tc.redstormrising-第106章

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　a　bad　angle；　but　it　would　have　taken　too　long　to　reel　in　and　reacquire。　He　held　the　aircraft　in　hover　and　listened　over　his　headset　as　the　whine　of　the　torpedo　screws　chased　after　the　deeper　thrum　of　the　Charlie's　powerful　twin　screws。　The　nuclear　sub　maneuvered　frantically；　trying　to　turn　inside　the　pursuing　torpedo。
〃They're　on　the　same　bearing　now；〃　Willy　reported。　〃I　think　the　fish　has　him…hit！〃
But　the　Charlie　didn't　die。　They　heard　the　sound　of　blowing　air；　then　it　stopped。　A　wild　cacophony　of　mechanical　noise　followed　as　the　contact　moved　off　to　the　north；　then　faded　as　the　submarine　slowed。　O'Malley　didn't　have　enough　fuel　to　pursue。　He　came　around　west　and　headed　for　Reuben　James。
〃Hammer；　Romeo；　what　happened？〃
〃We　hit　him；　but　he's　still　alive。　Stand　by；　Romeo；　we're　ing　in　skosh　fuel。　Five　minutes　out。〃
〃Roger　that；　we'll　be　ready　for　you。　We're　vectoring　another　helo　onto　the　Charlie。　I　want　you　to　join　Hatchet。〃
〃How　e　we　didn't　kill　him？〃　Ralston　asked。
〃Almost　all　Russian　subs　have　double　hulls；　and　that　dinky　hundred　pound　warhead　on　the　Mark…46　isn't　gutsy　enough　to　give　you　a　kill　every　time。　You　try　to　attack　from　the　stem　if　you　can；　but　this　time　we　couldn't。　If　you　get　a　stem　hit；　you　pop　the　shaft　seals　and　flood　his　engine　room。　That'll　kill　anybody。　They　didn't　tell　you　to　go　for　a　stem　shot　in　school；　did　they？〃
〃Not　especially。〃
〃Figures；〃　O'Malley　growled。
It　was　good　to　see　the　Reuben　James　after　four　hours。　It　would　have　been　even　better　to　visit　the　officers'　head；　O'Malley　thought　bleakly。　He　brought　the　Seahawk　over　the　port　er　of　the　frigate's　stern　and　paced　the　ship。　Aft；　Willy　opened　the　sliding　door　and　tossed　down　a　messenger　line。　The　frigate's　deck　crew　attached　a　refueling　hose　to　the　line　and　Willy　hauled　it　in；　plugging　the　hose　into　the　fuel　tank。　The　procedure　was　called　HIFR；　for　helicopter　in…flight　refueling。　While　O'Malley　fought　his　helo　through　the　roiled　air　behind　the　ship；　fuel　was　pumped　into　his　tanks；　giving　him　another　four　hours'　endurance。　Ralston　kept　his　eyes　on　the　fuel　indicators　while　O'Malley　flew　the　aircraft。
〃We're　full　up；　Willy。　Secure。〃
The　petty　officer　lowered　the　fuel　hose　and　retrieved　his　line。　He　was　glad　to　close　the　door　and　strap　himself　back　into　his　chair。　Officers；　he　told　himself；　were　too　smart　to　do　what　he　just　did。
〃Bravo；　this　is　Hammer；　where　do　you　want　us；　over？〃
〃Hammer；　Bravo；　e　right　to　one…three…zero　and　rendezvous　with　Hatchet　eight　miles　from　Bravo。〃
〃On　the　way。〃　O'Malley　curved　around　Reuben　James　and　headed　southeast。
〃Hammer；　Romeo；　be　advised　Sea　Sprite　from　Sims　just　finished　off　that　Charlie　for　you。　We　got　a　'well　done'　from　the　screen　mander　for　that　prosecution；　over。〃
