johngardner.winloseordie-第1章

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　WIN　in　the　Gulf
　
　An　hour　before　dawn；　in　the　Straits　of　Hormuz：　a　dark　and　dangerous　time　and　place。　The　air　was　a　chill　mixture　of　sea　and　sweetness；　giving　no　hint　of　the　heat　that　would　be　generated　once　day　took　over。　The　massive　Japanese…registered　oil…tanker　Son　of　Takashuni　slowly　ploughed　its　way　towards　the　Gulf　of　Oman　and　parative　safety。　Its　vast　deck　rolled　gently；　the　tall　superstructure；　rising　from　the　stem；　looking　like　a　block　of　flats；　appeared　to　tip　more　violently　than　the　deck　because　of　its　height。
　Every　officer　and　rating　aboard　could　feel　a　tightening　of　the　stomach　muscles；　the　sense　of　urgency；　and　the　absurd　detached　feeling　which　people　experience　when　they　know　any　minute　could　bring　death　by　fire；　explosion；　bullet　or　water。　Many　had　died　of　these　along　this　stretch　of　water　over　the　years　of　the　Gulf　War；
　Both　the　Americans　and　British　had　helped　by　minesweeping；　and　escorting　the　oil…tankers。　But；　on　this　occasion；　the　Son　of　Takashani　had　been　forced　to　make　the　trip　without　the　assistance　of　either　the　American　Fleet　or　the　Royal　Navy。　The　Japanese　did；　however；　take　precautions。
　Armed　men　were　on　the　bridge；　at　vantage　points　in　the　superstructure；　and　even　on　the　deck。　Some　were　always　there　during　the　journey　from　the　Iraqi　oil…fields　through　the　Gulf；　but；　at　ihe　hours　of　dawn　and　dusk；　extra　hands　with　weapons　kept　a　look…out。　These　were　the　hours　of　high　risk。
　On　the　bridge　the　men　carried　small；　lethal　Beretta　12s…　the　model　S　versions；　with　metal　stocks　and　a　cyclic　rate　of　SOtt…plus　rounds　per　minute。　The　heavier　General　Purpose　Machine…Ciuns　were　set　on　swivel　mountings：　two　to　port；　and　another　pair　to　starboard　on　the　deck；　while　four　more　were　set　in　the　superstructure；　giving　a　wide　Held　of　fire；　both　fore　and　aft。　These　were　all　。50　calibre　Browning　M2　HBs；　unequalled　in　their　class　for　both　range　and　firepower；　their　ammunition　belts　sprinkled　with　（racer　rounds。
　The　Son　of　Takashani's　Master；　Kiyoshi　Akashi；　never　missed　being　on　the　bridge　at　this　time　of　day。　He　rather　enjoyed　the　sense　of　tension　and　danger。
　The　radar　on　the　bridge　searched　the　sea　for　other　shipping；　and　the　air　for　any　hostile　planes。　They　could　do　little　against　mines；　but　at　least　they　stood　a　chance　if　the　so…called　Iranian　Revolutionaries　made　one　of　their　hit　and　run　attacks　in　small　motorised　craft。
　Reaching　upwards；　this　same　radar　could　pinpoint　aircraft　up　to　ten　miles　away　at　around　10；000　feet。　Above　that　height　the　invisible　beams　could　not　reach；　but　aircraft　attacks　in　the　Gulf　usually　came　in　low。　It　was　unfortunate　that；　on　this　particular　dawn；　the　attack　would　e　from　the　unexpected　height　of　around　25；000　feet。
　Unknown　со　the　officers　and　men　of　the　Son　of　Ttikashani；　a　giant　C…130　Hercules　transport　aircraft　was　flying　through　the　dawn　sky　some　fifty　miles　East　of　them。　The　Hercules　was　painted　an　overall　malt　black；　and　bore　no　markings：　neither　serial　numbers　nor　insignia。　On　the　Right　deck　the　navigator　gave　a　terse　instruction　to　the　pilot。　The　seven　turbo…prop　engines　were　throttled　back；　and　the　136；000　pounds　of　aeroplane　began　to　descend　from　30；000　to　25；000　feel。
　The　navigator　put　a　hand　to　his　earphones；　straining　to　hear　the　constant　voice　which　came　in　on　their　frequency；　giving　vital　information　on　wind　strength　and　direction　through　the　various　heights　right　down　to　sea　level。　These　reports　came　via　an　ocean…going　yacht　equipped　with　the　most　sophisticated　meteorological　equipment　and　radio　as　the　vessel　cruised　off　Khaimah；　on　the　coast　of　the　United　Arab　Emirales。　The　data　was　rapidly　fed　into　the　navigator's　puter。　Seconds　later　he　was　able　to　tell　the　pilot　the　exact　points　at　which　they　should　release　their　toad。　'Exactly　25；000　feet。　First　stick　fifteen　miles　behind　target；　second　stick　two　points　to　starboard；　third　stick　four　points　port；'
