277.

277.

We'll be a few hours behind him. Now, then. I'm going to make one more attempt to talk some sense into Simon Border. And Corrie, after you've bumped Buddy, see if you can raise that... so-called man of God."

"For all the good it will do," she added.

"Right-Buddy's battalion on the move, both Ben and Corrie were surprised when Simon came on the horn. "What do you want, Raines?"

"To try to convince you that I just want to clear your territory without a fight, Simon."

"You made your bed, Raines. Now lie in it."

"Not too original," Ben muttered. He keyed the mic. "We don't have to fight each other, Simon. It isn't going to accomplish anything."

"I shall be rid of you, Raines. One less plague upon God's earth."

"Simon, your stubbornness is going to get a lot of people killed."

"My people do not fear death, Raines. They know a better life awaits them beyond the veil."

"I believe that, too, Simon."

There was a few seconds pause before Simon again spoke. "You believe in life after death, Raines?"

"Certainly I do. I've been washed in die blood."

"I find that hard to believe. Why did you turn your back on God and embrace the devil?""I didn't, Simon. There are churches all over the SUSA.''

"Which one do you attend?"

"I don't, Simon," Ben answered truthfully. "I worship God in my own way."

"I knew you were a heathen, Raines."

"Oh, me," Ben sighed. He opened the mic. "Simon, call off your troops before it's too late. Once they engage us, we'll have no choice but to fight."

278.

William W. Johnstme "A state of war now exists between us, Raines, If you want to avoid bloodshed, I will, of course, accept your unconditional surrender."

"The man is a fool," Cooper said.

"His yoyo definitely has a short string," Ben agreed, and his team laughed at his expression. "Simon, surrender is out of the question. Why not just let us leave your, ah, country?"

"You started this, Raines. Now I shall finish it."

"I'd have more luck talking to a fence post," Ben muttered. "You won't even discuss our leaving peacefully, Simon?"

There was no response. Ben tried again. Nothing. Simon had broken off.

"All right," Ben said, resignation in his voice. "Simon wants a fight, we'll give him one. Let's roll, people. We've got to get set up."

Several hours later, Corrie called, "Twenty miles and closing."

Ben glanced at his watch. "It'll be about two o'clock when Simon's troops come into range."

"They're within range now, sir!" Jackie Malone said.

"Our range, Jackie," Ben corrected. "I want them in close and for them to open this dance. I will not be the aggressor."

"Yes, sir."

Ben looked around. "Where is Emil?"

"With Jim Peters's 14 Batt," Corrie answered. "Jim told Emil if he tried to slip off or pull anything stupid, he'd shoot him on the spot."

"That should keep Emil quiet for awhile. He's about half scared of Jim.

Corrie, give the orders-body armor on. I want everybody in full protective gear. Absolutely no exceptions."

279.

279"You think this is going to end up eyeball-to-eyeball?" Jersey asked.

"It's possible. If Simon's people are as fanatical as we've been led to believe, they might try a human wave attack."

"If they do," Beth said softly, "this is going to be a damn slaughter."

"Yes, it will, Beth. They've got to come across several miles of flats out there." He shook his head. "It's all so stupid and poindess."

"Are diose people about to attack us really Christians, boss?" Cooper asked.

' 'Well, I guess so, Coop,'' Ben replied after a few seconds' pause.

"What am I saying? Sure they're Christians. But they've taken their faith to the extreme. They've been suckered by a charlatan named Simon Border. And now they're going to die for Simon Border," he added softly.

"Fifteen miles and closing," Corrie reported.

"Is Buddy's battalion in position?"

"Ready to close the pinchers."

"Can you contact the commander of the..." he sighed. "Enemy column?"

"Negative. I've been trying. They refuse to respond."

"Scouts say they have 105s?"

"Affirmative. Both 155s and 105s, towed."

"The 155s have a range of approximately 20,000 yards," Beth said. "The 105s have a maximum range of 16,000 yards. That is using conventional rounds."

"I would be very surprised if Simon's people have rocket-assisted artillery rounds," Ben said.

"We have no intel indicating they do," Beth replied.

Ben rolled a cigarette and waited. Someone handed him a mug of coffee and he was so deep in thought he dianked them widiout even looking around to see who it was.

"Range ten miles," Corrie said.

"Five more miles and they'll start throwing the big boys 280.

William W.Johnstone at us," Ben said. "When the first enemy rounds land, we open up with everything we can throw at them. Give that order, Corrie."

"Yes, sir."

The minutes and the miles rolled by, the column drew closer.

"Five miles and closing," Corrie said."No sign of their artillery breaking off and setting up?"

"No, sir."

"What the hell's wrong with that commander? We're going to be looking down each other's throats in a few minutes."

Several more minutes ticked by before Corrie announced, "Range, approximately three miles. The column is stopping and setting up."

"They wanted close enough in to use their mortars," Ben said. "They're going to throw everything they have at us. Tell the scouts to pull back out of incoming and act as forward observers."

"They're using 155s and 105s and they're worried about mortars?" Cooper asked. "Doesn't make sense to me."

"I don't believe Simon has many combat-experienced people, Coop. I think he's depending on sheer numbers to defeat us."

"Crazy," Cooper said. "This is a crazy, stupid war. It's so ...

unnecessary."

"It's necessary for Simon, Coop," Ben replied. "He has to show his people his way is the only way, and the best way to do that is to defeat us."

"But he can't defeat us, boss."

"Not in die long run, Coop. But we're going to take some heavy losses before we begin to turn the tide. This is not going to be some easy win for us. As accustomed as we are to that."

282.

281.

The first incoming round exploded far short of the first line of Rebels.

"Fire!" Ben said. "And may God be looking the other way during the course of this war."

283.

At first the battle appeared to be another wholesale slaughter. Ben's gunners were dropping in rounds with almost pinpoint accuracy and Buddy's people had opened up with machine gun fire from the ridges on either side of the enemy column, raking Simon's troops with deadly fire.

Finally the commanders of Simon's troops got the message and ordered a retreat from that pretty little deadly valley. Ben let them go.

"All units cease firing," he ordered. "Let's get out of here while we can."

But if it took an hour and a half to set up, it took an hour and a half to break down and get back on the move.

"Scouts report that Simon's troops are circling around and preparing for a counterattack," Corrie said."You have got to be kidding!"

"No, sir."

"Can Buddy's people hold them back?"

"No, sir."

284.

"No?"

"The enemy appears to be preparing a human wave charge."

"They're crazy, boss!" Cooper said.

"Are we ready to go?" Ben asked.

"Ready to mount up."

"Tell Buddy to get the hell out of there. Everybody mount up and roll."

"We're bugging out?" Beth asked.

"You're damn right we are."

"Batt corns are requesting orders," Corrie pressed him.

"Bug out, Corrie. Head south for 1-10."

"Too late, sir. Here they come. It's a human wave charge."

"What the hell is that sound?" Cooper asked. "Sounds like music."

Ben listened for a moment, then shook his head. "It's 'Onward Christian Soldiers.' That used to be my very favorite song. They're pushing it through loudspeakers."

' 'Fifteen hundred yards and closing," Corrie said.' 'Hundreds and hundreds of them, boss."