"72nd Street," Greg whispered to Ben, as they crossed the street.

"I'm glad somebody knows where they are," Ben muttered.

Greg smiled at the remark and waved the others behind on across the street.

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153.

A couple more long blocks and they were at the waterfront, the Hudson River looming dark and ever-moving just ahead of them.

"What now?" Jeff whispered to Ben.

"We get a few hours sleep and then start looking. We can't search at night, so we'll have to risk daylight. We'll break up into two-person teams at first light. I know it's risky, but that's the only way I see to do it."

"They sure won't be expecting us during the day."

"That's my thinking."Ben assigned guards and then stretched out on the concrete of what remained of a warehouse and surprisingly dropped off to sleep within minutes. Babe shook him awake at 0400 hours.

"Everything quiet, general," the woman whispered. "Nothing has been moving out there."

"That's the way we like it."

The pre-dawn was filled with mist and fog when Ben awakened the others.

They wandered off for what privacy they could find for their toilet and then gathered around Ben. Ben broke them up into four teams of two each.

He made sure everyone had a map, a walkie-talkie, and knew where they would meet just before noon. They all said that from noon to dark was die most dangerous time, for the punks seemed to sleep late and then prowl all afternoon. Ben sent them out at 15-minute intervals, he and Judy the last ones to pull out.

' 'We're in real trouble if we don't find these boats, aren't we, Ben?"

"Let's put it this way-I don't want to be on this rock when the Rebels start their assault."

"But we've got five days to that, right?"

Ben smiled. "We've got about two and a half days, Judy. I lied."

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She looked at Ben for a moment, then returned the smile. "Then I guess we've better find those boats, Ben."

The gangs had left guards along the waterfront, but they were unevenly spaced and not located in every pier. They were also careless and not very attentive. During that morning's search, there were a least a dozen times when Ben could have silently taken out the guard. He let them live, for to kill them would have given away the survivors' presence.

Ben checked in with Cliff at 1000 hours and then called off the so-far fruitless search at 1130 hours that morning, telling the teams to hunt a hole for the day and stay put. The teams had worked their way down to Pier 97 with no luck. Ben sat off to himself in the ruins of a warehouse and studied a map of the waterfront.

"Too much territory and not enough time," he muttered. "We're not going to make it."

"You say something, Ben?" Judy asked, walking up.

"We've not going to make it." Ben folded his map. "Even if we found the boats on the last day, it would take too long to get the people over here. You know where we are; you know how much territory we've covered and how much we have to go. I think the best thing for us to do is head on back and get ready to ride it out."

"What are our chances, Ben?"

"Fifty-fifty. My people can pinpoint their targets. It's not the artillery we have to worry about. The punks may be lowlifes of the worstdegree, but they're not stupid. After a few hours they're sure to spot what area is being avoided. Then they'll come after us. They have nothing to lose."

"So now we... ?"

"Wait for dark and head on back. Unless you've got a better idea?"

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She shook her head and silently mouthed the word, No.

"Well, let's see what the others have to say about it."

The group took the news in silence. Babe cleared her throat and said, "What are the chances of our riding it out, general?"

"Just like I told Judy. About fifty-fifty. It's not the artillery, it's the punks. Once they figure out our gunners are deliberately avoiding a certain area, they'll come swarming in there."

"We could booby-trap the tunnel," Jeff suggested.

"Well, we could," Ben replied. "But on the other hand, if I were doing the searching, that would be a dead giveaway. But it's up to you folks."

"Let's head on back at dark," Paul suggested. "I don't think we could find where those boats are hidden if we had a month to look."

"I'm afraid I have to agree with you," Ben said. "That agreeable with everyone?"

It was.

"Let's get some rest then. We'll head back at dark."

Ben went outside and bumped Ike, breaking the news to him. Ben had figured out die exact location of the subway where the survivors were hiding, and gave it to him.

"I hate this, Ben. I'm going to be right up front with you."

"We don't have a choice in the matter, Ike. You try to assault this rock without first softening it up, we'll lose a lot of Rebel lives. We'll keep our heads down, you can be assured of that."

There was a few seconds pause from across the river. "Timetable still firm?"

"It's still 'go'."

"All right, Ben." There was resignation in Ike's voice. "You're callin'

the shots."

156.

"Eagle out."

Ben joined the others in the old warehouse, made sure everyone knewdieir guard assignments, and stretched out on the floor to get some rest. There was no point in worrying about whether they could make it through a bombardment. They had no choice in the matter.

There was not a Rebel who wouldn't willingly give his or her life in an attempt to rescue Ben. Ben knew that. But there was no way he would ever allow it.

