cc.fireice-第74节

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　Austin　said；　〃This　mission　wouldn't　have　gotten　off　the　ground　if　it　weren't　crucial。〃
　〃Good　luck；　then；〃　the　captain　said。　〃We'll　standby　as　long　as　we　have　to。　Call　us　when　you　need　a　lift　home。〃
　〃You'll　be　the　first　to　know。〃　Austin　went　over　to　a　bank　of　puter　screens。
　
　〃We're　heading　out；　Hiram；〃　he　said。
　
　Yaeger　sat　in　front　of　a　keyboard　where　one　of　the　sub's　electronics　people　was　explaining　the　vessel's　puter　setup。　Sandecker　had　been　reluctant　to　let　Yaeger　go　on　the　mission；　but　Austin　had　pressed　his　case；　saying　that　Hiram's　puter　expertise　could　be　vital。　The　admiral　relented　after　Austin　had　said　he　would　bring　Yaeger　aboard　only　if　the　yacht's　control　center　had　been　secured。
　
　Yaeger　shook　hands　with　Austin　and　wished　him　good　luck。　〃I'm　still　working　to　decipher　the　last　piece　of　code；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　let　you　know　if　I　break　through　the　wall。〃
　
　At　a　signal　from　Austin；　Petrov　gave　his　men　a　series　of　mands。　The　boarding　party　made　its　way　through　the　sub　and　crowded　into　the　space　under　the　loading　hatch。　A　crewman　climbed　a　ladder　and　opened　the　hatch　cover；　letting　in　a　cold　spray。　Austin　and　Zavala　went　first；　climbing　through　the　hatch　to　emerge　on　the　deck　behind　the　sail。　Petrov's　men　joined　them　and　passed　up　two　large　plastic　canisters。　The　canisters　were　opened；　and　pressed　air　hissed　into　the　inflatable　boats　inside。　The　sub's　crewman　whispered；　〃Good　luck；〃　and　the　hatch　cover　closed　with　a　soft　clunk。
　
　Moonlight；　filtered　by　the　clouds；　gave　the　sea　a　dark　pewter　cast。　The　tall　sail；　with　its　horizontal　hydroplanes；　looked　like　a　giant　robot　from　a　science…fiction　movie。　Austin　squinted　through　the　gloom　at　the　silhouetted　yacht。　Unlike　its　appearance　in　Boston　Harbor；　where　it　had　been　lit　up　like　a　Mississippi　riverboat；　the　yacht　was　dark；　except　for　a　few　lights　on　its　radio　masts　and　the　yellow　glow　of　cabin　windows。
　
　The　satellites　had　watched　the　yacht　change　its　course　along　the　coast　of　Maine　and　head　south；　until　it　finally　stopped　off　the　coast　of　Massachusetts　about　fifty　miles　from　the　Ataman　Explorer　/；　which　was　due…east　of　Boston。　The　other　two　Ataman　ships　had　halted　eastward　of　Charleston　and　Miami。
　
　The　men　grabbed　their　paddles；　pushed　the　boats　off　the　slippery　deck　into　the　water　and　clambered　aboard。　Donning　their　night…vision　goggles；　they　silently　dipped　their　paddles；　using　precise　strokes　that　propelled　the　bobbing　craft　through　the　mounding　seas。
　
　The　cool　air　stabbed　like　an　ice　pick　through　Austin's　layers　of　clothing　and　he　almost　regretted　not　taking　a　slug　of　vodka　himself　to　warm　his　innards。　He　turned　and　looked　back　at　the　sub；　which　had　slipped　under　the　sea　with　hardly　a　gurgle。　The　sub　would　remain　on　station　with　only　a　few　feet　of　its　conning　tower　above　the　surface。
　
