tc.patriotgames-第106部分

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　　　　In　all　the　time　they'd　lived　here。　Jack's　only　concern　with　the　cliff　was　to　keep　away　from　it；　lest　it　crumble　under　him　or　his　daughter。　The　view　from　his　house　was　magnificent　enough；　but　the　cliffs　height　meant　that　from　the　house　there　was　an　unseen　dead　zone　a　thousand　yards　wide　which　the　terrorists　had　used　to　approach。　And　they'd　used　ladders　to　climb　up　　of　course；　that's　what　ladders　are　for！　Their　placements　were　marked　the　way　it　said　in　every　field　manual　in　the　world；　with　wooden　stakes　wrapped　with　white　gauze　bandaging；　to　be　seen　easily　in　the　dark。
　　　　〃Okay；　people；〃　Ryan　began；　looking　around。　〃Shorty　and　I　go　first。　Your　Highness；　you　e　next　with　the　women。　Robby；　stay　ten　yards　back　and　cover　the　rear。〃　
　　　　〃I　am　adept　with　light　weapons；〃　the　Prince　said。
　　　　Jack　shook　his　head　emphatically。　〃No；　if　they　get　you；　they　win。　If　something　goes　wrong。　I'm　depending　on　you　to　take　care　of　my　wife　and　kid；　sir。　If　something　happens；　go　south。　About　half　a　mile　down　you'll　find　a　gully。　Take　that　inland　and　don't　stop　till　you　find　a　hard…surface　road。　It's　real　thick　cover；　you　should　be　okay。　Robby；　if　anything　gets　close；　blast　it。〃　
　　　　〃But　what　if　〃
　　　　〃But；　hell！　Anything　that　moves　is　the　enemy。〃　Jack　looked　around　one　last　time。　Give　me　five　trained　men；　maybe　Breckenridge　and　four　others；　and　I　could　set　up　one　pisser　of　an　ambush　。　。　。　and　if　pigs　had　wings　。　。　。　〃Okay；　Shorty；　you　go　down　first。　If　you　fuck　us　up；　the　first　thing　happens；　I'll　cut　you　in　half。　Do　you　believe　me？〃　
　　　　〃Yes。〃　
　　　　〃Then　move。〃
　　　　Cooley　moved　to　the　ladder　and　proceeded　down　backward；　with　Ryan　several　feet　above　him。　The　aluminum　rungs　were　slippery　with　the　rain；　but　at　least　the　wind　was　blocked　by　the　body　of　the　cliff。　The　extension　ladder　　how　the　hell　did　they　get　that　here？　　wobbled　under　him。　Ryan　tried　to　keep　an　eye　on　Shorty　and　slipped　once　halfway　down。　Above　him；　the　second　group　was　beginning　its　descent。　The　Princess　had　taken　charge　of　Sally；　and　was　ing　down　with　Ryan's　daughter　between　her　body　and　the　ladder　to　keep　her　from　falling。　He　could　hear　his　little　girl　whimpering　anyway。　Jack　had　to　ignore　it。　There　wasn't　room　in　his　consciousness　for　anger　or　pity　now。　He　had　to　do　this　one　right　the　first　time。　There　would　be　no　second。　A　flash　of　lightning　revealed　the　two　boats　a　hundred　yards　to　the　north。　Ryan　couldn't　tell　if　anyone　was　there　or　not。　Finally　they　reached　the　bottom。　Cooley　moved　a　few　feet　to　the　north　and　Ryan　jumped　down　the　next　few　feet；　gun　at　the　ready。　
　　　　〃Let's　just　stay　put　for　a　minute。〃
　　　　The　Prince　arrived　next；　then　the　women。　Finally　Robby　started　down；　his　Marine　parka　making　him　invisible　against　the　black　sky。　He　came　down　quickly；　also　jumping　the　last　five　feet。
　　　　〃They　got　to　the　house　just　as　I　started　down。　Maybe　this'll　slow　them　some。〃　He　held　the　white…wrapped　stakes。　It　might　make　the　ladders　harder　to　find。
　　　　〃Good　one；　Rob。〃　Jack　turned。　The　boats　were　out　there；　invisible　again　in　the　rain　and　shadows。　Shorty　had　said　that　only　one　man　was　guarding　them。　What　if　he's　lying？　Ryan　asked　himself。　Is　this　guy　willing　to　die　for　his　cause？　Will　he　sacrifice　himself　to　shout　a　warning　and　get　us　killed？　Does　it　make　a　difference　　do　we　have　a　choice？　No！
　　　　〃Move　out；　Shorty。〃　Ryan　gestured　with　his　gun。　〃Just　remember　who　dies　first。〃
