cc.fireice-第69部分

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　that　extended　from　the　walls　like　helping　hands。　There　was　silence　as　the　men　gazed　with　awe　at　the　huge　cylinder。　The　light　gleamed　off　the　metal　skin　and　the　rotor　housings。
　
　〃Look　sharp。　No　time　for　sightseeing！〃　Mason　barked。
　
　Baron　ran　his　fingers　over　the　surface　of　the　missile。　Then　he　inspected　the　intricate　network　of　hoses　and　elecical　connections　that　snaked　down　to　the　missile　from　a　ole　in　the　ceiling。　He　sucked　his　breath　in。　〃Man；　I've　ever　seen　anything　like　this。〃
　〃The　question　is；　can　you　deactivate　it？〃
　
　Baron　grinned　and　rubbed　his　palms　together。　〃Does　the　pope　live　in　Rome？〃
　〃No；　actually　he　lives　in　the　Vatican。〃
　〃Close　enough。〃　Baron　dug　into　his　pack；　pulled　out　a　stethoscope　and　plugged　it　into　his　ears。　He　listened　at　several　points　on　the　outside　of　the　missile；　smiling　and　frowning　like　a　heart　specialist　examining　a　patient。
　
　〃She's　all　dressed　up　and　ready　to　go。　I　can　hear　humming。〃
　〃What　about　those　connections？〃　Mason　asked。
　
　〃Fuel　and　electrical。　I　could　cut　them；　but　that　might　tell　this　baby　it's　operating　on　its　own。〃
　〃In　other　words；　it　might　start　the　launch。〃
　
　Baron　nodded。　〃I've　got　to　cut　the　heart　out　of　this　thing。〃　He　ran　his　fingers　along　the　slightly　raised　edge　of　a　panel　on　the　side　of　the　missile。　Then　he　dug　out　a　set　of　tools　from　his　rucksack；　and　after　a　couple　of　tries　found　a　lug　that　fit　the　nuts　holding　the　panel　cover　on。　Using　a　battery…operated　wrench；　he　started　to　unbolt　the　panel　cover。
　
　Like　a　sportscaster　broadcasting　play…by…play；　Mason　kept　up　a　running　account　of　Baron's　work　for　the　other　teams；　instructing　them　to　stay　one　step　behind。　His　men；　in　the　meantime；　had　scoured　the　area　and　e　up　with　one…inch　cable　they'd　found　in　a　storeroom。　They　ran　the　cable　under　the　thrusters；　hoping　to　rig　up　restraints　on　the　projectile。
　
　Baron　was　making　slow　progress。　He　stripped　some　bolts　that　had　rusted　in　the　dampness　of　the　big　room　and　had　to　use　a　special　attachment　to　get　a　grip　on　them。　He　was　leaning　against　the　missile；　his　head　close　to　the　exterior。　All　at　once；　he　stopped　his　work　and　listened。
　
　〃Crap！〃　he　said。
　
　〃What's　wrong？〃　asked　Mason；　who'd　been　peering　intently　over　Baron's　shoulder。　Baron　started　to　answer；　but　Mason　stilled　him　with　a　hand　signal。　The　21C　was　calling　from　the　wheelhouse。
　
　〃I　don't　know　if　this　means　anything；　Lieutenant；　but　all　the　screens　and　panels　are　going　crazy　up　here。〃
　〃Stand　by。〃　Turning　to　Baron；　he　said。　〃That　was　the　wheelhouse。　The　instruments　are　showing　unusual　activity。〃　Mason　cocked　an　ear。　A　loud　humming　that　grew　in　intensity　filled　the　chamber。
　
　Baron　looked　around　as　if　he　could　see　the　sound。　〃The　damned　thing　is　about　to　launch。〃
　〃Can　you　do　anything？〃　Mason　said　evenly。
　
　〃There's　a　chance。　If　I　can　get　this　panel　off；　maybe　I　can　sabotage　its　activation　circuit。　Stand　by　with　those　wire　cutters。〃
　
　Baron　unscrewed　another　bolt　and　was　working　on　the　next　one　when　they　heard　a　new　noise；　like　the　grinding　of　great　gears。　The　sound　was　ing　from　below。　They　looked　down；　which　probably　saved　them　from　eye　damage　when　the　electrical　conduits　and　hoses　blew　off　the　sides　of　the　missile　a　few　feet　above　their　heads。　They　dove　onto　their　stomachs。　Below　them；　the　moon　pool　gates　started　to　move　apart。
　
　Then　the　rotors　inside　the　thruster　housings　began　to　whir。
