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shirt pocket.
Loco got up, stretched, refilled his drink, and resumed his reading . . .
"Chase waited for Ben to continue, sensing there was more. He was right.
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" 'The Secretary General warned me that we might go to South America
when we finished here.' Ben shrugged. 'It was all part of the deal we made.'
" 'A deal that isn't worth the paper it's written on or the handshake
that sealed it,' Doctor Chase said. 'You don't believe for a minute the
federal government outside the SUSA will keep their end of the bargain.
Do you?'
"Ben smiled. 'Of course not, Lamar. I wouldn't trust a liberal out of my
sight. But it bought us some time. Much-needed time.'
" 'They don't believe you'll use nuclear and germ weapons against them,
Ben.'
" 'Then they don't know or understand me at all, Lamar. I will
personally push the buttons that lets the birds fly if they invade us.
Those crybaby assholes had damn well better understand that. And don't
think for a second Cecil won't do it... because he damn sure will.'
"Chase studied Ben's face for a few seconds. 'Yes. Cecil will push the
buttons. I'm sure of that. But do you think the SUSA will be invaded? Do
you believe the federal government will really take that chance?'
"Ben lit his hand-rolled cigarette and was silent for a few heartbeats,
letting a very slight breeze slip the smoke away.
"When he spoke, his words were low. 'Yes, I do, Lamar. But I'm still
undecided as to whether it's going to be an all-out assault or a
guerrilla, hit-and-run attempt.'
" 'What do Mike's people have to say about it?'
"Mike Richards was the Rebels' Chief of Intelligence.
" 'That some type of action against us is being planned. But they're
unable, so far, to break into the inner circle and pin anything down.'
" 'Doesn't leave us much to go on, does it?'
"Ben smiled. 'Not a whole lot, Lamar. Except we know it's coming. But
not when or how'
"The two men stood in silence as the wounded combat
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engineers were transported back to a clearing to be worked on in a MASH
facility.
"One of the medics walked back to Ben and Lamar. 'One is going to lose a
leg, I think. The others will be back on limited duty before long.'
"Lamar thanked the medic, and the young woman nodded and walked away. No
one saluted in a combat zone.
" 'I am beginning to truly hate this place,' Ben said. 'I know I
shouldn't, but I do. Not the people, at least not most of them, but the
place.'
" 'If it'll make you feel any better, Ben, the country doesn't thrill me
all that much either. Even though much of it is quite beautiful.'
" 'Scouts found several alive over there,' Corrie said. 'They're
bringing three of them across now.'
" 'Do they speak English?' Ben asked.
" 'Oh, yes, sir," Corrie replied. "They sure do. They're Americans.' The
three men had suffered only very minor wounds and their wounds had been
attended to. They were all in good physical shape, strong and certainly
very healthy-appearing. Ben studied the trio for several moments before
speaking. He did not like what he was thinking.
" 'How'd you boys get to Africa?' Ben finally asked.
" 'Greyhound,' the bigger of the three popped back.
" 'Oh,' Ben said with a smile. 'A sense of humor. That's good. You're
damn sure going to need one. Now, I'll ask again: How did you boys get
over here?'
" 'Plane,' the oldest of the three volunteered.
" 'When?' Ben asked.
" 'Six, seven months ago,' the same man replied. 'I'm not sure. Time
sort of runs together over here.'
"Ben silently and certainly agreed with the man about that. 'Go on.'
" 'What do you mean, sir?'
" 'Who paid you to come over here? How many of you came over? And why?'
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" 'Keep your damn mouth shut, Leon,' the first man to speak said.
" 'Screw you, Jimmy,' the oldest man said. He looked back at Ben. 'Two
battalions.'
" 'Mercenaries,' Ben said.
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" 'Yes, sir.'
" 'All Americans?'
" 'Most of them, yes, sir. But other nationalities mixed in there, too.
A few Canadians, half a dozen or so Germans and Russians. Some English.'
"Ben again studied the three for a moment. They were dressed in cammie
BDUs. Because of the way they were dressed, he couldn't threaten them
with being spies, and they probably were well aware of that. 'Who's
paying you?'
"This time, the bigger man spoke. 'That we don't know, General. You can
believe it or not, but it's the truth.'
"Ben believed him. But he also had a damn good idea who was paying the
men. 'More mercenaries coming over?'
" 'ves, sir,' the third man said. 'I can tell you for a fact that rcc
iitiug has been going on for a long time.'
"Ben nodded. 'And a long time is ... how long?'
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