tc.redstormrising-第109章

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〃Rewind　the　tape。〃　The　duty　electrician　was　grateful　to　have　something　to　do。　The　video　record　of　his　five…second　periscope　exposure　showed　what　looked　like　the　remains　of　a　Krivak's　topsides。
〃Passing　three　hundred　feet。　Speed　twenty　and　increasing。〃
〃Scrape　the　bottom；　Joe；〃　McCafferty　said。　He　watched　the　tape　rerun；　but　that　was　only　to　have　something　for　his　eyes　to　do。
〃Torpedo　in　the　water　port　quarter！　Torpedo　bearing　zero…one…five。〃
〃Right　fifteen　degrees　rudder！　All　ahead　flank！　e　to　new　course　one…seven…five。〃　McCafferty　put　the　torpedo　on　his　stem。　His　mind　went　through　the　tactical　situation　automatically。　Russian　ASW　torpedo。…　sixteen…inch　diameter；　speed　about　thirty…six　knots；　range　four　miles；　runs　about　nine　minutes。　We're　doing…he　looked…twenty…five　knots。　It's　behind　us　So　if　he's　a　mile　behind　us　。　。　。　seven　minutes　to　cover　the　distance。　It　can　get　us。　But　we're　accelerating　at　ten　knots　per　minute　。　。　。　No；　it　can't。
〃High…frequency　pinging　aft！　Sounds　like　a　torpedo　sonar。〃
〃Settle　down；　people；　I　don't　think　it　can　catch　us。〃　Any　Russian　ship　in　the　neighborhood　can　hear　us；　though。
〃Passing　through　four　hundred　feet；　starting　level　out。〃
〃Torpedo　is　closing；　sir；〃　the　sonar　chief　reported。　〃The　pings　sound　a　little　funny；　like…〃　The　sub　shook　with　a　powerful　explosion　aft。
〃All　ahead　one…third；　right　ten　degrees　rudder；　e　to　new　course　two…six…five。　What　you　just　heard　was　their　fish　hitting　the　bottom。　Sonar；　start　feeding　me　data。〃
The　Russians　had　a　new　line　of　sonobuoys　north　of　Chicago；　probably　too　far　off　to　hear　them。　Bearings　to　the　nearest　Soviet　ships　were　steadying　down：　they　were　heading　right　for　Chicago。
〃Well；　that'll　keep　them　off　our　friends　for　a　while；　XO。〃
〃Super。〃
〃Let's　go　south　some　more　and　see　if　we　can　get　them　to　pass　us。　Then　we'll　remind　'em　what　they're　up　against。〃

