tc.redstormrising-第133章

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The　candidate　member　lingered　outside　looking　for　allies。　His　fellow　chieftains　filed　past。　Several　met　his　eyes；　then　looked　away。
〃Mikhail　Eduardovich？〃　It　was　the　Minister　for　Agriculture。　〃How　much　fuel　will　be　available　for　food　distribution？〃
〃How　much　food　will　there　be？〃　Sergetov　asked。　How　much　food　can　there　be？
〃More　than　you　think。　We　have　tripled　the　size　of　private　plots　throughout　the　Russian　Republic…〃
〃What？〃
〃Yes；　the　old　people　on　the　farms　are　growing　plenty　of　food　now…at　least　enough　to　feed　us　for　the　time　being。　The　problem　is　now　one　of　distribution。〃
〃No　one　told　me。〃　Some　good　news？　Sergetov　wondered。
〃Do　you　know　how　many　times　I　have　proposed　this？　No；　you　weren't　here　last　July；　were　you？　I've　said　for　years　that　by　doing　this　we　could　solve　many　problems；　and　finally　they　listened　to　me！　We　have　food；　Mikhail　Eduardovich。　I　just　hope　we　will　have　people　to　eat　it！　I　need　fuel　to　transport　it　to　the　cities。　Will　I　have　the　fuel？〃
〃I　will　see　what　I　can　do；　Filip　Moiseyevich。〃
〃You　have　spoken　well；　rade。　I　hope　some　will　listen。〃
〃Thank　you。〃
〃Your　son　is　well？〃
〃The　last　I　heard　from　him；　yes。〃
〃I　am　ashamed　that　my　son　is　not　there；　too。〃　The　Minister　for　Agriculture　paused。　〃We　must…well；　we　have　no　time　for　that　now。　Get　me　the　fuel　figures　as　quickly　as　you　can。〃
A　convert？　Or　an　agent　provocateur？

STENDAL；　GERMAN　DEMOCRATIC　REPUBLIC
Alekseyev　held　the　message　in　his　hand：　FLY　AT　ONCE　TO　MOSCOW　FOR　CONSULTATIONS。　Was　it　his　death　sentence？　The　General　summoned　his　deputy。
〃Nothing　new。　We　have　some　probes　around　Hamburg；　and　what　looks　like　preparations　for　an　attack　north　of　Hannover；　but　nothing　we　should　not　be　able　to　handle。〃
〃I　have　to　go　to　Moscow。〃　Alekseyev　saw　the　concern　on　the　man's　face。　〃'Don't　worry；　Anatoliy；　I　haven't　been　in　mand　long　enough　to　be　shot。　We　will　have　to　arrange　our　personnel　transfers　in　a　systematic　way　if　we　have　any　hope　of　transforming　these　C　divisions　into　a　fighting　force。　I　should　be　back　in　twenty…four　hours　or　less。　Tell　Major　Sergetov　to　get　my　map　case　and　meet　me　outside　in　ten　minutes。〃
Alekseyev　handed　his　aide　the　message　form　in　the　back　of　the　staff　car；　along　with　an　ironic　look。
〃What　does　this　mean？〃
〃We'll　find　out　in　a　few　hours；　Vanya。〃

MOSCOW；　R。S。F。S。R。
〃They　are　truly　mad。〃
〃You　should　choose　your　words　with　greater　care；　Boris　Georgiyevich；〃　Sergetov　said。　〃What　has　NATO　done　now？〃
The　KGB　Chief　shook　his　head　in　surprise。　〃I　mean　the　Defense　Council；　you　young　fool！〃
〃This　young　fool　has　no　vote　on　the　Politburo。　You　pointed　that　out　yourself。〃　Sergetov　had　held　the　fleeting　hope　that　the　Politburo　might　be　brought　to　its　senses。
〃Mikhail　Eduardovich；　I　have　worked　very　hard　to　protect　you　to　this　point。　Please　do　not　make　me　regret　this。　If　you　had　managed　to　force　a　Politburo　decision　in　the　open；　you　would　have　lost　and　possibly　destroyed　yourself。　As　it　is〃…Kosov　paused　for　another　of　his　grins…〃as　it　is；　they　have　asked　me　to　discuss　their　decision　with　you　in　hope　of　getting　your　support。
〃They　are　doubly　mad；〃　Kosov　went　on。　〃First；　the　Defense　Minister　wishes　to　initiate　the　use　of　a　few　small　tactical　nuclear　warheads。　Second；　he　hopes　for　your　support。　They　propose　the　maskirovka　all　over　again。　They　will　explode　a　small　tactical　device　in　the　DDR；　forcing　us　to　retaliate　while　proclaiming　that　NATO　has　violated　the　no…first…use　agreement。　But　it　could　be　worse。　They've　summoned　Alekseyev　to　Moscow　to　seek　his　assessment　of　the　plan　and　how　best　to　implement　it。　He　should　be　on　his　way　here　now。〃
〃The　Politburo　will　never　agree　to　this。　We're　not　all　crazy；　are　we？　Have　you　told　them　how　NATO　will　react？〃
〃Of　course。　I've　told　them　that　NATO　will　not　react　at　all　at　first；　they　will　be　too　confused。〃
