mreilly.icestation-第42章

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　〃All　right；　Mr。　Renshaw。　You　just　made　yourself　a　Stinger　missile　launcher！　Now　use　it！〃　
　〃How？〃　
　〃Open　the　door！　Put　it　on　your　shoulder！　Point　it　at　the　bad　guys；　and　when　you　hear　the　tone；　pull　the　trigger！　It'll　do　the　rest！〃　
　〃OK。。。；〃　Renshaw　said　doubtfully。　
　Renshaw　yanked　open　the　right…hand　sliding　door　of　the　hovercraft。　Screaming　Antarctic　wind　instantly　invaded　the　interior　of　the　craft。　Renshaw　struggled　against　it；　forced　his　way　toward　the　open　door。　
　He　rested　the　Stinger　on　his　shoulder；　shuffled　it　so　that　his　eyes　settled　into　its　sights。　Through　the　night…sights；　he　saw　the　lead　British　hovercraft　from　head…on；　caught　between　a　pair　of　crosshairs。　The　British　hovercraft　glowed　green…　
　And　then　suddenly　Renshaw　heard　a　dull　buzzing　sound。　
　〃I　hear　the　tone！〃　he　yelled　excitedly。　
　〃Then　pull　the　trigger！〃　Schofield　called　back。　
　Renshaw　pulled　the　trigger。　
　
　The　recoil　of　the　Stinger　sent　Renshaw　flying　back　onto　the　floor　of　the　cabin。　
　The　missile　shot　forward　from　its　launcher。　The　back…blast…the　sudden　explosive　burst　of　fire　that　shoots　out　the　back　of　a　rocket　launcher　when　it　is　fired…shattered　the　windows　behind　Renshaw。　
　Schofield　watched　as　the　Stinger　spiraled　through　the　air　toward　the　lead　British　hovercraft。　Its　smoke　trail　looped　gracefully　through　the　air　behind　it；　revealing　its　flight　path。　
　〃Good　night；〃　Schofield　said。　
　The　Stinger　slammed　into　the　lead　British　hovercraft　and　the　hovercraft　exploded　instantly；　shattered　into　a　thousand　pieces。　
　The　other　British　hovercrafts　continued　relentlessly　forward；　ignoring　their　fallen　rade。　One　of　the　rear　ones　just　shot　straight　through　the　burning　remains　of　the　exploded　lead　hovercraft。　
　〃Good　shot；　Mr。　Renshaw！〃　Schofield　said。　
　In　the　cabin　behind　Schofield；　Renshaw　awkwardly　got　to　his　feet。　Once　he　had　regained　his　balance；　he　looked　out　through　the　side　door　of　the　hovercraft　and　saw　the　fiery　remains　of　the　British　hovercraft　he　had　destroyed。　
　〃Yikes；〃　he　said　softly。　
　
　
　
　The　seven　remaining　British　hovercrafts　closed　in。　
　〃Book！〃　Rebound's　voice　yelled。　〃I　need　help　over　here！〃　
　〃Hang　on！　I'm　ing　over！〃　Book　yelled　as　he　yanked　on　the　steering　yoke　of　his　LCAC。　
　Book's　hovercraft　swung　right…around　and　behind　Rebound's　transport…and　slammed　hard　into　the　side　of　the　first　British　hovercraft。　Both　crafts　bounced　wildly　off　each　other　as　they　careered　across　the　ice　plain。　
　Book　pushed　open　one　of　his　side　windows　with　the　barrel　of　his　MP…5　and　was　about　to　fire　on　the　black　hovercraft　racing　alongside　him　when　suddenly　it　filled　with　light　and　every　one　of　its　reinforced　glass　windows　shattered　as　one　and　blew　out　of　their　frames。　
　Book　watched　in　amazement　as　the　British　hovercraft　exploded　into　flames　and　fell　away　behind　him。　Then　he　looked　over　his　shoulder　and　saw　Schofield's　orange　hovercraft　sweep　around　behind　him。　The　smoke　trail　of　a　Stinger　still　lingered　in　the　air　in　front　of　it。　
　〃Thanks；　Scare…〃　
　〃Book！　Watch　your　left！〃　Schofield's　voice　shouted。　
　The　impact　knocked　Book　sideways　through　the　air　and　the　world　tilted　crazily　as　his　hovercraft　was　lifted　off　the　ground　by　the　stunning　impact；　and　then　suddenly…whump…　the　big　hovercraft　thudded　back　down　to　earth　without　any　loss　of　speed。　
　Book　was　totally　disoriented。　He　was　trying　to　climb　back　into　the　driver's　seat　when　another　smashing　impact　rocked　his　hovercraft　again；　this　time　from　the　right。　
　〃Scarecrow！〃　he　yelled。　〃…I'm　in　a　lot　of　trouble　here！〃　
　〃I　see　you；　Book！　I　see　you！　I'm　ing！〃　Schofield　peered　out　through　the　snow…streaked　windshield　of　his　own　speeding　hovercraft。　
