cc.vixen03-第49章

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　There　was　no　way　to　reverse　the　process；　no　way　to　halt　the　firing　sequence。　The　powder　charges　detonated　and　two　projectiles　spit　out　of　the　center　and　starboard　muzzles；　but　inside　the　port　barrel　the　warhead　jammed　tight　at　the　fracture　caused　by　the　Satan　missiles；　trapped　the　exploding　gases　at　its　base；　and　blocked　them　from　escaping。
　A　new　gun　might　have　withstood　the　tremendous　blowback　and　the　staggering　pressures　but　the　tired；　rusty　old　breech　had　seen　its　day；　and　it　shattered　and　burst。　In　a　microsecond　a　volcanic　eruption　of　flame　pressed　within　the　turret；　flashed　down　the　magazine　elevator　tubes；　and　set　off　the　powder　sacks　stored　far　below。
　The　Iowa　blew　her　guts　out。
　Patrick　Fawkes；　in　the　fleeting　instant　he　was　blasted　through　the　outside　hatch；　saw　the　utter　waste；　the　terrible　stupidity；　of　his　actions。　He　reached　out　to　his　beloved　Myrna　to　beg　her　forgiveness　as　he　；　smashed　against　the　unyielding　deck　and　was　crushed　to　pulp。
　The　armor…piercing　shell　from　the　starboard　barrel　reached　its　zenith　and　hurtled　downward　through　the　limestone　dome　of　the　National　Archives　building。　By　freakish　chance　it　fell　past　the　twenty…one　tiers　of　books　and　records；　crashed　through　the　granite　floor　of　the　exhibition　hall　less　than　ten　feet　from　the　glass　case　containing　the　Declaration　of　Independence；　and　came　to　rest　with　half　its　length　embedded　in　the　concrete　floor　of　the　subbasement。
　Shell　number　two　was　a　dud。
　Not　so　number　three。
　Activated　by　its　tiny　generator；　the　radar　altimeter　inside　the　Quick　Death　package　began　beaming　signals　to　the　ground　and　recording　its　downward　trajectory。　Lower　and　lower　the　warhead　dropped　until　at　fifteen　hundred　feet　an　electrical　impulse　popped　the　parachute　release　and　an　umbrella　of　fluorescent…orange　silk　blossomed　against　the　blue　sky。　Amazingly；　the　thirty…plus…year…old　material　took　the　sudden　strain　without　splitting　at　the　seams。
　Far　below　the　streets　of　Washington；　the　President　and　his　advisers　sat　motionlessly　in　their　chairs；　their　eyes　blinking　as　they　followed　the　relentless　descent　of　the　projectile。　At　first；　like　passengers　on　the　Titanic　who　refused　to　believe　the　huge　ocean　liner　was　sinking；　they　sat　entranced；　their　minds　unable　to　grasp　the　true　scope　of　the　events　before　them；　feebly　optimistic　that　somehow　the　mechanism　inside　the　warhead　would　fail；　causing　it　to　fall　harmlessly　onto　the　grass　of　the　mall。
　Then；　with　a　frightening　momentum；　they　all　began　to　feel　the　tighten…ing　pincers　of　despair。
　A　light　breeze　sprang　up　from　the　north　and　nudged　the　parachute　toward　the　Smithsonian　Institution　buildings。　Soldiers　who　had　blocked　off　the　streets　around　the　Lincoln　Memorial　and　the　National　Archives　building　and　crowds　of　government　employees　caught　in　the　morning　traffic　gazed　sheeplike　as　a　forest　of　hands　pointed　skyward。
　Around　the　conference　table　the　air　was　still　with　tension；　a　growing　anxiety　that　reached　insufferable　proportions。　Jarvis　could　watch　no　more。　He　placed　his　head　in　his　hands。　〃Finished；〃　he　said；　his　voice　hoarse。　〃We're　finished。〃
　〃Isn't　there　something　that　can　be　done？〃　asked　the　President；　his　eyes　locked　on　the　floating　object　on　the　viewing　screen。
　Higgins　shrugged　in　defeat。　〃Shooting　that　monster　out　of　the　sky　would　only　disperse　the　bacteria。　Beyond　that；　I'm　afraid　we　can　do　nothing。〃
　Jarvis　saw　a　flash　of　realization　flood　the　President's　eyes；　a　sickening　realization　that　they　had　e　to　the　end　of　the　road。　The　impossible　could　not　happen；　could　not　be　accepted；　but　there　it　was。　Death　for　millions　was　only　seconds　and　a　few　hundred　feet　away。