　　　　It　was　high　tide；　and　the　water　came　to　within　a　few　feet　of　the　base　of　the　cliff。　The　sand　was　wet　and　hard　under　his　feet　as　Ryan　stayed　three　feet　behind　the　terrorist。　How　far　were　they　　a　hundred　yards？　How　far　can　one　hundred　yards　be？　Ryan　asked　himself。　He　was　discovering　that　now。　The　people　behind　him　kept　close　to　the　kudzu…covered　cliff。　That　made　them　extremely　hard　to　see；　though　if　there　was　someone　in　the　boat；　he'd　know　that　people　were　ing　toward　him。　
　　　　Krak！
　　　　Everyone's　heart　stopped　for　a　moment。　A　lightning　stroke　had　shattered　a　tree　on　the　cliff's　edge　not　two　hundred　yards　behind　them。　For　a　brief　instant　he　saw　the　boats　again　　and　there　was　a　man　in　each。
　　　　〃Just　one；　eh？〃　Jack　muttered。　Shorty　hesitated；　then　proceeded；　hands　at　his　side。　With　the　return　of　darkness；　he　again　lost　sight　of　the　boats；　and　Jack　reasoned　that　everyone's　night　vision　was　equally　ruined　by　the　lightning。　His　mind　returned　to　the　image　he'd　just　seen。　The　man　in　the　near　boat　was　standing　at　the　near　side；　amidships；　and　appeared　to　be　holding　a　weapon　　one　that　needed　two　hands。　Ryan　was　enraged　that　Shorty　had　lied　to　him。　It　seemed　absurd　as　he　watched　the　emotion　flare　and　fade　in　his　consciousness。
　　　　〃What's　the　password？〃
　　　　〃There　isn't　one；〃　Dennis　Cooley　replied；　his　voice　unsteady　as　he　contemplated　the　situation　from　rather　a　different　perspective。　He　was　between　the　loaded　guns　of　two　sides；　each　of　which　was　likely　to　shoot。　Cooley's　mind　was　racing；　too；　looking　for　something　he　could　do　to　turn　the　tables。
　　　　Was　he　telling　the　truth　now？　Ryan　wondered；　but　there　wasn't　time　to　puzzle　that　one　out。　〃Keep　moving。〃
　　　　The　boat　reappeared　now。　At　first　it　was　just　something　different　from　the　darkness　and　the　beach。　In　five　more　yards　it　was　a　shape。　The　rain　was　pouring　down　hard　enough　to　distort　everything　he　saw；　but　there　was　a　white；　almost　rectangular　shape　ahead。　Ryan　guessed　the　range　at　fifty　yards。　He　prayed　for　the　lightning　to　hold　off　now。　If　they　were　lighted；　the　men　in　the　boats　might　be　able　to　recognize　a　face；　and　if　they　saw　that　Shorty　was　in　front　。　。　。　
　　　　How　do　I　do　this　。　。　。？
　　　　You　can　be　a　policeman　or　a　soldier；　but　not　both。　Joe　Evans'　words　at　the　Tower　came　back；　and　told　him　what　he　had　to　do。
　　　　Forty　yards　to　go。　There　were　rocks　on　the　beach；　too；　and　Jack　had　to　be　careful　not　to　trip　over　one。　He　reached　forward　with　his　left　hand　and　unscrewed　the　bulky　silencer。　He　stuck　it　in　his　belt。　He　didn't　like　what　it　did　to　the　gun's　balance。
　　　　Thirty　yards。　He　searched　for　and　found　the　stock　release　switch　on　the　Uzi。　Jack　extended　the　stock；　planting　the　metal　buttplate　in　his　armpit　and　snugging　the　weapon　in　tight。　Just　a　few　more　seconds　。　。　。
　　　　Twenty…five　yards。　He　could　see　the　boat　clearly　now；　twenty　feet　or　so；　with　a　blunt　bow；　and　another　just　like　it　perhaps　twenty　yards　beyond。　There　was　definitely　a　man　in　the　near　boat；　standing　amidships　on　its　port　side；　looking　straight　at　the　people　approaching　him。　Jack's　right　thumb　pushed　the　Uzi's　selector　switch　all　the　way　forward；　to　full　automatic　fire；　and　he　tightened　his　fist　on　the　pistol　grip。　He　hadn't　fired　an　Uzi　since　a　brief　familiarization　at　Quantico。　It　was　small　but　nicely　balanced。　The　black　metal　sights　were　nearly　useless　in　the　dark；　though；　and　what　he　had　to　do　。　。　。
　　　　Twenty　yards。　The　first　burst　has　to　be　right　on；　Jack；　right　the　hell　on　。　。　。
