scoonts.theminotaur-第25节

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　When　the　release　came　she　eased　back　on　the　stick　and　Toad　felt　the　G　press　him　down　even　as　he　watched　the　tower　on　the　IR　scope…now　going　inverted…for　the　hit。　Pop。　There　it　was。　Almost　dead…on。
　That　was　the　last　bomb。　He　glanced　at　the　panel　in　front　of　her。　They　were　climbing　and　heading　north　for　Yakima。　He　flipped　the　radar　to　transmit　and　began　to　adjust　the　picture。
　〃Your　hit　forty　feet　at　seven…thirty。〃
　〃Boardman；　thanks　a　lot。　We're　switching　to　Center。〃
　〃Have　a　safe　flight。〃
　〃Yo。〃　Toad　dialed　in　the　Seattle　Center　frequency。
　〃Pretty　good　bombing　for　a　fighter　puke；〃　Moravia　said。
　〃Yep。　It　was　that；〃　he　agreed　smugly；　relishing　the　role　and　willing　today　to　play　it　to　the　hut。　Moravia　had　had　her　fun　last　night。　His　head　was　still　thumping　like　a　toothache。　〃Ain't　anybody　better　than　the　ol'　Horny　Toad。〃
　〃Or　anyone　more　humble。〃
　〃Humble　is　for　folks　that　can't；〃　he　shot　back。　〃I　can。〃
　Rita　called　Center　and　asked　for　a　clearance　to　the　military　operating　area　over　Okanogan。　She　leveled　the　plane　at　Flight　Level　220。　Toad　played　with　the　scope。
　Entering　the　area；　Rita　disengaged　the　autopilot　and　looked　about　expectantly。　She　and　her　pilot　instructor　of　the　previous　week；　Lieutenant　Clyde　〃Duke〃　Degan；　had　agreed　to　and　briefed　an　ACM　engagement。　She　was　right　on　time。　Now　if　she　could　just　find　him　first。　She　dialed　in　the　squadron　tactical　frequency　and　gave　him　a　call。
　〃I'm　here；〃　Degan　replied。
　Toad　caught　the　first　glimpse　of　the　other　A…6。　It　was　high；　near　the　sun。　Duke　didn't　intend　to　give　Moravia　any　break　at　all。　〃All　right；〃　Toad　enthused。　〃Now；　by　God；　we're　playing　my　game！〃　Toad　pointed　over　her　left　shoulder。　〃Up　there。　Better　turn　under　him　and　get　the　nose　down　for　some　airspeed。〃
　Rita　knew　Toad　had　just　recently　finished　a　three…year　tour　in　the　backseat　of　F…14　Tomcats。　He　had　ridden　through　literally　hundreds　of　practice　dogfights。　Fighter　crews　lived　for　Air　bat　Maneuvering　（ACM）；　the　orgiastic　climax　of　their　training　and　their　existence。　So　she　knew　Toad　Tarkington　undoubtedly　knew　a　thing　or　two　about　dogfighting。　She　took　his　advice。　〃Think　he's　seen　us？〃　The　A…6's　radar　had　no　air…to…air　capability。
　Toad　kept　the　other　plane　in　sight。　Immediately　above　them…maybe　two　miles　above…it　rolled　inverted；　preparatory　to　a　split　S。　〃Looks　like　it；〃　Toad　murmured。　〃Already　you're　at　a　serious　disadvantage；　assuming　he's　smart　enough　to　cash　in。〃
　With　the　throttles　on　the　stops；　she　began　a　climbing　right　turn　holding　340　knots　indicated；　the　best　climb　speed。　Toad　glanced　across　the　panel；　then　cranked　his　neck　to　keep　the　other　plane　in　sight。　〃He's　ing　down　like　a　ruptured　duck；〃　Toad　advised。　〃If　you　had　guns　you　could　get　a　low…percentage　deflection　shot　here。　Shake　him　up　some。〃
　The　other　plane　came　rocketing　down　with　vapor　pouring　off　its　wingtips。　Now　his　wingtip　speed　brakes…boards…came　open。　〃He's　trying　to　minimize　his　overshoot。〃　The　other　Intruder　went　dropping　through　their　altitude　with　the　boards　still　open；　vapor　swirling　from　his　wings。　〃Work　the　angles；〃　Toad　advised。　〃Turn　into　him　and　get　the　nose　down。〃
