tc.redstormrising-第137部分

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〃Get　transport　to　Stendal　and　report　personally　to　mander…in…Chief　West。〃

USS　INDEPENDENCE
〃Good　evening；　Major　Chapayev。　How's　the　leg？〃　Toland　asked；　sitting　down　beside　the　hospital　bunk。　〃Are　you　being　treated　properly。？〃
〃I　have　no　plaints。　Your　Russian　is…fair。〃
〃I　do　not　often　get　to　practice　with　a　Soviet　citizen。　Perhaps　you　can　help　me　somewhat。〃　Major　Alexandr　Georgiveyich　Chapayev；　the　puter　printout　read。　Age　30。　Second　son　of　General　Georgiy　Konstantinovich　Chapayev；　mander　of　the　Moscow　Air　Defense　District。　Married　to　the　youngest　daughter　of　a　Central　mittee　member；　Ilya　Nikolayevich　Govorov。　And　therefore　probably　a　young　man　with　access　to　lots　of　under…the…counter　information　。　。　。
〃With　your　grammar？〃　Chapayev　snorted。
〃You　were　the　mander　of　the　MiGs？　Be　at　ease；　Major；　they're　all　finished　now。　You　know　that。〃
〃I　was　the　senior　flying　officer；　yes。〃
〃I've　been　told　to　pliment　you。　I　am　not　a　flyer　myself；　but　they　tell　me　your　tactics　over　Keflavik　were　excellent。　I　believe　you　had　five　MiGs。　We　lost　a　total　of　seven　aircraft　yesterday；　three　to　MiGs；　two　to　missiles；　and　two　to　ground　fire。　Considering　the　odds；　we　were　disagreeably　surprised。〃
〃I　had　my　duty。〃
〃Da。　We　all　have　our　duty；〃　Toland　agreed。　〃If　you　are　concerned　at　how　we　will　treat　you；　you　should　not　be。　You　will　be　treated　properly　in　all　respects。　I　don't　know　what　you　have　been　told　to　expect；　but　probably　you　have　noticed　once　or　twice　that　not　everything　the　Party　says　is　pletely　true。　I　see　from　your　identification　papers　that　you　have　a　wife　and　two　children。　I　have　a　family；　too。　We'll　both　live　to　see　them　again；　Major。　Well；　probably。〃
〃And　when　our　bombers　attack　you？'
〃That　happened　three　hours　ago。　Didn't　anyone　tell　you？〃
〃Ha！　The　first　time…〃
〃I　was　on　Nimitz　We　took　two　hits。〃　Toland　described　the　attack　briefly。　〃This　time　things　worked　out　differently。　We're　conducting　rescue　operations　now。　You'll　know　for　sure　when　we　bring　some　survivors　in。　Your　air　force　is　no　longer　a　threat　to　us。　Submarines　are　another　matter；　but　there　is　no　sense　asking　a　fighter　pilot　about　that。　In　fact；　this　isn't　really　an　interrogation。〃
〃So　why　are　you　here？〃
〃I　will　be　asking　you　some　questions　later。　I　just　wanted　to　e　down　and　say　hello。　Is　there　anything　I　can　get　you；　anything　you　need？〃
Chapayev　did　not　know　what　to　make　of　this。　Aside　from　the　possibility　the　Americans　would　shoot　him　outright；　he　didn't　know　what　to　expect。　He'd　had　the　usual　lectures　about　trying　to　escape；　but　clearly　these　did　not　apply　to　being　aboard　a　ship　in　the　middle　of　the　ocean。
〃I　do　not　believe　you；〃　he　said　finally。
〃rade　Major；　there　is　no　point　in　asking　you　about　the　MiG…29；　because　none　are　left　on　Iceland。　All　the　others　in　the　Soviet　Air　Force　are　in　Central　Europe；　but　we're　not　going　there。　There　is　no　point　in　asking　you　about　ground…defense　positions　on　Iceland；　you're　a　pilot　and　you　don't　know　anything　about　that。　The　same　is　true　of　the　remaining　threat　against　us：　submarines。　What　do　you　know　about　submarines；　eh？　Think；　Major；　you　are　an　educated　man。　Do　you　think　you　have　information　that　we　need？　I　doubt　it。　You　will　be　exchanged　in　due　course　for　our　prisoners…a　political　question；　for　our　political　masters。　Until　then　we　will　treat　you　properly。〃　Toland　paused。　Talk　to　me；　Major　。　。　。
〃I'm　hungry；〃　Chapayev　said　after　a　moment。