　　　　Ryan　took　half　a　step　to　his　right　and　dropped　to　one　knee。　He　brought　the　weapon　up；　placing　the　front　sight　low　and　left　of　his　target　before　he　held　the　trigger　down　for　a　four…round　burst。　The　gun　jerked　up　and　to　the　right　as　the　bullets　left；　tracing　a　diagonal　line　across　the　target's　outline。　The　man　dropped　instantly　from　sight；　and　Ryan　was　again　dazzled；　this　time　by　his　own　muzzle　flashes。　Shorty　had　dived　to　the　ground　at　the　sound。
　　　　〃e　on！〃　Ryan　yanked　Cooley　up　and　threw　him　forward；　but　Jack　stumbled　in　the　sand　and　recovered　to　see　that　the　terrorist　was　indeed　running　for　the　boat　　where　there　was　a　gun　to　turn　against　them　all！　He　was　yelling　something　Ryan　couldn't　understand。
　　　　Jack　had　nearly　caught　up　when　Shorty　got　there　first　　
　　　　And　died。　The　man　in　the　other　boat　fired　a　long；　wild　burst　in　their　direction　just　as　Cooley　was　leaping　aboard。　Ryan　saw　his　head　snap　over　and　Shorty　fell　into　the　boat　like　a　sack　of　groceries。　Jack　knelt　at　the　gunnel　and　fired　his　own　burst；　and　the　other　man　went　down。　Hit　or　not；　Ryan　couldn't　tell。　It　was　just　like　the　exercises　at　Quantico；　he　told　himself；　total　chaos；　and　the　side　that　makes　the　fewest　mistakes　wins。
　　　　〃Get　aboard！〃　He　stayed　up；　holding　his　gun　on　the　other　boat。　He　didn't　turn　his　head；　but　felt　the　others　board。　Lightning　flashed；　and　Ryan　saw　the　man　he'd　shot；　three　red　spots　on　his　chest；　his　eyes　and　mouth　agape　in　surprise。　Shorty　was　beside　him；　the　side　of　his　head　horribly　opened。　Between　the　two　it　seemed　a　gallon　of　blood　had　been　poured　onto　the　fiberglass　deck。　Robby　finally　arrived　and　jumped　aboard。　A　head　appeared　in　the　other　boat；　and　Ryan　fired　again；　then　clambered　aboard。
　　　　〃Robby；　get　us　the　hell　outa　here！〃　Jack　moved　on　hands　and　knees　to　the　other　side；　making　sure　that　everyone's　head　was　down。
　　　　Jackson　moved　into　the　driver's　seat　and　searched　for　the　ignition。　It　was　set　up　just　like　a　car；　and　the　keys　were　in。　He　turned　them；　and　the　engine　coughed　to　life　as　yet　another　burst　of　fire　came　from　the　other　boat。　Ryan　heard　the　sound　of　bullets　hitting　the　fiberglass。　Robby　cringed　but　didn't　move　as　his　hand　found　the　shift　lever。　Jack　brought　the　gun　up　and　fired　again。　
　　　　〃Men　on　the　cliff！〃　the　Prince　shouted。

　　　　O'Donnell　gathered　his　men　quickly　and　gave　out　new　orders。　All　the　security　men　were　dead；　he　was　sure；　but　that　helicopter　had　probably　landed　to　the　west。　He　didn't　think　the　missile　had　hit；　though　it　was　impossible　to　be　sure。
　　　　〃Thanks　for　the　help；　Sean；　they　were　better　than　I　expected。　You　have　them　in　the　house？〃　
　　　　〃I　left　Dennis　and　two　others。　I　think　we　should　leave。〃　
　　　　〃You　got　that　right！〃　Alex　said。　He　pointed　west。　〃I　think　we　have　some　more　pany。〃
　　　　〃Very　well。　Sean；　you　collect　them　and　bring　them　to　the　cliff。〃
　　　　Miller　got　his　two　men　and　ran　back　to　the　house。　Alex　and　his　man　tagged　along。　The　front　door　was　open；　and　all　five　raced　inside；　turned　around　the　fireplace；　and　stopped　cold。

　　　　Paulson；　his　spotter；　and　another　agent　were　running　too。　He　led　them　along　the　woodline　to　where　the　driveway　turned；　and　dropped　again；　setting　his　rifle　up　on　the　bipod。　There　were　sirens　in　the　distance　now；　and　he　wondered　what　had　taken　so　goddamned　long　as　he　tracked　his　night…sight　in　a　search　for　targets。　He　caught　a　glimpse　of　men　running　around　the　northern　side　of　the　house。
　　　　〃Something　feels　wron