tc.patriotgames-第43部分

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　sickness。　He　had　nothing　to　fear　from　Miller。　Highland　was　not　carrying　a　gun；　of　course；　and　the　keys　to　the　prisoner's　manacles　were　in　the　driver's　pocket。　So　he　did　close　his　eyes；　and　let　his　inner　ear　e　to　terms　with　the　rolling　motion　of　the　ferry　without　the　confusion　that　would　e　from　staring　at　the　unmoving　interior　of　the　truck。　It　helped　a　little。　His　stomach　soon　started　to　inform　him　of　its　dissatisfaction　with　the　current　scheme　of　things；　but　it　didn't　get　too　bad。　Highland　hoped　that　the　rougher　seas　farther　out　wouldn't　change　this。　They　wouldn't。
　　　　The　sound　of　automatic　weapons　fire　jerked　his　head　up　a　moment　later。　The　screams　came　next；　from　women　and　children；　followed　by　the　rough　shouts　of　men。　Somewhere　an　automobile　horn　started　blaring　and　didn't　stop。　More　guns　started。　Highland　recognized　the　short　bark　of　some　detective's　service　automatic　　answered　at　once　by　the　staccato　of　a　submachine　gun。　It　couldn't　have　lasted　more　than　a　minute。　The　Cenlac's　own　horn　started　blowing　short；　loud　notes；　then　stopped　after　a　few　seconds　while　the　auto's　horn　kept　going。　The　screams　diminished。　No　longer　shrill　cries　of　alarm；　they　were　now　the　deeper　cries　of　prehended　terror。　A　few　more　bursts　of　machine…gun　fire　crashed　out；　then　stopped。　Highland　feared　the　silence　more　than　the　noise。　He　looked　out　the　window　and　saw　nothing　but　a　car　and　the　dark　sea　beyond。　There　would　be　more；　and　he　knew　what　it　would　be。　Uselessly　his　hand　went　inside　his　jacket　for　the　pistol　that　wasn't　there。
　　　　How　did　they　know　　how　did　the　bastards　know　we'd　be　here！
　　　　Now　came　more　shouts；　the　sound　of　orders　that　would　not　be　disobeyed　by　anyone　who　wanted　to　live　through　this　Christmas　Day。　Highland's　hands　balled　into　fists。　He　turned　to　look　again　at　Miller。　The　terrorist　was　staring　at　him　now。　The　Sergeant　would　have　preferred　a　cruel　smile　to　the　empty　expression　he　saw　on　that　young；　pitiless　face。
　　　　The　metal　door　shook　to　the　impact　of　an　open　hand。　
　　　　〃Open　the　bloody　door　or　we'll　blow　it　off！〃　
　　　　〃What　do　we　do？〃　the　other　cop　asked。　
　　　　〃We　open　the　door。〃　
　　　　〃But　〃
　　　　〃But　what？　Wait　for　them　to　hold　a　gun　at　some　baby's　head？　They've　won。〃　Highland　twisted　the　handles。　Both　doors　were　yanked　open。
　　　　There　were　three　men　there；　ski　masks　pulled　down　over　their　faces。　They　held　automatic　weapons。
　　　　〃Let's　see　your　guns；〃　the　tall　one　said。　Highland　noted　the　Irish　accent；　not　that　he　was　very　surprised　by　it。
　　　　〃We　are　both　unarmed；〃　the　Sergeant　answered。　He　held　both　hands　up。
　　　　〃Out。　One　at　a　time；　and　flat　on　the　deck。〃　The　voice　didn't　bother　to　make　any　threats。
　　　　Highland　stepped　out　of　the　truck　and　got　to　his　knees；　then　was　kicked　down　on　his　face。　He　felt　the　other　cop　e　down　beside　him。
　　　　〃Hello；　Sean；〃　another　voice　said。　〃You　didn't　think　we'd　forget　you；　did　you　now？〃
　　　　Still　Miller　didn't　say　anything。　Highland　thought　in　wonderment。　He　listened　to　the　flat　jingle　of　his　chains　as　he　hobbled　out　of　the　van。　He　saw　the　shoes　of　a　man　step　to　the　doors；　probably　to　help　him　down。
