cc.floodtide-第37章

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t；　you　can　lend　a　hand　at　damage　control。　And　you　can　bet　there　will　be　plenty　of　damage　to　go　around。〃
　
　〃Will　it　be　absolutely　necessary　to　shoot　down　the　boarding　party　without　warning？〃　asked　Linda　Ross。
　〃Keep　in　mind；〃　Cabrillo　said　to　her　bluntly；　〃these　people　do　not　intend　to　allow　anybody　on　board　this　ship　to　reach　port。　Because　they　are　no　doubt　aware　of　our　involvement　with　the　underwater　search　of　the　United　States；　there　is　not　the　slightest　doubt　they　mean　for　all　of　us　to　sleep　with　fishes　before　morning。〃
　Pitt's　eyes　raked　Cabrillo's；　searching　for　a　tinge　of　regret；　a　sign　that　he　thought　that　what　they　were　about　to　do　was　a　colossal　mistake；　but　there　was　none　of　it。　〃Does　it　bother　you　that　we　might　be　mistaken　about　their　intentions　and　mit　an　act　of　war？〃
　Cabrillo　pulled　his　pipe　out　of　a　breast　pocket　and　scraped　the　bowl。　Then　he　said；　〃I　don't　mind　admitting　that　I'm　a　bit　worried　on　that　score；　but　we　can't　run　from　then　air　force；　so　we　have　no　option　but　to　bluff　our　way　out；　and　if　that　fails；　we　must　fight。〃
　Like　a　gray　ghost　gliding　over　a　black　sea　streaked　by　the　full　moon；　the　big　Chinese　destroyer　overhauled　the　slow…moving　Oregon　with　the　malevolence　of　an　Orca　killer　whale　stalking　a　friendly　manatee。　But　for　its　ungainly　array　of　navigation；　surface…　and　air…search　detection　and　countermeasure　systems　that　were　perched　above　ugly　towers；　the　ship　might　have　had　a　sleek　appearance。　As　it　was；　it　looked　like　it　was　glued　together　by　a　small　child　who　wasn't　sure　where　all　the　pieces　went。
　Hali　Kasim；　the　Oregon's　vice　president　in　charge　of　munications；　called　through　the　speakerphone　on　the　bridge　wing　to　Cabrillo；　who　now　stood　observing　the　destroyer　through　night　glasses。
　〃Mr。　Cabrillo；　they've　ordered　us　to　heave　to。〃
　〃In　what　language？〃
　〃English；〃　answered　Kasim。
　〃An　amateurish　attempt　to　get　us　to　tip　our　hand。　Answer　them　in　Arabic。〃
　There　was　a　short　pause。　〃They　called　our　bluff；　sir。　They　have　someone　on　board　who　can　speak　Arabic。〃
　〃String　them　along　for　a　little　while。　We　don't　want　to　appear　too　anxious　to　appease。　Ask　why　we　should　obey　their　orders　in　international　waters。〃
　Cabrillo　lit　his　pipe　and　waited。　He　looked　down　on　the　deck　where　Pitt；　Giordino　and　three　of　his　crew　had　assembled；　all　armed　for　a　knock…down；　drag…out　fight。
　〃They're　not　buying　it；〃　came　Hali　Kasim's　voice　again。　〃They　say　if　we　don't　stop　immediately；　they　will　blow　us　out　of　the　water。〃
　〃Are　they　jamming　in　anticipation　of　us　sending　out　a　distress　signal？〃
　〃You　can　make　book　on　it。　Any　message　we　transmit　outside　the　immediate　area　will　be　received　garbled。〃
　〃What　are　the　chances　of　a　friendly　warship　cruising　in　the　neighborhood；　like　a　nuclear　submarine？〃
　〃None；〃　came　the　voice　of　Linda　Ross　in　the　countermea…sures　and　surveillance　room。　〃The　only　vessel　within　a　hundred　miles　is　a　Japanese　auto　transporter。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Cabrillo　sighed。　〃Signal　them　that　we　will　ply　and　heave　to。　But　inform　them　that　we　will　protest　this　outrage　to　the　World　Board　of　Trade　and　International　Maritime　Council。〃
　Cabrillo　could　then　do　nothing　but　wait　and　watch　the　Chinese　destroyer　emerge　from　the　gloom。　Besides　his　pair　of　unblinking　eyes；　the　big　warship　was　covered　by　the　two　concealed　Harpoon　missiles　mounted　in　the　center　of　the　Oregon's　hull；　the　two　Mark　46　torpedoes　in　their　underwater　tubes　and　the　muzzles　of　twin　Oerlikon　thirty…millimeter　guns　that　could　spit　seven　hundred　rounds　per　minute　out　of　each　barrel。
　
