cc.fireice-第63部分

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　The　crew　split　up　into　two　parties；　one　for　each　side；　and　nervously　kept　watch。　A　party　was　dispatched　to　the　fighting　platform　halfway　up　the　main　mast　where　Marines　and　sharpshooters　used　to　rain　death　down　on　attackers。　Austin　paced　restlessly　back　and　forth；　a　belaying　pin　in　his　hand。
　
　They　didn't　have　to　wait　long。　The　first　sign　of　the　renewed　attack　was　the　loud　rapping　against　the　ship's　side。　The　attackers　were　trying　to　soften　them　up　with　automatic　gunfire。　The　bullets　chipped　the　black　and　white　paint；　but　hardly　put　a　dent　in　the　two…foot…　thick　oak　hull。　The　doughty　old　ship　plowed　through　the　water；　brushing　off　the　bullets　as　if　they　were　a　swarm　of　pesky　mosquitoes。　Like　the　Barbary　pirates　and　the　British　navy；　the　attackers　learned　Old　lronsides　was　no　pushover。
　
　The　attackers　saw　that　their　bullets　were　having　no　effect　and　stopped　firing；　instead　switching　on　their　spotlights；　revving　their　motors　and　closing　on　their　slow…moving　target。　Austin　heard　the　boats　thump　against　the　hull。　He　had　figured　that　the　attackers　would　try　to　climb　up　the　standing　rigging　that　ran　from　the　masts　down　the　side　of　the　ship　like　rope　ladders；　and　when　he　saw　a　hand　grab　onto　the　bottom　ledge　of　a　gun　port；　Austin　brought　the　belaying　pin　down　on　the　attacker's　knuckles。
　
　There　was　a　shriek　of　pain。　The　hand　let　go；　and　the　attacker　fell　into　the　harbor　with　a　loud　splash。　A　face　appeared　on　the　other　side　of　the　gun　port。　Austin　set　aside　the　belaying　pin　and　picked　up　a　boarding　pike。　He　tucked　the　spearhead　under　the　man's　chin。　Austin　was　practically　invisible　on　the　darkened　deck。　The　attacker　felt　the　sharp　point　tickling　his　Adam's　apple　and　froze；　afraid　to　move。
　
　Austin　pushed　the　pike　forward　slightly；　and　the　face　disappeared。　This　time　there　was　a　loud　thud；　as　the　attacker　fell　into　a　boat。　Seeing　his　gun　port　clear　for　the　time　being；　Austin　strode　down　the　line　of　cannon。　The　ship's　crewmen　were　using　their　boarding　pikes　with　similar　effect。　Working　in　pairs；　some　of　them　tossed　cannonballs　over　the　side。　Judging　by　the　yells　and　crunching　sounds；　they　were　finding　their　mark。
　
　Slade　came　running　up；　still　wearing　his　cocked　hat。　〃Not　one　of　those　jerks　has　set　foot　on　deck。〃　His　sweaty　face　beamed　with　pride。
　
　〃Guess　they're　getting　the　point；〃　Austin　said。　A　face　appeared　over　the　bulwark　behind　Slade。　Before　Austin　could　warn　Slade；　the　attacker　had　hooked　a　leg　over　the　side　and　was　bringing　his　assault　rifle　to　bear。
　
　Austin　threw　the　boarding　pike　like　a　Masai　warrior　taking　on　a　lion。　The　pike　struck　the　attacker　in　the　chest；　and　he　let　out　a　cry　of　surprise　and　toppled　back；　his　weapon　firing　uselessly　in　the　air。
　
　Austin　grabbed　a　cutlass　and　leaped　onto　the　nearest　cannon；　intending　to　cut　the　rigging　to　prevent　it　from　being　used　as　a　ladder。　As　he　brought　the　sword　back；　he　heard　someone　yell：
　
　〃Starboard！〃
　
　The　shout　came　from　the　fighting　platform。　The　assault　had　moved　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　ship。
　
　Two　of　Razov's　men　had　climbed　onto　the　bulwark　and　were　unslinging　their　weapons；　preparing　to　spray　the　defenders　concentrated　on　the　deck。
　