　He　saw　Book's　hovercraft；　racing　forward　across　the　ice　plain　in　front　of　him。　On　each　side　of　it　was　a　black　British　hovercraft；　taking　turns　ramming　it　hard。　
　〃Renshaw！　How's　that　new　Stinger　ing？〃　
　〃Almost　there　。。。；〃　Renshaw　said　from　behind　him。　He　was　furiously　trying　to　jam　a　new　tube　into　the　gripstock。　
　〃Hold　on；　Book！〃　Schofield　said。　
　Schofield　gunned　the　engine　of　his　LCAC　and　the　hovercraft　responded　by　increasing　its　speed。　Gradually；　it　began　to　haul　in　the　three　hovercrafts　in　front　of　it…Book's　and　the　two　British　ones。　
　Slowly；　gradually；　Schofield's　orange　hovercraft　overtook　the　three　hovercrafts　on　the　left…hand　side　and　then　suddenly；　swiftly；　it　swept　across　in　front　of　them。　
　Schofield　looked　back　through　his　rear　windshield；　through　the　blur　of　his　rear　turbofan　and　saw　the　three　hovercrafts　behind　him。　He　then　snapped　to　look　forward　and　saw　Rebound's　transport　hovercraft　racing　across　the　ice　plain　about　twenty　yards　to　his　left。　
　〃Rebound！〃　he　said。　
　〃Yeah！〃　
　〃Get　ready　to　go　in　and　grab　Book！〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃Just　get　ready！〃　
　〃What　are　you　gonna　do？〃　
　〃A　slingshot；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　drew　his　MP…5。　He　turned　to　Renshaw。　〃Mr。　Renshaw　。。。〃　
　〃What？〃　
　〃Hold　on。〃　
　And　with　that；　Schofield　slipped　the　hovercraft　into　neutral　and　yanked　the　steering　yoke　hard　to　the　right。　
　
　Like　a　bizarre　two…ton　ballet　dancer；　Schofield's　hovercraft　did　a　plete　lateral　180…degree　spin　right　in　front　of　Book's　hovercraft　and　the　two　British　hovercrafts。　
　In　the　cabin；　Schofield　quickly　jammed　the　big　vehicle　into　reverse　and　engaged　the　turbofan　again。　
　Now　he　was　travelling　backward！　
　At　eighty　miles　per　hour。　
　In　front　of　Book　and　the　two　British　hovercrafts！　
　Schofield　thrust　his　MP…5　out　through　the　driver's　side　window　and　let　rip　with　an　extended　burst　of　gunfire。　
　The　front　windshield　of　the　left…hand　British　hovercraft　exploded　with　bullet　holes。　Schofield　could　see　the　men　behind　the　windshield　convulse　as　they　were　hit　by　the　barrage　of　gunfire。　
　The　shot　British　hovercraft　immediately　peeled　away　from　Book's　hovercraft　and　faded　back　into　the　distance。　
　
　Book　was　still　in　hell。　
　The　British　hovercraft　to　his　left　was　gone　now；　but　the　one　on　his　right　was　ramming　him　with　renewed　intensity。　
　The　two　hovercrafts　careered　across　the　flat　expanse　of　ice；　side　by　side；　their　engines　roaring。　
　And　then　suddenly　Book　saw　the　side　door　of　the　British　hovercraft　open。　A　thick　black　gun　barrel　protruded　from　it。　
　〃Oh；　shit〃　Book　said。　
　A　puff　of　smoke　appeared　from　the　end　of　the　gun　barrel…　it　was　an　M…60　grenade　launcher…and　a　second　later　the　whole　side　door　of　Book's　hovercraft　suddenly　exploded　inward。　
　Wind　rushed　into　the　cabin。　
　They'd　blown　open　the　side　of　his　hovercraft！　
　At　that　moment；　a　small　black　object　flew　in　through　the　hole　in　the　side　of　the　hovercraft　and　clattered　across　the　floor　of　the　cabin。　
　Book　saw　it　immediately。　
　It　was　a　small　black　cylindrical　object　with　blue　numbers　written　along　its　side。　As　it　rolled　across　the　floor　of　the　cabin；　it　looked　like　an　ordinary　grenade；　but　as　Book　knew；　it　was　a　whole　lot　more　than　that。　
　It　was　a　nitrogen　charge。　
　The　signature　weapon　of　the　SAS。　
　The　most　advanced　grenade　in　the　world。　It　even　had　a　tamper　mechanism　so　that　you　couldn't　pick　it　up　and　throw　it　back　at　the　person　who　threw　it　at　you。　Standard　time　delay：　five　seconds。　
　Get　out　of　the　hovercraft！　Book's　mind　screamed。　
　Book　dived　for　the　left…hand　side　of　the　cabin…the　side　furthest　away　from　the　British　hovercraft…and　reached　for　the　door。　He　slid　it　open　fast。　
　Five。。。　
　Freezing　Antarctic　wind　rushed　at　his　face。　Slicing　horizontal　snow　lashed　his　eyes。　Book　didn't　care。　Snow　wouldn't　kill　him；　and　a　fall　from　the　hovercraft　might。　But　the　nitrogen　charge　definitely　would。　
