mreilly.icestation-第10章

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　He　looked　back　at　the　main　entrance。　
　Ten　seconds；　at　the　most。　
　〃Shit；〃　he　said　aloud；　looking　at　Gant；　limp　in　his　arms。　〃Shit。〃　
　He　looked　down　over　the　railing　of　the　catwalk　and　saw　the　pool　of　water　way　down　at　the　bottom　of　the　station。　It　couldn't　have　been　more　than　sixty　or　seventy　feet。　They　could　survive　the　fall　。　。　。　。　
　No　way。　
　Schofield　looked　at　the　catwalk　on　which　he　stood　and　then　at　the　ice　wall　behind　him。　
　Better。　
　〃Scarecrow；　you　better　get　out　of　there！〃　It　was　Montana。　He　was　now　out　on　the　catwalk；　on　the　southern　side　of　the　station。　From　where　he　was　standing　he　could　see　into　the　main　entrance　tunnel　on　the　northern　side。　Whatever　he　saw　there　wasn't　good。　
　〃I'm　trying；　I'm　trying；〃　Schofield　said。　
　Schofield　fired　off　two　more　shots　at　Petard　in　the　dining　room　before　holstering　his　pistol。　
　Then　he　quickly　reached　over　his　shoulder　and　pulled　his　Maghook　from　its　holster　on　his　back。　The　Armalite　MH…12　looks　a　little　like　an　old…fashioned　Tommy　gun。　It　has　two　pistol　grips：　one　normal　grip　with　a　trigger　and　one　forward；　support　grip　below　the　muzzle。　In　effect　the　Maghook　is　a　gun；　a　pact；　two…handed　launcher　that　fires　a　grappling　hook　from　its　muzzle　at　tremendous　speed。　
　At　Schofield's　feet；　Gant　began　to　groan。　
　Schofield　pointed　his　launcher　at　the　ice　wall　and　fired。　A　loud　metallic　whump　rang　out　as　the　grappling　hook　shot　out　from　the　muzzle　and　slammed　into　the　ice　wall。　The　hook　exploded　right　through　the　wall；　into　the　dining　room。　Once　on　the　other　side；　its　〃claws〃　snapped　open。　
　〃Scarecrow！　Get　moving！〃　
　Schofield　turned；　just　as　Gant　groggily　got　to　her　feet　beside　him。　
　〃Grab　my　shoulders；〃　he　said　to　her。　
　〃Wha…huh？〃　
　〃Never　mind。　Just　hold　on；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　threw　her　arms　over　his　shoulders。　The　two　of　them　stood　close；　nose　to　nose。　In　any　other　circumstance；　it　would　have　looked　like　an　intimate　clinch；　two　lovers　about　to　kiss…but　not　now。　Holding　Gant　tightly；　Schofield　spun　and　leaned　his　butt　up　against　the　railing。　
　He　looked　back　toward　the　main　entrance　tunnel　and　saw　shadows　moving　quickly　over　the　ice　walls　of　the　passageway。　Gunfire　began　to　spew　out　from　within　the　passageway。　
　〃Hold　tight；〃　he　said　to　Gant。　
　And　then；　with　both　hands　holding　the　launcher　behind　Gant's　back…and　with　her　arms　wrapped　tightly　around　his　neck…Schofield　shifted　his　weight　backward　and　the　two　of　them　tumbled　over　the　railing　and　fell　out　into　space。　
　
　No　sooner　had　Schofield　and　Gant　fallen　clear　of　the　railing　than　it　was　assaulted　by　a　torrent　of　bullets。　A　brilliant　cascade　of　white…orange　impact　sparks　exploded　above　their　heads　as　they　dropped　clear　of　the　catwalk。　
　Schofield　and　Gant　fell。　
　The　Maghook's　cable　splayed　out　above　them。　They　whipped　past　B…deck；　past　Riley　and　Hollywood；　who　spun　around　at　the　unexpected　sight　of　a　pair　of　bodies　dropping　past　them。　
　Then　Schofield　hit　a　black　button　on　the　forward　grip　of　the　launcher　and　a　clamping　mechanism　inside　the　muzzle　bit　into　the　unspooling　cable。　
　Schofield　and　Gant　jolted　to　a　sudden　stop；　just　below　B…deck；　and　the　Maghook's　cable　began　to　swing　them　in　toward　the　catwalk。　They　swung　in　fast；　over　the　C…deck　catwalk；　and　dropped　down　onto　the　metal　gangway。　
　As　soon　as　his　feet　hit　the　catwalk；　Schofield　pressed　down　twice　on　the　trigger　of　the　launcher。　When　he　did　so；　up　on　A…deck；　the　grappling　hook's　claws　responded　by　immediately　collapsing　inward　with　a　sharp　snick；　and　the　hook　was　sucked　back　through　the　hole　it　had　created　in　the　dining　room　wall。　The　grappling　hook　fell　down　into　the　central　shaft　of　the　ice　station；　reeled　in　by　the　launcher。　In　a　couple　of　seconds　it　was　back　in　Schofield's　hands；　and　he　and　Gant　hurried　inside　the　nearest　doorway。　
