"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 wish!"
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."
Khamsin began roaring his rage. "Six! Six men did all this?"
"Five men and one woman, I believe, sir."
Khamsin began pounding his clenched fists on the operating table, screaming his fury.
The XO waited until his colonel had exhausted his fury-hopefully. "They were led by Ike McGowen. That"s the former U.s. Navy SEAL, sir."
Khamsin said some very uncomplimentary things about Ike McGowen.
General Georgi Striganov was awakened from a sound sleep by an aide.
"Sir? A great many confusing radio reports from California. It seems some great battles have been taking place there."
Striganov looked at his bedside clock. It was time to rise anyway. In the few weeks he had been in Canada, Striganov was feeling better than he had in months. He had placed himself in the capable hands of Vasily Lvov and had followed the doctor"s orders to the letter.
He dressed and walked out to where the aide was waiting in the hall. Striganov followed the aide to the radio room, took a seat, and began listening.
It soon became apparent that Sam Hartline was finished. Now Ben Raines"s Rebels were mopping up, and Georgi Striganov knew what the Rebels did when they "mopped up."
They took no prisoners.
Sam Hartline was through.
But had Sam escaped?
The radio reports gave not a clue. And Striganov knew Ben Raines well enough to know that the commander of the Rebel Army did not boast. If the reports said one thing, take it as fact, for it was.
Striganov listened and sipped hot tea until the radio messages became repet.i.tive. He left the radio room and went to his office. Hesat down behind his desk and allowed himself a few moments of quiet meditation.
He would stay in Canada; G.o.d forbid crossing the border back into America for a long, long time.
If ever.
Lvov entered his office and sat down before the commander of the IPF.
"Something, Vasily?"
"Intercepted radio messages from South Carolina, Georgi. Some of Ben Raines"s Rebels struck hard at the command post of the IPA.
Heavy damage was inflicted. Colonel Khamsin escaped serious injury."
"How many Rebels struck?"
Lvov smiled. "Six," he said softly.
Georgi laughed, this laugh holding real mirth.
"Khamsin is learning just how vicious the Rebels can be, correct?"
"It would appear that way, Georgi. Have you considered Khamsin"s proposal?"
"Yes. And I have rejected it."
Lvov sighed with relief.
"I am weary of it all," Georgi said.
"Tired of war. Tired of fighting General Raines. And tired of constantly being bested by the man. No matter where he goes, the man gains strength. I am weary of letting slip the dogs of war."
"Georgi?"
Russian eyes met, locked.
"I have ordered a halt to all human experimentation. I have instructed my people to focus on non-aggressive experiments. A way to produce better crops, medicines. How do you feel about that?"
"I feel a load lifting from my back, Vasily. That"s how I feel. I do not wish to make enemies of those Canadians remaining. We shall work with them, be friends with them-as we should have done with the Americans."
"I have destroyed those mutant babies, Georgi."
"G.o.d forgive us all, Vasily."
"I wonder if it"s too late for that, old friend.
And believe me, I have given it much thought of late."
"As have I."
"Ben Raines?"
"In time I shall approach him, by radio," he added drily. "And extend the dove of peace to him.
I can only hope he will accept."
"He probably will. But if you do that, bear this in mind: Ben Raines makes peace with no force who will not fight side by side with him."
"I think it"s past time we did something decent for a change, Vasily."
The two men rose and shook hands.
"To a new way, Georgi."
"No, Vasily. Just a better way."
ChapterThirty-nine.