tc.redstormrising-第58章

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urn；　allowing　the　frigate's　passive　sonar　array　to　track　in　on　the　submarine；　which　was　moving　swiftly　now　to　evade　the　torpedo；　and　making　a　lot　of　noise。　The　first　helicopter　arrived　and　dropped　a　buoy。
〃Twin　screws　and　cavitation　noise。　Sounds　like　a　Charlie　at　full　speed；　sir；〃　a　petty　officer　announced。　〃I　think　the　torp　may　have　him。〃
The　torpedo　switched　from　ping…and…listen　to　continuous　pinging；　chasing　after　the　racing　submarine；　arcing　downward。　The　weapon　momentarily　lost　the　sub　as　she　passed　through　the　thermocline　layer；　then　reacquired　when　it　too　entered　the　colder　deep　water；　rapidly　closing　the　distance。　The　submarine　loosed　a　noisemaker；　but　it　malfunctioned。　Another　was　loaded　into　the　launcher。　Too　late。　The　torpedo　struck　the　submarine　on　her　port　screw　and　exploded。
〃All　right！〃　hooted　a　petty　officer　on　the　sonar　crew。　〃We　have　warhead　detonation。　We　got　the　sucker！〃
〃We　have　impact。　We　have　detonation；〃　confirmed　a　helo　crew。　〃Stand　by。　Target　engines　have　not　stopped　pletely　。　。　。　additional　propulsion　noises…clanking。　Air　blowing；　he's　blowing　tanks。　ing　up；　target　is　ing　up。　We　have　bubbles　on　the　surface。　Hot　damn；　there　he　is！〃
The　Charlie's　bow　broke　the　surface　six　miles　from　the　frigate。　Three　helicopters　circled　the　wounded　vessel　like　wolves；　and　Pharris　turned　north　to　close　the　target；　her　five…inch　gun　tracking　it。　It　wasn't　necessary。　The　forward　hatch　opened　and　men　began　scrambling　out。　More　appeared　on　the　sail；　jumping　overboard　as　the　submarine's　engine　room　filled　with　water。　A　total　of　ten　got　off　before　the　submarine　slid　backward　below　the　waves。　Another　appeared　on　the　surface　a　few　seconds　later；　but　no　more。
The　helicopters　dropped　life　jackets　to　the　men　in　the　water。　The　helo　with　the　rescue　hoist　aboard　managed　to　lift　two　men　before　the　frigate　arrived　on　the　scene。　Morris　supervised　the　operation　from　the　bridge。　The　motor　whaleboat　was　swiftly　launched；　and　the　rescue　was　an　easy　one。　The　Russian　crewmen　were　stunned　and　did　not　resist。　The　helicopters　guided　the　boat　to　each　man；　carefully　searching　the　area　for　more。　All　eleven　were　recovered　and　the　whaleboat　returned　to　the　drop　lines。　Pharris's　chief　boatswain　supervised　the　operation；　an　ensign　standing　quietly　at　his　side。
No　one　had　seriously　considered　this　possibility。　A　torpedo　hit　on　a　submarine　was　supposed　to　kill　her　entirely。　Prisoners；　Morris　thought　to　himself。　What　the　hell　am　I　supposed　to　do　with　prisoners？　He　had　to　decide　where　to　keep　them；　how　to　treat　them。　How　to　interrogate　them　…did　he　have　anyone　aboard　who　spoke　Russian？　The　captain　turned　the　conn　over　to　his　executive　officer　and　hurried　aft。
Armed　crewmen　were　already　there；　holding　their　M…14　rifles　awkwardly　as　they　looked　down　with　great　curiosity　at　the　whaleboat。　The　boat　crew　secured　the　hoist　lines　to　the　lift　points；　and　the　seaman　on　the　winch　lifted　the　boat　up　into　the　davits。
The　Soviets　were　not　an　impressive　lot；　many　of　them　clearly　in　shock　from　their　near　escape　from　death。　Morris　counted　three　officers；　one　of　them　probably　the　captain。　He　whispered　a　quick　mand　to　Bosun　Clarke。
The　chief　had　his　armed　party　step　back；　and　took　the　whistle　from　his　pocket。　As　the　whaleboat　settled　into　place；　he　blew　a　three…tone　note　on　his　whistle　and　saluted　the　Soviet　captain　like　an　arriving　dignitary。
The　Russian's　reaction　was　one　of　astonishment。　Morris　stepped　forward　to　help　him　off　the　boat。
〃Wele　aboard；　Captain。　I'm　Captain　Morris；　United　States　Navy。〃　Ed　looked　around　briefly　to　see　the　incredulous　expressions　on　his　crew's　faces。　But　his　ploy　failed。　The　Russian　said　something　in　Russian；　and　either　spoke　no　English　or　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　pretend　he　didn't。　Someone　else　would　have　to　handle　the　interrogation。　Morris　told　his　bosun　to　carry　on。　The　Russians　were　taken　below　for　a　medical　check。　For　the　moment；　they'd　be　kept　under　guard　in　sickbay。　The　bosun　hurried　back　for　a　moment。