　Rita　Moravia　did　just　that　in　a　workmanlike　four…G　pull。　〃Not　too　much　nose…down；〃　Toad　grunted　against　the　G。　Duke　Degan　would　undoubtedly　use　his　energy　advantage　to　zoom　again　and　try　to　turn　in　behind　her；　but　he　should　not　have　left　the　boards　out　as　long　as　he　did。　That　was　his　second　mistake。　His　first　was　the　split　S；　he　should　have　spiraled　down　to　convert　his　energy　advantage　to　a　lethal　position　advantage。
　Degan　zoomed。　Moravia　smartly　lifted　her　nose　into　a　climb；　still　closing；　then　eased　it　to　hold　340　indicated。　〃Very　nice；〃　Toad　mented。　Inexperienced　pilots　would　just　yank　on　the　stick　until　they　had　squandered　all　their　airspeed。　Moravia　had　better　sense。　Patience；　Toad　decided。　She　was　patient。
　Degan　was　above　them　now；　spread…eagled　against　the　sky；　maybe　a　mile　ahead　and　four　thousand　feet　above。　And　he　was　running　out　of　airspeed。
　〃You　got　him　now；〃　Toad　said；　excitement　creeping　into　his　voice。
　Apparently　Degan　thought　so　too。　He　continued　over　the　top　of　his　loop　and　let　the　nose　fall　through　as　he　half…rolled。　He　was　going　to　try　to　go　out　underneath　with　a　speed　advantage　and　run　away　from　her；　then　turn　and　e　back　into　the　fray　on　his　own　terms。　Moravia　anticipated　him；　as　he　mitted　with　his　nose　she　dumped　hers　and　slammed　down　the　left　wing　and　honked　her　plane　around。
　〃You　get　another　deflection　shot　here；〃　Toad　advised。　〃You're　kicking　this　guy's　ass！　What　a　clown！　He　should　never　have　e　back　at　you　out　of　the　loop。〃
　She　was　dead　behind　him　now；　both　diving；　but　Degan　lacked　the　speed　advantage　to　pull　away　cleanly。
　〃Fox　Two；〃　Toad　whispered　over　the　radio。　Fox　Two　was　the　call　when　you　were　putting　a　heat…seeking　missile　in　the　air。　〃You're　dead　meat。〃
　〃Bull。〃　Degan's　voice　did　not　sound　happy。
　〃Go　ahead；　try　something　wonderful　and　Rita　will　get　a　guns　solution。〃
　〃I　have　enough　gas　for　one　more　series　of　turns；〃　Rita　told　the　instructor。
　A　long　pause。　Degan　wasn't　liking　this　a　bit。　Part　of　the　pain；　Toad　suspected；　was　Rita's　well…modulated　feminine　voice　on　the　radio　and　the　ribbing　Duke　knew　he　would　have　to　take　in　the　ready　room　about　getting　whipped　by　a　woman。　Toad　would　have　wagered　a　paycheck　the　guys　back　in　the　ready　room　at　Whidbey　were　crowded　around　the　duty　officer's　radio　this　very　minute。　Toad　whacked　Rita　playfully　on　the　right　arm　with　his　fist。　He　was　having　a　hell　of　a　good　time。　〃Okay；〃　Degan　said　at　last；　〃break　off　and　well　start　again　with　a　head…on　pass　at　twenty…two　grand。　I'll　run　out　to　the　west。〃
　Rita　dropped　her　wing　to　turn　east。　Toad　cackled　for　her　benefit　over　the　ICS。　Then　he　keyed　his　radio　mike　switch。　〃Hey；　Duke；　this　is　Toad。　I　got　ten　bucks　to　put　on　ol'　Rita　if　you　can　spare　it。〃
　〃You're　on；　asshole。〃
　Toad　chuckled　over　the　radio。　On　the　ICS　he　said；　〃We　got　him　now；　Rita　baby。　He's　mad；　the　sucker。〃
　〃Don't　Rita…baby　me；　you…you…〃
　〃Goddamn；　cool　off；　will'ya？〃　Toad　roared。　〃I　don't　give　a　damn　if　you're　the　lesbo　queen　of　Xanadu…but　right　fucking　now　you're　a　fighter　pilot。　This　ain't　for　fun。〃　He　paused　for　air；　then　muttered；　〃'Fight　to　fly；　fly　to　fight；　fight　to　win。'　There　ain't　no　other　way。〃
