Double Eagle(科幻战争)-第44部分

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“Maybe　Zophos；　the　Midwinters。　Possibly　St　Hagen。　Apparently；　Tacticus　is　evaluating。”
Darrow　felt　hollow。　He　looked　away。　The　echoing　atrium　was　empty　apart　from　other
Operations　personnel　plodding　out　from　their　shift。
“Are　we—”　he　began。　“Are　we　going　to　lose　this？”　he　asked。
“No；”　said　Eads。　“Retreat　is　a　hard　thing　to　deal　with；　but　you’ll　be　a　better　warrior；　Enric；　if　you
realise　that　sometimes　that’s　the　only　way　to　win。　Throne；　if　retreat　equalled　defeat；　then　we　might
as　well　have　run　for　the　hills　the　moment　the　land　armada　was　turned　back　from　the　gates　of
Trinity。”
“Sir。”
“I　know　it　hurts；　Darrow。　It　wounds　a　man’s　pride。　But　you　have　to　see　it　all。”　There　was　no
irony　in　Eads’s　voice。　“Retreat；　regroup；　gather　our　strengths；　try　again。　That’s　what　we’re　doing。
That’s　why　we’ve　fought　so　hard　to　get　the　land　forces　home。　So　they　can　turn　and　fight　again；
renewed。　Go　read　some　history　slates；　Darrow。　Wars　have　been　won　that　way。　And　many　others
have　been　lost　by　men　too　proud　to　acknowledge　the　sense　of　a　tactical　withdrawal。”
Darrow　nodded。
“Darrow？”
“I　nodded；　sir。　My　apologies。”
“Get　some　sleep。　I’ll　see　you　at　midnight。”
Darrow　saluted。　Eads　moved　away　across　the　marble　floor；　his　cane　twitching。　“Call　that　a
salute？”　he　said　over　his　shoulder。
Darrow　wandered　outside。　The　air　was　murky　and　stank　of　fyceline。　A　few　Operations　personnel
from　the　last　shift　loitered　around　under　the　portico；　smoking　and　chatting；　or　just　lounging　on　the
damp　steps　in　aching　relief。
He　saw　Scalter　nearby；　smoking　a　lho…stick。　Even　from　a　distance；　Darrow　could　see　how　much
Scalter’s　hands　were　shaking。　He　had　just　decided　to　go　and　confront　the　man；　when　he　realised
something。
He　drew　his　own　hands　from　his　pockets　and　looked　at　them。　They　were　shaking　too。
“Need　something？”　asked　Scalter；　noticing　him。
“No；　sir。　I’m　fine。”
“Something　wrong　with　your　hands？”
“No。”　Darrow　joined　him。　“Actually；　just　the　shakes。”
“Tell　me　about　it。　We　all　get　that。　Tension　and　fatigue。”
“Yes；　sir。”
Scalter　offered　Darrow　his　pack。　“No　thanks；　sir。”
“Heading　for　the　simulators？”　Scalter　asked。　“I’ve　seen　you　there。”
“I　might。　You？”
Scalter　nodded　his　head　at　the　airfield　before　them。　“What　do　you　think？”　he　asked。
Darow　looked　out　across　the　MAB。　Parts　of　the　field　were　shredded　with　craters　and　bulldozed
heaps　of　debris。　Along　the　east　fence；　the　wrecks　of　bombed　out　and　crashed　planes　had　been　piled
up；　simply　to　clear　usable　space。　Smoke　twisted　up　from　recent　hits。　Navy　craft　were　landing　in
flocks；　some　pouring　vapour。　Crews　rushed　out　onto　the　field。　In　the　hardstands；　the　Apostles　were
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warming　up；　munitions　trains　clattering　clear。　Darrow　heard　the　brutal；　buzzing　pulse　of　primers
starting　engines。
Beyond　the　field；　the　towers　of　Theda　itself　rose　in　crumpled　majesty。　Columns　of　smoke
writhed　from　the　city；　darkening　the　sky。　Fires　blazed。　There　were　gaps　in　the　city　skyline　where
