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oping a signature identification for an agonizing period。 Might she be a Russian sub creeping in search of her own target？ Finally the faint rattles from the damaged sail betrayed her。 McCafferty ordered his boat to close the target at eight knots。
Had Providence repaired her sonar systems？ Certainly they'd try； McCafferty thought； and if they then detected a submarine approaching very cautiously from the rear； would they think this was their old friend Chicago； or another Victor…III？ For that matter； how sure were they that their target was Providence？ That was why American subs were trained to operate alone。 Too many uncertainties attached to cooperative operations。
They'd left the Soviet surface forces behind。 McCafferty's hit…and…run maneuver had fooled them； and before the noise faded out； they listened to a spirited hunt involving aircraft and surface forces； now thirty miles astern。 That was a positive development； but the absence of any surface ships in this area made McCafferty uneasy。 He might now be in a submarine…dedicated sector； and submarines were by far the more dangerous opponents。 His earlier success against the Victor had been pure luck。 That Soviet skipper had been too interested in starting his own hunt to check his flanks。 It was a mistake he did not expect to be repeated。
〃Range？〃 McCafferty asked his tracking party。
〃About two miles； sir。〃
That was the fringe of gertrude range； but McCafferty wanted to get a lot closer than that。 Patience； he told himself。 Submarining was a continuous exercise in patience。 You spent hours in preparation for a few seconds of activity。 It's a wonder we don't all have ulcers。 Twenty minutes later； they had closed to within a thousand yards of Providence。 McCafferty lifted the gertrude phone。
〃Chicago calling Providence； over。〃
〃You took your time about it； Danny。〃
〃Where's Todd？〃
〃He went off west after something two hours ago。 We lost him。 No noise at all from that direction。〃
〃What's your condition？〃
〃The tail works。 Rest of our sonar's shot。 We can shoot fish from the torpedoroom control systems。 Still raining in the control room； but we can live with it as long as we stay above three hundred feet。〃
〃Can you go any faster？〃
〃We tried going to eight knots。 Found out we couldn't keep it up。 The sail's ing apart。 The noise just gets worse。 I can give you six； that's it。〃
〃Very well。 If you got a working tail； we'll try to take station a few miles ahead。 Call it five miles。〃
〃Thanks； Danny。〃
McCafferty hung up the phone。 〃Sonar； you got anything that even looks like it might be something？〃
〃No； sir； it's clear right now。〃
〃All ahead two…thirds。〃 So； where the hell is Boston？ the captain asked himself。
〃Funny how quiet things have got；〃 the exec pointed out。
〃Tell me about it。 I know I'm acting paranoid； but am I acting paranoid enough！〃 McCafferty needed the laugh。 〃Okay。 We sprint and drift north； fifteen minutes sprint； ten drift； until we're five miles ahead of Providence。 Then we settle down to six knots and continue the mission。 I'm going to catch a nap。 Wake me in two hours。 Talk to the division officers and chiefs； make sure the troops are getting some rest。 We've been pushing pretty hard。 I don't want anybody to fold up。〃 McCafferty grabbed half a sandwich as he walked forward。 It was only eight steps to his stateroom。 The food was swallowed by then。
〃Captain to control！〃 It seemed he had only just closed his eyes when the speaker over his head went off。 McCafferty checked his watch on the way out the door。 He'd been asleep for ninety minutes。 It would have to do。
〃What do we got？〃 he asked the exec。
〃Possible submarine contact on the port quarter。 Just picked it up。 We got a bearing change already…it's close。 No signature yet。〃
〃Boston？〃
〃Could be。〃
I wish Todd hadn't gone off like that； McCafferty told himself。 He found himself wondering if they shouldn't just tell Providence to go to her best speed and screw the noise。 That was fatigue talking； he knew。 Tired people make mistakes； especially judgmental effors。 Captains can't afford those； Danny。
Chicago was making six knots。 No noise at all； the captain thought。 Nobody can hear us 。 。 。 maybe； probably。 You don't really know anymore； do you？ He went into the sonar room。
〃How you feeling； Chief？〃
〃Hangin' in there； skipper。 This contact's a beaut。 See how he fades in and out。 He's there； all right； but it's a cast…iron bitch to hold him。〃
〃Boston headed off west a few hours ago。〃
〃Could be him ing back； sir。 Lord knows he's quiet enough。 Or it could be a Tango on batteries； sir。 I don't have enough signal to tell the difference。 Sorry； sir。 I just don't know。〃 The chief rubbed raw eyes and let out a long breath。
〃How long since you had any rest？〃
〃I don't know that either； sir。〃
〃When we finish up this one； you hit the rack； Chief 〃 The tracking party officer called forward next。
〃I have a working range for you； sir。 Five thousand yards。 I think he's on an easterly course。 Trying to firm that up。〃 McCafferty ordered a firecontrol solution to be run on the contact。
〃What's this？〃 the chief asked。 〃Another sonar contact behind the first one； bearing two…five…three。 He's following the other guy！〃
〃I need an ID； Chief。〃
〃I don't have enough data； Captain。 Both these guys are creeping。〃
Is Boston one of them？ If so； which？ If the one in front； do we warn him and reveal our position？ Or shoot and risk shooting at the wrong one？ Or just do nothing at all？
McCafferty went aft to the plotting board。 〃How close is this one to Providence？〃
〃Just over four thousand yards； ing in on her port bow。〃
〃He probably has her then；〃 the captain thought aloud。
〃But who the hell is he？〃 the tracking officer asked quietly。 〃And what's this Sierra…2 contact behind him？〃
〃Transient！ Transient！〃 the sonar chief called。 〃Mechanical transient on Sierra2！〃
〃Left fifteen degrees rudder；〃 McCafferty ordered quietly。
〃Torpedo in the water； bearing two…four…nine！〃
〃All ahead two…thirds！〃 This order was loud。
〃Conn； sonar； we got increased machinery noises on Sierra…l。 Okay； the front contact is a two…screw boat； blade count indicates speed of ten knots and increasing； getting some cavitation。 Target Sierra…I is maneuvering。 Classify this target as a Tango…class。〃
〃Boston's the one in back。 All ahead one…third。〃 McCafferty ordered his submarine to slow back down。 〃Get him； Todd！〃
His wish was rewarded with an explosion fifteen seconds later。 Simms had e up with the same tactic as his friend on Chicago。 Close to a few thousand yards of the target； and give him no chance to maneuver clear。 Fifteen minutes later； Boston joined her healthy sister。
〃Talk about a tough four hours。 That Tango was good！〃 Simms called over on the gertrude。 〃You in good shape？〃
〃Yes。 We have the front guard position。 You want to take the rear for a while？〃
〃You got it； Danny。 See ya'。〃
ICELAND
〃Lead off； Sergeant Nichols。〃
The Russian outpost was three miles south and three thousand feet up。 They climbed up the walls of the ravine and into relatively open ground。 They were between the sun and the outpost。 Edwards found that intellectually he believed what Nichols said about light conditions； and how the eye reacted to the