chest was huge and his shoulders and arms padded with muscle.
“We’ve got to get to the rest of the plantations as quickly as possible, ” George said. “Some mercenary named Hartline is on his way down here.”
“Sam Hartline!” Lou said, his face paling as he spoke. “Oh, God! That’s a bad one. I remember him from three, four years ago. You’re right. We’ve got to get rolling in a hurry.”
Joni looked at the cheap wrist watch on her wrist. “Can we make it, Lou?”
“I think so, miss. We’re pretty well armed all the way around and radio reports from the other two plantations indicated the revolt was on the side of the slaves. What do you have on your mind, Joni?”
“Linking up with Ben Raines.”
Lou nodded. “I think that’s a good thought, Joni. I was on my way out to the old Tri-States with a bunch of people back in “93 when we were ambushed in Iowa. Forced us to turn back. I always regretted we didn’t make it.”
“How long before your people can move out?” Joni asked.
Lou looked around him. “Give us an hour. You folks can get on Highway 27 and move on south until you reach Cross City. Wait for us there. Once we link up, we’ll move against what’s left of the guards at Chiefland, then head on over to Newberry. Do you know which route Hartline is taking down here?”
“Yes. Interstate 95.”
“All right. Just as soon as we clear Newberry, we’ll
take 41 up to the intersection of Interstate 75 and pour it on. That will take us right up to the ruins of Atlanta. You folks shove off. Weil link up with you in about two hours.”
“You think we have God on our side in this one, Lou?” Joni asked.
“There is no God,” Lou replied bitterly. “I gave up believing in that a long time ago. As far as I can tell, we’ve got only two things left to believe in.”
“Oh?” George looked at the man.
“Ourselves and Ben Raines.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Tony grinned at Ann. His grin was anything but nice. “I don’t trust you, baby,” he said. “I think you’re up to something.”
Ann said nothing. She crouched naked in the center of the bed. The knife she had stolen from Lennie was under her pillow, the blade open.
“I don’t know what,” Tony said. “But I’m gettin’ bad vibes from you. So you and me, baby, we’re gonna get it on one more time. Then I’m gonna give you to Sam Hartline.”
This time, Ann could not prevent a hiss of fear and revulsion.
“Yeah.” Tony grinned. “Hartline’s gonna split you wide open. It should be interestin’ listenin’ to you squall.”
There was nothing Ann could say, so she remained silent.
Tony checked his watch. A gold Rolex he had stolen years before. “Hartline ought to be back in two days. So you and me, baby, we’ll get it on tomorrow for the last time.” He grinned, exposing soiled and rotten teeth. “You rest up tonight, baby. “Cause tomorrow, I’m gonna roll you over and take a whack at you from that direction.”
He laughed and walked out the door, carefully locking it behind him.
Ann turned on the bed and looked at Peg and Lilli, “You heard him. I get it tomorrow. I got to do it tomorrow, or it’ll never get done. Ya’ll pack, and keep it light for fast travelin”. Spare shirt, jeans, socks and panties. Any food you might have hidden back. This time tomorrow, we’ll either be free, or dead.”
The girls hurried from the room. Lilli looked back. “Can I take one of the dollies, Ann?”
“Yeah,” Ann said. “You can take one of your dollies.”
“You gonna take one of your dollies, Ann?” Peg asked.
Ann shook her head. “No.”
“Why?”
““Cause I think, after tomorrow, I will have outgrown dolls.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Ben stood alone at the mass grave site. His face wore a grim expression.
“All this,” he muttered. “For what? All these lives, snuffed out. For what?”
But only the silence of the grave greeted him. And graves do not speak.
Gale was surprisingly cheerful when Tina visited her while her father was at the grave site.
“You’re pretty chipper today, Gale,” she said. “What’s up?”
Gale smiled at the young woman; they were about the same age. “Oh, I guess I’m just happy to be getting settled in one place. It’s a nice house, don’t you think?”
“It’s lovely.”
The home she had chosen was on the outskirts of what had been known as Dalton, Georgia. It was not a large home, for Gale knew Ben was probably only days, maybe hours, from taking off on his quest, and she didn’t want too large a house to look after.
“Tell me the rest of it?” Tina prompted, taking the cup of tea Gale fixed for her.
“I’m happy because Ben is happy. Well, as happy as he ever is.”
“Because he’s leaving?”
“Yes, as odd as that sounds.”
“I understand,” Tina said. “Believe me, I do.”
“I knew you would. When are you and Robert going to marry?”
“Probably never,” Tina said matter-of-factly. “You know that marriage has become, is becoming, kind of old hat.”
“One more long-accepted social institution gone,” Gale replied with a smile. “Perhaps it’s time for that.”
Tina shrugged. “Who knows? Dad doesn’t seem to object. Least he’s never said anything about it.”
Gale grinned at her. “How could he?”
Both young women chuckled.
“You going to live here all by yourself, Gale?”
“Yes. I’ll be all right. You and Bob are right down the street. Ike and Nina have settled in a house right behind me. So I’m not afraid.”
Tina finished her tea and rose. She said, “Lots of women would be pitching a fit right about now, Gale. They wouldn’t put up with Dad leaving.”
Gale shook her head. “Ben would never have chosen that type of woman.”
“You’re right. You know him pretty well, don’t you, Gale?”
“Well enough to let him go,” she said with a smile, and the smile was not at all forced.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
How degrading! Emil Hite thought, as he shuffled along, carrying dirty clothes to the women to be washed. One day I’m king of the mountain, the next day I’m a fucking gofer.
“Hurry up with that laundry, you asshole! “one of the women squalled at him.
Just think, Emil pondered the frailties of being a god. One day they are groveling at my feet, the next day, they are shrieking at me like a bunch of fishmongers.
Oh, woe is me! Emil thought.
“Get your stupid ass over here with those dirty clothes!” a woman howled at him. “And be quick about it.”
Emil stumbled on the hem of his robe and the laundry basket flew from his hands, dirty clothes spilling out onto the ground.
Everybody started yelling at him, calling him the most awful of names.
Emil got to his knees and looked upward. “Why me, Blomm?” he said aloud. “Why me?”
One of his captors put a number twelve sized boot on Emil’s ass and that put an end to any questioning of the Great God Blomm.