tc.redstormrising-第67章

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〃That's　good；　Miss　Vigdis。　Maybe　you　can　teach　us　a　thing　or　two。　You　be　careful；　now。〃
It　would　have　been　fairly　easy　except　for　their　heavy　packs。　Each　man　carried　a　fifty…pound　load。　The　added　weight　and　their　fatigue　affected　their　balance；　with　the　result　that　someone　watching　from　a　distance　might　have　taken　the　Marines　for　old　women　crossing　an　icy　street。　It　was　a　fifty…degree　slope　down；　in　some　places　almost　vertical；　with　some　paths　worn　into　the　slopes；　perhaps　by　the　wild　deer　that　throve　here。　For　the　first　time　fatigue　worked　in　their　favor。　Fresher；　they　might　have　tried　to　move　more　quickly；　as　it　was；　each　man　was　near　the　end　of　his　string；　and　feared　his　own　weakness　more　than　the　rocks。　It　took　over　an　hour；　but　they　made　it　down　with　nothing　worse　than　cuts　on　their　hands　and　bruises　somewhere　else。
Garcia　crossed　the　river　to　the　east　side；　where　the　canyon　wall　was　steeper；　and　they　camped　out　on　a　rocky　shelf　ten　feet　above　the　water。　Edwards　checked　his　watch。　They　had　been　on　the　move　continuously　for　more　than　two　days。　Fifty…six　hours。　Each　found　himself　a　place　in　the　deep　shadows。
First　they　ate。　Edwards　downed　a　can　of　something　without　troubling　to　see　what　it　was。　His　burps　tasted　like　fish。　Smith　let　the　two　privates　sleep　first；　and　gave　his　own　sleeping　bag　to　Vigdis。　The　girl　fell　mercifully　asleep　almost　as　quickly　as　the　Marines。　The　sergeant　made　a　quick　tour　of　the　area　while　Edwards　watched；　amazed　that　he　had　any　energy　left　at　all。
〃This　is　a　good　spot；　skipper；〃　the　sergeant　pronounced　finally；　collapsing　down　next　to　his　officer。　〃Smoke？〃
〃I　don't　smoke。　Thought　you　were　out。〃
〃I　was。　The　lady's　dad　did；　though；　and　I　got　a　few　packs。〃　Smith　lit　an　unfiltered　cigarette　with　a　Zippo　lighter　bearing　the　globe　and　anchor　of　the　Marine　Corps。　He　took　a　long　pull。　〃Jesus；　ain't　this　wonderful！〃
〃I　figure　we　can　spend　a　day　here　to　rest　up。〃
〃Sounds　good　to　me。〃　Smith　leaned　back。　〃You　held　up　pretty　good；　Lieutenant。〃
〃I　ran　track　at　the　Air　Force　Academy。　Ten…thousand…meter　stuff；　some　marathons；　that　sort　of　thing。〃
Smith　gave　him　a　baleful　look。　〃You　mean　I've　been　trying　to　walk　a　damned　runner　into　the　ground？〃
〃You　have　walked　a　marathoner　into　the　friggin'　ground。〃　Edwards　massaged　his　shoulders。　He　wondered　if　the　pain　from　his　pack　straps　would　ever　go　away。　His　legs　felt　as　though　someone　had　hammered　on　them　with　a　baseball　bat。　He　leaned　back　and　manded　every　muscle　in　his　body　to　relax。　The　rocky　ground　didn't　help；　but　he　could　not　raise　the　energy　even　to　look　for　a　better　spot。　He　remembered　something。　〃Shouldn't　somebody　stand　guard？〃
〃I　thought　about　that；〃　Smith　said。　He　was　lying　back　also；　his　helmet　down　over　his　eyes。　〃I　think　just　this　once　we　can　forget　it。　Only　way　anybody'll　spot　us　is　if　a　chopper　hovers　right　overhead。　Nearest　road's　ten　miles　from　here。　Screw　it。　What　d'you　think；　skipper？〃
Edwards　didn't　hear　the　question。

