Ashes - Battle In The Ashes Part 25

"Do you hear me, you burr-head?" Wink shouted.

Ben and his team were gathered in the shade of a lovely old tree, having lunch, drinking coffee, and monitoring 278.

the conversation. And immensely enjoying every word of it.

Moi got his volatile temper under control and keyed the mic. "Are you suggesting that I actually link up with you and that pack of morons you command?"

"I d.a.m.n sure ain't whistlin' Dixie!" He turned to an aide. "That is one dumb n.i.g.g.e.r over there."

"Praise Allah for small favors," Moi muttered. "And then what, Wink?""Well, h.e.l.l, you dumb gorilla-we fight Ben Raines and whip the b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Then when it's over you stay on your side of the line and we'll stay on ours."

Moi then knew he was attempting to converse with a lunatic. Raines'

Rebels had just proven themselves over an army of about one hundred and fifty thousand, seasoned combat veterans. And now Wink Payne, self-proclaimed preacher and all around flake, actually thought he could defeat Ben Raines' personal battalion of Rebels. Moi knew from months of monitoring open Rebel frequencies, that the First Battalion of the Rebel Army was comprised of the toughest, hardest, and meanest men and women who ever wore the black beret of the Rebels.

"Well, are you gonna answer me, or not, you ape?" Wink yelled.

Moi keyed the mic. "Are you listening, Ben Raines?"

Corrie handed Ben the mic. "Oh, yes, Charles," Ben said. "I'm listening."

Wink Payne was sudden rendered speechless, something quite novel for the man.

"My name is Moi Sambura!" Charles/Moi yelled.

"Your name is Charles Washington," Ben replied. "Your father was a well known and highly respected scientist 279.

and your mother an educator at a very prestigious university in New York State. You hold a PhD. You founded the Back to Africa movement just before the great war. The way you, and your people, choose to live, peacefully, is of no concern to me, Charles. But peacefully is the key word. I won't tolerate closed borders in this country. Not for me, not for you, not for any group. How you dress, how you worship, is strictly your business. None of mine. You open your borders and stop ha.s.sling whites, and we're out of here. That's a stone cold promise."

Moi looked at the speaker for a moment. "Brothers and Sisters in the Rebel Army. Arise and kill the white devils around you!" Moi screamed the words.

A black Rebel squad leader, who was resting on the ground, opened his eyes. "That is sure one loudmouthed mother-f.u.c.ker."

"Is that your answer?" Ben asked.

Silence greeted his words.

"Moi," Ben said. "Listen to me. Neither you nor Payne has a chance. But it doesn't have to be this way. The killing can stop right now. Keep your weapons, you know how I feel about Americans having the right to be armed. Keep your nation intact. Call it what you wish. Let's just stop the hostilities."

"I hate that son of a b.i.t.c.h!" Moi said, after Ben's words sank in.

An older man on Moi's staff asked, "Why, Moi? What has Ben Raines ever done to you? He's certainly never done anything to me."Moi stood silently, trembling with rage. He didn't just hate Ben Raines.

He hated all white people just as deeply as Wink Payne hated all black people. Neither 280.

Moi nor Wink had ever learned that there are good and bad among all people, and that color has nothing to do with what is in a person's heart.

"How 'bout me and my people, Raines?" Wink screamed into his mic. "You goin' to give us the same offer you just give to that n.i.g.g.e.r?"

Ben sat in his camp chair for a long, silent moment. Then he sighed and lifted the mic. "Yes, Wink. I am. Can you and your followers live in peace with people of color?"

"That depends on the people of color, Raines."

"Interesting answer," Ben said to his team. "I wonder if he realizes just how profound it was?"

"You expect me to live side by side with that ignorant Cracker, Raines?"

Moi shouted the words.

Ben recalled Cecil Jefferys' words: "Only the best and the brightest and the mentally toughest will survive, Ben. Sooner or later we'll have to deal with the stragglers and the outcasts and the ones who hate for no good reason."

Ben slowly lifted the mic and spoke calmly and carefully. "Yeah, Moi, I do. And the same goes for you, Wink. I'm going to call a cease-fire for the rest of the day. It'll stay in effect until 0600 tomorrow. You two get together and talk this over. See if you can find some common ground.

Canvas your people; see what they have to say about it. If the two of you can't work something out, at one minute past six in the morning, I'll blow you all right straight to h.e.l.l."

"How about our women and kids?" Wink asked.

"They can leave anytime they choose. They will not be harmed."

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Moi tossed the mic to the table and stalked out of the room.

Wink handed the mic to his operator and sat down, his face mirroring the man's inner fury.

"Too much hate between those two," Jersey said. "It isn't going to work, General."

