The Cardinal of the Kremlin - Tom Clancy [42]
"You see my tan, yes? White sand, sun, warm every day. Like Cuba when I went there, but nicer people."
"AUTEC, right?" Jack asked.
"Yes, but I cannot discuss this," Marko replied. Both men shared a look. AUTEC-Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Center-was the Navy's submarine test range, where men and ships engaged in exercises called mini wars. What happened there was classified, of course. The Navy was very protective of its submarine operations. So Marko was at work developing tactics for the Navy, doubtless playing the role of a Soviet commander in the war games, lecturing, teaching. Ramius had been known as "the Schoolmaster" in the Soviet Navy. The important things never change.
"How do you like it?"
"Tell this to nobody, but they let me be captain of American submarine for a week-the real Captain he let me do everything, yes? I kill carrier! Yes! I kill Forrestal. They would be proud of me at Red Banner Northern Fleet, yes?"
Jack laughed. "How'd the Navy like that?"
"Captain of submarine and me get very drunk. Forrestal Captain angry, but-good sport, yes? He join us next week and we discuss exercise. He learn something, so good for all of us." Ramius paused. "Where is family?"
"Cathy's visiting her father. Joe and I don't get along very well."
"Because you are spy?" Mark/Marko asked.
"Personal reasons. Can I get you a drink?"
"Beer is good," he replied. Ramius looked around while Jack went into the kitchen. The house's cathedral ceiling towered fifteen feet-five meters, he thought-above the lush carpeting. Everything about the house testified to the money spent to make it so. He was frowning when Ryan returned.
"Ryan, I am not fool," he said sternly. "CIA does not pay so good as this."
"Do you know about the stock market?" Ryan asked with a chuckle.
"Yes, some of my money is invested there." All of the officers from Red October had enough money salted away that they'd never need to work again.
"Well, I made a lot of money there, and then I decided to quit and do something else."
That was a new thought for Captain Ramius. "You are not-what is word? Greed. You have no more greed?"
"How much money does one man need?" Ryan asked rhetorically. The Captain nodded thoughtfully. "So, I have some questions for you."
"Ah, business." Marko laughed. "This you have not forgotten!"
"In your debriefing, you mentioned that you ran an exercise in which you fired a missile, and then a missile was fired at you."
"Yes, years ago-was 1981 April, yes, it was twenty April. I command Delta-class missile submarine, and we fire two rockets from White Sea, one into Okhotsk Sea, other at Sary Shagan. We test submarine rockets, of course, but also the missile defense radar and counterbattery system-they simulated firing a missile at my submarine."
"You said it failed."
Marko nodded. "Submarine rockets fly perfectly. The Sary Shagan radar work, but too slow to intercept-was computer problem, they say. They say get new computer, last thing I hear. Third part of test almost work."
"The counterfire part. That's the first we heard of it," Ryan noted. "How did they actually run the test?"
"They not fire land rocket, of course," Marko said. He held up a finger. "They do this, and you understand nature of test, yes? Soviets are not so stupid as you think. Of course you know that entire Soviet border covered with radar fence. These see rocket launch and compute where submarine is- very easy thing to do. Next they call Strategic Rocket Force Headquarters. Strategic Rocket Force have regiment of old rockets on alert for this. They were ready to shoot back three minutes after detecting my missile on radar." He stopped for a moment. "You not have this in America?"
"No, not that I know of. But our new missiles fire from much farther away."
"Is true, but still good thing for Soviets, you see."
"How reliable is the system?"
That drew a shrug. "Not very. Problem is how alert the people are. In time of-how you say?-time of crisis, yes? In time of crisis, everyone is alert, and system may work some of time. But every time system