tc.thebearandthedragon-第210部分

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　Ryan　flipped　the　belt　buckle　in　his　lap　and　lurched　forward；　knocking　into　the　Marine　sergeant　in　the　jump　seat。　Colonel　Malloy　was　in　the　right…front　seat；　doing　his　job；　flying　the　chopper。　Ryan　grabbed　his　left　shoulder。　The　head　came　around。
　〃Yes；　sir；　what　is　it？〃
　〃See　that　cruiser　down　there？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。〃　〃Land　on　it。〃
　〃Sir；　I…〃
　〃Land　on　it；　that's　an　order！〃　Ryan　shouted　at　him。
　〃Aye　aye；〃　Malloy　said　like　a　good　Marine。
　The　Blackhawk　turned；　arcing　down　the　Anacostia　River；　and　flaring　as　Malloy　judged　the　wind。　The　Marine　hesitated；　looking　back　one　more　time。　Ryan　insistently　jerked　his　hand　at　the　ship。
　The　Blackhawk　approached　cautiously。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Andrea　demanded。
　〃I'm　getting　off　here。　You're　going　to　KNEECAP。〃
　〃NO！〃　she　shouted　back。　〃I　stay　with　you！〃
　〃Not　this　time。　Have　your　baby。　If　this　doesn't　work　out；　I　hope　the　kid　turns　out　like　you　and　Pat。〃　Ryan　moved　to　open　the　door。　The　Marine　sergeant　got　there　first。　Andrea　moved　to　follow。
　〃Keep　her　aboard；　Marine！〃　Ryan　told　the　crew　chief。　〃She　goes　with　you！〃
　〃NO！〃　Price…O'Day　screamed。
　〃Yes；　sir；〃　the　sergeant　acknowledged；　wrapping　his　arms　around　her。
　President　Ryan　jumped　to　the　nonskid　decking　of　the　cruiser's　landing　area　and　ducked　as　the　chopper　pulled　back　into　the　sky。　Andrea's　face　was　the　last　thing　he　saw。　The　rotor　wash　nearly　knocked　him　down；　but　going　to　one　knee　prevented　that。　Then　he　stood　up　and　looked　around。
　〃What　the　hell　is…Jesus；　sir！〃　the　young　petty　officer　blurted；　recognizing　him。
　〃Where's　the　captain？〃
　〃Captains　in　CIC；　sir。〃
　〃Show　me！〃
　The　petty　officer　led　him　into　a　door；　then　a　passageway　that　led　forward。　A　few　twists　and　turns　later；　he　was　in　a　darkened　room　that　seemed　to　be　set　sideways　in　the　body　of　the　ship。　It　was　cool　in　here。　Ryan　just　walked　in；　figuring　he　was　President　of　the　United　States；　mander…in…chief　of　the　Army　and　Navy；　and　the　ship　belonged　to　him　anyway。　It　took　a　stretch　to　make　his　limbs　feel　as　though　they　were　a　real　part　of　his　body；　and　then　he　looked　around；　trying　to　orient　himself。　First　he　turned　to　the　sailor　who'd　brought　him　here。
　〃Thanks；　son。　You　can　go　back　to　your　place　now。〃
　〃Aye；　sir。〃　He　turned　away　as　though　from　a　dream/nightmare　and　resumed　his　duties　as　a　sailor。
　Okay；　Jack　thought；　now　what？　He　could　see　the　big　radar　displays　set　fore　and　aft；　and　the　people　sitting　sideways　to　look　at　it。　He　headed　that　way；　bumping　into　a　cheap　aluminum　chair　on　the　way；　and　looked　down　to　see　what　looked　like　a　Navy　chief　petty　officer　in　a　khaki　shirt　whose　pocket…well；　damn…Ryan　exercised　his　mand　prerogative　and　reached　down　to　steal　the　sailor's　cigarette　pack。　He　lifted　one　out；　and　lit　it　with　a　butane　lighter。　Then　he　walked　to　look　at　the　radar　display。
　〃Jesus；　sir；〃　the　chief　said　belatedly。
　〃Not　quite。　Thanks　for　the　smoke。〃　Two　more　steps　and　he　was　behind　a　guy　with　silver　EAGLEs　on　his　collar。　That　would　be　the　captain　of　USS　Gettysburg。　Ryan　took　a　long　and　forting　drag　on　the　smoke。
　〃God　damn　it！　There's　no　smoking　in　my　CIC！〃　the　captain　snarled。
　〃Good　evening；　Captain；〃　Ryan　replied。　〃I　think　at　this　moment　we　have　a　ballistic　warhead　inbound　on　Washington；　presumably　with　a　thermonuclear　device　inside。　Can　we　set　aside　your　concerns　about　secondhand　smoke　for　a　moment？〃
