p&c.icelimit-第55章

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　Eli　Glinn　stood　alone　at　the　windows；　hands　clasped　behind　his　back。　He　gazed　out　at　the　violence；　conscious　of　an　internal　serenity　he　had　rarely　felt　since　the　project　began。　It　had　been　a　project　fraught　with　unexpected　turns　and　surprises。　Even　here；　on　the　ship；　the　meteorite　continued　to　bedevil　them：　Howell　had　returned　from　the　sick　bay　with　reports　of　six　dead　and　Garza　injured。　Nevertheless；　EES　had　succeeded。　It　was　one　of　the　greatest　engineering　feats　ever。
　He　would　not　care　to　repeat　such　a　project　again。
　He　turned。　Britton　and　the　other　ship's　officers　were　glued　to　the　surface　radar；　tracking　the　Almirante　Ramirez。　
　Lloyd　hovered　behind　them。　It　was　a　tense…looking　group。　Clearly；　his　assurances　about　andante　Vallenar　had　not　convinced　them。　A　natural；　if　illogical；　position　to　take。　But　Glinn's　proprietary　profiling　program　had　never　been　wrong　in　a　critical　prediction。　Besides；　he　knew　Vallenar。　He　had　met　the　man　on　his　own　turf。　He　had　seen　the　iron　discipline　on　his　ship。　He　had　seen　the　man's　skill　as　a　naval　officer；　his　overweening　pride；　his　love　of　country。　The　man　will　not　cross　the　line。　Not　for　a　meteorite。　At　the　last　minute　would　turn；　the　moment　of　crisis　would　pass；　and　they　would　be　on　their　way　home。
　〃Captain；〃　he　asked；　〃what　course　do　you　propose　to　take　us　out　of　Drake　Passage？〃
　〃As　soon　as　the　Ramirez　turns　around；　I'll　order　a　three　three　zero　bearing　to　bring　us　back　into　the　lee　of　South　America　and　get　us　out　of　this　gale。〃
　Glinn　nodded　approvingly。　〃That　will　be　soon。〃
　Britton's　eyes　dropped　back　to　the　screen。　She　said　nothing　more。
　Glinn　strolled　over　and　stood　with　Lloyd　behind　Captain　Britton。　On　the　electronic　chart；　the　green　dot　that　represented　Vallenar　was　fast　approaching　international　waters。　Glinn　couldn't　help　but　smile。　It　was　like　watching　a　horse　race　on　television　for　which　he　alone　knew　the　oute。
　〃Any　radio　contact　from　the　Ramirez？〃　
　〃No；〃　Britton　replied。　〃They've　been　maintaining　radio　silence　throughout。　Not　even　making　contact　with　their　own　base。　Banks　heard　the　base　CO　order　him　back　hours　ago。〃　
　Naturally；　thought　Glinn。　It　fit　the　profile。
　He　allowed　his　gaze　to　linger　on　Britton：　at　the　scattering　of　freckles　on　her　nose；　the　poise　in　her　bearing。　She　doubted　his　judgment　now；　but　later　she　would　see　that　he　had　been　right。　He　thought　about　the　courage　she　had　shown；　the　unerring　good　sense；　the　coolness　under　pressure；　the　dignity；　even　while　the　bridge　had　been　out　of　her　mand。　This　was　a　woman；　he　felt；　he　could　finally　trust。　Perhaps　this　was　the　woman　he　had　been　looking　for。　It　bore　further　consideration。　He　began　thinking　of　the　correct　strategy　to　win　her；　potential　avenues　of　failure；　the　likeliest　path　to　success。。。
　He　glanced　back　at　the　radar　screen。　The　dot　was　now　just　minutes　from　the　line。　He　felt　the　faintest　twinge　of　nervousness　disturb　his　serenity。　But　all　factors　had　been　taken　into　account。　The　man　would　turn。
　He　looked　deliberately　away　from　the　screen　and　strolled　back　to　the　window。　It　was　an　awesome　sight。　The　waves　were　topping　the　maindeck；　sweeping　past　in　green　sheets；　streaming　through　the　scuppers　back　into　the　sea。　The　Rolvaag；　despite　its　movement；　still　felt　quite　stable　…　it　was　a　following　sea；　which　greatly　aided　stability。　And　the　mass　in　the　center　tank　acted　as　ballast。
　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　Any　moment　now；　Britton　would　report　that　the　Ramirez　had　turned　back。
　There　was　an　audible　sound；　a　collective　murmur；　from　the　group　around　the　radar。
　〃The　Ramirez　is　changing　course；〃　said　Britton；　glancing　up。
　Glinn　nodded；　suppressing　a　smile。
　〃Turning　northerly　to　a　zero　six　zero　heading。〃
