FOURTEEN

 

Jenny sprayed the first man to come into range with automatic weapons fire, knocking him backward, to sprawl dead among the rocks.

Ben put another down with fire from his CAR.

The others kept coming in a snarling, shouting, hate-filled rush, closing the distance alarmingly fast.

Jenny chunked a grenade and two more of Runkel’s men went down, dead or dying, their bodies torn with shrapnel.

Ben tossed a fire-frag and the screaming of the wounded halted the charge. Two more of Runkel’s men were out of the game. The entire wild rush had not lasted more than a minute, but both Ben and Jenny were sweating when it finally broke.

The sun slowly inched higher. One man lay badly wounded among the rocks, moaning softly. Finally, he gasped in pain and then was quiet.

Ben guessed that Runkel had either eight or ten men left. He wasn’t sure, but that was close enough. He and Jenny were still far from being out of danger.

“You have proven to be quite a formidable foe, General,” Runkel’s voice came out of the rocks. “I congratulate you on your skill.”

Ben offered nothing in reply.

“It’s been a most interesting chase,” Runkel said.

Ben waited. Runkel was just below him, well concealed in the rocks. Ben figured he was maybe twenty-five yards away, no more than thirty.

Was Runkel using this time to send a couple of men around in a flanking movement? Probably, Ben thought. Two to the left, two to the right, and the remainder of them would charge right up the middle.

Ben hissed softly at Jenny until she cut her eyes. He pulled the pin on a grenade and held the spoon down, then pulled his Beretta 9mm from leather, motioning for her to do the same. Her eyes widened, but she did as he silently instructed.

“You want to surrender, Runkel?” Ben broke the silence of the late spring day.

Runkel laughed at that. “Oh, my, General, you do have quite a sense of humor. I think not. Dying by a hangman’s noose has never appealed to me.”

“It would buy you a little more time here on earth, Colonel.”

“But not quality time, General. No, I think I shall take my chances here on this miserable slope. Who knows? I just might get lucky and kill you and your whore.”

A stone rattled off to Jenny’s left and Ben could see her tense. He smiled grimly. She suspected she was being flanked and was ready.

Movement caught Ben’s eyes off to his right. Part of a man’s leg, from the knee down, was exposed. Ben triggered off two fast shots with his pistol and the man screamed as his knee was shattered. He reared up on his one good leg and Ben shot him in the chest. One more down.

“Careless of Aaron,” Runkel spoke calmly. “I thought he was better than that.”

Jenny suddenly tossed the grenade and her aim was true. The grenade landed behind a boulder and blew. One man rolled down the hill, his lifeless and bloody form tumbling loosely. The second man stood up, dazed and bloody, his face torn and unrecognizable. Jenny shot him with her pistol.

Two more down.

Jenny pulled the pin on another grenade, holding the spoon down. She waited patiently.

“Then there were five, Colonel,” Ben called.

Runkel softly cursed, then said, “You keep very good count, General. Yes, I suspect the game is rapidly coming to a conclusion.”

Ben had listened carefully and was impressed to sense that Runkel had moved closer. The man was very good; as good as Ben had ever encountered.

Ben tossed the fire-frag and hit the dirt just as Sergeant Brodrick came in a rush at Jenny. She shot him three times, holding the pistol in a one-handed grip, twice in the chest, once in the throat as the pistol bucked upward.

The fire-frag exploded.

When the dust had settled, a voice rose from the rocks. “That is all, General. We yield. It is over.”

“Stand up,” Ben ordered. “Hands empty.”

Two men stood up.

“Where is the third man?” Ben called.

“Lying beside Colonel Runkel. Neither man is moving. I believe them both to be dead.”

“Your grenade landed close to the colonel’s head, General. He is decapitated. I hate this goddamn country. I wish we had never left our homeland.”

“Europe or Africa?” Ben called.

“Either one, General.”

“Walk down to the meadow. When you clear the rocks, stand very still, your hands in the air. If you move, I’ll kill you.”

“We believe you, General,” the other man said.

“Watch them, Jenny,” Ben called. “Don’t hesitate to shoot if they move.”

“You can count on that, Ben.”

Ben inspected the bodies, keeping count. They were all accounted for. Runkel was headless, blood and brains splattered all over the rocks where he’d been hiding.

