cc.fireice-第57章

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　few　hundred　feet　before　it　stopped　pletely。
　
　Austin　clenched　his　fists　in　anger；　helpless　to　prevent　the　cowardly　attack　on　the　innocent　tugboat。　He　asked　Slade　to　call　the　tug　on　his　walkie…talkie。　After　several　attempts；　the　sailor　gave　up。　；　〃It's　no　use；〃　he　said。　〃Damn；　why'd　they　attack　those　guys？〃
　〃They　know　the　tug　was　our　only　propulsion。〃
　
　Although　the　boats　were　out　of　sight　at　the　edge　of　darkness；　Austin　could　hear　their　idling　motors。　Then　he　saw　the　gun　flashes；　followed　by　what　sounded　like　a　hundred　woodpeckers　attacking　the　ship。　Slade　tried　to　lean　over　the　bulwark　to　check　out　the　noise。　Austin　pulled　him　down　on　the　deck。
　
　〃Jeez；　those　idiots　are　shooting　at　us！〃　Slade　yelled。　〃Don't　they　know　this　is　a　national　treasure？〃
　〃We'll　be　fine；〃　Austin　said。　〃Old　lronsides　stopped　cannonballs。　A　little　automatic　gunfire　isn't　going　to　sink　her。〃
　〃I'm　not　worried　about　that。　I　don't　want　my　crew　hurt。〃
　
　Austin　had　been　listening　with　one　ear　to　the　gunfire。　〃They've　stopped　shooting。　Tell　your　men　to　keep　their　heads　down　and　wait　for　orders。〃　Austin　realized　Slade　was　in　mand。　〃I'm　sorry。　Those　are　suggestions。　This　is　your　mand。〃
　〃Thanks；〃　Slade　said。　〃Your　suggestions　are　well　taken。　Don't　worry；　I　won't　fall　apart。　I　was　a　Marine　before　they　gave　me　this　duty。　I'm　only　here　because　I　hurt　my　knee　in　an　accident。〃
　
　Austin　studied　the　young　man's　face　and　saw　no　fear；　only　determination。
　
　〃Okay；　here's　my　take　on　that　strafing　run。　They　wanted　to　drive　off　the　tug　so　we'd　be　dead　in　the　water。　They　know　they　can't　sink　us。　My　guess　is　that　they'll　try　to　board　us。〃
　
　Slade　tucked　his　chin　in。　〃That's　unacceptable。　No　enemy　has　ever　e　aboard　the　Constitution　except　for　prisoners　of　war。　You　can　be　certain　it's　not　going　to　happen　on　my　watch。〃　He　glanced　around　the　spar　deck。　〃There's　only　one　problem。　The　ship　originally　carried　more　than　four　hundred　men。　We're　a　little　shorthanded。〃
　〃We'll　have　to　make　do。　Can　we　get　the　old　girl　moving？〃
　〃We　were　about　to　hoist　sail　when　we　stopped　to　pick　you　and　your　friend　up。　The　best　we　can　get　out　of　it　is　a　couple　of　knots。　lronsides　is　no　speedboat。〃
　〃The　main　thing　is　that　we　establish　even　a　little　control　of　the　situation。　It　will　keep　them　guessing。　Speed's　not　important。　What　about　weapons？　Any　on　board？〃
　
　Slade　laughed　and　pointed　to　the　cannon　lined　up　on　both　sides　of　the　deck。　〃You're　talking　about　a　fighting　ship。　Take　your　pick；　thirty…two…pounder　Carronades　on　this　deck　and　twenty…four…pounder　long　guns　below。　Plus　a　couple　of　Bow　Chasers。　More　than　fifty　cannon　total。　Unfortunately；　we're　not　allowed　to　carry　gunpowder。〃
　〃I　was　thinking　about　something　more　practical。〃
　〃We've　got　boarding　pikes　and　axes　and　cutlasses。　There　are　belaying　pins　everywhere。　They　make　fine　blackjacks。〃
　
　Austin　told　the　young　officer　to　do　what　he　could。　Slade　gathered　his　men　around；　introduced　Austin　and　told　the　crew　that　the　people　who　shot　up　the　ship　might　try　boarding　it。　He　ordered　every　light　on　the　ship　doused　and　told　some　of　the　crew　to　get　aloft。　They　scrambled　up　the　rigging　and　onto　the　yards；　where　they　loosed　the　topsails。　The　inner　jib　was　set　and　the　ship　began　to　move；　on　her　own；　at　a　speed　of　about　one　knot。
　
　The　sail　crew　dropped　down　to　the　deck　and　hauled　up　the　main　topsail　yard。　The　3；500…square…foot　mainsail　filled　with　the　breeze；　and　the　mast　began　to　squeak。　The　ship　crept　along　at　the　speed　of　a　fast　snail。　Then　the　outer　jib　was　set；　followed　by　the　fore　topsail。　The　ship　tripled　its　speed。　The　movement　would　pose　no　problem　for　anyone　trying　to　board；　but　it　gave　the　crew　a　modicum　of　control。　In　the　meantime；　weapons　were　being　stacked　on　the　deck。