　Within　minutes；　the　boats　were　nudging　the　towering　steel　walls　that　formed　the　ship's　sides。　Austin　felt　like　a　minnow　next　to　a　whale。　Ordinarily；　he　would　say　that　the　odds　against　the　mission　were　considerable；　but　Max　had　leveled　the　playing　field。　As　Yaeger　had　poked　around　in　the　yacht's　electronic　nervous　system；　he'd　e　across　two　very　important　connections。　The　first　was　the　vessel's　troubleshooting　program。　It　was　similar　to　the　visual　displays　used　in　cars；　only　far　more　sophisticated。　The　system　could　tell　the　people　running　the　yacht　the　status　of　the　watertight　doors；　and　the　performance　of　the　gas　turbines；　power　flow　and　the　other　electronic　veins　and　sinews　that　kept　the　ship　running。　Most　important；　Yaeger　had　located　the　central　control　room。　Everyone　in　the　raiding　party　carried　a　water…　proof　map　of　the　ship；　based　on　Max's　snooping。
　
　The　second　breakthrough　was　more　prosaic　but　equally　important。　The　yacht's　payroll　records　had　the　names　and　titles　of　practically　everyone　on　board。　Since　the　yacht　served　as　Razov's　home　and　corporate　center；　he　had　a　full　plement　of　housekeeping　staff；　cooks；　bookkeepers；　accountants　and　secretaries。　The　ship's　crew　was　unexpectedly　small；　indicating　that　the　vessel　was　loaded　with　automated　systems。　Austin's　interest　had　centered　on　a　category　that　Petrov　had　translated　to　mean：　〃nonregular　crew。〃　In　other　words；　Razov's　private　shipboard　army　of　thugs；　like　those　who　had　e　after　Austin　in　Boston　Harbor。　There　were　fifty　of　them；　and　their　ruthlessness　and　loyalty　were　not　to　I　be　ignored。　Petrov　insisted　that　the　odds　were　nothing　his　men　couldn't　handle。
　
　Stealth　would　be　their　primary　weapon。　They　would　silently　slip　aboard　the　yacht　and　race　to　the　control　center；　which　they　would　destroy　with　well…placed　explosives。　Opposition　would　be　quietly　neutralized。　If　they　had　to　fight　their　way　out；　they　had　enough　firepower　and　the　element　of　surprise　to　put　them　on　an　even　footing。　At　the　same　time；　Austin　and　Petrov　were　realists。　They　knew　that　the　odds　of　discovery　were　high；　and　casualties　were　likely　on　both　sides。　But　given　the　stakes　involved；　it　would　be　worth　the　losses。
　
　The　night…vision　goggles　the　boarding　party　wore　gave　the　ship　and　the　sea　a　greenish　tinge。　Austin　could　see　the　water…level　door　he　and　Kaela　had　entered　to　attend　Razov's　party。　It　would　be　too　risky　trying　to　gain　access　through　that　door　because　the　open　portal　would　show　up　on　the　ship's　visual　display。　Instead；　they　would　employ　the　time…tested　method　used　by　pirates；　castle　stormers　arid　mandos　alike。　Grappling　hooks。　In　their　folded　position；　the　hooks　were　tucked　into　metal　tubes。　When　the　grapple　was　launched　like　a　mortar　round；　the　hooks　opened。　The　prongs　were　covered　with　foam　rubber　so　that　even　someone　standing　a　few　yards　away　wouldn't　hear　them　grab　onto　the　rail　of　a　ship。
　
　Two　grapples　shot　out　of　their　mortars　with　quiet　coughs　of　pressed　air。　The　lines　were　tested。　The　ropes　were　taut；　indicating　that　the　grapples　had　engaged。　Petrov's　men　pointed　guns　equipped　with　silencers　toward　the　rail　where　anyone　looking　over　would　get　a　rude　surprise。　All　was　quiet；　and　they　moved　on　to　the　next　phase　of　the　operation。
　
