cc.vixen03-第52节

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　The　President　looked　pensive。　He　massaged　his　temples。　〃What　do　we　know　about　this　fellow　Fawkes？〃
　Kemper　nodded　to　an　aide；　who　passed　a　blue　folder　to　the　President。
　〃The　British　Admiralty　obliged　my　request　for　Captain　Fawkes's　service　record。　Mr。　Jarvis　has　added　an　addendum　from　NSA　files。〃
　The　President　slipped　on　a　pair　of　reading　glasses　and　opened　the　folder。　After　a　few　minutes　he　peered　over　the　horn…rims　at　Kemper。　〃A　damn　fine　record。　Whoever　picked　him　for　the　job　knew　his　onions。　But　why　would　a　man　of　his　reputable　background　suddenly　involve　himself　with　such　a　bizarre　venture？〃
　Jarvis　shook　his　head。　〃The　best　guess　is　that　the　massacre　of　his　wife　and　children　by　terrorists　pushed　him　off　the　deep　end。〃
　The　President　mulled　over　Jarvis's　words　and　turned　to　the　Joint　Chiefs。　〃Gentlemen；　I'm　open　for　proposals。〃
　General　Higgins　took　the　cue　and　pushed　back　his　chair　and　stepped　to　the　screen。　〃Our　staff　planners　have　programmed　a　number　of　alterna…tives；　all　based　on　the　assumption　that　the　Iowa　is　carrying　a　deadly　biological　agent。　First；　we　can　call　up　a　squadron　of　Air　Force　F…one…twenty　Specter　jets　to　blast　thelowa　with　Copperhead　missiles。　The　attack　would　coincide　with　supporting　firepower　by　Army　units　on　shore。〃
　〃Too　uncertain；〃　said　the　President。　〃If　the　destruction　is　not　im…mediate　and　total；　you　may　well　disperse　the　Quick　Death　agent。〃
　〃Second；〃　Higgins　continued；　〃we　send　in　a　team　of　Navy　SEALs　to　board　the　Iowa　from　the　water　and　secure　the　stern　section；　which　contains　a　helicopter　landing　pad。　Then　Marine　assault　troops　can　land　and　seize　the　ship。〃　Higgins　paused；　waiting　for　ments。
　〃And　if　the　ship　was　battened　down〃…this　from　Kemper…〃how　would　the　Marines　gain　entry？〃
　Jarvis　fielded　the　question。　〃According　to　the　shipyard　people；　most　of　the　Iowa's　armor　and　superstructure　were　replaced　with　wood。　The　Marines　could　blast　through　to　the　ship's　interior；　providing；　of　course；　Fawkes's　men　hadn't　cut　them　down　while　they　were　landing。〃
　〃If　all　else　fails；〃　said　Higgins；　〃our　final　alternative　is　to　finish　the　job　with　a　low…yield　nuclear　missile。〃
　For　nearly　a　minute　no　one　in　the　room　spoke；　each　man　unwilling　to　air　the　unthinkable　consequences　to　the　general's　last　proposal。　Finally；　as　he　knew　he　must；　the　President　took　the　initiative。　〃It　seems　to　me　a　small　neutron　bomb　would　be　a　more　practical　out。〃　〃Radioactivity　alone　won't　kill　the　QD　agent；〃　said　Jarvis。　〃Also；〃　Kemper　injected；　〃I　doubt　if　the　lethal　rays　could　penetrate　the　turret。　They're　nearly　airtight　when　buttoned　up。〃
　The　President　looked　at　Higgins。　〃I　must　assume　your　people　have　weighed　the　terrible　possibilities。〃
　Higgins　solemnly　nodded。　〃It　es　down　to　the　age…old　choice　of　sacrificing　a　few　to　save　many。〃　〃What　do　you　call　a　few？〃
　〃Fifty　to　seventy…five　thousand　dead。　Perhaps　twice　that　number　injured。　The　small　munities　closest　to　the　Iowa　and　the　congested　sector　of　Alexandria　would　be　the　hardest　hit。　Washington　proper　would　receive　minor　damage。〃