　The　pilot　acknowledged；　levelled　out　at　25；000　feet　and　repeated　the　instructions　to　the　jumpmastcr；　who；　like　the　twenty　other　men　in　the　cargo　bay。　wore　a　woollen　helmet；　goggles　and　an　oxygen　mask。　A　throat　mike　carried　his　query　to　the　pilot　…'How　long；　skipper？'
　〃Five　minutes。　Opening　cargo　doors　now。'　There　was　a　whine　of　hydraulics　as　the　doors　slid　back　and　the　loading　bay　went　down　like　a　drawbridge。　At　25；000　feet　dawn　had　already　broken；　the　pink　pearly　light　visible　behind　them。　Below　there　was　still　darkness；　while　at　the　Hercules'　altitude　it　was　freezing　cold　in　the　thin　air。　Every　man　in　ihe　cargo　hay　had　any　bare　flesh　covered　against　frostbite。
　The　jumpmaster　gave　a　signal；　and　the　twenty　men　who　sat；　facing　inwards　on　the　hard　metal　benches　stood　up；　responding　to　hand　signals。　They　were　dressed　in　black：　black　jump　suits；　boots；　gloves；　helmets　and　the　oxygen　masks　and　goggles；　together　with　an　assortment　of　weaponry；　including　AK47　Kalashnikovs；　Galil　automatic　assault　rifles；　and　Skorpion　submachine…guns；　grenades　and；　in　two　cases；　clumsy　grenade　launchers；　all　firmly　clamped　onto　black　webbing　covering　their　chests。
　Above　them。　running　the　length　of　the　cargo　bay；　what　looked　like　huge　black　bats　hung　from　oiled　tracks　which　ended　twenty　feet　short　of　the　cargo　ramp。　The　men　now　formed　a　line　under　these　sinister　shapes；　which　were　large　hang…gliders；　unpowered　and　with　near…rigid　wings　made　of　strengthened　canvas；　impregnated　with　a　high…powered；　long…lasting　solution　of　de…icing　fluid。　From　each　set　of　wings　hung　a　light　alloy　framework　onto　which　each　man　now　strapped　himself；　using　a　harness　specially　designed　with　a　quick　release　lock；　similar　to　those　used　on　parachutes。　The　harnesses　had　been　adjusted　before　take…off；　and　allowed　for　interchangeable　hanging　and　sitting　positions　on　the　light　frameworks。
　These　men　had　rehearsed　and　practised　with　the　craft　over　deserts　and　lonely　tracts　of　land　in　all　kinds　and　conditions　of　weather。　They　were　a　hand…picked　and　well…trained　band　who　could；　after　their　six　months　of　hard　testing；　launch　themselves　from　heights　of　25；000　feet　and　spiral　down　to　land　within　a　carefully　marked　and　prescribed　area。
　The　cargo　bay　was　filled　with　noise；　the　clamour　of　the　engines　and　the　rush　of　air　filtering　back　through　the　open　doors。　Instructions　were　reduced　to　hand　signals　and　the　jumpmaster　banged　his　right　palm　flat　on　his　chest；　then　lifted　both　hands；　spreading　the　fingers　wide　…　ten；　then　another　ten；　followed　by　five。
　The　men；　standing　in　the　framework　of　their　hang…gliders；　bent　their　heads　to　the　small　altimeters　attached　to　their　right　wrists；　setting　them　to　25；000　feet。　In　a　minute　or　so　their　lives　would　depend　on　the　accurate　settings　above　sea　level。　Most　of　them　also　glanced　at　the　small　passes　attached　to　their　left　wrists。　These　two　simple　instruments　were　the　only　devices　which　would　assist　them　in　the　long　glide　down　to　the　sea；　and　in　what　they　had　dubbed　Operation　WIN。
　'Prepare　for　stick　one。'　The　pilot's　voice　filled　the　jump…master's　ears；　and　he　signalled　for　the　first　group　of　ten　men　to　stand　by。　They　walked　steadily　towards　the　open　doors　at　the　rear　of　the　aircraft；　their　gliders　moving　above　Ihem　smoothly　on　the　twin　tracks　of　rail。
　'All　sticks　stand　by；'　the　pilot　said。　Again　the　jumpmaster　signalled　and　the　further　two　groups　of　five　men　took　up　their　places。
　'Stand　by　stick　one。　Stick　one　go。'
　The　jumpmaster's　hand　came　down　and　the　first　ten　men　launched　themselves；　al　ten…second　intervals；　into　space。
　The　Hercules　banked　sharply　to　the　left。
