cc.vixen03-第49节

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　Pleased　with　the　results；　he　taped　the　gun　to　his　right　calf。　After　a　few　steps　to　make　sure　it　was　fortably　snug；　Emma　switched　off　the　flashlight；　slipped　back　into　the　passageway；　and　made　his　way　toward　the　ship's　engine　room。
　
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　Carl　Swedborg；　skipper　of　the　fishing　trawler　Molly　Bender；　rapped　the　barometer　with　his　knuckles；　regarded　it　stoically　for　a　moment；　then　walked　over　to　the　chart　table　and　picked　up　a　cup　of　coffee。　His　mind　visualizing　the　river　ahead；　he　sipped　at　the　coffee　and　gazed　at　the　ice　that　was　building　on　the　deck。　He　hated　miserable　wet　nights。　The　dampness　seeped　into　his　seventy…year…old　bones　and　tortured　his　joints。　He　should　have　retired　a　decade　past；　but　with　his　wife　gone　and　his　children　scattered　around　the　country；　Swedborg　could　not　bear　to　sit　around　an　empty　house。　As　long　as　he　could　find　a　berth　as　skipper　he　would　stay　on　water　until　they　buried　him　in　it。
　〃At　least　visibility　is　a　quarter　of　a　mile；〃　he　said　absently。
　〃I've　seen　worse；　much　worse。〃　This　from　Brian　Donegal；　a　tall；　shaggy…haired　Irish　immigrant　who　stood　at　the　helm。　〃Better　we　have　rotten　weather　going　out　than　ing　in。〃
　〃Agreed；〃　said　Swedborg　dryly。　He　shivered　and　buttoned　the　top　button　of　his　mackinaw。　〃Mind　your　helm　and　keep　wide　aport　of　the　Ragged　Point　channel　buoy。〃
　〃Don't　you　fret；　Skipper。　Me　faithful　Belfast　nose　can　sniff　channel　markers　like　a　bloodhound；　it　can。〃
　Donegal's　blarney　seldom　failed　to　raise　a　smile　from　Swedborg。　The　skipper's　lips　involuntarily　curled　upward　and　he　spoke　in　a　stern　tone　that　was　patently　fake。　〃I　prefer　you　use　your　eyes。〃
　The　Molly　Bender　swung　around　Ragged　Point　and　continued　her　course　downriver；　passing　an　occasional　lighted　channel　buoy　that　came　and　went　like　a　streetlight　beside　a　rain…soaked　boulevard　intersection。　The　shore　lights　glowed　dully　through　the　thickening　sleet。
　〃Somebody　ing　up　the　channel；〃　announced　Donegal。
　Swedborg　picked　up　a　pair　of　binoculars　and　looked　beyond　the　bows。　〃The　lead　ship　carries　three　white　lights。　That　means　a　tug　with　her　tow　astern。　Too　murky　to　distinguish　her　outline。　Must　be　a　long　tow；　though。　I　make　out　the　two　white　thirty…two…point　lights　on　the　last　vessel　in　line　about　three　hundred　yards　astern　the　tug。〃
　〃We're　on　a　collision　course；　Skipper。　Her　mast　lights　are　in　line　with　our　bow。〃
　〃What　is　the　bastard　doing　on　our　side　of　the　river？〃　Swedborg　wondered　out　loud。　〃Doesn't　the　damn　fool　know　that　two　boats　appreaching　each　other　should　keep　to　their　starboard　side　of　the　channel？　He's　hogging　our　lane。〃
　〃We　can　maneuver　easier　than　he　can；〃　said　Donegal。　〃Better　we　alert　him　and　pass　starboard　to　starboard。〃
　〃All　right；　Donegal。　Swing　to　port　and　give　two　blasts　of　the　whistle　to　signal　our　intentions。〃
　There　was　no　answering　blast。　The　strange　tug's　lights；　it　seemed　to　Swedborg；　were　approaching　far　more　rapidly　than　he　had　any　right　to　expect；　far　more　rapidly　than　any　tug　he'd　ever　seen　with　a　fleet　of　barges　in　tow。　He　was　horrified　as　he　watched　the　other　vessel　turn　toward　the　Molly　Bender's　altered　course。
