tc.redstormrising-第97章

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Toland　looked　up　at　the　map。　〃The　timing　is　still　tricky；　but　not　very　different　from　that　attack　we　made　on　the　tankers。　I　like　it；　sir。　Sure　would　solve　a　few　problems。　What's　the　convoy　situation？〃
〃There　are　eighty　ships　assembled　in　New　York　harbor。　They　sail　in　twenty…four　hours。　Heavy　escort；　carriers　in　support；　even　a　new　Aegis　cruiser　with　the　merchants。　And　the　next　step　after　that；　of　course…〃　Beattie　went　on。
〃Yes；　sir。　And　Doolittle　is　the　key。〃
〃Exactly。　I　want　you　back　at　Stornoway。　I'll　also　be　sending　one　of　my　air　operations　types　to　work　with　your　chaps。　We'll　keep　you　informed　of　all　developments。　Remember　that　distribution　for　this　is　to　be　strictly　limited　to　the　personnel　involved。〃
〃Understood；　sir。〃
〃Off　with　you；　then。〃

34　…　Feelers

USS　REUBEN　JAMES
0700　hours　came　rather　early　for　Jerry　O'Malley。　He　had　the　lower　bunk　in　a　two…man　stateroom…his　copilot　had　the　upper…and　his　first　considered　move　was　to　take　three　aspirins　and　sit　back　down。　It　was　almost　funny；　he　thought。　〃The　Hammer。〃　He　felt　it　inside　his　head。　No；　he　corrected　himself；　he　had　his　dipping　sonar　in　there；　on　automatic　ping。　Still　and　all；　he　had　performed　something　remembered　from　his　youth　as　a　corporal　work　of　mercy；　and　that　helped　give　purpose　to　his　suffering。　He　gave　the　aspirins　ten　minutes　to　get　into　his　bloodstream；　then　went　forward　to　the　shower。　First　cold；　then　hot　water　cleared　his　head。
The　wardroom　was　full　but　quiet；　the　officers　assembled　according　to　age　into　little　knots　of　whispered　conversation。　These　young　officers　hadn't　faced　bat　before；　and　the　bravado　they　might　have　felt　on　leaving　San　Diego　some　weeks　before　had　been　replaced　with　the　sober　reality　of　the　task　at　hand。　Ships　had　been　sunk。　Men　they　knew　were　dead。　For　these　kids；　fear　was　a　more　terrible　unknown　than　the　technical　aspects　of　bat　for　which　they　had　been　trained。　He　could　see　the　question　in　their　faces；　only　time　would　answer　it。　They　would　learn　to　endure　it；　or　they　would　not。　bat　held　no　mysteries　for　O'Malley。　He　knew　that　he　would　be　afraid；　and　that　he　would　put　the　fear　aside　as　best　he　could。　There　was　no　sense　dwelling　on　it。　It　would　e　soon　enough。
〃Good　morning；　XO！〃
〃Morning；　Jerry。　I　was　just　going　to　call　the　skipper。〃
〃He　needs　his　sleep；　Frank。〃　The　pilot　had　disconnected　Morris's　alarm　clock　before　leaving　the　stateroom。　Ernst　read　O'Malley's　face。
〃Well；　nothing　we　really　need　him　for　till　eleven。〃
〃I　knew　you　were　a　good　XO；　Frank。〃　O'Malley　debated　between　bug　juice　and　coffee。　The　fruit　drink　this　morning　was　the　orange　kind…the　flavors　didn't　relate　to　any　particular　fruit。　O'Malley　liked　the　red　kind；　but　not　the　orange。　He　poured　some　coffee。
〃I　supervised　the　torpedo　loading　last　night。　We　cut　a　minute　off　our　best　time…in　the　dark。〃
〃Sounds　good　to　me。　When's　the　pre…sail　brief？〃
〃Fourteen　hundred；　in　a　theater　two　blocks　from　here。　COs；　XOs；　and　selected　others。　I　expect　you'll　want　to　e；　too？〃
〃Yeah。〃
Ernst's　voice　dropped。　〃You　sure　the　skipper's　all　right？〃　There　are　no　secrets　aboard　a　ship。
〃He's　been　on　straight　bat　ops　since　Day　One　of　this　fracas。　He　needed　to　get　a　little　unwrapped；　an　ancient　and　honored　naval　tradition〃…he　raised　his　voice…〃damned　shame　that　all　these　little　boys　are　too　young　to　partake　in　it！　Didn't　anybody　think　to　get　a　newspaper？　NFL　summer　camps　are　opened　all　over　the　country；　and　there　ain't　no　paper！　What　the　hell　kind　of　wardroom　is　this！〃
〃I've　never　met　a　dinosaur　before；〃　a　junior　engineering　officer　observed　sotto　voce。
〃You　get　used　to　him；〃　Ensign　Ralston　explained。