　　　　The　driver　must　be　dead。　Highland　thought。　The　gunmen　had　his　keys。　He　heard　the　manacles　e　off；　then　a　pair　of　hands　lifted　Miller　to　his　feet。　Miller　was　rubbing　his　wrists；　finally　showing　a　little　emotion。　He　smiled　at　the　deck　before　looking　up　at　the　Sergeant。
　　　　There　wasn't　much　point　in　looking　at　the　terrorist。　Around　them　he　saw　at　least　three　men　dead。　One　of　the　black…clad　gunmen　pulled　a　shattered　head　off　a　car's　wheel；　and　the　horn　finally　stopped。　Twenty　feet　away　a　man　was　grasping　at　a　bloody　stomach　and　moaning；　a　woman　　probably　his　wife　　trying　to　minister　to　him。　Others　lay　about　on　the　deck　in　small　knots；　each　watched　by　an　armed　terrorist　as　their　hands　sweated　on　the　backs　of　their　necks。　There　was　no　unnecessary　noise　from　the　gunmen；　Highland　noted。　They　were　trained　men。　All　the　noise　came　from　the　civilians。　Children　were　crying；　and　their　parents　were　faring　better　than　the　childless　adults。　Parents　had　to　be　brave　to　protect　their　kids；　while　the　single　had　only　their　own　lives　to　fear　for。　Several　of　these　were　whimpering。
　　　　〃You　are　Robert　Highland；〃　the　tall　one　said　quietly。　〃Sergeant　Highland　of　the　famous　C…13？〃
　　　　〃That's　right；〃　the　policeman　answered。　He　knew　that　he　was　going　to　die。　It　seemed　a　terrible　thing　to　die　on　Christmas　Day。　But　if　he　was　going　to　die；　there　was　nothing　left　to　lose。　He　wouldn't　plead；　he　wouldn't　beg。　〃And　who　might　you　be？〃　
　　　　〃Sean's　friends；　of　course。　Did　you　really　think　that　we'd　abandon　him　to　your　kind？〃　The　voice　sounded　educated　despite　the　simple　diction。　〃Do　you　have　anything　to　say？〃　
　　　　Highland　wanted　to　say　something；　but　he　knew　that　nothing　would　really　matter。　He　wouldn't　even　entertain　them　with　a　curse　　and　it　came　to　him　that　he　understood　Miller　a　little　better　now。　The　realization　shocked　him　out　of　his　fear。　Now　he　knew　why　Miller　hadn't　spoken。　What　damned　fool　things　go　through　your　head　at　a　time　like　this；　he　thought。　It　was　almost　funny；　but　more　than　that　it　was　disgusting。　
　　　　〃Get　on　with　it　and　be　on　your　way。〃
　　　　He　could　only　see　the　tall　one's　eyes；　and　was　robbed　of　the　satisfaction　he　might　have　had　from　seeing　the　man's　reactions。　Highland　became　angry　at　that。　Now　that　death　was　certain；　he　found　himself　enraged　by　the　irrelevant。　The　tall　one　took　an　automatic　pistol　from　his　belt　and　handed　it　to　Miller。　
　　　　〃This　one's　yours；　Sean。〃
　　　　Sean　took　the　gun　in　his　left　hand　and　looked　one　last　time　at　Highland。
　　　　I　might　as　well　be　a　rabbit　for　all　that　little　fucker　cares。
　　　　〃I　should　have　left　you　in　that　cell；〃　Highland　said；　his　own　voice　now　devoid　of　emotion。
　　　　Miller　considered　that　for　a　moment；　waiting　for　a　fitting　reply　to　spring　from　his　brain　as　he　held　the　gun　at　his　hip。　A　quote　from　Josef　Stalin　came　to　mind。　He　raised　his　gun。　〃Gratitude；　Mr。　Highland　。　。　。　is　a　disease　of　dogs。〃　He　fired　two　rounds　from　a　distance　of　fifteen　feet。
　　　　〃e　on；〃　O'Donnell　said　from　behind　his　mask。　Another　black…clad　man　appeared　on　the　vehicle　deck。　He　trotted　to　the　leader。
