Part 42 (1/2)
”Girl,” Ike said, looking at her. ”What in the holy billy-h.e.l.l are you talking about?”
”That camel-humpin' b.a.s.t.a.r.d used me pretty bad, Ike.”
Ike grinned at her in the darkness of the canvas-covered bed of the truck. ”You reckon he wore it plumb out, baby?”
”Ike!”
”Then don't worry about it, baby. Tell you what. When we get back, how's about you and me gettin' hitched?”
”Ike?”
”Yes, baby?”
”I love you.”
”Is that a fact? Well, dip me in s.h.i.+t and call me stinky!”
”If you folks will quit all that romancin' up there,” a Rebel called from his post by the tailgate.”Here comes a whole bunch of those camel-jockeys.”
”Ridin' camels?” Ike called.
”I wis.h.!.+”
Ike picked up his CAR-15 and joined the guard. ”How about us start rollin' out some surprises for them folks, Ed?”
The Rebel grinned and held up both hands full of fire-frags. ”Like these?”
”How did you guess?”
”Cease fire!” Ben ordered. ”Cease fire!”
The night became eerily quiet, except for the popping of trees as the sap exploded. Fires ringed the interior of the battleground. And the cloudy skies cracked just a bit and a light mist began falling. After only a few moments, the mist changed into a sprinkle, then a downpour.
Ben looked up, the rain streaking his face, and smiled.
”Thanks,” he said.
Dan Gray came to Ben's side.
”I've ordered the troops to start mopping up, General.”
”Fine. Have you any prelims on troop loss?”
”We lost no one. It appears that Hartline suffered approximately ninety percent loss of his battalions. We'll probably never know for sure.”
Ben nodded. ”I'm going to get some rest. Take over, Dan.”
”Yes, sir.”
The Englishman watched as Ben walked away, back to his command post for some much-needed sleep.
A Rebel approached Dan. ”Sir?”
”Yes, son?”
”General Jefferys was just on the horn. He reports that his people are kicking a.s.s north of here.
Your people have engaged the other battalion and have them on the run. Looks like we won, sir.”
”Thank you. Keep me informed and don't disturb the general.”
”Yes, sir.”
”Carl?” Dan called.
”Here, sir!” the batman said.
”A bit of tea would be nice. Perhaps a cracker or cookie to go with it.”
”Right away, sir.”
Dan sat down on a log and rested, waiting for his early morning refreshment. He wondered how Ike was doing?
”Sir!” the shout came from the cab of the truck.
”Go ahead!” Ike hollered.
”Our teams have smashed across the border and put the IPA on the run. They're waiting for us just five miles up this road. As soon as we pa.s.s, they'll blow the bridges over the Little Lynches and Lynches Rivers. After that, we're home free.”
”Right!” Ike leaned back and let the weariness flow over him. Nina was lying on a blanket,looking up at him through the darkness. ”We made it, babe,” he said.
She winked at him.
Khamsin lay on his stomach and endured the pain as the doctor st.i.tched up his b.u.t.tock.
”I simply cannot believe that many Rebels made it across our borders, penetrated our security, and successfully executed this raid,” Khamsin spoke through gritted teeth.
Khamsin's XO had dreaded this moment. ”There weren't that many Rebels, sir.”
”There had to be a full battalion,” Khamsin said.
”Six, sir,” the XO said.
”Six battalions!”
Khamsin cut his eyes to the XO, disbelief in the evil darkness.
”Ah, no, sir. Six ... people.”