cc.floodtide-第78章

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　〃Most　residents　will　never　get　the　word　in　time；〃　Sandecker　said　seriously。　〃When　that　levee　splits　apart；　every　morgue　between　here　and　the　Texas　border　will　be　working　overtime。〃
　〃If　your　conclusion　is　correct；〃　said　Marchand；　〃and　I　pray　to　God　you　and　mander　Gunn　are　wrong；　we're　already　too　late　to　conduct　a　search　for　explosives　up　and　down　the　river　before　the　ship　arrives　some　time　in　the　next　hour…〃
　〃Make　that　fifteen　minutes；〃　interrupted　Sandecker。
　〃The　United　States　will　never　reach　here；〃　Olson　said　emphatically。　He　paused　to　glance　at　his　watch。　〃My　battle　group　of　national　guardsmen　under　the　able　mand　of　Colonel　Bob　Turner；　a　decorated　veteran　of　the　Gulf　War；　should　be　in　place　and　ready　to　fire　from　the　levee　at　point…blank　range　any　minute。〃
　〃You　might　as　well　send　bees　after　a　grizzly　bear；〃　snorted　Sandecker。　〃From　the　time　she　passes　in　front　of　your　fire…power　until　she　passes　out　of　sight　around　the　next　bend　your　men　will　have　no　more　than　eight　or　ten　minutes。　As　a　Navy　man；　I　can　tell　you　that　fifty　guns　won't　stop　a　ship　the　size　of　the　United　States　in　that　length　of　time。〃
　〃Our　high…velocity；　armor…piercing　rounds　will　make　short　work　of　her；〃　persisted　Olson。
　〃The　liner　is　no　battleship　and　carries　no　armor；　sir。　The　superstructure　is　not　steel　but　aluminum。　Your　armorpenetrating　shells　will　dart　through　one　side　and　out　the　other　without　detonating；　unless　a　lucky　shot　strikes　a　support　beam。　You'd　be　far　better　off　firing　fragmentation　shells。〃
　〃Should　the　ship　survive　the　Army's　blitz；〃　said　Marchand；　〃matters　little。　The　bridge　at　Baton　Rouge　was　designed　and　built　low　specifically　to　prevent　oceangoing　ships　from　continuing　any　farther　up　the　Mississippi。　The　United　States　will　have　to　stop　or　destroy　herself。〃
　〃You　people　still　don't　get　it；〃　Sandecker　said　in　frustration。　〃That　ship　is　rated　at　over　forty　thousand　tons。　It　will　go　through　your　bridge　like　an　enraged　elephant　through　a　greenhouse。〃
　〃The　United　States　will　never　reach　Baton　Rouge；〃　Gunn　maintained。　〃Where　we　stand　is　exactly　where　Qin　Shang　intends　to　blow　the　levee　and　scuttle　the　ship　as　a　diversionary　dam。〃
　〃Then　where　are　the　explosives？〃　asked　Olson　sarcastically。
　〃If　what　you　say　is　true；　gentlemen；〃　said　Marchand　slowly；　〃why　not　simply　ram　the　liner　through　the　levee。　Wouldn't　it　produce　an　opening　with　the　same　result　as　explosives？〃
　Sandecker　shook　his　head。　〃It　may　breach　the　levee；　Sheriff；　but　it　would　also　plug　its　own　hole。〃
　The　admiral　had　no　sooner　finished　speaking　than　the　sound　of　cannonfire　began　thundering　a　few　short　miles　to　the　south。　The　highway　quaked　as　the　tank's　guns　roared　out　in　unison；　their　flashes　lighting　up　the　horizon。　Every　man　on　the　highway　stopped　and　stared　wordlessly　downriver。　The　younger　ones；　not　having　served　during　a　war；　had　never　heard　a　cannon　barrage　before　and　stood　enthralled。　General　Oskar　Olson's　eyes　gleamed　like　a　man　looking　at　a　beautiful　woman。
　〃My　men　have　opened　up　on　her；〃　he　exclaimed　excitedly。　〃Now　we'll　see　what　concentrated　firepower　at　point…blank　range　can　do。〃
　A　sergeant　came　rushing　out　of　the　mand　truck；　snapped　to　attention　in　front　of　General　Olson　and　saluted。　〃Sir；　the　troops　and　deputies　manning　the　north　highway　barricade　report　that　a　pair　of　tractor　trailers　have　crashed　through　at　a　high　rate　of　speed　and　are　heading　this　way。〃
　They　all　spontaneously　turned　and　stared　north；　seeing　two　large　trucks　speeding　side　by　side　down　the　southbound　lanes　of　the　highway；　the　sheriff　patrol　cars　giving　chase　with　sirens　and　flashing　lights。　A　patrol　car　cut　in　front　of　one　of　the　trucks　and　slowed　in　an　attempt　to　pull　it　to　a　stop　on　the　road　shoulder；　but　the　truck　driver　deliberately　swerved　into　the　patrol　car　and　struck　it　in　the　rear；　sending　it　spinning　wildly　off　the　highway。
