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

convincing her she should soak the ankle in a nearby creek.

She had been in college in Maryland when the bombs hit. She'd been sick for a week. The whole
experience had been тАЬGross, man. The absolute pits."

They had talked the afternoon away, and she came to trust him. That night, she came to his bed, young
and coltish and smelling of soap, fresh from her bath.

They had traveled the country, growing fonder of each other. But she had told him she would leave
when she felt the time was right, тАШcause right now, he thought she was cute; but that cute would get old
pretty damn quick, she thought.

He had taught her as much as he could in their time togetherтАФteaching her, he hoped, to survive.

тАЬBut,тАЭ he had told her, тАЬit might help improve your shooting if you would open your eyes."

He had left her just south of Chapel Hill.

He still had the letter she had written him.
****

The agents walked blindly into a murderous ambush at the Air Force base. As they deplaned, they
thought nothing of the Air Police sitting around the airport in Jeeps. The M-16s in their hands and the
M-60 and .50-caliber machine guns mounted on the Jeeps were nothing out of the ordinary. The agents
paid little attention to them.

They also paid little attention to the AF captain and sergeant who boarded the plane when the last agent
got off.
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The pilot felt the cold steel of a .45 pistol pressing into his neck. He did not turn around. He just listened
to the low voice explain how it was his option whether to live or die.

тАЬJust keep your cool, Captain,тАЭ the Rebel told him. тАЬYou're not going to be on the ground very long."

The pilot fought to keep his nerves steady as heavy gunfire ripped the late afternoon. The screaming of
the agents churned his guts and tied them into soft knots. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at his
copilot. He, too, had a pistol shoved into his neck.

тАЬYour wife's name is Loraine,тАЭ the Rebel told him. тАЬYour copilot's wife is Betty. Right now, they're safe;
fuck up, and you'll never see them again."

That was a high bluff. The Rebels had no intention of harming any innocent person; but the pilots didn't
need to know that.

Outside the plane, the gunfire was still intense.