Part 28 (1/2)
”Yes, sir.”
Rani came to Ben's blankets that night. But as soon as she did, she realized that s.e.x was not on Ben's mind. She was far too intelligent a person to think it was something she had done, or to believe that s.e.x was the answer to every problem. She was content to lay in Ben's arms.
”This may sound like a foolish question, Ben. But how long do you think this ... this campaign will last?”
”This particular one won't last long. Funny you should ask that, Rani.”
”Oh?”
”Yes. Dan Gray said something very interesting to me just after we bivouacked. I had thought of it several times, but never with much enthusiasm. It appears, Rani, that the Rebels are the only organized force currently operating in North America with anything other than the looting and raping and killing of innocents in mind. It looks like my Rebels have yet another job facing them.”
”Clearing the land of warlords and outlaws and the like,”
Rani said, not putting it in question form.
”Yes.”
”Why, Ben?” she asked, raising up on one elbow to look at him in the darkness. ”Why does it always have to be Ben Raines and his people?”
Ben was silent for a time. ”Rani, after the war of ”88, my people were the only ones who had the courage to stand up to the central government and say to them: No!
No, you will not take our guns. No, you will not dictate terms to us. No, we will not bow down and kiss your a.s.s. We were the only ones to build something constructive out of the ashes of war. The only ones, Rani. Our kids grew up with a different set of values. We stressed order and discipline and obeying the laws of our Tri-States. We didn't stifle free speech or forbid a free press-as a lot of people accused us of doing. Instead we simply imposed a new set of guidelines.
If a newspaper in the Tri-States printed something about somebody, you can bet they researched their facts very carefully. Sly innuendo and half-truths and ”protected sources” were not allowed. Everything was open and aboveboard, clearlyvisible for all to see. I think you know more about the Tri-States than you let on. You know what we did out there.”
”Yes,” she said softly.
Ben sighed. ”Well, Rani, those kids that we took in to raise, hundreds of them, back in '88 and '89, are now grown men and women. We proved that a body of government can effectively teach young people to obey the law. I don't know how historians will treat what we did, and to tell the truth, I really don't care. But thousands of men and women came together, and together, we erased bigotry and prejudice and most other manmade sins, and proved it could be done. I suppose, Rani, that's why it's up to us to take on this new job.”
”And you're going to take it on, aren't you, Mister Ben Raines?”'
”I don't think Mister Ben Raines has a choice in the matter, Rani.”
Chapter.
Ben stood on a rise and viewed the terrain where the outlaws were dug in. Lowering his binoculars, he said, ”They know we're not taking prisoners, Dan.
Either way it goes, they know they're dead men. There won't be any offer of surrender from either side. And I will not lose good men and women fighting these sc.u.m.”
”No, sir.”
Ben reached down and pulled up a handful of gra.s.s. Spa.r.s.e gra.s.s, at best. What there was of it was bone dry. ”Ring the area with gasoline and kerosene,” Ben said. ”As much as you can find. Burn them out and shoot them.”
”Yes, sir.”
The Rebels began lobbing in heavy mortar fire, using HE and WP rounds. The Rebels were as expert with the mortars as any organized fighting force presently operating anywhere in the world. They dropped in the rounds with deadly accuracy, walking them in behind the outlaws, driving them out of their holes, sending them running toward the thinly burning fires.
Then the Rebels opened up with heavy .50-caliber machine guns, continuing the deadly fire until not an outlaw could be seen standing.
”Finish them,” Ben ordered, lowering his binoculars. Turning to Dan Gray, he said, ”That's one for Jordy.”
”West and his people is finished,” Texas Red told Jake.
The men had had scouts watching the action from a distance.
”West was a fool,” Jake said. ”We maybe could have whipped them if we'd all stayed together.”
Both outlaws knew that statement was a crock of c.r.a.p.
”Now what, Jake?” Texas Red asked.
”Straight out?”
”Straight out.” ”We tuck our tails between our legs and carry our a.s.ses just as far away from here as we can.
That's what we do.”
”What are we waitin” for?”
”If Jake Campo and Texas Red are in Texas, General,” Dan said, ”they've found themselves a h.e.l.l of a hideout.”
Ben shook his head. ”They've gone. It's been ten days since we finished West and his bunch. I think the others heard the news-probably had people watching it- and hauled out. No telling where they went.”
”That's my philosophy, too, General.
Well, we've found something else, though. There are warlords and outlaws cropping up everywhere we look. A great many people have asked us for help in dealing with them. I told them I would take it up with you.”
”I won't order you to do it, Dan. Not without taking it up with the folks back at Base Camp One.”
”You know what Cecil and Ike would say, Ben,”
the Englishman said, calling Ben by his first name, something he rarely did. He was British born and British military trained. Familiarity with superior officers just wasn't done.
”It's up to you, Dan. I'm pulling out in the morning, taking Rani with me.”
That did not come as any surprise to Dan.
”May I a.s.sign a squad to accompany you, sir?”'
”No, you may not, Dan. But I'll tell you where I'm going. Back to the old Tri-States.
We'll winter there.” He outlined their route on a map. ”I won't say we won't deviate from that route, but it'll be close most of the way. The static has eased considerably, so we'll be able to keep some sort of communications open between us.”
Dan opened his mouth to protest, and Ben waved him silent.
”If we hit a snag, I give you my word we'll head for cover and call in for help.” Ben stuck out his hand. ”And we'll shake on it to seal the bargain.”