　〃How　soon　before　the　Marines　can　go　in？〃　asked　the　President。　〃They　are　boarding　helicopters　at　the　staging　area　this　very　minute；〃　answered　General　Guilford；　the　Marine　mandant。　〃And　the　SEALs　are　already　on　their　way　downriver　in　a　Coast　Guard　patrol　boat。〃　〃Three　bat　units　often　men　each；〃　added　Kemper。　A　muted　buzzer　sounded　on　the　phone　beside　General　Higgins's　chair。　Kemper　leaned　over　and　answered　it；　listened；　and　replaced　the　re…ceiver。　He　looked　up　at　Higgins；　who　had　remained　standing　by　the　viewing　screen。
　〃munications　teams　have　set　up　cameras　on　the　southern　bluffs　above　the　Iowa〃　he　said。　〃They'll　be　transmitting　pictures　in　a　few　seconds。〃
　Almost　before　Kemper　had　finished　speaking；　the　aerial　image　from　the　satellite　cameras　faded　into　blackness　and　was　replaced　by　a　shot　of　the　Iowa　that　filled　the　screen　with　the　ship's　superstructure。
　The　President　slowly　poured　himself　a　cup　of　coffee　but　did　not　drink　it。　He　stared　at　the　Iowa；　his　mind　churning　in　search　of　a　decision　that　only　he　could　make。　At　last　he　sighed　and　addressed　himself　to　General　Higgins。
　〃We　go　with　the　SEALs　and　Marines。　If　they　fail；　whistle　up　the　Specter　jets　and　order　your　forces　on　shore　to　open　fire　with　everything　they've　got。〃
　〃And　the　nuclear　strike？〃　asked　Higgins。
　The　President　shook　his　head。　〃I　cannot　carry　the　burden　of　ordering　mass　murders　of　my　own　countrymen；　regardless　of　the　circumstances。〃
　〃We　have　another　half　hour　before　sunrise；〃　said　Kemper　softly。　〃Captain　Fawkes　must　have　daylight　to　sight　his　guns。　All　radar…operated　and　automatic…fire　control　systems　were　removed　from　the　Iowa　before　she　was　demissioned。　He　cannot　possess　any　degree　of　accuracy　unless　he　has　a　spotter　in　or　near　the　target　area　who　can　report　the　range　and　accuracy　of　the　Iowa's　fire　by　radio。〃
　〃Could　be　the　spotter　is　sitting　on　a　rooftop　across　the　street；〃　the　President　said；　sipping　at　the　coffee。
　〃I　wouldn't　be　surprised；〃　replied　Kemper。　〃However；　he　won't　be　on　the　air　for　long。　We　have　puterized　triangulation　monitors　set　up　that　can　pinpoint　his　location　within　seconds。〃
　The　President　sighed。　〃Then　that　about　covers　it　for　the　moment；　gentlemen。〃
　〃One　more　prospect；　Mr。　President；　that　I　left　for　last；〃　said　Higgins。
　〃Shoot。〃
　〃The　Quick　Death　projectiles。　Should　we　capture　them　intact；　I　sug…gest　they　be　analyzed　by　Defense　Department　laboratories〃
　〃They　must　be　destroyed！〃　Jarvis　cut　in。　〃No　weapon　that　ghastly　is　worth　saving。〃
　〃I　fear　a　more　immediate　problem　has　just　cropped　up；〃　said　Timothy　March。
　Every　eye　whipped　back　to　the　viewer　at　the　sound　of　March's　voice。　Kemper　swiftly　snatched　the　phone　and　shouted　into　it。　〃Pull　back　your　lens　to　the　rear　and　above　the　Iowa's　stern！〃
　Unseen　hands　dutifully　did　as　they　were　told　and　the　battleship's　outline　grew　smaller　as　the　camera　increased　the　image　area。　A　set　of　aircraft…navigation　lights　approaching　upriver　immediately　gripped　ev…eryone's　attention。
　〃What　do　you　make　of　it？〃　demanded　the　President。
　〃A　helicopter；〃　Higgins　replied　angrily。　〃Some　damned　civilian　must　have　gotten　curious　and　taken　it　into　his　head　to　buzz　the　ship。〃