　〃The　idiot！〃　Marchand　snapped。　〃He's　going　to　jail　for　that。〃
　Only　Sandecker　instantly　recognized　the　threat。　〃Clear　the　road！〃　he　shouted　to　Marchand　and　Olson。　〃For　God's　sake　clear　the　road。〃
　Then　Gunn　knew。　〃The　explosives　are　in　those　trucks！〃　he　yelled。
　Olson　stood　shock…still　in　unprehending　confusion。　His　first　reaction；　his　instantaneous　conclusion；　was　that　both　Sandecker　and　Gunn　had　gone　mad。　Not　Marchand。　He　responded　without　hesitation　and　began　ordering　his　deputies　to　evacuate　the　area。　Finally；　Olson　came　out　of　his　trance　and　shouted　orders　to　his　subordinates　to　get　all　men　and　vehicles　a　safe　distance　away。
　Crowded　as　the　highway　might　have　been；　guardsmen　and　deputies　scattered　to　their　cars　and　trucks　and　accelerated　away；　leaving　the　stretch　of　road　totally　empty　within　sixty　seconds。　Their　response　was　as　immediate　as　it　was　instinctive　once　they　became　aware　of　the　danger。　The　trucks　could　be　seen　clearly　now　as　they　sped　closer。　They　were　semitrucks　and　trailers；　big　eighteen…wheelers　capable　of　carrying　a　load　weighing　over　eighty　thousand　pounds。　No　markings　or　advertising　was　painted　on　their　sides。　They　came　on　seemingly　unstoppable；　their　drivers　hunched　over　the　steering　wheels；　acting　as　though　they　were　bent　on　suicide。
　Their　intentions　became　unmistakable　as　they　skidded　to　a　stop　adjacent　to　the　Mystic　Canal；　one　of　them　jackknifing　across　the　center　strip　dividing　the　highway。　Unseen　and　unnoticed　during　the　bedlam；　a　helicopter　appeared　out　of　the　darkness　and　dropped　between　the　trucks。　The　drivers　leaped　from　their　cabs；　ran　to　the　aircraft　and　scrambled　inside。　Almost　before　the　last　driver's　feet　had　left　the　ground；　the　helicopter's　pilot　lifted　the　craft　into　the　sky；　whipped　it　on　a　nearly　ninety…degree　bank　and　disappeared　into　the　night　toward　the　Atchafalaya　River　to　the　west。
　As　they　raced　south　in　the　backseat　of　Sheriff　Marchand's　patrol　car；　Sandecker　and　Gunn　twisted　around　and　stared　back　through　the　rear　window。　Behind　the　wheel；　Marchand　kept　darting　his　eyes　from　the　highway　and　the　vehicles　speeding　around　him　into　the　sideview　mirror。　〃If　only　the　Army's　demolition　men　could　have　had　time　to　defuse　the　explosives。〃
　
　〃It　would　have　taken　them　an　hour　just　to　find　and　figure　out　the　detonating　mechanism；〃　said　Gunn。
　〃They　won't　blow　the　levee　just　yet；〃　Sandecker　said　quietly。　〃Not　before　the　United　States　arrives。〃
　〃The　admiral　is　right；〃　Gunn　agreed。　〃If　the　levee　is　breached　before　the　United　States　can　be　angled　across　the　channel　to　divert　the　water；　enough　of　the　Mississippi's　flow　will　gush　into　the　canal　to　leave　the　liner　with　her　keel　in　the　mud。〃
　〃There　is　still　a　slight　chance；〃　said　Sandecker。　He　tapped　Marchand　on　the　shoulder。　〃Can　you　raise　General　Olson　on　your　radio？〃
　〃I　can　if　he's　listening；〃　replied　the　sheriff。　He　reached　for　the　microphone　and　began　asking　for　Olson　to　respond。　After　repeating　the　request　several　times；　a　voice　answered。　〃Corporal　Welch　in　the　mand　truck。　I　read　you；　Sheriff。　I'll　patch　in　the　general　for　you。〃
　There　was　a　pause　punctuated　by　static；　and　then　Olson　answered。　〃Sheriff；　what　do　you　want？　I'm　busy　getting　battle　reports　from　my　tanks。〃
　〃One　moment；　sir；　for　Admiral　Sandecker。〃
　Sandecker　leaned　over　the　front　seat　and　took　the　microphone。　〃General；　do　you　have　any　aircraft　in　the　air？〃
　〃Why　do　you　ask？〃
　〃I　believe　they　intend　to　set　off　the　explosives　by　radio　from　the　helicopter　that　snatched　the　drivers。〃
　
　Olson's　voice　suddenly　sounded　old　and　very　tired。　〃Sorry；　Admiral；　the　only　aircraft　I　had　at　my　immediate　mand　were　two　helicopters。　And　now　they　and　the　men　inside　are　gone。〃
