tc.redstormrising-第65章

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se　contacts　here。　Either　they've　resumed　their　base　course　or　they're　heading　away。　Can't　tell　which。　Uh…oh；　more　sonobuoys　are　dropping　down。〃　The　chief's　finger　traced　the　new　dots；　in　a　steady　line…heading　toward　Chicago。　〃Next　one's　going　to　be　real　close；　sir。〃
McCafferty　stuck　his　head　into　the　attack　center。　〃Bring　her　around　south；　and　go　to　two…thirds。〃
The　next　sonobuoy　splashed　into　the　water　directly　overhead。　Its　cable　deployed　the　transducer　below　the　layer　and　began　automatic　pinging。
〃They　got　us　for　sure；　skipper！'
McCafferty　ordered　a　course　change　to　the　west　and　again　increased　to　full　speed　to　clear　the　area。　Three　minutes　later　a　torpedo　dropped　into　the　water；　either　dropped　by　the　Bear　or　fired　from　the　Udaloy；　they　couldn't　tell。　The　torpedo　started　searching　for　them　from　a　mile　off　and　turned　away。　Again　their　rubber　anechoic　coating　had　saved　them。　A　helo's　dipping　sonar　was　detected　ahead　of　them。　McCafferty　went　south　to　avoid　it；　knowing　that　he　was　being　driven　away　from　the　Soviet　fleet；　but　unable　to　do　much　about　it　at　the　moment。　A　pair　of　helicopters　was　now　after　him；　and　for　a　submarine　to　defeat　two　dipping　sonars　was　no　simple　exercise。　It　was　clear　that　their　mission　was　not　so　much　to　find　him　as　to　drive　him　off；　and　he　could　not　maneuver　fast　enough　to　get　past　them。　After　two　hours　of　trying；　he　broke　off　for　the　last　time。　The　Soviet　force　had　moved　beyond　sonar　range；　their　last　reported　course　being　southeast　toward　Andoya。
McCafferty　swore　to　himself　He'd　done　everything　right；　gotten　through　the　outer　Soviet　defenses；　and　had　had　a　clear　idea　of　how　to　duck　under　the　destroyer　screen。　But　someone　had　gotten　there　first；　probably　attacked　Kirov…his　target！…and　messed　everything　up　for　his　approach。　His　three　Harpoons　had　probably　found　targets　unless　Ivan　had　shot　them　down…but　he'd　been　unable　even　to　monitor　their　impacts。　If　they　had　made　impacts。　The　captain　of　USS　Chicago　wrote　up　his　contact　report　for　transmission　to　SUBLANT　and　wondered　why　things　were　going　the　way　they　were。


STORNOWAY；　SCOTLAND
〃A　long　way　to　go；〃　the　fighter　pilot　said。
〃Yeah；〃　Toland　agreed。　〃Our　last　report　had　the　group　heading　southeast　to　evade　a　submarine　attack。　We　figure　they're　back　to　a　southerly　course　now；　but　we　don't　know　where　they　are。　The　Norwegians　sent　their　last　RF…5　in　to　look；　and　it　disappeared。　We　have　to　hit　them　before　they　get　to　Bodo。　To　hit　them；　we　need　to　know　where　they　are。〃
〃No　satellite　intel？〃
〃Nope。〃
〃Okay。　I　go　in　with　the　reconnaissance　pod；　out　and　back　。　。　。　four　hours。　I'll　need　a　tanker　to　top　me　off　about　three　hundred　miles　out。〃
〃No　problem；〃　the　RAF　group　captain　agreed。　〃Do　be　careful；　we　need　all　your　Tomcats　to　escort　the　strike　tomorrow。〃
〃I'll　be　ready　in　an　hour。〃　The　pilot　left。
〃Wish　you　luck；　old　boy；〃　the　group　captain　said　quietly。　This　was　the　third　attempt　to　locate　the　Soviet　invasion　force　by　air。　After　the　Norwegian　reconnaissance　aircraft　had　disappeared；　the　Brits　had　tried　with　a　Jaguar。　That；　too；　had　vanished。　The　most　obvious　solution　was　to　send　a　Hawkeye　with　the　strike　to　conduct　a　radar　search；　but　the　Brits　weren't　letting　the　E…2s　stray　too　far　from　their　shore。　The　U。K。　radar　stations　had　taken　a　fearful　pounding；　and　the　Hawkeyes　were　needed　for　local　defense。