〃Skipper；　what　the　hell　was　that　all　about？〃　Chief　Boatswain's　Mate　Clarke　inquired。
〃They've　probably　been　told　that　we'd　shoot　them　in　the　head。　I　read　a　book　once　that　said　the　most　effective　technique…look；　there　was　this　German；　the　guy　specialized　in　getting　information　out　of　our　guys　in　World　War　Two；　okay？　He　was　good　at　it；　and　what　he　did　was　treat　our　guys　decently。　Hell；　they　sponsored　him　to　e　over　after　the　war；　and　now　he's　an　American　citizen。　Separate　the　officers　from　the　enlisted；　and　the　senior　EMS　from　the　juniors。　Keep　'em　separate。　Then　make　sure　they're　kept　fortable。　Feed　'em；　give　'em　cigarettes；　make　'em　feel　safe。　If　you　happen　to　know　anyone　aboard　who　has　a　bottle；　get　it；　and　give　our　guests　a　couple　of　stiff　drinks。　Everybody　gets　new　clothes。　We　keep　theirs。　Send　all　of　it　to　the　wardroom。　We'll　see　if　they　have　anything　valuable。　Make　sure　they're　treated　nice；　and　just　maybe　we　can　get　one　or　two　to　spill　his　guts。〃
〃You　got　it；　Skipper。〃　The　chief　went　away　shaking　his　head。　At　least　he'd　get　to　paint　a　whole　submarine　on　the　pilothouse　this　time。
Morris　went　back　to　the　pilothouse。　He　ordered　his　men　to　secure　from　general　quarters；　and　the　frigate　to　return　to　her　patrol　station。　Next　he　called　up　the　escort　mander　and　reported　on　the　prisoners。
〃Pharris；　〃　the　modore　replied。　〃You　are　directed　to　paint　a　gold　'A'　on　your　ASROC　launcher。　Well　done　to　all　aboard；　Ed。　You're　the　champs　for　this　crossing。　I'll　get　back　to　you　on　the　prisoners。　Out。〃
The　captain　turned　around　to　see　that　the　bridge　watch　had　not　left。　They'd　all　heard　the　modore　on　the　radio。　Their　fatigue　was　gone；　and　the　grins　directed　at　Morris　meant　more　to　him　than　the　words　of　his　boss。

KIEV；　THE　UKRAINE
Alekseyev　looked　over　the　intelligence　material　on　his　desk。　His　boss　was　in　Moscow　for　a　high…level　briefing；　but　this　data　wasshould　be；　he　corrected　himself…little　different　from　what　his　mander　was　hearing。
〃Things　are　not　going　well　in　Germany？〃　Captain　Sergetov　asked。
〃No。　We　were　supposed　to　have　reached　the　outskirts　of　Hamburg　by　H＋36。　A　day　and　a　half；　the　plan　called　for。　Instead　we're　not　quite　there　yet；　and　Third　Shock　Army　has　taken　murderous　losses　from　NATO　aircraft。〃　He　paused；　staring　at　the　map。　〃If　I　were　the　NATO　mander；　I'd　counterattack　again；　right　there。〃
〃Perhaps　they　are　unable　to　do　so。　Their　first　counterattack　was　repulsed。〃
〃At　the　cost　of　a　broken　tank　division　and　sixty　aircraft。　Victories　like　that　we　can　do　without。　The　picture　in　the　south　is　scarcely　better。　The　NATO　forces　are　trading　space　for　time；　and　doing　it　very　well。　Their　ground　forces　and　tactical　aircraft　are　operating　over　the　same　ground　they've　practiced　on　for　thirty　years。　Our　losses　are　nearly　double　the　estimates；　and　we　can't　sustain　that。〃　Alekseyev　leaned　back。　He　chided　himself　for　being　defeatist。　It　was　mainly　a　manifestation　of　his　desire　to　join　the　action。　He　was　certain；　as　any　general　would　be　certain；　that　he　could　do　things　better。
〃What　about　NATO　losses？〃
〃Heavy；　we　think。　They　have　been　remarkably　profligate　in　their　weapons　expenditures。　The　Germans　have　staked　too　much　on　defending　Hamburg；　and　it　has　to　be　costing　them　dearly。　If　I　could　not　counterattack　in　their　place；　I　would　withdraw。　A　city　is　not　worth　breaking　the　balance　of　your　army。　We　learned　that　lesson　at　Kiev…〃
〃Excuse　me；　rade　General；　what　about　Stalingrad？〃
