He smiled. It was a good plan.
Chapter.
Twelve.
"Sneaky, Ben," Ike said. "Real sneaky.
But it's risky, buddy."
"I know. But I've already sent for Cecil and his battalion. There is an airstrip here"-he punched the map-"just a few miles from Big Lake.
The strip is big enough to handle twin-engined cargo planes. Cecil's bunch will slip into position along the southeast side. Dan, your bunch will takethe north side, forming the top of the triangle. My people will be in position on the west side, forming the west angle of the scalene. When the IPF people enter, then I'll close the box. If we do this right, we can really cut the odds down."
"I like it," Dan said. "It's dirty and mean."
He looked at Ike and grinned.
"You would," Ike said with a grunt and a grin. "But then, so do I."
"Get your people into position and out of sight. For a fact, Striganov is going to make some fly-bys in recon aircraft."
"And start transmitting between the outposts we've captured?" Ike asked.
"Right. But warn your operators not to make it too obvious. Just chitchat. Lots of Rebels between 101 and Interstate five to the south. Lots of people at the border. We're waiting for fresh troops to arrive. But it's lonely as hell at Big Lake. Keep it simple and plain. Let drop once or twice that we've got two platoons at Big Lake. I don't really know Striganov's mind-no one knows another's mind-but if I were in his boots, I'd send at least a full battalion into the Big Lake area, just to be on the safe side. What do you people think?"
"Just to add a bit of spice to the tea," Dan said, "I would suggest a conversation or two about some green troops mixed in with the regulars at Big Lake. Since it's so isolated, and the danger of attack so slim, that would be a good place for new troops."
"Yes," Ben said. "Good idea. But not too obvious with it."
"Right, sir!" the Englishman said cheerfully.
"I like it," Ike said.
"Move out," Ben ordered.
"I don't like it worth a shit!" Sam Hartline said.
"State your objections," Striganov said.
"You can't trust that goddamned Ben Raines!
I'm tellin' you, Georgi, he's pulling some crap on us. It's not like him to put up with all this bragging his people are doing on the air. It's like ...
well, he's trying to goad us into doing something stupid."
"Oh, I agree with that. But you've listened to all the tapes we've made. Someone put a stop to any mention of those green troops at Big Lake.
Raines, I'd wager."
Hartline sat back down and calmed himself, mentally, silently, going over Striganov's plan. It had merit, he was forced to admit that.
But Hartline felt he knew Ben Raines far better than Striganov did. He should, he thought, hiding a smile, for the two men were alike in a lot, well, some ways. "What are you thinking, Sam?"
"A mixed bag of thoughts, Georgi. I'll admit that I like most of your plan. All right, then, we'll have a go at it."
"I'll order recon teams in and we'll do a fly-by. Tomorrow morning all right?"
"Fine."
The Rebels had worked furiously all day and well into the night. Teams had begun arriving at the Big Lake site only a few hours after the meeting of Ben, Ike, and Dan had broken up.
Cecil and his reserve battalion had landed and were digging in along the eastern borders of Big Lake.
Machine gun emplacements, mortar pits, and bunkers were almost finished. Booby traps were being laid out; Claymores were going into place.
Artillery was anchored and camouflaged.
And then they waited.
Ro and Wade had received their orders. It was up to them and their young charges to see that no member of the attacking IPF forces made it past the triangle's northern angle alive. At the Big Lake site, Ben watched the young boys and girls of the woods-children as they received their orders.
If there was any fear in them, they did not allow it to show on their faces. They stood impassively.
And it almost broke Ben's heart.
Ike was standing by Ben's side; he picked up on his friend's silent feelings.
"I don't like it any more than you do, buddy," he said. "But if they didn't receive an assignment, they'd go off on their own and maybe get mauled."
"You and me, Ike, we've seen a lot together.
But I'll be damned if I've ever seen anything to compare with this sight."
"Kids have fought in every war since the beginning of time, Ben." He sighed, a sign of frustration.
Dan joined them. "Those children should be in school. This should be the happiest times of their lives."
Ben glanced at him, smiling. "Do you want to be the one to order them out of here?"
Dan grunted, remembering when he had first encountered the woods-children. He had offered one little sweet-looking girl of about nine or ten a candy bar. The child had bitten his hand to the bone, kicked him in the shins, grabbed his AK-47, and took off into the timber, leaving Dan hopping around on one foot, cussing.
"Thank you, but no!"
he said flatly.
Ben and Ike managed to contain their laughter, both of them knowing what Dan was thinking. Dan had lost his cool. Ben's eyes found a little girl, standing by herself, apart from the other children.
Her carbine was almost as tall as she was. But he had absolutely no doubt that she could, and had, used it. And used it expertly, too.
He left Ike and Dan and walked to the child. As he approached, he could see the fear build in hereyes.
Goddammit! he silently cursed. Why are these children afraid of me?
But he knew.
And knew that he must, at all costs, put a halt to the myths that were growing daily about him.
But how?
He knelt in front of her. "I'm Ben Raines."
"Yes, General, I know," the girl said, her voice small in the great living cathedral that was the wilderness.
"Call me Ben."
She shook her head. "That is not permitted."
"Nonsense! If I permit it, who can challenge it?" Wrong way to go, Ben, he cautioned. But it was too late; he had said it.
She shook her head, not replying.
"What is your name, girl?"
"Lora."
"All right, Lora. How old are you?"
"I ... think I have eleven years."
Jesus God! Ben thought. Eleven years old and a warrior. "Your parents?"
She shook her head.
"Brothers, sisters?"
"I ... think I had some. But they're dead, I'm sure."
"Lora, how would you like a job?"
"A job? But I have a job."
"What?"
"Fighting for you."
"Yes, well ..." Ben cleared his throat and shifted his weight. Damn bad knee was beginning to ache. "I have another job for you. I'd like for you to be my aide."
"I don't know what that means."
"Well, it would be a very important job. I wouldn't ask just anyone to do it. You would assist me; be with me-most of the time," he added. "Would you like that?"
"Yes, General."
"Call me Ben."
She shook her head.
"Well, we'll... work on that part of it." He stood up. Immediately his knee felt better. He held out his hand and Lora slipped her small, and very dirty, hand into it.
Ben and Lora walked to Dan and Ike. "This is Lora." Ben said. "She's going to be my aide."
"Sure she can handle it?" Ike said straight-faced, looking at Ben. "That's a high-falutin' job."
"Oh, quite," Dan said. "Very responsible position for one so young."
"I can do it," Lora said, looking at Dan.
Dan looked at the child. She sure looked familiar. Great Scott! Dan thought. This is the child thatassaulted me!
Ike was looking off into the distance, scarcely able to keep his laughter locked up.
"Don't I know you?" Dan asked, kneeling down.
"You might," Lora said.
"Yes," Dan said. "I do believe we have met before."
"You still got that candy bar?" Lora asked.
"No," Dan said, ice in his voice. "I ate it."
"Good," the girl replied. "Bad for your teeth anyway."
Dan stood up, drawing himself to his full height. "Impudent girl!"
"Blow it out your ear," Lora told him.