Part 44 (1/2)
They won't be as easy to take the next time, Ben.”
”I know. There is always something to contend with. But it's Khamsin and his people that I'm concerned with at the moment.”
”Ben? Remember Sister Voleta8”**
”How could I ever forget her? Don't tell me she's popped up again?”
”Oh, yes. With her son. You ready for this? Ben Raines Blackman.”
Ben's reply was a grunt.
*Out of the Ashes **
Blood in the Ashes ”Yeah, I knew you'd be thrilled. Anyway, Sister Voleta and son have a commune up in Michigan. Accurate intel is hard to get, but it was reported to me that she's got about a thousand or so people.”
”You're just a regular fountain of glad tidings, Ike.”
Ike's laughter boomed over the miles.
”Yeah, I know. Sam Hartline is really dead, Ben?”
”He's dead.”
”That's good news. His men?”
”Most of them destroyed. I'm sure a few of those remaining will pop up around the country, but Sam's army is only history.”
”I wish I could tell you something about the Russian, but he's keeping low.”
”I'll see you in about ten days, Ike. Hold the fort.” ”What's the word?” Grizzly asked the trail-worn biker who had just roared into camp..
”This kookie Sister Voleta's got a h.e.l.l of an outfit, Griz. She claims to be religious, but man, she's one mean b.i.t.c.h. She and her son run the place. Ben Raines Blackman.”
”Are you serious?”
”She claims the guy is Ben Raines's son.”
Grizzly and the other warlords smiled. ”Let me guess. This Sister Voleta is claimin' that her son, Ben Raines Blackman, has some of the powers that the real Ben Raines is supposed to have, right?”
”You got it.”
”And she wants us to join her group. I gotta ask, Why?”
”Protection. That's it simple. If we wanna link up with her, all we gotta do is abide by her rules. We don't have to pray with them or any of that s.h.i.+t. And the rules is easy.
We'll be her army-or at least part of it. Griz?
Don't sell this bunch short. They did better fightin' Ben Raines a couple years back than we just done.”