Patriot games - Tom Clancy [262]
"Y'all stop that!" A Marine came into view. His white cap had a plastic cover over it, and he wore a raincoat. "Y'all can't tie up here."
"This is Lieutenant Commander Jackson, son," Robby replied. "I work here. Stand by Jack, you get the bowline."
Ryan ducked under the windshield and unsnapped the bow cover. A white nylon line was neatly coiled in the right place, and Ryan stood as Robby used engine power to bring the boat's port side fully against the seawall. Jack jumped up and tied the line off. The Prince did the same at the stern. Robby killed the engine and went up to face the Marine.
"You recognize me, son?"
The Marine saluted. "Beg pardon. Commander, but-" He flashed his light into the boat. "Holy Christ!"
About the only good thing that could be said about the boat was that the rain had washed most of the blood down the self-bailing hole. The Marine's mouth dropped open as he saw two bodies, three women, one of them apparently shot, and a sleeping child. Next he saw a machine gun draped around Ryan's neck. A dull, wet evening of walking guard came to a screeching end.
"You got a radio, Marine?" Robby asked. He held it up and Jackson snatched it away. It was a small Motorola CC unit like those used by police. "Guardroom, this is Commander Jackson."
"Commander? This is Sergeant Major Breckenridge. I didn't know you had the duty tonight, sir. What can I do for you?"
Jackson took a long breath. "I'm glad it's you, Gunny. Listen up: Alert the command duty officer. Next, I want some armed Marines on the seawall west of the yacht basin immediately! We got big trouble here, Gunny, so let's shag it!"
"Aye aye, sir!" The radio squawked. Orders had been given. Questions could wait.
"What's your name, son?" Robby asked the Marine next.
"Lance Corporal Green, sir!"
"Okay, Green, help me get the womenfolk out of the boat." Robby reached out his hand. "Let's go, ladies."
Green leaped down and helped Sissy out first, then Cathy, then the Princess, who was still holding Sally. Robby got them all behind the wood hull of one of the YPs.
"What about them, sir?" Green gestured at the bodies.
"They'll keep. Get back up here, Corporal!"
Green gave the bodies a last look. "Reckon so," he muttered. He already had his raincoat open and the flap loose on his holster.
"What's going on here?" a woman's voice asked. "Oh, it's you. Commander."
"What are you doing here, Chief?" Robby asked her.
"I have the duty section out keeping an eye on the boats, sir. The wind could beat 'em to splinters on this seawall if we don't-" Chief Bosun's Mate Mary Znamirowski looked at everyone on the dock. "Sir, what the hell "
"Chief, I suggest you get your people together and put them under cover. No time for explanations."
A pickup truck came next. It halted in the parking lot just behind them. The driver jumped out and sprinted toward them with three others trailing behind. It was Breckenridge. The Sergeant Major gave the women a quick look, then turned to Jackson and asked the night's favorite question-
"What the hell is going on, sir?"
Robby gestured to the boat. Breckenridge gave it a quick look that lingered into four or five seconds. "Christ!"
"We were at Jack's place for dinner," Robby explained. "And some folks crashed the party. They were after him-" Jackson gestured to the Prince of Wales, who turned and smiled. Breckenridge's eyes went wide in recognition. His mouth flapped open for a moment, but he recovered and did what Marines always do when they don't know what else-he saluted, just as prescribed in the Guide Book. Robby went on: "They killed a bunch of security troops. We got lucky. They planned to escape by boat. We stole one and came here, but there's another boat out there, full of the bastards. They might have followed us."
"Armed with what?" the Sergeant Major asked.
"Like this, Gunny." Ryan held up his Uzi.
The Sergeant Major nodded and reached into his coat. His hand came out with a radio. "Guardroom, this is Breckenridge. We have a Class-One Alert: Wake up all the people. Call Captain Peters.