　〃Give　the　fool　four　short　whistle　blasts！〃　Swedborg　shouted。
　It　was　the　Inland　Waterway　danger　signal…sounded　when　the　course　of　an　opposing　vessel　or　its　intentions　were　not　understood。　Two　of　Swedborg's　crew；　roused　from　sleep　by　the　whistle　shrieks；　groggily　entered　the　wheelhouse；　instantly　snapped　to　sudden　astonishment　by　the　nearness　of　the　strange　vessel's　running　lights。　Clearly；　she　wasn't　acting　like　a　tug　in　tow。
　In　the　few　remaining　seconds　Swedborg　snatched　a　bullhorn　and　shouted　into　the　night。　〃Ahoy！　Turn　hard　aport！〃
　He　might　as　well　have　shouted　at　a　ghost。　No　voice　replied；　no　return　whistle　blast　came　through　the　icy　dark。　The　lights　bore　down　re…lentlessly　upon　the　helpless　Molly　Bender。
　Realizing　collision　was　inevitable；　Swedborg　braced　himself　by　clutching　the　lower　frame　of　the　window。　Fighting　to　the　last；　Donegal　frantically　reversed　engines　and　twisted　the　wheel　back　to　starboard。
　The　last　thing　any　of　them　saw　was　a　monstrous　gray　bow　looming　through　the　sleet　high　above　the　wheelhouse；　a　massive　steel　wedge　bearing　the　numeral　61。
　Then　the　little　fishing　trawler　was　crushed　to　pieces　and　swallowed　by　the　icy　water　of　the　river。
　Pitt　stopped　the　car　in　front　of　the　White　House　gate。　Jarvis　was　halfway　out　when　he　turned　and　looked　back　at　Pitt。　〃Thank　you　for　your　assistance；〃　he　said　sincerely。
　〃What　now？〃　asked　Pitt。
　〃I　have　the　distasteful　duty　of　booting　the　President　and　the　Joint　Chiefs　of　Staff　out　of　their　beds；〃　Jarvis　said　with　a　tired　smile。
　〃What　can　I　do　to　help？〃
　〃Nothing。　You've　done　more　than　your　share。　It's　up　to　the　Defense　Department　to　carry　the　ball　from　here。〃
　〃The　Quick　Death　warheads；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Do　I　have　your　assurance　Jthey　will　be　destroyed　when　the　ship　is　located　and　taken　into　custody？〃
　〃I　can　only　try。　Beyond　that；　I　promise　nothing。〃
　〃That's　not　good　enough；〃　said　Pitt。
　Jarvis　was　too　tired　to　argue。　He　shrugged　listlessly；　as　though　he　no　longer　gave　a　damn。　〃Sorry；　but　that's　the　way　it　is。〃　Then　he　slammed　the　door；　showed　his　pass　to　the　guard　at　the　gate；　and　was　gone。
　Pitt　turned　the　car　around　and　swung　onto　Vermont　Avenue。　A　couple　of　miles　on　he　spotted　an　all…night　coffee　shop　and　slipped　into　a　parking　stall。　After　ordering　a　cup　of　coffee　from　a　yawning　waitress；　he　found　the　pay　phone　and　made　two　calls。　Then　he　downed　the　coffee；　paid；　and　left。
　
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　Heidi　Milligan　met　Pitt　when　he　entered　Bethesda　Naval　Hospital。　Her　blond　hair　was　half　hidden　under　a　scarf；　and　despite　the　weariness　around　her　eyes；　she　looked　vibrant　and　strangely　youthful。
　〃How　is　Admiral　Bass？〃　Pitt　asked　her。
　She　gave　him　a　strained　look。　〃Walt　is　hanging　in　there。　He's　tough；　he'll　pull　through。〃
　Pitt　didn't　believe　a　word　of　it。　Heidi　was　clinging　to　a　slowly　parting　thread　of　hope　and　putting　up　a　valiant　front。　He　put　his　arm　around　her　waist　and　led　her　gently　down　the　corridor。
　〃Can　he　talk　to　me？〃
