tc.redstormrising-第116章

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ired　two　bursts。　The　Russian　went　down；　firing　his　own　weapon　in　a　wide　arc　that　missed　Edwards　by　a　scant　yard。　Where　was　the　other　one？　Mike　stuck　his　head　up　and　saw　something　the　size　of　a　baseball　flying　through　the　air。　He　scrambled　backwards　as　the　grenade　went　off　ten　feet　from　where　he'd　been。　Mike　rolled　to　his　right　and　went　back　uphill。
The　Russian　had　disappeared　again；　but　Edwards　saw　the　others　had　reached　the　foot　of　his　hill　on　a　dead　run　and　were　starting　up　to　his　position。　He　strained　to　look　and　keep　his　head　down　at　the　same　time。　The　other　one…there！　He　was　clambering　down　the　hill；　apparently　dragging　a　wounded　man　with　him。　Mortar　fire　started　to　drop　behind　him；　covering　the　man's　retreat。
〃You　okay；　Lieutenant？〃　It　was　Smith。　He　was　wounded　in　the　arm。　〃Whoever's　working　that　Goddamned　mortar　must　be　the　Russian　Davy　Crockett！〃
Nichols　arrived　three　minutes　later。　He　was　unhurt；　but　the　Royal　Marine　private　with　him　was　bleeding　from　the　abdomen。　Edwards　looked　at　his　watch。
〃We　got　air　support　ing　in　about　ten　minutes。　If　we　stay　here　at　the　top　in　one　place；　they　can　drop　all　around　us。〃

The　men　took　position　within　fifty　feet　of　Edwards。　Mike　grabbed　Vigdis　by　the　arm　and　set　her　between　two　boulders。
〃Michael；　I'm…〃
〃I'm　scared；　too。　Stay　here　no　matter　what　happens；　stay　here！　You　can…〃　The　whistling　sound　came　again；　and　this　one　was　close。　Mike　stumbled　and　fell　right　on　top　of　her。　A　hot　needle　seemed　to　penetrate　his　lower　leg。
〃Shit！〃　The　wound　was　just　above　his　boot。　He　tried　to　rise；　but　the　leg　wouldn't　take　any　weight。　He　looked　around　for　the　radio　and　hopped　over　to　it；　cursing　all　the　way。　〃Starbase；　this　is　Beagle；　over。〃
〃Nine　minutes　out；　Beagle；〃　the　voice　said　patiently。
〃Starbase；　we're　all　on　top　of　this　hilltop；　okay？　We're　all　within　fifty　feet　of　the　summit。〃　He　stuck　his　head　up。　〃We　have　about　fifteen　bad　guys　ing　towards　us；　maybe　seven　hundred　yards　away。　We　beat　off　the　first　attack；　but　we're　down　to…four；　I　guess；　and　three　of　us　are　wounded。　For　God's　sake；　get　that　mortar　first；　it's　murdering　us。〃
〃Roger　that。　Hold　it　together；　son。　Help　is　ing。〃
〃You're　wounded；　Leftenant；〃　Nichols　said。
〃I　noticed。　The　planes　are　eight　or　nine　minutes　out。　I　told　them　to　take　the　mortar　position　out　first。〃
〃Very　good。　Ivan's　in　love　with　the　bloody　things。〃　Nichols　cut　the　pants　away　from　the　wound　and　tied　a　bandage　on。　〃You　won't　be　doing　much　dancing　for　a　while。〃
〃What　can　we　do　to　slow　them　down？〃
〃We'll　open　fire　at　five　hundred。　That　will　make　them　more　cautious；　I　think。　e　on。〃　Nichols　grabbed　his　arm　and　pulled　him　to　a　position　on　the　crest。

The　Russians　were　moving　forward　with　great　skill。　Men　alternated　brief　rushes　with　dives　behind　whatever　cover　was　available。　The　mortar　was　quiet　at　the　moment；　but　that　would　change　as　soon　as　the　paratroopers　got　close　enough　for　their　final　assault。　Nichols　had　discarded　his　submachine　gun；　and　was　aiming　a　semiautomatic　rifle。　When　he　figured　the　range　at　five　hundred　yards；　the　sergeant　took　careful　aim　and　squeezed　the　trigger。　He　missed；　but　every　Russian　on　the　hill　dropped。
〃You　know　what　you　just　did？〃　Edwards　asked。
〃Yes；　I　just　invited　more　mortar　fire　on　us。〃　Nichols　turned　to　look　at　his　lieutenant。　〃Bloody　poor　choice　we　have；　isn't　it？〃
〃Michael；　you　need　this。〃　Vigdis　came　down　beside　him。
〃I　told　you　to　stay…〃
〃Here　is　your　radio。　I　go…〃
〃Down！〃　Mike　yanked　her　beside　him　as　a　mortar　round　dropped　thirty　feet　away。　A　series　of　five　dropped　across　their　position。
〃Here　they　e！〃　Smith　yelled。
The　Marines　opened　fire；　and　the　Russians　returned　it；　dashing　from　one　piece　of　cover　to　another　in　a　two…pronged　advance　that　threatened　to　envelop　the　hilltop。　Mike　got　back　on　the　radio。
