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who were trapped here when the Great War erupted around the world. During the past couple of years, nearly a hundred have fled the southern part of the continent, getting away from Bruno Bottger and his Nazis.”
    “We assume that is why you’ve come to Africa,” the sister said. “To fight the Nazis?”
    “That is correct, sister,” Ben replied. Ben looked at the priest and the nun. Both had told Dr. Chase they were in their mid-fifties, but time had not treated them well. Chase had told Ben the pair were not in good health. “And to do what we can for the people on the way down to the fight.”
    “It’s a noble gesture, General,” the sister said. “God will surely reward you for your efforts.”
    “For saving lives or for killing as many criminals and Nazis as I can?”
    Both the priest and nun frowned, the priest opening his mouth to speak, then thinking better of it.
    “Do you feel up to leading a patrol to where the Americans are hiding?”
    “Oh, yes!” the sister said. “We can do that now.”
    Ben motioned to a Rebel and die soldier led the pair
     
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    away. Ben stood up and looked at Corrie. “This bunch should be a sight to see, Corrie.”
    “What do you mean, boss?”
    “Isolated for a decade and never made the first effort to communicate with the world outside of this area.”
    “That does seem strange, doesn’t it?”
    “Very. Hell, they could have thrown a bottle with a note in it into the ocean and it would have reached us years ago.” Ben walked to the open window and sniffed. “The stench of death is fading. Our people are working fast.” Ben didn’t ask what the tally of the dead was. He just knew it was high.
    “I guess punks are the same all over the world,” Jersey said, walking into the room. “I’ve talked with some of the survivors. Their stories are pretty damn grim.”
    “Any idea where they’ve taken the women and kids?”
    “To sell to slavers,” Jersey said, a sour expression on her face. It’s a booming business.”
    “History repeating itself, I suppose,” Ben said.
    “Who are they selling the people to, boss?” Cooper asked.
    “I don’t know, Coop. People of very low moral fiber, to be sure.” He glanced at Corrie. “Have there been any reports of our people being fired on here?”
    “Negative, boss. The city is clear of any resistance. At least so far,” she added.
    “I have a strong hunch the gangs have gone,” Ben mused aloud. “But they should have reached Casablanca by now and done their dirty work. Yet our flyovers show the city has not been touched. So where the hell did they go?”
    “Maybe hidden along the highway setting up an ambush for us?” Cooper suggested.
    Ben opened a map. “That would be an incredibly stupid move on their part. Yet,” he muttered, “you never know. You just never know …”

45 Six
    Ben asked the Americans if they wanted transport out of the country. The only two who elected to stay were the priest and the nun. Ben did not argue the point with them, saying only, “It’s very doubtful that we will ever be back this way.”
    “We’re doing God’s work, General,” the priest replied. “We’ll stay.”
    “Your option,” Ben said. “We’ll leave you with medical supplies, plenty of food, and wish you good luck.”
    The Americans were driven to Tangier and put on board a ship readying for the voyage back to the SUSA. The Rebels pulled out of Ksar-el-Kebir the next morning. No one mentioned the priest and the nun.
    The Rebels stayed with a secondary road that ran along the coast instead of following the main highway which cut inland and offered too many great places for an ambush.
    Kenitra had met the same fate as Ksar-el-Kebir, although not nearly as bad. In Kenitra, the citizens had banded together and made a stand against the hordes of thugs and punks and malcontents who always surface after a disaster of any kind. With the Rebels bearing down on them from the north, the gangs could not afford