Part 1 (1/2)
Survival in the Ashes.
Ashes.
William W. Johnstone.
”Over the mountains Of the moon, Down the Valley of the Shadow, Ride, boldly ride,”
the shade replied, ”If you seek for Eldorado.”
- Edgar Allan Poe
Chapter 1.
Ben Raines and his army of Rebels had fought many battles over the decade since the world exploded in germ and nuclear war, bringing an end to civilization as people had come to know it. But as Ben and his Rebels drove towardSt. Louis , after waging war in the Northwest against the racist forces of Malone, Ben was thinking that this upcoming battle could well be the greatest and most decisive battle of his decade-long career against anarchy and for the restoration of civfliza-tion.
On the east side of 1-55, ma.s.sing in great numbers, were the mercenary forces of Kenny Parr, the terrorist forces of Khamsin-the Hot Wind-and the mercenary armies of Lan Villar. Very conservative estimates placed their numbers at ten thousand strong.
Behind Ben Raines and his Rebels, coming up from the west, were the forces of Sister Voleta, Ashley, and a ragtag a.s.sortment of human crud, all of whom had but one thought in mind: to destroy Ben Raines and turn the world into an outlaw haven.
The clanking of the engine pulled Ben out of his musings.
”What the h.e.l.l's wrong with this thing?” he asked his driver, Cooper, as the four-wheel-drive vehicle bucked to a halt, smoke wafting from under the hood. Those inside quickly evacuated the vehicle, grabbing equipment as they exited.
”Blew an engine,” Cooper said. ”d.a.m.n, this thing was supposed to have been rebuilt.” He lifted his mic.
”This is Cooper. Bring the other vehicle up. The Eagle's been grounded.” Rebels quickly extinguished the fire under the hood and the equipment was off-loaded just as a nine-pa.s.senger, four-wheel-drive wagon pulled up. It looked enormous sitting next to the disabled Blazer.
”When and where did you find this boat?” Ben asked, inspecting the big wagon.
”Two weeks ago” Dan Gray said, walking up. ”I've had people working on it at every stop since then. You need more room. It's armorplated and the gla.s.s is bulletproof. The engine is the largest we could find. Four fifty something or another.
You'll have a lot more room in this, General.”
Ben looked at his watch. ”h.e.l.l, we're close enough. Let's break for lunch, Dan. Dismount the people and tell them to find shelter. This is where we make our stand.”
They were a few miles south ofSt. Louis proper.
Cecil was in command of the battalions inSt. Louis . . . or what was left of the city. General Striganov and his people were digging in between the city and Ben and West's position. Ike was north of the city, digging in.
Ben walked to the communication's van and stuck his head inside. ”What's the latest word?” ”Hostile forces still pulling in and setting up on the east side of the river, General,” she told him. ”They're facing us along a thirty-mile stretch. Latest estimates are about eight thousand .
. . with more expected. They have artillery, but no tanks as yet.”
”Lan Villar is confirmed?”
”That's ten-four, sir. Our scouts report that Khamsin and Kenny Parr have been spotted as well.”
Ben nodded and thanked her. He walked away, chewing on a sandwich and was.h.i.+ng it down with water from his canteen.
”Traffic coming up from the south, sir,” a Rebel pointed out.
Ben turned, squinted his eyes, and smiled. The un- mistakable rattle of many VW engines reached his ears. To the rear of the VW column, a s.h.i.+ny black hea.r.s.e was rolling stately along.
Ben walked out onto Highway 61/67 and waited until the strange convoy drew abreast of him. A familiar face looked out at him from the lead VW van.
”For a peace-loving hippie, Thermopolis,” Ben said, ”you certainly pop up in the most violent of places.”
”We were listening to your radio transmissions, Ben,” the aging hippie said. ”Actually it was Emil who convinced us that we should lend a hand in this fight. It concerns us all.”
”What command do you want to fight under, Therm?”
”Doesn't make me the slightest bit of difference.”
”Well, I've got the short battalion, so you can stay here with us.” He smiled. ”You feel like putting up with Emil?”
”I've been putting up with him for five hundred miles, Ben.”
”We've had some additions since I saw you last.
Some outlaw bikers have joined up. They're called the Wolfpack; headed by a man called Leadfoot.
Another group of female bikers is with them. Wanda and her Sisters ofLesbos .”
Themopolis stared at him and finally shook his head.
”Ben Raines, you attract the strangest G.o.dd.a.m.n bunch of people I have ever seen in all my life. And I was a hippie inNew Orleans for ten years!”
Ben laughed and looked inside the VW van.
”h.e.l.lo, Rosebud.”
Therm's wife returned the smile. ”h.e.l.lo, General Raines.”
”What'd you do with the children?” Ben asked.
”Took them to Base Camp One and left them.
We felt they'd be safe there.” Thermopolis smiled. ”Even though by the time we return, their heads will be pumped full of patriotism and duty and all that c.r.a.p. We may never be able to deprogram them.”
”You're a fraud, Therm,” Ben told him.
”You're just as much a harda.s.s as I am. The only difference between us is that you need a haircut.”
Thermopolis laughed and put the VW in gear.
”In your opinion,” he said, and drove off toward the staging area.