"That'll help with the pain, and you'll live," Ben told the man. "But I can tell you not for long if you keep fucking around with Rebels."

  The wounded agent tried a smile. "I can damn sure believe that, General.

  You guys play rough."

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  "You people are clicking around with a way of life that works well for us. Leave us the hell alone, and everything will be all right."

  "I'm just taking orders, that's all, General."

  "Yeah, I know. The best advice I can give you is to stop it."

  "Then how do I make a living and feed my kids?"

  "Find another job, partner."

  The agent looked at him.

  "Unless you enjoy kicking in the doors of decent people in the middle of the night and rousting them out of bed."

  "There are laws against possessing certain types of guns in America, General."

  "Yeah, right. The forerunner of the FPPS used to remind me of that every now and then."

  "That hasn't been that many years ago, General. If you people hadn't formed up into survival groups and militias and raised so much anti-government talk, the collapse of the government might not have happened."

  Ben chuckled at that. "Is that what the present administration is teaching now?"

  "President Osterman is a wonderful person," the agent said stiffly. "And you people are very wrong when you say she is a socialist."

  "It's a unique brand of socialism, boy. I refer to much of it as cultural Marxism."

  "Sir? That's a new one on me."

  "Political correctness, son. It's nothing more than cultural Marxism."

  "I'll have to remember that."

  "Yeah. When your masters debrief you after this operation be sure and tell them what I said."

  "Rest assured, I will."

  "I'm sure of that, son." Ben gave the wounded agent a pain pill. "Put that in your pocket for later. It's probably going to be several hours before anyone comes looking for you. And take my word for it, it's a long hike out of here."

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  "You'll never make it to the border, General."

  "Oh, I think we will. And I really hope we can do it without further bloodshed."

  "Roy, stop talking to that traitorous bastard!" Alice shouted across the way. "And by God, that's an order. You two are getting real chummy over there."

  The woman was sitting up, her butt on a concrete block, and had regained her senses, as much as she ever had them-which probably wasn't that much, considering the type of government she was working for. One of the other agents had put a field dressing on her forehead and given her a couple of aspirin.

  Alice concluded her opinion of Ben Raines. "The son of a bitch is venomous as a cobra! And slick as an eel." She looked at Anna. "So is this Rebel whore."

  "Screw you, too, lady," Anna said. "That is, if anybody would want to."

  Alice cussed Anna and Anna gave the woman a very dirty look, followed by the finger.

  ?Filthy bitch!'' Alice said. ?What do you do in your spare time, whore-fuck the troops?"

  "Easy, Anna," Ben cautioned. "She's just trying to get you to do something stupid."

  Anna smiled at Alice. "Fucking the troops is certainly something you'd never do, is it, Butch?"

  Ben thought Alice was going to lose it and do something really dumb, but the woman managed to hold her temper in check. She looked down at the ground and said no more.

  "All right," Ben said. "Anna, you take the two women over behind that broken-down shed and make them strip down to the skin." He smiled.

  "Including their boots. Bring their clothing over here to me. You men, as soon as the ladies are out of sight peel down and toss your clothing over to me. Do it!"

  "I'll do no such thing!" Alice flared.

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  "Yes, you will," Anna said, lifting the muzzle of her CAR. "Or I'll knock a leg out from under you and rip the clothes off you."

  "You better do what she tells you to do, Alice," Ben said. "Right now."

  Nickie tugged at Alice's arm. "Come on, Alice. It's no big deal. Let's do it."

  With dirty looks at Ben and Anna, Alice and Nickie walked off behind the shed.

  "Peel," Ben told the men.

  Ben gathered all the clothing and went through the pockets, looking for lighters and matches. They could start a fire, and a large amount of smoke would bring investigators. He found several boxes of matches and several lighters ... and a couple packs of cigarettes. He put the cigarettes in his pocket and stowed the matches and lighters in a rucksack.

