Judgment in the Ashes by Johnstone William W

Author:Johnstone, William W. [Johnstone, William W.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Published: 2014-04-01T04:00:00+00:00

TWO

Corrie bellied her way close to Ben. “The road guard just reported a group of men across from him,” she whispered. “And the sound we heard was behind us. We have them at least front and back of the house.”

Ben nodded his understanding just as voices drifted out of the woods. The Rebels relaxed just a bit, for if there were voices, those in the woods were not aware of the Rebels. Not yet, anyway. But if they spotted the old pickup trucks parked in the rear of the farmhouse, they would surely investigate.

“. . . The Rebels aren’t within fifty miles of here,” the man’s voice came to Ben and the others. “I think they cut east, not south.”

“Nobody asked what you think,” another man’s voice drifted out of the night.

“I got a right to my opinion.”

“Shut up, Johnny. You do what you’re told, just like the rest of us.”

“I do, Harold. But that don’t mean I have to like it.”

“That’s blasphemous talk, Johnny. You best stop that nonsense ’fore you’re reported.”

“Hey!” the shout came out of the woods.

“Who said that?” Harold questioned.

Harold must be in charge of this unit, Ben thought. Or at least thinks he is.

“I think it was Rolf,” another voice replied. “He was bringing up the rear.”

“Rolf?” Harold shouted. “What is it?”

The Rebels knew that in all probability Rolf would never answer. Rolf had gotten too close to one of the perimeter guards and Rolf’s throat had been cut. The Rebels also knew that a very intense fire-fight was very likely only seconds away. Gloved hands tightened on weapons as assholes involuntarily puckered up. That goes with the game of war known as combat.

“Rolf?” Harold shouted. “Answer me.”

Only silence greeted Harold’s command: a very heavy and ominous hush from the dark woods.

Are you damn people blind? Ben thought. Can’t you see the outlines of the pickup trucks? What the hell is the matter with you? What kind of soldiers are you?

“Rolf’s just flat disappeared, Harold,” another voice was added to the growing confusion. “He ain’t nowhere to be found.”

“That’s impossible!”

“Well, come see for yourself, then!”

“Paul!” Harold shouted. “You boys see anything?”

“There isn’t a thing over here, Harold,” Paul shouted from across the gravel road that ran in front of the house. “No sign of nothing.”

You’ve probably got a Rebel not five feet from you, Ben thought, with no small degree of pride.

“Rolf, boy, you better answer me!” Harold shouted. “This is no time to be fooling around.”

Silence.

“Check it out, Jeff,” Harold ordered. “Take Willie with you. And you two be careful. I don’t like this.”

“Hey!” yet another voice was added. “What the hell is that?”

“What’s what?” Harold asked.

“What are those trucks doin’ back here?”

“Trucks?”

“Right there, Harold, tucked in close to the back of the house.”

As if on cue, Ben’s team opened up with automatic weapons fire. The night around the house and barn and from across the gravel road was pocked with sharp flashes of light as the stutter of CAR’s shattered the silence.

The screaming of wounded and dying men filled the night.

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