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

тАЬNo, Lowry,тАЭ Admiral Calland continued, тАЬthe Rebels have no beef with us, and we have none with
them. Their beef is with you and Cody and Hartline and your high-handed police state and your
dictatorial powers..."

тАЬYou can't speak to me like that!тАЭ Lowry shouted.

тАЬThe hell I can't!тАЭ the admiral barked. тАЬNow you deck your ass back in that chair and listen to me! You
federalized the police without consulting the people. You stripped them of their weapons. You put into
effect a no-knock policy that has the citizens terrified in their own homes. You've beefed up the police
and hired a goddamn mercenary army. You've sent spies and informants into every state. You've created
confusion and suspicion and fear among the people who pay your salary and mine. Everything you and
Cody are doingтАФand much of what was done by LoganтАФis in direct violation of the constitution. It
shouldn't come as any shock that the people support Ben Raines."

General Franklin took it. тАЬWho is running this country, Mr. Vice President, you or Addison?"

тАЬThe Congress put Addison in office, now they are disenchanted with him. But he can remain as a
figurehead."

тАЬSo much for democracy,тАЭ Admiral Barstow said.

тАЬThese are trying times, gentlemen,тАЭ Cody said, speaking in controlled tones. тАЬBut we are making strides
toward a return to normalcy. I don't have to tell you men why we took the guns from the citizens; but
perhaps you do need a reminder: half-baked cults and orders were popping up all over the nation. We
did it to hold this Union together..."

тАЬHorseshit!тАЭ General Franklin said. тАЬYou did it ... andyou did it, gentlemen, you and Cody, so you could
sit up here in Richmond like some fat cat East Indian potentate and rule the people without fear of them
kicking you out."

тАЬI resent that, General,тАЭ Lowry said.

тАЬI don't give a shit what you resent,тАЭ the Marine replied. тАЬListen to me, boysтАФlisten to us,тАЭ he waved his
hand, indicating the other brass. тАЬWe will not be a part of any civil war. We will not have our men split
apart like the Blue and the Gray.тАЭ He looked at his fellow chiefs of staff. They nodded in agreement.
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VP Lowry was seething inwardly but he managed to smile at the brass. тАЬAll right, gentlemen. We'll crush
Ben Raines and his Rebels. It would have been easier with your help, but we'll manage without it. Thank
you for your continuing vigilance in guarding our shores. That will be all."

His sarcasm was not lost on the military leaders.

When Lowry was once more alone with Cody, the VP said, тАЬGet with Senator Slate and Representative
Tyler. Get a bill through restricting what the press can report. Full censorship, if possible. All material
must be cleared byour people. And, Al ... crush the Rebels. I don't care how you and Hartline do