Part 1 (2/2)
”What new bunch?”
”The group that came in from Nevada. The one Linda Parsons was with.”
”Incorporate them into our units. Spread them out.
Send the noncombatants to Base Camp One.
You know all that, Corrie. What's going on here?”
”Yes, sir. Right, sir. Linda was trained as an RN.”.
”Wonderful. So what?”
”Ah ... I gather that Doctor Chase has not yet informed you of his decision.”
”I haven't seen the old goat in several days.
Where is he? What decision?”
”He's a.s.signed Linda to our team.”
Ben looked at her. ”I love the way people make decisions without consulting me.”
”Yes, sir. Doctor Chase said it was for your own good.”
”That's very interesting. Get her over here, will you?”
Beth, another member of Ben's personal team, had walked up, listening to the exchange. ”Doctor Chase said that since you refuse to behave like a commander is supposed to behave, that is, directing operations from behind the lines, he felt it best to a.s.sign a medical person to the team.”
”Do remind me to thank him from the bottom of my heart,” Ben said dryly.
”Yes, sir. I will certainly make a note of that.”
”Have the mechanics finished with our vehicle?”
”Be ready in the morning,” Beth told him.
Ben's vehicle was a big, nine-pa.s.senger Chevy wagon, with armor plate and bullet-proof gla.s.s.
Ben's driver was Cooper. His self-appointed bodyguard was the cute and diminutive Jersey.
”Where is Jersey?” Ben asked.
”Probably hara.s.sing Cooper,” Beth said.
”Thermopolis and Emil?”
”In a deep philosophical discussion over by the river.”
”That should be a conversation to be recorded for the ages.”
Thermopolis and his band of 21/-century hippies had thrown their lot in with Ben, considering him to be thelesser of the evils that faced their way of life.
Emil Hite was a little con artist who usually had some religious scam going-the last one had been the Great G.o.d Blomm. But both Therm and Emil and their followers had proven themselves in battle many times and Ben was glad to have them on the Rebel side.
Corrie brought Linda Parsons over to meet the general.
The woman had a very pretty, heart-shaped face that reminded Ben of a movie actress ... he couldn't think of her name. Linda, Ben guessed, would stand about five-five and was very nicely proportioned. Light brown hair, worn short. Green eyes that were studying him as closely as he was studying her.
”You understand the Rebel philosophy, Mrs.
Parsons?” Ben asked her.
”I understand it.”
”Do you agree with it?”
She nodded her head. ”I agree with enough of it to live with it.”
Ben could accept that. A lot of Rebels felt the same way. The Rebel way was harsh and usually uncompromising. There were no niceties of law.
If you fought the Rebels, you died. If you chose not to accept the Rebel doctrine but remained non-hostile, the Rebels would not harm you. But in most cases neither would they help you. Ike had once said that a man couldn't get much plowin” done with both mules wanting to pull in opposite directions. The Rebels knew it was a hard and terrible time, worldwide, and they understood that there was no room for fence-straddlers. Let's get the nation back together again, and then we'll debate the fine points of law.
”The bunch you came in with,” Ben said, ”how many of you?”
”About fifty adults. There are eighteen children. I understand that you are sending the children down to your base camp in Louisiana.”
”That's correct. And any of the adults who wish a noncombatant role.”
”Then that will knock it down to about forty who will remain here.”
”Whatever, Mrs. Parsons.”
”Please, just Linda.”
”Fine. Beth, go with her and get her into uniform.
Draw supplies and equipment and then both of you rejoin me at my CP.” Ben looked around him.
”Wherever the d.a.m.n thing is.”
”I get the impression that the general doesn't like me,” Linda said, as she and Beth walked toward the supply area.
<script>