tc.redstormrising-第53章

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〃We　may　need　it　closed；〃　Alekseyev　said　after　the　captain　left。
His　boss　grunted　agreement。　Things　in　Germany　were　not　going　well。　The　Soviet　Air　Force　had　been　hurt　even　worse　than　they　had　feared；　and　as　a　result　the　land　campaign　was　already　far　behind　schedule。　On　the　second　day　of　the　war；　the　first　day's　objectives　had　been　met　in　only　one　army's　zone；　and　that　one　was　being　heavily　counterattacked　twenty　kilometers　east　of　Hamburg。　Tank　losses　had　been　50　percent　higher　than　predicted；　and　control　of　the　air　was　in　jeopardy；　with　many　units　reporting　heavier…than…expected　air　attacks。　Only　half　of　the　Elbe　bridges　had　been　replaced　as　yet；　and　the　floating　ribbon　bridges　could　not　carry　all　the　load　of　the　highway　bridges　they　replaced。　The　NATO　armies　had　not　yet　reached　their　peak　strength。　American　reinforcements　were　still　arriving　by　air；　mating　up　with　their　pre…positioned　equipment。　The　Soviet　first　echelon　was　being　bled；　and　the　second　echelon　was　still　largely　trapped　behind　the　Elbe。

ICELAND
〃About　as　dark　as　it's　gonna　get；〃　Edwards　said。　The　light　level　was　what　meteorologists　and　sailors　called　nautical　twilight。　Visibility　was　down　to　five　hundred　yards　with　the　sun　just　below　the　northwest　horizon。　The　lieutenant　put　on　his　pack　and　rose。　His　Marines　did　the　same；　with　as　much　enthusiasm　as　a　child　on　his　way　to　school。
They　headed　down　the　shallow　slope　towards　the　Sudura　River；　more　a　fair…sized　creek；　Edwards　thought。　The　lava　field　provided　good　cover。　The　ground　was　littered　with　rocks；　some　as　much　as　three　feet　high；　a　landscape　that　broke　up　shapes　and　disguised　movement　to　the　casual　observer。　He　hoped　there　was　nothing　more　than　that　out　there。　They　had　observed　a　number　of　Soviet　patrols；　mainly　on　military　trucks　that　passed　through　the　area　at　intervals　of　about　thirty　minutes。　They　saw　no　fixed　positions。　Certainly　they　had　garrisoned　the　hydroelectric　power　station　at　Burfell；　farther　east　on　Route　1。　No　one　had　bombed　that　yet：　the　lights　were　still　bright　in　some　of　the　homes　below　them。
The　rocks　got　smaller　as　the　land　changed　to　a　grassy　meadow。　There　had　been　sheep　here　recently…the　smell　was　unmistakable　and　the　grass　was　short。　Instinctively　the　men　walked　in　a　crouch　toward　a　gravel　road。　The　houses　and　barns　here　were　spread　irregularly。　They　picked　a　spot　where　the　space　between　buildings　was　about　five　hundred　yards；　hoping　that　the　dim　light　and　their　camouflage　uniforms　would　make　them　invisible　to　any　observer。　No　one　was　about　in　the　open。　Edwards　halted　his　group　and　looked　carefully　through　his　binoculars　at　the　nearest　houses。　Lights　burned　in　some；　but　no　people　were　visible　outside。　Perhaps　the　Russians　had　imposed　a　curfew　。　。　。　meaning　that　anyone　seen　moving　might　be　shot　on　sight。　Happy　thought。
The　riverbanks　sloped　downward　sharply　about　twenty　feet　to　the　water；　and　were　covered　with　rocks　smoothed　by　years　of　erosion　at　highwater　time。　Smith　went　down　first　as　the　others　lay　with　weapons　ready　at　the　lip　of　the　south　bank。　The　sergeant　moved　slowly　at　first；　checking　the　water　depth　before　hurrying　across；　rifle　held　high　in　the　air。　Edwards　was　surprised　how　quickly　he　went　through　it；　then　up　the　far　bank。　The　sergeant　waved；　and　the　rest　of　the　men　followed。　Edwards　soon　found　out　why　the　sergeant　had　crossed　the　stream　quickly。　The　waist…deep　water　was　icy　cold；　like　most　of　the　streams　on　Iceland；　fed　by　melting　glaciers。　He　gasped　and　went　across　as　fast　as　he　could；　his　rifle　and　radio　held　above　his　head。　A　minute　later　he　was　atop　the　far　bank。
Smith　chuckled　in　the　dark。　〃I　guess　that　woke　everybody　up。〃
〃Like　to　froze　my　balls　off；　Sarge；〃　Rodgers　groused。