　Glinn　waited。
　〃He　just　crossed　the　line；〃　Britton　added　in　a　low　voice。　〃Still　heading　zero　six　zero。〃
　Glinn　hesitated。　〃Vallenar's　navigation　is　slightly　off。　His　rudder　is　damaged。　He's　clearly　in　the　process　of　turning　around。〃
　The　minutes　ticked　off。　Glinn　left　the　windows　and　once　again　approached　the　screen。　The　green　dot　continued　heading　east…northeast。　It　wasn't　exactly　chasing　them　now；　but　it　wasn't　turning　around　either。　Strange。　He　felt　another　twinge。
　〃He　will　e　around　momentarily；〃　murmured　Glinn。
　The　silence　lengthened　as　the　Ramirez　continued　on　its　bearing。
　〃Maintaining　speed；〃　said　Howell。　
　〃Turn；〃　muttered　Lloyd。
　The　ship　did　not　turn。　Instead；　it　made　another　slight　course　correction　to　zero　five　zero。
　〃What's　the　hell's　he　doing？〃　Lloyd　suddenly　exploded。
　Britton　straightened　up　and　looked　squarely　at　Glinn。　She　said　nothing；　but　words　were　unnecessary：　Glinn　could　read　her　expression　with　crystal　clarity。
　Doubt　passed　through　him　like　a　spasm；　to　be　quickly　replaced　by　reassurance。　He　knew　now　what　the　problem　was。　〃Of　course。　He's　not　only　having　trouble　with　his　rudder；　but　his　primitive　navigation　systems　have　been　affected　by　our　jamming。　The　man　doesn't　know　where　he　is。〃　He　turned　to　his　operative　at　the　console。　〃Turn　off　the　ECM。　Let　our　friend　find　his　bearings。〃
　The　operative　typed　a　series　of　mands。
　〃He's　twenty…five　miles　distant；〃　said　Howell。　〃We're　just　within　range　of　his　Exocets。〃
　〃I'm　aware　of　that；〃　murmured　Glinn。
　There　was　a　moment　in　which　the　entire　bridge　fell　silent。　Then　Howell　spoke　again。　〃We're　being　illuminated　with　targeting　radar。　He's　getting　our　range　and　bearing。〃
　For　the　first　time　since　his　final　op　as　a　Ranger；　Glinn　felt　a　certain　kind　of　uneasiness　in　his　gut。　〃Give　him　a　few　more　minutes。　Let　him　figure　out　we're　both　in　international　waters。〃
　Again　the　minutes　ticked　by。
　〃For　God's　sake；　bring　the　ECM　back　on　line！〃　Britton　said　sharply。
　〃Another　minute。　Please。〃
　〃Exocet　launched；〃　said　Howell。
　〃CIWS　full　auto；〃　said　Britton。　〃Prepare　to　launch　chaff。〃
　The　minutes　passed　in　frozen　dread。
　Then　there　was　a　sudden　rattling　of　Gatling　guns　as　the　CIWS　went　into　action；　followed　by　a　harrowing　airburst　off　the　starboard　side　of　the　ship。　A　tiny　piece　of　shrapnel　ticked　off　a　bridge　window；　leaving　a　star。
　〃Still　being　painted　with　radar；〃　said　Howell。
　〃Mr。　Glinn！〃　Britton　cried。　〃Order　your　man　to　reemploy　ECM！〃
　〃Reemploy　electronic　countermeasures；〃　Glinn　said　weakly；　leaning　on　the　console　for　support。　He　stared　at　the　implacable　green　point　on　the　screen；　his　mind　racing　to　find　the　answers；　to　see　the　pattern。　Vallenar　had　stayed　true　to　form　by　launching　a　missile　at　them。　This　was　a　gesture　Glinn　had　anticipated。　Now；　having　rattled　his　saber　in　impotent　rage；　the　man　would　turn　back。　Glinn　waited；　willing　the　ship　to　turn。
　But　the　pulsing　green　dot　continued　on　its　course：　not　their　own　course；　exactly；　but　a　course　that　took　it　ever　deeper　into　international　waters。
　〃Eli？〃　It　was　Lloyd。　His　voice　was　strangely　calm。　With　an　effort；　Glinn　detached　himself　from　a　hundred　avenues　of　speculation　and　met　Lloyd's　flinty　stare。
　〃He's　not　going　to　turn；〃　Lloyd　said。　〃He's　ing　after　us。　For　the　kill。〃
　
　Rolvaag；
　10：20　A。M。
　
　SALLY　BRITTON　steeled　herself；　tuning　out　extraneous　details　one　at　a　time；　focusing　her　mind　for　what　was　to　e。　One　look　at　Glinn's　pale；　shattered　face　had　disarmed　her　anger　and　told　her　all　she　needed　to　know　about　the　failure　of　his　prediction。　She　felt　a　twinge　of　sympathy　for　the　man；　despite　the　unforgivable　misjudgment　which　had　now　put　all　their　lives　in　extreme　danger。　She　herself　had　made　a　misjudgment；　on　a　bridge　similar　to　this　one；　not　all　that　long　ago。
