tc.redstormrising-第18章

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The　remainder　of　the　movie　resolved　the　love　interest　（each　buffoon　got　himself　a　pretty　girl）；　and　liberated　Pskov。　Curiously；　while　the　prince　hoisted　a　bunch　of　children　into　his　saddle　for　the　ride　in；　he　never　showed　the　slightest　interest　in　female　pany…and　ended　with　a　sermon；　Alexander　standing　alone　and　speaking　about　what　happens　to　people　who　invaded　Russia。
〃Trying　to　make　Nevsky　look　like　Stalin；　eh？〃
〃There　is　some　of　that；〃　Lowe　agreed。　〃The　strong　man；　all　alone；　a　fatherly　benefactor…some　benefactor！　Anyway　you　cut　it；　this　is　just　about　the　best　propaganda　movie　ever　made。　The　punch　line　is　that　when　Russia　and　Germany　signed　their　non…aggression　pact　a　year　later；　Eisenstein　was　detailed　to　direct　a　stage　production　of　Wagner's　The　Valkyries。　Call　it　penance　for　offending　the　German　sensibilities。〃
〃Oof。　You　study　these　guys　more　than　I　do；　Chuck。〃
Colonel　Lowe　pulled　a　cardboard　box　from　under　his　desk　and　began　to　load　up　his　personal　effects。　〃Yeah；　well　if　you　have　to　face　the　possibility　of　fighting　a　man；　you　might　as　well　learn　all　you　can　about　him。〃
〃You　think　we　will？〃
Lowe　frowned　briefly。　〃I　saw　enough　of　that　in　Nam；　but　that's　what　they　pay　us　for；　isn't　it？〃
Toland　stood　and　stretched。　He　had　a　four…hour　drive　ahead　of　him。　〃Colonel；　it　has　been　a　pleasure　for　this　squid　to　work　with　you。〃
〃It　hasn't　been　half　bad　for　this　jarhead。　Hey；　when　I　get　the　family　set　up　down　in　Lejeune；　why　don't　you　e　on　down　sometime？　There's　some　great　fishing　down　there。〃
〃Deal。〃　They　shook　hands。　〃Good　luck　with　your　regiment；　Chuck。〃
〃Good　luck　here；　Bob。〃
Toland　walked　out　to　his　car。　He'd　already　packed　up；　and　drove　quickly　out　Terminal　Boulevard　to　Interstate　64。　The　worst　part　of　the　drive　home　was　the　traffic　to　the　Hampton　Roads　tunnel；　after　which　things　settled　down　to　the　usual　superhighway　ratrace。　All　the　way　home；　Toland's　mind　kept　going　over　the　scenes　from　Eisenstein's　movie。　The　one　that　kept　ing　back　was　the　most　horrible　of　all；　a　German　knight　wearing　a　crusader's　cross　tearing　a　Pskov　infant　from　his　mother's　breast　and　throwing　him…her？…into　a　fire。　Who　could　see　that　and　not　be　enraged？　No　wonder　the　rabble…rousing　song　〃Arise；　you　Russian　People〃　had　been　a　genuinely　popular　favorite　for　years。　Some　scenes　cried　out　for　bloody　revenge；　the　theme　for　which　was　Prokofiev's　fiery　call　to　arms。　Soon　he　found　himself　humming　the　song。　A　real　intelligence　officer　you　are　。　。　。　Toland　smiled　to　himself；　thinking　just　like　the　people　you're　supposed　to　study。。。defend　our　fair　native　land。。。nashu　zyemlyu　chestnuyu！
〃Excuse　me；　sir？〃　the　toll　collector　asked。
Toland　shook　his　head。　Had　he　been　singing　aloud？　He　handed　over　the　seventy…five　cents　with　a　sheepish　grin。　What　would　this　lady　think；　an　American　naval　officer　singing　in　Russian？

