tc.patriotgames-第96章

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the　one　you　called　niggah　　that's　my　wife；　boy；　that's　my　lady。　I　saw　you　hit　her。　So；　I　already　got　one　good　reason　to　kill　you；　y'dig？〃　Robby　smiled　wickedly；　and　let　the　shotgun　trace　a　line　down　to　Shorty's　crotch。　〃But　I　ain't　gonna　kill　ya。　I'll　do　somethin'　lots　worse　〃
　　　　〃I'll　make　a　girl　outa　you；　punk。〃　Robby　pushed　the　muzzle　against　the　man's　zipper。　〃Think　fast；　boy。〃
　　　　Jack　listened　to　his　friend　in　amazement。　Robby　never　talked　like　this。　But　it　was　convincing。　Jack　believed　that　he'd　do　it。　
　　　　So　did　Cooley：　〃Boats　。　。　。　boats　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。〃　
　　　　〃That's　not　even　clever。　Say　goodbye　to　'em；　boy。〃　The　angle　of　the　shotgun　changed　fractionally。
　　　　〃Boats！　Two　boats　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。　There　are　two　ladders　〃　
　　　　〃How　many　watching　them？〃　Jack　demanded。　
　　　　〃One；　that's　all。〃　
　　　　Robby　looked　up。　〃Jack？〃
　　　　〃People；　I　suggest　we　go　steal　some　boats。　That　firefight　outside　is　getting　closer。〃　Jack　ran　to　his　closet　and　got　coats　for　everyone。　For　Robby　he　picked　up　his　old　Marine　field　jacket　that　Cathy　hated　so　much。　〃Put　this　on；　that　white　shirt　is　too　damned　visible。〃
　　　　〃Here。〃　Robby　handed　over　Jack's　automatic。　〃I　got　a　box　of　rounds　for　the　shotgun。〃　He　started　transferring　them　from　his　pants　to　the　jacket　pockets　and　then　hefted　the　last　Uzi　over　his　shoulder。　〃We're　leaving　friendlies　behind。　Jack；〃　he　added　quietly。
　　　　Ryan　didn't　like　it　either。　〃I　know；　but　if　they　get　him；　they　win　　and　this　ain't　no　place　for　women　and　kids；　man。〃　
　　　　〃Okay；　you're　the　Marine。〃　Robby　nodded。　That　was　that。
　　　　〃Let's　get　outa　here。　I　have　the　point。　I'm　going　to　take　a　quick　look…see。　Rob；　you　take　Shorty　for　now。　Prince；　you　take　the　women。〃　Jack　reached　down　and　grabbed　Dennis　Cooley　by　the　throat。　〃You　screw　up；　you're　dead。　No　fartin'　around　with　him；　Robby；　just　waste　him。〃
　　　　〃That's　a　rog。〃　Jackson　backed　away　from　the　terrorist。　〃Up　slow；　punk。〃
　　　　Jack　led　them　through　the　shattered　doors。　The　。two　dead　agents　lay　crumpled　on　the　wood　deck；　and　he　hated　himself　for　not　doing　something　about　it；　but　Ryan　was　proceeding　on　some　sort　of　automatic　control　that　the　Marine　Corps　had　programmed　into　him　ten　years　before。　It　was　a　bat　situation；　and　all　the　lectures　and　field　exercises　were　flooding　back　into　his　consciousness。　In　a　moment　he　was　drenched　by　the　falling　sheets　of　rain。　He　trotted　down　the　stairs　and　looked　around　the　house。

　　　　Longley　and　his　men　were　too　busy　dealing　with　the　threat　to　their　front　to　notice　what　was　approaching　from　behind。　The　British　security　officer　fired　four　rounds　at　an　advancing　black　figure　and　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　him　react　from　at　least　one　hit　when　a　hammering　impact　buried　him　against　a　tree。　He　rebounded　off　the　rough　bark　and　half　turned　to　see　yet　another　black…clad　shape　holding　a　gun　ten　feet　away。　The　gun　flashed　again。　Within　seconds　the　woodline　was　quiet。

　　　　〃Dear　God；〃　the　rifleman　muttered。　Running　in　a　crouch；　he　passed　the　bodies　of　five　agents；　but　there　wasn't　time　for　that。　He　and　his　spotter　went　down　next　to　a　bush。　The　rifleman　activated　his　night　scope　and　tracked　on　the　woodline　a　few　hundred　yards　ahead。　The　green　picture　he　got　on　the　imaging　tube　showed　men　dressed　in　dark　clothes　heading　into　the　woodline。　
　　　　〃I　count　eleven；〃　the　spotter　said。
　　　　〃Yeah；〃　the　rifleman　agreed。　His　bolt…action　sniper　rifle　was　loaded　with　。308　caliber　match　rounds。　He　could　hit　a　moving　three…inch　target　the　first　time；　every　time；　at　over　two　hundred　yards；　but　his　mission　for　the　moment　was　reconnaissance；　to　gather　information　and　forward　it　to　the　team　leader。　Before　the　team　could　act；　they　had　to　know　what　the　hell　was　going　on；　and　all　they　had　now　was　chaos。
