tc.patriotgames-第100章

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　　　　〃Target　bearing　zero…one…four；　range　fourteen　hundred；　speed　still　eight　knots；〃　His　Highness　told　the　quartermaster　on　the　chart　table。　〃They　took　a　shorter　route　around　this　point。〃　
　　　　〃No　problem；〃　the　chief　noted；　looking　at　the　radar　plot。　〃We　have　deep　water　all　the　way　up　from　here。〃　
　　　　〃Chief　Z；　do　we　have　any　coffee　aboard？〃
　　　　〃I　got　a　pot　in　the　galley；　sir；　but　I　don't　have　anybody　to　work　it。〃
　　　　〃I'll　take　care　of　that；〃　Jack　said。　He　went　below；　then　to　starboard　and　below　again。　The　galley　was　a　small　one；　but　the　coffee　machine　was　predictably　of　the　proper　size。　Ryan　got　it　started　and　went　back　topside。　Breckenridge　was　passing　out　life　jackets　to　everyone　aboard；　which　seemed　a　sensible　enough　precaution。　The　Marines　were　deployed　on　the　bridgewalk　outside　the　pilothouse。
　　　　〃Coffee　in　ten　minutes；〃　he　announced。
　　　　〃Say　again；　Coast　Guard；〃　Robby　said　into　the　microphone。
　　　　〃Navy　Echo　Foxtrot；　this　is　Coast　Guard　Baltimore；　do　you　read；　over。〃　
　　　　〃That's　better。〃　
　　　　〃Can　you　tell　us　what's　going　on？〃
　　　　〃We　are　tracking　a　small　boat；　about　a　twenty…footer　　with　ten　or　more　armed　terrorists　aboard。〃　He　gave　position；　course；　and　speed。　〃Acknowledge　that。〃
　　　　〃Roger；　you　say　a　boat　full　of　bad　guys　and　machine　guns。　Is　this　for　real？　Over。〃
　　　　〃That's　affirmative；　son。　Now　let's　cut　the　crap　and　get　down　to　it。〃
　　　　The　response　was　slightly　miffed。　〃Roger　that；　we　have　a　forty…one　boat　about　to　leave　the　dock　and　a　thirty…two…footer'll　be　about　ten　minutes　behind　it。　These　are　small　harbor…patrol　boats。　They　are　not　equipped　to　fight　a　surface　gun　action；　mister。〃　
　　　　〃We　have　ten　Marines　aboard；〃　Jackson　replied。　〃Do　you　request　assistance？〃
　　　　〃Hell；　yes　　that's　affirmative。　Echo　Foxtrot。　I　have　the　police　and　the　FBI　on　the　phone；　and　they　are　heading　to　this　area。〃　
　　　　〃Okay；　have　your　forty…one　boat　call　us　when　they　clear　the　dock。　Let's　have　your　boat　track　from　in　front　and　we'll　track　from　behind。　If　we　can　figure　where　the　target　is　heading；　I　want　you　to　call　in　the　cops。〃
　　　　〃We　can　do　that　easy　enough。　Let　me　get　some　things　rolling　here；　Navy。　Stand　by。〃　
　　　　〃A　ship；〃　the　Prince　said。
　　　　〃It's　gotta　be；〃　Ryan　agreed。　〃The　same　way　they　did　it　when　they　rescued　that　Miller　bastard　。　。　。　Robby；　can　you　get　the　Coast　Guard　to　give　us　a　list　of　the　ships　in　the　harbor？〃

　　　　Werner　and　both　Hostage　Rescue　groups　were　already　moving。　He　wondered　what　had　gone　wrong　　and　right　　tonight；　but　that　would　be　determined　later。　For　the　moment　he　had　agents　and　police　heading　toward　the　Naval　Academy　to　protect　the　people　he　was　supposed　to　have　rescued；　and　his　men　were　split　between　an　FBI　Chevy　Suburban　and　two　State　Police　cars；　all　heading　north　on　Ritchie　Highway　toward　Baltimore。　If　only　they　could　use　helicopters；　he　thought；　but　the　weather　was　too　bad；　and　everyone　had　had　enough　of　that　for　one　night。　They　were　back　to　being　a　SWAT　team；　a　purpose　for　which　they　were　well　suited。　Despite　everything　that　had　gone　wrong　tonight；　they　now　had　a　large　group　of　terrorists　flushed　and　in　the　open　。　。　。　