MOSCOW；　R。S。F。S。R。
It　was　just　after　midnight　when　the　truck　drove　north　across　the　Kemenny　Bridge　to　Borovitskaya；　Square　and　turned　right；　toward　the　Kremlin。　The　driver　stopped　for　the　first　group　of　Kremlin　Guards。　Their　papers　were　fully　in　order；　of　course；　and　they　were　waved　through。　The　truck　pulled　up　to　the　second　checkpoint　by　the　Kremlin　Palace；　where　their　papers　were　also　in　order。　From　there　it　was　five　hundred　meters　to　the　service　entrance　of　the　Council　of　Ministers　Building。
〃What　are　you　delivering　this　time　of　day；　rades？〃　the　Red　Army　captain　asked。
〃Cleaning　supplies。　e；　I　will　show　you。〃　The　driver　got　out　and　walked　slowly　around　the　back　of　the　truck。　〃Must　be　nice；　working　here　at　night　when　things　are　so　peaceful。〃
〃True　enough；〃　the　captain　agreed。　He'd　go　off　duty　in　another　ninety　minutes。
〃Here。〃　The　driver　pulled　back　the　canvas　cover。　There　were　twelve　cans　of　industrial…strength　solvent　and　a　crate　of　hardware　parts。
〃German　supplies？〃　The　captain　was　surprised。　He'd　been　on　Kremlin　duty　for　only　two　weeks。
〃Da。　The　Krauts　make　very　efficient　cleaning　machinery；　and　the　vlasti　make　use　of　it。　This　is　carpet…cleaning　fluid。　This　is　for　lavatory　walls。　This　one　here　is　for　windows。　The　crate…ah；　I　will　open　it。〃　The　lid　came　off　easily　since　the　nails　had　already　been　loosened。　〃As　you　see；　rade　Captain；　parts　for　some　of　the　machines。〃　He　smirked。　〃Even　German　machines　break。〃
〃Open　one　of　the　cans；〃　the　captain　ordered。
〃Sure；　but　you　won't　like　the　smell。　Which　one　do　you　want　opened？〃　The　driver　picked　up　a　small　prybar。
〃That　one。〃　The　captain　pointed　to　a　can　of　bathroom　cleaner。
The　driver　laughed。　〃The　worst…smelling　of　all。　Stand　back；　rade；　we　don't　want　to　splash　this　slop　on　your　clean　uniform。〃
The　captain　was　new　enough　on　the　job　that　he　scrupulously　did　not　step　back。　Good；　the　driver　thought。　He　worked　the　prybar　under　the　can's　lid；　twisted；　and　popped　his　free　hand　down　on　the　end。　The　lid　flew　off；　and　the　captain　was　splashed　by　some　flying　solvent。
〃Shit！〃　It　did　smell　bad。
〃I　warned　you；　rade　Captain。〃
〃What　is　this　garbage？〃
'It's　used　to　clean　mildew　off　bathroom　tiles。　It　will　e　right　out　of　the　uniform；　rade　Captain。　But　be　sure　you　have　it　dry…cleaned　soon。　An　acid　solution；　you　see；　it　could　damage　the　wool。〃
The　captain　wanted　to　be　mad；　but　the　man　had　warned　him；　hadn't　he？　Next　time　I'll　know　better；　he　thought。　〃Very　well；　take　it　in。〃
〃Thank　you。　I　am　sorry　about　the　uniform。　Don't　forget　to　have　it　cleaned。〃
The　captain　waved　to　a　private　and　walked　off。　The　soldier　unlocked　the　door。　The　driver　and　his　assistant　went　inside　to　get　a　two…wheeled　hand　truck。
〃I　warned　him；〃　the　driver　said　to　the　private。
〃You　certainly　did；　rade。〃　The　soldier　was　amused。　He；　too；　was　looking　forward　to　going　off　duty；　and　it　wasn't　often　that　you　saw　an　officer　get　caught。
The　driver　watched　his　assistant　load　the　cans　onto　the　hand　truck；　and　followed　him　as　he　wheeled　it　into　the　building　to　the　service　elevator。　Then　both　returned　for　the　second　load。
They　took　the　elevator　to　the　third　floor；　shut　the　power　off；　and　moved　their　loads　to　a　storage　room　directly　below　the　large　fourth…floor　conference　room。
〃That　was　good　with　the　captain；〃　the　assistant　said。　〃Now　let's　get　to　work。〃
〃Yes；　rade　Colonel；〃　the　driver　answered　at　once。　The　four　cans　of　carpet…cleaning　fluid　had　false　tops　which　the　lieutenant　removed　and　set　aside。　Next　he　took　out　the　satchel　charges。　The　colonel　had　memorized　the　blueprints　of　the　building。　The　wall　pillars　were　in　the　outside　ers　of　the　room。　One　charge　went　to　each；　fixed　to　the　inboard　side。　The　empty　cans　were　placed　next　to　the　charges；　hiding　them。　Next　the　lieutenant　removed　two　of　the　false…ceiling　panels；　exposing　the　steel　beams　supporting　the　fourth　floor　slab。　The　remaining　charges　were　attached　there；　and　the　ceiling　panels　replaced。　The　charges　already　had　their　detonators　attached。　The　colonel　took　the　electronic　triggering　device　out　of　his　pocket；　he　checked　his　watch；　and　waited　for　three　minutes　before　pressing　the　button　to　activate　the　timers。　The　bombs　would　explode　in　exactly　eight　hours。
The　colonel　watched　the　lieutenant　tidy　up；　then　wheeled　the　hand　truck　back　to　the　elevator。　Two　minutes　later；　they　left　the　building。　The　captain　was　back。
〃rade；〃　he　said　to　the　driver。　〃You　shouldn't　let　this　old　one　do　all　the　heavy　work。　Show　some　respect。〃
〃You　are　kind；　rade　Captain。〃　The　colonel　smiled　crookedly　and　pulled　a　half…liter　bottle　of　vodka　from　his　pocket。　〃Drink？〃
The　captain's　solicitous　attitude　ended　abruptly。　A　worker　drinking　on　duty…in　the　Kremlin！　〃Move　along！〃
〃Good　day；　rade。〃　The　driver　got　into　the　truck　and　drove　off。　They　had　to　pass　through　the　same　security　checkpoints；　but　their　papers　were　still　in　order。
After　leaving　the　Kremlin；　the　truck　turned　north　on　Marksa　Prospekt　and　followed　it　all　the　way　to　the　KGB　headquarters　building　at　2　Dzerzhinskiy　Square。

