Part 40 (1/2)
”Who was your idol as a boy, General-Hitler?” Rani snapped at him.
”He did have some good ideas, I will admit that.
He just didn't carry them far enough.”
”G.o.d, you're a monster!” she hissed the words at him.
Striganov laughed at her.
”And if you think Ben Raines is dead, you're badly mistaken. It would take a h.e.l.l of a lot better man than Sam Hartline to kill Ben Raines. And I think you know it.”
The Russian's eyes clouded. ”So you thought the man to be a G.o.d, too, eh?”
”No. I never did. There is but one G.o.d.”
”There is no G.o.d, you stupid woman! As you shall soon discover. I don't believe I shall allow Sam to have you, Miss Jordan.”
”Ms.”
”Umm.”
”Forget it.”
”Ms? Oh-yes. Of course. I do so enjoy a strong-willed woman. I enjoy breaking them. I didn't used to. I suppose my a.s.sociation with Hartline is responsible for that change. A most welcome change, too. Although I don't carry it to the extreme as my friend Hartline does.”
The Russian reached out, fondling Rani's b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She slapped his hand away.
”I do so enjoy a big-breasted woman,”
Striganov said.
She spat at him.
He knocked her off the chair.
Through a red, teary haze, Rani screamed and kicked at the man.
He stepped back and removed his wide leather belt. ”The first step is submission,” Striganov said, swinging the belt. ”The very first step toward total submission.”
The leather cracked across Rani's jeans.
”Take off your clothes.”
”f.u.c.k you!”
”Oh, that will come later, my dear. I a.s.sure you of that.”
”Not if I can help it, it won't!”
The leather cracked again. ”Take off your clothes, b.i.t.c.h!”
”No way.”
The Russian raised the belt. ”I believe you shall, dear,” he said with a smile. ”I really believe that you shall.”
When his arm had grown weary, and Rani's screams were reduced to a pitiful whimper, the Russian stepped back and looked at the woman, huddled on the floor. ”Strong-willed,” he said.”But I'll break you, dear. Body and mind, I'll break you.”
Ben! Rani thought. Where are you, Ben?
Chapter 41.
Ben scrambled the upcoming transmissions and picked up the mike. ”Eagle One to Base Camp. Eagle One to Base Camp.”
”This is Base,” the voice cracked. ”We've been trying to reach you for days, General. Are you all right?”
Before Ben could reply, Ike's voice roared through the speaker. ”Where in the G.o.dd.a.m.n h.e.l.l have you been, Ben?”
”Under attack,” Ben radioed. ”Rani and I fought the outlaws and won. Then Hartline and his people showed up. Caught us by surprise. I got lead in Hartline, but he got more in me. He took Rani. I'm hard hit, Ike, but I'm going to make it. It was touch-and-go there for awhile.
Ike, I believe I can make it out of here, now.
So I'm going to head for the old capital of Vista.
You get the troops ready and-was The set went dead, the ON light blinking off.
”s.h.i.+t!” Ben said. Ben could make a bomb out of almost anything at hand; he could gather great armies together and command them to victory against overwhelming odds; he could take chaos and confusion and turn it into calmness and order.
But he didn't know a d.a.m.n thing about radios.
He sat on the tailgate of the truck and cussed, turning the warm spring air blue.
”G.o.dd.a.m.n it!” Ike roared, after doing everything except kicking the set at Base Camp.
”Calm down, Ike,” Cecil said. ”Ben's all right.”
”I'm calm, I'm calm!” Ike yelled, scaring the young radio operator. his You calm down. I'm calm, he roared.
”Yes,” Cecil said with a smile. ”I can certainly see that.” He turned to the operator.
”Get Dan Gray on the horn, please.”
Cecil brought the Englishman up to date on Ben's situation, concluding with, ”Drop whatever you're doing and get out to Vista. Make certain everything there is secure. Check out the old airport. If it's suitable for prop landings, I'll airlift a battalion out with others to follow in trucks. Do that for me, will you, Dan?”
”Moving within the hour, General,” Dan radioed back.