　
　〃Grenade！〃　
　Riley　and　Hollywood　ran　flat　out　down　the　northern　tunnel　of　B…deck　and　dived　around　the　corner。　
　Just　as　they　cleared　the　corner　a　booming　explosion　rocked　the　ice　tunnel　behind　them。　Hard　on　the　heels　of　the　explosion　came　the　concussion　wave　and　then…　
　Riley　and　Hollywood　ducked　behind　the　corner　as　a　swarm　of　dartlike　objects　shot　past　them　at　phenomenal　speed　and　thudded　into　the　opposite　wall　of　the　tunnel。　
　The　two　Marines　looked　at　each　other　in　astonishment。　
　A　fragmentation　charge。　
　A　fragmentation　charge　is　basically　a　conventional　grenade　that　has　been　filled　with　hundreds　of　tiny　pieces　of　metal…　tiny　sharp…edged；　skewed　pieces　of　metal　designed　to　be　as　difficult　as　possible　to　extract　from　the　human　body。　When　the　charge　detonates；　it　sends　a　wave　of　these　lethal　fragments　rocketing　out　in　every　direction。　
　〃I've　always　said　it；〃　Riley　said　wryly　as　he　popped　his　clip　and　jammed　a　fresh　magazine　into　the　receiver　of　his　MP…5。　〃Always　said　it：　never　trust　the　fucking　French。　There's　just　something　about　'em。　Maybe　it's　those　beady　little　eyes　they　all　got。　Those　assholes　are　supposed　to　be　our　goddamn　allies。〃　
　〃Fuckin'　French；〃　Hollywood　agreed　thoughtfully　as　he　peered　around　the　corner　with　one　eye。　
　His　jaw　dropped。　〃Oh；　shit…〃　
　〃What？〃　Riley　spun　around　just　in　time　to　see　a　second　grenade　bounce　around　the　corner　and　e　to　rest　five　feet　away　from　them。　
　Five　feet。　
　Out　in　the　open。　
　There　was　nowhere　to　go。　They　couldn't　get　clear。　Couldn't　run　down　the　corridor　and　get　away　in　ti…　
　Riley　launched　himself　forward。　Toward　the　grenade。　He　slid　along　the　frost…covered　floor；　feet　first；　soccer…style。　When　he　was　within　range　he　let　loose　with　a　powerful　kick　and　sent　the　grenade　skittling　back　down　the　north　tunnel；　back　toward　the　central　shaft。　
　As　Riley　kicked　the　grenade；　Hollywood　lunged　forward　and　grabbed　him　by　the　shoulder　plates　and　yanked　him　back　behind　the　corner。　
　The　grenade　detonated。　
　Another　deafening　explosion　boomed　out。　
　A　new　wave　of　metal　shards　blasted　out　from　the　corridor；　whipped　past　Riley　and　Hollywood；　and　slammed　into　the　wall　opposite　them。　
　Hollywood　turned　and　looked　at　Riley。　〃Fuck　my　Roman　sandals；　man；　this　is　some　serious　fucking　catastrophe。〃　
　Riley　was　already　up　on　his　feet。　〃e　on；　we're　not　staying　here。〃　
　He　looked　over　toward　the　other　side　of　the　north　tunnel　and　saw　Rebound　appear　at　the　opposite　corner。　With　him　were　Corporal　Georgio　〃Legs〃　Lane　and　Sergeant　Gena　〃Mother〃　Newman。　They　must　have　e　round　from　the　western　side　of　B…deck。　
　Riley　said；　〃All　right；　everyone；　listen　up。　As　far　as　I'm　concerned；　this　is　now　a　split　op。　If　we　cluster　and　get　cornered；　we're　all　gonna　be　turned　into　strawberry　fuckin'　do…nuts。　We　have　to　split　up。　Rebound；　Legs；　Mother；　you　head　back　west；　round　the　outer　tunnel。　Hollywood　and　I'll　go　east。　Once　we　figure　out　where　we　are　and　what　we　can　do　with　our　position；　then　we　can　figure　out　how　the　hell　we're　going　to　regroup　with　the　others　and　nail　these　fuckers。　You　all　OK　with　that？〃　
　There　were　no　objections。　Rebound　and　the　others　quickly　got　to　their　feet　and　hustled　off　down　the　opposite　ice　tunnel。　
　Riley　and　Hollywood　began　to　run　east；　following　the　curve　of　the　outer　tunnel。　
　As　he　ran；　Riley　said；　〃All　right；　what's　this？　B…deck；　right。　OK。　What's　on　B…deck？〃　
　〃I　don't…〃　Hollywood　cut　himself　off　as　they　cleared　the　bend　in　the　tunnel　and　saw　what　lay　ahead　of　them。　
　Both　men　stopped　instantly　and　immediately　felt　their　blood　run　cold。　
　
　
　
　Schofield　fired　up　into　the　central　shaft　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station　with　his　Desert　Eagle。　
