Out of the Ashes

Ben told them what he knew and also about the plans for a New Africa and what the government planned to do with that idea.

The black man was very explicit with his views. “Fuck a New Africa. I'm not an African; I'm an American. This is my home—our home.” He waved at the group, a mixture of blacks and whites. “We're all friends, working together—root hog, or die. And no son of a bitch is going to run me off what is mine.”

All agreed with him.

Another area where the problems between races had been solved.

At least temporarily; Ben added a disclaimer. But it was a start.

“You'd better get some radios and start keeping in touch with what's happening. I think it's going to get nasty.”

Ben pulled out, heading to where Ike said he'd be, making the run in only a few hours. For a time, it was old home week; then Ike got serious.

“I think, Ben, things are gonna turn to shit, real quick. You know about the bounties on the Rebs’ heads?”

Ben nodded.

“Word is being passed up and down the line about your death. I told Conger and Voltan and some of the others to hang loose, I didn't believe it.”

“I thought it best.”

Ike agreed. “Good idea. Well,"—he sighed—"we been tryin’ to get this land in shape—do some truck farmin'. People gotta eat. But ... Logan's gonna move in here sooner or later. I don't know what to do.”

“Where are Tatter and June-Bug?”

“Oh,"—Ike's face brightened, losing its tension—"they found themselves a couple of ol’ boys and got married. Whatever me and Megan decide to do ... they're with us.”

Ben looked at Megan. “You haven't had any trouble with the rednecks?”

She shook her head. “Only one incident.”

“Trashy bastard came around here,” Ike said. “Runnin’ off at his mouth. I remembered him from high school. Son of a bitch didn't get out of the ninth grade—so stupid he quit—and he's talkin’ about me marryin’ a low-down nigger.”

“What happened?” Ben asked, although he hardly had to ask, knowing Ike's volatile temper.

“I killed him,” the ex-SEAL said calmly. “Took his body into town and dumped it on the courthouse square. Folks been right friendly since then.”

Despite the awfulness of the statement, Ben had to smile. “If you can't educate them to mind their own business, kill them—right?”

Ike shrugged. “I don't have the time or the inclination to educate folks, ol’ buddy. Way I figure it, we're back to the days of the old West. You do your thing and I'll do mine. Think whatever in the hell you wanna think—I got no right to restrict you there—but don't insult me or mine; don't steal from me or mine; don't try to hurt me or mine; and don't manhandle me or mine. Just live and let live. You get in trouble, I'll help you, but by God, if I get in trouble, you'd better help me.”

“Ike, what do you think about the West? Where I've sent some of the Rebels.”

“Idaho and Montana?”

“Yes.”

“Wild and beautiful. Everything a man could ask for. Grow good crops and raise fat cattle. Cold as a witch's tit in the winter.”

“Beats being told where to live.”

“And being told what kind of job to do and what time to get up and go to sleep and all that happy crap. Yeah, it sure does beat it.” He rose from Megan's side. “I'll be right back, Ben. Hang on.”

Megan looked at Ben. “We're going to have a lot of trouble with Logan, aren't we, Ben?”

“Yes. And when it comes, it's going to come very quickly.”

“Logan scares me. I didn't trust him fully; a lot of my people didn't. What is that line about the ‘man who would be king'?”

“Yes. That's the way I see it. I think he's unbalanced.”

Ike returned with a large suitcase-looking container, metal, with electronic inputs on the front and a collapsible antenna on the side. “This is a very high-frequency radio, Ben. I borrowed a couple of them from Keesler on the way up. Built-in scrambler, the whole bit. This thing will transmit three thousand miles and receive worldwide.” He showed Ben how to adjust the band. “This is if you wanna contact the Rebs. This one is for me.”

“If I decide to head west, Ike—”

“Hell, you've already made up your mind to go. I know you well enough to see that.”

“...Lots of high mountains out there.”

“So get on top of one of the mothers, General.”

“Ike? You be careful—you hear me?”

The stocky Navy man laughed. “Lord, General, you worry more than an old mother hen. Come on, let's get something to eat. We got a lot of jawin’ to do before you pull out.”

FIFTEEN