〃Starbase；　this　is　Beagle；　over。〃
〃Roger；　Beagle。〃
〃They're　ing　in　on　us　now。〃
〃Beagle；　our　A…7s　have　you　in　sight。　I　want　to　know　exactly　where　you　and　your　people　are…say　again　exactly。〃
〃Starbase；　there　are　two　secondary　summits　on　this　hill；　about　three　miles　west　of　hill　1064。　We　are　on　the　northern　one；　repeat　northern　one。　My　group　is　all　within　five…zero　feet　of　the　top　of　that　hill。　Anything　that　moves　is　the　enemy；　we　are　all　sitting　tight。　The　mortar　is　on　hill　1064；　and　we　need　that　taken　out　quick。〃
There　was　a　long　pause。　〃Okay；　Beagle；　they've　been　told　where　you　are。　Get　your　head　down；　they're　one　minute　away；　approaching　from　the　south。　Good　luck。　Out。〃
〃Two　hundred　yards；〃　Nichols　said。　Edwards　joined　him　and　leveled　his　M…16。　Three　men　rose　at　once；　both　men　fired；　but　Edwards　couldn't　tell　if　he'd　hit　anyone　or　not。　Bullets　kicked　up　dirt　and　stone　chips　a　few　feet　away；　and　the　whistle　of　more　mortar　rounds　came　down　again。　The　group　of　five　landed　right　on　the　crest　as　Edwards　caught　the　shape　of　a　haze…gray　fighter…bomber　diving　from　his　right。
The　stubby　A…7E　Corsair　pulled　out　a　thousand　feet　above　the　mountaintop　three　miles　away。　Four　canisters　of　cluster　bombs　fell；　splitting　open　in　the　air。　A　small　cloud　of　bomblets　cascaded　on　the　Russian　observation　post。　From　three　miles；　it　sounded　like　a　loud　string　of　firecrackers　as　the　hilltop　disappeared　in　a　cloud　of　dust　and　sparks。　A　second　aircraft　repeated　the　maneuver　twenty　seconds　later。　There　could　be　nothing　left　alive　on　the　hilltop。
The　attacking　Russians　stopped　cold　in　their　tracks　and　turned　to　see　what　had　happened　to　their　base　camp。　Then　they　saw　that　more　aircraft　were　circling　only　two　thousand　yards　away。　It　was　clear　to　everyone　that　their　best　chance　to　stay　alive　another　five　minutes　was　to　get　as　close　to　the　Americans　as　they　could。　As　one　man；　the　Russian　squads　rose　firing　their　weapons　and　ran　up　the　hill。　Two　more　Corsairs　wheeled　in　the　sky　and　darted　in；　their　pilots　drawn　by　the　movement。　They　swept　in　level　only　a　hundred　feet　above　the　slopes　and　loosed　pairs　of　cluster　bombs。　Edwards　heard　the　screams　over　the　thunder　of　the　explosives；　but　could　see　nothing　through　the　cloud　of　dust　that　rose　before　his　eyes。
〃Christ；　they　can't　drop　much　closer　than　that。〃
〃They　can't　drop　any　closer　than　that；〃　Nichols　said；　wiping　blood　from　his　face。
They　could　still　hear　rifle　fire　from　within　the　dust。　The　wind　blew　it　way；　and　at　least　five　Russians　were　still　up　and　moving　toward　them。　The　Navy　Corsairs　made　another　run　in　but　broke　off；　unable　to　drop　so　close　to　friendly　troops。　They　curved　back　in　seconds；　firing　their　cannon。　The　shells　scattered　wildly；　with　some　exploding　ten　yards　from　Edwards's　face。
〃Where'd　they　go？〃
〃The　left；　I　think；〃　Nichols　answered。　〃You　can't　talk　directly　to　the　fighters？〃
Edwards　shook　his　head。　〃Not　that　kind　of　radio；　Sarge。〃
The　A…7s　circled　overhead　while　their　pilots　watched　the　ground　for　movement。　Edwards　tried　to　wave　at　them；　but　couldn't　tell　if　they　recognized　the　gesture　or　not。　One　of　them　dove　to　his　left　and　fired　a　cannon　burst　into　the　rocks。　Edwards　heard　a　scream；　but　saw　nothing。
〃Stalemate。〃　Edwards　turned　to　look　at　his　satellite　radio。　The　last　set　of　mortar　rounds　had　sent　a　fragment　through　the　backpack。
〃Down！〃　Nichols　grabbed　the　lieutenant　as　a　grenade　arced　through　the　air。　It　exploded　a　few　feet　away。　〃Here　they　e　again。〃
Edwards　turned　and　put　a　fresh　magazine　in　his　rifle。　He　saw　two　Russians　fifty　feet　away　and　fired　a　long　burst。　One　went　down　on　his　face。　The　other　returned　fire　and　dodged　left。　He　felt　a　weight　on　his　legs　and　saw　Nichols　down　on　his　back　with　a　trio　of　red　holes　in　his　shoulder。　Edwards　put　the　last　magazine　in　his　rifle　and　moved　awkwardly　across　the　hill　to　the　left；　unable　to　put　much　weight　on　his　right　leg。
