cc.floodtide-第50章

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against　other　nations。　Once　the　first　Chinese　marine　sets　foot　on　our　deck；　the　die　is　cast。　We　fight　or　die。〃
　〃Then　our　only　option　is　surprise。〃
　〃The　key　is　that　we　won't　constitute　a　threat　in　the　eyes　of　the　captain　of　that　Chinese　destroyer；〃　Cabrillo　explained　gruffly。　〃If　you　were　him；　standing　on　your　bridge　looking　at　us　through　night　glasses；　would　you　be　trembling　in　your　boots　at　what　you　saw？　I　doubt　it。　He　might　train　the　hundred　millimeters　on　our　bridge　or　one　of　the　thirty…seven…millimeter　twins　at　any　crewman　showing　on　deck。　But　once　he　sees　his　marines　e　on　board　and　begin　seizing　the　ship；　he'll　relax　and　call　off　the　ship's　alert；　provided　he　even　bothered　to　order　one。〃
　〃You　make　it　sound　as　cut　and　dried　as　a　snowball　fight；〃　ventured　Giordino。
　Cabrillo　gave　Giordino　a　patiently　worn　look。　〃A　what　fight？〃
　〃You'll　have　to　excuse　Al's　regressive　display　of　humor；〃　said　Pitt。　〃He　gets　mentally　unstable　when　things　don't　go　his　way。〃
　〃You're　just　as　weird；〃　Cabrillo　growled　at　Pitt。　〃Doesn't　anything　ever　faze　you　two？〃
　〃Think　of　it　as　a　response　to　a　nasty　situation；〃　Pitt　said　in　mild　protest。　〃You　and　your　crew　are　trained　and　prepared　for　a　fight。　We're　merely　helpless　bystanders。〃
　〃We'll　require　the　services　of　every　man　and　woman　on　board　before　this　night　is　over。〃
　Pitt　studied　the　image　on　the　monitor　over　Linda　Ross's　shoulder。　〃If　you　don't　mind　me　asking；　just　how　do　you　intend　to　trash　a　heavy　destroyer？〃
　〃My　plan；　elementary　as　it　is；　is　for　the　Oregon　to　e　to　a　stop　when　ordered。　Then　es　a　demand　to　board　and　inspect　us。　Once　we　sucker　him　into　standing　off　within　spitting　distance；　we　act　like　innocent；　ill…tempered　seamen　while　they　observe　us　at　close　range。　Once　the　Chinese　boarding　party　climbs　on　deck；　we'll　lull　the　captain　even　deeper　into　a　state　of　inertia　by　lowering　our　Iranian　ensign　and　raising　the　People's　Republic　of　China　flag。〃
　〃You　have　a　Chinese　flag？〃　asked　Giordino。
　〃We　carry　flags　and　ensigns　of　every　maritime　country　in　the　world；〃　answered　Cabrillo。
　〃After　your　show　of　surrender？〃　said　Pitt。　〃Then　what？〃
　〃We　hit　him　with　everything　we've　got　and　pray　that　when　we're　through　he　has　nothing　left　to　throw　back　at　us。〃
　〃It　beats　a　long…range　duel　with　missiles　we　couldn't　win；〃　said　Max　Hanley；　who　was　sitting　in　a　chair　beside　an　electronics　specialist　manning　a　tactical　data　unit。
　
　Like　a　football　coach　in　the　lockers　before　the　kickoff；　Cabrillo　went　over　his　game　plan　carefully　with　his　players。　No　contingency　was　left　undevised　or　unpolished；　no　detail　overlooked；　nothing　left　to　chance。　Tension　was　nonexistent。　The　men　and　women　on　board　the　Oregon　prepared　to　go　about　their　jobs　as　if　it　was　a　typical　Monday　morning　in　the　big　city。　Their　eyes　were　clear　and　fixed；　they　did　not　have　the　frightened　look　of　the　hunted。
　
　When　Cabrillo　finished；　he　asked；　〃Any　questions？〃　His　voice　was　deep　and　low；　with　the　tiniest　trace　of　a　Spanish　accent；　and　although　he　was　far　too　experienced　and　perceptive　not　to　accept　fear；　no　hint　showed　in　his　face　and　manner。　Hearing　no　inquiries　from　his　crew；　he　nodded。　〃Okay；　that's　it　then。　Good　luck　to　you　all。　And　when　this　little　scrape　is　over；　we'll　throw　the　biggest　party　the　Oregon　has　ever　known。〃
　Pitt　raised　a　hand。　〃You　said　you　needed　every　man。　How　can　Al　and　I　help？〃
　Cabrillo　nodded。　〃You　two　gave　evidence　the　other　night　that　you're　not　afraid　of　a　fight。　Go　to　the　ship's　armory　and　pick　up　a　pair　of　automatic　weapons。　You'll　need　more　fire…power　than　that　forty…five…caliber　popgun　of　yours。　Also　check　out　a　couple　of　sets　of　body　armor。　After　that　check　with　the　costume　department　for　some　grungy　old　clothes。　Then　join　the　deck　crew。　Your　talents　will　e　in　handy　in　stopping　the　Chinese　marines　once　they　e　on　board。　I　can　only　spare　a　few　men　from　more　important　duties；　so　you'll　be　slightly　outnumbered。　There　probably　won't　be　more　than　ten　of　them；　not　enough　to　matter　since　you'll　have　the　element　of　surprise。　If　you're　successful；　and　I'm　counting　on　it；　you　can　lend　a　hand　at　damage　control。　And　you　can　bet　there　will　be　plenty　of　damage　to　go　around。〃