〃Dinner　should　be　in　about　thirty　minutes。〃
〃You　will　just　send　me　home；　after…〃
〃We　don't　have　labor　camps　and　we　don't　kill　prisoners。　If　we　were　going　to　mistreat　you；　why　did　the　surgeon　sew　up　your　leg　and　prescribe　pain　medications？〃
〃The　pictures　I　had　with　me？〃
〃Almost　forgot。〃　Toland　handed　the　Russian's　wallet　over。　〃Isn't　it　against　the　rules　to　take　this　up　with　you？〃
〃I　carry　it　for　luck；〃　he　said。　Chapayev　pulled　out　the　black…and…white　shot　of　his　wife　and　twin　daughters。　I　will　see　you　again　It　may　be　some　months；　but　I　will　see　you　again。
Bob　chuckled。　〃It　worked；　rade　Major。　Here　are　mine。〃
〃Your　wife　is　too　skinny；　but　you　are　a　lucky　man　also。〃　Chapayev　paused　as　his　eyes　teared　up　for　a　moment。　He　blinked　them　away。　〃I　would　like　a　drink；〃　he　said　hopefully。
〃Me；　too。　Not　allowed　on　our　ships。〃　He　looked　at　the　photos。　〃Your　daughters　are　beautiful；　Major。　You　know；　we　have　to　be　crazy　to　leave　them。〃
〃We　have　our　duty；〃　Chapayev　said。　Toland　gestured　angrily。
〃It's　the　damned　politicians。　They　just　tell　us　to　go…and　we　go；　like　idiots！　Hell；　we　don't　even　know　why　the　Goddamned　war　started！〃
〃You　mean　you　do　not　know？〃
Bingo。　Codeine　and　sympathy　。　。　。　The　tape　recorder　he　had　in　his　pocket　was　already　turned　on。

HUNZEN；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
〃If　I　continue　the　attack；　we'll　be　destroyed　here！〃　Alekseyev　protested。　〃I　have　two　full　divisions　on　my　flank；　and　I　have　a　report　that　American　tanks　are　at　Alfeld。〃
〃Impossible！〃　CINC…West　replied　angrily。
〃The　report　came　from　Major　Sergetov。　He　saw　them　arrive。　I　have　ordered　him　to　Stendal　to　make　his　report　to　you　personally。〃
〃I　have　26th　Motor…Rifle　approaching　Alfeld　now。　If　any　Americans　are　present；　they'll　handle　matters。〃
That's　a　Category…C　unit；　Alekseyev　thought。　Reservists；　short　on　equipment；　out…of…date　training。
〃What　progress　have　you　made　on　the　crossing？〃
〃Two　regiments　across；　a　third　moving　now。　Enemy　air　activity　has　picked　up…dammit！　I　have　enemy　units　in　my　rear！〃
〃Get　back　to　Stendal；　Pasha。　Beregovoy　is　in　mand　at　Hunzen。　I　need　you　here。〃
I'm　being　relieved。　I'm　being　relieved　of　my　mand！
〃Understood；　rade　General；〃　Alekseyev　replied。　He　switched　off　the　radio。　Can　I　leave　my　troops　this　vulnerable　to　counterattack？　Can　I　forego　warning　my　manders？　Alekseyev　slammed　his　fist　on　the　worktable。　〃Get　me　General　Beregovoy'！'

ALFELD；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
It　was　too　far　for　artillery　support　from　the　NATO　lines；　and　they'd　been　forced　to　leave　their　own　guns　behind。　Mackall　trained　his　gunsights　through　the　haze　and　saw　the　advancing　Russian　formations。　He　estimated　two　regiments。　That　made　it　a　division…sized　attack　in　the　classic　two…up；　one…back　fashion。　Hmm。　I　don't　see　any　SAM　launchers　upfront　The　colonel　in　overall　mand　started　giving　his　orders　over　the　mand　circuit。　Friendly　air　was　ing　in。
Apache　attack　choppers　popped　up　right　behind　the　Cav's　positions。　They　moved　south　to　flank　the　advancing　Russian　vehicles；　jinking　and　skidding　as　they　launched　their　Hellfire　missiles　into　the　leading　echelon　of　tanks。　Their　pilots　sought　out　missile…launch　vehicles　but　found　none。　Next　came　the　A10s。　The　ugly　twin…engine　aircraft　swooped　low；　free　for　once　of　the　SAM　threat。　Their　rotary　cannon　and　cluster　bombs　continued　the　job　of　the　Apaches。
〃They're　ing　in　dumb；　boss；〃　the　gunner　mented。
〃Maybe　they're　green；　Woody。〃
〃Okay　by　me。〃