  Anna tossed him the women's clothing and he went through it, finding a small packet of waterproof matches in a pocket in each multi-pocketed jumpsuit. He tossed the clothing back to Anna, minus the boots, then returned the clothing to the men, also minus the boots.

  Ben tossed the boots in the second seat of the big SUV. He then loaded the still unopened ice chest in the rear cargo compartment.

  "OK, boys and girls," Ben said. "Get into that piece of shed over there and stay put. And I mean stay put."

  "What about our boots?" Nickie asked.

  "They stay with us. You won't be walking very far barefoot."

  "That's no way to treat prisoners of war, General," Roy said.

  "You're not prisoners of war. War has not yet been officially declared between our two countries, and personally I hope it never is."

  "Oh, it will be, General," Alice popped off. "And we'll 244

  destroy your goddamn gunsmoke society. And I hope I get you in gunsights someday."

  "Oh Jesus, Alice," Nickie said. "Will you please shut that damn mouth of yours?"

  "Don't you dare speak to me in that tone of voice!" Alice yelled at her.

  "I'm the senior agent here."

  "Whoopee and congratulations," Anna said. "Now haul your senior ass into that shed, lady. Move it!"

  Ben noticed that several of the men smiled at the exchange between the two female FPPS agents. Ben suspected that all was not real hunky-dory when it came to promotions within the government agency.

  When the agents had been herded into the shed, Anna said, "They won't be in there one minute after we pull out."

  "I know it. But I don't think they'll go very far barefooted. You drive the other SUV, Baby. Follow me down the road for a few miles, then we'll tuck it away in the woods and rip out some wiring just in case they do hike down a ways and find it... which is very doubtful."

  "OK. Did you look in the ice chest? What's in there? I'm hungry as a hog."

  "No, I haven't. Not yet. We'll eat when we get a few miles down the road."

  "I can last that long, I guess, before I fall over from hunger. Anything holding us here?"

  "Just gravity."

  "Smartass," she muttered. "So let's go, before Alice decides to do something real funky."

  "Funky? I haven't heard that word in a long time."

  "How about 'shitty,' then?"

  Ben shook his head. "Forget it kid. Let's get gone from here."

  "Yeah, let's go. I'm hungry."

  Ben muttered under his breath about young people in general and Anna in particular, and walked to the lead SUV.

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  Thirty seconds after they had pulled out, Alice stepped gingerly out of the old shed, walking carefully on bare feet. She looked down the road and lifted her right hand, saluting Ben and Anna with a middle finger.

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  247

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Ben found an old road of sorts about ten miles from the site of the shootout and turned off the highway. He and Anna tried on the boots taken from the FPPS agents and each found a pair that fit perfectly.

  Then they opened the well-stocked ice chest and had lunch.

  "I don't think these agents were paying much attention to a healthy diet," Ben remarked, fixing a huge sandwich.

  At the moment, Anna could only nod her head in agreement. She was too busy chowing down on a sandwich approximately the same size as a catcher's mitt.

  After chewing and swallowing and take a long drink of cola, Anna said,

  ?Not much farther, according to the map."

  "Probably forty miles to the border. But they'll be dicey ones. Bet on that."

  Finished with lunch, with no lingering hunger pangs for the first time in several days, Ben ripped several handfuls of wiring from under the hood and dash of the second, smaller SUV and Anna got into the big SUV

  with him.

  Heading down the road, Anna clicked on the dash radio and she and Ben listened to the news. Federal troops had

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  again tried to punch through along the border of Virginia and had been beaten back. Several teams of guerrillas had tried to land along the South Carolina coast. They had been killed, and the ship that brought them had been sunk, many of the crew taken captive by the Rebels.

  Anna switched stations, over to a SUSA based Free Radio Network station.