〃You　encouraged　them？〃
〃I　wish　you　would　keep　in　mind　that　they　prefer　Larionov's　opinions　to　my　own。〃
rade　Kosov；　Sergetov　thought　to　himself；　you　care　less　about　the　danger　to　the　Rodina　than　you　do　for　your　own　future。　You'd　be　quite　satisfied　to　bring　the　whole　country　down　if　you　bring　them　down　first；　wouldn't　you？
〃The　votes　on　the　Politburo　。　。　。　〃
〃Will　support　the　Defense　Council。　Think。　Bromkovskiy　will　vote　no；　perhaps　Agriculture　also；　though　I　doubt　it。　They　want　you　to　speak　in　favor　of　the　plan。　This　will　reduce　the　opposition　to　old　Petya。　Petya　is　a　good　old　man；　but　no　one　really　listens　to　him　anymore。〃
〃I　will　never　do　this！〃
〃But　you　must。　And　Alekseyev　must　agree。〃　Kosov　got　up　and　looked　out　the　window。　〃There　is　nothing　to　fear…no　nuclear　bombs　will　be　used。　I　have　already　seen　to　that。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃Surely　you　know　who　controls　the　nuclear　weapons　in　this　country？〃
〃Certainly；　the　strategic　rocket　forces；　the　Army's　artillerymen〃
〃Excuse　me；　I　phrased　my　question　poorly。　Yes；　they　control　the　rockets。　It　is　my　people　who　control　the　warheads；　and　Josef　Larionov's　faction　does　not　include　that　segment　of　the　KGB！　This　is　why　you　must　play　along。〃
〃Very　well。　Then　we　must　warn　Alekseyev。〃
〃With　caution　now。　No　one　seems　to　have　noticed　that　your　son　has　made　several　trips　to　Moscow；　but　if　you　are　seen　with　General　Alekseyev　before　he　meets　with　them　。　。　。　〃
〃Yes；　I　can　understand　that。〃　Sergetov　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Perhaps　Vitaly　can　meet　them　at　the　airport　and　pass　a　message？〃
〃Very　good！　I　will　make　a　chekist　of　you　yet！〃
The　Minister's　driver　was　summoned　and　handed　a　written　note。　He　departed　at　once；　taking　the　Minister's　Zil　out　toward　the　airport。　A　military　convoy　of　wheeled　armored　personnel　carriers　held　him　up。　Forty　minutes　later；　he　noticed　that　his　gas　gauge　was　down。　Odd；　he'd　just　filled　the　car　up　the　day　before…the　Politburo　members　were　never　short　of　anything。　But　it　kept　dropping。　Then　the　engine　stopped。　Vitaly　pulled　the　car　over；　seven　kilometers　from　the　airport；　got　out；　and　opened　the　hood。　The　chauffeur　checked　belts　and　electrical　connections。　Everything　seemed　as　it　should。　He　got　back　in　and　tried　to　start　the　car；　and　nothing　happened。　He　figured　out　a　moment　later　that　the　alternator　had　gone　bad；　and　the　car　had　been　running　off　battery　power。　He　tried　the　car　phone。　The　battery　was　pletely　flat。
Alekseyev's　transport　was　just　arriving。　A　staff　car　provided　by　the　mander　of　the　Moscow　Military　District　motored　up　to　the　plane；　and　the　General　and　his　aide　got　in　at　once　for　the　ride　to　the　Kremlin。　For　Alekseyev　the　most　frightening　part　of　the　flight　was　getting　out　of　the　aircraft…he　halfway　expected　to　see　KGB　troops　waiting　for　him　instead　of　the　staff　car。　It　would　almost　have　been　a　relief　to　be　arrested。
The　General　and　his　aide　rode　in　silence…all　their　talking　had　been　done　on　the　noisy　aircraft　where　listening　devices　could　not　possibly　have　worked。　Alekseyev　noted　the　empty　streets；　the　absence　of　trucks…most　of　them　now　at　the　front…even　the　shorter…than…usual　lines　outside　the　food　stores。　A　country　at　war；　he　thought。
Alekseyev　had　expected　the　ride　to　the　Kremlin　to　seem　slow。　The　reverse　was　true。　Seemingly　in　the　blink　of　an　eye　the　car　pulled　through　the　Kremlin　gates。　A　sergeant　outside　the　Council　of　Ministers　building　pulled　open　the　door；　saluting　smartly。　Alekseyev　returned　it　and　walked　up　the　steps　to　the　door；　where　another　sergeant　waited。　Alekseyev　walked　like　a　soldier；　back　straight；　his　face　set　in　a　stern　mien。　His　newly　polished　boots　glistened；　and　his　eyes　caught　the　flashing　reflection　of　the　ceiling　lights　as　he　walked　into　the　lobby。　The　General　disdained　the　elevator；　preferring　the　stairs　for　the　trip　to　the　conference　room。　He　noted　that　the　building　had　been　repaired　since　the　bombing　incident。