　Captain　Blandy　turned　around　and　looked　up。　His　mouth　opened　as　wide　as　a　U。S。　Navy　ashtray。　〃How…who…what？〃
　〃Captain；　let's　ride　this　one　out　together；　shall　we？〃
　〃Captain　Blandy；　sir；〃　the　man　said；　snapping　to　his　feet。
　〃Jack　Ryan；　Captain。〃　Ryan　shook　his　hand　and　bade　him　sit　back　down。　〃What's　happening　now？〃
　〃Sir；　the　NMCC　tells　us　that　there's　a　ballistic　inbound　for　the
　East　Coast。　I've　got　the　ship　at　battle　stations。　Radar's　up。　Chip　inserted？〃　he　asked。
　〃The　chip　is　in；　sir；〃　Senior　Chief　Leek　confirmed。
　〃Chip？〃
　〃Just　our　term　for　it。　It's　really　a　software　thing；〃　Blandy　explained。
　
　Cathy　and　the　kids　were　pulled　up　the　steps　and　hustled　into　the　forward　cabin。　The　colonel　at　the　controls　was　in　an　understandable　hurry。　With　Three　and　Four　already　turning；　he　started　engines　One　and　Two；　and　the　VC…25　started　rolling　the　instant　the　truck　with　the　steps　pulled　away；　making　one　right…angle　turn；　and　then　lumbering　down　Runway　One…Nine　Right　into　the　southerly　wind。　Immediately　below　him；　Secret　Service　and　Air　Force　personnel　got　the　First　Family　strapped　in；　and　for　the　first　time　in　fifteen　minutes；　the　Secret　Service　people　allowed　themselves　to　breathe　normally。　Not　thirty　seconds　later；　Vice　President　Jackson's　helicopter　landed　next　to　the　E…4B　National　Emergency　Airborne　mand　Post；　whose　pilot　was　as　anxious　to　get　off　the　ground　as　the　driver　of　the　VC…25。　That　was　acplished　in　less　than　ninety　seconds。　Jackson　had　never　strapped　in；　and　stood　to　look　around。　〃Where's　Jack？〃　the　Vice　President　asked。　Then　he　saw　Andrea；　who　looked　as　though　she　just　miscarried　her　pregnancy。
　〃He　stayed；　sir。　He　had　the　pilot　drop　him　on　the　cruiser　in　the　Navy　Yard。〃
　〃He　did　what？〃
　〃You　heard　me；　sir。〃
　〃Get　him　on　the　radio…right　now！〃　Jackson　ordered。
　
　Ryan　was　actually　feeling　somewhat　relaxed。　No　more　rushing　about；　here　he　was；　surrounded　by　people　calmly　and　quietly　going　about　their　jobs…outwardly　so；　anyway。　The　captain　looked　a　little　tense；　but　captains　were　supposed　to；　Ryan　figured；　being　responsible　in　this　case　for　a　billion　dollars'　worth　of　warship　and　puters。
　〃Okay；　how　are　we　doing？〃
　〃Sir；　the　inbound；　if　it's　aimed　at　us；　is　not　on　the　scope　yet。〃
　〃Can　you　shoot　it　down？〃
　〃That's　the　idea；　Mr。　President；〃　Blandy　replied。　〃Is　Dr。　Gregory　around？〃
　〃Here；　Captain；〃　a　voice　answered。　A　shape　came　closer。　〃Jesus！〃
　〃That's　not　my　name…I　know　you！〃　Ryan　said　in　considerable　surprise　〃Major…Major　。　。　。〃
　〃Gregory；　sir。　I　ended　up　a　half　a　colonel　before　I　pulled　the　plug。　SDIO。　Secretary　Bretano　had　me　look　into　upgrading　the　missiles　for　the　Aegis　system；〃　the　physicist　explained。　〃I　guess　we're　going　to　see　if　it　works　or　not。〃
　〃What　do　you　think？〃　Ryan　asked。
　〃It　worked　fine　on　the　simulations〃　was　the　best　answer　available。
　〃Radar　contact。　We　got　us　a　bogie；〃　a　petty　officer　said。　〃Bearing　three…four…niner；　range　nine　hundred　miles；　speed…that's　the　one；　sir。　Speed　is　one　thousand　four　hundred　knots…I　mean　fourteen　thousand　knots；　sir。〃　Damn；　he　didn't　have　to　add。
　〃Four　and　a　half　minutes　out；〃　Gregory　said。
　〃Do　the　math　in　your　head？〃　Ryan　asked。
　〃Sir；　I've　been　in　the　business　since　I　got　out　of　West　Point。〃
　Ryan　finished　his　cigarette　and　looked　around　for…
　〃Here；　sir。〃　It　was　the　friendly　chief　with　an　ashtray　that　had　magically　appeared　in　CIC。　〃Want　another　one？〃
