Part 12 (1/2)
”Help me!” a man called from the back of the cabin.
110.
William W. Johnstone Ben waited to see what Lara would do. He did not have to wait long. Her CAR clattered, and there were no more cries for help from the outside.”One tough lady,” Ben muttered. ”I'm glad she isn't my enemy.”
”You object to taking no prisoners in this war, Ben?” Lara called.
”He picked his side, Lara. He knew what he was doing.”
”That's the way I see it. Is anyone moving out front?”
”No. No one.”
”Same back here. I count nine people down.”
”Seven here.”
”I figure maybe one or two more.”
”Yeah. That's the way I see it.” Lowering his voice to a stage whisper, Ben said, ”I want those two Broncos. They look new to me. If at all possible, keep your fire away from them . . . OK?”
”OK. You know that the big vehicles like the Broncos, Blazers, and Dodge Rams are made only for the government now. No one else is allowed to have them . .. well, some selected civilians, of course.”
”Of course. That's the way socialism works. A Russian philosopher summed up a socialistic form of government this way-What's mine is mine, and what's yours is negotiable.”
Just then a man made a wild run for the vehicles. Ben stopped his running in mid-stride.
”You get him, Ben?”
”I got him.”
Ben and Lara waited for a long five minutes, Lara finally saying, ”I think that's it.”
”All right. Keep a sharp eye out in the back. I'm going straight out the front.”
”OK.”.
Ben opened the front and quickly stepped to one side, 111.
staying inside the cabin. No shots split the early morning. He stepped out onto the porch. Bodies lay sprawled in the front and on both sides of the cabin. Ben could not believe they were all dead, but none were moving or showing any other signs of life.
Ben stood for a moment, his eyes s.h.i.+fting from body to body. ”Lucked out again,” he muttered. Raising his voice, Ben called, ”It's clear out here, Lara.”
”Same back here.”
”I'm going from body to body to make sure. Moving out now.””Same here. Moving now.”
Ben found two that were still alive, but they were not long for this world. All those in front of the cabin had taken bursts in the chest and belly.
”One left alive back here,” Lara called. ”But he's badly wounded. He's not gonna be alive long.”
Ben walked around the cabin. ”Let's hide the big wagon and the Hummer under carports. We'll put the bodies in a cabin. Somebody will find them ... eventually.”
The vehicles were hidden. After anything they might be able to use had been taken, Ben and Lara began picking up weapons and stripping the bodies of ammo and grenades. Lara took the boots off the dead woman and found they were a perfect fit. She changed into a set of BDUs she found in a vehicle and laced up the boots.
They found several cases of field rats and sleeping bags in the big wagon, more ammo and grenades in the Hummer. Field radios and cans of water in one of the Broncos. 40mm grenades for the Bloop Tubes under the standard sized M-16's in the other Bronco.
”Here is a fuel transfer kit,” Ben said. ”Complete with pump that operates off the cigarette lighter or dashboard power point. We'll top off both tanks in the Broncos and then get the h.e.l.l gone from here.”
112.
”We take both vehicles?”
”Yes. We'll get out of here and stop a few miles down the road. You can show me on a map exactly where you have in mind to take us. That's in case we get separated.”
”I checked the spares on both Broncos. They're new and aired up.”
”Good thinking. What are we missing? Anything?”
”I can't think of a thing.”
”OK. I'll top the gas tanks while you walk around ...” He paused.
”What's the matter?”
”Did you take the wallets from the bodies?”
She grimaced. ”No. I'll do that while you're topping the tanks.”
Fifteen minutes later, everything had been done.
”Let's get out of here, Ben,” Lara said. ”I didn't see anyone radio in, but we don't know for sure they didn't.”
”You're right about that. You ready?”
”Let's roll.””Take the lead. I'll be right behind you.”
The Broncos were almost new, and handled well. Ben was feeling much better. The day had dawned bright and sunny, and the temperature was pleasant. They now had enough field rats to last them several weeks.
They had sleeping bags and blankets, and a portable water purification system. Things were definitely looking up.
Of course, all that could change around the next curve in the road.
And it did.
Ben saw Lara's brake lights flash on and he hit the brakes in the middle of the curve.
She stuck her head out the window and yelled, ”Roadblock up ahead. I don't think they saw us. It's at an intersection, and there are several cars and trucks ahead of us ... coming from the other direction.”
113.