tc.redstormrising-第110章

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；　and　whenever　possible　they　stayed　in　them；　but　with　every　step　they　had　also　to　detour；　uphill　and　down；　left　and　right；　until　every　yard　of　forward　travel　was　acpanied　by　a　yard　in　another　direction；　and　eight　miles　became　sixteen。
For　the　first　time；　Edwards　knew　that　he　was　under　possible　observation。　Even　when　the　hilltop　they　skirted　was　hidden　by　a　ridge；　who　could　say　that　the　Russians　did　not　have　another　scouting　party　out？　Who　could　be　sure　that　they　were　not　being　watched；　that　some　Russian　sergeant　with　binoculars　had　noticed　their　rifles　and　packs；　then　picked　up　his　portable　radio　and　sent　out　a　call　for　an　armed　helicopter？　The　effort　of　the　walk　made　their　hearts　beat　fast。　Fear　made　their　hearts　beat　faster　still；　pounding　their　fatigue　like　interest　on　a　usurer's　loan。
Sergeant　Nichols　proved　an　efficient　leader；　and　a　hard　one。　The　oldest　member　of　the　party；　his　stamina…sore　ankle　and　all…amazed　Edwards。
They　all　kept　quiet；　no　one　wanted　to　make　noise；　and　Nichols　was　unable　to　growl　at　those　too　slow　to　keep　up。　His　contemptuous　look　was　enough。　He's　ten　years　older　than　me；　Edwards　told　himself；　and　I'm　a　track　man。　I　can　keep　up　with　this　bastard。　Can't　I？
Nichols　managed　to　keep　them　clear　of　the　coast　road　for　most　of　their　journey；　but　there　was　one　point　where　the　road　looped　around　a　small　cove　to　within　a　mile　of　their　path。　Here　they　faced　a　cruel　choice：　risk　observation　from　the　road；　where　the　traffic　was　probably　Russian；　or　from　the　mountaintop。　They　risked　the　road；　slowly　and　gingerly　as　they　watched　traffic　motor　along　every　fifteen　minutes　or　so。　The　sun　was　low　in　the　northwestern　sky　as　they　crept　up　a　ravine　with　steep　walls。　They　found　a　rockpile　to　rest　in　before　their　dash　below　the　observation　post。
〃Well；　that　was　a　nice　day's　walk；　wasn't　it？〃　the　sergeant　of　Royal　Marines　asked。　He　wasn't　even　sweating。
〃You　trying　to　prove　something；　Sergeant？〃　Edwards　asked。　He　was。
〃Sorry；　Leftenant。　Your　friends　told　me　you　were　in　proper　shape。〃
〃I　don't　think　I'll　have　a　heart　attack　just　yet；　if　that's　what　you　mean。　Now　what？〃
〃I'd　suggest　that　we　wait　an　hour；　until　the　sun　sinks　lower；　then　press　on。　Nine　more　miles。　We'll　want　to　move　as　quick　as　we　can。〃
Sweet　Jesus！　Edwards　thought。　He　kept　his　face　impassive。　〃You　sure　they　won't　see　us？〃
〃Sure？　No；　I　am　not　sure；　Leftenant。　Twilight　is　the　hardest　time　to　see；　however。　The　eye　cannot　adjust　from　the　bright　sky　to　the　dark　ground。〃
〃Okay；　you　got　us　this　far。　I'm　going　to　go　and　check　on　the　lady。〃
Nichols　watched　him　walk　off。　〃I　would　not　mind　seeing　'the　lady'　myself。〃
〃That　wasn't　a　good　thing　to　say；　Nick；〃　Smith　observed　quietly。
〃e　on；　you　know　what　he's…〃
〃Nick；　talk　nice　about　the　lady；〃　Smith　warned。　He　was　tired；　but　not　that　tired。　〃She's　had　a　bad　time；　man。　And　the　skipper's　a　gentleman；　y'dig？　Hey；　I　thought　he　was　a　wimp；　too。　I　was　wrong。　Anyway；　Miss　Vigdis；　man；　that's　one　hell　of　a　lady。〃
Mike　found　her　curled　in　a　fetal　position　next　to　a　rock。　Rodgers　was　keeping　an　eye　on　her；　and　moved　off　when　the　lieutenant　arrived。
〃How　are　you？〃　Mike　asked。　She　turned　her　head　fractionally。
〃Dead。　Michael；　I　am　so　tired。〃
〃Me；　too；　babe。〃　Mike　sat　down　beside　her　and　stretched　his　legs　out；　wondering　if　the　muscle　tissue　would　just　fall　off　the　bones。　He　was　strong　enough　to　stroke　her　hair。　It　was　matted　with　sweat；　but　Mike　was　past　noticing　such　things。　〃Just　a　little　while　longer；　Hey；　you're　the　one　who　wanted　to　stay　with　us；　remember？〃
〃I　am　fool！〃　There　was　a　note　of　humor　in　her　voice。　As　long　as　you　can　laugh；　Mike　remembered　his　father　saying；　you　are　not　defeated。