　The　men　left　their　chairs　and　clustered　around　the　screen；　watching　helplessly　as　the　intruding　craft　beat　its　way　toward　the　grounded　bat…tleship。　The　observers　tensed；　their　eyes　betraying　helpless　frustration。　〃If　Fawkes　panics　and　opens　fire　before　our　forces　are　in　position；〃　said　Kemper　tonelessly；　〃a　lot　of　people　are　going　to　get　hurt。〃
　The　Iowa　lay　dead　in　the　middle　of　the　Potomac；　her　engines　quiet；　the　telegraph　turned　to　〃all　stop。〃　Fawkes　looked　about　him　with　guarded　optimism。　The　crew　was　unlike　any　he'd　ever　manded。　Several　of　its　members　looked　to　be　mere　boys；　and　all　were　dressed　in　the　camouflage　jungle　uniforms　popularized　by　the　AAR。　And；　except　for　the　efficient　manner　in　which　they　carried　out　their　assigned　duties；　there　was　nothing　about　them　that　remotely　suggested　South　African　naval　per…sonnel。
　Charles　Shaba's　job　as　chief　engineer　was　terminated　by　the　idle　engines；　and　according　to　his　orders；　he　now　became　the　gunnery　officer。　When　he　climbed　to　the　bridge；　he　found　Fawkes　leaning　over　a　small　radio　set。　He　threw　a　smart　salute。
　〃Pardon　me；　Cap'n；　but　can　we　talk？〃
　Fawkes　turned　around　and　placed　a　loglike　arm　on　Shaba's　shoulder。　〃What's　on　your　mind？〃　he　said；　smiling。
　Pleased　to　catch　the　captain　in　a　good　mood；　Shaba　stood　at　attention　and　shot　the　question　that　was　burning　in　the　minds　of　the　crew。　〃Sir；　where　in　hell　are　we？〃
　〃The　Aberdeen　proving　grounds。　Are　you　familiar　with　it；　lad？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃It's　a　sprawling　piece　of　land　where　the　Americans　test　their　weapons。〃
　〃I　thought　。　。　。　that　is；　the　men　thought　we　were　going　to　sea。〃
　Fawkes　looked　out　the　window。　〃No；　lad；　the　Yanks　have　kindly　allowed　us　to　hold　gunnery　practice　on　their　target　grounds。〃
　〃But　how　do　we　get　out　of　here？〃　Shaba　asked。　〃The　ship　is　stuck　on　the　bottom。〃
　Fawkes　gave　him　a　fatherly　expression。　〃Don't　fret。　We'll　float　her　off　at　high　tide　as　easy　as　you　please。　You'll　see。〃
　Shaba　looked　noticeably　relieved。　〃The　men　will　be　glad　to　hear　that；　Cap'n。〃
　〃Good；　lad。〃　Fawkes　patted　him　on　the　back。　〃Now　get　back　to　your　station　and　see　to　the　loading　of　the　guns。〃
　Shaba　saluted　and　left。　Fawkes　watched　the　young　black　man　fade　into　the　darkness　beyond　the　passageway；　and　for　the　first　time　he　felt　a　great　wave　of　sorrow　for　what　he　was　about　to　do。
　His　reverie　was　diverted　by　the　sound　of　an　aircraft。　He　looked　into　the　brightening　sky　and　saw　the　blinking　multicolored　lights　of　a　helicop…ter　flying　upriver　from　the　east。　He　grabbed　a　pair　of　night　glasses　and　aimed　them　at　the　craft　as　it　passed　overhead。　The　letters　numa　were　vaguely　distinguishable　through　the　lenses。
　National　Underwater　and　Marine　Agency；　Fawkes　translated　silently。　No　danger　there。　Probably　returning　to　the　Capital　from　some　oceano…graphic　expedition。　He　nodded　at　his　reflection　in　the　glass；　a　feeling　of　security　growing　within　him。
　He　replaced　the　binoculars　on　the　bridge　counter　and　turned　his　attention　once　again　to　the　radio。　He　held　the　headset　to　one