　
　Slade　picked　up　a　cutlass　and　felt　the　sharp　edge　of　the　blade。　〃Warfare　was　a　personal　thing　back　then；　wasn't　it？〃
　〃Unless　you　know　how　to　use　that　thing；　this　might　be　more　practical；〃　Austin　said；　hefting　a　boarding　pike；　basically　a　long　wooden　shaft　with　a　sharp　metal　spearhead　on　one　end。
　
　The　crew　split　up　into　two　parties；　one　for　each　side；　and　nervously　kept　watch。　A　party　was　dispatched　to　the　fighting　platform　halfway　up　the　main　mast　where　Marines　and　sharpshooters　used　to　rain　death　down　on　attackers。　Austin　paced　restlessly　back　and　forth；　a　belaying　pin　in　his　hand。
　
　They　didn't　have　to　wait　long。　The　first　sign　of　the　renewed　attack　was　the　loud　rapping　against　the　ship's　side。　The　attackers　were　trying　to　soften　them　up　with　automatic　gunfire。　The　bullets　chipped　the　black　and　white　paint；　but　hardly　put　a　dent　in　the　two…foot…　thick　oak　hull。　The　doughty　old　ship　plowed　through　the　water；　brushing　off　the　bullets　as　if　they　were　a　swarm　of　pesky　mosquitoes。　Like　the　Barbary　pirates　and　the　British　navy；　the　attackers　learned　Old　lronsides　was　no　pushover。
　
　The　attackers　saw　that　their　bullets　were　having　no　effect　and　stopped　firing；　instead　switching　on　their　spotlights；　revving　their　motors　and　closing　on　their　slow…moving　target。　Austin　heard　the　boats　thump　against　the　hull。　He　had　figured　that　the　attackers　would　try　to　climb　up　the　standing　rigging　that　ran　from　the　masts　down　the　side　of　the　ship　like　rope　ladders；　and　when　he　saw　a　hand　grab　onto　the　bottom　ledge　of　a　gun　port；　Austin　brought　the　belaying　pin　down　on　the　attacker's　knuckles。
　
　There　was　a　shriek　of　pain。　The　hand　let　go；　and　the　attacker　fell　into　the　harbor　with　a　loud　splash。　A　face　appeared　on　the　other　side　of　the　gun　port。　Austin　set　aside　the　belaying　pin　and　picked　up　a　boarding　pike。　He　tucked　the　spearhead　under　the　man's　chin。　Austin　was　practically　invisible　on　the　darkened　deck。　The　attacker　felt　the　sharp　point　tickling　his　Adam's　apple　and　froze；　afraid　to　move。
　
　Austin　pushed　the　pike　forward　slightly；　and　the　face　disappeared。　This　time　there　was　a　loud　thud；　as　the　attacker　fell　into　a　boat。　Seeing　his　gun　port　clear　for　the　time　being；　Austin　strode　down　the　line　of　cannon。　The　ship's　crewmen　were　using　their　boarding　pikes　with　similar　effect。　Working　in　pairs；　some　of　them　tossed　cannonballs　over　the　side。　Judging　by　the　yells　and　crunching　sounds；　they　were　finding　their　mark。
　
　Slade　came　running　up；　still　wearing　his　cocked　hat。　〃Not　one　of　those　jerks　has　set　foot　on　deck。〃　His　sweaty　face　beamed　with　pride。
　
　〃Guess　they're　getting　the　point；〃　Austin　said。　A　face　appeared　over　the　bulwark　behind　Slade。　Before　Austin　could　warn　Slade；　the　attacker　had　hooked　a　leg　over　the　side　and　was　bringing　his　assault　rifle　to　bear。
　
　Austin　threw　the　boarding　pike　like　a　Masai　warrior　taking　on　a　lion。　The　pike　struck　the　attacker　in　the　chest；　and　he　let　out　a　cry　of　surprise　and　toppled　back；　his　weapon　firing　uselessly　in　the　air。
　
　Austin　grabbed　a　cutlass　and　leaped　onto　the　nearest　cannon；　intending　to　cut　the　rigging　to　prevent　it　from　being　used　as　a　ladder。　As　he　brought　the　sword　back；　he　heard　someone　yell：
　
　〃Starboard！〃
　
　The　shout　came　from　the　fighting　platform。　The　assault　had　moved　around　to　the　other　side　of　the　ship。
　
　Two　of　Razov's　men　had　climbed　onto　the　bulwark　and　were　unslinging　their　weapons；　preparing　to　spray　the　defenders　concentrated　on　the　deck。
　