CROFFON；　MARYLAND
〃Where　are　the　kids？〃
〃Asleep。〃　Martha　Toland　hugged　her　husband。　She　was　wearing　something　filmy　and　attractive。　〃I　had　them　out　swimming　all　day；　and　they　just　couldn't　stay　awake。〃　An　impish　smile。　He　remembered　the　first　such　smile；　on　Sunset　Beach；　Oahu；　she　with　a　surfboard　and　a　skimpy　swimsuit。　She　still　loved　the　water。　And　the　bikini　still　fit。
〃Why　do　I　sense　a　plan　here？〃
〃Probably　because　you're　a　nasty；　suspicious　spook。〃　Marty　walked　into　the　kitchen　and　came　out　with　a　bottle　of　Lancers　Rosk　and　two　chilled　glasses。　〃Now　why　don't　you　take　a　nice　hot　shower　and　unwind　a　bit。　When　you're　finished；　we　can　relax。〃
It　sounded　awfully　good。　What　followed　was　even　better。

10　…　Remember；　Remember

CROFTON；　MARYLAND
Toland　woke　to　hear　his　phone　ringing　in　the　dark。　He　was　still　dopey　from　the　drive　up　from　Norfolk　and　the　wine。　It　took　a　ring　or　two　for　him　to　react　properly。　His　first　considered　action　was　to　check　the　display　on　the　clock…radio…2：11。　Two　in　the　fuckin'　morning！　he　thought；　sure　that　the　ringing　was　caused　by　a　prank　or　a　wrong　number。　He　lifted　the　receiver。
〃Hello；〃　he　said　gruffly。
〃Lieutenant　mander　Toland；　please。〃
Uh…oh。　〃Speaking。〃
〃This　is　the　CINCLANT　intel　watch　officer；〃　the　disembodied　voice　said。　〃You　are　ordered　to　return　to　your　duty　station　at　once。　Please　acknowledge　the　order；　mander。〃
〃Back　to　Norfolk　right　away。　Understood。〃　Wholly　on　instinct；　Bob　rotated　himself　in　the　bed　to　a　sitting　position；　his　bare　feet　on　the　floor。
〃Very　well；　mander。〃　The　phone　clicked　off。
〃What　is　it；　honey？〃　Marty　asked。
〃They　need　me　back　at　Norfolk。〃
〃When？〃
〃Now。〃　That　woke　her　up。　Martha　Toland　bolted　upright　in　the　bed。　The　covers　spilled　off　her　chest；　and　the　moonlight　through　the　window　gave　her　skin　a　pale；　ethereal　glow。
〃But　you　just　got　here！〃
〃Don't　I　know　it。〃　Bob　stood　and　walked　awkwardly　toward　the　bathroom。　He　had　to　shower　and　drink　some　coffee　if　he　had　any　hope　of　reaching　Norfolk　alive。　When　he　returned　ten　minutes　later；　lathering　his　face；　he　saw　that　his　wife　had　clicked　on　the　bedroom　TV　to　Cable　Network　News。
〃Bob；　you　better　listen　to　this。〃
〃This　is　Rich　Suddler　ing　to　you　live　from　the　Kremlin；〃　said　a　reporter　in　a　blue　blazer。　Behind　him　Toland　could　see　the　grim　stone　walls　of　the　ancient　citadel　fortified　by　Ivan　the　Terrible…now　being　patrolled　by　armed　soldiers　in　bat　dress。　Toland　stopped　what　he　was　doing　and　walked　toward　the　TV。　Something　very　strange　was　going　on。　A　full　pany　of　armed　troops　in　the　Kremlin　could　mean　many　things；　all　of　them　bad。　〃There　has　been　an　explosion　in　the　Council　of　Ministers　building　here　in　Moscow。　At　approximately　nine…thirty　this　morning；　Moscow　Time；　while　I　was　taping　a　report　not　half　a　mile　away；　we　were　surprised　to　hear　a　sharp　sound　ing　from　the　new　glass…and…steel　structure；　and…〃
〃Rich；　this　is　Dionna　McGee　at　the　anchor　desk。〃　The　image　of　Suddler　and　the　Kremlin　retreated　to　a　er　of　the　screen　as　the　director　inserted　the　attractive　black　anchorperson　who　ran　the　night　desk　for　CNN。　〃I　presume　that　you　had　some　Soviet　security　personnel　with　you　at　the　time。　How　did　they　react？〃
〃Well；　Dionna；　we　can　show　you　that　if　you　can　hold　a　minute　for　my　technicians　to　set　up　that　tape；　I…〃　He　pressed　the　earphone　tight　into　his　ear。　〃Okay；　ing　up　now；　Dionna…〃
The　tape　cut　off　the　live　picture；　filling　the　entire　screen。　It　was　on　a　pause　setting；　with　Suddler　frozen　in　the　middle　of　a　gesture　to　s