A　captain　of　the　Taman　Guards；　the　ceremonial　unit　stationed　at　Alabino　outside　Moscow；　met　the　General　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　and　escorted　him　to　the　double　doors　of　the　conference　room。　Alekseyev　ordered　his　aide　to　wait　as　he　entered；　his　visored　cap　tucked　tightly　under　his　arm。
〃rades：　General　Colonel　P。　L。　Alekseyev　reports　as　ordered！〃
〃Wele　to　Moscow；　rade　General；〃　the　Defense　Minister　said。　〃What　is　the　situation　in　Germany？〃
〃Both　sides　are　exhausted　but　still　fighting。　The　current　tactical　situation　is　one　of　stalemate。　We　have　more　troops　and　weapons　available；　but　we　are　critically　short　of　fuel。〃
〃Can　you　win？〃　the　General　Secretary　asked。
〃Yes；　rade　Secretary！　Given　several　days　to　organize　my　forces；　and　if　I　can　do　some　crucial　work　with　the　arriving　reserve　formations；　I　think　it　likely　that　we　can　sunder　the　NATO　front。〃
〃Likely？　Not　certain？〃　the　Defense　Minister　asked。
〃In　war　there　is　no　certainty；〃　Alekseyev　answered　simply。
〃We　have　learned　that；〃　the　Foreign　Minister　answered　dryly。　〃Why　have　we　not　won　yet？〃
〃rades；　we　failed　initially　to　achieve　strategic　and　tactical　surprise。　Surprise　is　the　most　important　variable　factor　in　war。　With　it　we　would　probably…almost　certainly…have　succeeded　in　two　or　three　weeks。〃
〃To　achieve　certain　success　now；　what　else　will　you　need？〃
〃rade　Defense　Minister；　I　need　the　support　of　the　people　and　the　Party；　and　I　need　a　little　time。〃
〃You　evade　the　question！〃　Marshal　Bukharin　said。
〃We　were　never　allowed　to　use　our　chemical　weapons　in　the　initial　assault。　That　could　have　been　a　decisive　advantage…〃
〃The　political　cost　of　those　weapons　was　deemed　too　great；〃　the　Foreign　Minister　said　defensively。
〃Could　you　make　profitable　use　of　them　now？〃　the　General　Secretary　asked。
〃I　think　not。　Those　weapons　should　have　been　used　from　the　first　on　equipment…storage　depots。　The　depots　are　now　mainly　empty；　and　hitting　them　would　have　only　a　limited　effect。　Use　of　chemicals　at　the　front　is　no　longer　a　viable　option。　The　newly　arriving　C　formations　lack　the　modem　equipment　necessary　to　operate　efficiently　in　a　chemical　environment。〃
〃Again　I　ask　the　question；〃　the　Defense　Minister　repeated。　〃What　do　you　need　to　make　victory　certain？〃
〃To　achieve　a　decisive　breakthrough；　we　need　to　be　able　to　blast　a　hole　in　NATO　lines　at　least　thirty　kilometers　wide　and　twenty　kilometers　in　depth。　To　do　that；　I　need　ten　full…strength　divisions　on　line；　ready　to　advance。　I　need　several　days　to　prepare　that　force。〃
〃How　about　tactical　nuclear　weapons？〃　Alekseyev's　face　did　not　change。　Are　you　mad；　rade　General　Secretary？
〃The　risks　are　high。〃　There's　a　prize　understatement。
〃And　if　we　can　prevent；　politically；　NATO　retaliation？〃　Defense　asked。
〃I　do　not　know　how　that　is　possible。〃　And　neither　do　you。
〃But　if　we　can　make　it　possible？〃
〃Then　it　would　increase　our　chances　measurably。〃　Alekseyev　paused；　inwardly　chilled　at　what　he　saw　in　those　faces。　They　want　to　use　nuclear　weapons　at　the　front…and　when　NATO　responds　in　kind　and　vaporizes　my　troops；　then　what？　Will　it　stop　with　a　single　exchange　or　will　more　and　more　be　used；　the　explosions　advancing　west　and　east？　If　I　tell　them　they　are　crazy；　they　will　find　a　general　who　will　not　〃The　problem　is　one　of　control；　rades。〃
〃Explain。〃
If　he　were　to　stay　alive　and　prevent　this　。　。　。　Alekseyev　spoke　carefully；　mixing　truth　and　lies　and　guesses。　Dissimulation　did　not　e　easily　to　the　General；　but　at　least　this　was　an　issue　he　had　discussed　with　his　peers　for　over　a　decade。　〃rade　General　Secretary；　nuclear　weapons　are；　foremost；　political　weapons　for　both　sides；　controlled　by　political　leaders。　T