tc.redstormrising-第78章

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Even　his　continued　mand　of　Pharris　was　a　joke。　The　tug　had　a　reserve　crew；　many　of　them　salvage　experts　in　civilian　life。　Three　of　them　were　aboard　to　keep　an　eye　on　the　towing　cable　and　〃advise〃　Morris　on　the　things　he　had　to　do。　Their　pieces　of　advice　were　really　orders；　but　polite　ones。
There　were　plenty　of　things　to　keep　his　crew　busy。　The　forward　bulkheads　required　constant　watching　and　attention。　Repairs　were　under　way　to　the　engine　plant。　Only　one　boiler　was　working；　providing　steam　to　turn　the　turbogenerators　and　provide　electrical　power。　The　second　boiler　needed　at　least　another　day　of　work。　His　main　air…search　radar；　they　said；　would　be　working　in　four　hours。　The　satellite　antenna　was　just　back　on　line　also。　By　the　time　they　reached　port…if　they　reached　port…everything　aboard　that　his　crew　could　fix　would　be　fixed。　That　didn't　really　matter；　but　a　busy　crew；　the　Navy　has　always　said；　is　a　happy　crew。　In　practical　terms　it　meant　that　the　crewmen；　unlike　their　captain；　did　not　have　time　to　brood　on　what　mistakes　had　been　made；　the　lives　that　had　been　lost　because　of　them；　and　who　had　made　them。
Morris　went　to　the　bat　Information　Center。　The　tactical　crew　was　rerunning　the　tape　and　paper　record　of　the　encounter　with　the　Victor；　trying　to　find　what　had　happened。
〃I　don't　know。〃　The　sonar　operator　shrugged。　〃Maybe　it　was　two　subs；　not　just　one。　I　mean；　here　he　is；　right？　This　bright　trail　here…then　a　couple　minutes　later　the　active　sonar　picked　him　up　over　here。〃
〃Only　one　sub；〃　Morris　said。　〃Getting　from　here　to　there　is　about　a　four…minute　run　at　twenty…five　knots。〃
〃But　we　didn't　hear　him；　sir；　an'　it　don't　show　on　the　screen。　Besides；　he　was　heading　the　other　way　when　we　lost　him。〃　The　sonarman　rewound　the　tape　to　run　it　a　again。
〃Yeah。〃　Morris　went　back　to　the　bridge；　playing　it　over　again　in　his　mind。　He　had　the　entire　sequence　memorized　now。　He　walked　out　on　the　bridge　wing。　The　spray　shields　were　still　perforated；　and　there　was　a　faint　bloodstain　where　the　XO　had　died。　Someone　would　be　painting　over　that　today。　Chief　Clarke　had　all　kinds　of　work　gangs　going。　Morris　fit　a　cigarette　and　stared　at　the　horizon。

REYDARVATH；　ICELAND
The　helicopter　was　the　last　warning　they　needed。　Edwards　and　his　party　were　heading　northeast。　They　passed　through　an　area　of　many　small　lakes；　crossed　a　gravel　road　after　waiting　an　hour　to　see　what　the　traffic　there　was　like…none…and　began　to　traverse　a　series　of　marshes。　By　this　time　Edwards　was　thoroughly　confused　by　the　terrain。　The　mixture　of　bare　rock；　grassy　meadows；　lava　fields；　and　now　a　freshwater　marsh　made　him　wonder　if　Iceland　might　not　be　the　place　where　God　had　put　everything　that　had　been　left　over　after　the　world　was　built。　Evidently　He'd　made　just　the　right　amount　of　trees；　though；　because　there　were　none　here；　and　their　best　cover　was　the　knee…high　grass　that　sprouted　from　the　water。　It　must　be　hardy　grass；　Edwards　thought；　since　this　marsh　had　been　frozen　not　too　long　ago。　It　was　still　cold；　and　within　minutes　of　entering　the　marshes　everyone's　legs　ached　with　it。　They　endured　the　misery。　The　alternative　was　to　travel　on　bare　and　slightly　elevated　ground；　not　something　to　be　contemplated　with　enemy　helicopters　about。
Vigdis　surprised　them　with　her　endurance。　She　kept　up　with　the　Marines　without　faltering　or　plaining。　A　true　country　girl；　Edwards　thought；　she　was　still　benefiting　from　a　childhood　of　chasing　the　family　sheep　aroundor　whatever　it　was　you　did　with　sheep…and　climbing　these　Goddamned　hills。
〃Okay；　people；　take　ten；〃　Edwards　called。　Immediately　everyone　looked　for　a　dry　spot　to　collapse。　Mainly　they　found　rocks。　Rocks　in　a　marsh！　Edwards　thought。　Garcia　kept　watch　with　the　purloined　Russian　binoculars。　Smith　lit　up　a　cigarette。　Edwards　turned　around　to　see　Vigdis　sitting　down　next　to　him。