〃Tell　the　modore　'you're　wele。'　Bravo；　Hammer；　what　is　it　we're　after；　over？〃
〃We　thought　it　was　a　twin…screw　submarine。　We're　not　quite　so　sure　now；　Hammer；〃　Perrin　replied。　〃We've　fired　three　torpedoes　at　this　target　now　for　zero　hits。　He　got　one　off　at　us；　but　it　prematured　in　our　wake。〃
〃How　close　was　it？〃
〃Fifty　yards。〃
Ouch！　the　pilot　thought。
〃Okay；　I　have　Hatchet　in　sight。　Bravo；　it's　your　ball　game。　Where　do　you　want　me　now？〃
Morris　had　allowed　himself　to　fall　far　behind　in　the　hunt　for　the　now　dead　Charlie。　On　his　mand　the　frigate　went　to　full　speed；　closing　on　Battleaxe　at　twenty…five　knots。　In　response　to　the　multiple　submarine　contacts；　the　convoy　was　turning　slightly　south。
O'Malley's　Seahawk　hovered　seven　miles　from　Battleaxe　while　Hatchet　ran　back　home　for　fuel　and　sonobuoys。　Again　the　process　of　dipping　and　moving　began。
〃Nothing；〃　Willy　reported。
〃Bravo；　Hammer；　can　you　give　me　a　rundown　of　what　this　target's　been　doing？〃
〃We've　nearly　gotten　him　twice　atop　the　layer。　His　course　is　generally　south。〃
〃Sounds　like　a　missile　boat。〃
〃Agreed；〃　Perrin　answered。　〃Our　last　datum　point　was　within　one　thousand　yards　of　your　position。　We　have　nothing　at　this　time。〃
O'Malley　examined　the　data　transmitted　from　Battleaxe's　plot。　As　was　usually　true　of　submarine　course　tracks；　it　was　a　collection　of　vague　opinions；　shaky　judgments；　and　not　a　few　wild　guesses。
〃Bravo；　you're　a　sub…driver。　Talk　to　me；　over。〃　This　was　lousy　radio　procedure；　but　what　the　hell？
〃Hammer；　the　only　thing　that　makes　the　least　bit　of　sense　is　that　he's　extremely　fast。〃　O'Malley　examined　the　tactical　display　more　closely。
〃You're　right；　Bravo。〃　O'Malley　pondered　this。　A　Papa；　maybe？　he　wondered。　Twin　screws；　cruise　missiles；　fast　as　a　thief。
〃Hammer；　Bravo；　if　we　proceed　on　the　assumption　that　he's　very　fast；　I　remend　you　go　east　until　Romeo　es　off　sprint　and　can　give　us　a　bearing。〃
〃Concur；　Bravo。　Give　me　a　vector。〃　On　mand　from　Battleaxe；　the　Seahawk　ran　twenty　miles　east　and　began　dipping　his　sonar。　It　took　fifteen　minutes　to　load　another　pair　of　Stingray　torpedoes　on　Hatchet；　along　with　fuel　and　sonobuoys。
〃What　do　you　think　we're　after；　skipper？〃　Ralston　asked。
〃How's　a　Papa　grab　you？〃　O'Malley　asked。
〃But　the　Russians　only　have　one　of　those；〃　the　copilot　objected。
〃Doesn't　mean　they're　saving　it　for　a　museum；　mister。〃
〃Nothing；　sir；〃　Willy　reported。
Reuben　James　came　off　sprint；　turning　to　a　southerly　heading　to　bring　her　sonar　to　bear　on　the　remaining　contact。　If　only　Battleaxe　still　had　her　tail；　Morris　thought；　we　could　triangulate　on　every　contact；　and　with　two　helos　。　。　。
〃Contact；　evaluate　as　possible　submarine；　bearing　zero…eight…one；　bearing…changing　slowly；　looks　like。　Yeah；　bearing　changing　north　to　south。〃　The　data　went　at　once　to　Battleaxe　and　the　screen　mander。　Another　helicopter　joined　the　hunt。