The　Bradleys　on　the　eastern　edge　of　the　town　engaged　next　with　their　missiles。　The　leading　Soviet　ranks　were　savaged　even　before　they　came　into　range　of　the　tanks　over　the　river。　The　attack　began　to　falter。　The　Russian　tanks　stopped　to　shoot。　They　popped　smoke　and　shot　wildly　from　inside　it。　A　few　wild　rounds　landed　close　to　Mackall's　position；　but　they　were　not　aimed　shots。　The　attack　was　stopped　two　kilometers　short　of　the　town。
〃Head　north；〃　Alekseyev　said　over　the　headset。
〃rade　General；　if　we　head　north…〃　the　pilot　started　to　say。
〃I　said　head　north！　Keep　low；〃　he　added。
The　heavily　armed　Mi…24　swooped　low　abruptly。　Alekseyev's　gorge　rose　in　his　throat　as　the　pilot　tried　to　get　even　with　him　for　giving　the　stupid；　dangerous　order。　He　sat　in　the　back；　hanging　on　to　the　seatbelt　and　leaning　out　the　left…side　door　to　see　what　he　could。　The　helicopter　jinked　violently　left　and　right；　up　and　down…the　pilot　knew　the　dangers　here。
〃There！〃　Alekseyev　called。　〃Ten　o'clock。　I　see…American　or　German？　Tanks　at　ten　o'clock。〃
〃I　see　some　missile　vehicles；　too；　rade　General。　Do　you　wish　to　see　them　more　closely？〃　the　pilot　inquired　acidly。　He　brought　the　chopper　down　a　wooded　road；　barely　two　meters　above　the　pavement　as　he　dipped　out　of　sight。
〃That　was　at　least　a　battalion；〃　the　General　said。
〃I'd　say　more；〃　the　pilot　mented。　He　was　at　full　power；　his　nose　low　for　maximum　speed；　and　his　eyes　scanned　ahead　for　enemy　aircraft。
The　General　fumbled　with　his　map。　He　had　to　sit　down　and　strap　in　to　use　both　hands　on　it。　〃My　God；　this　far　south？〃
〃As　I　told　you；〃　the　pilot　answered　over　the　inter；　〃they　have　staged　a　breakthrough。〃
〃How　close　can　you　go　to　Alfeld？〃
'That　depends　on　how　much　the　General　wishes　to　be　alive　tonight。〃　Alekseyev　noted　the　fear　and　anger　in　the　words；　and　reminded　himself　that　the　captain　flying　his　helicopter　was　already　twice　a　Hero　of　the　Soviet　Union　for　his　daring　over　the　battlefield。
〃As　close　as　you　think　safe；　rade　Captain。　I　must　see　for　myself　what　the　enemy　is　doing。〃
〃Understood。　Hang　on；　it　will　be　a　very　rough　ride。〃　The　Mi…24　jumped　up　to　avoid　some　power　lines；　then　dropped　again　like　a　stone。　Alekseyev　winced　at　how　close　to　the　ground　they　stopped。　〃Enemy　aircraft　overhead。　Look　like　the　Devil's　Cross　。　。　。　four　of　them　heading　west。〃
They　passed　over　a…not　a　road；　Alekseyev　thought；　a　grassy　strip　with　tracked　vehicles　on　it。　The　grass　had　been　churned　to　bare　dirt。　He　checked　his　map。　This　route　led　to　Alfeld。
〃I　will　cross　over　the　Leine　and　approach　Alfeld　from　the　east。　That　way　we'll　be　over　friendly　troops　if　anything　happens；〃　the　pilot　advised。　Immediately　thereafter　the　aircraft　jumped　up　and　down　again。　Alekseyev　caught　a　glimpse　of　tanks　on　the　ridge　as　they　raced　past。　Many　of　them。　A　few　strings　of　tracer　bullets　reached　out　at　the　chopper；　but　fell　behind。　〃Quite　a　few　tanks　there；　rade　General。　I'd　say　a　regimental　force。　The　tank…repair　yard　is　to　the　south…what's　left　of　it…shit！　Enemy　helicopters　to　the　south！〃
The　aircraft　stopped　and　pivoted　in　the　air。　There　was　a　roar　as　an　air…to…air　missile　leaped　off　the　wingtip；　then　the　Mi…24　started　moving　again。　It　jinked　up；　then　down　hard；　and　the　General　saw　a　smoke　trail　go　overhead。
〃That　was　close。〃
〃Did　you　get　him？〃
〃Does　the　General　wish　me　to　stop　and　see？　What's　that？　That　wasn't　here　before。〃
The　chopper　stopped　briefly。　Alekseyev　saw　burning　vehicles　and　running　men。　The　tanks　were　old　T…55s　。　。　。　this　was　t