〃Looks　clear　ahead；〃　Edwards　said。　〃Beyond　this　meadow　is　another　creek；　then　the　main　road；　a　secondary　road；　then　up　a　hill　into　a　lava　field。　Let's　keep　moving。〃
〃Right；　Lieutenant。〃　Smith　got　to　his　feet　and　moved　off。　The　others　trailed　behind　him　at　five…yard　intervals。　The　little　bastard's　in　a　hurry；　isn't　he？
The　ground　here　was　agreeably　flat；　the　grass　as　high　as　their　boot　tops。　They　moved　rapidly；　keeping　low；　weapons　held　ready　across　their　chests　as　they　angled　slightly　east　to　avoid　the　village　of　Holmur。　The　next　stream　was　shallower　than　the　Sudura；　though　no　less　cold。　They　stopped　on　crossing　it；　now　only　two　hundred　yards　from　the　highway。　Again　Smith　moved　off　first；　this　time　with　his　back　bent　double；　moving　in　rushes　followed　by　pauses　while　he　knelt　to　examine　the　terrain　repeatedly。　The　men　behind　him　matched　his　movements　exactly；　and　the　team　got　together　again　in　tall　grass　fifty　feet　from　the　road。
〃Okay；〃　Smith　said。　〃We　cross　one　at　a　time；　a　minute　apart。　I　go　first。　I'll　stop　fifty　feet　on　the　other　side　by　those　rocks。　When　you　cross；　don't　screw　around…run　and　keep　low；　and　e　to　me。　If　you　see　something　ing；　get　as　far　from　the　road　as　you　can　and　drop。　They　can't　see　you　if　you　lay　still；　people。　Take　things　real　easy。　Okay？〃　Everyone；　Edwards　included；　nodded　agreement。
The　sergeant　was　as　good　as　his　word。　After　a　final　look　to　be　sure　that　nothing　was　moving　in　their　direction；　he　raced　off　across　the　road；　his　personal　gear　flopping　and　slapping　against　his　body　as　he　did　so。　They　waited　a　minute；　then　Garcia　followed。　After　another　minute；　Rodgers　went。　Edwards　counted　to　sixty　and　darted　forward。　The　lieutenant　was　d　appalled…at　how　stressful　this　was。　His　heart　pounded　with　terror　as　he　reached　the　roadway；　and　he　froze　dead　in　the　center。　Automobile　lights　were　approaching　them　from　the　north。　Edwards　just　stood　there；　watching　them　e　closer
〃Move　your　ass；　Lieutenant！''　the　sergeant's　voice　rasped　at　him。
The　lieutenant　shook　his　head　clear　and　ran　to　the　sound　of　the　sergeant's　voice；　one　hand　holding　his　helmet　in　place　on　his　head。
〃Lights　ing　down！''　he　gasped。
〃No　shit。　Be　cool；　sir。　People；　let's　get　spread　out。　Find　some　good　cover　and　freeze。　And　make　Goddamned　sure　those　weapons　are　on　safe！　You　stay　with　me；　sir。〃
The　two　privates　moved　left　and　right　into　tall　weeds；　disappearing　from　view　as　soon　as　they　stopped　moving。　Edwards　lay　next　to　Sergeant　Smith。
〃You　think　they　saw　me？〃
The　darkness　prevented　him　from　seeing　the　angry　expression　acpanying　Smith's　reply：　〃Prob'ly　not。　Don't　freeze　in　the　road　like　that　again；　sir。〃
〃I　won't。　Sorry；　Sarge；　this　isn't　exactly　my　thing。〃
〃Just　listen　and　learn　what　we　tell　ya'；　okay？〃　Smith　whispered。　〃We're　Marines。　We'll　take　good　care　of　you。〃
The　lights　approached　slowly；　proceeding　down　the　steep　grade　to　their　north。　The　driver　didn't　trust　the　loose　gravel　surface。　The　north…south　road　split　here；　forking　left　and　right　to　Route　1。　It　had　to　be　a　military　truck；　they　saw。　The　lights　were　rectangular；　taped　slips　over　headlights　installed　at　the　Soviets'　massive　Kama　River　factory；　built　largely　with　Western　aid。　The　truck　stopped。
Edwards　did　not　allow　himself　to　react；　except　that　his　grip　tightened　on　the　plastic　stock　of　his　rifle。　What　if　someone　had　seen　them　cross　the　road　and　telephoned　the　Russians？　Smith's　hand　reached　out　and　pushed　the　lieutenant's　rifle　down。
〃Let's　be　careful　with　that；　Lieutenant；〃　Smith　whispered。
The　ten　men　in　the　truck　dismounted　and　spread　into　the　grass　off　the　road；　perhaps　fifty　yards　away。　Edwards　couldn't　tell　if　they　carried　weapons　or　not。　Each　man　stopped；　and　almost　in　unison　they　unbuttoned　their　flies　to　urinate。　Edwards　gawked　and　nearly　laughed。　Finished；　they　moved　back　to　the　truck；　which　started　up　and　proceeded　west　on　the　fork　to　the　main　road；　motoring　off　with　the　sound　on　a　poorly　muffled　diesel　engine。　The　Marines　re…formed　as　the　truck's　taillights　dipped　under　the　horizon。