ICELAND
Two　days'　rest　was　just　what　the　doctor　ordered　for　everyone。　Sergeant　Nichols　could　almost　walk　normally　on　his　ankle；　and　the　Americans；　who　were　beginning　to　regard　fish　with　distinct　distaste　filled　up　on　the　extra　rations　the　Royal　Marines　had　packed　in。
Edwards's　eyes　traced　around　the　horizon　again。　The　human　eye　automatically　locks　onto　movement；　and　she　was　moving。　It　was　hard　not　to　look。　It　was　almost　impossible。　In　fact；　Edwards　told　himself；　it　was　impossible　to　stand　guard　and　not　look　around。　The　hell　of　it　was；　she　thought　it　was　funny。　Their　rescuers…Edwards　knew　better；　but　why　upset　her？…had　also　brought　soap。　A　tiny　lake　half　a　mile　from　their　hilltop　perch　was　the　designated　bathing　area。　In　hostile　country　no　one　went　that　far　alone；　and　the　lieutenant　had　naturally　been　detailed　to　look　after　her…and　she　after　him。　Guarding　her　as　she　bathed　with　a　loaded　rifle　seemed　absurd；　even　with　Russians　around。　Her　bruises　were　nearly　healed；　he　noted　as　she　dressed。
〃Finished；　Michael。〃　They　didn't　have　towels；　but　that　was　a　small　price　to　pay　for　smelling　human。　She　came　up　to　him　with　her　hair　still　wet　and　an　impish　expression　on　her　face。　〃I　embarrass　you。　Sorry。〃
〃It's　not　your　fault。〃　It　was　also　impossible　to　be　angry　with　her。
〃The　baby　makes　me　fat；〃　she　said。　Mike　could　scarcely　tell；　but　then　it　wasn't　his　figure　being　changed。
〃You　look　fine。　I'm　sorry　if　I　looked　when　I　shouldn't　have。〃
'What　is　wrong？〃
Edwards　found　himself　struggling　with　his　words　again。　〃Well；　after…after　what　happened　to　you；　I　mean；　you　probably　don't　need　a　bunch　of　strange　men　standing　around　looking　at　you　when　you're；　well；　naked。〃
〃Michael；　you　are　not　like　that　one。　I　know　you　would　never　hurt　me。　Even　after　what　he　do　to　me；　you　say　I　am　pretty…when　I　grow　fat。〃
〃Vigdis；　baby　or　no　baby；　you　are　the　prettiest　girl　I　have　ever　known。　You're　strong；　and　you're　brave。〃　And　I　think　I　love　you；　but　I'm　afraid　to　say　so。　〃We　just　picked　a　bad　time　to　meet；　that's　all。〃
〃For　me　was　a　very　good　time；　Michael。〃　She　took　his　hand。　She　smiled　a　lot　now。　She　had　a　gentle；　friendly　smile。
〃As　long　as　you　know　me；　every　time　you　think　about　me；　you'll　remember　that　Russian。〃
〃Yes；　Michael；　I　will　remember　that。　I　remember　that　you　save　my　life。　I　ask　Sergeant　Smith。　He　say　you　have　orders　not　to　e　near　Russians　because　it　so　dangerous　for　you。　He　say　you　e　because　of　me。　You　do　not　even　know　me　then；　but　you　e。〃
〃I　did　the　right　thing。〃　He　held　both　of　her　hands　now。　What　do　I　say　now？　Darling；　if　we　ever　get　out　of　this　alive　。　。　。　that　sounds　like　a　bad　movie。　Edwards　hadn't　been　sixteen　in　a　long　time；　but　now　all　the　awkwardness　that　had　poisoned　his　adolescence　came　back　to　him。　Mike　hadn't　exactly　been　the　makeout　king　of　Eastpoint　High　School。　〃Vigdis；　I'm　not　any　good　at　this。　It　was　different　with　Sandy。　She　understood　me。　I　don't　know　how　to　talk　to　girls；　hell；　I'm　not　that　good　talking　to　people。　I　do　weather　maps；　and　play　with　puters；　but　I　usually　have　to　have　a　few　beers　in　me　before　I　get　the　nerve　to　say…〃
〃I　know　you　love　me；　Michael。〃　Her　eyes　sparkled　when　she　revealed　the　secret。
〃Well；　yes。〃
She　handed　him　the　soap。　〃Your　time　to　wash。　I　will　not　look　too　much。〃