　〃You　didn't　just　make　that　up。〃
　〃That's　the　Top　Gun　motto。　Now　what're　you　gonna　do　on　this　high…speed　pass？〃
　〃I　thought　a　turn　in　the　same　direction　he　turns。〃
　〃He'll　probably　make　a　horizontal　turn　as　hard　as　he　can　pull。　No　imagination。　Wait　to　see　which　way　he　turns；　then　nose　up　about　forty　degrees　and　roll　hard　into　him；　the　rolling　scissors。　If　he's　not　too　sharp　you'll　get　a　winning　position　advantage；　and　this　guy　hasn't　impressed　me。〃
　The　two　Intruders　came　together　out　of　the　emptiness　at　a　bined　speed　of　a　thousand　knots。　At　first　the　other　plane　was　just　a　speck；　but　it　grew　larger　quickly　until　it　seemed　to　fill　the　windshield。　Toad　had　been　there　before；　in　a　head…on　pass　with　Jake　Grafton　in　an　F…14　that　resulted　in　a　collision。　Involuntarily　he　closed　his　eyes。
　His　head　snapped　down　and　the　floor　came　up　at　him。　She　had　the　G　on。　He　opened　his　eyes　and　used　the　steel　handgrip　on　the　canopy　rail　to　pull　himself　around　to　look　behind。　〃Which　way？〃
　〃Left。　I　got　him。〃　She　was　holding　herself　forward　in　the　seat　with　her　left　hand　on　her　handgrip　as　she　craned　back　over　her　shoulder　and　applied　the　G。
　〃Get　the　nose　up　higher。〃　Enough　advice。　Either　she　could　hack　it　or　she　couldn't。
　The　left　wing　sagged　to　the　vertical　and　the　nose　fell　toward　the　horizon。　G　off　as　she　slammed　the　stick　all　the　way　to　the　right　and　the　plane　rolled　two　hundred　degrees　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。　Back　on　the　stick　with　the　nose　ing　down。　Pull；　pull；　pull　that　nose　around。
　Degan　was　in　front　of　them　now　and　below；　but　Rita　was　on　the　inside　of　his　turn　going　down　at　mm。　Relax　the　stick　and　build　up　your　speed；　close　on　him；　Toad　silently　urged　her　on。
　〃Degan　lost　sight；〃　Toad　said　as　he　fought　the　vomit　back　in　his　throat。　The　hangover　had　caught　up　with　him。　He　ripped　off　a　glove　and　jerked　the　mask　aside。　His　stomach　heaved　once。　She　was　set　up　perfectly　for　a　downhill　Sidewinder　shot。
　〃Fox　Two；〃　he　called　over　the　radio。　〃You　owe　me　ten　bucks；　Degan。〃　Then　he　puked　into　the　glove　again。
　Rita　lifted　the　nose　and　reversed　her　turn　until　she　was　headed　west　〃Fuel's　going　to　be　a　little　skosh；〃　she　murmured　to　Toad；　then　called　Degan　and　told　him　she　was　leaving　this　frequency　for　Seattle　Center。
　After　the　debrief　the　duty　van　dropped　them　at　the　BOQ。　〃Thanks；〃　Rita　said。
　〃For　what？〃
　〃Coaching　me　during　the　ACM。〃
　〃No　sweat。　They're　attack　guys。　ACM　ain't　their　bag。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　get　some　dinner？〃　she　asked。
　〃Naw。　I'm　going　to　bed。〃
　〃I　hope　you　aren't　ing　down　with　something；〃　she　called　after　him。
　
　Jake　Grafton　sat　in　the　attic　beside　the　pile　of　boxes　that　contained　the　miscellaneous　junk　he　had　collected　through　the　years　and　had　never　been　able　to　throw　away。　Everything　from　high　school　year　books　to　souvenirs　from　half　the　world's　seaports　was　tucked　away　in　some　box　or　other。　He　examined　the　boxes　and　tried　to　remember　which　was　which。　Perhaps　this　one。　He　ope