　
　As　the　moon　pool　fully　opened；　there　was　another　explosion　and　the　gantries　holding　the　missile　blew　off。　The　jerry…rigged　cables　snapped　like　thread　and　the　loose　ends　sliced　the　air　and　would　have　decapitated　anyone　in　the　way。
　
　Then　the　bomb　dropped。
　
　
　VOICES　WERE　YELLING　in　Mason's　ear。　The　other　teams　were　seeing　similar　developments。　Joe　Louis　was　yelling。　〃Omega　Two。　Bomb　has　dropped。〃
　
　Then　Carmichael's　voice　came　on。　〃Omega　Three。　So　has　ours。〃
　
　Mason　and　his　men　crawled　to　the　edge　of　the　opening　once　occupied　by　the　bomb　and　stared　down。　Waves　and　froth　created　where　the　missile　splashed　into　the　sea　and　its　thrusters　dug　in。　As　they　peered　into　the　dark　roiling　sea；　it　was　as　if　they　were　looking　into　the　bowels　of　hell。
　
　…36…
　PETROV'S　LEAD　MAN；　a　giant　whom　Austin　had　nicknamed　Tiny；　stepped　forward　and　drove　the　wooden　butt　of　his　AKM　into　the　side　of　the　guard's　head。　The　guard's　legs　turned　to　rubber　and　he　crashed　to　the　deck。　Figures　were　running　toward　them。　Someone　flicked　on　a　flashlight　that　caught　Austin　in　its　beam。　An　AKM　burped　once。　At　a　firing　rate　of　six　hundred　rounds　per　minute；　even　a　short　burst　was　deadly；　especially　at　close　range。
　
　The　flashlight　skittered　across　the　deck；　but　in　its　quick　flicker；　Razov's　men　had　sized　up　the　strength　and　position　of　the　assault　group。　White…hot　muzzle　bursts　blossomed　in　the　darkness。　They　dove　for　cover。　In　the　stroboscopic　effect　created　by　the　fusillade；。Petrov's　men　looked　as　if　they　were　moving　in　slow　motion。
　
　Austin　and　Zavala　hit　the　deck　belly　first　and　rolled　over　until　they　were　behind　the　protection　of　a　bollard。　Bullets　shredded　the　air　over　their　heads　and　ricocheted　off　the　big　steel　mushroom。　Austin　hauled　out　his　Bowen　and　blasted　at　a　moving　shadow；　unsure　if　he'd　hit　anyone。　Zavala　pecked　away　with　his　H　and　K。　The　muzzle　bursts　became　more　scattered；　indicating　that　Razov's　men　were　spreading　out。
　
　〃They're　trying　to　outflank　us；〃　Zavala　shouted。
　
　Tiny；　who　was　on　his　belly　a　few　feet　away；　was　waving　to　get　their　attention。
　
　〃Go！〃　he　bellowed。　〃We　hold　position。〃
　
　Austin　had　his　doubts。　Tiny　and　his　men　could　defend　the　narrow　deck　for　a　while；　but　like　the　Spartans　holding　the　pass　at　Thermopylae；　they　too　would　eventually　be　outmaneuvered。　Tiny　jerked　his　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　The　gesture　needed　no　translation。　Get　moving。　They　let　off　a　few　more　rounds；　then　inched　backward　on　their　elbows　and　knees　until　they　were　under　a　lifeboat　davit。
　
　With　Razov's　men　still　shooting　at　their　last　position；　they　got　to　their　feet　and　dashed　heads…down　toward　a　salon　door。　It　was　unlocked。　They　stepped　inside；　weapons　cocked。　The　crystal　chandeliers　were　dark；　and　the　only　illumination　came　from　a　series　of　wall　sconces。　In　their　yellow　glow；　Austin　could　see　the　outlines　of　tables；　chairs　and　settees。　They　crossed　the　dance　floor　to　the　opposite　side。
　
　Austin　paused。　Petrov's　men　might　be　in　the　vicinity；　and　it　could　be　a　lethal　mistake　to　surprise　them。　He　called　Petrov　on　the　radio　and　gave　him　their　position。
　
　〃Sounds　as　if　you　stepped　into　a　hornets'　nest；〃　Petrov　said。
　
　〃Couldn't　be　helped。　Don't　know　how　long　Tiny　can　hold　them　off。〃
　〃You　might　be　surprised；〃　Petrov　said　without　concern。
　
　〃e　through　the　door　onto　the　deck。　We'll　be　watching　for　you。〃
　
