mreilly.icestation-第63章

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ll　and　then　another　hour　or　so　to　go　up　through　the　ice　tunnel。〃　
　〃Yeah；　so　。。。；〃　Renshaw　said。　
　Schofield　turned　to　face　Renshaw。　〃When　Gant　and　the　others　were　approaching　the　ice　cavern；　Gant　said　the　strangest　thing。　She　said　that　they　had　a　visitor。　Wendy。　Gant　said　that　Wendy　was　swimming　with　them　as　they　made　their　way　up　the　ice　tunnel。〃　
　〃Uh…huh。〃　
　Schofield　said；　〃So；　even　if　Wendy　could　swim　twice　as　fast　as　we　can；　if　she　swam　all　the　way　down　and　then　all　the　way　back　up　the　ice　tunnel；　she'd　run　out　of　breath　before　she　got　to　the　cavern。〃　
　Renshaw　was　silent。　
　Schofield　said；　〃I　mean；　it'd　be　suicide　for　her　not　to　turn　back　after　she'd　swum　for　twenty　minutes　because　she'd　have　to　know　she　could　get　back　to　an　air　source…〃　
　Schofield　looked　from　Renshaw　to　Kirsty。　
　〃There's　another　way　into　that　ice　tunnel；〃　he　said。　〃A　shortcut。〃　
　
　
　
　〃SEAL　team；　this　is　Blue　Leader。　We　are　closing　in　on　the　target。　Estimate　target　will　be　in　missile　range　in　fifteen　minutes；〃　the　voice　of　the　squadron　leader　said　over　the　radio　of　the　SEAL　team's　hovercraft。　
　The　SEALs　sat　rigidly　in　their　places　in　the　cabin　of　their　hovercraft。　Not　a　trace　of　emotion　crossed　any　of　their　faces。　
　
　Down　on　E…deck　now；　Schofield　tossed　the　low…audibility　breathing　tanks　onto　the　deck。　Kirsty　was　already　putting　on　a　thermal…electric　wet　suit。　It　was　so　hopelessly　big　for　her　that　she　had　to　roll　up　the　sleeves　and　ankles　to　make　it　fit。　Renshaw…already　dressed　in　his　neoprene　bodysuit…just　went　straight　for　the　LABA　gear。　
　〃Here；　swallow　these；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　handed　a　blue　capsule　to　each　of　them。　They　were　N…67D　anti…nitrogen　capsules。　The　same　pills　that　Schofield　had　given　to　Gant　and　the　others　when　they　had　gone　down　to　the　cavern　earlier。　They　all　quickly　swallowed　the　pills。　
　Schofield　discarded　his　fatigues　and　put　his　body　armor　and　gunbelt　back　on　over　his　wet　suit。　As　he　went　through　the　pockets　of　his　fatigues　he　found；　among　other　things；　a　nitrogen　charge　and　Sarah　Hensleigh's　silver　locket。　He　transferred　both　items　to　pockets　in　his　wet　suit。　Then　he　quickly　began　to　put　on　one　of　the　scuba　tanks。　
　There　were　three　tanks　in　all；　all　of　them　filled　with　four　hours'　worth　of　a　saturated　helium…oxygen　mix：　98％　helium；　2％　oxygen。　They　got　Gant　to　prepare　before　she　had　gone　down　to　the　cave　earlier。　
　As　he　put　his　own　LABA　gear　on；　Renshaw　helped　Kirsty　get　into　hers。　
　Schofield　got　his　tanks　on　first。　When　he　was　ready；　he　immediately　began　searching　the　deck　around　him　for　something　heavy…something　very　heavy…since　they　would　need　a　good　weight　to　take　them　down　fast　
　He　found　what　he　was　looking　for。　
　A　length　of　the　B…deck　catwalk　that　had　fallen　down　to　E…deck　back　when　the　whole　of　B…deck　had　gone　up　in　flames　earlier。　The　length　of　metal　catwalk　was　about　ten　feet　long　and　made　of　solid　steel。　It　even　had　a　section　of　its　handrail　still　attached　to　it。　
　When　Renshaw　was　also　ready；　Schofield　got　him　to　help　drag　it　to　the　edge　of　the　pool。　The　big　length　of　metal　catwalk　screeched　loudly　as　they　dragged　it　across　the　deck。　
　As　they　worked；　Wendy　hopped　up　and　down　beside　them；　like　a　dog　begging　to　go　for　a　walk。　
　〃Is　Wendy　ing　with　us？〃　Kirsty　asked。　
　Schofield　said；　〃I　hope　so。　I　was　hoping　she　would　show　us　the　way。〃　
　At　that；　Kirsty　leaped　to　her　feet　and　hurried　over　to　the　wall　by　the　side　of　the　pool。　She　grabbed　a　harness　from　a　hook　and　brought　it　back　to　the　edge　of　the　pool。　Then　she　began　to　strap　the　harness　around　Wendy's　midsection。　
　〃What's　that？〃　Schofield　asked。　
　〃Don't　worry。　It'll　help。〃　