　　　　〃Here's　the　list　of　the　ships　in　port；〃　the　Coast　Guard　Lieutenant　said　over　the　radio。　〃We　had　a　lot　of　them　leave　Friday　night；　so　the　list　isn't　too　long。　I'll　start　off　at　the　Dundalk　Marine　Terminal。　Nissan　Courier；　Japanese　registry；　she's　a　car　carrier　out　of　Yokohama　delivering　a　bunch　of　cars　and　trucks。　Wilhelm　Schorner；　West　German　registry；　a　container　boat　out　of　Bremen　with　general　cargo。　Costanza；　Cypriot　registry；　out　of　Valetta；　Malta　〃　
　　　　〃Bingo！〃　Ryan　said。
　　　　〃　scheduled　to　sail　in　about　five　hours；　looks　like。　George　McReady；　American；　arrived　with　a　cargo　of　lumber　from　Portland；　Oregon。　That's　the　last　one　there。〃　
　　　　〃Tell　me　about　the　Costanza；〃　Robby　said；　looking　at　Jack。
　　　　〃She　arrived　in　ballast　and　loaded　up　a　cargo　mainly　of　farm　equipment　and　some　other　stuff。　Sails　before　dawn；　supposed　to　be　headed　back　for　Valetta。〃　
　　　　〃That's　probably　our　boy；〃　Jack　said　quietly。
　　　　〃Stand　by；　Coast　Guard。〃　Robby　turned　away　from　the　radio。　〃How　do　you　know。　Jack？〃
　　　　〃I　don't　know；　but　it's　a　solid　guess。　When　these　bastards　pulled　that　rescue　on　Christmas　Day；　they　were　probably　picked　up　in　the　Channel　by　a　Cypriot…registered　ship。　We　think　their　weapons　get　to　them　through　a　Maltese　dealer　who　works　with　a　South　African；　and　a　lot　of　terrorists　move　back　and　forth　through　Malta　　the　local　government's　tight　with　a　certain　country　due　south　of　there。　The　Maltese　don't　get　their　own　hands　dirty；　but　they're　real　good　at　looking　the　other　way　if　the　money's　right。〃　Robby　nodded　and　keyed　his　mike。
　　　　〃Coast　Guard；　have　you　gotten　things　straightened　out　with　the　local　cops？〃　
　　　　〃That's　a　rog；　Navy。〃
　　　　〃Tell　them　that　we　believe　the　target's　objective　is　the　Costanza。〃
　　　　〃Roger　that。　We'll　have　our　thirty…two　boat　stake　her　out　and　call　in　the　cops。〃　
　　　　〃Don't　let　them　see　you；　Coast　Guard！〃
　　　　〃Understood；　Navy。　We　can　handle　that　part　easy　enough。　Stand　by　。　。　。　Navy；　be　advised　that　our　forty…one　boat　reports　radar　contact　with　you　and　the　target；　rounding　Bodkin　Point。　Is　this　correct？　Over。〃
　　　　〃Yes！〃　called　the　Quartermaster　at　the　chart　table。　He　was　making　a　precise　record　of　the　course　tracks　from　the　radar　plot。
　　　　〃That's　affirm；　Coast　Guard。　Tell　your　boat　to　take　station　five　hundred　yards　forward　of　the　target。　Acknowledge。〃　
　　　　〃Roger；　five…zero…zero　yards。　Okay；　let's　see　if　we　can　get　the　cops　moving。　Stand　by。〃
　　　　〃We　got　'em；〃　Ryan　thought　aloud。
