tc.redstormrising-第89章

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our　with　the　'phibs　from　PACFLT。　I'm　assigning　her　to　convoy　duty。　We　have　a　big　one　assembling　in　New　York　harbor。　Eighty　ships；　all　big；　all　fast；　loaded　with　heavy　equipment　for　Germany。　It　sails　in　four　days　with　a　heavy　U。S。/　U。K。　escort；　plus　carrier　support。　Reuben　James　will　be　in　port　long　enough　to　refuel　and　reprovision。　She　sails　for　New　York　this　evening　in　pany　with　HMS　Battleaxe。　If　you're　up　to　it；　I　want　you　to　take　her。〃
The　Vice　Admiral　eyed　Morris　closely。　〃She's　yours　if　you　want　her。　You　up　to　it？〃
〃My　personal　gear's　still　aboard　Pharris。〃　Morris　temporized。　Did　he　really　want　to　go　back　out？
〃Packed　up　and　on　the　way　down；　Ed。〃
There　were　plenty　of　men　who　could　do　it；　Morris　thought。　The　operations　staff　he'd　been　working　with　since　he　arrived　in　Norfolk　was　full　of　people　who'd　leap　at　this。　Go　back　to　sea　and　put　it　on　the　line　again…or　drive　back　every　night　to　an　empty　home　and　nightmares？
〃If　you　want　me；　I'll　take　her。〃

FOLZIEHAUSEN；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
The　northern　horizon　flashed　with　artillery　fire　that　backlit　the　trees。　The　sky　was　never　free　of　the　thunder。　The　drive　to　the　divisional　mand　post　was　a　mere　fifteen　kilometers　from　Alfeld。　Three　vicious　air　attacks　and　twenty　separate　artillery　barrages　had　converted　the　morning　drive　into　a　nightmare　lasting　into　dusk　and　beyond。
The　forward　headquarters　of　20th　Tanks　was　now　the　mand　post　for　the　entire　drive　toward　Hameln。　Lieutenant　General　Beregovoy；　who　had　relieved　Alekseyev；　now　wore　the　hats　of　mander　20th　Tanks　and　operational　maneuver　group　mander　The　OMG　concept　had　been　one　of　the　most　precious　Soviet　pre…war　ideas。　The　〃daring　thrust〃　would　open　a　corridor　into　the　enemy's　rear；　and　the　operational…maneuver　group　would　exploit　it；　racing　into　the　corridor　to　seize　important　economic　or　political　targets。　Alekseyev　stood　with　his　back　against　an　armored　vehicle；　looking　north　at　the　flashing　outline　of　a　forest。　Another　thing　that　hasn't　gone　according　to　plan；　he　thought。　As　if　we　expected　NATO　to　cooperate　with　our　plans！
There　was　a　yellow　flash　overhead。　Alekseyev　blinked　his　eyes　clear　and　watched　the　fireball　turn　to　a　et　that　fell　to　the　earth；　landing　several　kilometers　away。　Ours　or　theirs？　he　wondered。　Another　promising　young　life　snuffed　out　by　a　missile。　Now　we　kill　our　young　men　with　robots。　Who　said　mankind　was　not　using　his　technology　to　worthwhile　ends？
He　had　prepared　his　whole　life　for　this。　Four　years　in　officer　school。　The　difficult　initiation　as　a　junior　officer；　promotion　to　mand　a　pany。　Three　more　years　at　Frunze　Military　Academy　in　Moscow　after　he'd　been　recognized　as　a　rising　star。　Then　mand　of　a　battalion。　Back　to　Moscow　to　the　Voroshilov　Academy　of　the　General　Staff。　Top　man　in　his　class。　mand　of　a　regiment；　then　a　division。　All　for　this？
A　field　hospital　was　in　the　trees　five　hundred　meters　away；　and　the　wind　carried　the　shrieks　of　the　wounded　to　the　mand　post。　Not　like　that　in　the　movies　he'd　watched　as　a　child…and　still　watched。　The　wounded　were　supposed　to　suffer　in　quiet；　determined　dignity；　puffing　on　cigarettes　proffered　by　the　kindly；　hardworking　medics；　waiting　their　turn　for　the　courageous；　hardworking　surgeons　and　the　pretty；　dedicated　nurses。　A　fucking　lie；　all　of　it　a　monstrous　fucking　lie；　he　told　himself　The　profession　for　which　he　had　prepared　his　life　was　organized　murder。　He　sent　boys　with　pimples　on　their　faces　into　a　landscape　rained　on　with　steel　and　watered　with　blood。　The　burns　were　the　worst。　The　tank　crews　who　escaped　from　their　brewed…up　vehicles　with　their　clothes　alight…they　never　stopped　screaming。　Those　killed　by　shock　or　the　pistol　of　a　merciful　officer　were　only　replaced　by　more。　The　lucky　ones　who　reached　the　casualty…clearing　stations　found　medics　too　busy　to　offer　cigarettes；　and　doctors　who　were　dropping　from　fatigue。