　〃Fine；　whatever。　Just　stay　close；〃　Schofield　said　as　he　and　Renshaw　positioned　the　length　of　catwalk　on　the　edge　of　the　deck；　so　that　it　was　all…but…ready　to　fall　off。　
　〃All　right；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Everybody　in　the　water。〃　
　The　three　of　them　jumped　into　the　water　and　swam　back　underneath　the　length　of　catwalk。　Wendy　happily　leaped　into　the　water　after　them。　
　〃All　right；　get　a　grip　on　the　catwalk；〃　Schofield's　voice　said　over　their　underwater　headsets。　
　They　all　grabbed　hold　of　the　length　of　catwalk。　They　looked　like　a　set　of　Olympic　swimmers　preparing　to　swim　a　backstroke　race。　
　Schofield　placed　his　hand　over　Kirsty's　to　make　sure　she　didn't　lose　her　hold　on　the　catwalk　as　it　sank　through　the　water。　
　〃OK；　Mr。　Renshaw；〃　Schofield　said。　〃Pull！〃　
　At　that　moment；　Schofield　and　Renshaw　heaved　on　the　catwalk；　and　suddenly　the　length　of　heavy　metal　tipped　off　the　edge　of　the　deck　and　fell　into　the　water　with　a　massive　splash。　
　
　The　metal　catwalk　sank　through　the　water　fast。　
　The　three　small　figures　of　Schofield；　Renshaw；　and　Kirsty　clung　grimly　to　it　as　it　fell。　They　were　all　pointing　downward；　their　feet　flailing　above　them。　Wendy　swam　quickly　down　through　the　water　behind　them。　
　Schofield　looked　at　the　depth　gauge　on　his　wrist。　
　Ten　feet。　
　Twenty　feet。　
　Thirty　feet。　
　Down　they　went；　falling　fast；　through　the　magnificent　white　underwater　world。　
　As　they　fell；　Schofield　tried　to　keep　one　eye　on　the　white　ice　wall　to　his　left。　He　searched　for　a　hole　in　it；　searched　for　the　entrance　to　the　shortcut　tunnel　that　led　to　the　underwater　ice　tunnel。　
　They　hit　a　hundred　feet。　Without　the　pills；　the　nitrogen　in　their　blood　would　have　killed　them　by　now。　
　Two　hundred　feet。　
　Three　hundred。　
　They　flew　downward　through　the　water。　It　became　darker；　harder　to　see。　
　Four　hundred；　five　hundred。　
　They　were　falling　so　quickly。　
　Six　hundred。　Seven　hundred。　
　Eight…　
　And　then　suddenly　Schofield　saw　it。　
　〃All　right；　let　go！〃　he　yelled。　
　The　others　immediately　let　go　of　the　falling　metal　catwalk。　
　They　hovered　in　the　water　as　the　catwalk　disappeared　into　the　gloom　beneath　them。　
　Schofield　swam　over　to　the　ice　wall。　
　A　large；　round　hole　had　been　burrowed　into　it。　It　looked　like　a　tunnel　of　some　sort；　a　tunnel　that　descended　into　aiky　darkness。　
　Wendy　swam　up　alongside　Schofield　and　disappeared　inside　the　dark　tunnel。　She　popped　out　again　several　seconds　later。　
　Schofield　hesitated。　
　Renshaw　must　have　seen　the　doubt　in　his　eyes。　〃What　choice　do　we　have？〃　he　said。　
　〃Right；〃　Schofield　said；　pulling　out　his　flashlight。　He　clicked　it　on。　Then　he　kicked　with　his　feet　and　swam　into　the　tunnel。　
　
　The　tunnel　was　narrow；　and　it　meandered　steeply　downward。　Schofield　swam　in　the　lead；　with　Kirsty　behind　him　and　Renshaw　bringing　up　the　rear。　Since　they　were　swimming　downward；　they　made　swift　progress。　They　just　allowed　the　lead　weights　on　their　weight　belts　to　pull　them　down。　
　Schofield　swam　cautiously。　It　was　quiet　here；　like　a　tomb。。。。　
　And　then　suddenly　Wendy　whipped　past　him　from　behind　and　darted　off　down　the　tunnel　in　front　of　him。　
　Schofield　looked　at　his　depth　gauge。　
　They　had　reached　a　thousand　feet。　
　Dive　time　was　twelve　minutes。　
　
　〃Bigbird；　this　is　Blue　Leader。　Target　is　now　in　missile　range。　I　repeat。　Target　is　now　in　missile　range。　Preparing　to　launch　AMRAAM　missiles。〃　
　〃You　may　fire　when　ready；　Blue　Leader。〃　
　〃Thank　you；　Bigbird。　All　right；　people。　I　have　missile　lock。　Missile　bay　is　open。　Target　appears　to　be　unaware　of　our　presence。　OK。　This　is　Blue　Leader；　Fox　One。。　。fire！〃　
　The　squadron　leader　jammed　down　on　bis　trigger。　
　At　that　moment；　a　long；　sleek　AIM…120　AMRAAM　missile　slid　out　from　the　missile　bay　of　the　F…22　and　shot　forward　after　its　prey。　
　
