"William W Johnstone - Ashes 32 - Destiny in the Ashes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

Maybe he'll have mercy on you and slow down."

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"Thanks," Mike said sarcastically as he jumped down to the pavement.

Ben was jogging in place, until Mike got next to him; then he started
down the street again, not waiting to see if Mike was coming.

Jodie, impatient to run full out, bounded ahead with a joyful bark,
diverting off the street briefly to scare the living daylights out of a
nearby squirrel.

"What's so important you risk breaking into a sweat to tell me?" Ben
asked, breathing easily though his fatigues were damp with sweat.

"Things are getting worse in the USA," Mike said between puffs. "There's
widespread starvation among the more rural population, the government
has no money for even the most basic essential services, and there are
shortages of almost everything throughout the country."

Ben gave a short laugh. "Hah. When will the eggheads who advocate
socialistic types of government ever admit it just doesn't work? People,
especially Americans, just won't put up with giving all their
hard-earned money to others who refuse to work out of pure laziness."

Mike nodded, his breath beginning to come harder now. "That's not all,"
he gasped.

Ben glanced to the side, grinned, and slowed his pace to not much more
than a fast walk.

"I think I'll issue orders that senior officers start attending
physical-training exercises again," Ben said. "I can see that my staff
is getting seriously out of shape."

Mike rolled his eyes, but the pain in his side prevented him from answering.

"Well, what else did you have?" Ben asked.

"We have information that a band of terrorists has crossed into the U.S.
from Canada."

"Do we know who?"

"Remember what I said about the situation in Iraq the other day?"

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