　Four。。。　three。。。　
　Book　dived　out　into　the　freezing　wind　and　immediately　jammed　the　sliding　door　shut　behind　him。　He　lay　flat　against　the　top　of　the　black　rubber　skirt　that　ran　around　the　base　of　the　speeding　hovercraft。　His　face　was　pressed　awkwardly　up　against　the　outside　of　the　windows　of　the　cabin。　The　screaming；　speeding　wind　assaulted　his　ears。　
　Two。。。　one。。。　
　Book　prayed　to　God　that　the　reinforced　Lexan　glass　windows　of　the　hovercraft　could　withstand　the…　
　The　nitrogen　charge　went　off　inside　the　hovercraft。　
　Smack！　
　A　wave　of　ice　blue　liquid　nitrogen　slapped　hard　against　the　glass　right　in　front　of　Book's　face。　Book　instinctively　jerked　his　head　back。　
　He　stared　in　amazement　at　the　interior　of　the　hovercraft's　cabin。　Supercooled　liquid　nitrogen　had　splattered　itself　against　every　exposed　surface　inside　the　cabin。　
　Every　exposed　surface。　
　The　whole　of　the　inside　of　the　window　in　front　of　him　was　dripping　with　gooey　blue　poxy。　Book　sighed　with　relief。　The　reinforced　glass　had　held；　just。　
　And　then　suddenly　。。。　craaaaack…！　
　Book　pulled　his　head　back　just　as　the　window…snap…frozen　by　the　liquid　nitrogen　and　contracting　rapidly…broke　out　into　a　thousand　spiderwebs。　
　〃Book！〃　
　Book　spun　and　saw　Rebound's　hovercraft　pull　up　alongside　his　own。　He　could　see　Rebound　through　the　windscreen；　sitting　in　the　driver's　seat。　
　〃Get　on！〃　
　Rebound's　hovercraft　nudged　closer　to　Book's。　The　side　door　of　Rebound's　hovercraft　slid　open。　The　rubber　skirts　of　the　two　hovercrafts　touched　briefly；　then　parted　again。　
　〃Jump！〃　Rebound　said；　his　voice　loud　in　Book's　earpiece。　
　Book　tried　to　get　to　his　feet。　
　〃e　on！〃　Rebound　said　urgently。　
　Book　tried　to　keep　his　eyes　focused　on　the　black　rubber　skirt　of　Rebound's　hovercraft。　Tried　not　to　look　at　the　white　streaks　of　snow　racing　by　at　eighty　miles　an　hour　beneath　the　two　speeding　hovercrafts。　
　And　then　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　it。　
　Saw　the　black　hovercraft　materialize　in　the　background　behind　Rebound's　hovercraft。　
　Suddenly　Book　heard　Rebound　yell；　〃Get　there；　Scarecrow！〃　and　then　he　saw　the　side　door　of　the　British　hovercraft　open。　Saw　the　Milan　antitank　missile　launcher　appear　inside　it。　
　And　then　Book　saw　the　familiar　puff　of　smoke　and　he　saw　the　missile　shoot　out　of　its　launcher　and　fly　through　the　air　toward　him；　its　looping　white　smoke　trail　spiraling　crazily　behind　it；　and　in　that　instant；　in　that　moment；　Book　knew　it　was　too…　
　〃Book！　For　God's　sake；　jump！　Jump　now！　Shit！〃　
　Book　jumped。　
　
　
　
　
　Book　flew　through　the　air。　
　As　he　flew；　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　the　British　hovercraft　explode　as　it　was　hit　by　an　American　Stinger。　But　it　had　got　its　own　missile　off　before　it　had　been　hit。　Book　saw　the　white…tipped　missile　roll　through　the　air　toward　him。　
　And　then　suddenly　his　hands　came　down　hard　on　the　black　rubber　skirt　of　Rebound's　hovercraft　and　he　forgot　about　the　British　missile　as　he　scratched　desperately　for　a　handhold。　
　Just　as　his　feet　were　about　to　hit　the　speeding　ground；　Book　got　a　grip　on　a　tie…down　stud　on　the　skirt　of　Rebound's　hovercraft　and　he　looked　up　just　in　time　to　see　the　British　missile　slam　into　the　rear　of　his　recently　abandoned　hovercraft　and　blow　it　to　smithereens。　
　
　〃Have　you　got　him？〃　Schofield　said　into　his　helmet　mike。　
　Schofield　was　still　racing　along　in　front　of　Rebound's　hovercraft…still　travelling　backward。　He　could　see　Rebound's　transport　speeding　across　the　ice　plain　behind　him。　
　〃We　got　him；〃　Rebound　replied。　〃He's　inside。〃　
　〃Good；〃　Schofield　said。　
　It　was　then　that　Schofield　heard　the　gunfire。　
　His　head　immediately　snapped　left　and　he　saw　them。　
　It　was