"William W. Johnstone - Ashes 14 - Courage In The Ashes" - читать интересную книгу автора (Johnstone William W)

“We’ll start PT in two days, Ben,” Dr. Chase said. “First we take physicals—starting in the morning.”
He pointed a finger at Ben. “And you’ll be the first in line.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ben said with a smile.

Chase stood up and looked around the large room in the old courthouse that Ben was using for his HQ.
“And you boys and girls,” he said, eyeballing all the unit commanders, “will be next in line after General
Raines. Tomorrow morning. 0700 hours. Sharp.”

The doctor turned to leave the room. Ben’s words stopped him.

“Of course, Lamar, you’ll take a physical, too. And if you don’t pass it, you’ll be sent back to Base
Camp One with the rest of those who flunk.”

Lamar glared at Ben, knowing that Ben had just sandbagged him—again. “No one said a damn word
about anybody being sent back to Base Camp One, Raines. I believe ‘limited duty’ was the phrase you
used.”

“Ahhh,” Ben said. “Right you are, Lamar.”

Chase, who was in his seventies, stomped out of the room.

Ben Raines and Lamar Chase, friends for as long as any Rebel could remember, had been playing
one-upmanship for years.

It usually ended in a tie.

“We’re moving toward Northstar March 15?” Ben’s daughter, Tina asked.

“Right. And that date is not to be repeated again. It’s just about two thousand miles fromSeattle to the
Alaskan border, and we’re going to be facing hostiles all the way up. Flyovers confirm that a lot of
people are living just across the border inCanada . The planes were fired upon. It’s going to be a very
interesting trip,” he added dryly.

“Dan, the first contingent of your Scouts will pull out a week ahead of us. Right now, let’s start shaking
the cobwebs out of our systems, people. Pass the word that playtime is over.”

“Me ol‘ bones is a-achin’ awready,” General Ike McGowan said, standing up and looking like a bear.

“They’ll be aching more three days from now,” the mercenary, Colonel West, told him with a grin.

The Russian general, Striganov, whacked him on the back. “Come on, Ike, let’s us middle-aged men
show these kids a thing or two.”

Laughing, the two men, who had once been bitter enemies, left the room.

Ben’s son, Buddy, who looked like he ate anvils for lunch, walked to his father’s side. “You watch that
knee, Father,” he cautioned him. “You haven’t been that many weeks out of surgery.”
 Ben smiled. “It’s fine, son. Better than it’s felt in years. I should have had surgery done on it a long time