〃Michael　。　。　。〃
〃Go　the　other　way；〃　Edwards　replied。　〃Look　out！〃
He　saw　a　face　and　a　rifle…and　a　flash。　Edwards　dove　right；　too　late　to　keep　from　being　hit　in　the　chest。　Only　shock　kept　the　pain　from　being　unbearable。　He　fired　a　few　rounds　into　the　air　to　keep　the　man's　head　down　as　he　backpedaled　his　feet　to　get　away。　Where　was　everyone？　There　was　rifle　fire　to　his　right。　Why　wasn't　anybody　helping　him？　He　heard　the　roar　of　jet　engines　as　the　A…7s　continued　to　circle；　unable　to　do　anything　but　watch　in　frustration。　He　cursed　them　as　he　bled。　His　wounded　leg　revolted　at　being　used　this　way；　and　his　left　arm　was　useless。　Edwards　held　the　rifle　like　an　oversized　handgun　as　he　waited　for　the　Russian　to　appear。　He　felt　hands　under　his　arms　dragging　him　backwards。
〃Drop　me；　Vigdis；　for　Christ's　sake；　drop　me　and　run。〃
She　said　nothing。　Her　breathing　was　heavy　as　she　struggled；　stumbling；　to　pull　him　over　the　rocks。　He　was　losing　consciousness　from　the　blood　loss；　and　looked　up　to　see　the　A…7s　drawing　off。　There　was　another　sound　that　didn't　seem　to　make　much　sense。　Dust　rose　around　him　with　a　sudden　wind　and　there　was　another　long　burst　of　machine…gun　fire　as　a　huge　green…black　shape　appeared　overhead。　Men　jumped　out；　and　it　was　all　over。　He　closed　his　eyes。　The　Russian　mander　had　gotten　through　to　Keflavik。　Here　was　the　Mi…24　to　reinforce　the　outpost　。　。　。　Edwards　was　too　drained　to　react。　He'd　run　a　good　race　and　lost。　There　was　more　chattering　rifle　fire；　then　silence　as　the　helicopter　moved　off。　How　did　the　Russians　treat　prisoners　who'd　killed　helpless　men？
〃Your　name　Beagle？〃
It　required　the　greatest　effort　of　his　life　to　open　his　eyes。　He　saw　a　black　man　standing　over　him。
〃Who're　you？〃
〃Sam　Potter。　I'm　a　lieutenant　with　Second　Force　Recon。　You're　Beagle；　right？〃　He　turned。　〃We　need　a　corpsman　over　here！〃
〃My　people　are　all　hurt。〃
〃We're　working　on　it。　We'll　have　you　outa　here　in　five　minutes。　Hang　in　there；　Beagle。　I　gotta　go　do　some　work。　Okay；　people；〃　he　called　loudly。　〃Let's　get　those　Russians　checked　out。　If　we　got　any　live　ones；　we　wanna　move　them　the　hell　off　this　rock　right　now！〃
〃Michael？〃　Edwards　was　still　confused。　Her　face　was　right　above　his　when　he　lost　consciousness。
〃Just　who　the　hell　is　this　guy？〃　Lieutenant　Potter　asked　five　minutes　later。
〃Wing…wiper。　He　done　good；〃　Smith　said；　wincing　with　his　own　injuries。
〃How'd　you　get　here？〃　Potter　waved　for　his　radio　operator。
〃We　fucking　walked　all　the　way　from　Keflavik；　sir。〃
〃Quite　a　trip；　Sarge。〃　Potter　was　impressed。　He　gave　a　short　radio　order。　〃Chopper's　on　the　way　in　now。　I　guess　the　lady　goes　out　too。〃
〃Yes；　sir。　Wele　to　Iceland；　sir。　We　been　waiting　for　you。〃
〃Take　a　look；　Sarge。〃　Potter's　arm　swept　to　the　west。　A　series　of　gray　bumps　on　the　horizon　headed　east　toward　Stykkisholmur。

USS　CHICAGO
They　were　still　out　there；　McCafferty　was　sure…but　where？　After　killing　the　last　Tango；　contact　had　never　been　reestablished　with　the　other　two　Russian　submarines。　Eight　hours　of　relative　peace　rewarded　his　evasive　maneuvering。　The　Russian　ASW　aircraft　were　still　overhead；　still　dropping　sonobuoys；　but　something　had　gone　wrong　for　them。　They　weren't　ing　very　close　now。　He'd　had　to　maneuver　clear　only　four　times。　That　would　have　been　a　lot　in　peacetime；　but　after　the　past　few　days　it　seemed　like　a　vacation。
The　captain　had　taken　the　chance　to　rest　himself　and　his　crew。　Though　they　would　all　have　gratefully　accepted　a　month　in　bed；　the　four　or　six　hours　of　sleep　they'd　all　had　were　like　a　cup　of　water　for　a　man　in　the　desert；　enough　to　get　them　a　little　farther。　And　there　was　only　a　little　farther　to　go：　exactly　one　hundred　miles