KIEV；　THE　UKRAINE
〃Ivan　Mikhailovich；　are　your　bags　packed？〃　Alekseyev　asked。
〃Yes；　rade　General。〃
〃mander…in…Chief　West　is　missing。　He　was　en　route　from　Third　Shock　Army　to　his　forward　headquarters　and　disappeared。　It　is　thought　he　might　have　been　killed　by　an　air　attack。　We're　taking　over。〃
〃Just　like　that？〃
〃Not　at　all；〃　Alekseyev　said　angrily。　〃They　took　thirty…six　hours　to　decide　that　he　was　probably　dead！　The　maniac　had　just　relieved　Third　Shock's　mander；　then　disappeared；　and　his　deputy　couldn't　decide　what　to　do。　A　scheduled　attack　never　began；　and　the　fucking　Germans　counterattacked　while　our　men　were　waiting　for　orders！''　Alekseyev　shook　his　head　to　clear　it　and　went　on　more　calmly。　〃Well；　now　we　will　have　soldiers　running　the　campaign；　not　some　politically　reliable　whoremonger。〃
Sergetov　again　noted　his　superior's　puritanical　streak。　It　was　one　of　the　few　traits　that　agreed　exactly　with　Party　policy。
〃Our　mission？〃　the　captain　asked。
〃While　the　General　takes　charge　at　the　mand　post；　you　and　I　will　tour　the　forward　divisions　to　ascertain　the　situation　at　the　front。　Sorry；　Ivan　Mikhailovich；　I'm　afraid　this　is　not　the　safe　posting　I　promised　your　father。〃
〃I　speak　good　English　in　addition　to　Arabic；〃　the　younger　man　sniffed。　Alekseyev　had　checked　that　out　before　writing　up　the　transfer　orders。　Captain　Sergetov　had　been　a　good　pany　officer　before　being　lured　out　of　uniform　by　the　promise　of　a　fortable　life　of　Party　work。　〃When　do　we　leave？〃
〃We　fly　out　in　two　hours。〃
〃In　daylight？〃　The　captain　was　surprised　at　that。
〃It　would　appear　that　air　travel　by　day　is　safer。　NATO　claims　to　dominate　the　night　sky。　Our　people　say　otherwise；　but　they　are　flying　us　out　in　daylight。　Draw　your　own　conclusions；　rade　Captain。〃

DOVER　AIR　FORCE　BASE；　DELAWARE
A　C…5A　transport　aircraft　sat　outside　its　hangar；　waiting。　Within　the　cavernous　structure　a　team　of　forty…half　officers　in　naval　dress；　half　civilians　wearing　General　Dynamics　coveralls…worked　on　Tomahawk　missiles。　While　one　group　removed　the　massive　antiship　warheads　and　replaced　them　with　something　else；　the　other　group's　task　was　more　difficult。　They　were　replacing　the　missile　guidance　systems；　the　usual　ship…hunting　packages　being　removed　in　favor　of　terrain…matching　systems　that　the　men　knew　were　used　only　for　nuclear…tipped　missiles　intended　for　land　targets。　The　guidance　boxes　were　new；　fresh　from　the　factory。　They　had　to　be　checked　and　calibrated。　A　delicate　job。　Though　the　systems　had　already　been　certified　by　the　manufacturer；　the　usual　peacetime　routines　were　gone；　replaced　with　an　urgency　that　all　of　them　felt　but　none　of　them　knew　the　reason　for。　The　mission　was　a　plete　secret。
Delicate　electronic　instruments　fed　pre…programmed　information　into　the　guidance　packages；　and　other　monitors　examined　the　mands　generated　by　the　on…board　puters。　There　were　only　enough　men　to　check　out　three　missiles　at　a　time；　and　each　check　took　just　over　an　hour。　Occasionally　one　would　look　up　to　see　the　massive　Galaxy　transport；　still　waiting；　its　crew　pacing　about　between　trips　to　the　weather　office。　When　each　missile　was　certified；　a　grease　pencil　mark　was　made　next　to　the　〃F'　code　letter　on　the　warhead；　and　the　torpedo…shaped　weapon　was　carefully　loaded　into　its　launch　canister。　Nearly　a　third　of　the　guidance　packages　were　discarded　and　replaced。　Several　had　failed　pletely；　but　the　problems　with　most　were　quite　minor；　though　serious　enough　to　warrant　replacement　instead　of　adjustment。　The　technicians　and　engineers　from　General　Dynamics　wondered　about　that。　What　sort　of　target　demanded　this　sort　of　precision？　All　in　all；　the　job　took　twenty…seven　hours；　six　more　than　expected。　About　half　of　the　men　boarded　the　aircraft；　which　lifted　off　the　concrete　twenty　minutes　later；　bound　for　Europe。　They　slept　in　the　rear…facing　seats；　too　tired　to　care　about　the　dangers　that　might　await　them　at　their　destination；　wherever　that　was。

THE　SKULAFOSS；　ICELAND
Edwards　was　sitting　up　almost　before　he　knew　why。　Smith　and　his　Marines　were　even　faster；　already　on　their　feet；　weapons　in　their　hands　and　racing　to　cover。　Their　eyes　scanned　the　rocky　rim　of　their　small　canyon　as　Vigdis　continued　to　scream。　Edwards　left　his　rifle　and　went　to　her。
The　automatic　reaction　of　the　Marines　was　to　assume　that　she　had　seen　some　danger　upon　them。　Instinctively；　Edwards　knew　different。　Her　eyes　looked　blankly　toward　the　bare　rocks　a　few　yards　away；　her　hands　gripped　at　the　bedroll。　By　the　time　he　reached　her；　she　had　stopped　screaming。　This　time　Edwards　did　not　stop　to　think。　He　grabbed　her　around　the　shoulders　and　pulled　her　head　toward　his　own。
〃You're　safe。　Vigdis；　you　are　safe。〃
〃My　family；〃　she　said；　her　chest　heaving　as　she　caught　her　breath。　〃They　kill　my　family。　Then…？'
〃Yes；　but　you　are　alive。〃
'The　soldiers；　they…〃　The　girl　had　evidently　loosened　her　clothes　to　sleep　more　fortably。　Now　she　drew　back　from　Edwards；　pulling　them　tight　around　her。　The　lieutenant　kept　his　hands　away　from　her　clothes　and　wrapped　the　sleeping　bag　around　her。
〃They　will　not　hurt　you　again。　Remember　all　of　what　happened。　They　will　not　hurt　you　again。〃
She　looked　into　his　face。　He　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　her　expression。　The　pain　and　grief　were　evident；　but　there　were　other　things　there；　and　Edwards　didn't　know　this　girl　well　enough　to　read　what　she　was　thinking。
〃The　one　who　kill　my　family。　You　kill…killed　him。〃
Edwards　nodded。　〃They　are　all　dead。　They　cannot　hurt　you。〃

