"William W Johnstone - Ashes 22 - Chaos in the Ashes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

24

Ben met Ike's eyes. "That's the problem. I don't have one."

Ben was stymied and he would be the first to admit it. He worked up and
then rejected a dozen plans over the weeks while he waited for all his
people and equipment to be made ready.

But when everything was ready, his people sitting on "Go," Ben still did
not have a plan.

Mike Richards, the Rebels' Chief of Intelligence, had hit the road
moments after his plane touched down right behind Ben's, and he and half
a dozen of his spooks had vanished into the countryside.

Just as Ben was planning to tear his umpteenth plan to shreds, Mike
casually strolled into the CP, pulled a mug of coffee, and sat down.

"So nice to see you," Ben said drily.

"Thanks," Mike said with a small smile. "Good to be back."

Ike walked in, shook hands with Mike, and then took a chair.

Mike took a sip of coffee, set the mug down, and said, "Billy Smithson
is dead. What was the free state of Missouri is now in the hands of rabble."

"Damn!" Ben said. "That explains why we haven't been able to contact him."

"Both President Blanton and his wife were wounded. They're going to be
all right, but it will be some time. They're in Canada ... or what used
to be Canada. Parts of that country blew up, too."

"Does Homer need any help?" Ike asked.

Mike shook his head. "No. They're safe and well-

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protected. But the Joint Chiefs are dead. All of them. National Security
Council-such as it was-dead. Most senators and representatives were
caught in session in the capital. They're dead. We have no government.
None."

"What started it, Mike?" Ben asked.

"It was a well-planned coup, engineered by the old left wing of the
President's party. Many of whom were voted out of office a decade back