　Acting　on　pure　instinct；　Austin　slashed　the　line　nearest　to　him；　grabbed　onto　the　loose　end　like　Tarzan　swinging　through　the　trees　and　launched　himself　across　the　deck；　his　legs　extended　in　front　of　him。　The　attackers　looked　up　and　saw　a　dark　Batman…like　apparition　flying　their　way。　They　tried　to　get　their　guns　around；　but　Austin's　feet　struck　them　with　the　full　force　of　his　weight；　and　they　pitched　over　backward。　Austin　reached　the　end　of　his　arc　and　swung　back；　then　dropped　onto　the　deck　amid　loud　cheers　from　the　astounded　crew。
　
　〃Wow！〃　Slade　said。　〃Where　did　you　learn　that　trick？〃
　〃Watching　old　Errol　Flynn　movies　in　my　misspent　youth。　Is　everybody　okay？〃
　〃Couple　of　cuts　and　bruises；　but　Old　lronsides's　deck　has　not　been　violated。〃
　
　Austin　grinned　and　clamped　the　sailor　on　the　shoulder；　then　looked　around。
　
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Boat　motors；〃　Slade　said。　They　ran　to　the　side　of　the　ship　and　peered　over。　They　could　see　three　wakes。　A　cheer　went　up　from　the　crew；　but　it　faded　when　the　boats　came　to　a　stop　a　few　hundred　feet　away　and　the　pinpoints　marking　muzzle　fire　began。　But　instead　of　aiming　for　the　nearly　impregnable　sides　of　the　ship；　they　were　concentrating　on　the　rigging。　The　sails　were　being　shredded。　Bits　of　rope　and　splinters　of　wood　began　to　rain　down　on　the　deck。　The　observers　scrambled　down　from　their　platforms。
　
　〃Those　cowards！〃　Slade　yelled。　〃They　can't　board　her；　so　they're　going　to　rip　her　to　shreds。〃　Tatters　of　sail　fell　on　his　head。　〃We've　got　to　do　something！〃
　
　Austin　grabbed　the　sailor's　arms。　〃You　mentioned　a　twenty…one…gun　cannon　salute。〃
　〃What？　Oh；　yeah；　the　two　cannon　on　the　foredeck。　We　fire　them　every　morning　and　sunset。　They're　old　breechloaders。　We've　jerry…rigged　them　to　fire　three…hundred…and…eighty…millimeter　shells。　But　they　shoot　blanks；　except　for　the　time　when　someone　forgot　to　remove　a　cap　and　we　hit　a　police　boat。〃
　〃Our　friends　out　there　don't　know　they're　blanks。〃
　

　〃That's　right。〃
　
　Austin　quickly　outlined　his　plan。　Slade　ran　back　and　ordered　the　helmsman　to　steer　a　new　course。　The　helmsman　swung　the　wheel　over；　and　the　Constitution　slowly　came　about　so　that　its　bow　was　pointed　at　the　attack　boats。
　
　Slade　rounded　up　his　gun　crew　and　they　climbed　down　to　the　gun　deck　and　hurried　forward。　Within　moments；　the　forward　cannon　were　loaded。　Austin　peered　through　the　gun　port　and　saw　the　attack　boats　lined　up。　They　had　been　readying　for　another　assault　when　the　ship　turned　and　came　at　them。　With　Old　lronsides　taking　the　offensive；　they　seemed　to　be　confused。　Austin　wanted　them　as　close　together　as　possible。　The　gap　was　closing。　The　boats　started　to　move　apart。
　
　〃Now！〃　Austin　ordered。　He　stepped　away　and　covered　his　ears。
　
　Slade　pulled　the　lanyards。　There　was　a　double　roar；　the　foredeck　was　enveloped　in　smoke　and　the　cannons　leaped　back；　their　recoil　held　in　check　by　thick　cordage。　The　gun　crew　had　purposely　left　the　caps　in。
　
　The　bluff　worked。　The　attackers　saw　the　big　black　ship　bearing　down　on　them　behind　a　cloud　of　purple　smoke；　heard　the　twin　projectiles　whistle　though　the　air　and　saw　the　geysers　of　water。　The　boats　sprinted　out　of　the　way　like　startled　jackrabbits；　then　headed　at　full　throttle　toward　the　mouth　of　the　harbor　where　they　disappeared　in　the　darkness。
　
　The　cannons　roared　again；　with　blanks　this　time；　as　the　ship　gave　chase。
　
　Even　as　the　echoes　faded；　a　mighty　roar　went　up　from　the　crew。
　
