"William W. Johnstone - Ashes 02 - Fire In the Ashes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

тАЬJeb Fargo and his bunch tried their hand against Ben Raines,тАЭ the senior agent reminded his boss. тАЬYou
know where that got them. Dead."

тАЬAnd Kenny Parr,тАЭ Cody recalled. He sighed. тАЬThey are terrorists, Tommy. That's how we have to look
at the Rebels. Break them, Tommy. Just do it."

Al Cody got in his car, tapped the driver on the shoulder, and drove away into the still-rainy night.

тАЬYes, sir,тАЭ Tommy Levant said softly. тАЬBut I don't have to like it."
****

The FBI of the late 1990s bore no resemblance to the crime-fighting Bureau of old. They were more an
anti-guerrilla unit than an anti-crime organization. Organized crime, per se, was practically nonexistent;
the bombings of 1988 had seen to thatтАФworldwide.

The Bureau had men and women working on cases involving murder and rape and extortion and
government-related criminal cases, but by and large they were pitted against Ben Raines and his Rebels.

And the men and women who made up the new FBI were not the highly educated and dedicated
personnel of old. The bombings had not only changed the face of the United States, but had drastically
altered the lifestyles of its remaining citizens. Factories and shops were once more rolling and producing,
yes, but life was still a struggle for many of the survivors. Just putting bread and meat and potatoes on the
table was an effort for many citizens ... not just in the United States but worldwide.

The government, in the eyes of many, was failing the citizens. Ben Raines, on the other hand, had carved
a working, workable, enjoyable, and productive society out of nothing and had done it in practically no
time.

Why? asked the citizens. Why can't this government do the same?

But government chose not to answer thatтАФnot to the satisfaction of the questioners. For if the
government were to reply truthfully, that would reveal to the citizens that big government really didn't
workтАФand had not in years. One senator had glumly stated that Ben Raines's form of government was
so simple it was complex...
****

In Tri-States, the people were pulled together for many reasons: to conserve energy, to stabilize
government, for easier care, and to afford more land for the production of crops, as well as to afford
better protection for the people in health care, police, fire, and social services.

The elderly, for the first time in their lives, were looked after with care and concern and respect. They
were not grouped together and forgotten and ignored. Careful planning went into the population centers
of Tri-States. People of all age groups were carefully grouped together in housing and apartments. The
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elderly who wished to work and could work, were encouraged to do so. They could work until they