F（tm）LZIEHAUSEN；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
Major　Sergetov　handed　over　his　notes。　The　Leine　had　been　forced　at　a　second　place…Gronau；　fifteen　kilometers　north　of　Alfeld…and　now　six　divisions　were　involved　in　the　drive　on　Hameln　and　others　were　attempting　to　widen　the　breach。　Still　they　were　handicapped。　There　were　relatively　few　roads　in　this　part　of　Germany；　and　those　routes　they　controlled　were　still　suffering　from　air　and　artillery　attacks　that　bled　reinforcement　columns　long　before　they　could　be　mitted　to　battle。
What　had　begun　with　three　motor…rifle　divisions　attempting　to　forge　an　opening　for　one　tank　division　had　now　bee　the　focus　of　two　plete　Soviet　armies。　Where　they　had　attacked　into　a　pair　of　depleted　German　brigades；　now　they　faced　a　hodgepodge　of　units　from　nearly　all　NATO　members。　Alekseyev　anguished　over　lost　chances。　What　if　divisional　artillery　hadn't　dropped　multiple　rocket　fire　on　the　bridges？　Could　he　have　reached　the　Weser　in　a　day　as　he　had　thought？　That　is　in　the　past；　Pasha　told　himself。　He　looked　over　the　information　on　fuel　availability。
〃One　month？〃
〃At　current　operational　tempos；　yes；〃　Sergetov　said　grimly。　〃And　to　do　this　we　have　crippled　the　whole　national　economy。　My　father　asks　if　we　can　reduce　expenditures　at　the　front…〃
〃Certainly；〃　the　General　exploded。　〃We　can　lose　the　war！　That　ought　to　save　his　precious　fuel！''
〃rade　General；　you　requested　that　I　provide　you　with　accurate　information。　I　have　done　this。　My　father　was　also　able　to　give　me　this。〃　The　younger　man　took　a　document　from　his　coat　pocket。　Ten　pages　thick；　it　was　a　KGB　intelligence　assessment　marked　POLITBURO　EYES　ONLY。　〃It　makes　very　interesting　reading。　My　father　asks　me　to　point　out　the　risk　he　has　taken　in　giving　you　this　document。〃
The　General　was　a　fast　reader　and　ordinarily　not　a　man　given　to　displays　of　emotion。　The　West　German　government　had　established　direct　contact　with　the　Soviets　through　the　embassies　both　maintained　in　India。　The　preliminary　discussion　had　been　an　inquiry　into　the　possibility　of　a　negotiated　settlement。　The　KGB's　assessment　was　that　the　inquiry　reflected　the　fragmentation　of　NATO　politically；　and　possibly　a　grave　supply　situation　on　the　other　side　of　the　battle　line。　There　followed　two　pages　of　graphs　and　claims　of　damage　to　NATO　shipping；　plus　analysis　of　NATO's　munitions　expenditures　to　date。　The　KGB　calculated　that　NATO　supplies　were　down　to　the　two…week　mark　now；　despite　all　the　shipping　that　had　arrived　to　date。　Neither　side　had　produced　enough　consumable　ordnance　and　fuel　to　sustain　its　forces。
〃My　father　feels　that　this　data　on　the　Germans　is　particularly　significant。〃
〃Potentially　so；〃　Alekseyev　said　cautiously。　〃They　will　not　slacken　their　fighting　while　their　political　leadership　works　to　achieve　an　acceptable　settlement；　but　if　we　can　make　them　an　acceptable　offer　and　remove　the　Germans　from　NATO；　then　our　objective　is　achieved；　and　we　can　seize　the　Persian　Gulf　at　leisure。　What　offer　are　we　making　to　the　Germans？〃
〃That　has　not　yet　been　decided。　They　have　asked　for　our　withdrawal　to　prewar　lines；　with　final　terms　to　be　negotiated　on　a　more　formal　basis　under　international　supervision。　Their　withdrawal　from　NATO　is　to　be　contingent　upon　the　terms　of　the　final　treaty。〃
〃Not　acceptable。　It　gives　us　nothing。　Why　are　they　negotiating　at　all；　I　wonder？〃
〃Evidently　there　has　been　considerable　turmoil　in　their　government　over　the　dislocation　of　civilians；　and　destruction　of　economic　assets。〃
〃Ah。〃　The　economic　damage　to　Germany　was　not　something　in　which　Alekseyev　had　the　slightest　interest；　but　the　German　government　was　watching　the　work　of　two　generations　being　dismantled　by　Soviet　explosives。　〃But　why　hadn't　they　told　us　this？〃
〃The　Politburo　feels　that　news　of　a　possible　negotiated　settlement　would　discourage　further　pressure　on　the　Germans。〃
〃Idiots。　This　sort　of　thing　tells　us　what　to　attack！〃
〃That　is　what　my　father　said。　He　wants　your　opinion　on　all　this。〃
〃Tell　the　Minister　that　I　see　no　indication　at　all　of　weakening　NATO　resolve　on　the　battle　line。　German　morale　in　particular　is　still　high。　They　resist　everywhere。〃
〃Their　government　could　be　doing　this　without　the　knowledge　of　their　own　army。　If　they　are　deceiving　their　NATO　allies；　why　not　their　high　mand　also？〃　Sergetov　suggested。　After　all；　it　worked　that　way　in　his　country　。　。　。
〃A　possibility；　Ivan　Mikhailovich。　There　is　another　one；　as　well。〃　Alekseyev　turned　back　to　the　papers