〃e　on；　you　better　stretch　those　legs　out　or　they're　gonna　knot　up。　e　on；　roll　over。〃　Edwards　straightened　her　legs　and　massaged　her　calves　briefly。　〃What　we　need　is　some　bananas。〃
〃What？〃　Her　head　came　up。
〃Bananas　have　lots　of　potassium。　Helps　to　prevent　cramps。〃　Or　was　it　calcium　for　pregnant　women？　he　wondered。
〃What　do　we　do　when　we　get　to　our　new　hill？〃
〃We　wait　for　the　good　guys。〃
〃They　e？〃　Her　voice　changed　slightly。
〃I　think　so。〃
〃And　you　leave　then？〃　Mike　was　quiet　for　a　moment；　measuring　his　boldness　against　his　shyness。　What　if　she　says…
〃Not　without　you；　I　don't。〃　He　hesitated　again。　〃I　mean；　if　that's…〃
〃Yes；　Michael。〃
He　lay　down　beside　her。　Edwards　was　startled　by　the　fact　that　he　desired　her　now。　She　was　no　longer　the　victim　of　rape；　or　a　girl　pregnant　by　another　man；　or　a　strange　person　from　another　culture。　He　was　awed　by　her　inner　strength　and　other　things　for　which　he　had　no　names；　and　needed　none。
〃You're　right。　I　do　love　you。〃　Son　of　a　bitch。　He　held　her　hand　as　both　rested　for　the　task　ahead。

USS　CHICAGO
〃That's　one　of　'em；　sir。　Providence；　I　think。　I　got　some　funny　transients；　like　metal　pieces　beating　against　each　other。〃
They'd　been　tracking　the　target…every　contact　was　a　target…for　two　hours；　closing　very　carefully　as　the　possible　noise　source　changed　into　a　probable　one。　The　overhead　storm　degraded　their　sonar　performance　measurably；　and　the　target's　stealth　prevented　their　developing　a　signature　identification　for　an　agonizing　period。　Might　she　be　a　Russian　sub　creeping　in　search　of　her　own　target？　Finally　the　faint　rattles　from　the　damaged　sail　betrayed　her。　McCafferty　ordered　his　boat　to　close　the　target　at　eight　knots。
Had　Providence　repaired　her　sonar　systems？　Certainly　they'd　try；　McCafferty　thought；　and　if　they　then　detected　a　submarine　approaching　very　cautiously　from　the　rear；　would　they　think　this　was　their　old　friend　Chicago；　or　another　Victor…III？　For　that　matter；　how　sure　were　they　that　their　target　was　Providence？　That　was　why　American　subs　were　trained　to　operate　alone。　Too　many　uncertainties　attached　to　cooperative　operations。
They'd　left　the　Soviet　surface　forces　behind。　McCafferty's　hit…and…run　maneuver　had　fooled　them；　and　before　the　noise　faded　out；　they　listened　to　a　spirited　hunt　involving　aircraft　and　surface　forces；　now　thirty　miles　astern。　That　was　a　positive　development；　but　the　absence　of　any　surface　ships　in　this　area　made　McCafferty　uneasy。　He　might　now　be　in　a　submarine…dedicated　sector；　and　submarines　were　by　far　the　more　dangerous　opponents。　His　earlier　success　against　the　Victor　had　been　pure　luck。　That　Soviet　skipper　had　been　too　interested　in　starting　his　own　hunt　to　check　his　flanks。　It　was　a　mistake　he　did　not　expect　to　be　repeated。
〃Range？〃　McCafferty　asked　his　tracking　party。
〃About　two　miles；　sir。〃
That　was　the　fringe　of　gertrude　range；　but　McCafferty　wanted　to　get　a　lot　closer　than　that。　Patience；　he　told　himself。　Submarining　was　a　continuous　exercise　in　patience。　You　spent　hours　in　preparation　for　a　few　seconds　of　activity。　It's　a　wonder　we　don't　all　have　ulcers。　Twenty　minutes　later；　they　had　closed　to　within　a　thousand　yards　of　Providence。　McCafferty　lifted　the　gertrude　phone。
〃Chicago　calling　Providence；　over。〃
〃You　took　your　time　about　it；　Danny。〃
〃Where's　Todd？〃
〃He　went　off　west　after　something　two　hours　ago。　We　lost　him。　No　noise　at　all　from　that　direction。〃
〃What's　your　condition？〃
〃The　tail　works。　Rest　of　our　sonar's　shot。　We　can　shoot　fish　from　the　torpedoroom　control　systems。　Still　raining　in　the　control　room；　but　we　can　live　with　it　as　long　as　we　stay　above　three　hundred　feet。〃
〃Can　you　go　any　faster？〃
〃We　tried　going　to　eight　knots。　Found　out　we　couldn't　keep　it　up。　The　sail's　ing　apart。　The　noise　just　gets　worse。　I　can　give　you　six；　that's　it。〃