　So　intently　were　they　watching　the　scene　that　they　did　not　notice　the　speck　in　the　distance　growing　larger。　Admiral　Kemper　was　the　first　to　distinguish　it；　he　seldom　missed　a　thing。　He　rose　out　of　his　chair　and　peered　as　though　his　eyes　were　laser　beams。　The　others　finally　saw　it　too　as　the　speck　enlarged　into　a　helicopter　ing　straight　on　the　warhead。
　〃What　in　God's　name　。　。　。〃　Higgins　muttered。
　〃It　looks　like　the　same　crazy　bastard　who　buzzed　the　Iowa；〃　an…nounced　Kemper。
　〃This　time　we'll　blast　his　ass；〃　Higgins　said；　reaching　for　his　mu…nications　phone。
　The　low　sun　bounced　off　the　helicopter's　canopy；　making　a　bright　momentary　glint　on　the　viewing　screen。　The　craft　grew；　and　soon；　large　black　letters　could　be　seen　on　its　side。
　〃NUMA；〃　said　Kemper。　〃That's　one　of　the　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency　copters。〃
　Jarvis's　hands　fell　from　his　face　and　he　looked　up　as　if　suddenly　awakening　from　a　deep　sleep。　〃You　did　say　'NUMA。'　〃
　〃See　for　yourself；〃　Kemper　said；　pointing。
　Jarvis　looked。　Then；　like　a　man　demented；　he　knocked　over　his　chair　and　stretched　across　the　table；　slapping　the　phone　out　of　Higgins's　hand。　〃No！〃　he　shouted。
　Higgins　look　stunned。
　〃Leave　well　enough　alone！〃　Jarvis　snapped。　〃The　pilot　knows　what　he's　doing。〃
　All　that　Jarvis　was　certain　of　was　that　Dirk　Pitt　was　behind　the　drama　being　played　out　over　the　capital　city。　A　NUMA　helicopter　and　Pitt。　The　two　had　to　be　connected。　A　tiny　glimmer　of　hope　flickered　within　Jarvis　as　he　watched　the　gap　narrow　between　aircraft　and　warhead。
　The　Minerva　bored　in　on　the　bright…orange　parachute　like　a　bull　charging　a　matador's　cape。　It　was　going　to　be　a　tight　race。　Steiger　and　Sandecker　had　overestimated　the　trajectory　of　the　Quick　Death　warhead　and　were　hovering　near　the　National　Archives　building　when　they　saw　the　chute　open　early；　a　quarter　of　a　mile　short　of　their　position。　Precious　time　was　lost　while　Steiger　feverishly　swung　the　aircraft　on　a　closing　course　in　a　desperate　gamble　conceived　by　Pitt　a　few　hours　previously。
　〃Twelve　seconds　gone；〃　Sandecker　announced　impassively　from　the　cabin　door。
　Eighteen　seconds　to　detonation；　Steiger　thought　to　himself。
　〃Ready　on　the　hook　and　winch；〃　said　Sandecker。
　Steiger　shook　his　head。　〃Too　risky。　One　pass　is　all　we'll　get。　Must　take　it　through　the　shrouds　bow…on。〃
　〃You'll　foul　the　rotor　blades。〃
　〃The　only　shot　we've　got；〃　Steiger　replied。
　Sandecker　did　not　argue　the　point。　He　hurriedly　dropped　into　the　copilot's　seat　and　strapped　himself　in。
　The　warhead　was　looming　through　the　windshield。　Steiger　noted　that　it　was　painted　regulation…Navy　blue。　He　pushed　in　the　throttles　to　the　twin　turboshaft　engines　and　at　the　same　time　pulled　the　pitch…control　column　back。　The　Minerva's　forward　speed　was　cut　so　abruptly　that　both　men　winced　as　they　were　thrown　against　their　safety　harnesses。
　〃Six　seconds；〃　said　Sandecker。
　The　shadow　of　the　huge　parachute　was　falling　over　the　helicopter　when　Steiger　flipped　the　craft　on　its　starboard　side。　The　violent　ma…neuver　sent　the　pointed　bow　of　the　Minerva　knifing　between　the　shroud　lines。　Orange　silk　collapsed　and　covered　the　windshield；　blotting　out　the　sun。　Three　of　the　lines　caught　and　wrapped　around　the　rotor　shaft　before　the　tired　old　material　gave　way　and　shredded。　The　rest　entwined　around　the　fuselage　and　jerked　the　Minerva　to　a　near　stop　as　they　tautened　and　took　up　the　strain　of　the　heavy　projectile。
　〃Two　seconds；〃　Sandecker　rasped　through　clenched　teeth。
　The　Minerva　was　being　pulled　downward　by　the　weight　of　the　shell。　Steiger　returned　the　craft　to　an　upright　position　with　the　pitch…control　column；　yanked　the　throttles　back　against　their　stops；　and　pulled　up　on　the　collective…pitch　lever　in　a　blur　of　hand　movements。