"I don't think it will either," Ben replied. "But at least we can say we tried."

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Chapter Eleven.By the middle of the afternoon, women and kids began leaving the contested areas, a few elderly people with them."Corrie, tell our medical people to treat the very young and the very old," Ben said. "The rest of them can go to h.e.l.l."

"One of Moi's people to see you," Cooper said.

"Show him in."

"Moi will never agree to your terms, General," the white-haired black man told Ben.

"Then he's got a problem."

"Black and white will never get along, is that it, General?" the elderly man asked.

"No, that isn't it. That is probably true with Moi and Wink, but the rest of us can, if we work at it."

"Suppose we just want to live alone?"

"Fine," Ben told him. "Just do so in peace with open borders. But if you want any help from us, you'll have to abide by Rebel law. And don't tell me that I owe you anything. I don't owe you a d.a.m.n thing."

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The old man chuckled. "I can remember when my people weren't allowed to vote."

"I guess we've come full circle then. Because none of us are voting now.

And probably won't for a long time."

The man held out a part of his robe. "You should try one of these.

They're really quite comfortable."

"It is your right to wear it, and my right to think they look silly as h.e.l.l. But I don't have the right to taunt you for wearing it. Do we understand each other?"

"Quite," the elderly man said. "I am free to go?"

"Mister, you are probably the most free you have ever been in your life." Ben paused. "Most free?" he muttered. He shrugged. "It'll do."

The old black man stared hard at him for a moment. "You must realize that Moi and his hardcore followers will fight to the death."

"It won't be a very long fight," Ben a.s.sured him.

"And his death won't bother you?"

"Not in the least."

"You have to be the hardest man I have ever met, General Raines."

"You might be surprised just how much compa.s.sion I have in me, Mr.

Whatever Your Name Is. But since I'm the one who can give it or withhold it, it's up to me to decide who gets it. And Wink Payne and Moi Sambura, I a.s.sure you, are not on the list." Ben pointed to a chair. "Sit down.You want some coffee?"

"Real coffee?"

"Yes. What is your name?"

"Franklin Sharp. And yes, I would like some coffee. It's been years."

Ben hollered for a fresh pot of coffee and it was there in half a minute.

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The elderly man sighed contentedly after the first sip. "That is so good. I had forgotten how good." He smiled at Ben. "Are you surprised I did not take a Muslim name?"

"d.a.m.n little surprises me anymore, Mr. Sharp."

"Mr. Sharp? How odd to hear a white man say that."

"You're my elder and you're polite to me. Why shouldn't I be polite to you?"

Franklin smiled and sipped. "Moi had us believing you were a Negro-hating devil."

"Moi is as much a racist as is Wink. Negro?" Ben asked. "Not black or African-American."

"After years of being called boy and n.i.g.g.e.r, when it got to Negro, that was quite good enough for me. Not all of us are black, I'm certainly not, so I don't care to be called black, although it doesn't offend me in the least. As for African-American, that's rather a mouthful when faced with a long day of conversation."

Ben laughed. "Next thing you're going to tell me is that you're a Baptist."

"Actually, I'm Episcopalian, and have been for many, many years."

"You look tired, Mr. Sharp. Have you eaten today?"

"Ah ... not since breakfast."

"Well, drink your coffee and I'll have some food sent in. Then we'll let the doctors check you over."

"That's kind of you. But might I trouble you for one more little item?"

"Sure."

Franklin Sharp smiled and said, "You wouldn't happen to have a couple of pairs of Levis that would fit me, would you?"

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"That old man is really something," Cooper said. It was late and the camp was quiet.

"Which old man, Coop?" Ben asked, turning down the lantern on his desk and closing a journal."Mr. Sharp. He was a college professor when the war came. He's just full of stories. He asked if the Rebels would accept a Negro as a teacher?"

"Well, of course, we do. You told him that, didn't you?"

"Yes, sir. He was sure surprised. You know, General, we have a really bad reputation. There are a lot of d.a.m.n lies being spread about us."

"For sure, Coop. Mr. Sharp wants to come live with us at Base Camp One, huh?"

"Yes, sir."

"He's sure welcome."

"I like him," Jersey said. And Jersey didn't have many kind words for a lot of people. "I think he's a nice old man who ought to be able to live and work in peace. And he probably knows a lot, too."

"He might not be so friendly to us after we start killing Moi's followers," Ben put a damper on their spirits. "You all had better think about that."

"He's kind of sad about that," Cooper said. "But he told me Moi was wrong in doing what he did and should have taken your offer of peace."

Ben looked at his watch. "He's got eight hours to reach a decision.

After that I'll make up his mind for him."