　He　and　Gant　were　down　on　C…deck；　inside　a　room　that　opened　out　onto　the　central　catwalk。　Schofield　stood　in　the　doorway；　gun　in　hand；　looking　out　across　the　central　shaft　and　up　at　A…deck。　
　Behind　him；　inside　whatever　room　this　was；　Gant　was　down　on　her　haunches；　shaking　off　her　dizziness。　She　had　taken　off　her　helmet；　revealing　a　short　crop　of　snow…white　blond　hair。　
　Gant　looked　curiously　at　her　helmet；　at　the　arrow　lodged　in　it。　She　shook　her　head　and　put　the　helmet　back　on；　arrow　and　all。　She　also　donned　her　anti…flash　glasses；　concealing　much　of　the　thin　line　of　dried　blood　that　ran　down　from　her　forehead　to　her　chin。　Then　she　grabbed　her　MP…5　determinedly　and　joined　Schofield　at　the　doorway。　
　〃You　OK？〃　Schofield　asked　over　his　shoulder　as　he　aimed　his　pistol　up　at　A…deck。　
　〃Yeah；　did　I　miss　anything？〃　
　〃Did　you　see　the　part　where　that　bunch　of　French　pricks　posing　as　scientists　decided　to　pull　guns　on　us？〃　Schofield　fired　off　another　round。　
　〃Yeah；　I　caught　that　part。〃　
　〃What　about　the　part　where　we　found　out　that　our　new　friends　had　six　more　guys　stashed　away　in　their　hovercraft？〃　
　〃No；　missed　that。〃　
　〃Well；　that's　the〃…he　fired　off　another　angry　round…　〃story　so　far。〃　
　Gant　looked　at　Schofield。　Behind　those　opaque　silver　glasses　was　a　seriously　pissed…off　individual。　
　In　fact；　Schofield　wasn't　really　angry　at　the　French　soldiers　per　se。　Sure；　at　first　he'd　been　annoyed　at　himself　for　not　picking　that　the　French　〃scientists〃　were　actually　soldiers。　But　then　they　had　got　to　Wilkes　first；　and　they　had　brought　with　them　two　genuine　scientists；　a　particularly　clever　ploy　that　had　been　enough　to　throw　Schofield　and　his　team　off　the　scent。　
　What　really　made　him　angry；　however；　was　that　he'd　lost　the　initiative　in　this　battle。　
　The　French　had　caught　Schofield　and　his　team　off　guard；　taken　them　by　surprise；　and　now　they　were　dictating　the　terms　of　this　fight。　That　was　what　really　made　Schofield　pissed。　
　He　tried　desperately　to　fight　his　anger。　He　couldn't　allow　himself　to　be　angry。　He　couldn't　afford　to　feel　that　way。　
　Whenever　he　found　himself　beginning　to　feel　angry　or　upset；　Schofield　always　remembered　a　seminar　he'd　attended　in　London　in　late　1996　given　by　the　legendary　British　mander　Brigadier　General　Trevor　J。　Barnaby。　
　A　burly　man；　with　piercing　dark　eyes；　a　fully　shaven　head；　and　a　severe　black　goatee；　Trevor　Barnaby　was　the　head　of　the　SAS…had　been　since　1979…and　was　widely　regarded　as　the　most　brilliant　front…line　military　tactician　in　the　world。　His　strategic　ability　with　regard　to　small　incursionary　forces　was　extraordinary。　When　it　was　executed　by　the　finest　elite　military　unit　in　the　world；　the　SAS；　it　was　invincible。　He　was　the　pride　and　joy　of　the　British　military　establishment；　and　he　had　never　failed　on　a　mission　yet。　
　In　November　1996；　as　part　of　a　USA…UK　〃knowledge　share　agreement〃　it　was　decided　that　Barnaby　would　give　a　two…day　seminar　on　covert　incursionary　warfare　to　the　most　promising　American　officers。　In　return；　the　United　States　would　instruct　British　artillery　units　on　the　use　of　mobile　Patriot　II　missile　batteries。　One　of　the　officers　chosen　to　attend　Trevor　Barnaby's　seminar　was　Lieutenant　Shane　M。　Schofield；　USMC。　
　Barnaby　had　had　a　cocky；　hard…edged　lecture　style　that　Schofield　had　liked…a　rapid…fire　series　of　questions　and　answers　that　had　proceeded　in　a　simple；　logical　progression。　
　〃In　any　bat　exchange；〃　Barnaby　had　said；　〃be　it　a　world　war　or　an　isolated　two　unit　standoff；　the　first　question　you　always　ask　yourself　is　this：　what　is　your　opponent's　objective？　What　does　he　want？　Unless　you　know　the　answer　to　that　question；　you'll　never　be　able　to　ask　yourself　the　second　question：　how　is　he　going　to　get　it？　
　〃And　I'll　tell　you　right　now；　ladies　and　gentlemen；