　〃Party's　over；〃　Austin　said。　Slade　was　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。　The　ment　that　followed　might　not　have　been　in　the　same　class　of　immortal　words　as　〃Don't　give　up　the　ship〃　or　〃Damn　the　torpedoes！〃　。　。　。　but　as　Austin　watched　the　departing　wakes　of　the　attack　boats；　he　couldn't　argue　with　the　young　sailor　when　he　said；　〃Old　lronsides　still　knows　how　to　kick　ass！〃
　
　…33…
　WASHINGTON；　D。C。
　
　SANDECKER　GLANCED　AROUND　the　Oval　Office　and　reflected　on　the　life…and…death　decisions　that　had　been　made　in　the　famous　room。　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　the　political　currents　that　swirled　around　Washington　had　their　center　within　these　quiet　walls。　On　his　last　visit　to　the　White　House；　he'd　been　treated　as　a　pariah　and　warned　to　butt　out　of　national　security　matters；　but　after　NUMA　had　rescued　the　NR…1's　captain　and　crew　and　saved　the　White　House　major　embarrassment；　Sandecker　had　bee　the　proverbial　eight…hundred…pound　gorilla。　He　lost　no　time　throwing　his　weight　around。
　
　The　White　House's　formidable　appointments　secretary　hadn't　hesitated　when　he　called　and　asked　to　meet　with　the　president　on　an　urgent　matter。　The　secretary　bumped　an　ambassador　and　a　congressional　delegation　from　the　president's　busy　schedule；　and　she　never　blinked　when　Sandecker　asked　that　only　the　president　and　vice　president　attend。
　
　Sandecker　had　politely　refused　the　offer　of　a　White　House　limousine　and　made　the　trip　in　a　Jeep　Cherokee　from　the　NUMA　motor　pool。　The　receptionist　had　ushered　the　admiral；　Rudi　Gunn　and　Austin　into　the　Oval　Office　and　saw　to　it　that　a　steward　served　them　coffee　on　White　House　china。
　
　As　they　waited；　Sandecker　turned　to　Austin。　〃I've　been　meaning　to　ask　you；　Kurt。　How　did　it　feel　to　mandeer　a　national　monument？〃
　〃Quite　the　rush；　Admiral。　Unfortunately；　with　only　two　cannon　in　the　bow；　I　couldn't　yell；　'Give　'em　a　broadside！'　〃
　〃From　what　I've　heard；　you　and　the　Constitution's　crew　acquitted　yourselves　with　undeniable　valor。　Old　lronsides　lived　up　to　her　glorious　name。〃
　
　Gunn　said　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye；　〃The　scuttlebutt　among　the　top　navy　brass　has　it　that　Old　lronsides　is　being　missioned　as　part　of　the　Seventh　Fleet。　After　she's　patched　up；　of　course。〃
　〃I　understand　that　the　navy　plans　to　retire　an　aircraft　carrier　in　her　favor；〃　Austin　said；　with　a　poker　face。　〃The　Pentagon　sees　great　cost…cutting　opportunities　in　the　use　of　sail　and　belaying　pins。〃
　〃Cost　cutting　would　be　a　new　one　for　the　Pentagon；〃　Sandecker　mused。　〃What　happened　to　the　men　who　attacked　you？〃
　〃The　Coast　Guard　and　police　scoured　the　harbor。　They　found　three　boats　scuttled　in　the　marshes　on　a　harbor　island；　the　hulls　shot　full　of　holes。〃
　〃I　understand　there　were　some　injuries。〃
　〃The　tugboat　crewmen　were　wounded；　but　they　had　the　presence　of　mind　to　play　dead。〃
　〃What　of　the　Russian；　the　man　you　call　Ivan？〃
　〃He　was　only　grazed　by　the　bullet　and　is　doing　fine。〃
　〃What　did　Razov　have　to　say　about　these　pirates？〃
　〃Nothing。　He　cut　his　party　short；　kicked　his　guests　off　the　yacht　and　sailed　out　of　the　harbor　before　anyone　could　ask　him　questions。〃
　〃This　Razov　is　a　shifty　character；〃　Sandecker　said　with　a　j　knitted　brow。　〃We've　got　our　work　cut　out　for　us。　We've　been　keeping　an　eye　on　him　since　he　left　Boston？〃
　
　Gunn　nodded。　〃Satellite　surveillance　had　him　heading　at　a　leisurely　pace　along　the　Maine　coast。〃
　〃Just　a　gentleman　yachtsman　out　for　a　cruise；〃　Sandecker　said；　his　voice　dripping　with　sarcasm。
　
　〃I've　asked　the　satellite　department　to　run　the　latest　results　over　here　for　this　meeting；〃　Gunn　said。
　
　The　door　opened；