tc.patriotgames-第63部分

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　full…automatic　fire。　All　in　all；　a　nice　bination　of　traits　for　such　a　small；　deadly　weapon。　He　palmed　back　the　bolt　and　squeezed　the　trigger　to　get　a　better　feel　for　where　it　broke。　He　figured　it　at　about　twelve　pounds　　perfect；　not　too　light　and　not　too　heavy。　Miller　left　the　bolt　closed　on　an　empty　chamber　and　loaded　the　magazine　of　thirty　9mm　rounds。　Then　he　folded　the　stock　and　tried　the　hanging　hook　inside　his　topcoat。　A　standard　modification　to　the　Uzi；　it　allowed　a　person　to　carry　it　concealed。　That　probably　wouldn't　be　necessary；　but　Miller　was　a　man　who　planned　for　all　the　contingencies。　He'd　learned　that　lesson　the　hard　way。　
　　　　〃Ned？〃　
　　　　〃Yes；　Sean？〃　Eamon　Clark；　known　as　Ned；　hadn't　stopped　going　over　the　maps　and　photographs　of　his　place　since　arriving　in　America。　One　of　the　most　experienced　assassins　in　Ireland；　he　was　one　of　the　men　the　ULA　had　broken　from　Long　Kesh　Prison　the　previous　year。　A　handsome　young　man；　Clark　had　spent　the　previous　day　touring　the　Naval　Academy　grounds；　carrying　his　own　camera　as　he'd　photographed　the　statue　of　Tecumseh　。　。　。　and　carefully　examined　Gate　Three。　Ryan　would　drive　straight　uphill；　giving　him　roughly　fifteen　seconds　to　get　ready。　It　would　demand　vigilance；　but　Ned　had　the　necessary　patience。　Besides；　they　knew　the　target's　schedule。　His　last　class　ended　at　three　that　afternoon　and　he　hit　the　gate　at　a　predictable　time。　Alex　was　even　now　parking　the　getaway　car　on　King　George　Street。　Clark　had　misgivings；　but　kept　them　to　himself。　Sean　Miller　had　masterminded　the　prison　break　that　had　made　him　a　free　man。　This　was　his　first　real　operation　with　the　ULA。　Clark　decided　that　he　owed　them　loyalty。　Besides；　his　look　at　the　Academy's　security　had　not　impressed　him。　Ned　Clark　knew　that　he　was　not　the　brightest　man　in　the　room；　but　they　needed　a　man　able　to　work　on　his　own；　and　he　did　know　how　to　do　that。　He'd　proven　this　seven　times。
　　　　Outside　the　house　were　three　cars；　the　van　and　two　station　wagons。　The　van　would　be　used　for　the　second　part　of　the　operation；　while　the　station　wagons　would　take　everyone　to　the　airport　when　the　operation　was　finished。
　　　　Miller　sat　down　in　an　overstuffed　chair　and　ran　over　the　entire　operation　in　his　mind。　As　always；　he　closed　his　eyes　and　visualized　every　event；　then　he　inserted　variables。　What　if　the　traffic　were　unusually　heavy　or　unusually　light？　What　if　。　。　。
　　　　One　of　Alex's　men　came　through　the　front　door。　He　tossed　Miller　a　Polaroid。
　　　　〃Right　on　time？〃　Sean　Miller　asked。　
　　　　〃You　got　it；　man。〃
　　　　The　photograph　showed　Cathy　Ryan　leading　her　daughter　by　the　hand　into　　what　was　the　name　of　the　place？　Oh；　yes；　Giant　Steps。　Miller　smiled　at　that。　Today　would　be　a　giant　step　indeed。　Miller　leaned　back　again；　eyes　closed；　to　make　sure。

　　　　〃But　there　wasn't　a　threat；〃　a　mid　objected。
　　　　〃That's　correct。　Which　is　to　say　we　know　that　now。　But　how　did　it　look　to　Spruance？　He　knew　what　the　Japanese　fleet　had　in　surface　ships。　What　if　they　had　e　east；　what　if　the　recall　order　had　never　been　issued？〃　Jack　pointed　to　the　diagram　he'd　drawn　on　the　blackboard。　〃There　would　have　been　contact　at　about　oh…three…hundred　hours。　Who　do　you　think　would　have　won　that　one；　mister？〃