　Austin　and　Petrov　made　the　first　ascent；　not　an　easy　task　with　their　packs。　They　lunged　awkwardly　over　the　rail；　surveyed　the　deck　and　saw　it　was　deserted；　then　signaled　the　others　to　e　aboard。　Within　minutes　they　were　squatting　on　the　deck　like　a　flock　of　black　and　heavily　armed　ducks。　Two　men　stayed　with　the　boats。
　
　The　raiding　party　split　in　half。　The　group　led　by　Austin　took　the　starboard　side。　Those　under　Petrov's　mand　crossed　to　the　port　side。　Both　units　would　advance　and　meet　at　a　ladder　at　the　base　of　the　bridge。　From　there；　the　plan　was　to　climb　three　decks　to　the　control　center　located　in　a　small　room　behind　the　wheelhouse。　At　this　hour；　only　a　skeleton　crew　should　be　manning　the　bridge。　Austin　gave　Petrov　the　okay　sign。　Crouching　low；　their　guns　at　the　ready；　both　groups　began　to　move　forward。
　
　Austin　was　encouraged　at　their　swift　progress；　but　they　had　just　passed　the　grand　salon　where　Razov　had　held　his　Boston　bash；　when　a　door　opened　without　warning。　Light　spilled　onto　the　deck；　flaring　in　their　night…vision　goggles；　Austin　pushed　the　goggles　back　on　his　head　and　saw　one　of　Razov's　guards　standing　like　a　deer　frozen　in　the　headlights。　The　man　clutched　a　bottle　of　vodka　and　his　arm　was　around　the　shoulders　of　a　young　woman　in　a　maid's　uniform；　his　hand　under　the　unbuttoned　front　of　her　dress。　Her　dyed　red　hair　hung　down　over　her　face；　and　her　bright　lipstick　was　smeared。　Austin　realized　he　had　provided　for　every　eventuality　except　the　human　libido。
　
　The　man's　drunken　grin　faded　at　the　sight　of　the　intruders　with　their　painted　faces　and　automatic　weapons。　As　a　professional　gunman　he　knew　exactly　what　was　expected　of　him：　silence。　His　female　panion　had　no　such　restraint。　Her　mouth　opened　wide；　and　she　let　out　an　ear…piercing　scream。　Her　lung　power　was　opera…star　level。　Her　second　shriek　was　even　louder；　the　howl　easily　drowning　Austin's　curses。　She　finally　ran　out　of　breath；　her　eyes　rolled　up　and　she　crumpled　to　the　deck　in　a　faint。
　
　As　the　echoes　faded；　the　ship　lit　up　like　a　pinball　machine。　Doors　flew　open　at　every　level；　and　yells　seemed　to　e　from　all　directions。　There　was　the　sound　of　running　feet　and　rough　voices　shouting　orders；　with　a　few　more　high…pitched　screams　thrown　in　for　variety。　Those　were　only　the　preliminaries。　A　second　later；　all　hell　broke　loose。
　
　…35…
　THE　SIKORSKY　HH　60…H　Seahawk　helicopters　raced　side　by　side　over　the　ocean　like　twin　Valkyries；　skimming　so　low　their　landing　gear　was　splashed　with　spume　from　the　cresting　wave　tops。　The　aircraft　were　painted　in　low…visibility　gray；　their　insignia　and　markings　toned　down　and　almost　invisible。
　
　As　he　stared　out　the　window　of　the　right…hand　helicopter；　the　platoon　mander；　Navy　Lieutenant　Zack　Mason；　reflected　on　the　urgent　phone　call　from　Washington　and　the　orders　to　scramble　a　special　warfare　task　unit　for　a　secret　mission。
　
　With　his　classic　profile　and　soft…spoken　manner；　Mason　could　have　passed　for　an　investment　banker。　Under　the　patrician　looks　was　a　tough　and　petent　warrior　who　had　not　simply　survived　the　rugged　SEAL　training；　but　thrived　on　it。　Still　only　in　his　thirties；　Mason　had　been　involved　in　missions　that　ranged