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the Americans had risen up out of the moon's surface like spectral demons。 He managed to snap off a shot that drilled one of his assailant's upper arms。 Then a knife flashed。
Leuchenko's eyes were trained toward the colony ahead。 He was unaware of the slaughter going on behind him until he heard Petrov gasp out a warning。 He spun around and stood rooted in shocked awe。
His four men were stretched out in a lifeless sprawl on the lunar gravel。 Eight American colonists had appeared out of nowhere and were rapidly encircling him。 Sudden hatred burst within him； and he thrust his weapon into firing position。
A bullet thumped into his thigh and he tilted sideways。 Tensed in sudden pain； he squeezed off twenty rounds。 Most of them flew wide into the lunar desert； but two found their mark。 One of the colonists fell backward and another dropped to his knees clutching his shoulder。
Then another bullet tore into his neck。 He held on to the trigger； spewing rounds until the clip ran dry； his shots flying wild。
He cursed as he crumpled limply to the ground。 〃Damn the Americans！〃 he shouted inside his helmet。 He thought of them as devils who didn't play the game according to the rules。 He lay on his back； staring up at the faceless forms standing above him。
They parted as another member of the colonists approached and knelt down beside Leuchenko。
〃Steinmetz？〃 Leuchenko asked weakly。 〃Can you hear me？〃
〃Yes； I'm on your frequency；〃 answered Steinmetz。 〃I can hear you。〃
〃Your secret weapon。 。 。 how did you make your people appear from nothing？〃
Steinmetz knew he would be talking to a dead man within seconds。
〃An ordinary shovel；〃 he replied。 〃Since we all have to wear pressurized lunar suits with self…contained life supports； it was a simple matter to bury the men in the soft soil。〃
〃They were marked by the orange rocks？〃
〃Yes； from a hidden platform on the crater's side I could direct when and where to attack you from the rear。〃
〃I do not wish to be buried here；〃 Leuchenko murmured。 〃Tell my nation。 。 。 tell them to bring us home someday。〃
It was close； but Steinmetz got it in。 〃You'll all go home；〃 he said。 〃That's a promise。〃
In Russia a grim…faced Yasenin turned to President Antonov。 〃You heard；〃 he said through clenched lips。 〃They're gone。〃
〃They're gone；〃 Antonov repeated mechanically。 〃It was as though Leuchenko's last words came from across the room。〃
〃His munications were relayed by the two crewmen on the lunar landing craft direct to our space munications center；〃 explained Kornilov。
Antonov moved away from the window overlooking the mission control room and sat down heavily in a chair。 For such a large bear of a man he seemed shrunken and withered。 He looked down at his hands and shook his head sadly。
〃Poor planning；〃 he said quietly。 〃We threw Major Leuchenko and his men's lives away and achieved nothing。〃
〃There was no time to plan a proper mission；〃 Yasenin offered lamely。
〃Under the circumstances； we did all that was possible；〃 added Kornilov。 〃We still have the glory of the first Soviet men to walk on the moon。〃
〃The luster has already faded。〃 Antonov's voice was leaden with defeat。 〃The Americans' incredible acplishment will bury any propaganda value of our achievement。〃
〃Perhaps we can still stop them；〃 Yasenin said bitterly。
Kornilov stared at the general。 〃By sending up a better prepared fighting force？〃
〃Exactly。〃
〃Better yet； why not wait until they return？〃
Antonov looked at Kornilov with curious eyes。 〃What are you suggesting？〃
〃I've been speaking to Vladimir Polevoi。 He's informed me that the GRU's listening center in Cuba has intercepted and identified the voice and video transmissions from the American moon colony to a location outside of Washington。 He's sending copies of the munications by courier。 One of them reveals the scheduled departure of the colonists for earth。〃
〃They're returning？〃 asked Antonov。
〃Yes；〃 replied Kornilov。 〃According to Polevoi； they intend to link up with the American space station in forty…six hours； then return to the Kennedy spaceport at Cape Canaveral on the shuttle Gettysburg。〃
Antonov's face brightened。 〃Then we still have a chance to stop them？〃
Yasenin nodded。 〃They can be destroyed in deep space before they dock at the space station。 The Americans wouldn't dare retaliate after we confront them with the crimes they've mitted against us。
〃Better to reserve our retribution as leverage；〃 said Kornilov thoughtfully。
〃Leverage？〃
Kornilov smiled enigmatically。 〃The Americans have a saying； ‘The ball is in our court。' It is they who are on the defensive。 The White House and the State Department are probably drafting a reply to our expected protest this minute。 I propose we sidestep the accepted routine and remain silent。 Do not play the role of a victimized nation。 Instead； we use our leverage and cause an event。〃
〃What kind of event？〃 asked Antonov； straightening with interest。
〃The seizure of the vast amount of data carried by the returning moon colonists。〃
〃By what means？〃 Yasenin demanded。
The smile left Kornilov's face and his expression went dead serious。 〃We force the Gettysburg to crash…land in Cuba。〃
THE GETTYSBURG
November 3； 1989
San Salvador Island
Pitt was going mad。 The two days of inactivity were the most agonizing he had ever known。 There was little for him to do but eat； exercise； and sleep。 He had yet to be called on to participate in the training exercises。 Hourly； he cursed Colonel Kleist； who bore Pitt's onslaughts with stoic indifference； explaining with tight…lipped patience that his Cuban Special Forces team could not assault Cayo Santa Maria until he pronounced them fit and ready。 And no； he would not speed up the timetable。
Pitt worked off his frustration by taking long swims to the outer reef and climbing a steep rock face whose summit looked out over the surrounding sea。
San Salvador； the smallest of the Bahamas； was known to old mariners as Watling Island； after a zealot buccaneer who flogged members of his crew who did not observe the Sabbath。 It is also believed to be the island where Columbus first stepped ashore in the New World。 With a picturesque harbor and a lush interior blued by freshwater lakes； few tourists gazing at its beauty would have guessed it contained a huge military training plex and missile observation installation。
The CIA staked out its claim on a remote beach called French Bay at the southern tip of the island。 There was no road linking the covert training center with Cockburn Town and the main airport。 The only way in or out was by small boat through the surrounding reefs or by helicopter。
Pitt rose shortly before sunrise on the morning of his third day on the island and swam strongly for half a mile； and then worked his way back to shore； free…diving among the coral formations。 Two hours later； he walked from the warm water and stretched out on the beach； overwhelmed by a surge of helplessness as he stared over the sea toward Cuba。
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