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and we'll see to those too badly wounded to move. Get out of here."
The young officer saluted and Ben returned the salute ... sort of. The lieutenant wheeled about and marched off. Ben retreated a few yards back into the brush for cover, just in case.
He heard a slight rustling behind him and turned to look. Anna and Jersey were standing there, weapons at the ready.
"Never hurts to be cautious," Jersey said.
"Besides," Anna said after spitting out her well-chewed gum, "I don't trust those damn Federals."
Corrie checked up and down the Rebel lines and discovered that all areas had held against the attempted Federal push. The Federals had suffered a great many casualties for nothing. The Rebels loaded up the severely wounded Federals and headed back.
"We'll send a burial crew to see to the dead," Ben said. "I won't leave these boys and girls to rot in the sun or be eaten by animals."
Back at his temporary CP, Corrie gave Cecil a bump and Ben brought the President of the SUSA up to date about the Federals breaking the truce.
"Of course they were ordered to," Ben said. "No field commander issued those orders. It was Madame President Osterman."
"That lying bitch!" Cecil fumed over the miles. "She gave me her word."
"Well, we know how much her word is worth," Ben told him. "She's a pit viper, Cece. And that's really giving the snake a bad name. She cannot be trusted. I never thought she could, but I decided to give her one try. So much for that."
"And now, Ben?"
"Do we have a choice? I think not. Osterman and her cohorts want a war.
All right, we'll give them one. It's what they want. God knows I don't want a civil war. After the fight, or because of the fight, maybe, just maybe, there will be a slim chance we can settle this. Personally, I don't 294
think so, but it's worth keeping in mind and giving some thought to.
What do you think, Cece?"
"I think, Ben, you may be right. But I also have to remind you of your own words-'The nation will never again be the same no matter who wins.' "
"Oh, I haven't forgotten it won't be the same, Cece. Certainly not in our lifetime, anyway, that's for damn sure."
"Are you set with everything you need, Ben?"
"We have supplies to last us for a sustained campaign, Cece. The last of my brigades is in place and ready to rock and roll. Armor is here.
Artillery is here. Just wish us luck and a very short war."
"I don't know about the short, Ben."
"I don't either, ole' buddy. This thing may drag on for years. In some form or another."
"From one side or the other."
"That's very true, Cece. I think we'll win, but the gods of war are fickle, as you well know." Ben laughed. "Stop trying to shove all the outcome on me, you old fart. You spent years in the field."
"I'm trying to forget all that, Ben. I'll have you know I have put my sordid past behind me and never think about those dreadful days filled with bad food and cold showers ... when we had time to take one, that is. I now enjoy my hand tailored, double-breasted suits and made to order cufflink shirts. A cold martini before dinner is always nice, and then some intelligent conversation with very world-wise diplomats. I'll have you know I am a highly respected politician now."
Ben burst out laughing. When he could talk again, he managed to say, "A respected politician? Hell, Cece, I didn't know there was such a thing!"
Cecil gave Ben a very loud and wet-sounding raspberry and hung up, laughing.
"What's so funny, Pops?" Anna asked.
"Cecil. He's a riot."
"Very handsome man, I think. I also think it's time for 295
you to start thinking about upgrading your wardrobe. I'd like to see you buy some nice, pin-stripe suits."
"Oh? You'll have me looking like Gregory Peck, I suppose."
Anna blinked. "Who the hell is Gregory Peck?"
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Chapter Thirty-one
After their last, rather humiliating defeat at the hands of the Rebels the Federals withdrew, backing up to their own territory. For a few days all was quiet on all fronts. Rebels and Federals faced each other in spotty locations across a wide expanse of land, running for several thousand miles from the Atlantic coast in Virginia to El Paso, Texas.
The politicians in the USA and the SUSA talked on the phone for hours.
The field commanders on both sides of the line waited and studied maps and planned.
The line troops just waited and sweated it out.
"Nothing, General," a Scout just back from a venture into Federal territory reported to Ben. "The line troops are doing the same thing we're doing-waiting."
"The politicians are still yakking back and forth," Ben said. "Wasting time, settling nothing."
"From what I've read," the Scout replied, "that's about the way it's always been, sir."
Ben smiled. "That does just about sum up both houses of the United States Congress, for a fact."
"Nothing like ours."
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"Thank God," Ben said.
After the Scout had left Ben sat in the office of his HQ and stared at a wall map. The SUSA looked small, almost helpless, against the rest of North America.