familiar　buildings　had　been　destroyed。　Raid　sirens　were　wailing。
“I　think　I’ll　head　for　the　simulators；”　Darrow　said。
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DAY　265
Western　District　Theda；　10。02
The　intake　of　wounded　had　filled　the　infirmaries　of　Theda　to　bursting。　Jagdea　had　been　transferred
right　across　the　city　to　a　hab　clinic　in　the　Western　Districts；　a　four　storey　pile　of　rotting　brick　that
had　been；　over　the　years；　a　sanatorium；　a　refuge；　and　a　scholam　for　wayward　youths。　The　building
was　in　poor　repair。　The　air　reeked　of　disinfectant　and　mildew。
Blansher　found　her　at　the　end　of　a　long；　grim　gallery；　gazing　out　of　the　windows　onto　a　street
where　files　of　civilians　were　waiting　in　the　rain　for　travel　permits。
She　looked　pale　and　thin。　Her　left　arm　was　bound　up　in　a　heavy　sling。　Blansher　noticed　that
under　her　dressing　gown；　she　still　wore　the　trousers　of　her　flight　suit。
“Hey；　Mil；”　she　said。
“Bree。　How’s　the　arm？”
“Okay。　Another　day　or　two；　they　reckon。”
“We　miss　you。　The　wing　all　send　their　best。”
“Keeping　them　in　line；　I　hope？”
“They　wouldn’t　dare　mess　with　me。”
She　grinned。　“Want　a　seat？”　she　said；　getting　up　out　of　her　bath　chair。
“I’m　fine；”　he　said。
“Sit　down；　Mil。　You　look　fit　to　drop。　I’ve　been　sitting　all　day。”
Shrugging；　he　sat　down　in　the　old；　wheeled　invalid　chair。　He　settled　back；　elbows　out。
“So…　how　are　these　for　speed？”　he　asked。
She　leaned　against　the　wall　by　the　window　and　gestured　down　the　long；　lino…floored　hall　with
her　good　hand。　“Try　it　out。　Not　much　reheat；　but　if　you　really　push　it　you　can　achieve　lift　by　the　time
you　reach　the　dispensary。”
Using　his　hands；　he　milled　the　big　handwheels　back　and　forth。
“How’s　it　been？”　she　asked。
“We’ve　been　up　once。　A　nasty　tangle　over　St　Chryze。　Aggie　stung　one；　and　so　did　I。”
“All　safe？”
“A　hard　round　went　through　Zemmic’s　side…pane　and　snapped　his　chain　of　lucky　charms；　so　he’s
really　low。　But　yes。　All　safe。”
“Cordiale？”
“Fixed　up；　and　fit　for　the　next　sortie。”
“How’s　my　baby　Zero…Two？”
“A　mess；　Bree。　But　she’ll　live。　They’re　working　on　her　now；　but　she’ll　have　to　be　shipped　by
carrier　t—”
Blansher　stopped。　“Damn；”　he　said。　“And　there　I　was　going　to　break　it　to　you　gently。”
“Shipped　out？”　asked　Jagdea。　“Since　when？”
“Since　06。00　hours　this　morning。　Navy　directive。　Apparently；　Ornoff’s　decided　it’s　time　to　quit
the　coast。”
“Where　to？”
“For　us；　Lucerna　MAB　in　the　Midwinters。　That’s　need…to…know；　obviously。”
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“Of　course。”
“The　mass　land　evac　is　now　well　underway。　Theda’s　almost　empty；　the　population　fleeing。
We’re　giving　ground。　From　the　islands　we　can　keep　our　bases　out　of　strike　range　of　the　enemy　for　a
while；　and　keep　them　off　the　evac　fleets。　Throne　alive；　Bree；　you’ve　never　seen　so　many　massbarges！”
“I　like　islands；”　said　Jagdea　thoughtfully。　“They　remind　me　of　home。”
“We’re　flying　the　Bolts　out　at　09。00　on　the　268th；　three　days　from　now；　situation　permitting。
Your　bird　will　be　packed　off　this　afternoon　on　one　of　the　freight　barges。”
“Don’t　you　bloody　leave　me　here！”　Jagdea　said。