　　　　〃But　he　blew　his　chance　for　a　good　air　strike　the　next　day；〃　the　midshipman　persisted。
　　　　〃With　what？　Let's　look　at　the　losses　in　the　air　groups。　With　all　the　torpedo　craft　lost；　just　what　losses　do　you　think　he　could　have　inflicted？〃　Jack　asked。　
　　　　〃But　〃
　　　　〃You　remember　the　Kenny　Rogers　song：　You　have　to　know　when　to　walk　away；　and　know　when　to　run。　Buck　fever　is　a　bad　thing　in　a　hunter。　In　an　admiral　manding　a　fleet　it　can　be　disastrous。　Spruance　looked　at　his　information；　looked　at　his　capabilities；　and　decided　to　call　it　a　day。　A　secondary　consideration　was　　what？〃　
　　　　〃To　cover　Midway？〃　another　mid　asked。
　　　　〃Right。　What　if　they　had　carried　on　with　the　invasion？　That　was　gamed　out　at　Newport　once　and　the　invasion　was　successful。　Please　note　that　this　is　a　manifestation　of　logic　overpowering　reality；　but　it　was　a　possibility　that　Spruance　could　not　afford　to　dismiss。　His　primary　mission　was　to　inflict　damage　on　a　superior　Japanese　fleet。　His　secondary　mission　was　to　prevent　the　occupation　of　Midway。　The　balance　he　struck　here　is　a　masterpiece　of　operational　expertise　。　。　。　〃　Ryan　paused　for　a　moment。　What　was　it　that　he'd　just　said？　Logic　overing　reality。　Hadn't　he　just　e　to　the　logical　conclusion　that　the　ULA　wouldn't　　no；　no；　a　different　situation　entirely。　He　shook　off　the　thought　and　kept　going　on　the　lessons　from　the　Battle　of　Midway。　He　had　the　class　going　now；　and　ideas　were　crackling　across　the　room　like　lightning。

　　　　〃Perfect；〃　Cathy　said　as　she　pulled　her　mask　down　around　her　neck。　She　stood　up　from　the　stool　and　stretched　her　arms　over　her　head。　〃Nice　one；　folks。〃
　　　　The　patient　was　wheeled　out　to　the　recovery　room　while　Lisa…Marie　made　a　final　check　of　her　instruments。　Cathy　Ryan　pulled　off　her　mask　and　rubbed　her　nose。　Then　her　hands　went　down　to　her　belly。　The　little　guy　really　was　kicking　up　a　storm。　
　　　　〃Football　player？〃　Bernice　asked。
　　　　〃Feels　like　a　whole　backfield。　Sally　wasn't　this　active。　I　think　this　one's　a　boy；〃　Cathy　judged；　knowing　that　there　was　no　such　correlation。　It　was　good　enough　that　the　baby　was　very　active。　That　was　always　a　positive　sign。　She　smiled；　mostly　to　herself；　at　the　miracle　and　the　magic　of　motherhood。　Right　there　inside　her　was　a　brand…new　human　being　waiting　to　be　born；　and　by　the　feel　of　it；　rather　impatient。　〃Well。　I　have　a　family　to　talk　to。〃　
　　　　She　walked　out　of　the　operating　room；　not　bothering　to　change　out　of　her　greens。　It　always　looked　more　dramatic　to　keep　them　on。　The　waiting　room　was　a　mere　fifty　feet　away。　The　Jeffers　family　　the　father　and　one　of　their　daughters　　was　waiting　on　the　inevitable　couch；　staring　at　the　inevitable　magazines　but　not　reading　them。　The　moment　she　came　through　the　swinging　door；　both　leaped　to　their　feet。　She　gave　them　her　best　smile；　always　the　quickest　way　to　convey　the　message。
　　　　〃Okay？〃　the　husband　asked；　his　anxiety　a　physical　thing。