　The　British　fighter　saw　the　missile　on　its　scopes　straightaway。　
　The　greatest　problem　for　stealth　aircraft　is　that　although　an　aircraft　itself　may　be　invisible　to　radar；　any　missiles　hanging　from　its　wings　will　not　be　invisible。　Hence；　all　stealth　aircraft　like　the　F…22；　the　F…117A　stealth　fighter；　and　the　B…2A　stealth　bomber　carry　their　missiles　internally。　
　Unfortunately；　however；　as　soon　as　a　missile　is　fired；　it　will　be　seen　instantly　on　radar。　Which　meant　that　the　moment　the　F…22　launched　its　AMRAAM　missile　at　the　E…2000　over　the　horizon；　the　British　plane　saw　the　missile　on　its　scopes。　
　The　British　pilot　gave　himself　one　minute　at　the　most。　
　〃General　Barnaby！　General　Barnaby！　Report！〃　
　There　was　no　reply。　
　Which　was　strange；　because　Brigadier　General　Barnaby　knew　that　this　time…2200　hours　to　2225　hours…was　a　designated　contact　time；　one　of　only　two　times　a　break　in　the　solar　flare　would　permit　radio　contact。　Barnaby　had　reported　in　at　1930；　another　designated　contact　time；　right　on　schedule。　
　The　British　pilot　tried　the　secondary　frequency。　Still　no　luck。　He　tried　to　hail　Nero；　Barnaby's　second　in　mand。　
　Still　no　luck。　
　〃General　Barnaby！　This　is　Backstop。　I　am　under　attack！　I　repeat；　I　am　under　attack！　If　you　do　not　answer　me　in　the　next　thirty　seconds；　I　will　have　to　assume　that　you　are　dead　and　pursuant　to　your　orders　I　will　have　no　choice　but　to　fire　upon　the　station。〃　
　The　British　pilot　looked　at　his　missile　light…it　was　blinking。　He　had　already　preset　the　coordinates　of　Wilkes　Ice　Station　into　the　guidance　puter　of　his　AGM…88/HLN　cruise　missile。　
　The　designator　letters　on　the　missile　said　it　all。　
　AGM　stood　for　air…to…ground　missile；　H　for　high…speed；　and　L　for　long…range。　N　however；　had　a　special　meaning。　
　It　stood　for　nuclear。　
　Thirty　seconds　expired。　Still　no　word　from　Barnaby。　
　〃General　Barnaby！　This　is　Backstop！　I　am　launching　the　eraser。。。　now/〃　The　British　pilot　hit　his　trigger；　and　a　split　second　later　the　nuclear…tipped　cruise　missile　attached　to　the　end　of　his　wing　streaked　away　from　his　plane。　
　The　missile　only　just　got　away；　for　a　bare　two　seconds　later…just　as　the　British　pilot　was　reaching　for　his　ejection　lever…the　American　AMRAAM　missile　slammed　into　the　back　of　the　E…2000　and　blew　it　and　its　pilot　out　of　the　sky。　
　
　The　American　pilots　saw　the　bright　orange　explosion　on　the　night　horizon；　saw　the　blip　on　their　scopes　disappear。　
　A　couple　of　them　cheered。　
　The　squadron　leader　smiled　as　he　looked　at　the　orange　fireball　on　the　horizon。　〃SEAL　team；　this　is　Blue　Leader。　The　bogey　has　been　eliminated。　I　repeat；　the　bogey　has　been　eliminated。　You　are　free　to　enter　the　station。　You　are　free　to　enter　the　station。〃　
　
　Inside　the　SEAL　hovercraft；　the　squadron　leader's　voice　echoed　through　the　speaker：　〃You　are　free　to　enter　the　station。　You　are　free　to　enter　the　station。〃　
　The　SEAL　mander　said；　〃Thank　you；　Blue　Leader。　All　units；　be　aware。　SEAL　team　is　switching　over　to　closed…circuit　channels　for　the　assault　on　the　station。〃　
　He　clicked　off　his　radio；　turned　to　his　men。　
　〃All　right；　people。　Let's　go　fuck　somebody　up。〃　
　
　Out　over　the　Southern　Ocean；　the　F…22　squadron　leader　continued　to　look　out　through　his　canopy　at　the　remains　of　the　British　E…2000。　Thin　orange　firetrails　descended　slowly　down　to　earth　like　cheap　fireworks。　
　Consumed　as　he　was　with　this　sight；　the　squadron　leader　didn't　notice　a　new；　smaller　blip　appear　on　his　radar　screen…　a　blip　heading　south；　toward　Antarctica…until　almost　thirty　seconds　later。　
　〃What　the　hell　is　that？〃　he　said。　
　〃Oh；　Jesus；〃　someone　else　said。　〃It　must　have　got　a　missile　off　before　it　was　hit！〃　
　The　squadron　leader　tried　to　raise　the　SEAL　team　again；　but　this　time　he　couldn't　get　through。　They'd　already　switched　over　to　closed…circuit　ch