  President Osterman had called for a world boycott against the SUSA. It had been ignored by all the leaders of the free world. While many of the leaders of other nations did not approve of the Tri-States philosophy of government, the SUSA was by far the most productive nation in the world, with most of its factories running at least sixteen hours a day and others working around the clock. The goods produced by the workers in the SUSA were of the highest quality. Leaders in many countries remembered it was Ben Raines and the Rebels who risked their own lives to save their asses, even though many of those same countries were now on the verge of civil war themselves. Besides all that, no one wanted to get on the bad side of the President of the SUSA, Cecil Jefferys, and they sure as hell didn't want to get Ben Raines pissed at them.

  The Federal troops had once again pulled back to regroup and make plans.

  "Those troops we saw back up the road," Anna said.

  "Yes. I hate to see this, but war's definitely coming. And when the Federals come at us in full force, it will eventually tear this country apart."

  They rode for a few miles in silence, not seeing another vehicle on the road.

  "I know a way to stop this war before it can get started." Anna broke the silence. She looked hard at Ben. "And so do you."

  "Yes. I do. But we'd have to whack a lot of people. My Zero Squads did just that about a decade ago. And they all died doing it. A lot of very good people." Ben sighed and shook his head. "That is strictly a last resort, and I hope it never reaches that point."

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  "But you think it might?"

  "Yes, I do, Anna. It's sad, but I do. And when it does, it will be the end of this once great country-both the SUSA and the USA. Nothing will ever be the same again after that. It will be the darkest moment in our history."

  "But we can rebuild, Pops."

  "You young people can try, and I hope you succeed. But for me, I plan to go down with a gun in my hands, fighting for what I believe in."

  "And Uncle Ike?"

  "He'll be with me, and so will Cecil and a lot of others who have helped make a dream become a reality for millions of Tri-Staters."

  "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

  "Yes. But in the meantime, I'll do whatever's necessary to preserve the SUSA."

  They rode on for a few more miles without speaking. They met no traffic, and saw no signs of human life.

  "Town just up ahead," Anna said, looking at a map. "Two or three more miles."

  "And then how much farther to the border?"

  "Well ... this road ends. You're going to have to go either left or right on this highway. If we turn east, it's a good twenty-five miles to the next road south."

  "And west?"

  "Just a few miles to a county road heading south. It's unpaved. But that road will take us to within five miles or so of our border."

  "West it is, then." Ben patted the steering wheel of the big nine passenger SUV. "This is a really nice vehicle. I don't think I want to give it up."

  Anna cut her eyes to him. "Oh, hell. Now just exactly what does that mean?"

  "Means I just might decide to keep it."

  "That's what I thought." She rubbed the fabric of the seat. "Well, it is nice. Cooper would like it."

  Ben braked as they came to the major highway. It appeared to be in fair shape. He looked both ways. No

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  traffic. "Strange," he said. "Troops massing all along our borders ...

  everywhere but here, that is. And no checkpoint at a junction on a major highway. I find that very odd." He took his foot off the brake. "But, what the hell. Let's give it a try." He grinned at Anna. "What do we have to lose?"

  She grimaced. "Oh, sure. Of course try it. What do we have to lose? Not very much. Just our lives."

  "Oh, ye of little faith. Check the map, Kiddo. How far to this county road?"

  Anna studied the map for a few seconds. "The map doesn't show the mileage, but I'd guess no more than ten at the most. Then another ten on the unpaved road down to the junction of a paved highway. Then we turn west for maybe three or four miles before coming to another unpaved road that leads right to our border."

  "It all sounds just too damn easy."

  "It sure looks easy."

  "We'll find out." Ben checked the road ahead and his rearview mirror.

  "Where the hell is all the traffic? This is just too damn weird."

  "Doesn't anybody live around here?" Anna questioned. Then snapped her fingers. "Pops, maybe the government ordered all the people out."

  Ben held up a hand, then snapped his fingers. "Sure! That's it. They've all been ordered out due to the war. So that means ... a big push is being planned. A really big push, to paraphrase Ed Sullivan."