　〃Why　not？〃　the　President　reasoned。　He　took　a　second　one；　and　the　senior　chief　lit　it　up　for　him。　〃Thanks。〃
　〃Gee；　Captain　Blandy；　maybe　you're　declaring　a　blanket　amnesty？〃
　〃If　he　isn't；　I　am；〃　Ryan　said。
　〃Smoking　lamp　is　lit；　people；〃　Senior　Chief　Leek　announced；　an　odd　satisfaction　in　his　voice。
　The　captain　looked　around　in　annoyance；　but　dismissed　it。
　〃Four　minutes；　it　might　not　matter　a　whole　lot；〃　Ryan　observed　as　coolly　as　the　cigarette　allowed。　Health　hazard　or　not；　they　had　their　uses。
　〃Captain；　I　have　a　radio　call　for　the　President；　sir。〃
　〃Where　do　I　take　it？〃　Jack　asked。
　〃Right　here；　sir；〃　yet　another　chief　said；　lifting　a　phone…type　receiver　and　pushing　a　button。
　〃Ryan。〃
　〃Jack；　it's　Robby。〃　〃My　family　get　off　okay？〃
　〃Yeah；　Jack；　they're　fine。　Hey；　what　the　hell　are　you　doing　down　there？〃
　〃Riding　it　out。　Robby；　I　can't　run　away；　pal。　I　just　can't。〃
　〃Jack　if　this　thing　goes　off…〃
　〃Then　you　get　promoted；〃　Ryan　cut　him　off。
　〃You　know　what　I'll　have　to　do？〃　the　Vice　President　demanded。
　〃Yeah；　Robby；　you'll　have　to　play　catch…up。　God　help　you　if　you　do。〃　But　it　won't　be　my　problem；　Ryan　thought。　There　was　some　consolation　in　that。　Killing　some　guy　with　a　gun　was　one　thing。　Killing　a　million　with　a　nuke　。　。　。　no；　he　just　couldn't　do　that　without　eating　a　gun　afterward。　You're　just　too　Catholic；　Jack；　my　boy。
　〃Jesus；　Jack；〃　his　old　friend　said　over　the　digital；　encrypted　radio　link。　Clearly　thinking　about　what　horrors　he'd　have　to　mit；　son　of　a　preacher…man　or　not。　。　。
　〃Robby；　you're　the　best　friend　any　man　could　hope　to　have。　If　this　doesn't　work　out；　look　after　Cathy　and　the　kids　for　me；　will　ya？〃
　〃You　know　it。〃
　〃We'll　know　in　about　three　minutes；　Rob。　Get　back　to　me　then；　okay？〃
　〃Roger；〃　the　former　TOMCAT　driver　replied。　〃Out。〃
　〃Dr。　Gregory；　what　can　you　tell　me？〃
　〃Sir；　the　inbound　is　probably　their　equivalent　of　one　of　our　old　W…51s。　Five　megatons；　thereabouts。　It'll　do　Washington；　and　everything　within　ten　miles…hell；　it'll　break　windows　in　Baltimore。〃
　〃What　about　us；　here？〃
　〃No　chance。　Figure　it'll　be　targeted　inside　a　triangle　defined　by　the　White　House；　the　Capitol　Building；　and　the　Pentagon。　The　ship's　keel　might　survive；　only　because　it's　under　water。　No　people。　Oh；　maybe　some　really　lucky　folks　in　the　D。C。　subway。　That's　pretty　far　underground。　But　the　fires　will　suck　all　the　air　out　of　the　tunnels；　probably。〃　He　shrugged。　〃This　sort　of　thing's　never　happened　before。　You　can't　say　for　sure　until　it　does。〃
　〃What　chances　that　it'll　be　a　dud？〃
　〃The　Pakistanis　have　had　some　failed　detonations。　We　had　fizzles　once；　mainly　from　helium　contamination　in　the　secondary。　That's　why　the　terrorist　bomb　at　Denver　fizzled…〃
　〃I　remember。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Gregory　said。　〃It's　over　Buffalo　now。　Now　it's　reentering　the　atmosphere。　That'll　slow　it　down　a　little。〃
　〃Sir；　the　track　is　definitely　on　us；　the　NMCC　says；〃　a　voice　said。
　〃Agreed；〃　Captain　Blandy　said。
　〃Is　there　a　civilian　alert？〃　Ryan　asked。
　〃It's　on　the　radio；　sir；〃　a　sailor　said。　〃It's　on　CNN；　too。〃
　〃People　will　be　panicking　out　there；〃　Ryan　murmured；　taking　another　drag。
　Probably　not。　Most　people　don't　really　know　what　the　sirens　mean；　and　the　rest　won't　believe　the　radio；　Gregory　thought。　〃Captain；　we're　getting　close。〃　The　track　crossed　over　the　Pennsylvania/New　York　border…
　〃System　up？〃　Blandy　asked。
　〃We　are　fully　on　line；　sir；〃　the　Weapons　Officer　answered。　〃We　are　ready　to　fire　from　the