〃Too　bad。〃　Rodgers　smiled　in　the　semidarkness。　〃I　coulda　blow'd　one　guy's　pecker　right　off！〃
〃You　done　good；　people；〃　Smith　said。　〃Ready　to　move　out；　Lieutenant？〃
〃Yeah。〃　Shamed　by　his　performance；　the　lieutenant　let　Smith　lead　them　off。　They　crossed　the　gravel　road　and　a　hundred　yards　later　were　in　yet　another　lava　field；　climbing　over　rocks　into　the　wasteland。　Their　wet　fatigue　pants　clung　to　their　legs；　drying　slowly　in　the　cool　westerly　breeze。

USS　PHARRIS
〃Our　friend　the　November　doesn't　have　an　anechoic　coating；〃　ASW　said　quietly；　pointing　to　the　display。　〃I　think　that's　him；　running　to　catch　up　with　the　convoy。〃
〃We　have　this　trace　plotted　at　about　forty…six　thousand　yards；〃　the　tactical　action　officer　said。
〃Get　the　helo　up；〃　Morris　ordered。
Five　minutes　later；　Pharris's　helicopter　was　running　southwest　at　full　speed；　and　Bluebird…Seven；　another　P…3C　Orion；　was　closing　on　the　datum　point　from　the　east。　Both　aircraft　flew　low；　hoping　to　surprise　the　submarine　that　had　killed　one　of　their　flock　and　gravely　damaged　another。　The　Russian　had　probably　made　a　mistake　by　increasing　his　speed。　Maybe　he　had　orders　to　trail　the　convoy　and　radio　data　for　other　submarines　to　use。　Maybe　he　wanted　to　catch　up　to　make　another　attack。　Whatever　the　reason；　his　reactor　pumps　were　running　and　making　noise　that　his　hull　could　not　contain。　His　periscope　was　up；　and　that　gave　the　aircraft　a　chance　to　spot　him　with　their　look…down　radars。　The　helo　was　closer；　and　its　pilot　was　municating　with　the　tactical　coordinator　of　the　Orion。　This　could　be　a　textbook　attack　if　things　worked　out　right。
〃Okay；　Bluebird；　we　are　now　three　miles　from　datum　center。　Say　your　position。〃

〃We're　two　miles　behind　you；　Papa…One…Six。　Illuminate！〃
The　systems　operator　flipped　the　cover　off　the　radar　switch　and　moved　it　from　Standby　to　Active。　Instantly；　energy　began　to　radiate　from　the　radar　transmitter　slung　under　the　helicopter's　nose。
〃Contact；　we　have　a　radar　contact　bearing　one…six…five；　range　eleven　hundred　yards！〃
〃Stream　the　MAD　gear！〃　The　pilot　advanced　his　throttles　to　race　toward　the　contact。
〃We　got　him；　too；〃…the　Tacco　called　swiftly。　The　petty　officer　beside　him　armed　a　torpedo；　setting　its　initial　search　depth　for　a　hundred　feet。
The　helicopter's　anticollision　lights　came　on；　the　red　lights　flashing　in　the　darkness。　No　sense　in　hiding　their　approach　now。　The　sub　must　have　detected　their　radar　signals　and　would　now　be　attempting　a　crash　dive。　But　that　took　more　time　than　he　had。
〃Madman；　madman；　smoke　away！〃　the　systems　operator　screamed。
The　smoke　was　invisible　in　the　darkness；　but　the　short　green　flame　was　an　unmissable　beacon　in　the　darkness。　The　helo　banked　left；　clearing　the　way　for　the　Orion　now　only　five　hundred　yards　behind　him。
The　P…3C's　powerful　searchlights　came　on；　spotting　the　telltale　wake　left　by　the　now…invisible　periscope。　The　MAD　contact　had　been　right　on；　the　pilot　saw　at　once。　The　Orion's　bomb　doors　swung　open　and　the　torpedo　dropped　toward　the　black　waters　along　with　a　sonobuoy。
〃Positive　sonar　contact；　evaluate　as　submarine！〃　a　sonar…board　operator　said　over　the　inter。　The　tone　lines　displayed　on　his　screen　were　exactly　what　a　November　at　high　speed　looked　like；　and　the　torpedo　chasing　her　was　already　on　continuous　pinging。　〃Torpedo　is　closing　the　target　rapidly　。　。　。　Looks　good；　Tacco；　closing　。　。　。　closing…impact！〃　The　torpedo's　sound　tracing　merged　with　that　of　the　submarine；　and　a　brilliant　splotch　appeared　in　the　waterfall　display。　The　Orion's　operator　switched　the　sonobuoy　from　active　to　passive；　recording　the　recurring　rumbles　of　the