　　　　〃Both　engines　are　disabled。〃
　　　　O'Donnell　checked　his　watch。　Things　had　gone　almost　perfectly。　A　good　plan；　it　was　　except　for　the　bloody　weather。　Visibility　was　under　a　mile；　and　　
　　　　〃There　it　is；　ing　up　aft；〃　one　man　called。　
　　　　〃Patience；　lads。〃　
　　　　〃Just　who　the　hell　are　you？〃　the　cop　at　their　feet　asked。
　　　　O'Donnell　fired　a　short　burst　for　an　answer；　correcting　this　oversight。　Another　chorus　of　screams　erupted；　then　trailed　quickly　away　into　the　shriek　of　the　winds。　The　leader　took　a　whistle　from　inside　his　sweater　and　blew　it。　The　assault　group　formed　up　on　the　leader。　There　were　seven　of　them；　plus　Sean。　Their　training　showed；　O'Donnell　noted　with　satisfaction。　Every　man　of　them　stood　facing　outward　around　him；　gun　at　the　ready　in　case　one　of　these　terrified　civilians　might　be　so　foolish　as　to　try　something。　The　ferry's　captain　stood　on　the　ladder　sixty　feet　away；　clearly　worrying　about　his　next　hazard；　handling　his　craft　in　a　storm　without　engine　power。　O'Donnell　had　considered　killing　all　aboard　and　sinking　the　boat；　but　rejected　the　idea　as　counterproductive。　Better　to　leave　survivors　behind　to　tell　the　tale；　otherwise　the　Brits　might　not　know　of　his　victory。　
　　　　〃Ready！〃　the　man　at　the　stern　announced。
　　　　One　by　one　the　gunmen　moved　aft。　There　was　an　eight…foot　sea　rolling；　and　it　would　get　worse　farther　out　beyond　the　shelter　of　Sconce　Point。　It　was　a　hazard　that　O'Donnell　could　accept　more　readily　than　the　Cenlac's　captain。
　　　　〃Go！〃　he　ordered。
　　　　The　first　of　his　men　jumped　into　the　ten…meter　Zodiac。　The　man　at　the　controls　of　the　small　boat　took　alee　from　the　ferry　and　used　the　power　of　his　twin　outboards　to　hold　her　in　close。　The　men　had　all　practiced　that　in　three…foot　seas；　and　despite　the　more　violent　waves；　things　went　easily。　As　each　man　jumped　aboard；　he　rolled　to　starboard　to　clear　a　path　for　the　next。　It　took　just　over　a　minute。　O'Donnell　and　Miller　went　last；　and　as　they　hit　the　rubber　deck；　the　boat　moved　alee；　and　the　throttles　cracked　open　to　full　power。　The　Zodiac　raced　up　the　side　of　the　ferry；　out　of　her　wind　shadow；　and　then　southwest　toward　the　English　Channel。　O'Donnell　looked　back　at　the　ferry。　There　were　perhaps　six　people　watching　them　pull　away。　He　waved　to　them。
　　　　〃Wele　back　to　us；　Sean；〃　he　shouted　to　his　rade。　
　　　　〃I　didn't　tell　them　a　bloody　thing；〃　Miller　replied。　　　　　〃I　know　that。〃　O'Donnell　handed　the　younger　man　a　flask　of　whiskey。　Miller　lifted　it　and　swallowed　two　ounces。　He'd　forgotten　how　good　it　could　taste；　and　the　cold　sheets　of　rain　made　it　all　the　better。
　　　　The　Zodiac　skimmed　over　the　wavetops；　almost　like　a　hovercraft；　driven　by　a　pair　of　hundred…horsepower　engines。　The　helmsman　stood　at　his　post　'midships；　his　knees　bent　to　absorb　the　mild　buffering　as　he　piloted　the　craft　through　the　wind　and　rain　toward　the　rendezvous。　O'Donnell's　fleet　of　trawlers　gave　him　a　wide　choice　of　seamen；　and　this　wasn't　the　first　time　he'd　used　them　in　an　operation。　One　of　the　gunmen　crawled　around　to　pass　out　life　jackets。　In　the　most　unlikely　event　that　someone　saw　them；　they　would　look　like　a　team　from　th