〃Down　dome！〃　This　was　the　thirty…seventh　time　today；　O'Malley　thought。　〃My　ass　is　asleep。〃
〃Wish　mine　was。〃　Ralston　laughed　without　much　humor。　Again　they　detected　nothing。
〃How　can　something　be　exciting　and　boring　at　the　same　time？〃　the　ensign　asked；　unconsciously　echoing　the　Tomcat　pilot　days　ago。
〃Up　dome！　You　know；　I've　wondered　that　a　few　times　myself。〃　O'Malley　keyed　his　radio。　〃Bravo；　Hammer；　I　got　an　idea　for　you。〃
〃We're　listening；　Hammer。〃
〃You　have　Hatchet　dropping　a　line　of　buoys　south　of　us。　Deploy　another　line　west。　Then　I　start　pinging。　Maybe　we　can　flush　the　guy　into　doing　something。　You　ever　get　herded　by　a　dipping　helo　when　you　were　driving　subs？〃
〃Not　herded；　Hammer；　but　I　have　gone　far　out　of　my　way　to　avoid　one。　Stand　by　while　I　get　things　organized。〃
〃You　know；　this　one's　a　nervy　bastard。　He's　gotta　know　we're　onto　him；　but　he　isn't　breaking　off。　He　really　thinks　he　can　beat　us。〃
〃He　has　for　the　last　four　hours；　boss；〃　Willy　observed。
〃You　know　what　the　most　important　part　of　gambling　is？　You　have　to　know　when　it's　time　to　quit。〃　O'Malley　circled　up　high　and　turned　his　search　radar　on　for　the　first　time　that　day。　It　was　not　very　useful　for　detecting　a　periscope；　but　it　might　just　scare　a　sub　running　near　the　surface　into　heading　back　under　the　layer。　The　sun　was　sinking；　and　O'Malley　could　pick　out　the　two　other　helicopters　working　this　contact　from　their　flying　lights。　They　dropped　two　lines　of　passive　sonobuoys；　each　eight　miles　long；　at　right　angles　to　each　other。
〃The　picket　lines　are　in　place；　Hammer；〃　Captain　Perrin　called。　〃Begin。〃
〃Willy：　hammer！〃　Six　hundred　feet　below　the　helicopter；　the　sonar　transducer　pounded　the　water　with　high…frequency　sonar　pulses。　He　did　this　for　one　minute；　then　reeled　in　and　flew　southeast。　The　process　lasted　half　an　hour。　By　this　time　his　legs　were　knotting　up；　making　his　control　movements　awkward。
〃Take　over　for　a　few　minutes。〃　O'Malley　took　his　feet　off　the　pedals　and　worked　his　legs　around　to　restore　circulation。
〃Hammer；　Bravo；　we　have　a　contact。　Buoy　six；　line　Echo。〃　This　was　the　east…west　line。　Buoy　number　six　was　third　from　the　west　end；　where　the　north…south　〃November〃　line　began。　〃Weak　signal　at　this　time。〃
O'Malley　took　the　controls　back　and　headed　west　while　the　other　two　helicopters　circled　behind　their　respective　lines。
〃Gently；　gently；〃　he　murmured　over　the　inter。　〃Let's　not　spook　him　too　much。〃　He　picked　his　course　carefully；　never　heading　directly　for　the　contact；　never　heading　far　away　from　it。　Another　half　hour　passed；　one　miserable　second　at　a　time。　Finally　they　had　the　contact　running　east　at　about　ten　knots；　far　below　the　layer。
〃We　now　have　him　on　three　buoys；〃　Perrin　reported。　〃Hatchet　is　moving　into　position。〃
O'Malley　watched　the　blinking　red　lights　about　three　miles　away。　Hatchet　dropped　a　pair　of　directional　DIFAR　buoys　and　waited。　The　display　came　up　on　O'Malley's　scope。　The　contact　passed　right　between　the　DIFARS。