　The　twin　engines　struggled　under　the　load。　Sandecker　had　stopped　counting。　Time　had　run　out。　The　altimeter　needle　was　quivering　at　one　thousand　feet。　Sandecker　leaned　out　an　open　window　and　stared　past　the　flapping　silk　at　the　warhead　dangling　beneath　the　fuselage；　expecting　to　see　an　explosion。
　The　Minerva's　rotor　blades　slapped　the　air；　causing　a　thumping　sound　that　could　be　heard　for　miles　above　the　sea　of　enthralled　faces　turned　to　the　sky。　Parachute；　projectile；　and　helicopter　hung　together；　suspended。　Sandecker　darted　his　attention　back　to　the　altimeter。　It　hadn't　budged。　A　sheen　of　sweat　glistened　on　his　brow。
　Ten　seconds　passed；　which　to　Sandecker　seemed　ten　years。　Steiger；　absorbed　in　his　task；　battled　the　controls。　The　admiral　could　do　little　but　sit　there。　It　was　the　first　time　he　could　remember　feeling　totally　useless。
　〃Lift；　damn　you；　lift；〃　Steiger　said；　pleading　with　the　Minerva。
　Sandecker　watched　the　altimeter　as　though　mesmerized。　It　seemed　to　him　the　needle　made　a　fractional　tic　above　the　one…thousand…foot　mark。　Was　it　wishful　thinking；　or　had　the　instrument　really　registered　an　upward　reading？　Then；　slowly；　almost　infinitesimally；　the　needle　appeared　to　move。
　〃Climbing；〃　he　reported。　His　voice　had　a　tremor　in　it。
　Steiger　did　not　answer。
　The　rate　of　ascent　began　to　increase。　Sandecker　remained　quiet　until　he　was　sure　his　eyes　weren't　playing　tricks　on　his　brain。　There　was　no　more　cause　for　uncertainty。　The　needle　was　slowly　sweeping　past　the　next　indication。
　
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　The　relief　of　the　men　in　the　emergency　executive　offices　was　impossible　to　describe。　If　polled；　they　would　have　unanimously　agreed　they　had　never　seen　any　sight　half　so　wonderful　in　their　lives。　Even　dour　General　Higgins　was　grinning　the　widest　grin　on　record。　The　suffocating　cloud　of　doom　had　been　suddenly　swept　away；　and　they　began　cheering　as　the　Minerva　dragged　its　deadly　cargo　toward　a　safe　altitude。
　The　President　sagged　in　his　chair　and　allowed　himself　the　pleasure　of　lighting　a　cigar。　He　nodded　down　the　table　at　Jarvis　through　a　haze　of　smoke。
　〃It　would　appear；　Dale；　that　you　are　clairvoyant。〃
　〃A　calculated　guess；　Mr。　President；〃　said　Jarvis。
　Admiral　Kemper　lifted　his　phone。　〃Put　me　in　munication　with　that　NUMA　chopper！〃　he　ordered。
　〃We　haven't　weathered　the　storm　yet；〃　said　Higgins。　〃Those　people　up　there　can't　fly　around　forever。〃
　〃We　are　in　voice　contact。〃　A　crisp　announcement　came　out　of　the　speakers　beside　the　viewing　screen。
　Kemper　spoke　into　his　desk　phone　while　keeping　both　eyes　locked　on　the　progress　of　the　Minerva。　〃This　is　Admiral　Joseph　Kemper　of　the　Joint　Chiefs；　NUMA　copter；　please　identify　yourself。〃
　A　voice　replied　so　calmly　and　clearly　it　could　have　e　from　across　the　room。
　〃Jim　Sandecker；　Joe。　What's　on　your　mind？〃
　The　President　sat　up　in　his　chair。　〃The　director　of　NUMA？〃
　Kemper　nodded。　〃You　know　damn　well　what's　on　my　mind！〃　he　snapped　into　the　receiver。
　〃Ah　yes；　the　Quick　Death　warhead。　I　assume　you're　aware　of　its　potential。〃
　〃I　am。〃
　〃And　you　want　to　know　what　I'm　going　to　do　with　it。〃
　〃The　thought　had　occurred　to　me。〃
　〃As　soon　as　we　reach　five　thousand　feet；〃　said　Sandecker；　〃the　pilot；　Colonel　Abe　Steiger；　and　I　are　going　to　make　a　beeline　for　the　sea　and　drop　the　son　of　a　bitch　as　far　from　shore　as　our　fuel　will　carry　us。〃
　〃How　far　do　you　reckon？〃　asked　Kemper。
　There　was　a　pause　as　Sandecker　consulted　with　Steiger。　〃Approxi…mately　six　hundred　miles　due　east　of　the　Delaware　coastline。〃
　〃How　secure　is　the　projectile？〃
　〃Seems　snug　enough。　Might　help　if　we　didn't　have　to　rely　on　instru…ments　and　could　enjoy　the　scenery。〃
　〃e　again？〃
　〃The　parachute　canopy　is　snagged　across　our　windshield。　We　can　only　look　straight　down。〃
　〃Can　we　assist　you？〃　asked　Kemper。
　〃Yes；〃　replied　Sandecker。　〃By　notifying　all　military　and　mercial　flight