　All　that　could　be　done　in　preparation　had　been　done。　Cabrillo　was　proud　of　his　corporate　team。　If　there　was　unease；　none　of　them　showed　it。　What　was　visible　was　a　determination；　a　grim　satisfaction；　that　they　were　going　to　tackle　an　opponent　twice　their　size　and　ten　times　as　powerful　and　see　it　through　to　the　end。　There　would　be　no　turning　of　the　cheek　after　a　slap。　The　point　of　no　return　had　been　passed；　and　it　was　they　who　were　going　to　slap　first。
　
　The　destroyer　came　to　a　stop　and　drifted　no　more　than　two　hundred　yards　away　from　the　Oregon。　Through　his　night　glasses；　Cabrillo　could　read　the　big　white　numbers　painted　near　the　bow。　He　called　down　to　Ross；　〃Can　you　give　me　an　ID　on　Chinese　destroyer　number　one　hundred　sixteen？　I　repeat；　one　sixteen。〃
　
　He　waited　for　a　reply　as　he　watched　a　boat　being　lowered　from　the　destroyer's　midships　and　clearing　her　davits。　The　boarding　operation　went　smoothly；　and　the　boat　pushed　off　from　the　destroyer　and　headed　across　the　gap　between　the　two　ships；　ing　alongside　the　hull　of　the　simple…looking　old　freighter　within　twelve　minutes。　He　noted　with　no　little　satisfaction　that　the　turreted　twin　one…hundred…millimeter　guns　on　the　bow　were　the　only　weapons　trained　on　the　Oregon。　The　missile　launchers　appeared　deserted　and　secured。　The　thirty…seven　millimeter　gun　mounts　had　their　barrels　trained　fore　and　aft。
　
　〃I　have　your　ED；〃　came　back　Ross。　〃Number　one　sixteen　is　called　the　Chengdo。　She's　the　biggest　and　the　best　the　Chinese　Navy　has　to　offer。　She　is　captained　by　mander　Yu　Tien。　With　enough　time　I　could　get　you　his　bio。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Ross；　don't　bother。　It's　always　nice　to　know　the　name　of　your　enemy。　Please　stand　by　to　fire　all　weapons。〃　〃All　weapons　ready　to　fire　when　you　are；　Mr。　Chairman；〃　Ross　answered；　cool　and　unruffled。
　
　The　boarding　ladder　was　thrown　over　the　side；　and　the　Chinese　marines；　led　by　a　naval　lieutenant　and　a　captain　of　the　marine　contingent；　quickly　scrambled　from　their　boat　onto　the　deck。　There　was　an　almost　festive　air　about　the　boarders；　a　placency　bordering　more　on　a　Boy　Scout　camping　trip　than　an　operation　conducted　by　tough　fighting　men。
　
　〃Damn！〃　Cabrillo　cursed。　There　were　more　than　twice　as　many　of　them　as　he　figured；　and　all　armed　to　the　teeth。　He　agonized　over　not　being　able　to　spare　any　more　men　for　the　approaching　fight　on　the　main　deck。　He　looked　down　at　Pete　James　and　Bob　Meadows；　the　ship's　divers　and　former　Navy　SEALs；　and　at　Eddie　Seng；　all　three　of　them　standing　at　the　railing；　their　machine　pistols　held　under　their　coats。　Then　he　spotted　Pitt　and　Giordino　standing　squarely　in　front　of　the　Chinese　officers；　their　hands　held　high　in　the　air。
　
　Cabrillo's　immediate　reaction　was　one　of　infuriation。　With　Pitt　and　Giordino　surrendering　without　a　fight；　the　other　three　crewman　wouldn't　stand　a　prayer　against　over　twenty　bat…trained　marines。　The　Chinese　would　brush　them　aside　and　be　all　over　the　ship　in　a　matter　of　minutes。　〃You　yellow…bellied　wimps！〃　he　exploded；　shaking　his　fist　at　Pitt　and　Giordino。　〃You　dirty　traitors。〃
　
　〃What's　your　count？〃　Pitt　asked　Giordino　as　the　last　of　the　Chinese　marines　came　over　the　railing。
　〃Twenty…one；〃　Giordino　answered　placently。　〃Four　to　one　against　us。　Not　exactly　what　I'd　call　'slightly　outnumbered。'　〃
　〃I　make　the　same　odds。〃
　
　They　stood　awkwardly；　wearing　long　winter　coats；　their　hands　raised　over　their　heads　in　apparent　surrender。　Eddie　Seng；　James　and　Meadows　stared　at　the　boarding　Chinese　sullenly；　like　crewmen　irritated　by　any　interruption　of　their　normal　shipboard　routine。　The　effect　had　the　results　Pitt　counted　on。　The　Chinese　marines；　seeing　the　feeble　reception；　relaxed　and　held　their　weapons　loosely；　not　expecting　any　resistance　from　a　disreputable　crew　on　a　shabby　ship。
　
　The　naval　officer；　arrogant　and　staring　as　if　in　disgust　at　the　motley　crew　that　greeted　him；　strutted　up　to　Pitt　and　demanded　to　know　in　English　where　he　could　find　the　ship's　captain。