〃Yes。〃　Vigdis　looked　down　at　the　ground。
〃You　all　right？〃　Smith　asked。
〃Yeah；〃　Edwards　answered。　〃The　lady　had　a…a　bad　dream。〃
〃They　e　back；〃　she　said。　〃They　e　back　again。〃
〃Ma'am；　they　ain't　never　ing　back　to　hurt　you。〃　Smith　grasped　her　arm　through　the　sleeping　bag。　〃We'll　protect　you。　Nobody　will　hurt　you　while　we　are　here。　Okay？〃
The　girl　nodded　jerkily。
〃Okay；　Miss　Vigdis；　now　why　don't　you　try　to　get　some　sleep？　Ain't　nobody　gonna　hurt　you　while　we're　around。　You　need　us；　you　can　call　us。〃
Smith　walked　away。　Edwards　started　to　rise；　but　the　girl's　hand　came　out　of　the　bag　and　took　his　arm。
〃Please；　do　not　go　away。　I…fear；　fear　to　be　alone。〃
〃Okay。　I'll　stay　with　you。　You　lie　back　and　get　some　sleep。〃
Five　minutes　later　her　eyes　were　closed　and　her　breathing　was　regular。　Edwards　tried　not　to　look　at　her。　Should　she　suddenly　awake　and　see　his　eyes　on　her…what　might　she　think？　And　she　could　be　right；　Edwards　admitted　to　himself。　Two　weeks　ago；　had　he　encountered　her　at　the　Keflavik　Officers　Club　。　。　。　he　was　a　young；　unattached　man；　and　she　was　evidently　a　young；　unattached　woman。　His　main　thought　after　the　second　drink　would　have　been　to　get　her　back　to　his　quarters。　A　little　soft　music。　How　beautiful　she　would　have　looked　there；　slipping　demurely　from　her　fashionable　clothes　in　the　soft　light　ing　through　the　shades。　Instead　he　had　met　her　stark　naked；　cuts　and　bruises　on　her　exposed　flesh。　So　strange　it　was　now。　Edwards　knew　without　thinking　that　if　another　man　tried　to　put　hands　on　her；　he'd　kill　him　without　hesitation；　and　he　couldn't　bring　himself　to　think　of　what　taking　the　girl　himself　might　be　like…his　only　likely　thought　if　he　had　encountered　her　on　the　street。　What　if　I　hadn't　decided　to　e　to　her　house？　he　wondered。　She'd　be　dead　by　now；　along　with　her　parents。　Probably　someone　would　have　found　them　in　a　few　days　。　。　。　like　they'd　discovered　Sandy。　And　that；　Edwards　knew　all　along；　was　the　reason　he'd　killed　the　Russian　lieutenant　and　enjoyed　the　man's　slow　trip　to　hell。　A　pity　no　one　had　seen　fit　to　do　that
Smith　waved　to　him。　Edwards　rose　quietly　and　walked　over。
〃I　got　Garcia　on　guard。　I　think　we　better　go　back　to　being　Marines　after　all。　If　that'd　been　for　real；　we'd　all　be　cold　meat　by　now；　Lieutenant。〃
〃We're　all　too　tired　to　move　out　just　yet。〃
〃Yes；　sir。　The　lady　okay？〃
〃She's　had　a　tough　time。　When　she　wakes　up…hell；　I　don't　know。　I'm　afraid　she　might　just　e　apart　on　us。〃
〃Maybe。〃　Smith　lit　a　cigarette。　〃She's　young。　She　might　bounce　back　if　we　give　her　a　chance。〃
〃Get　her　something　to　do？〃
〃Same　as　us；　skipper。　You're　better　off　doin'　than　thinkin'。〃
Edwards　checked　his　watch。　He'd　actually　gotten　six　hours　of　sleep　before　all　this　had　happened。　Though　his　legs　were　stiff；　otherwise　he　felt　better　than　he　would　have　imagined。　It　was　an　illusion；　he　knew。　He　needed　at　least　another　four　hours；　and　a　good　meal；　be