cc.vixen03-第59部分

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his　location　within　seconds。〃
　The　President　sighed。　〃Then　that　about　covers　it　for　the　moment；　gentlemen。〃
　〃One　more　prospect；　Mr。　President；　that　I　left　for　last；〃　said　Higgins。
　〃Shoot。〃
　〃The　Quick　Death　projectiles。　Should　we　capture　them　intact；　I　sug…gest　they　be　analyzed　by　Defense　Department　laboratories〃
　〃They　must　be　destroyed！〃　Jarvis　cut　in。　〃No　weapon　that　ghastly　is　worth　saving。〃
　〃I　fear　a　more　immediate　problem　has　just　cropped　up；〃　said　Timothy　March。
　Every　eye　whipped　back　to　the　viewer　at　the　sound　of　March's　voice。　Kemper　swiftly　snatched　the　phone　and　shouted　into　it。　〃Pull　back　your　lens　to　the　rear　and　above　the　Iowa's　stern！〃
　Unseen　hands　dutifully　did　as　they　were　told　and　the　battleship's　outline　grew　smaller　as　the　camera　increased　the　image　area。　A　set　of　aircraft…navigation　lights　approaching　upriver　immediately　gripped　ev…eryone's　attention。
　〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃　demanded　the　President。
　〃A　helicopter；〃　Higgins　replied　angrily。　〃Some　damned　civilian　must　have　gotten　curious　and　taken　it　into　his　head　to　buzz　the　ship。〃
　The　men　left　their　chairs　and　clustered　around　the　screen；　watching　helplessly　as　the　intruding　craft　beat　its　way　toward　the　grounded　bat…tleship。　The　observers　tensed；　their　eyes　betraying　helpless　frustration。　〃If　Fawkes　panics　and　opens　fire　before　our　forces　are　in　position；〃　said　Kemper　tonelessly；　〃a　lot　of　people　are　going　to　get　hurt。〃
　The　Iowa　lay　dead　in　the　middle　of　the　Potomac；　her　engines　quiet；　the　telegraph　turned　to　〃all　stop。〃　Fawkes　looked　about　him　with　guarded　optimism。　The　crew　was　unlike　any　he'd　ever　manded。　Several　of　its　members　looked　to　be　mere　boys；　and　all　were　dressed　in　the　camouflage　jungle　uniforms　popularized　by　the　AAR。　And；　except　for　the　efficient　manner　in　which　they　carried　out　their　assigned　duties；　there　was　nothing　about　them　that　remotely　suggested　South　African　naval　per…sonnel。
　Charles　Shaba's　job　as　chief　engineer　was　terminated　by　the　idle　engines；　and　according　to　his　orders；　he　now　became　the　gunnery　officer。　When　he　climbed　to　the　bridge；　he　found　Fawkes　leaning　over　a　small　radio　set。　He　threw　a　smart　salute。
　〃Pardon　me；　Cap'n；　but　can　we　talk？〃
　Fawkes　turned　around　and　placed　a　loglike　arm　on　Shaba's　shoulder。　〃What's　on　your　mind？〃　he　said；　smiling。
　Pleased　to　catch　the　captain　in　a　good　mood；　Shaba　stood　at　attention　and　shot　the　question　that　was　burning　in　the　minds　of　the　crew。　〃Sir；　where　in　hell　are　we？〃
　〃The　Aberdeen　proving　grounds。　Are　you　familiar　with　it；　lad？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃It's　a　sprawling　piece　of　land　where　the　Americans　test　their　weapons。〃
　〃I　thought　。　。　。　that　is；　the　men　thought　we　were　going　to　sea。〃
　Fawkes　looked　out　the　window。　〃No；　lad；　the　Yanks　have　kindly　allowed　us　to　hold　gunnery　practice　on　their　target　grounds。〃
　〃But　how　do　we　get　out　of　here？〃　Shaba　asked。　〃The　ship　is　stuck　on　the　bottom。〃
　Fawkes　gave　him　a　fatherly　expression。　〃Don't　fret。　We'll　float　her　off　at　high　tide　as　easy　as　you　please。　You'll　see。〃
　Shaba　looked　noticeably　relieved。　〃The　men　will　be　glad　to　hear　that；　Cap'n。〃
　〃Good；　lad。〃　Fawkes　patted　him　on　the　back。　〃Now　get　back　to　your　station　and　see　to　the　loading　of　the　guns。〃
　Shaba　saluted　and　left。　Fawkes　watched　the　young　black　man　fade　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　passageway；　and　for　the　first　time　he　felt　a　great　wave　of　sorrow　for　what　he　was　about　to　do。
　His　reverie　was　diverted　by　the　sound　of　an　aircraft。　He　looked　into　the　brightening　sky　and　saw　the　blinking　multicolored　lights　of　a　helicop…ter　flying　upriver　from　the　east。　He　grabbed　a　pair　of　night　glasses　and　aimed　them　at　the　craft　as　it　passed　overhead。　The　letters　numa　were　vaguely　distinguishable　through　the　lenses。
　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency；　Fawkes　translated　silently。　No　danger　there。　Probably　returning　to　the　Capital　from　some　oceano…graphic　expedition。　He　nodded　at　his　reflection　in　the　glass；　a　feeling　of　security　growing　within　him。