They would ride out the assault, or they wouldn't Ben closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

The others took the news of the deaths of Bud and Joan stoically, a few shaking their heads in disgust. Then Ben told them about the upcoming artillery bombardment The survivors took that news just as unemotionally.

"Theoretically, my artillery people can pinpoint target* to within a few yards," Ben said, then paused and added very, very drily, "Theoretically. But we'll cut ourselves a bit more slack. I've ordered my people to keep the rounds from falling in this general area." He looked at his watch. "We've got about 50 hours to get ready for it Let's start boiling the water from that seepage we found and purifying it with chemicals. Start dividing up the rations into small packets that are easily carried by one person. That's in case we have to leave the tunnels and get separated up top." Or get lost in these tunnels that honeycomb the area, he thought, but didn't vocalize it. "I want everyone to have flashlights, extra batteries, candles, matches and a couple of packets of extra rations. Make sure your canteens are full; keep refilling them as you drink. The youngest and strongest of the men will each be assigned a child to look after. All right, people, let's start getting ready for my 158.

157.

people to get us off this rock." Or make our peace -with God before we die here, he silently added.

Ben eyes touched Judy's steady gaze, and knew she was thinking the same thing. He smiled and she returned the smile as she walked toward him in the candlelit cave.

"You and me?" she asked softly.

"You and me," Ben replied.

159 Sixteen Ben and the others did what they could to prepare for the assault, and then there was nothing else to do but wait. For many, that was the hardest part of all.

Then one morning, while many still slept, the ground above them began to rumble. The assault on the ruins of Manhattan was on.

Ben ordered all fires put out. Even though the huge cave had a natural ventilation system, the smoke filtering out through tiny cracks in the stone high above the floor, Ben did not want any telltale odor of smoke or food to linger in the old subway tunnel. He left a few of the candlesburning, for he knew that utter darkness would only exacerbate an already bad situation for the adults, and besides, it would scare the children even worse than they already were.

The bombardment continued unabated for 24 hours. Ben knew that P-51Es were also dropping high-explosive 160.

and napalm on the city, and that the ruins of the city were burning.

During the middle of the afternoon on the second day of the artillery assault, the guards in the tunnel came rushing into the cave.

"The punks are all over the place," Mike panted the words. "Searching every grate and vent. They're removing the bars and really looking inside, general."

The grate over the opening, Ben knew, was held in place by only two bolts. Once the punks saw that, it would be all over. "How much time do we have?"

"They're moving slow. I'd say an hour."

"All right, Mike," he said. "Get the people out of here and past the rubble in the tunnel, toward the next station south. Just as we planned.

Enforce noise discipline. Good luck."

One by one, the survivors quickly moved out. The children sensed danger and were silent. They were wide-eyed and frightened, but quiet.

The last of the survivors had left the cave and was out of sight down the old tracks when Ben saw the flashlight and torches of the punks heading their way. He and Judy were the last ones in the cave.

"Little late for us, Judy," he said calmly. "Any ideas?"

"I'm with you, Ben."

"I hate to say it, but it looks like we fall back into one of those smaller caves."

"People go in those caves and don't come back out, Ben."

"You have a better idea, my dear?"

She smiled at the "my dear," and shook her head. "I guess not."

"Pick one."

They were both wearing heavy packs. She turned slowly and pointed. "That one."

161.

"Let's go."

They were deep into the cave when the punks were pulling the grate loose from the concrete wall of the tunnel.Ben carried a small rock and used it to cut a mark into the right side of the cave every few dozen steps.

"What are you doing?" Judy asked.

"Making sure we can find our way out of here. Coming back, the marks will be on our left. Remember that Be quiet and count your steps."

The punks entered the cave but only for a few moments. They soon gave up the search and returned to die main cavern, wanting no part of die dark, twisty tunnel.

After a half hour, Ben called a halt. "They're not following us. We don't need to go any further."

They rested in die darkness and sipped water.

"You think you can find your way out of this mess, Ben?"

"Yes, I do. There were only three offshoots to this main cave on die way here. Two on our left, one to die right. Going back diey'll be reversed.

Just remember diat And die caves are well vented; no problem widi air."

She told him the number of steps diey had taken.

"We didn't go far. About a quarter of a mile. I'm no spelunker, Judy. I hate caves. But just don't panic. I had a cave explorer tell me one time."

"I hate die darkness. I can't see my hand in front of my face. I want to light a candle or somediing."

"No. The punks would smell die candle burning and we don't dare use flashlights for fear of reflection. Try to get some sleep."

"The cave floor is cold, Ben."

"So is the grave. Be quiet and go to sleep."

After 12 hours, Ben had had all die cave he could take, and knew that Judy was about to come unglued. They bodi 162.