　　　　〃Everything　went　perfectly；〃　Cathy　said。　〃No　problems　at　all。　She'll　be　fine。〃　
　　　　〃When　will　she　be　able　〃
　　　　〃A　week。　We　have　to　be　patient　on　this。　You'll　be　able　to　see　her　in　about　an　hour　and　a　half。　Now；　why　don't　you　get　yourselves　something　to　eat。　There's　no　sense　having　a　healthy　patient　if　the　family　is　worn　out；　I　〃
　　　　〃Doctor　Ryan；〃　the　public　address　speaker　said。　〃Doctor　Caroline　Ryan。〃
　　　　〃Wait　a　minute。〃　Cathy　walked　to　the　nurses'　station　and　lifted　the　phone。　〃This　is　Doctor　Ryan。〃
　　　　〃Cathy；　this　is　Gene　in　the　ER。　I've　got　a　major　eye　trauma。　Ten…year…old　black　male；　he　took　his　bike　through　a　store　window；〃　the　voice　said　urgently。　〃His　left　eye　is　badly　lacerated。〃　
　　　　〃Send　him　up　to　six。〃　Cathy　hung　up　and　went　back　to　the　Jeffers　family。　〃I　have　to　run；　there's　an　emergency　case　ing　up。　Your　wife　will　be　fine。　I'll　be　seeing　you　tomorrow。〃　Cathy　walked　as　quickly　as　she　could　to　the　OR。
　　　　〃Heads　up；　we　have　an　emergency　ing　in　from　ER。　Major　eye　trauma　to　a　ten…year…old。〃　Lisa…Marie　was　already　moving。　Cathy　walked　to　the　wall　phone　and　punched　the　number　for　surgeons'　lounge。　〃This　is　Ryan　in　Wilmer　six。　Where's　Bernie？〃　
　　　　〃I'll　get　him。〃　A　moment　later：　〃Doctor　Katz。〃　
　　　　〃Bernie；　I　have　a　major　eye　trauma　ing　into　six。　Gene　Wood　in　ER　says　it's　a　baddie。〃　
　　　　〃On　the　way。〃　Cathy　Ryan　turned。　
　　　　〃Terri？〃　
　　　　〃All　ready；〃　the　anesthesiologist　assured　her。　
　　　　〃Give　me　another　two　minutes；〃　Lisa…Marie　said。　Cathy　went　into　the　scrub　room　to　rewash　her　hands。　Bernie　Katz　arrived　before　she　started。　He　was　a　thoroughly　disreputable…looking　man；　only　an　inch　taller　than　Cathy　Ryan；　with　longish　hair　and　a　Bismarck　mustache。　He　was　also　one　of　the　best　surgeons　at　Hopkins。
　　　　〃You'd　better　lead　on　this　one；〃　she　said。　〃I　haven't　done　a　major　trauma　in　quite　a　while。〃　
　　　　〃No　problem。　How's　the　baby　ing？〃
　　　　〃Great。〃　A　new　sound　arrived；　the　high…pitched　shrieks　of　a　child　in　agony。　The　doctors　moved　into　the　OR。　They　watched　dispassionately　as　two　orderlies　were　strapping　the　child　down。　Why　weren't　you　in　school？　Cathy　asked　him　silently。　The　left　side　of　the　boy's　face　was　a　mess。　The　reconstructive　teams　would　have　to　work　on　that　later。　Eyes　came　first。　The　child　had　already　tried　to　be　brave；　but　the　pain　was　too　great　for　that。　Terri　did　the　first　medication；　with　both　orderlies　holding　the　child's　arm　in　place。　Cathy　and　Bernie　hovered　over　the　kid's　face　a　moment　later。
　　　　〃Bad；〃　Dr。　Katz　observed。　He　looked　to　the　circulating　nurse。　〃I　have　a　procedure　scheduled　for　one　o'clock。　Have　to　bump　it。　This　one's　going　to　take　some　time。〃　
　　　　〃All　ready　on　this　side；〃　the　scrub　nurse　said。
　　　　〃Two　more　minutes；〃　the　anesthesiologist　advised。　You　had　to　be　careful　medicating　kids。
　　　　〃Gloves；〃　Cathy　said。　Bernie　came　over　with　them　a　moment　later。　〃What　happened？〃
　　　　〃He　was　riding　his　bike　down　the　sidewalk　on　Monument　Street；〃　the　orderly　said。　〃He　hit　something　and　went　through　an　appliance…store　window。〃
　　　　〃Why　wasn't　he　in　school？〃　she　asked；　looking　back　at　the　kid's　left　eye。　She　saw　hours　of　work　and　an　uncertain　oute。　
　　　　〃Presid