〃It's　not　supposed　to　be　this　hard；〃　Toland　observed。　Here　was　a　golden　opportunity　to　pound　the　Soviet　fleet。　Once　located；　they　could　strike　the　force　at　dawn　tomorrow。　The　NATO　aircraft　would　swoop　in　with　their　own　air…to…surface　missiles。　But　the　extreme　range　of　the　mission　gave　no　time　for　the　strike　force　to　loiter　around　looking。　They　had　to　have　a　target　location　before　they　took　off。　The　Norwegians　were　supposed　to　have　handled　this；　but　NATO　plans　had　not　anticipated　the　virtual　annihilation　of　the　Royal　Norwegian　Air　Force　in　a　week's　time。　The　Soviets　had　enjoyed　their　only　major　tactical　successes　at　sea；　and　they　were　successes　indeed；　Toland　thought。　While　the　land　war　in　Germany　was　heading　toward　a　high…technology　stalemate；　up　to　now　the　vaunted　NATO　navies　had　been　outmaneuvered　and　outthought　by　their　supposed　dullard　Soviet　adversaries。　Taking　Iceland　had　been　a　masterpiece　of　an　operation。　NATO　was　still　scrambling　to　reestablish　the　Greenland…Iceland…United　Kingdom　barrier　with　submarines　that　were　supposed　to　have　other　missions。　The　Russian　Backfires　were　ranging　far　into　the　North　Atlantic；　hitting　one　convoy　a　day；　and　the　main　Russian　submarine　force　hadn't　even　gotten　there　yet。　The　bination　of　the　two　might　just　close　the　Atlantic；　Toland　thought。　Then　the　NATO　armies　would　surely　lose；　for　all　their　brilliant　performance　to　date。
They　had　to　stop　the　Soviets　from　taking　Bodo　in　Norway。　Once　emplaced　there；　Russian　aircraft　could　attack　Scotland；　draining　resources　from　the　German　front　and　hampering　efforts　to　interdict　the　bomber　forces　heading　into　the　Atlantic。　Toland　shook　his　head。　Once　the　Russian　force　was　located；　they'd　pound　hell　out　of　it。　They　had　the　right　weapons；　the　right　doctrine。　They　could　launch　their　missiles　outside　the　Russian　SAM　envelopes；　just　as　Ivan　was　doing　to　convoys。　It　was　about　time　things　changed。
The　tanker　lifted　off　first；　followed　half　an　hour　later　by　the　fighter。　Toland　and　his　British　counterpart　sat　in　the　intelligence　center　napping；　oblivious　to　the　teletype　printer　that　chattered　in　the　er。　If　anything　important　came　in；　the　junior　watch　officers　would　alert　them；　and　senior　officers　needed　their　sleep；　too。
〃Huh？〃　Toland　started　when　the　man　tapped　his　shoulder。
〃ing　in；　sir…your　Tomcat　is　arriving；　mander。〃　The　RAF　sergeant　handed　Bob　a　cup　of　tea。　〃Fifteen　minutes　out。　Thought　you　might　wish　to　freshen　up。〃
〃Thanks；　Sergeant。〃　Toland　ran　a　hand　over　his　unshaven　face　and　decided　not　to　shave。　The　group　captain　did；　mainly　to　preserve　the　look　that　went　with　an　RAF　mustache。
The　F…14　came　in　gracefully；　its　engines　idling　and　wings　outstretched　as　though　grateful　for　the　chance　for　a　landing　on　something　larger　than　a　carrier。　The　pilot　taxied　into　a　hard　shelter　and　quickly　dismounted。　Technicians　were　already　removing　the　film　cartridge　from　the　camera　pod。
〃Nothing　on　their　fleet；　guys；〃　he　said　at　once。　The　radar…intercept　officer　came　down　behind　him。
〃God；　there's　fighters　up　there！〃　The　RIO　said。　〃Haven't　seen　so　much　activity　since　the　last　time　we　went　through　aggressor　school。〃
〃And　I　got　one　of　the　bastards；　too。　But　no　joy　on　the　fleet。　We　covered　the　coast　from　Orland　to　Skagen　before　we　turned　back；　not　one　surface　ship　visible。〃
〃You're　certain？〃　the　group　captain　asked。
〃You　can　check　my　film；　Captain。　No　visual　sightings；　nothing　on　infrared；　no　radar　emissions　but　airborne　stuff…nothing；　but　lots　of　fighters。　We　started　finding　those　just　south　of　Stokke　and　counted…what　was　it；　Bill？〃
〃Seven　flights；　mainly　MiG…23s；　I　think。　We　never　got　a　visual；　but　we　picked　up　a　lot　of　High　Lark　radars。　One　guy　got　a　little　close　and　I　had　to　pop　him　with　a　Sparrow。　We　saw　the　flash。　That　was　a　hard　kill。　In　any　case；　guys；　our　friends　ain't　ing　to　Bodo　unless　it's　by　submarine…〃
〃You　turned　back　at　Skagen？〃
〃Ran　out　of　film；　and　we　were　low　on　fuel。　The　fighter　opposition　really　started　picking　up　north　of　Bodo。　If　you　want　a　guess；　we　need　to　check　out　Andoya；　but　we　need　something　else　to　do　it；　SR…71　maybe。　I　don't　think　I　can　get　in　and　out　of　there　except　on　burner。　I'd　have　to　tank　right　close　to　there　even　to　try　that；　and…like　I　said；　lots　of　fighters　were　operating　there。〃