　He　replaced　the　binoculars　on　the　bridge　counter　and　turned　his　attention　once　again　to　the　radio。　He　held　the　headset　to　one　ear　and　pressed　the　microphone　button。
　〃Black　Angus　One　calling　Black　Angus　Two。　Over。〃
　A　slurred；　unmistakably　Southern　drawl　answered　almost　im…mediately。　〃Hey　man；　we　don't　need　all　that　coded　jive。　You're　in'　in　cool　as　a　White　Christmas。〃
　〃I'd　appreciate　economy　of　speech；〃　snapped　Fawkes。
　〃As　long　as　the　bread　I　signed　for　is　good；　you're　the　boss；　boss。〃
　〃Ready；target　range？〃
　〃Yeah；　movin'　into　position　now。〃
　I　　　　　〃Good。〃　Fawkes　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃Five　minutes　and　ten　seconds　I　till　Hogmanay。〃
　〃Hog　。　。　。　what？〃
　〃Scots　for　a　smashing　New　Year's　Eve。〃
　Fawkes　clicked　off　the　mike　and　noted　thankfully　that　the　NUMA　helicopter　had　continued　on　its　leisurely　course　toward　Washington　and　disappeared　beyond　the　bluffs　upriver。
　At　almost　the　same　instant；　Steiger　altered　the　controls　and　banked　the　Minerva　M…88　helicopter　in　a　wide；　sweeping　turn　over　the　Maryland　countryside。　He　kept　low；　shaving　the　tops　of　the　leafless　trees；　dodging　an　occasional　water　tower；　grimacing　at　the　words　that　came　over　his　earphones。
　〃They're　beginning　to　get　nasty；〃　he　said　casually。　〃General　Somebody…or…other　claims　he's　going　to　shoot　us　down　if　we　don't　get　the　hell　out　of　the　area。〃
　〃Acknowledge；〃　said　Pitt。　〃And　tell　him　you're　plying。〃
　〃Who　should　I　say　we　are？〃
　Pitt　thought　a　moment。　〃Tell　him　the　truth。　We're　a　NUMA　copter　on　special　assignment。〃
　Steiger　shrugged　and　began　talking　into　his　microphone。
　〃Old　General　Whosit　bought　it；〃　said　Steiger。　He　angled　his　head　toward　Pitt。　〃You'd　better　get　ready。　I　judge　it　about　eight　minutes　to　the　drop。〃
　Pitt　unclasped　his　seat　belt　and　waited　until　Sandecker　did　the　same；　then　moved　into　the　helicopter's　small　cargo　partment。　〃Do　it　right　the　first　time；〃　Pitt　said　into　Steiger's　ear；　〃or　you'll　make　an　ugly　red　mess　on　the　side　of　the　Iowa。〃
　〃You're　looking　at　a　neatness　nut；〃　Steiger　said　with　a　diluted　smile。　〃All　you　have　to　do　is　hang　tight　and　leave　the　driving　to　old　Abe。　If　you　have　to　drop　early；　I'll　make　damn　sure　you've　got　a　nice　cushion　of　deep　water　under　your　ass。〃
　〃I'm　counting　on　it。〃
　〃We'll　e　around　and　swing　in　from　the　west　to　cloak　our　outline　against　whatever　darkness　is　left。〃　Steiger's　eyes　never　strayed　from　the　windshield。　〃I'm　flicking　off　the　navigation　lights　now。　Good　luck！〃
　Pitt　squeezed　Steiger's　arm；　stepped　into　the　cargo　section　of　the　Minerva；　and　closed　the　cockpit　door。　The　partment　was　ice　cold。　The　loading　hatch　was　open　and　the　wintry　morning　air　whistled　into　what　seemed　a　vibratinaluminum　tomb。　Sandecker　held　the　harness　out　to　him　and　he　strapped　it　on。
　The　admiral　started　to　say　something　and　then　hesitated。　At　last；　his　cast…iron　features　taut　with　suppressed　emotion；　he　said；　〃I'll　expect　you　for　breakfast。〃
　〃Make　my　eggs　scrambled；〃　Pitt　said。
　Then　he　stepped　into　the　frigid　dawn。
　Lieutenant　Alan　Fergus；　leader　of　the　SEAL　bat　units；　zipped　up　his　wet　suit　and　cursed　the　vagaries　of　the　high　mand。　Not　more　than　an　hour　ago　he'd　been　rudely　awakened　from　a　dead　sleep　and　hurriedly　briefed　on　what　he　regarded　as　the　dumbest　exercise　ever　to　e　his　way　during　seven　years　in　the　Navy。　He　pulled　on　his　rubber　hood　and　tucked　his　ears　under　the　lining。　Then　he　approached　a　tall；　burly　man　who　sat　slouched　in　a　nonregulation　director's　chair。　His　feet　were　propped　on　the　bridge　railing　and　he　peered　intently　down　the　Potomac。
　〃What's　it　all　about？〃　asked　Fergus。
　Lieutenant　mander　Oscar　Kiebel；　the　dour　skipper　of　the　Coast　Guard　patrol　boat　that　was　ferrying　Fergus　and　his　men；　twisted　the　corners　of　his　mouth　in　an　expression　of　distaste　and　shrugged。　〃I'm　as　confused　as　you。〃
　〃Do　you　believe　that　bullshit　about　a　battleship？〃
　〃No；〃　Kiebel　said　in　a　rumbling　voice。　〃I've　seen　four…thousand…ton　destroyers　cruise　upriver　to　the　Washington　Navy　Yard；　but　a　fifty…thousand…ton　battleship？　No　way。〃
　〃Board　and　secure　the　stern　for　Marine　helicopter…assault　teams；〃　Fergus　said　irritably。　〃Those　orders　are　sheer　crap；　if　you　want　my　opinion。〃
　〃I'm　not　any　happier　about　this　outing　than　you；〃　said　Kiebel。