　
　Without　the　slightest　indication　of　malice　as　he　looked　from　the　naval　lieutenant　to　the　marine　captain；　Pitt　purred　politely；　〃Which　of　you　is　Beavis　and　which　is　Butt…head？〃
　
　〃What　was　that　you　said？〃　demanded　the　lieutenant。　〃If　you　don't　want　to　get　shot；　lead　me　to　your　captain。〃
　Pitt's　expression　took　on　a　mask　of　pure　fright。　〃Heh？　You　want　captain？　You　should　say　so。〃　He　turned　slightly　and　made　a　production　of　tilting　his　head　toward　Cabrillo　on　the　bridge　wing；　who　was　cursing　a　blue　streak　in　anger。　
　In　a　moment　of　sheer　reflex；　all　heads　and　every　eye　followed　Pitt's　gesture　toward　the　shouting　man。
　
　Then　from　the　bridge；　with　sudden；　startling　clarity；　Cabrillo　understood　what　the　two　NUMA　men　were　up　to　and　gazed　hypnotized　at　the　bloody　fight　that　erupted　before　his　eyes。　He　watched　in　dazed　astonishment　as　Pitt　and　Giordino　suddenly　sprouted　another　pair　of　hands　from　under　their　coats；　each　hand　gripping　a　machine　pistol；　fingers　locked　on　the　triggers。　They　cut　a　deadly　swath　through　the　Chinese　marines；　who　were　caught　totally　off　balance。　The　two　officers　were　the　first　to　fall；　followed　by　the　next　six　men　behind　them。　They　could　never；　never　have　been　prepared　for　such　a　vicious　onslaught；　certainly　not　from　men　who　appeared　frightened　and　cowering。　In　a　fraction　of　a　minute　the　unexpected　assault　had　cut　the　odds　from　four　to　a　little　more　than　two　to　one。　An　arrogant　confrontation　quickly　turned　into　a　gory　rampage　of　chaos。
　
　Aware　in　advance　of　the　phony…arms　deception；　Seng；　James　and　Meadows　instantly　leveled　their　weapons　and　opened　fire　less　than　a　second　after　Pitt　and　Giordino。　It　was　bedlam。　Men　falling；　scattering；　frantically　trying　to　cut　each　other　down。　The　Chinese　marines　were　professional　fighting　men　and　a　brave　lot。　They　recovered　quickly　and　stood　their　ground　on　the　deck；　now　heaped　with　their　fallen　rades；　and　fired　back。　In　a　lightning　stroke　of　time　every　clip　in　every　gun　had　gone　empty　in　almost　the　same　instant。　Seng　was　hit　and　down　on　one　knee。　Meadows　had　taken　a　bullet　in　one　shoulder　but　was　swinging　his　gun　like　a　club。　With　no　time　to　reload；　Pitt　and　Giordino　threw　their　weapons　at　the　eight　Chinese　marines　still　fighting　and　waded　in　slugging。　Yet　even　during　that　raging　flash　when　the　two　forces　fell　on　each　other　in　a　cursing；　punching　horde　of　twisting　bodies；　Pitt　was　aware　of　Cabrillo's　cry　from　the　bridge。
　
　〃Fire；　for　God's　sake；　fire！〃
　
　A　section　of　the　Oregon's　hull　snapped　open　in　the　blink　of　an　eye　and　the　two　Harpoon　missiles　burst　from　their　launchers　in　almost　the　same　instant　as　the　Mark　46　torpedoes　shot　from　their　tubes。　A　second　later　the　twin　Oerlikons　opened　up；　aimed　and　fired　by　mand　from　the　bat　control　center；　spitting　a　hail　of　shells　against　the　Chengdo's　missile　launchers；　that　knocked　their　systems　out　of　action　before　they　could　be　activated　and　launched　against　the　unarmored　freighter。　Time　froze　to　a　stop　as　the　Oregon's　first　missile　tore　into　the　big　destroyer's　hull　below　the　large　single　funnel　and　burst　into　the　engine　room。　The　second　Harpoon　struck　the　tower　mounting　the　Chengdo's　munications　systems；　effectively　silencing　any　transmission　to　her　fleet　mand。
　
　The　slower　torpedoes　came　next；　exploding　as　one　no　more　than　thirty　feet　apart；　throwing　up　a　tremendous　pair　of　geysers　beside　the　Chengdo；　rocking　it　nearly　over　on　its　beam　ends。　It　settled　back　on　an　even　keel　for　a　moment；　and　then　began　to　list　to　starboard　as　the　water　rushed　in　through　two　holes　as　large　as　barn　doors。
　
　Captain　Yu　Tien　of　the　Chengdo；　normally　a　cautious　man；　fell　for　the　sleight　of　hand　as　he　peered　through　binoculars　at　the　seemingly　innocent　old　ship；　observing　his　marines　board　without　t