　She　turned　her　attention　to　the　rear　of　the　bridge；　where　a　large　nautical　chart　of　the　Cape　Horn　region　was　displayed。　As　she　looked　at　it；　going　automatically　through　the　familiar　steps；　she　felt　the　worst　of　the　tension　ease。　A　few　options　presented　themselves。　All　might　not　be　lost。
　She　felt　Glinn's　presence　behind　her。　She　turned　to　see　that　the　color　was　returning　to　his　face；　and　the　look　of　shock　and　paralysis　was　leaving　his　eyes。　She　realized；　with　surprise；　that　this　man　was　still　far　from　beaten。
　〃Captain；〃　he　said；　〃may　I　confer　with　you　a　moment？〃
　She　nodded。
　He　took　up　position　beside　her；　removing　a　piece　of　paper　from　the　vest　pocket　of　his　suit　as　he　did　so。　〃I　have　here　all　the　specifications　of　the　Almirante　Ramirez。　The　data　is　accurate　as　of　approximately　three　weeks　ago。〃
　She　looked　at　him。　〃Where　did　you　get　this？〃
　〃From　our　home　office。〃
　〃Let's　hear　it。〃
　〃The　Almirante　Ramirez　is　an　Almirante…class　destroyer；　built　for　the　Chilean　navy　by　Vickers…Armstrong　in　the　U。K。　Its　keel　was　laid　in　1957　and　the　ship　was　missioned　in　1960。　It　has　a　plement　of　266；　with　17　officers。　It　displaces　…　〃
　〃I　don't　need　to　know　how　many　dinners　they　serve。　Get　to　the　threat　systems。〃
　Glinn's　eyes　flitted　downward。　〃It　was　retrofitted　in　the　seventies　to　hold　four　Aerospatiale　38　Exocet　sea…skimming　missiles。　They　have　a　range　of　twenty…five　nautical　miles。　Fortunately　for　us；　they　use　an　earlier　generation　of　active　radar　homing　that　can't　overe　our　advanced　ECM　system。　So　the　Exocets　are　useless　to　him；　even　in　visual　range。〃
　〃What　else　has　he　got？〃
　〃Four　Vickers　four…inch　guns；　two　forward　and　two　aft；　that　can　deliver　forty　rounds　a　minute　with　a　range　of　ten　nautical　miles。　These　are　normally　directed　using　two　SGR　102　fire…control　radars；　but；　if　necessary；　can　also　be　targeted　visually。〃
　〃Dear　God。　Forty　rounds　a　minute　per　gun？〃　
　〃There　are　also　four　Bofors　40…millimeters　with　a　range　of　six　point　five　nautical　miles。　They　can　throw　three　hundred　shells　a　minute。〃
　Britton　felt　the　blood　leave　her　face。　〃Any　one　of　those　guns　could　take　us　out　in　a　matter　of　minutes。　We　can't　let　him　get　within　range。〃
　〃Visual　targeting　in　this　heavy　sea　will　be　difficult。　But　you　are　correct：　we　wouldn't　last　long　in　a　barrage。　We've　got　to　increase　our　speed。〃
　Britton　didn't　answer　at　first。　〃You　know　we're　already　pushing　the　limits　of　the　turbines　at　sixteen　knots。〃　She　turned　to　the　chief　mate。　〃Mr。　Howell；　is　there　any　way　we　can　squeeze　a　little　more　speed　out　of　her？〃
　〃I　might　be　able　to　wring　out　another　knot。〃
　〃Very　well。　Do　it。〃
　He　turned　to　the　helmsman。　〃All　ahead　one　ten。〃
　Deep　inside　the　ship；　she　felt　an　answering　rumble　as　the　engines　were　brought　up　to　110　rpms。　That　would　give　them　…　she　did　a　quick　mental　calculation　…　four　and　a　half　hours；　maybe　a　little　less；　before　they　were　within　range　of　the　Vickers。
　She　turned　back　to　Glinn　and　the　chart。　〃I've　worked　it　out；〃　she　said。　〃Our　best　option　is　to　head　northeast　into　Argentinian　national　waters　as　soon　as　possible。　Argentina　is　a　bitter　enemy　of　Chile；　and　they'd　hardly　countenance　a　Chilean　destroyer　chasing　us　into　their　waters。　They'd　consider　it　an　act　of　war。〃
　She　glanced　at　Glinn；　but　his　veiled　look　betrayed　nothing。
　〃Alternatively；　we　could　head　for　the　British　naval　base　on　the　Falkland　Islands。　We　should　also　radio　our　government　and　report　we're　under　attack　by　a　Chilean　warship。　We　might　be　able　to　put　some　military　pressure　on　that　crazy　son　of　a　bitch。〃
　She　waited　for　a　response。
　At　last；　Glinn　spoke。　〃I　understand　now　what　Vallenar's　slight　course　changes　were　about。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃We've　been　cut　off。〃
　Britton　looked　quickly　back　at　the　map。　The　Ramirez　was　now　twenty　miles　northwest