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

"All right, Gene. Thanks. You go on over to the MASH tent. Get checked out."

"There's more, General. I'd like to tell you all of it." "Sure, Gene.
Sure. You want some coffee?" The old Rebel shook his head. "No, thank
you, sir. I can wait. It's gonna be a real bitch, sir. A lot of the
people who came across the border are pretty decent people. Many of them
helped us along the way, until the Rebel patrols found us. The people
shared what food they had with us, comforted the young. They were told,
by someone-that's a little vague-that the Rebels wouldn't open fire on
them. Well, at first our people didn't. But then they had to. Many of
those in the front wanted to turn back, but the punks and thugs and
criminals were all in the rear, and when some of the decent types wanted
to retreat, their own people, supposedly their own people, fired on
them, forcing them on. The Rebels didn't kill and wound as many as first
thought. Many of the men and women were shot in the back by the punks
and thugs. The people were lied to, General. Many were told that you and
President Blanton had reached an agreement to open up the borders of the
SUSA, and that they'd be welcomed. They really

43

43

got suckered." Gene's eyes found Anna and smiled. "Who's this, General?"

"That's a little waif I picked up over in Europe, Anna. I couldn't get
rid of her, so I said 'what the hell,' and adopted her."

"Got a mean look in those pretty eyes, General."

"She's been on her own since age five, fighting to survive."

"That'll put some meanness in a person, for sure. I'll get on over to
the medics. Doctor Chase with you?"

"No. That old grouch is about thirty or so miles behind this column."

Gene looked around him. "New faces. A lot of the old bunch is gone,
General."

"Yes." Ben's reply was softly offered. "Yes, they are. Buried all over
the world."

"Is it ever going to stop, General?"

"Truthfully, I doubt it. At least not in our lifetime. Too many people
hate us."

Gene nodded his head in understanding and agreement. "We've got room for