　
　〃Will　it　be　absolutely　necessary　to　shoot　down　the　boarding　party　without　warning？〃　asked　Linda　Ross。
　〃Keep　in　mind；〃　Cabrillo　said　to　her　bluntly；　〃these　people　do　not　intend　to　allow　anybody　on　board　this　ship　to　reach　port。　Because　they　are　no　doubt　aware　of　our　involvement　with　the　underwater　search　of　the　United　States；　there　is　not　the　slightest　doubt　they　mean　for　all　of　us　to　sleep　with　fishes　before　morning。〃
　Pitt's　eyes　raked　Cabrillo's；　searching　for　a　tinge　of　regret；　a　sign　that　he　thought　that　what　they　were　about　to　do　was　a　colossal　mistake；　but　there　was　none　of　it。　〃Does　it　bother　you　that　we　might　be　mistaken　about　their　intentions　and　mit　an　act　of　war？〃
　Cabrillo　pulled　his　pipe　out　of　a　breast　pocket　and　scraped　the　bowl。　Then　he　said；　〃I　don't　mind　admitting　that　I'm　a　bit　worried　on　that　score；　but　we　can't　run　from　then　air　force；　so　we　have　no　option　but　to　bluff　our　way　out；　and　if　that　fails；　we　must　fight。〃
　Like　a　gray　ghost　gliding　over　a　black　sea　streaked　by　the　full　moon；　the　big　Chinese　destroyer　overhauled　the　slow…moving　Oregon　with　the　malevolence　of　an　Orca　killer　whale　stalking　a　friendly　manatee。　But　for　its　ungainly　array　of　navigation；　surface…　and　air…search　detection　and　countermeasure　systems　that　were　perched　above　ugly　towers；　the　ship　might　have　had　a　sleek　appearance。　As　it　was；　it　looked　like　it　was　glued　together　by　a　small　child　who　wasn't　sure　where　all　the　pieces　went。
　Hali　Kasim；　the　Oregon's　vice　president　in　charge　of　munications；　called　through　the　speakerphone　on　the　bridge　wing　to　Cabrillo；　who　now　stood　observing　the　destroyer　through　night　glasses。
　〃Mr。　Cabrillo；　they've　ordered　us　to　heave　to。〃
　〃In　what　language？〃
　〃English；〃　answered　Kasim。
　〃An　amateurish　attempt　to　get　us　to　tip　our　hand。　Answer　them　in　Arabic。〃
　There　was　a　short　pause。　〃They　called　our　bluff；　sir。　They　have　someone　on　board　who　can　speak　Arabic。〃
　〃String　them　along　for　a　little　while。　We　don't　want　to　appear　too　anxious　to　appease。　Ask　why　we　should　obey　their　orders　in　international　waters。〃
　Cabrillo　lit　his　pipe　and　waited。　He　looked　down　on　the　deck　where　Pitt；　Giordino　and　three　of　his　crew　had　assembled；　all　armed　for　a　knock…down；　drag…out　fight。
　〃They're　not　buying　it；〃　came　Hali　Kasim's　voice　again。　〃They　say　if　we　don't　stop　immediately；　they　will　blow　us　out　of　the　water。〃
　〃Are　they　jamming　in　anticipation　of　us　sending　out　a　distress　signal？〃
　〃You　can　make　book　on　it。　Any　message　we　transmit　outside　the　immediate　area　will　be　received　garbled。〃
　〃What　are　the　chances　of　a　friendly　warship　cruising　in　the　neighborhood；　like　a　nuclear　submarine？〃
　〃None；〃　came　the　voice　of　Linda　Ross　in　the　countermea…sures　and　surveillance　room。　〃The　only　vessel　within　a　hundred　miles　is　a　Japanese　auto　transporter。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Cabrillo　sighed。　〃Signal　them　that　we　will　ply　and　heave　to。　But　inform　them　that　we　will　protest　this　outrage　to　the　World　Board　of　Trade　and　International　Maritime　Council。〃
　Cabrillo　could　then　do　nothing　but　wait　and　watch　the　Chinese　destroyer　emerge　from　the　gloom。　Besides　his　pair　of　unblinking　eyes；　the　big　warship　was　covered　by　the　two　concealed　Harpoon　missiles　mounted　in　the　center　of　the　Oregon's　hull；　the　two　Mark　46　torpedoes　in　their　underwater　tubes　and　the　muzzles　of　twin　Oerlikon　thirty…millimeter　guns　that　could　spit　seven　hundred　rounds　per　minute　out　of　each　barrel。
　
　All　that　could　be　done　in　preparation　had　been　done。　Cabrillo　was　proud　of　his　corporate　team。　If　there　was　unease；　none　of　them　showed　it。　What　was　visible　was　a　determination；　a　grim　satisfaction；　that　they　were　going　to　tackle　an　opponent　twice　their　size　and　ten　times　as　powerful　and　see　it　through　to　the　end。　There　would　be　no　turning　of　the　cheek　after　a　slap。　The　point　of　no　return　had　been　passed；　and　it　was　they　who　were　going　to　slap　first。
　
　The　destroyer　came　to　a　stop　and　drifted　no　more　than　two　hundred　yards　away　from　the　Oregon。　Through　his　night　glasses；　Cabrillo　could　read　the　big　white　numbers　p