The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3)

by Tom Clancy

“As you can see, the Soviet surface force is here, about halfway between the European mainland and Iceland. Their submarines, these in particular, are all heading southwest towards the U.S. coast. Please note, there is no unusual activity on the Pacific side of either country—except we have information that Soviet fleet ballistic missile submarines in both oceans are being recalled to port. “Therefore, while we do not know exactly what Captain Ramius said, we can draw some conclusions from these patterns of activity. It would appear that they think he’s heading in our direction. Given his estimated speed as something between ten and thirty knots, he could be anywhere from here, below Iceland, to here, just off our coast. You will note that in either case he has successfully avoided detection by all four of these SOSUS barriers—” “Wait a minute. You say they have issued orders to their ships to sink one of their submarines?” “Yes, Mr. President.” The president looked at the DCI. “This is reliable information, Judge?” “Yes, Mr. President, we believe it to be solid.” “Okay, Dr. Ryan, we’re all waiting. What’s this Ramius fellow up to?”