Ramius didn't see it at first.  He was making a complete circle of the horizon, checking for any other ships or aircraft.  When he finished the circuit, the flashing light caught his eye.  Quickly he tried to interpret the signal.  It took him a moment to realize it was pointed right at him.

AAA AAA AAA RED OCTOBER RED OCTOBER CAN YOU READ THIS CAN YOU READ THIS PLEASE PING US ONE TIME ON ACTIVE SONAR IF YOU CAN READ THIS PLEASE PING US ONE TIME ON ACTIVE SONAR IF YOU CAN READ THIS AAA AAA AAA RED OCTOBER RED OCTOBER CAN YOU READ THIS CAN YOU READ THIS

The message kept repeating.  The signal was jerky and awkward.  Ramius didn't notice this.  He translated the English signal in his head, at first thinking it was a signal to the American submarine.  His knuckles went white on the periscope hand grips as he translated the message in his mind.

"Borodin," he said finally, after reading the message a fourth time, "we set up a practice firing solution on Invincible.  Damn, the periscope rangefinder is sticking.  A single ping, Comrade.  Just one, for range."

Ping!

The Invincible

"One ping from the contact area, sir, sounds Soviet," the speaker reported.

White lifted his phone.  "Thank you.  Keep us informed."  He set it back down.  "Well, gentlemen . . ."

"He did it!" Ryan sang out.  "Send the rest, for Christ's sake!"

"At once." Hunter grinned like a madman.

RED OCTOBER RED OCTOBER YOUR WHOLE FLEET IS CHASING AFTER YOU YOUR WHOLE FLEET IS CHASING AFTER YOU YOUR PATH IS BLOCKED BY NUMEROUS VESSELS NUMEROUS ATTACK SUBMARINES ARE WAITING TO ATTACK YOU REPEAT NUMEROUS ATTACK SUBMARINES ARE WAITING TO ATTACK YOU PROCEED TO RENDEZVOUS 33N 75W WE HAVE SHIPS THERE WAITING FOR YOU REPEAT PROCEED TO RENDEZVOUS 33N 75W WE HAVE SHIPS THERE WAITING FOR YOU IF YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE PLEASE PING US AGAIN ONE TIME

The Red October

"Distance to target, Borodin?" Ramius asked, wishing he had more time as the message was repeated again and again.

"Two thousand meters, Comrade Captain.  A nice, fat target for us if we . . ."  The starpom's voice trailed off as he saw the look on his commander's face.

They know our name, Ramius was thinking, they know our name!  How can this be?  They knew where to find us—exactly!  How?  What can the Americans have?  How long has the Los Angeles been trailing us?  Decide—you must decide!

"Comrade, one more ping on the target, just one."

The Invincible

"One more ping, Admiral."

"Thank you."  White looked at Ryan.  "Well, Jack, it would seem that your intelligence estimate was indeed correct.  Jolly good."

"Jolly good my ass, my Lord Earl!  I was right.  Son of a bitch!"  Ryan's hands flew up in the air, his seasickness forgotten.  He calmed down.  The occasion called for more decorum.  "Excuse me, Admiral.  We have some things to do."

The Dallas