　　　　〃Werner；　this　is　Paulson。　I　count　what　looks　like　eleven　bad　guys　moving　into　the　trees　between　us　and　the　house。　They　appear　to　be　armed　with　light　automatic　weapons。〃　He　pivoted　the　rifle　around。　〃Looks　like　six　of　them　down　in　the　yard。　Lots　of　good　guys　down　　Jesus；　I　hope　there's　ambulances　on　the　way。〃　
　　　　〃Do　you　see　any　friendlies　around？〃
　　　　〃Negative。　Remend　that　you　move　in　from　the　other　side。　Can　you　give　me　a　backup　here？〃
　　　　〃Sending　one　now。　When　he　gets　there；　move　in　carefully。　Take　your　time；　Paulson。〃　
　　　　〃Right。〃
　　　　To　the　south；　Werner　and　two　other　men　advanced　along　the　treeline。　Their　night…camouflage　clothing　was　a　hatchwork　of　light　green；　designed　by　puter；　and　even　in　the　lightning　they　were　nearly　invisible。

　　　　Something　had　just　happened。　Jack　saw　a　sudden　flurry　of　fire；　then　nothing。　Despite　what　he'd　told　Robby；　he　didn't　like　running　away　from　the　scene。　But　what　else　could　he　do？　There　was　an　unknown　number　of　terrorists　out　there。　He　had　only　three　armed　men　to　protect　three　women　and　a　child；　with　their　backs　to　a　cliff。　Ryan　swore　and　returned　to　the　others。
　　　　〃Okay；　Shorty；　show　me　the　way　down；〃　Ryan　said；　pressing　the　muzzle　of　his　Uzi　against　the　man's　chest。　
　　　　〃Right　there。〃　The　man　pointed；　and　Ryan　swore　again。
　　　　In　all　the　time　they'd　lived　here。　Jack's　only　concern　with　the　cliff　was　to　keep　away　from　it；　lest　it　crumble　under　him　or　his　daughter。　The　view　from　his　house　was　magnificent　enough；　but　the　cliffs　height　meant　that　from　the　house　there　was　an　unseen　dead　zone　a　thousand　yards　wide　which　the　terrorists　had　used　to　approach。　And　they'd　used　ladders　to　climb　up　　of　course；　that's　what　ladders　are　for！　Their　placements　were　marked　the　way　it　said　in　every　field　manual　in　the　world；　with　wooden　stakes　wrapped　with　white　gauze　bandaging；　to　be　seen　easily　in　the　dark。
　　　　〃Okay；　people；〃　Ryan　began；　looking　around。　〃Shorty　and　I　go　first。　Your　Highness；　you　e　next　with　the　women。　Robby；　stay　ten　yards　back　and　cover　the　rear。〃　
　　　　〃I　am　adept　with　light　weapons；〃　the　Prince　said。
　　　　Jack　shook　his　head　emphatically。　〃No；　if　they　get　you；　they　win。　If　something　goes　wrong。　I'm　depending　on　you　to　take　care　of　my　wife　and　kid；　sir。　If　something　happens；　go　south。　About　half　a　mile　down　you'll　find　a　gully。　Take　that　inland　and　don't　stop　till　you　find　a　hard…surface　road。　It's　real　thick　cover；　you　should　be　okay。　Robby；　if　anything　gets　close；　blast　it。〃　
　　　　〃But　what　if　〃
　　　　〃But；　hell！　Anything　that　moves　is　the　enemy。〃　Jack　looked　around　one　last　time。　Give　me　five　trained　men；　maybe　Breckenridge　and　four　others；　and　I　could　set　up　one　pisser　of　an　ambush　。　。　。　and　if　pigs　had　wings　。　。　。　〃Okay；　Shorty；　you　go　down　first。　If　you　fuck　us　up；　the　first　thing　happens；　I'll　cut　you　in　half。　Do　you　believe　me？〃　
　　　　〃Yes。〃　
　　　　〃Then　move。〃
　　　　Cooley　moved　to　the　ladder　and　proceeded　down　backward；　with　Ryan　several　feet　above　him。　The　aluminum　rungs　were　slippery　with　the　rain；　but　at　least　the　wind　was　blocked　by　the　body　of　the　cliff。　The　extension　ladder　　how　the　hell　did　they　get　that　here？　　wobbled　under　him。　Ryan　tried　to　keep　an　eye　on　Shorty　and　slipped　once　halfway　down。　Above　him；　the　second　group　was　beginning　its　descent。　The　Princess　had　taken　charge　of　Sally；　and　was　ing　down　with　Ryan's　daughter　between　her　body　and　the　ladder　to　keep　her　from　falling。　He　could　hear　his　little　girl　whimpering　anyway。　Jack　had　to　ignore　it。　There　wasn't　room　in　his　consciousness　for　anger　or　pity　now。　He　had　to　do　this　one　right　the　first　time。　There　would　be　no　second。　A　flash　of　lightning　revealed　the　two　boats　a　hundred　yards　to　the　north。　Ryan　couldn't　tell　if　anyone　was　there　or　not。　Finally　they　reached　the　bottom。　Cooley　moved　a　few　feet　to　the　north　and　Ryan　jumped　down　the　next　few　feet；　gun　at　the　ready。　