　Acting　on　pure　instinct；　Austin　slashed　the　line　nearest　to　him；　grabbed　onto　the　loose　end　like　Tarzan　swinging　through　the　trees　and　launched　himself　across　the　deck；　his　legs　extended　in　front　of　him。　The　attackers　looked　up　and　saw　a　dark　Batman…like　apparition　flying　their　way。　They　tried　to　get　their　guns　around；　but　Austin's　feet　struck　them　with　the　full　force　of　his　weight；　and　they　pitched　over　backward。　Austin　reached　the　end　of　his　arc　and　swung　back；　then　dropped　onto　the　deck　amid　loud　cheers　from　the　astounded　crew。
　
　〃Wow！〃　Slade　said。　〃Where　did　you　learn　that　trick？〃
　〃Watching　old　Errol　Flynn　movies　in　my　misspent　youth。　Is　everybody　okay？〃
　〃Couple　of　cuts　and　bruises；　but　Old　lronsides's　deck　has　not　been　violated。〃
　
　Austin　grinned　and　clamped　the　sailor　on　the　shoulder；　then　looked　around。
　
　〃What's　that？〃
　〃Boat　motors；〃　Slade　said。　They　ran　to　the　side　of　the　ship　and　peered　over。　They　could　see　three　wakes。　A　cheer　went　up　from　the　crew；　but　it　faded　when　the　boats　came　to　a　stop　a　few　hundred　feet　away　and　the　pinpoints　marking　muzzle　fire　began。　But　instead　of　aiming　for　the　nearly　impregnable　sides　of　the　ship；　they　were　concentrating　on　the　rigging。　The　sails　were　being　shredded。　Bits　of　rope　and　splinters　of　wood　began　to　rain　down　on　the　deck。　The　observers　scrambled　down　from　their　platforms。
　
　〃Those　cowards！〃　Slade　yelled。　〃They　can't　board　her；　so　they're　going　to　rip　her　to　shreds。〃　Tatters　of　sail　fell　on　his　head。　〃We've　got　to　do　something！〃
　
　Austin　grabbed　the　sailor's　arms。　〃You　mentioned　a　twenty…one…gun　cannon　salute。〃
　〃What？　Oh；　yeah；　the　two　cannon　on　the　foredeck。　We　fire　them　every　morning　and　sunset。　They're　old　breechloaders。　We've　jerry…rigged　them　to　fire　three…hundred…and…eighty…millimeter　shells。　But　they　shoot　blanks；　except　for　the　time　when　someone　forgot　to　remove　a　cap　and　we　hit　a　police　boat。〃
　〃Our　friends　out　there　don't　know　they're　blanks。〃
　

　〃That's　right。〃
　
　Austin　quickly　outlined　his　plan。　Slade　ran　back　and　ordered　the　helmsman　to　steer　a　new　course。　The　helmsman　swung　the　wheel　over；　and　the　Constitution　slowly　came　about　so　that　its　bow　was　pointed　at　the　attack　boats。
　
　Slade　rounded　up　his　gun　crew　and　they　climbed　down　to　the　gun　deck　and　hurried　forward。　Within　moments；　the　forward　cannon　were　loaded。　Austin　peered　through　the　gun　port　and　saw　the　attack　boats　lined　up。　They　had　been　readying　for　another　assault　when　the　ship　turned　and　came　at　them。　With　Old　lronsides　taking　the　offensive；　they　seemed　to　be　confused。　Austin　wanted　them　as　close　together　as　possible。　The　gap　was　closing。　The　boats　started　to　move　apart。
　
　〃Now！〃　Austin　ordered。　He　stepped　away　and　covered　his　ears。
　
　Slade　pulled　the　lanyards。　There　was　a　double　roar；　the　foredeck　was　enveloped　in　smoke　and　the　cannons　leaped　back；　their　recoil　held　in　check　by　thick　cordage。　The　gun　crew　had　purposely　left　the　caps　in。
　
　The　bluff　worked。　The　attackers　saw　the　big　black　ship　bearing　down　on　them　behind　a　cloud　of　purple　smoke；　heard　the　twin　projectiles　whistle　though　the　air　and　saw　the　geysers　of　water。　The　boats　sprinted　out　of　the　way　like　startled　jackrabbits；　then　headed　at　full　throttle　toward　the　mouth　of　the　harbor　where　they　disappeared　in　the　darkness。
　
　The　cannons　roared　again；　with　blanks　this　time；　as　the　ship　gave　chase。
　
　Even　as　the　echoes　faded；　a　mighty　roar　went　up　from　the　crew。
　
　〃Party's　over；〃　Austin　said。　Slade　was　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。　The　ment　that　followed　might　not　have　been　in　the　same　class　of　immortal　words　as　〃Don't　give　up　the　ship〃　or　〃Damn　the　torpedoes！〃　。　。　。　but　as　Austin　watched　the　departing　wakes　of　the　attack　boats；　he　couldn't　argue　with　the　young　sailor　when　he　said；　〃Old　lronsides　still　knows　how　to　kick　ass！〃
　
　…33…
　WASHINGTON；　D。C。
　
　SANDECKER　GLANCED　AROUND　the　Oval　Office　and　reflected　on　the　life…and…death　decisions　that　had　been　made　in　the　famous　room。　It　was　hard　to　believe　tha