His　brilliant　tactical　success　at　Alfeld　had　led　nowhere　yet；　and　he　wondered　in　his　soul　if　it　ever　would；　if　he　had　cast　young　lives　away　for　nothing　more　than　words　in　books　written　by　men　who　did　their　best　to　forget　the　horrors　they　had　inflicted　and　endured。
Second　thoughts　now；　Pasha？　he　asked　himself。　And　what　of　those　four　colonels　you　had　shot？　Rather　late　to　discover　a　conscience；　isn't　it？　But　now　it　wasn't　a　map…table　game　or　an　exercise　at　Shpola；　nor　a　handful　of　routine　training　accidents。　It　was　one　thing　for　a　pany　mander　to　see　all　this　after　following　orders　from　above。　It　was　another　for　the　man　who　gave　the　orders　to　view　his　handiwork。
〃There　is　nothing　so　terrible　as　a　battle　won…except　a　battle　lost。〃　Alekseyev　remembered　the　quote　from　Wellington's　mentary　on　Waterloo；　one　of　the　two　million　books　in　the　Frunze　library。　Certainly　not　something　written　by　a　Russian　general。　Why　had　he　ever　been　allowed　to　read　that？　If　soldiers　read　more　of　those　remarks　and　less　of　glory；　then　what　would　they　do　when　their　political　masters　ordered　them　to　march？　Now　there；　the　General　told　himself；　there　is　a　radical　idea　。　。　。　He　urinated　against　a　tree　and　walked　back　towards　the　mand　post。
He　found　Beregovoy　leaning　over　the　map。　A　good　man；　and　an　effective　soldier；　Alekseyev　knew；　what　did　he　think　of　all　this？
〃rade；　that　Belgian　brigade　just　reappeared。　It's　attacking　our　left　flank。　They　caught　two　regiments　moving　into　new　positions。　We　have　a　problem　here。〃
Alekseyev　strode　to　Beregovoy's　side　and　surveyed　the　available　units。　NATO　still　was　not　cooperating。　The　attack　had　e　at　the　junction　of　two　divisions；　one　worn　out；　the　other　fresh　but　unblooded。　A　lieutenant　moved　some　counters。　The　Soviet　regiments　were　pulling　back。
〃Keep　the　reserve　regiment　in　place；〃　Alekseyev　ordered。　〃Have　this　one　move　northwest。　We'll　try　to　catch　the　Belgians'　flank　as　they　approach　this　road　junction。〃　Professionalism　dies　hard　in　the　soldier。

ICELAND
〃Well；　there　it　is。〃　Edwards　handed　his　binoculars　to　Sergeant　Smith。　Hvammsfjordur　was　still　miles　away。　Their　first　sight　of　it　came　from　the　top　of　a　two…thousand…foot　hill。　A　sparkling　river　below　them　fed　into　the　fjord；　more　than　ten　miles　away。　Everyone　kept　low；　afraid　to　be　skylined　with　the　low　sun　behind　them。　Edwards　broke　out　his　radio。
〃Doghouse；　this　is　Beagle。　The　objective　is　in　sight。〃　This　was　a　particularly　dumb　thing　to　say；　Edwards　knew。　Hvammsfjordur　was　almost　thirty　miles　long；　about　ten　miles　across　at　its　widest　point。
The　man　in　Scotland　was　impressed。　Edwards's　party　had　covered　fifteen　kilometers　in　the　past　ten　hours。
〃What　kind　of　shape　are　you　in？〃
〃If　you　want　us　to　go　any　farther；　fella；　this　radio　might　malfunction。〃
〃Roger；　copy　that。〃　The　major　tried　not　to　laugh。　〃Where　exactly　are　you？〃
〃About　five　miles　east　of　Hill　578。　Now　that　we're　here；　maybe　you　might　tell　us　why；〃　Edwards　suggested。
〃If　you　see　any；　repeat　any　Russian　activity；　we　want　to　know　about　it　immediately。　One　guy　taking　a　leak　against　a　rock；　we　want　to　know　about　it。　Do　you　copy　that？〃
〃Roger。　You　want　the　size　in　inches。　No　Russkies　in　view　yet。　Some　ruins　to　our　left；　and　a　farm　a　ways　downriver　from　us。　Nothing　moving　at　either　place。　Any　particular　location　you　want　us？〃
〃We're　working　on　that。　Sit　tight　for　the　moment。　Find　a　nice　place　to　hide　and　stay　put。　What's　your　food　situation？〃
〃We　have　enough　fish　to　last　out　the　day；　and　I　can　see　a　lake　where　we　might　get　some　more。　Remember　when　you　said　you'd　have　some　pizzas　sent　out；　Doghouse？　Right　now　I'd　kill　for　one。　Pepperoni　and　onions。〃