Ben shook his head, removing those thoughts from his mind. The SUSA was anything but helpless, and the USA was about to discover that, the hard way.
Ben's team came wandering in through the open door to his office and took seats-with the exception of Anna, who sprawled on the carpeted floor.
"By all means, make yourself as comfortable as possible, Anna," Ben said.
"Thanks, Pops. I will." She unwrapped several sticks of bubble gum, stuck the whole wad in her mouth, and began chomping.
Ben sighed and looked at his team. "What's up, Gang?"
Before anyone could reply Buddy Raines, commander of the Special Ops unit and the 508 Brigade, strolled in.
"What the hell are you doing here, Boy?" Ben asked.
"Ike decided to make my command a floater. Rapid response, he called it.
I like it."
"I'm sure you do. And you just decided to, ah, float up here?"
Buddy, a very proper young man, was looking disapprovingly at Anna, sprawled on the floor. He sighed at the pose of his adopted sister, shook his head, and lifted his eyes to his father. "Oh, of course, Father."
"Right," Ben said drily. "Of course you did. And Ike and Cecil had absolutely nothing to do with it?"
"Quite right, absolutely. Nothing at all, Father," Buddy said innocently.
Ben lifted a hand. "All right, all right. Skip it, Boy. You're here and we can use you. But isn't this going to cut Ike short?"
"Oh, no, sir. Those Texans surprised us all. They took the wraps off a well-equipped and trained Home Guard two brigades strong. If the Federals cross over into Texas, they're going to pay a very heavy price
... in blood."
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"I knew they had a hell of a Home Guard."
"That's putting it mildly, Father. Anyway, Intel thinks the main push will be centered here, or near here. Our operatives in the north are almost certain of that."
"Are you planning to bring your entire brigade?"
"Half of them. But all of my Spec Op people."
"All right. I'll put you to work right now. Tell your boys and girls to get across into enemy territory and bring me back some prisoners ...
officers, preferably. And notice I didn't say you go, Boy. You understand that?"
"Perfectly, Father."
"I'm glad to hear it." Ben turned his head to one side and muttered,
"Not that you'll pay the slightest bit of attention to my orders."
"Beg pardon, Father?" Buddy questioned.
"Nothing, Boy. Nothing. Nice to see you. Get settled in and get your people going."
Buddy grinned. "Roger that, Father. See you." He tossed a jaunty salute and left the room.
"I have one kid who's about half smart-ass, and the other one is a bubble gum factory," Ben said, sitting down in the chair behind his desk.
Just then Anna blew a large bubble and it exploded all over her face.
"Well ... shit!" she said.
The entire team burst out laughing, and Ben couldn't help joining in as Anna began the process of peeling the gum from her face.
"It isn't funny!" she managed to mumble through the thick layer of goo.
"The hell it isn't, Kid!" Ben said, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.
"It's in my hair!" Anna griped.
"Come on, I'll help you get it out," Beth said, standing up and holding out a hand to Anna.
Anna rose to her feet and the two of them left the room, Beth still smiling at the younger woman's antics.
Ben stilled the ringing of the phone and listened for a moment. "All right," he said, "we knew it was coming.
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Thanks." Ben hung up the phone and sighed. "It's back to work time, Gang. Federals appear to be massing for a big push in half a dozen locations." He looked at Cooper. "Get the wagon ready to go and make sure everybody is geared up."
"Right, Boss."
He looked at Corrie and smiled-rather sadly, Corrie thought. "Show time."
She nodded her head and stood up. "Looks that way, Boss." She turned to leave the room, then paused and looked back at Ben. "I guess it's never going to stop, is it?"
Ben shook his head. "I don't think so, Corrie. I think we'll be fighting for the rest of our lives to keep the SUSA a separate nation."
Jersey rose from her chair and stretched her diminutive frame. "Well, hell, it was getting boring around here, anyway. I'll go kick Cooper in the butt and make sure he packs his toothbrush."
"Alert my security platoon, Little Bit," Ben said.
"Will do, Boss."
Alone in the office, Ben picked up the phone and spent the next fifteen minutes being brought up to date on the situation. He then called Cecil on a security line and chatted for a few minutes.
"There will be no more delays, Cece. No more ceasefires. This time we go for the gusto."
"All right, Ben. It's time to settle the matter of the SUSA's sovereignty once and for all. There isn't much left to say, is there?"
"Just one thing, Cece."
"Oh?"
"May God have mercy on our souls."
Table of Contents
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Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
William W. Johnstone, Hatred in the Ashes