〃A　somewhat　different　situation；　Captain。　Remarkable；　nonetheless；　how　history　can　repeat　itself；〃　Alekseyev　muttered；　studying　the　map　on　the　wall。　He　shook　his　head。　West　Germany　had　too　much　in　the　way　of　road　munications　for　that　to　work。　〃The　KGB　reports　that　NATO　has　two；　at　most　three　weeks'　supply　of　munitions　left。　That　will　be　the　decisive　factor。〃
〃What　of　our　supplies　and　fuel？〃　the　young　captain　asked。　His　answer　was　a　scowl。

ICELAND
At　least　there　was　water。　The　streams　were　fed　by　glaciers　that　lay　in　the　center　of　the　island…water　that　had　fallen　as　snow　over　a　thousand　years　before；　long　before　atmospheric　pollution；　and　been　pressed　to　ice。　When　finally　it　melted　to　fill　the　rocky　streams；　it　turned　back　into　water　of　crystalline　purity　and　marvelous　taste；　but　absolutely　no　nutritional　value。　It　was　also　ice　cold；　and　fords　were　not　easily　found。
〃Down　to　one　day's　rations；　Lieutenant；〃　Smith　observed　as　they　finished　off　their　meal。
〃Yeah；　we'll　have　to　think　that　one　over。〃　Edwards　assembled　his　trash。　Garcia　collected　it　all　for　burial。　If　there　had　been　a　way　to　cover　their　footprints　in　the　dirt；　Smith　would　have　had　them　doing　that　too。
It　wasn't　easy。　As　Edwards　assembled　his　radio；　he　listened　to　muttered　Spanish　curses　and　the　sound　of　a　folding　shovel　slamming　against　the　loose　rocks　that　passed　for　soil　atop　Hill　482。
〃Doghouse；　this　is　Beagle；　and　we're　running　out　of　food；　over。〃
〃Sorry　to　bear　that；　Beagle。　Maybe　we'll　have　some　pizzas　sent　out。〃
〃You　funny　bastard；〃　Edwards　said　without　toggling　the　Transmit　key。　〃What　do　you　want　us　to　do　this　time？〃
〃Have　you　been　spotted　by　anyone？〃
〃We're　alive；　ain't　we？　Negative。〃
〃Tell　me　what　you　can　see。〃
〃Okay；　there's　a　gravel　road　downhill　to　the　north；　maybe　two　miles　away。　Looks　like　a　farm…plowed　fields；　like；　but　can't　tell　what's　growing　there。　Another　sheep　farm　to　the　west　of　us；　we　passed　it　ing　here。　Lots　of　sheep。　Ten　minutes　ago　we　saw　a　truck　on　the　road　heading　west。　Haven't　seen　anything　flying　yet　today；　but　I　suppose　that'll　change。　The　only　civilians　we've　seen　have　been　right　by　their　houses；　we　haven't　even　seen　farmers　with　their　sheep；　and　the　farm　to　the　north　has　no　visible　activity。　No…say　again　zero…civilian　road　traffic。　Ivan's　got　this　island　shut　down；　Doghouse；　really　shut　down。　That's　about　all　I　can　say。　Tell　those　Vark　drivers　they　really　did　the　job　on　that　powerhouse。　Nothing　left　but　a　hole　in　the　ground。　We　haven't　seen　an　electric　light　lit　since。〃
〃Copy　that；　Beagle。　Okay；　your　orders　are　to　head　north　towards　Hvammsfjordur。　You　need　to　take　a　wide　detour　east　to　avoid　all　these　bays　I　see。　We　want　you　there　in　ten　days。　Say　again　ten　days；　twelve　at　the　most。　You　can　make　it　easy。　Stay　out　in　the　boonies　and　avoid　contact　with　anyone。　Continue　the　normal　contact　schedule　and　report　on　anything　you　see　that　may　be　of　interest。　Acknowledge。〃
〃Roger；　Doghouse；　you　want　us　in　sight　of　Hvammsfjordur　at　the　end　of　next　week；　and　keep　up　the　usual　radio　routine。　Anything　else？〃
〃Be　careful。　Out。〃
〃Hvammsfjordur？〃　Smith　asked…　〃That's　a　hundred　miles　on　a　straight　line。〃
〃They　want　us　to　detour　east　to　avoid　contact。〃
〃Two　hundred　mileswalking　over　this　shit。〃　Smith's　frown　was　enough　to　split　a　rock。　〃End　of　next　week？　Ten　or　eleven　days？〃
Edwards　nodded　dumbly。　He　hadn't　known　it　would　be　that　far。
〃Gonna　be　a　little　tough；　Mr。　Edwards。〃　The　sergeant　pulled　a　largescale　map　from　his　case。　〃I　don't　even　have　cards　for　the　whole　coastline。　Damn。　Look　here；　Lieutenant。　The　ridges　and　rivers　on　this　rock　e　out　from　the　center　like　the　spokes　on　a　wheel；　y'see？　That　means　we　climb　a　lot；　and　these　here　ain't　little　hills。　All　the　low　places　got　roads；　and　sure　as　hell　we　can't　follow　no　roads；　right？〃　He　shook　his　head。

Edwards　forced　a　grin。　〃Can't　hack　it？　I　thought　you　Marines　were　in　good　shape。〃
Smith　was　a　man　who　ran　five　miles　every