　Austin　clicked　off；　opened　the　door　and　stepped　out。　There　was　no　sign　of　Petrov　or　his　men。　Then　dark　shapes　detached　themselves　from　the　shadows　where　the　mandos　crouched。　Petrov　came　toward　them。　〃You　were　wise　not　to　stick　your　heads　outside。　My　men　are　a　little　edgy。　I've　sent　a　few　around　to　the　other　side。　We　should　hear　from　them　in　a　…　〃
　
　He　was　interrupted　by　the　thud　of　exploding　grenades。　The　gunfire　became　more　sporadic。　〃Evidently；　my　men　have　thinned　out　the　ranks　of　the　opposition；〃　he　said。　〃I　suggest　you　proceed　to　your　objective。　Do　you　need　any　help？〃
　〃I'll　call　you　if　we　do；〃　Austin　said；　moving　toward　a　ladder　that　went　up　the　side　of　the　bulkhead　on　the　bridge　superstructure。
　
　〃Good　luck！〃　Petrov　called　out。　Austin　and　Zavala　were　halfway　up　the　bridge　when　the　chilling　reports　started　ing　in　from　the　Omega　teams。　He　stopped　to　tell　Zavala　the　bad　news　ing　in　through　his　earpiece。
　
　〃The　bombs　have　dropped；〃　he　told　Zavala。　〃All　of　them。〃
　
　Zavala　had　taken　the　lead　and　was　hanging　on　to　a　ladder　to　the　next　deck。　He　turned　at　Austin's　words　and　let　out　a　long　string　of　curses　in　Spanish。　〃What　now？〃
　
　In　answer；　Austin　jerked　his　arm　up　to　shoulder　level　and　pointed　his　gun　at　Zavala；　who　froze　in　place。　The　Bowen　barked。　The　slug　passed　within　inches　of　Zavala's　head　and　the　breeze　created　by　its　passing　ruffled　his　hair。　A　heavy　object　plunged　from　above　and　crashed　to　the　deck　with　a　thud。　Zavala　blinked　the　light　spots　out　of　his　eyes　and　stared　at　the　Cossack　spread…eagled　on　the　deck。　A　saber　lay　a　few　feet　from　the　man's　outstretched　hand。
　
　〃Sorry；　Joe；〃　Austin　said。　〃That　guy　was　about　to　cut　you　down　to　size。〃
　
　Zavala　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　on　the　side　the　bullet　had　passed。　〃That's　okay。　I　always　wanted　to　part　my　hair　on　this　side。〃
　〃There's　nothing　we　can　do　about　the　bombs；〃　Austin　said　somberly。　〃But　we　can　deal　with　the　murdering　scum　who　launched　them。〃
　
　Austin　took　the　lead；　and　they　climbed　higher　until　they　were　under　the　wings　that　extended　out　from　either　side　of　the　wheelhouse。　They　split　up；　with　each　man　taking　a　wing。　Austin　sprinted　up　the　stairs。　With　his　back　to　the　bulkhead；　he　edged　up　to　the　open　door　and　peered　around　the　corner。
　
　The　spacious　wheelhouse　was　lit　by　red　night…lights　that　washed　the　interior　in　their　crimson　glow。
　
　The　wheelhouse　seemed　deserted；　except　for　the　solitary　figure　of　a　man　who　stood　in　front　of　a　large　puter　monitor；　his　back　to　Austin；　apparently　staring　at　the　screen。　Austin　whispered　into　his　radio；　instructing　Zavala　to　keep　watch　while　he　investigated。　Then　he　stepped　inside。
　
　Razov's　wolfhounds　must　have　smelled　him。　They　rushed　out　of　nowhere　in　a　flurry　of　clicking　claws　and　wagging　tails　and　pounced　on　Austin。　He　pushed　them　down　with　his　free　hand；　but　the　dogs　had　spoiled　all　hopes　of　a　silent　entry。　Razov　turned　and　frowned　at　the　dogs'　attention　to　Austin。　He　gave　a　sharp　mand　that　brought　the　dogs　whimpering　back　to　his　side　with　their　heads　low　and　tails　between　their　legs。　His　thin　lips　widened　in　an　evil　smile。
　
　〃I've　been　expecting　you；　Mr。　Austin。　My　men　told　me　that　you　and　your　friends　were　aboard。　It's　good　to　see　you　again。　Pity　that　you　had　to　depart　so　abruptly　on　your　last　visit。〃
　〃You　might　change　your　mind　when　we　blow　your　operation　out　of　the　water。〃
　〃It's　a　little　late　for　that；〃　Razov　said。　He　pointed　tow