按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Austin grabbed the pack holding his Bowen； and with Zavala and the others behind him； followed the sailor to the control room。 Captain Madison lifted his eyes from the periscope and said； 〃We surface in exactly three minutes。 The target is one hundred yards away。 Seas look fairly calm。 You're in luck； the clouds are covering the moon。〃
〃Thank you for allowing my men the use of your vessel； Captain；〃 Petrov said。
Madison scratched his head。 〃This is a first for me； but if your country and mine can cooperate in space； why not under the sea？〃 He turned to Austin。 〃Someone at NUMA's got a lot of pull。 It's not anyone who can yank a U。S。 Navy missile sub off its usual patrol for what seems to be； if you'll pardon the expression； a renegade special…ops mission。〃
The four…hundred…twenty…five…foot Benjamin Franklin was one of four subs in its class that had been recruited because it was equipped for special operations。 Even Sandecker's considerable influence wouldn't have superseded naval orders without approval； however masked； from the highest level。
Austin said； 〃This mission wouldn't have gotten off the ground if it weren't crucial。〃
〃Good luck； then；〃 the captain said。 〃We'll standby as long as we have to。 Call us when you need a lift home。〃
〃You'll be the first to know。〃 Austin went over to a bank of puter screens。
〃We're heading out； Hiram；〃 he said。
Yaeger sat in front of a keyboard where one of the sub's electronics people was explaining the vessel's puter setup。 Sandecker had been reluctant to let Yaeger go on the mission； but Austin had pressed his case； saying that Hiram's puter expertise could be vital。 The admiral relented after Austin had said he would bring Yaeger aboard only if the yacht's control center had been secured。
Yaeger shook hands with Austin and wished him good luck。 〃I'm still working to decipher the last piece of code；〃 he said。 〃I'll let you know if I break through the wall。〃
At a signal from Austin； Petrov gave his men a series of mands。 The boarding party made its way through the sub and crowded into the space under the loading hatch。 A crewman climbed a ladder and opened the hatch cover； letting in a cold spray。 Austin and Zavala went first； climbing through the hatch to emerge on the deck behind the sail。 Petrov's men joined them and passed up two large plastic canisters。 The canisters were opened； and pressed air hissed into the inflatable boats inside。 The sub's crewman whispered； 〃Good luck；〃 and the hatch cover closed with a soft clunk。
Moonlight； filtered by the clouds； gave the sea a dark pewter cast。 The tall sail； with its horizontal hydroplanes； looked like a giant robot from a science…fiction movie。 Austin squinted through the gloom at the silhouetted yacht。 Unlike its appearance in Boston Harbor； where it had been lit up like a Mississippi riverboat； the yacht was dark； except for a few lights on its radio masts and the yellow glow of cabin windows。
The satellites had watched the yacht change its course along the coast of Maine and head south； until it finally stopped off the coast of Massachusetts about fifty miles from the Ataman Explorer /； which was due…east of Boston。 The other two Ataman ships had halted eastward of Charleston and Miami。
The men grabbed their paddles； pushed the boats off the slippery deck into the water and clambered aboard。 Donning their night…vision goggles； they silently dipped their paddles； using precise strokes that propelled the bobbing craft through the mounding seas。
The cool air stabbed like an ice pick through Austin's layers of clothing and he almost regretted not taking a slug of vodka himself to warm his innards。 He turned and looked back at the sub； which had slipped under the sea with hardly a gurgle。 The sub would remain on station with only a few feet of its conning tower above the surface。
Within minutes； the boats were nudging the towering steel walls that formed the ship's sides。 Austin felt like a minnow next to a whale。 Ordinarily； he would say that the odds against the mission were considerable； but Max had leveled the playing field。 As Yaeger had poked around in the yacht's electronic nervous system； he'd e across two very important connections。 The first was the vessel's troubleshooting program。 It was similar to the visual displays used in cars； only far more sophisticated。 The system could tell the people running the yacht the status of the watertight doors； and the performance of the gas turbines； power flow and the other electronic veins and sinews that kept the ship running。 Most important； Yaeger had located the central control room。 Everyone in the raiding party carried a water… proof map of the ship； based on Max's snooping。
The second breakthrough was more prosaic but equally important。 The yacht's payroll records had the names and titles of practically everyone on board。 Since the yacht served as Razov's home and corporate center； he had a full plement of housekeeping staff； cooks； bookkeepers； accountants and secretaries。 The ship's crew was unexpectedly small； indicating that the vessel was loaded with automated systems。 Austin's interest had centered on a category that Petrov had translated to mean： 〃nonregular crew。〃 In other words； Razov's private shipboard army of thugs； like those who had e after Austin in Boston Harbor。 There were fifty of them； and their ruthlessness and loyalty were not to I be ignored。 Petrov insisted that the odds were nothing his men couldn't handle。
Stealth would be their primary weapon。 They would silently slip aboard the yacht and race to the control center； which they would destroy with well…placed explosives。 Opposition would be quietly neutralized。 If they had to fight their way out； they had enough firepower and the element of surprise to put them on an even footing。 At the same time； Austin and Petrov were realists。 They knew that the odds of discovery were high； and casualties were likely on both sides。 But given the stakes involved； it would be worth the losses。
The night…vision goggles the boarding party wore gave the ship and the sea a greenish tinge。 Austin could see the water…level door he and Kaela had entered to attend Razov's party。 It would be too risky trying to gain access through that door because the open portal would show up on the ship's visual display。 Instead； they would employ the time…tested method used by pirates； castle stormers arid mandos alike。 Grappling hooks。 In their folded position； the hooks were tucked into metal tubes。 When the grapple was launched like a mortar round； the hooks opened。 The prongs were covered with foam rubber so that even someone standing a few yards away wouldn't hear them grab onto the rail of a ship。
Two grapples shot out of their mortars with quiet coughs of pressed air。 The lines were tested。 The ropes were taut； indicating that the grapples had engaged。 Petrov's men pointed guns equipped with silencers toward the rail where anyone looking over would get a rude surprise。 All was quiet； and they moved on to the next phase of the operation。
Austin and Petrov made the first ascent； not an easy task with their packs。 They lunged awkwardly over the rail； surveyed the deck and saw it was deserted； then signaled the others to e aboard。 Within minutes they were squatting on the deck like a flock of black and heavily armed ducks。 Two men stayed with the boats。
The raiding party split in half。 The group led by Austin took the starboard side。 Those under Petrov's mand crossed to the port side。 Both units would advance and meet at a ladder at the base of the bridge。 From there； the plan was to climb three decks to the control center located in a small room behind the wheelhouse。 At this hour； only a skeleton crew should be manning the bridge。 Austin gave Petrov the okay sign。 Crouching low； their guns at the ready； both groups began to move forward。
Austin was encouraged at their swift progress； but they had just passed the grand salon where Razov had held his Boston bash； when a door opened without warning。 Light spilled onto the deck； flaring in their night…vision goggles； Austin pushed the goggles back on his h