〃How　do　you　feel？〃
〃Very　tired；〃　she　said　with　a　slight　smile。　〃But　not　so　tired　as　you。〃
〃Is　that　so！〃　Edwards　laughed。　〃Maybe　we　should　step　up　the　pace。〃
〃Where　we　go？〃
〃We're　going　to　Hvammsfjordur。　They　didn't　say　why。　I　figure　another　four　or　five　days。　We　want　to　stay　clear　of　all　the　roads　we　can。〃
〃To　protect　me；　yes？〃　Edwards　shook　his　head。
〃To　protect　all　of　us。　We　don't　want　to　fight　anybody。　There's　too　many　Russians　around　to　play　soldier　games。〃
〃So；　I　don't　hurt…ah；　stop　you　from　important　things？〃　Vigdis　asked。
〃Not　at　all。　We're　all　happy　to　have　you　with　us。　Who　wouldn't　like　a　walk　in　the　country　with　a　beautiful　girl？〃　Edwards　asked　gallantly。　Was　that　a　smart　thing　to　say？
She　gave　him　a　strange　look。　〃You　think　I　pretty；　after…after…〃
〃Vigdis；　if　you　were　hit　by　a　truck…yes；　you　are　very　beautiful。　No　man　could　change　that。　What　happened　to　you　was　not　your　fault。　What　ever　changes　it　made　are　inside；　not　outside。　And　I　know　somebody　must　like　you。〃
〃My　baby；　you　mean？　Mistake。　He　find　another　girl。　This　is　not　important；　all　my　friends　have　babies。〃　She　shrugged　it　off。
That　stupid　son　of　a　bitch；　Edwards　thought。　He　remembered　that　bastardy　carried　no　stigma　on　Iceland。　Since　no　one　had　a　surname　most　of　the　Icelanders　had　given　names　followed　by　patronyrnics…you　couldn't　even　tell　the　difference　between　the　legitimate　and　illegitimate。　Besides　which；　the　Icelanders　didn't　seem　to　give　a　damn　one　way　or　the　other。　Young　unmarried　girls　had　babies；　took　proper　care　of　them；　and　that　was　that。　But　who　would　walk　away　from　this　girl？
〃Well；　speaking　for　myself。　Vigdis；　I've　never　met　a　girl　prettier　than　you。〃
〃Truly？〃
Her　hair　looked　like　hell；　tangled　and　filthy；　Edwards　admitted　to　himself。　Her　face　and　clothing　were　covered　with　dust　and　mud。　A　hot　shower　could　change　that　in　a　few　minutes；　revealing　the　lovely　thing　that　she　was。　But　beauty　es　from　within；　and　he　was　only　beginning　to　appreciate　the　person　inside。　He　ran　his　hand　along　her　cheek。
〃Any　man　who　says　different　is　an　idiot。〃　He　turned　to　see　Sergeant　Smith　ing　over。
〃Time　to　move；　'less　you　want　our　legs　to　stiffen　up；　Lieutenant。〃
〃Okay。　I　want　to　make　another　eight　or　ten　miles。　There's　farms　and　roads　on　the　far　side　of　this　mountain　we're　walking　around。　We'll　want　to　eyeball　that　area　before　we　try　to　cross　it。　I'll　call　in　from　there；　too。〃
〃You　got　it；　skipper。　Rodgers！　Take　the　point　and　bend　it　a　little　west。〃

BODENBURG；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
The　ride　forward　had　not　been　an　easy　one。　Eighth　Guards　Army　moved　its　forward　mand　post　as　close　behind　the　leading　troops　as　possible。　Its　mander；　like　Alekseyev；　believed　in　having　his　eyes　and　ears　as　close　to　the　front　as　possible。　The　trip　took　forty　minutes　in　armored　troop　carriers…it　was　far　too　dangerous　to　use　helicopters…during　which　Alekseyev　had　observed　a　pair　of　savage　air　attacks　on　Russian　columns。
German　and　Belgian　reinforcements　had　joined　the　action；　and　intercepts　of　radio　messages　indicated　that　American　and　British　units　were　also　en　route。　Alekseyev　had　called　up　more　Russian　units　as　well。
What　had　begun　as　a　relatively　simple　push　by　one　mechanized　army　was　now　growing　into　a　major　engagement。　He　took　this　to　be　a　good　sign。　NATO　would　not　be　reinforcing　if　they　did　not　regard　the　situation　as　dangerous。　The　Soviet　task　was　to　achieve　the　desired　result　before　reinforcements　came　into　play。
The　general　manding　20th　Guards　Tank　Division　was　in　the　mand　post。　They'd　set　it　up　in　a　secondary　school。　A　new　building；　it　had　lots　of　space；　and　until　an　underground　bunker　could　be　prepared；　it　would　have　to　do。　The　pace　of　the　advance　had　slowed；　as　much　because　of　traffic　control　difficulties　as　from　the　Germans。