ICELAND
If　I　ever　get　off　this　rock　alive；　Edwards　thought；　I'll　move　to　Nebraska。　He　remembered　flying　over　the　state　many　times。　It　was　so　agreeably　flat。　Even　the　counties　were　nice　neat　squares。　Not　so　in　Iceland。　For　all　that；　it　was　easier　going　than　they　had　enjoyed　since　leaving　Keflavik。　Edwards　and　his　party　kept　to　the　five…hundred…foot　elevation　line；　which　kept　them　at　least　two　miles　from　the　gravel　coast　road；　with　mountains　at　their　backs　and　a　good　long　field　of　view。　Up　to　now　they　had　seen　nothing　more　than　routine　activity。　They　assumed　that　every　vehicle　on　the　move　had　Russians　aboard。　That　probably　was　not　true；　but　since　the　Soviet　troops　had　appropriated　so　many　civilian　vehicles　there　was　no　way　to　tell　the　sheep　from　the　goats。　That　made　them　all　goats。
〃Enjoying　your　rest；　Sarge？〃　Edwards　and　his　group　caught　up　with　Smith。　There　was　a　road　half　a　mile　farther　ahead；　the　first　they'd　seen　in　two　days。
〃See　that　mountaintop？〃　Smith　pointed。　〃A　chopper　landed　on　it　twenty　minutes　ago。〃
〃Great。〃　Edwards　unfolded　his　map　and　sat　down。　〃Hill　1063…that's　thirty…five　hundred　feet。〃
〃Makes　a　nice　lookout　point；　don't　it？　You　suppose　they　can　see　us　from　there？〃
〃Ten　or　eleven　miles。　Depends；　skipper。　I　figure　they're　using　it　to　watch　the　water　on　both　sides。　If　they　have　any　brains；　they'll　keep　an　eye　on　the　rocks；　too。〃
〃Any　idea　how　many　people　they　have　there？〃　Edwards　asked。
〃No　way。　Maybe　nobody…hell；　they　might　have　been　making　a　pickup；　but　I　wouldn't　bet　on　it。　Maybe　a　squad；　maybe　a　platoon。　You　gotta　figure　they　have　a　good　pair　of　spotting　glasses　and　a　radio。〃
〃And　how　do　we　get　past　them？〃　Edwards　asked。　The　ground　was　mostly　open；　with　only　a　few　bushes　in　sight。
〃That's　a　real　good　question；　skipper。　Pick　our　routes　carefully；　keep　low；　use　dead　ground…all　the　usual　stuff。　But　the　map　shows　a　little　bay　that　es　within　four　miles　of　them。　We　can't　detour　around　the　far　side　without　running　into　the　main　road…can't　hardly　do　that。〃
〃What's　the　problem？〃　Sergeant　Nichols　arrived。　Smith　explained　matters。　Edwards　got　on　the　radio。
〃You　just　know　they're　on　the　hilltop；　not　strength　or　weapons；　right？〃　Doghouse　asked。
〃Correct。〃
〃Damn。　We　wanted　you　on　that　hill。〃　Now　there's　a　surprise；　Edwards　thought。　〃No　chance　you　can　go　up　that　hill？〃
〃None。　Say　again　no　chance　at　all。　I　can　think　of　easier　ways　to　mit　suicide；　
mister。　Let　me　think　this　one　over　and　get　back　to　you。　Okay？〃
〃Very　well；　we'll　be　waiting。　Out。〃
Edwards　got　his　sergeants　together　and　they　started　exploring　the　maps。
〃Really　a　question　of　how　many　men　they　have　there；　and　how　alert　they　are；〃　Nichols　thought。　〃If　they　have　a　platoon　there；　we　can　expect　some　patrol　activity。　Next　question　is　how　much？　I　wouldn't　be　very　keen　on　doing　that　hill　twice　a　day　myself。〃
〃How　many　men　would　you　put　there？〃　Edwards　asked。
〃Ivan　has　a　whole　paratroop　division　here；　plus　other　attachments。　Call　it　ten　thousand　men　total。　He　can't　garrison　the　entire　island；　can　he？　So；　would　he　have　a　rifle　platoon　on　this　or　any　other　hilltop；　or　just　a　spotting　team…artillery　observers；　that　sort　of　mob。　They're　looking　for　your　invasion　force；　and　from　up　there　a　man　with　a　decent　spyglass　can　cover　all　of　this　bay　to　our　north；　and　probably　see　all　the　way　to　bloody　Keflavik　the　other　way。　They'll　also　be　looking　for　aircraft。〃
〃You're　trying　to　make　it　sound　easy？〃　Smith　wondered。
〃I　think　we　can　approach　the　hill　safely　enough；　then　wait　for　nightfall…what　of　it　we　have…and　try　to　pass　under　them　then。　They　will　have　the　sun　in　their　eyes；　you　know。〃
〃You've　done　this　before？〃　Edwards　asked。
Nichols　nodded。　〃Falklands。　We　were　there　a　week　before　the　invasion　to　scout　various　things。　Same　thing　we're　doing　now。〃
〃They　haven't　said　anything　on　the　radio　about　an　invasion。〃
〃Leftenant；　this　is　where　your　Marines　are　going　to　land。　No　one's　told　me　as　much；　but　they　didn't　send　us　here　to　find　a　football　pitch；　did　they？〃　Nichols　was　in　his　mid…thirties；　approaching　twenty　years　of　service。　He　was　by　far　the　oldest　member　of　the　party；　and　the　past　few　days　of　serving　under　a　rank　amateur　had　chafed　on　him。　The　one　nice　thing　about　this　young　weatherman；　however；　was　his　willingness　to　listen。
〃Okay；　they　wanted　us　on　this　hill　to　eyeball　things；　too。　How　about　this　smaller　peak　to　the　west　of　the　main　summit？〃
〃We'll　have　to　go　far　out　of　our　way　to　be　able　to　climb　without　being　seen；　but　yes；　we　can　establish　ourselves　there；　I　think。　So　long　as　they　are　not　terribly　alert；　that　is。〃
〃Okay；　once　we　cross　this　road；　we　keep　together　in　one　group。　You　got　the　point；　Sergeant　Nichols。　I'd　suggest　we　rest　up　a　bit。　Looks　like　we'll　have　to　be　on　the　move　for　quite　a　while　once　we　get　moving。〃
〃Eight　miles　to　the　foot　of　the　hill。　We　will　want　to　be　there　about　sunset。〃
Edwards　checked　his　watch。　〃Okay；　we　start　moving　in　an　hour。〃　He　walked　over　to　Vigdis。
〃So；　Michael；　what　do　we　do　now？〃　He　explained　the　situation　to　her　at　length。
〃We're　going　to　be　close　to　some　Russians。　It　might　be　dangerous。〃
〃You　ask　if　I　want　to　not　go　with　you？〃
Say　yes　and　hurt　her　feelings。　Say　no　and　。　。　。　shit！
〃I　don't　want　to　see　you　hurt　any　more。〃
〃I　stay　with　you；　Michael。　I　am　safe　with　you。〃