　　　　〃Uh；　Lieutenant；　keep　your　hands　still；　sir。〃　It　was　Breckenridge。　He　reached　into　Ryan's　belt　and　extracted　the　Browning　automatic。　Jack　was　surprised　to　see　that　he'd　stuck　it　in　there　with　the　hammer　back　and　safety　off。　Breckenridge　lowered　the　hammer　and　put　the　pistol　back　where　it　was。　〃Let's　try　to　think　'safe；'　sir；　okay？　Otherwise　you　might　lose　something　important。〃　
　　　　Ryan　nodded　rather　sheepishly。　〃Thanks；　Gunny。〃　
　　　　〃Somebody　has　to　protect　the　lieutenants。〃　Breckenridge　turned。　〃Okay；　Marines　　let's　stay　awake　out　there！〃　
　　　　〃You　got　a　man　on　the　Prince？〃　Jack　asked。
　　　　〃Even　before　the　Admiral　said　so。〃　The　Sergeant　Major　gestured　to　where　a　corporal　was　standing；　rifle　in　hand；　three　feet　from　His　Highness；　with　orders　to　stay　between　him　and　the　gunfire。

　　　　Five　minutes　later　a　trio　of　State　Police　cars　drove　without　lights　to　Berth　Six　of　the　Dundalk　Marine　Terminal。　The　cars　were　parked　under　one　of　the　gantry　cranes　used　for　transferring　cargo　containers；　and　five　officers　walked　quietly　to　the　ship's　acmodation　ladder。　A　crewman　stationed　there　stopped　them　　or　tried　to。　A　language　barrier　prevented　proper　munications。　He　found　himself　acpanying　the　troopers；　with　his　hands　cuffed　behind　his　back。　The　senior　police　officer　bounded　up　three　more　ladders　and　arrived　at　the　bridge。　
　　　　〃What　is　this！〃
　　　　〃And　who　might　you　be？〃　the　cop　inquired　from　behind　a　shotgun。
　　　　〃I　am　the　master　of　this　ship！〃　Captain　Nikolai　Frenza　proclaimed。
　　　　〃Well；　Captain；　I　am　Sergeant　William　Powers　of　the　Maryland　State　Police；　and　I　have　some　questions　for　you。〃　
　　　　〃You　have　no　authority　on　my　ship！〃　Frenza　answered。　His　accent　was　a　mixture　of　Greek　and　some　other　tongue。　〃I　will　talk　to　the　Coast　Guard　and　no　one　else。〃
　　　　〃I　want　to　make　this　real　clear。〃　Powers　walked　the　fifteen　feet　to　the　Captain；　his　hands　tight　around　the　Ithaca　12…gauge　shotgun。　〃That　shore　you're　tied　to　is　the　State　of　Maryland；　and　this　shotgun　says　I　got　all　the　authority　I　need。　Now　we　have　information　that　a　boatload　of　terrorists　is　ing　here；　and　the　word　is　they've　killed　a　bunch　of　people；　including　three　state　troopers。〃　He　planted　the　muzzle　against　Frenza's　chest。　〃Captain；　if　they　do　e　here；　or　if　you　fuck　with　me　any　more　tonight；　you　are　in　a　whole　shitpot　full　of　trouble　　do　you　understand　me！〃　
　　　　The　man　wilted　before　his　eyes。　Powers　saw。　So　the　information　is　correct。　Good。
　　　　〃You　would　be　well　advised　to　cooperate；　'cause　pretty　soon　we're　going　to　have　more　cops　here　'n　you　ever　saw。　You　just　might　need　some　friends；　mister。　If　you　have　something　to　tell　me；　I　want　to　hear　it　right　now。〃
　　　　Frenza　hesitated；　his　eyes　shifting　toward　the　bow　and　back。　He　was　in　deep　trouble；　more　than　his　advance　payment　would　ever　cover。　〃There　are　four　of　them　aboard。　They　are　forward；　starboard　side；　near　the　bow。　We　didn't　know　〃
