Valor in the Ashes by William W. Johnstone

Author:William W. Johnstone [Johnstone, William W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780786019656
Publisher: Pinnacle
Published: 1988-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 2

A flyby had been done of the route just hours before, just before dusk. The parkway was clear up to the George Washington Bridge. But from that point on, the way north was going to be rough: abandoned cars and trucks littered the parkway from the bridge all the way up to the Henry Hudson Bridge, that vital link between Manhattan and Bronx County. Two big

Abramses rolled as point, one a tank’s length behind the other; it would be their job to shove the rusted hulks of vehicles out of the way, clearing a path for the column.

The column had not been away from the staging area more than a minute before they were in bogie country, and the Night People were instantly aware that something very big was going down.

The Rebels came under fire almost immediately.

Cooper pulled over into the left lane and a Duster clanked up beside the Blazer, in the right lane, shielding the Blazer from hostile fire.

Ben opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. If he ordered the tank away, another would just take its place. And when he had gone through the tanks, deuce-and-a-halfs would fill the gap. Once again, his Rebels had worked out a plan to protect their general.

“We’re waiting for you to start bitching, General”

Beth spoke from the backseat.

“Would it do any good?”

“No, sir.”

All three of them had a laugh at the expression on Ben’s face. Ben finally smiled with them. It helped to ease the tension while the hostile fire cracked all around the column.

From the center of the column, Big Thumpers in the beds of trucks started hurling 40mm grenades.

With a range of 2400 yards (max effective range of 1650 yards) the 40mm Thumpers thumped the hell out of the buildings that housed the creepies.

Fifty-caliber machine guns (with a range of 2000 yards) began raking enemy-held buildings as the column sped up the parkway at max speed.

“It’s going to really get interesting once we’re past the bridge,” Ben said.

Beth glanced at a map, using a tiny flashlight to see. They still had a long way to go before reaching the bridge. And running this gauntlet was interesting enough for her.

They had just passed West 23rd.

Ben lifted his mike. “Thirtieth Street Terminal is full of creepies,” he alerted his people. “And so is the Javits Convention Center. That’s where the convoys take the heaviest fire. Heads up.”

“How far is that?” Jersey asked Beth.

“We’re there.”

The creepies opened up with everything they had available to them and kept up the barrage until the column crossed over the Lincoln Tunnel and the parkway changed to the West Side Highway.

“Four trucks disabled, General,” Beth told him. “Tires shot out. Orders?”

“Have the people double up. We can’t afford the time it would take to change the tires. We’ve got vehicles running out the kazoo.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Assign two Dusters as protection and slow the column speed down to thirty.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll take the mike from here, Beth.”

Ben lifted his mike. “All right, gunners.

We’re slowing our speed. Pick your targets and let “em bang.

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