Ben walked over to the two prisoners. He took their sidearms, leaving them with only a knife and canteen. “Start walking,” he told them. “Toward the east. You might make it to our eastern front. If you do, fine. If you don’t, that’s fine. But if I ever seen either of you again, I’ll kill you without hesitation. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” both men said.

Ben smashed all the weapons, rendering them useless, then turned to the prisoners.

“Move!”

They moved.

The hunt was over. Ben and Jenny watched amid the rocks until the two men had disappeared into the timber at the far end of the valley.

“They won’t make it,” Jenny said, no emotion in her voice. “The further east you go, the wilder this country gets.”

“Suits me,” Ben replied. He looked at her and smiled. “You mentioned something about an old cabin a few hours from here?”

“I sure did.” She waved her hand at the bloody carnage sprawled silently around them. “What about the bodies?”

“You terribly concerned about them?”

“Hell, no!”

Ben smiled and together they turned away from the bloody ridge and walked westward. Neither of them looked back.

 

They camped that night at the old cabin Jenny knew of and were up and moving the next day before dawn, reaching Jenny’s a few hours later. Ben built a big fire just behind the sauna house and Jenny showed him how to heat the rocks for the sauna hut. While they both were sweating out days of tension and strain and bloodshed, Jenny had water heating on the stoves, one inside and one outside. Then they both took long, hot, soapy baths . . . Jenny first while Ben heated more water in every container he could find. Then Ben helped her wash their stinking clothes, and they hung them out to dry. Jenny’s late husband had been a tall man, and his clothes fit Ben pretty well. Dressed in jeans and flannel shirt, he felt clean and comfortable for the first time in days. They had steaks and potatoes for supper and then sat out on the porch and watched the sun slip over the mountains.

“What happens now, Ben?” Jenny broke a long silence.

“I go back to my troops. You’re coming along, aren’t you?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. “I don’t think so, Ben. I think it’s over, here in the mountains, and I want to stay home and live in peace. It’s been so long since I didn’t have to wake up afraid every morning it’ll be a unique experience.”

“I’ll miss you.”

“And I’ll miss you.”

They both sat in silence while dusk spread shadows all about them. In the dark timber, an owl hooted. Far away, a wolf began singing his song to the heavens; the call was answered.

“Every night I’ll sit out here and think of you when the wolves talk, Ben.”

Ben took a sip of fresh brewed coffee and smiled. “Is that what I remind you of, Jenny?”

“In a way, yes. An ol’ lobo wolf who doesn’t like to run with the pack.”

“Well . . . I have a soft spot in my heart for wolves, Jenny. Always have. I’m surprised a rancher’s daughter would feel the same way.”

“Not all ranchers hated the wolf, Ben. My daddy used to say they were God’s creatures and should be respected. I enjoy listening to them sing. I’ve never lost a single head of cattle to the wolves. No reason I should. There is plenty of game for them to hunt and eat out there.” She waved a hand. “Now,” she added.

“Humankind sure as hell screwed things up, didn’t we?”

“We sure as hell did. And I like the way you’ve set aside all that land in the SUSA for wildlife.”

“You’ll have to come for a visit, Jenny.”

“I just might do that.” She cut her eyes and smiled. “When you decide to settle down and stay in one spot for a time, that is.”

Ben chuckled softly. “Got to know me pretty well in a short time, didn’t you?”

“Better than you think, Ben.”

Ben reached over and took her hand in his. “Anything you’d like me to do before I go?”

She squeezed his hand. “Well . . . as a matter of fact, there is.”

They rose as one and walked into the cabin. In the distance, the wolves sang their lonely songs.

 

The next morning, Ben worked out map coordinates and then went outside, a walkie-talkie in his hand. He keyed the mic and said, “This is General Raines.” He gave his location. “Colonel Runkel is dead, and so are the men who elected to stay with him. The war is over in here. Send a chopper in here to pick me up. Along with that chopper, I want additional choppers carrying a team of doctors and medics and several tons of supplies: food, clothing, blankets, first-aid kits. If I forgot anything, you can go back and get it. By now you should have rigged something to transmit on this frequency. Give me a bump.”

Within seconds, Ike’s voice came through the tiny speaker. “Ben? You receiving this?”