  Anna looked at him. "Who's Ed Sullivan?"

  About halfway down the gravel and dirt county road, Ben pulled over and dug out his radio while Anna made a visit to the bushes. The transmission would be scrambled, as were nearly all Rebel transmissions.

  He was answered on the first send.

  "General Raines! Are you all right, sir?"

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  "I'm fine. Anna's with me, and she's OK. Are you aware of any big push being planned by the Federals?"

  "Negative, sir. Nothing in the works. We've beaten back everything they've tried. And they've taken some heavy losses."

  "Parts of extreme Southern Missouri have been evacked of civilians. We haven't seen a living soul, other than FPPS agents, in several hours.

  Pass that word onto General McGowan, please."

  "Yes, sir! Do you want us to come in and get you, General?"

  "Negative on dust-offs. I like the SUV I'm driving."

  "Ah ... say again, sir?"

  "Forget it. If I get in a jam I'll let you know. Eagle out."

  Anna returned and leaned up against the big wagon. "Did you give them our location?"

  Ben smiled at her. "Of course not."

  "I figured as much." She stared at him for a few heartbeats. "You'll never change, will you? You really get a kick out of lone-wolfing it, don't you?"

  "I don't object to it. And no, I won't change. Not until age forces me out of the field. And that's going to be a few more years, at least.'

  "Uh huh. You know, people do worry about you."

  "So I've been told. They should worry about something else. I can take care of myself."

  "So what happens now?"

  "We hide the wagon and stick around here. See what happens and call it in."

  "On this gravel road?"

  "What better route to take to move large numbers of troops, especially at night?"

  She nodded her head. "You're right I hadn't thought of that. The road's dry and pretty hard-packed, too. Won't be much dust kicked up."

  "So let's find a place to tuck and camouflage the vehicle, and see what happens."

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  "Suits me. We've still got lots of food, and it'll stay cold for hours longer."

  "Hungry again?" Ben asked with a smile.

  "I will be in a little while."

  "Let's get this vehicle hidden and find us a good vantage point." He looked around. "Like that hill right over there with the timber on it."

  She smiled and lifted a pair of very expensive and high-powered binoculars. "So nice of those FPPS agents to lend us these. There are two pairs."

  "Remind me to send them a 'thank you' card. Come on, let's get into position and see what happens."

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  Chapter Twenty-five

  Ben radioed in their position after he and Anna counted twenty-five deuce and a halfs packed with troops, all heading south on the unpaved county road. This time, though, both Ike and Cecil were standing by to receive Ben's transmissions.

  "Our informants in that area alerted us there might be a big push in the works, Ben," Ike told him. "Now that you've confirmed it, I think it's time for you and Anna to get the hell out of that area."

  "I don't know if we can, Ike," Ben told him. "Traffic has picked up again. This convoy now approaching looks like it's going to be a long one. Ike, there are tanks moving south with this column. Quite a bit of armor. This is shaping up to be one hell of a push. It would be very risky for us to attempt a move at this time."

  "Ben, we're going to start hitting that area hard. But we can't if you and Anna are in there. You've got to move out. Right now."

  "No place for us to go, Ike. But you've got to hit now. We can't afford to allow this buildup to continue. Send in

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  the steel and lead, and do it now. Do I have to make that a direct order?"

  "No, Ben, you don't."

  "That's good, Ike."

  "The attack will begin in approximately fifteen minutes with artillery, followed by gunships."

  "Anna and I will head east and hunt a hole. Put a stopper in this, Ike.

  Right now." Before Ike could respond, Ben said, "Eagle out."

  Ben looked at Anna, lying beside him on the ridge, staring at him.

  "We've got to hunt us a deep hole, Baby. This area is about to get creamed."

  "There are shovels in the wagon."

  "Let's get them and then get the hell away from this immediate area ...

  pronto. We'll take what we absolutely have to have and haul ass. Let's do it."