“Of　course　not；　Bree。　I’ll　arrange　a　transport　to　collect　you；　maybe　around　08。30　that　morning。
The　Navy　will　be　scooping　off　personnel　using　Valkyries　and　Oneros。　You’ll　be　with　us　by　noon。”
“I’d　better　be；”　Jagdea　warned。　“I　don’t　want　to　die　here　in　this　dump。”
“Oh；　trust　me；”　said　Blansher。　He　was　still　rolling　to　and　fro　in　the　bath　chair；　playing　like　a
child。　“When　have　I　ever　let　you　down？”
“Never；”　she　replied。
“You　see？”
“What　about　Espere？”　she　asked。
“Already　gone　north；　medicae　evac。　I　checked。　He’s　in　a　care　unit　in　Enothopolis　as　we　speak。”
Blansher　got　up　out　of　the　chair；　and　rolled　it　around　for　her　to　sit　again。　“I　should　go；”　he　said。
“We’re　due　up　at　11。00　hours　and　my　ride　is　waiting。”
“Good　flying；”　she　said。
“Take　care　of　yourself；”　Blansher　paused。　“Well；　well；　looks　like　you’ve　got　another　visitor。”
Jagdea　looked　around。　Wing　Leader　Seekan；　splendid　in　his　white　suede　coat；　was　coming　down
the　hallway。
“Friends　in　high　places；”　Blansher　said。
He　walked　away；　giving　Seekan　a　salute　as　he　passed　him。　Seekan　returned　it　respectfully；　and
then　walked　on　to　join　Jagdea　under　the　stained；　aged　window。　She　remained　standing。
“Leader。”
“Commander。　How　are　you？”
“Alive。　I　didn’t　expect　to　see　you　here。”
Seekan　shrugged。
“Have　a　seat；”　Jagdea　suggested；　nodding　her　head　towards　the　bath　chair。
“I’m　fine；　commander。　I…　I　came　for　two　reasons。”
“Did　you　now？”
“The　first　is　as　a　matter　of　courtesy。　From　one　flight　leader　to　another。　Major　Ludo　Ramia　of　the
Apostles　was　lost　in　action　last　night。”
“I’m　sorry　to　hear　that；　leader。”
Seekan　cleared　his　throat　awkward。　“I　intend　to　offer　his　place　to　Flight　Lieutenant　Larice
Asche。　Her　record；　especially　in　recent　days；　has　been　remarkable。　Ten　kills　in　one　sortie。”
“Ten　indeed。”
“I　wanted　to　ask　your　permission；　commander。”
“My　permission？”
“Before　I　ask　her。”
Jagdea　limped　over　to　the　bath　chair　and　sat　down　in　it。　She　felt　dazed；　hurt；　as　if　something
precious　had　been　stolen　from　her。
“Larice　is　one　of　my…”　She　stopped　and　corrected。　“Larice　Asche　is　my　best　pilot。　I　will　miss
her。　But　I　know　the　form。　The　Apostles　ask；　you　don’t　refuse。　I’m　flattered　you　even　ran　it　past　me
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at　all。　Larice　will　be　overjoyed。　It’s　an　honour。　Of　course　she’ll　accept。　The　first　Phantine　aviator　to
make　the　Apostle　grade。”
“The　first　female…”　Seekan　said。
“Not　a　distinction　we　ever　make　on　Phantine；　sir。”
“The　Navy　is　rather　old　fashioned；　mamzel；”　he　smiled。　“So；　I　have　your　permission？”
Jagdea　shook　her　head　and　chuckled。　“It’s　as　if　you’re　asking　me　for　her　hand　in　marriage。”
“I　am；　in　a　way。　Till　death　parts　us。”
Jagdea　looked　up　at　him。　“Make　her　a　hero。　A　legend。　That’s　all　she　wants；　Seekan。　That’s　all　I
want　for　her。”
“I　will；”　he　said。　“Thank　you。”
“What’s　the　second　reason？”　she　asked。
“Pardon　me？”
“You　said　you’d　come　here　for　two　reasons。　You’ve　robbed　away　my　best　wingman。　I　dread　to
think　what　the　other　cause　is。”
“I　merely　wanted　to　enquire　after　your　health。　I　was　concerned　when　I　heard　the　news。”