“Five by five, Ike.”

“I gather by this list you are not alone in there.”

“I found some friends and want to leave them well-supplied and checked out by our medical people, ten-four?”

“We’re on our way, Ben.”

An hour later, Ike stepped out of the lead helicopter and walked over to Ben and Jenny. He grinned at Ben and shook his hand, then briefly took Jenny’s hand in his and squeezed gently. “Well, you both look okay. Neither of you took any hits?”

“We’re fine, Ike. Good to see you.”

“Chase is on the eastern front with our people. I bumped him and told him about your transmission. He’s hopping mad because he can’t be here.”

“I’ll be back by the time you get the choppers unloaded, Ben,” Jenny said. Then she turned and walked off to where a saddled horse was waiting. She rode off.

Ben smiled at the expression on Ike’s face. “Come on up to the cabin, Ike. I’ll fill you in. How is my team?”

“Fine. All of them took minor wounds and suffered a lot of bumps and bruises in the ambush, but nothing serious. They’re waiting for you back at our western lines.”

“How about some coffee while we wait?”

“Sounds good, Ben. Damn, but it’s good to see you.”

“Come on. The coffee’s hot and I’m anxious for a briefing.”

 

There were several Indian doctors among the various small bands who lived in the wilderness. They met with the teams of Rebel doctors and then boarded choppers to take the doctors and the supplies back to their camps.

The supplies for Jenny were quickly off-loaded and stored. They included a couple of cases of good bourbon, for she had told Ben she enjoyed a drink in the late afternoon and Ike had taken a chance and included the bourbon . . . just in case.

After Ben had brought his old friend up to date, Ike shook his head and sighed. “You lucked out again, ol’ buddy.”

“Once again, age and skill have excelled over youth and enthusiasm,” Ben said with a smile.

“We found you a new motor home to use as a rolling CP, Ben. Started work on it within an hour after you first coded in. It’s a damn nice one. Bigger than your old one. Plush,” Chase said. “Fit for a king,” he added.

“I can just hear the sarcastic old bastard.”

Back from her ride, Jenny walked toward the two men, a big smile on her face.

“Jenny’s not going back with us?” Ike asked.

“No. She wants to stay out here. This is her home.”

“I sure can’t blame her for that. It’s beautiful and peaceful.”

“But I might decide to come to the SUSA for a visit now and then,” Jenny said. She poured herself a mug of coffee, and then sat down.

“You’d sure be welcome, Miss Jenny,” Ike said, falling back on his Mississippi drawl and upbringing. “Anytime.” He cut his eyes to Ben as the sounds of the medical choppers returning reached his ears. “We got to be pushin’ on soon, Ben. There’s a storm brewin’ and if we don’t get out soon, we’re here for awhile.”

“All right, Ike. I’ll get my gear together.”

Ben gone from the porch, Ike stood up. “I’ll leave you two alone for a time, Miss Jenny.”

“Sit down, Ike,” she told him. “Finish your coffee. We said our good-byes last night.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ike sat. He glanced at the woman. “I can tell that Ben sure took quite a shine to you.”

Jenny smiled at his language. “The feelin’ is mutual, Ike. But it’s too soon for both of us. Ben’s got some ramblin’ to do yet.”

“I know, Jenny. I know.”

Ben stepped out onto the porch, his gear packed up. “You ready, Ike?”

“Ready.” Ike left the porch, leaving the man and woman alone.

“I’ll see you, Jenny,” Ben said. “And that’s a promise.”

“One I will hold you to, Ben.”

He bent his head and kissed her, then walked down the steps and strode over to a chopper and boarded. Seconds later, the chopper had lifted off.

Ben slipped on a headset so he and Ike could talk over the roar.

“That’s a fine lady there, Ben.”

“Yes, she is.”

“You ought to think of holdin’ on to her.”

“I have. And I will, someday.”

“But for right now? . . .”

“Wars to fight, Ike. You located Simon Border?”

“We know approximately where he is.”

“Then let’s go get him.” Ben took off his headset, leaned his head back, and said no more. The tiny figure of Jenny Marlowe, standing in the front yard waving at the chopper, faded from view.

Ben knew it was not possible, but he would always swear he heard the sounds of wolves singing as the chopper flew over the wilderness that day.