Part 8 (1/2)
Sitting in the Jeep, under guard, West laughed. Barnes flushed at the taunting laughter.
”Real nice fellow, isn't he?” Ben asked.
”Has the milk of human kindness flowing strongly through his veins.” Ben looked at West. ”You'dbetter hope your men think enough of you to swap you for the prisoners, West. ”Cause if they don't, you won't be laughing when I put a noose around your dirty neck.”
West's laughter ceased as quickly as it came.
He sat in the jeep and glared at Ben.
The woman Rebel manning the radio called to Ben. ”All the prisoners have been grouped together at one camp, General. They're still alive. Our scouts have made contact and are keeping the camp under visual.”
”Tell them we're on the way,” Ben told her. He turned to Doctor Barnes. ”Coming with us, Doctor?”
”You couldn't keep me away, Raines.”
”I wouldn't bet on that, Ralph,” Ben told him.
The doctor met the Rebel's eyes. ”Just a figure of speech, General.”
”Uh-huh,” Ben muttered.
”What's the procedure, West?” Ben asked.
Ben stood by the jeep where West sat. The outlaw was clearly in pain, his face slick with sweat and pale. He s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably in his seat and looked at Ben.
”I don't know,” West finally said. ”Nothing like this ever happened before.”
”Then I'll tell you,” Ben said. ”We'll make an even swap. You for the prisoners.”
A sly look came into the outlaw's eyes. ”You know d.a.m.n well you ain't got the people to overrun my boys, don't you, Raines?”
”Maybe. But we could sure put one h.e.l.l of a dent in your number.”
”Yeah,” West admitted.
”Think about it, West. You'll have to shut down your labor camps, but you'd be alive.”
”And you'd keep your word?” the outlaw asked, suspicion in his eyes and voice.
”Yes.”
”You got a bullhorn?”
”No. But we have walkie-talkie's.”
”Gimme one.”
A field radio was brought to the jeep. West checked the frequency and called in. He spoke for a moment, listened, then his voice became harsher. He turned to Ben.
”The guys don't trust you, Raines. h.e.l.l, I don't trust you. But it's the only game in town, so I gotta play it.”
”When the last prisoner walks free of that camp,” Ben said. ”You're free. That's it.”
”Hey!” West protested. ”That ain't worth a s.h.i.+t, man.”
”You said it, West. It's the only game in town. Take it or leave it.”
”Awright, awright.” He lifted the walkie-talkie, and spoke for a few seconds.
He again turned to Ben. ”They's comin” out now.” Hiseyes shot hate at Raines. ”This ain't the end, Raines. You takin' a h.e.l.l of a chance turnin' me loose. You know I'm gonna be comin' after your a.s.s.”
”A lot of folks have tried, West. I'm still around,” Ben told him.
”You ain't never had me on your a.s.s, Raines. I'll get you for this. And that's a flat promise, buddy.”
Ben smiled, thinking that his newest odyssey would prove quite interesting.
Chapter 7.
Ben's Rebels and the newly armed civilians ringed the big camp, keeping the outlaws penned until the last of the prisoners were being safely trucked away back to Dyersburg.
Ben lifted his walkie-talkie. ”You and your men are free to leave, now, West. Lay down your weapons and start walking.”
”What?”
West screamed, the word bouncing out of the walkie-talkie.
”You heard me,” Ben radioed. ”Start walking.”
”No G.o.dd.a.m.n way, Raines. We take our guns and vehicles.”
”Captain Chad,” Ben called. ”Put ten rounds of mortars, H.e., into that camp.”
”Yes, sir,” the captain grinned.
A long barracks-type building went first, the high-explosive round sending bits of splintered wood flying. A guard tower was blown all over that part of Tennessee; another building was blown, then a mortar round shattered the big front gates of the labor camp.
”All right, G.o.dd.a.m.n it!” West screamed.
”All right, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Cool it!”
”Cease firing,” Ben ordered.
”I cain't walk outta here, Raines,”
West's voice whined out of the speaker. ”Gimme a break, man.”