cc.vixen03-第58章

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　〃How？〃　grunted　a　skeptical　Steiger。
　〃The　draft　was　the　giveaway；〃　answered　Pitt。　〃There's　only　one　waterway　within　Fawkes's　steaming　distance　that　would　require　a　draft　of　no　more　than　twenty…two　feet。〃
　Sandecker　and　Steiger　stood　silent　and　expressionless；　waiting　for　Pitt　to　unravel　the　knot。
　〃The　Capital；〃　Pitt　said　with　a　certain　finality。　〃Fawkes　is　going　to　run　the　Iowa　up　the　Potomac　River　and　hit　Washington。〃
　Fawkes's　arms　ached　and　the　sweat　of　intense　concentration　rolled　down　his　weathered　face　and　trickled　into　his　beard。　But　for　his　arm　movements；　he　might　have　been　cast　in　bronze。　He　was　desperately　tired。　He　had　stood　at　the　helm　of　thelowa　for　nearly　ten　hours；　wresting　the　mighty　ship　through　channels　she　was　never　designed　to　enter。　The　palms　of　his　hands　were　seeded　with　broken　blisters；　but　he　did　not　care。　
　He　was　in　the　homestretch　of　his　impossible　journey。　The　long；　lethal　guns　of　number…two　turret　were　already　within　range　of　Pennsylvania　Avenue。
　He　called　for　flank　speed　on　the　telegraph；　and　the　vibration　from　deep　belowdecks　increased。　Like　an　old　war…horse　at　the　sound　of　the　bugle；　the　Iowa　dug　her　screws　into　the　muddy　river　and　charged　up　the　narrows　beside　Cornwallis　Neck　on　the　Maryland　bank。
　Thelowa　looked　like　something　not　of　this　world；　rather；　it　looked　like　a　mammoth　smoke…breathing　monster　erupting　from　the　depths　of　hell。　She　forged　ahead　faster；　sweeping　past　the　channel　buoys　that　fell　back　toward　the　first　tendrils　of　dawn。　It　was　as　if　she　had　a　heart　and　soul　and　somehow　knew　this　was　her　final　voyage；　knew　she　was　about　to　die；　the　last　of　the　fighting　battleships。
　Fawkes　stared　in　fascination　at　the　glow　from　the　lights　of　Washington　looming　twenty　miles　ahead。　The　Marine　base　at　Quantico　fell　behind　the　stern　as　thelowa's　irresistible　mass　hurtled　around　Hallowing　Point　and　sped　past　Gunston　Cove。　Only　one　bend　remained　before　her　bows　entered　the　straight　channel　ending　on　the　edge　of　the　golf　course　at　East　Potomac　Park。
　〃Twenty…three　feet；〃　the　depth　reader's　voice　droned　over　the　speaker。　〃Twenty…three　。　。　。　twenty…two…five　。　。　。〃
　The　ship　dashed　by　the　next　channel　buoy；　her　eighteen…foot　five…bladed　outboard　propellers　flailing　at　the　bottom　silt；　her　bow　throwing　sheets　of　white　foam　as　she　plowed　against　the　five…knot　current。
　〃Twenty…two　feet；　Captain。〃　The　voice　had　a　tone　of　urgency。　〃Twenty…two；　holding　。　。　。　holding。　。。。　Oh　God；　twenty…one…five！〃
　Then　she　struck　the　rising　riverbed　like　a　hammer　into　a　pillow。　The　impact　seemed　a　sensation　more　known　than　felt　as　the　bows　bored　into　the　mud。　The　engines　continued　to　hum　and　the　screws　went　on　thrash…ing；　but　thelowa　lay　still。
　She　had　e　to　rest　below　the　sloping　grounds　of　Mount　Vernon。
　
　58
　
　〃I　didn't　believe　it　possible；〃　said　Admiral　Joseph　Kemper　as　he　gazed　in　admiration　at　the　Iowa's　image　on　the　viewing　screen。　〃Sailing　a　steel　fortress　ninety　miles　up　a　narrow；　meandering　river　in　the　dead　of　night　is　a　remarkable　feat　of　seamanship。〃
　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　th