SOUTHAMPTON；　ENGLAND
It　took　several　hours　to　pump　out　the　water　that　had　given　her　the　false　list；　an　impression　that　had　been　reinforced　by　the　ostentatious　activities　of　divers。　The　powerful　tugs　Catbe　and　Vecta　moved　her　slowly　aft　into　the　Solent。　Her　flight　deck　had　been　fully　repaired　by　the　Vosper　shipwrights　though　so　much　of　the　gray　steel　showed　the　slapdash　bandage　work　of　a　job　done　more　in　haste　than　in　consideration　for　the　ship's　proud　name。　Two　thousand　men　had　done　the　job。　New　arresting　gear　had　been　flown　in　from　America；　along　with　electronic　equipment　that　came　nowhere　near　replacing　what　the　Russian　missiles　had　destroyed。　The　tugs　escorted　her　to　Calshot　Castle；　then　she　moved　alone　south　to　Thom　Channel；　east　by　the　yachts　docked　at　Cowes。　Escorts　were　waiting　at　Portsmouth；　then　the　small　formation　turned　south　and　west　into　the　English　Channel。
Flight　operations　began　at　once。　The　first　aircraft　to　arrive　were　the　Corsair　attack　bombers；　then　the　heavier　Intruders　and　the　sub…hunting　Vikings。　USS　Nimitz　was　back　in　business。

USS　CHICAGO
〃…and　shoot！〃　Three　hours　of　excruciating　work　distilled　down　to　half　a　second。　The　now…familiar　shudder　of　pressed　air　ejected　a　pair　of　torpedoes　into　the　black　water　of　the　Barents　Sea。
The　Soviet　mander　had　been　just　a　little　too　eager　to　verify　Chicago's　death　and　allowed　his　frigate　to　run　in　close　behind　his　two　remaining　Grishas。　All　three　ships　were　pinging　at　the　bottom；　looking　for　a　dead　submarine。　You　didn't　expect　us　to　run　south；　did　you？　North　or　east；　maybe；　but　not　south。　McCafferty　had　maneuvered　his　submarine　wide　around　the　Russian　frigate；　staying　at　the　fringe　of　her　sonar　range；　then　closed　up　two　thousand　yards　behind　her。　One　fish　for　the　Krivak　and　one　running　for　the　nearest　patrol　boat。
〃No　change　in　target　course　and　speed；　sir。〃　The　torpedo　raced　after　the　Soviet　frigate。　〃He's　still　pinging　the　other　way；　sir。〃
The　waterfall　display　lit　up；　a　bright　dot　on　the　contact's　tone　line。　Simultaneously　the　thundering　explosion　echoed　through　the　hull。
〃Up　scope！〃　McCafferty　met　the　eyepiece　at　deck　level　and　worked　it　up　slowly。　〃That's　a　kill。　We　broke　her　back。　Okay　。　。　。〃　He　turned　to　the　bearing　of　the　near　Grisha。　Okay；　target　number　two　is　turning…wow；　there　go　his　engines。　Increasing　speed　and　going　left。〃
〃Skipper；　the　wire's　cut　on　the　fish。〃
〃How　long　on　the　run？〃
〃Another　four　minutes；　sir。〃　In　four　minutes　at　full　speed　the　Grisha　would　be　outside　the　torpedo's　acquisition　radius。
〃Damn；　it's　going　to　miss。　Down　scope。　Let's　get　out　of　here。　We'll　go　east　this　time。　Make　your　depth　four　hundred；　all　ahead　two…thirds。　e　right　to　zero…five…five。〃
〃Must　have　been　the　shock　of　the　explosion；　sir。　Half　a　second　later；　the　control　wires　let　go　on　the　number…two　fish。〃　McCafferty　and　his　weapons　officer　reexamined　the　plot。
〃You're　right。　I　cut　that　one　too　close。　Okay。〃　The　captain　stepped　over　to　the　chart　table。　〃Where　do　you　figure　our　friends　are？〃
〃Right　about　here；　sir。　Twenty…　to　twenty…five　miles。〃
〃I　think　we've　taken　enough　heat　off　them。　Let's　see　if　we　can　get　back　up　there　while　Ivan　tries　to　figure　out　what's　going　on。〃
〃We've　been　lucky；　skipper；〃　the　exec　observed。
〃That's　true　enough。　I　want　to　know　where　their　submarines　are。　That　Victor　we　got　just　walked　across　our　sights。　Where　are　the　rest　of　'em？　They　can't　just　be　chasing　after　us　with　these。〃　Of　course　not；　McCafferty　realized。　The　Russians　set　up　hunting　preserves；　sectors　limited　to　specific　types　of　ships。　Their　surface　ships　and　aircraft　would　be　in　one　sector；　and　next　to　it　their　submarines　would　have　exclusive　hunting　rights　。　。　。
He　told　himself　that　he'd　done　well　to　date。　Three　patrol　boats；　a　fullsized　frigate；　and　a　sub；　quite　a　week　in　anybody's　book。　But　it　wasn't　over。　Not　until　they　got　Providence　to　the　ice。

38　…　Stealth　on　the　Rocks

ICELAND
The　first　leg　of　the　trip　was　only　eight　miles　in　a　straight　line；　but　the　line　they　traveled　was　straight　in　no　dimension。　The　terrain　here　was　volcanic　also；　littered　with　rocks　large　and　small。　The　large　ones　made　shadows；　and　whenever　possible　they　stayed　in　them；　but　with