　'Stand　by　stick　two。　Stick　two　go。'
　Anolher　signal　and　five　men　glided　down　towards　the　film　of　darkness　below　as　the　Hercules　banked　right。　Stick　three　went　out　smack　on　lime；　at　the　jumpmaster's　signal。　The　cargo　doors　closed　as　the　aircraft　turned　and　climbed　steeply；　heading　back　to　its　secret　home。
　The　hang…gliders　fell　away；　dropping　for　1；000　feet　or　so　until　the　wings　bit　into　the　air；　and　their　pilots　shifted　their　bodies　so　that　they　slowed；　made　contact　with　other　members　of　their　particular　stick；　then；　in　a　loose　formation；　began　to　glide　towards　the　first　slreaks　of　dawn　below。　The　men's　bodies　seemed　to　hang　motionless　in　the　thin　air；　and；　during　the　early　slages　of　the　descent　they　were　all　forced　to　bring　up　their　gloved　hands　to　wipe　the　ice　and　rime　From　their　goggles；　altimeters　and　passes。　It　was　an　exhilarating　business；　but　they　were　hardly　aware　of　the　motion　until　they　passed　through　the　10；000…　feet　level。　There；　the　air　thickened　and　they　all　had　greater　control　of　their　flimsy　craft。
　The　Son　of　Takashum　had　no　warning。　True；　the　radar　operator　caught　a　sprinkle　of　minute　blips　on　his　screen；　but　they　meant　nothing　to　him。　Birds　possibly；　or　specks　of　dust　or　static　on　the　screen。
　At　exactly　1。000　feet　above　the　tanker；　the　three　groups　brought　their　hang…gliders　into　the　attack　position。　The　two　men　armed　with　grenade　launchers　were　well　to　the　rear　of　the　tanker；　hanging　in　their　harnesses；　hands　free　to　manipulate　weapons。　Two　grenades　arched　from　the　air；　one　smashing　its　way　into　the　bridge；　the　other　exploding　further　down　the　superstructure；　leaving　a　gaping　hole。
　The　explosion　on　the　bridge　was　like　a　sudden　blast　of　white　hot　flame。　Everyone　died　instantly。
　Seaman　Ogawu；　one　of　the　gunners　on　the　superstructure；　could　not　believe　his　eyes　and　ears。　He　heard　the　double　explosion；　felt　the　ship　quake　under　him；　then　saw。　for'ard。　two　creatures　that　looked　like　prehistoric　birds　approaching　the　hows…　Flame　leaped　from　them　and　he　saw　one　of　the　deck　gun　crews　scattered　like　a　nest　of　mice　hit　by　a　shotgun　blast。　He　squeezed　the　Browning's　trigger　almost　as　a　reflex　action；　and　his　mind　registered　surprise　as　he　watched　ihe　two　ining　birds　turn　into　mangled　flesh；　blood　and　shattered　canvas　as　the　heavy　bullets　tore　them　apart。
　The　two　men　who　had　started　everything；　exactly　as　planned；　by　releasing　the　grenades　had　also　e　to　grief。　Once　they　had　established　hits　on　the　superstructure；　both　men　dropped　the　launchers　into　the　sea　and。　swinging　violently；　undipped　Skorpion　sub…machine…guns　from　their　chests。　In　a　matter　of　seconds　they　were　streaking　down　towards　the　Son　of　Takash…ani〃s　stern；　manoeuvring　their　gliders；　pulling　them　into　a　more　shallow　and　slower　descent；　ready　to　release　their　harness　the　moment　their　rubber…soled　hoots　struck　the　deck。　They　were　only　some　fifty　feet　away　from　landing　when　a　short　burst　of　fire　from　another　part　of　the　superstructure　took　off　the　legs　of　the　man　on　the　right。　He　sagged　in　his　harness　and　the　wings　above　him　tilled　so　that　the　entire　glider　side…slipped　into　his　partner。
　This　second　man　was　thrown　to　one　side；　knocked　unconscious；　swinging　out　of　control　so　thai　the　angle　of　attack　of　his　wings　increased　sharply；　and　he　smashed　into　the　stern　of　the　tanker。
　The　initial　shock　and　surprise　were　gone　in　less　than　iwo　minutes。　The　gunners　who　were　left；　both　on　deck　and　in　the　battered　superstructure；　were　now　assessing　the　situation。　The　drills　that　the　Master　had　insisted　on　paid　off。　None　of　the　crew　of　the　Son　of　Takashani　showed　regard　for　his　own　safely。　Several　big　hang…gliders；　spitting　flame　and　death；　circled　the　ship；　looking　for　openings　to　land　on　the　main　deck　while　desperately　trying　to　maintain　height。　Two　swooped　in