　　　　〃Shut　up。〃　Powers　nodded　to　a　corporal；　who　got　on　his　portable　radio。　〃What　about　your　crew？〃　
　　　　〃The　crew　is　below；　preparing　to　take　the　ship　to　sea。〃　
　　　　〃Sarge；　the　Coast　Guard　says　they're　three　miles　off　and　heading　in。〃
　　　　〃All　right。〃　Powers　pulled　a　set　of　handcuffs　from　his　belt。　He　and　his　men　took　the　four　men　standing　bridge　watch　and　secured　them　to　the　ship's　wheel　and　two　other　fittings。　〃Captain；　if　you　or　your　people　make　any　noise　at　all；　I'll　e　back　here　and　splatter　you　all　over　this　ship。　I　am　not　kidding。〃　
　　　　Powers　took　his　men　down　to　the　main　deck　and　forward　on　the　port　side。　The　Costanza's　superstructure　was　all　aft。　Forward　of　it；　the　deck　was　a　mass　of　cargo　containers；　each　the　size　of　a　truck…trailer；　piled　three…　and　four…high。　Between　each　pile　was　an　artificial　alleyway；　perhaps　three　feet　wide；　which　allowed　them　to　approach　the　bow　unobserved。　The　Sergeant　had　no　SWAT　experience；　but　all　of　his　men　had　shotguns　and　he　did　know　something　of　infantry　tactics。
　　　　It　was　like　walking　alongside　a　building；　except　that　the　street　was　made　of　rusty　steel。　The　rain　had　abated；　finally；　but　it　still　made　noise；　clattering　on　the　metal　container　boxes。　They　passed　the　last　of　these　to　find　that　the　ship's　forward　hold　was　open　and　a　crane　was　hanging　over　the　starboard　side。　Powers　peeked　around　the　corner　and　saw　two　men　standing　at　the　far　side　of　the　deck。　They　appeared　to　be　looking　southeast；　toward　the　entrance　to　the　harbor。　There　was　no　easy　way　to　approach。　He　and　his　men　crouched　and　went　straight　toward　them。　They'd　gotten　halfway　when　one　turned。　
　　　　〃Who　are　you？〃　
　　　　〃State　Police！〃　Powers　noted　the　accent　and　brought　his　gun　up；　but　he　tripped　on　a　deck　fitting　and　his　first　shot　went　into　the　air。　The　man　on　the　starboard　side　came　up　with　a　pistol　and　fired；　also　missing；　then　ducked　behind　the　container。　The　fourth　state　trooper　went　forward　around　the　deck　hatch　and　fired　at　the　container　edge；　covering　his　rades。　Powers　heard　a　flurry　of　conversation　and　the　sound　of　running　feet。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　ran　to　the　starboard　side。
　　　　No　one　was　in　sight。　The　men　who'd　run　aft　were　nowhere　to　be　seen。　There　was　an　acmodation　ladder　leading　from　an　opening　in　the　rail　down　to　the　water；　and　nothing　else　but　a　radio　that　someone　had　dropped。
　　　　〃Oh；　shit。〃　The　tactical　situation　was　lousy。　He　had　armed　criminals　close　by　but　out　of　sight　and　a　boatload　of　others　on　the　way。　He　sent　one　of　his　men　to　the　port　side　to　watch　that　line　of　approach；　and　another　to　train　his　shotgun　down　the　starboard　side。　Then　he　got　on　the　radio　and　learned　that　plenty　more　help　was　on　the　way。　Powers　decided　to　sit　tight　and　take　his　chances。　He'd　known　Larry　Fontana；　helped　carry　his　coffin　out　of　the　church；　and　he　was　damned　if　he'd　pass　up