choosing a frontal assault. That would slow them considerably. To the rear was a long northeastward pointing finger of a lake. Ben doubted any type of amphibious assault would or could be launched against their position. To the east lay a tangle of thorny brush and marshland. The west was thick timber and undergrowth.
Captain Rayle came to Ben’s side. Ben liked the young captain, for Rayle would speak his mind
…
respectfully. “At first I was dubious about your choice of a defendable position, sir,” he admitted. “Now I see you have chosen the best possible position in the entire forest.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Ben replied, hiding his smile. He had not lowered his binoculars. He swept the land once more, in a slow half circle. Lowering the field glasses, he asked, “Everything shaping up Captain?”
“Yes, sir. We’ve hidden and camouflaged vehicles well. Someone would have to literally walk right into them before they were detected. We hid them just off a fire road to our northeast, easily accessible when we decide to leave. We have .50-caliber machine guns facing in all directions, dug in. We’ve filled every container we could find from the surrounding towns with fresh water. It’s been tested and to be on the safe side, we’re in the process of adding purification tablets. We have well-dug mortar pits completely circling the crest of the ridge. M-60’s are supplementing the heavy .50’s. At your orders, we have no Scouts out forward. All personnel are accounted for and dug in on this ridge, sir.”
Ben could ask for no more than that. Captain Rayle’s report touched all bases. “Very good, Captain. How’s the food situation?”
“More than adequate for a sustained assault, sir. I have people digging a medical bunker in the center of the ridge. Ms. Roth has taken charge of that, sir.”
“I just bet she has,” Ben muttered.
“Beg pardon, sir?”
“Ah … nothing, Roger. Talking to myself, that’s all. Instruct your people there will be no firing until I give the word.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very good, Roger. Now comes the most difficult part.”
“Sir?”
“The waiting.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Tina had linked up with three other teams of Gray’s Scouts. They were now less than a mile from the outskirts of the Base Camp, spread out in a thin line to the north of the main complex of buildings. The radiopersons had changed crystals in their walkie-talkies so they could communicate without being detected by Willette’s people.
“Big Momma?” the backpack radio crackled. “We have smoke to the west, and … I guess some answering smoke from the east. You suppose that would be Wade and Ro talking to each other?”
The two young men, Wade and Ro, and their youthful followers, most between the ages of ten and eighteen, had been, almost to a person, male and female, raised in the savage wilds of the ravaged land once known as America. They had grown thus far without benefit of mother or father. Most could not read or write. Most did not know the meaning of the word “parent.” Love was something that was unknown to them, at least to the point where they could put that emotion into words. Happiness was not being hungry or alone or cold. They grew up eating whenever they could find food; knives and forks and spoons had been replaced by fingers. They carried what they owned on their backs.
These young people had linked up with Ben Raines only a few months back, joining him to fight against the Russian, Striganov. These young people thought Ben Raines to be no less than a god. For all their young lives they had heard of the wonders performed by Gen. Ben Raines, of how the man could not be killed, how he was a nation-builder, how he fought a giant mutant and killed it with only a knife. So much more. They loved Ben Raines, and they were prepared to die for him.
Many were so young in age, mere children, but they were oh-so-wise in the ways of survival. They knew the ways of the woods as well as any living thing, for until recently, that is where they lived, observing and imitating the ways of animals. Ro and his followers in the east, Wade and his followers to the west.
Now they were preparing to make war against those who spoke harshly of General Raines and Colonel Ike and the other older, wiser men of the Rebels.
“I would imagine so, Eagle Five,” Tina spoke into the mic. “Those kids are woods-wise and deadly when pushed. They can take care of themselves. I’m just glad they’re on our side.”
“Eagle One, this is Eagle Six. We’ve been monitoring your exchanges. We have just moved into position on the south side of the camp. Do you have any firm plans?”
“Affirmative, Eagle Six. We free the birds at 2000 hours tonight.”
“Ten-four, Big Momma. We’ll begin neutralizing
the guards on the south side beginning at 1958. Good luck. Eagle Six out.”
Tina turned to a team member. “Take someone with you and try to make contact with Ro and Wade. Tell them what we’re planning and coordinate with them.”
Two Scouts slipped silently into the deep timber.
“Woods are too damn quiet,” Willette observed. He had been watching the timber through binoculars, attempting to detect some alien movement. He had been unable to spot anything out of the ordinary.
“My guts tell me we’re being watched,” Carter said. “Small of my back is itchy.”
Willette lowered the glasses. “Yeah. Me, too. We’re being watched from all sides. Something’s in the wind. Inform the people that the traitor, Tina Raines, and those who follow her will probably launch an attack tonight. They’ll be trying to free the other traitors. Tell them tonight will be a test of their loyalty. Tell them that while no one among us wants any bloodshed, that may not be possible under the circumstances. And be sure to add that all this is being done for General Raines. Everything we do is for him. Those that choose to fight the traitors will be looked upon favorably in Ben Raines” eyes.”
Carter chuckled. “I never thought it would be this easy, Tom. It’s slick. Just as slick as owl’s shit.”
“I only wish we had more people,” Willette said. “If we had one more company, victory would be assured. But I think we got it anyway.”
“You want me to really fire “em up, Tom?”
“Yeah. Preach to them.” He laughed. “Divide and conquer. It works every time.”
“Divide and conquer,” Carter repeated the words. “That’s good, Tom. Who said that?”
“I think it was Robert E. Lee.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ike listened to more chatter on the walkie-talkie and looked at Nina, lying on her stomach by his side in the brush.
“Blivit,” he said.
“Blivit?”
He grinned, the smile wiping years from his face. “Yeah. That’s an old military expression. Means ten pounds of shit in a five-pound bag. And that’s exactly what’s happenin” right now.” He shook his head. “My God, how did this thing mushroom so rapidly? A few days ago, it was just rumors floatin’ around the camp. Now the new base is overrun, my buddies in lockup, and Ben is on the run. I should have shot that goddamn Willette ten minutes after he joined the convoy.”
Nina suddenly tensed. “Ike?” she said, pointing through the thick brush. “Look over there. Almost directly in front of us.”
Ike cut his eyes, not moving his head, for movement is picked up faster by experienced woodsmen than sound. A slow smile made its way across his lips. “Well, now,” he whispered.
A half dozen men were standing in a knot, about a hundred and fifty yards from Ike and Nina. All the
men were heavily armed. A voice, obviously agitated, reached them.
“I tell you all, goddamnit, I heard voices a minute ago.”
“Aw, horseshit, Also. Colonel McGowen and his pussy are miles from here. The forward team reported them
