelled　at　Fergus。　〃The　bastards　are　shooting　at　us！〃
　He　didn't　have　to　repeat　the　message。　Instantly；　Fergus　scrambled　across　the　deck；　ordering　and　in　some　cases　physically　shoving　his　men　into　the　dubious　safety　of　the　river。　Miraculously；　Kiebel　was　the　only　one　who　had　been　hit。　Alone　in　broad　view　on　the　bridge；　he　stood　as　though　on　a　stage　in　the　eyes　of　the　Iowa's　gunners。
　Kiebel　brought　the　boat　so　close　alongside　the　Iowa's　hull　that　the　sideboard　bumpers　were　crushed　against　the　vast　wall　of　steel　and　torn　off。　It　was　a　wise　move；　the　gunners　above　could　not　depress　their　sights　low　enough　to　do　more　than　shoot　away　part　of　the　patrol　boat's　radar　mast。　Then　Kiebel　broke　into　open　water；　the　bullet　splashes　falling　fifty　feet　to　starboard；　attesting　to　the　bad　aim　of　his　startled　adversaries。　The　gap　between　them　widened。　He　stole　a　quick　glance　aft　and　was　relieved　to　see　that　Fergus　and　his　men　were　gone。
　He　had　run　interference　for　the　SEALs。　It　was　their　ball　game　now。　Gratefully；　Kiebel　turned　over　the　helm　to　his　first　officer　and　watched　dourly　as　a　chief　petty　officer　broke　open　a　first…aid　kit　and　started　cutting　away　the　blood…soaked　sleeve　of　his　jacket。
　〃Son　of　a　bitch；〃　Kiebel　muttered。
　〃Sorry；　sir；　you'll　just　have　to　grit　your　teeth　and　bear　it。〃
　〃That's　easy　for　you　to　say；〃　snorted　Kiebel。　〃You　didn't　lay　out　two　hundred　bucks　for　the　coat。〃
　Jogging　his　way　across　the　pedestrian　walk　of　the　Arlington　Memorial　Bridge；　Donald　Fisk；　an　inspector　with　the　Bureau　of　Customs；　gasped　out　the　crisp　city　air　in　wispy　clouds　of　vapor。
　He　was　on　the　return　leg；　passing　around　the　Lincoln　Memorial；　his　thoughts　trailing　from　nowhere　to　nowhere　from　the　boredom　of　the　exercise；　when　a　strange　sound　brought　him　to　a　halt。　As　it　became　louder；　it　reminded　him　of　the　roar　of　a　speeding　freight　train。　Then　it　turned　into　a　screaming　whoosh；　and　suddenly　a　massive　crater　ap…peared　in　the　middle　of　Twenty…third　Street；　followed　by　a　thunderous　clap　and　a　shower　of　dirt　and　asphalt。
　Standing　rigidly　still　after　the　explosion；　Fisk　was　amazed　to　find　he　was　untouched。　The　projectile　had　passed　over　him　and　struck　the　street　at　an　angle；　spraying　its　destructive　force　ahead　of　its　trajectory。
　A　hundred　yards　away；　a　man　driving　a　delivery　truck　had　his　windshield　blown　inward。　He　managed　to　stop　the　truck　and　stagger　from　the　cab；　his　face　sliced　to　hamburger。
　Dazed；　he　held　his　hands　in　front　of　him　and　screamed；　〃I　can't　see！　Help　me！　Someone　please　help　me！〃
　Fisk　shook　off　the　cold　shivers　of　shock　and　ran　toward　the　stricken　driver。　The　early…morning　traffic　rush　was　still　an　hour　away　and　the　street　was　empty。　He　wondered　how　he　could　call　the　police　and　an　ambulance。　The　only　other　vehicle　he　saw　was　a　street　sweeper　calmly　whisking　its　way　up　Independence　Avenue　as　though　nothing　had　hap…pened。
　〃Angus　Two；〃　Fawkes　called。　〃Report　effect　of　fire。〃
　〃Man；　you　sure　tore　up　the　street。〃
　〃Keep　your　remarks　to　a　minimum；〃　said　Fawkes　irritably。　〃Your　transmission　is　no　doubt　being　pinpointed。〃
　〃I　read；　big　man。　Your　cock　shot　is　seventy…five　yards　short　and　one　hundred　eighty　yards　to　the　left。〃
　〃You　heard；　Mr。　Shaba。〃
　〃Adjusting；　Captain。〃
　〃Fire　as　you　bear；　Mr。　Shaba。〃
　〃Aye；　sir。〃
　Buried　in　the　seventeen…hundred…ton　steel　turret；　black　South　African　gunners　sweated　and　loaded　the　gaping　breeches；　shouting　and　cursing　in　tune　with　the　clanging　hoist　machinery；　while　five　decks　below；　the　magazine　crew　sent　up　the　shells　and　the　silk　bags　containing　the　pow…der。　First　the　conical…nosed　twenty…seven…hundred…pound　armor…piercing　projectile　was　shoved　into　the　breech's　throat　by　a　power　rammer；　followed　by　the　powder　charge；　weighing　six　hundred　pounds。　Next　the　huge　downswing　carrier　breech　was　twisted　shut；　providing　a　gas…tight　seal。　Then；　on　mand；　the　great　gun　spat　its　devastating　vehemence　and　recoiled　four　feet　into　its　steel　lair。
　Fourteen　miles　away；　Donald　Fisk　was　attending　the　injured　truck　driver　as　t