　She　nodded。　〃The　doctors　aren't　keen　on　the　idea；　but　Walt　insisted　after　I　gave　him　your　message。〃
　〃I　wouldn't　have　intruded　if　it　wasn't　important；〃　Pitt　said。
　She　looked　up　into　his　eyes。　〃I　understand。〃
　They　came　to　the　door　and　Heidi　opened　it。　She　motioned　Pitt　toward　the　admiral's　bed。
　Pitt　hated　hospitals。　The　sickening　sweet　smell　of　ether；　the　depress…ing　atmosphere；　the　businesslike　attitude　of　the　doctors　and　nurses；　always　got　to　him。　He　had　made　up　his　mind　long　ago：　when　his　time　came；　he　would　die　in　his　own　bed；　at　home。
　His　resolve　was　further　braced　by　his　first　look　at　the　admiral　since　Colorado。　The　waxen　paleness　of　the　old　man's　face　seemed　to　blend　with　the　pillow；　and　his　rasping　breathing　came　in　unison　with　the　respirator's　hiss。　Tubes　ran　into　his　arms　and　under　the　sheets；　supplying　sustenance　and　draining　his　body　wastes。　His　once…muscular　body　looked　withered。
　A　doctor　stepped　forward　and　touched　Pitt　on　the　arm。　〃I　doubt　if　he　has　the　strength　to　speak。〃
　Bass's　head　rolled　slightly　in　Pitt's　direction　and　he　made　a　feeble　gesture　with　one　hand。　〃e　closer；　Dirk；〃　he　muttered　hoarsely。
　The　doctor　gave　a　shrug　of　surrender。　〃I'll　stay　close；　just　in　case。〃　Then　he　stepped　into　the　hall　and　closed　the　door。
　Pitt　pulled　a　chair　up　to　the　bed　and　bent　over　Bass's　ear。
　〃The　Quick　Death　projectile；〃　Pitt　said。　〃How　does　it　operate　during　its　trajectory？〃
　〃Centrifugal　force　。　。　。　rifling。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　Pitt　replied　in　a　hushed　tone。　〃The　spiral　rifling　inside　the　bore　of　the　gun　rotates　the　shell　and　sets　up　a　centrifugal　force。〃
　〃Activates　a　generator　。。。　in　turn　activates　a　small　radar　altimeter。〃
　〃You　must　mean　a　barometric　altimeter。〃
　〃No　。　。　。　barometric　won't　work；〃　Bass　whispered。　〃Heavy　naval　shell　has　high　velocity　with　a　flat　trajectory　。　。　。　too　low　for　accurate　barometric　reading　。　。　。　must　use　radar　to　bounce　signal　from　ground。〃
　〃It　doesn't　seem　possible　a　radar　altimeter　can　survive　the　high　g…forces　when　the　gun　is　fired；〃　Pitt　said。
　Bass　forced　a　faint　smile。　〃Designed　the　package　myself。　Take　my　word　for　it。　。　。　the　instrument　survives　the　initial　surge　when　the　powder　charge　is　detonated。〃
　The　admiral　closed　his　eyes　and　lay　still；　exhausted　by　his　efforts。　Heidi　moved　forward　and　put　her　hand　on　Pitt's　shoulder。　〃Perhaps　you　should　e　back　in　the　afternoon。〃　Pitt　shook　his　head。　〃By　then　it　will　be　too　late。〃　〃You'll　kill　him；〃　Heidi　said；　her　eyes　welling　with　tears；　her　expres…sion　angry。
　Bass's　hand　inched　across　the　sheets　and　weakly　gripped　Pitt's　wrist。　His　eyes　fluttered　open。　〃Just　needed　a　minute　to　catch　my　breath。　。　。　。　Don't　go　。。。　that's　an　order。〃
　Heidi　read　the　tortured　look　of　passion　in　Pitt's　eyes　and　she　reluctantly　backed　away。　Pitt　leaned　toward　the　admiral　again。
　〃What　happens　next？〃
　〃After　the　shell　passes　its　zenith　and　begins　the　flight　to　earth；　the　altimeter's　omnidirectional　indicator　begins　signaling　the　decrease　in　altitude。　。　。　。〃
　Bass's　voice　trailed　off　and　Pitt　waited　patiently。
　〃At　fifteen　hundred　feet　a　parachute　is　released。　Slows　the　shell's　descent　and　activates　a　small　explosive