〃Fish　is　good　for　you。　Beagle；　your　signal　strength　is　down。　You　want　to　start　thinking　about　conserving　your　batteries。　Anything　else　to　report？〃
〃Negative。　We'll　be　back　if　we　see　anything。　Out。〃　Edwards　slapped　his　hand　down　on　the　power　switch。　〃People；　we　are　home！〃
〃That's　nice；　skipper。〃　Smith　laughed。　〃Where's　home？〃
〃Budhardalur　is　other　side　that　mountain；〃　Vigdis　offered。　〃My　Uncle　Helgi　live　there。〃
We　could　probably　get　a　decent　meal　there；　Edwards　told　himself。　Maybe　some　lamb；　a　few　beers　or　something　stronger；　and　a　bed　。　。　。　a　real；　soft　bed　with　sheets　and　the　down　quilts　they　use　here。　A　bath；　hot　water　to　shave。　Toothpaste。　Edwards　could　smell　every　part　of　himself　They　tried　to　wash　in　the　streams　when　they　could；　but　mostly　they　couldn't。　I　smell　like　a　goat；　Edwards　thought。　Whatever　a　goat　smells　like。　But　we　didn't　walk　this　far　to　do　something　as　stupid　as　that。
〃Sarge；　let's　secure　this　place。〃
〃You　got　it；　skipper。　Rodgers；　sack　out。　Garcia；　you　and　me　have　the　first　watch。　Four　hours。　You　take　that　little　knoll　over　there。　I'll　head　over　to　the　right。〃　Smith　stood　and　looked　down　at　Edwards。　〃Good　idea　that　we　all　get　some　rest　while　we　can；　skipper。〃
〃Sounds　great　to　me。　You　see　anything　important；　give　me　a　kick。〃　Smith　nodded　and　moved　about　a　hundred　yards。
Rodgers　was　already　half　asleep；　his　head　resting　on　his　folded　jacket。　The　private's　rifle　was　cradled　on　his　chest。
〃We　stay　here？〃　Vigdis　asked。
〃I'd　sure　like　to　go　see　your　uncle；　but　there　might　be　Russians　in　that　town。　How　do　you　feel？〃
〃Tired。〃
〃Tired　as　us？〃　he　asked　with　a　grin。
〃Yes；　tired　as　you；〃　she　admitted。　Vigdis　lay　back　next　to　Edwards。　She　was　filthy。　Her　woolen　sweater　was　torn　in　several　places；　and　her　boots　scuffed　beyond　repair。　〃What　will　happen　to　us　now？〃
〃I　don't　know。　They　wanted　us　here　for　a　reason；　though。〃
〃But　they　don't　tell　you　reason！〃　she　objected。
Now　there's　an　intelligent　observation；　Edwards　thought。
〃They　tell　you　and　you　not　tell　us？〃　Vigdis　asked。
〃No；　you　know　as　much　as　I　do。〃
〃Michael；　why　all　this　happen？　Why　do　the　Russians　e　here？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃But　you　are　officer。　You　must　know。〃　Vigdis　propped　herself　up　on　her　elbows。　She　seemed　genuinely　astonished。　Edwards　smiled。　He　couldn't　blame　her　for　being　confused。　Iceland's　only　armed　force　was　its　police。　A　real…to…life　Peaceable　Kingdom；　the　country　had　no　military　to　speak　of　A　few　small　armed　ships　for　fishery　protection　and　the　police　were　all　the　country　had　ever　needed　to　maintain　security。　This　war　had　ruined　their　perfect　record。　For　a　thousand　years；　without　an　army　or　a　navy；　Iceland　had　never　been　attacked。　It　had　only　happened　now　because　they　were　in　the　way。　He　wondered　if　that　would　have　happened　if　NATO　hadn't　built　its　base　at　Keflavik。　Of　course　not！　You　idiot；　you've　seen　what　wonderful　folks　the　Russians　are！　NATO　base　or　not；　Iceland　was　in　their　way。　But　why　the　hell　had　all　this　happened？
〃Vigdis；　I'm　a　meteorologist…a　weatherman；　I　predict　the　weather　for　the　Air　Force。〃　That　only　made　her　more　confused。
〃Not　soldier？　Not；　ah；　Marine　soldier？〃
Mike　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　an　officer　in　the　U。S。　Air　Force；　yes；　but　I　am　not　really　a　soldier　like　the　sergeant。　I　have　a　different　job。〃
〃But　you　save　my　life。　You　are　soldier。〃
〃Yeah；　I　suppose　I　am…by　accident。〃
〃When　this　all　over；　what　will　you　do？〃　Her　eyes　held　a　great　deal　of　interest　now。
〃One　thing　at　a　time。〃　He　was　thinking　in　terms　of　hours；　not　days　or　weeks。　If　we　do　survive；　then　what？　Put　that　one　aside。　First　es　survival　You　think　about　〃after　the　war；〃　and　there　won't　be　any。　〃I'm　too　tired　to　think　about　that。　Let's　get　some　sleep。〃
She　fought　it。　He　knew　that　she　wanted　to　know　things　he　hadn't　consciously　considered；　but　she　was　more　fatigued　than　she'd　admitted；　and　ten　minutes