The Cardinal of the Kremlin - Tom Clancy [204]
And there it was, the Archer told himself. Mountains made for long views. In this case, the objective was still two nights' march away, despite the fact that they could see it now. While his subordinates tucked their men into hiding places, he rested his binoculars on a rock and examined the site, still twenty-five kilometers away? he wondered, then checked his map, Yes. He'd have to take his men downhill, cross a small stream, then up the slopes on a man-killing climb, and they would make their last camp there. He concentrated his viewing on that spot. Five kilometers from the objective itself, shielded from view by the mountain's contours the final climb would be a hard one. But what choice was there? He might give his people an hour's rest before the actual assault. That would help, and he'd also be able to brief his men on their individual missions, and give them all time to pray. His eyes went back to the objective.
Clearly, construction was still under way, but on this sort of place, they'd never stop building. It was well that they were here now. In a few more years it would be impregnable, as it was
His eyes strained to make out the details. Even with binoculars he couldn't make out anything smaller than the guard towers. In the first light of dawn he could see the individual bumps that marked buildings. He'd have to be closer to make out items on which the last-minute details of his plan would depend, but for the moment his interest was in the lay of the land. How best to approach the place? How to use the mountain to their advantage? If this place were guarded by KGB troops, as the CIA documents he'd inspected had said, he knew that they were as lazy as they were cruel.
Guard towers, three, north side. There will be a fence then. Mines? he wondered. Mines or not, those guard towers would have to go fast. They'd hold heavy machine guns, and the view from them commanded the terrain. How to do that?
"So that is the place?" The former Army Major came down beside him. "The men?"
"All hidden." the Major answered. He spent a minute examining the place in silence. "Remember the stories about the Assassins' stronghold in Syria?"
"Oh." The Archer turned sharply, That's what it reminded him of! "And how was that fortress taken?"
The Major smiled, keeping his eyes to the objective. "With more resources than we have, my friend if they ever fortify the whole hilltop, it would take a regiment with helicopter support even to get inside the perimeter. So how do you plan to do it?"
"Two groups."
"Agreed." The Major didn't agree with any of this. His training-all of it supplied by the Russians-told him that this mission was madness for so small a force, but before he could contradict a man like the Archer he would have to show his combat skills. That meant running mad risks. In the meantime, the Major would try to nudge his tactics in the right direction.
"The machines are on the slopes to the north. The people are on the knoll to the south." As they watched, the headlights of buses were moving from one place to the other. It was shift-change. The Archer considered that, but he had to make his attack in darkness and leave in darkness, else they'd never get away.
"If we can get in close without being detected may I make a suggestion?" the Major asked quietly. "Go on."
"Take everything in together to the high ground in the center, then attack downhill against both places."
"It's dangerous," the Archer noted at once. "There is much open ground to be covered on both sides."
"It's also easier