　〃You　can't　call　up　any　jets　from　the　nearest　Air　Force　base？〃
　〃I　can　try；〃　Olson　replied　solemnly；　〃but　there　is　no　guarantee　they　could　scramble　and　get　here　in　time。〃
　〃I　understand；　thank　you。〃
　〃Not　to　worry；　Admiral；〃　Olson　said；　his　self…assurance　all　but　gone。　〃She　won't　get　past　my　tanks。〃　But　this　time　around　he　didn't　sound　entirely　as　if　he　meant　it。
　The　gunfire　downriver　came　like　a　death　knell　as　the　United
　States　presented　her　broadside　to　the　gunners　inside　the　tanks。　What　General　Olson　did　not　yet　know　was　that　it　wasn't　a　one…sided　battle。
　Sandecker　passed　the　microphone　back　to　Marchand　and　sagged　into　the　rear　seat；　anxiety　and　defeat　etched　in　his　eyes。　〃That　bastard　Qin　Shang　has　outsmarted　us　all；　and　there　isn't　a　damned　thing　we　can　do　about　it　except　stand　by　helplessly　and　watch　a　lot　of　people　die。〃
　〃And　let　us　not　forget　Dirk　and　Al；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃They　must　be　taking　it　from　the　Chinese　as　well　as　Olson's　tanks　and　howitzers。〃
　〃God　help　them；〃　Sandecker　murmured。　〃God　help　everybody　who　lives　on　or　near　the　Atchafalaya　River　if　the　United　States　es　through　the　chaos。〃
　
　THE　UNITED　STATES　did　not　reel；　she　barely　quivered　as　the　guns　on　the　turrets　of　the　six　tanks　opened　up　on　her；　their　flashes　lighting　up　the　sky。　At　less　than　two　hundred　yards　it　was　impossible　to　miss。　As　if　by　witchcraft；　black；　jagged　holes　appeared　in　the　funnels　and　upper　decks　that　once　housed　the　cocktail　lounges；　cinemas　and　libraries。　As　Admiral　Sandecker　had　predicted；　every　round　in　the　first　salvo　from　the　tanks'　120…millimeter　guns　was　ineffective。　The　armor…penetrating　rounds　passed　through　the　ship's　aluminum　bulkheads　as　if　they　were　made　of　cardboard；　buried　themselves　in　the　marshlands　on　the　other　side　of　the　west…bank　levee　and　exploded　harmlessly。　The　106…millimeter　mortar　rounds　fired　from　the　launchers　of　the　M125　carriers　arched　high　into　the　sky　and　rained　down　on　the　exposed　decks；　gouging　craters　in　the　decks　below　but　causing　little　serious　damage。　The　tried…and…true　155…millimeter　high…explosive　fragmentation　shells　that　spat　from　the　Paladin　self…propelled　howitzers　were　a　different　story。　Their　fire　battered　the　superliner　unmercifully；　causing　significant　destruction　but　none　that　affected　her　vital　machinery　deep　within　the　bowels　of　her　hull。
　
　One　shell　plowed　into　what　had　been　the　main　dining　room　in　the　center　of　the　hull　and　burst；　shattering　the　bulkheads　and　the　old　stairway。　The　second　exploded　against　the　base　of　the　foremast　and　toppled　it　over　the　side。　The　great　ship　shook　off　the　onslaught。　And　then　it　was　the　turn　of　the　Chinese　weapons　team　of　professional　fighters　who　were　geared　to　put　up　a　tactical　confrontation　despite　the　odds。　The　battle　was　not　about　to　be　one…sided。　There　would　be　no　turning　the　cheek　after　the　first　slap。
　
　Their　missile　launchers；　though　armed　for　surface…to…air　and　not　antitank；　lashed　out。　One　struck　the　lead　tank　without　penetrating　its　armor　but　burst　against　the　barrel　of　the　120…millimeter　gun；　effectively　putting　it　out　of　action。　It　also　killed　the　tank　mander；　who　was　standing　in　the　hatch　observing　the　results　of　the　barrage　and　who　never　expected　return　fire。　Another　projectile　struck　the　circular　opening　in　the　roof　of　the　mortar　carrier；　killing　two　men；　wounding　three　and　setting　the　vehicle　on　fire。
　
　Colonel　Robert　Turner；　directing　the　fire　from　within　his　XM4　mand…and…control　vehicle；　was　slow　to　prehend　the　magnitude　of　his　mission。　The　last　thing　he　would　have　predicted　was　for　the　old　passenger　liner　to　shoot　back。　It's　downright　outrageous；　he　thought。　He　immediately　called　Olson　and　said　in　a　voice　vague　with　shock；　〃We're　taking　hits；　General。　I　just　lost