〃Straight　down　this　road　to　Sack；〃　8th　Guards　Army　told　the　tanker。　〃My　motor…rifle　troops　should　have　it　clear　by　the　time　you　get　there。〃
〃Four　more　kilometers　to　Alfeld。　Yes；　just　make　sure　you　can　support　us　when　we　jump　across　the　river。〃　The　General　set　his　helmet　atop　his　head　and　moved　out　the　door。　It　was　going　to　work；　Alekseyev　thought。　This　general　had　done　a　magnificent　job　of　delivering　his　unit　to　the　front　in　nearly　perfect　order。
The　next　thing　he　heard　was　an　explosion。　Windows　shattered；　pieces　of　ceiling　dropped　around　him。　The　Devil's　Cross　had　returned　yet　again。
Alekseyev　raced　outside　to　see　a　dozen　burning　armored　vehicles。　As　he　watched；　the　crew　bailed　out　of　a　brand…new　T…80　tank。　An　instant　later　the　vehicle　brewed　up：　a　fire　swept　through　the　ammunition　racks　inside　and　a　pillar　of　flame　rose　toward　the　sky　as　from　a　small　volcano。
〃The　general　is　dead…the　General　is　dead！〃　a　sergeant　shouted。　He　pointed　to　a　BMD　infantry　carrier　from　which　no　one　had　escaped　alive。
Alekseyev　found　the　mander　of　the　8th　Guards　Army　cursing　beside　him。　〃The　assistant　mander　of　that　tank　division　is　a　new　colonel。〃
Pavel　Leonidovich　reached　a　quick　and　convenient　decision。　〃No；　rade　General。　What　about　me？〃
Startled；　the　mander　stared　at　him；　then　remembered　Alekseyev's　reputation　as　a　tank　mander；　and　his　father's。　He　made　a　quick　decision　of　his　own。　〃Twentieth　Tanks　is　yours。　You　know　the　mission。〃
Another　infantry　assault　carrier　rolled　up。　Alekseyev　and　Sergetov　boarded　it；　and　the　driver　sped　off　toward　the　divisional　mand　post。　It　took　half　an　hour　before　they　stopped。　Alekseyev　saw　rows　of　tanks　parked　inside　the　treeline。　Allied　artillery　was　falling　close　by；　but　he　ignored　it。　His　regimental　manders　were　grouped　together。　The　General　quickly　gave　orders　for　objective　and　timing。　It　spoke　well　of　the　General　not　dead　an　hour　that　everyone　here　knew　his　mission。　The　division　was　finely　organized；　with　every　part　of　the　assault　plan　already　firmed　up。　Alekseyev　saw　at　once　that　he　had　a　good　battle　staff。　He　set　them　to　work　as　his　unit　manders　rejoined　their　regiments。
His　first　battle　headquarters　was　fittingly　in　the　shade　of　a　tall　tree。　His　father　could　have　wished　for　no　better。　Alekseyev　smiled。　He　found　his　divisional　intelligence　officer。　〃What's　the　situation？〃
〃A　battalion　of　German　tanks　is　counterattacking　on　this　road　leading　east　from　Sack。　They　should　be　contained；　and　in　any　case　our　vehicles　are　moving　southwest　behind　them。　The　lead　motor…rifle　troops　are　just　inside　the　town；　and　report　only　minor　resistance。　Our　leading　elements　are　now　moving　and　should　be　there　within　the　hour。〃
〃Air　Defense　Officer？〃
〃SAMs　and　mobile　antiaircraft　guns　are　just　behind　the　leading　echelons。　We　also　have　friendly　air　cover。　Two　regiments　of　MiG…21s　are　on　call　for　air　defense；　but　we　haven't　had　any　ground…attack　fighters　assigned　yet。　They　took　a　beating　this　morning…but　so　did　the　other　side。　We　killed　twelve　NATO　aircraft　before　noon。〃
Alekseyev　nodded；　dividing　that　number　by　three；　as　he　had　learned。
〃Excuse　me；　rade　General。　I　am　Colonel　Popov；　your　divisional　political　officer。〃
〃Fine；　rade　Colonel。　My　Party　dues　are　paid　to　the　end　of　the　year；　and　with　luck　I　will　live　to　pay　them　again。　If　you　have　something　important　to　say；　be　quick！〃　If　there　was　anything　Alekseyev　didn't　need　now；　it　was　a　zampolitl
〃After　we　capture　Alfeld…〃
〃If　we　capture　Alfeld　I　will　let　you　have　the　keys　to　the　city。　For　the　present；　let　me　do　my　job。　Dismissed！〃　Probably　wanted　permission　to　shoot　suspected　fascists。　As　a　four…star　general；　Alekseyev　could　not　ignore　political　officers；　but　at　least　he　could　ignore　those　under　the　rank　of　general。　He　walked