〃Very　well。　If　you　got　a　working　tail；　we'll　try　to　take　station　a　few　miles　ahead。　Call　it　five　miles。〃
〃Thanks；　Danny。〃
McCafferty　hung　up　the　phone。　〃Sonar；　you　got　anything　that　even　looks　like　it　might　be　something？〃
〃No；　sir；　it's　clear　right　now。〃
〃All　ahead　two…thirds。〃　So；　where　the　hell　is　Boston？　the　captain　asked　himself。
〃Funny　how　quiet　things　have　got；〃　the　exec　pointed　out。
〃Tell　me　about　it。　I　know　I'm　acting　paranoid；　but　am　I　acting　paranoid　enough！〃　McCafferty　needed　the　laugh。　〃Okay。　We　sprint　and　drift　north；　fifteen　minutes　sprint；　ten　drift；　until　we're　five　miles　ahead　of　Providence。　Then　we　settle　down　to　six　knots　and　continue　the　mission。　I'm　going　to　catch　a　nap。　Wake　me　in　two　hours。　Talk　to　the　division　officers　and　chiefs；　make　sure　the　troops　are　getting　some　rest。　We've　been　pushing　pretty　hard。　I　don't　want　anybody　to　fold　up。〃　McCafferty　grabbed　half　a　sandwich　as　he　walked　forward。　It　was　only　eight　steps　to　his　stateroom。　The　food　was　swallowed　by　then。
〃Captain　to　control！〃　It　seemed　he　had　only　just　closed　his　eyes　when　the　speaker　over　his　head　went　off。　McCafferty　checked　his　watch　on　the　way　out　the　door。　He'd　been　asleep　for　ninety　minutes。　It　would　have　to　do。
〃What　do　we　got？〃　he　asked　the　exec。
〃Possible　submarine　contact　on　the　port　quarter。　Just　picked　it　up。　We　got　a　bearing　change　already…it's　close。　No　signature　yet。〃
〃Boston？〃
〃Could　be。〃
I　wish　Todd　hadn't　gone　off　like　that；　McCafferty　told　himself。　He　found　himself　wondering　if　they　shouldn't　just　tell　Providence　to　go　to　her　best　speed　and　screw　the　noise。　That　was　fatigue　talking；　he　knew。　Tired　people　make　mistakes；　especially　judgmental　effors。　Captains　can't　afford　those；　Danny。
Chicago　was　making　six　knots。　No　noise　at　all；　the　captain　thought。　Nobody　can　hear　us　。　。　。　maybe；　probably。　You　don't　really　know　anymore；　do　you？　He　went　into　the　sonar　room。
〃How　you　feeling；　Chief？〃
〃Hangin'　in　there；　skipper。　This　contact's　a　beaut。　See　how　he　fades　in　and　out。　He's　there；　all　right；　but　it's　a　cast…iron　bitch　to　hold　him。〃
〃Boston　headed　off　west　a　few　hours　ago。〃
〃Could　be　him　ing　back；　sir。　Lord　knows　he's　quiet　enough。　Or　it　could　be　a　Tango　on　batteries；　sir。　I　don't　have　enough　signal　to　tell　the　difference。　Sorry；　sir。　I　just　don't　know。〃　The　chief　rubbed　raw　eyes　and　let　out　a　long　breath。
〃How　long　since　you　had　any　rest？〃
〃I　don't　know　that　either；　sir。〃
〃When　we　finish　up　this　one；　you　hit　the　rack；　Chief　〃　The　tracking　party　officer　called　forward　next。
〃I　have　a　working　range　for　you；　sir。　Five　thousand　yards。　I　think　he's　on　an　easterly　course。　Trying　to　firm　that　up。〃　McCafferty　ordered　a　firecontrol　solution　to　be　run　on　the　contact。
〃What's　this？〃　the　chief　asked。　〃Another　sonar　contact　behind　the　first　one；　bearing　two…five…three。　He's　following　the　other　guy！〃
〃I　need　an　ID；　Chief。〃
〃I　don't　have　enough　data；　Captain。　Both　these　guys　are　creeping。〃
Is　Boston　one　of　them？　If　so；　which？　If　the　one　in　front；　do　we　warn　him　and　reveal　our　position？　Or　shoot　and　risk　shooting　at　the　wrong　one？　Or　just　do　nothing　at　all？
McCafferty　went　aft　to　the　plotting　board。　〃How　close　is　this　one　to　Providence？〃
〃Just　over　four　thousand　yards；　ing　in　on　her　port　bow。〃
〃He　probably　has　her　then；〃　the　captain　thought　aloud。
〃But　who　the　hell　is　he？〃　the　tracking　officer　asked　quietly。　〃And　what's　this　Sierra…2　contact　behind　him？〃
〃Transient！　Transient！〃　the　sonar　chief　called。　〃Mechanical　transient　on　Sierra2！〃
〃Left　fifteen　degrees　rudder；〃　McCafferty　ordered　quietly。
〃Torpedo　in　the　water；　bearing　two…four…nine！〃
〃All　ahead　two…thirds！〃　This　order　was　loud。
〃Conn；　sonar；　we　got　increased　machinery　noises　on　Sierra…l。　Okay；　the　front　contact　is　a　two…screw　boat；　blade　count　indicates　speed　of　ten　knots　and　increasing；　getting　some　cavitation。　Target