〃Hardly　matters；〃　the　group　captain　said。　〃Our　aircraft　haven't　the　legs　for　a　strike　that　far　without　massive　tanker　support；　and　most　of　our　tankers　are　mitted　elsewhere。〃





25　…　Treks

ICELAND
Once　clear　of　the　meadow；　they　were　back　in　what　the　map　called　wasteland。　It　was　level　for　the　first　kilometer；　then　the　uphill　effort　began　in　earnest　on　the　Glymsbrekkur；　a　seven…hundred…foot　climb。　So　soon　your　legs　forget；　Edwards　thought。　The　rain　hadn't　let　up；　and　the　deep　twilight　they　had　to　guide　them　forced　a　slow　pace。　Many　of　the　rocks　they　tried　to　walk　on　were　loose。　The　footing　was　treacherous；　and　a　misstep　could　easily　be　fatal。　Their　ankles　were　sore　from　the　constant　twists　on　the　uneven　ground；　and　their　tightly　laced　boots　didn't　seem　to　help　anymore。
After　six　days　in　the　back　country；　Edwards　and　his　Marines　were　beginning　to　understand　what　fatigue　was。　At　each　step　their　knees　gave　just　an　inch　or　so　too　much；　making　the　next　step　that　much　more　of　an　effort。　Their　pack　straps　cut　cruelly　into　their　shoulders。　Their　arms　were　tired　from　carrying　their　weapons　and　from　constantly　adjusting　their　gear。　Necks　sagged。　It　was　an　effort　to　look　up　and　around；　always　having　to　be　alert　for　a　possible　ambush。
Behind　them　the　glow　of　the　house　fire　disappeared　behind　a　ridgeline；　the　first　good　thing　that　had　happened。　No　helicopters　yet；　no　vehicles　investigating　the　fire。　Good；　but　how　long　would　that　last？　How　soon　would　the　patrol　be　missed？　they　all　wondered。
All　but　Vigdis。　Edwards　walked　a　few　yards　in　front　of　her；　listening　to　her　breathing；　listening　for　sobs；　wanting　to　say　something　to　her；　but　not　knowing　what。　Had　he　done　the　right　thing？　Was　it　murder？　Was　it　expediency？　Or　was　it　justice？　Did　that　matter？　So　many　questions。　He　set　them　aside。　They　had　to　survive。　That　mattered。
〃Take　a　break；〃　he　said。　〃Ten　minutes。〃
Sergeant　Smith　checked　to　see　where　the　others　were；　then　sat　down　beside　his　officer。
〃We　done　good；　Lieutenant。　I　figure　four；　maybe　five　miles　in　the　past　two　hours。　I　think　we　can　ease　up　a　little。〃
Edwards　smiled　wanly。　〃Why　not　just　stop　and　build　a　house　here？〃
Smith　chuckled　in　the　darkness。　〃I　hear　you；　skipper。〃
The　lieutenant　studied　the　map　briefly；　looking　up　to　see　how　well　it　matched　with　what　he　could　see。　〃What　say　we　go　left　around　this　marsh？　The　map　shows　a　waterfall　here；　the　Skulafoss。　Looks　like　a　nice　deep　canyon。　Maybe　we'll　get　lucky　and　find　a　cave　or　something。　If　not；　it's　deep。　No　choppers'll　e　in　there；　and　we'll　have　shadows　to　hide　in。　Five　hours？〃
〃'Bout　that；〃　Smith　agreed。　〃Roads　to　cross？〃
〃Nothing　shows　but　foot　trails。〃
〃I　like　it。〃　Smith　turned　to　the　girl；　who　watched　them　without　a　word　as　she　sat　with　her　back　against　a　rock。　〃How　do　you　feel；　ma'am？〃　he　inquired　gently。
〃Tired。〃　Her　voice　said　more　than　that；　Edwards　thought。　There　was　no　emotion　there；　none　at　all。　He　wondered　if　this　was　good　or　bad。　What　was　the　right　thing　to　do　for　the　victims　of　serious　crime？　Her　parents　murdered　before　her　eyes；　her　own　body　brutally　violated；　what　kind　of　thoughts　were　going　through　that　head？　Get　her　mind　off　it；　he　decided。
〃How　well　do　you　know　this　area？〃　the　lieutenant　asked。
〃My　father　fish　here。　I　e　with　him　many　times。〃　Her　head　leaned　back　into　a　shadow。　Her　voice　cracked　and　dropped　into　quiet　sobs。
Edwards　wanted　to　wrap　an　arm　around　her；　to　tell　her　things　were　all　right　now；　but　he　was　afraid　it　might　only　make　things　worse。　Besides；　who　would　believe　that　things　were　all　right　now？
〃How　we　fixed　for　food；　Sarge？〃
〃I　figure　we　got　maybe　four　days'　worth　of　canned　stuff。　I　went　through　the　house　pretty　good；　sir；〃　Smith　whispered。　〃Got　a　pair　of　fishing　rods　and　some　lures。　I