　　　　〃Let's　just　stay　put　for　a　minute。〃
　　　　The　Prince　arrived　next；　then　the　women。　Finally　Robby　started　down；　his　Marine　parka　making　him　invisible　against　the　black　sky。　He　came　down　quickly；　also　jumping　the　last　five　feet。
　　　　〃They　got　to　the　house　just　as　I　started　down。　Maybe　this'll　slow　them　some。〃　He　held　the　white…wrapped　stakes。　It　might　make　the　ladders　harder　to　find。
　　　　〃Good　one；　Rob。〃　Jack　turned。　The　boats　were　out　there；　invisible　again　in　the　rain　and　shadows。　Shorty　had　said　that　only　one　man　was　guarding　them。　What　if　he's　lying？　Ryan　asked　himself。　Is　this　guy　willing　to　die　for　his　cause？　Will　he　sacrifice　himself　to　shout　a　warning　and　get　us　killed？　Does　it　make　a　difference　　do　we　have　a　choice？　No！
　　　　〃Move　out；　Shorty。〃　Ryan　gestured　with　his　gun。　〃Just　remember　who　dies　first。〃
　　　　It　was　high　tide；　and　the　water　came　to　within　a　few　feet　of　the　base　of　the　cliff。　The　sand　was　wet　and　hard　under　his　feet　as　Ryan　stayed　three　feet　behind　the　terrorist。　How　far　were　they　　a　hundred　yards？　How　far　can　one　hundred　yards　be？　Ryan　asked　himself。　He　was　discovering　that　now。　The　people　behind　him　kept　close　to　the　kudzu…covered　cliff。　That　made　them　extremely　hard　to　see；　though　if　there　was　someone　in　the　boat；　he'd　know　that　people　were　ing　toward　him。　
　　　　Krak！
　　　　Everyone's　heart　stopped　for　a　moment。　A　lightning　stroke　had　shattered　a　tree　on　the　cliff's　edge　not　two　hundred　yards　behind　them。　For　a　brief　instant　he　saw　the　boats　again　　and　there　was　a　man　in　each。
　　　　〃Just　one；　eh？〃　Jack　muttered。　Shorty　hesitated；　then　proceeded；　hands　at　his　side。　With　the　return　of　darkness；　he　again　lost　sight　of　the　boats；　and　Jack　reasoned　that　everyone's　night　vision　was　equally　ruined　by　the　lightning。　His　mind　returned　to　the　image　he'd　just　seen。　The　man　in　the　near　boat　was　standing　at　the　near　side；　amidships；　and　appeared　to　be　holding　a　weapon　　one　that　needed　two　hands。　Ryan　was　enraged　that　Shorty　had　lied　to　him。　It　seemed　absurd　as　he　watched　the　emotion　flare　and　fade　in　his　consciousness。
　　　　〃What's　the　password？〃
　　　　〃There　isn't　one；〃　Dennis　Cooley　replied；　his　voice　unsteady　as　he　contemplated　the　situation　from　rather　a　different　perspective。　He　was　between　the　loaded　guns　of　two　sides；　each　of　which　was　likely　to　shoot。　Cooley's　mind　was　racing；　too；　looking　for　something　he　could　do　to　turn　the　tables。
　　　　Was　he　telling　the　truth　now？　Ryan　wondered；　but　there　wasn't　time　to　puzzle　that　one　out。　〃Keep　moving。〃
　　　　The　boat　reappeared　now。　At　first　it　was　just　something　different　from　the　darkness　and　the　beach。　In　five　more　yards　it　was　a　shape。　The　rain　was　pouring　down　hard　enough　to　distort　everything　he　saw；　but　there　was　a　white；　almost　rectangular　shape　ahead。　Ryan　guessed　the　range　at　fifty　yards。　He　prayed　for　the　lightning　to　hold　off　now。　If　they　were　lighted；　the　men　in　the　boats　might　be　able　to　recognize　a　face；　and　if　they　saw　that　Shorty　was　in　front　。　。　。　
　　　　How　do　I　do　this　。　。　。？
　　　　You　can　be　a　policeman　or　a　soldier；　but　not　both。　Joe　Evans'　words　at　the　Tower　came　back；　and　told　him　what　he　had　to　do。
　　　　Forty　yards　to　go。　There　were　rocks　on　the　beach；　too；　and　Jack　had　to　be　careful　not　to　trip　over　one。　He　reached　forward　with　his　left　hand　and　unscrewed　the　bulky　silencer。　He　stuck　it　in　his　belt。　He　didn't　like　what　it　did　to　the　gun's　balance。
　　　　Thirty　yards。　He　searched　for　and　found　the　stock　release　switch　on　the　Uzi。　Jack　extended　the　stock；　planting　the　metal　buttplate　in　his　armpit　and　snugging　the　weapon　in　tight。　Just　a　few　more　seconds　。　。　。
　　　　Twenty…five　yards。　He　could　see　the　boat　clearly　now；　twenty　feet　or　so；　with　a　blunt　bow；　and　another