〃Torpedo　away！〃　Hatchet　called。　The　black…painted　Stingray　dropped　invisibly　into　the　water；　half　a　mile　in　front　of　the　oning　submarine。　O'Malley　closed　and　dropped　his　own　buoy　to　listen　as　he　brought　the　Seahawk　into　hover。
Like；　the　American　Mark…48　torpedo；　the　Stingray　didn't　use　conventional　propellers；　which　made　it　hard　to　locate　on　sonar　both　for　O'Malley　and　the　submarine。　Suddenly　they　heard　the　sound　of　propeller　cavitation　as　the　submarine　went　to　full　power　and　turned。　Then　came　hullpopping　noises　as　she　changed　depth　abruptly　to　throw　the　fish　off。　It　didn't　work。　Next　came　the　metallic　crash　of　the　exploding　warhead。
〃Hit！〃　Hatchet　called。
〃Down　dome！〃
Willy　lowered　the　sonar　transducer　one　last　time。　The　submarine　was　ing　up。
〃Again！〃　Ralston　wondered。　〃That's　two　in　a　row。〃
〃Set　it　up！　Willy；　hammer　him。〃
〃Range　four　hundred；　bearing　one…six…three；　I　have　an　up…doppler。〃
〃Circular　search；　initial　search　depth　one　hundred。〃
〃Set；〃　Ralston　replied。
O'Malley　dropped　his　torpedo　at　once。　〃Up　dome！　Bravo；　the　hit　did　not　kill　the　target；　we　just　dropped　another　one　on　him。〃
〃He　might　be　trying　to　surface　to　get　his　crew　off；〃　Ralston　said。
〃He　might　want　to　fire　his　missiles；　too。　He　should　have　run　when　he　had　the　chance。　I　would　have。〃
The　second　hit　finished　the　submarine。　O'Malley　flew　straight　back　to　Reuben　James。　He　let　Ralston　land　the　Seahawk。　As　soon　as　its　wheels　were　chocked　and　chained　down；　he　got　out　and　walked　forward。　Morris　met　him　in　the　passageway　between　the　helo　hangars。
〃Great　job；　Jerry。〃
〃Thanks；　skipper。〃　O'Malley　had　left　his　helmet　in　the　aircraft。　His　hair　was　matted　to　his　head　with　perspiration　and　his　eyes　stung　from　hours　of　it。
〃I　want　to　talk　over　a　few　things。〃
〃Can　we　do　it　while　I　shower　and　change；　Cap'n？〃　O'Malley　went　through　the　wardroom　and　into　his　stateroom。　He　stripped　out　of　his　clothing　in　under　a　minute　and　headed　for　the　officers'　shower。
〃How　many　pounds　you　sweat　off　on　a　day　like　this？〃　Morris　said。
〃A　lot。〃　The　pilot　pushed　the　shower　button；　closing　his　eyes　as　the　cold　water　sprayed　over　him。　〃You　know；　I've　been　saying　for　ten　years　that　the　…46　needed　a　bigger　warhead。　I　hope　to　hell　those　bastards　in　ordnance　will　listen　to　me　now！〃
〃The　second　one。　What　was　it？〃
〃If　I　had　to　bet；　I'd　say　it　was　Papa。　Great　job　from　the　sonar　guys。　Those　steers　you　gave　us　were　beautiful。〃　He　pushed　the　button　again　for　more　cold　water。　O'Malley　emerged　a　minute　later；　looking　and　feeling　human　again。
〃The　modore　is　writing　you　up　for　something。　Your　third　DFC；　I　guess。〃
O'Malley　thought　about　that　briefly。　His　first　two　were　for　rescues；　not　for　killing　other　men。
〃How　soon　will　you　be　ready　to　go　up　again？〃
〃How　does　next　week　grab　you？〃
〃Get　dre