Chapter 189
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John Brown and Lenin were preparing for battle against John Galt's forces. This seemed to be the ultimate battle of class warfare, capitalism versus socialism, rich versus poor. Some in this army were uneasy about each other. For one thing, Chief was once an anti-abortion radical, Atlanta was an abortion rights radical. Some were still uneasy about some of the methods that Lenin, Dessalines, and others had used. John Brown and Spartacus helped persuade their followers that such alliances were neccessary in war, and this was indeed war. Shortly before this battle, Brown's forces were approached by a young woman, Molly. Molly was wearing a uniform of an army nurse, but it seemed to be of the Confederate Army. Some of Brown's men were ready to fire on her, but Brown told them to stand down, at least for the moment. He went to speak with her directly.
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Brown: I know of the Confederate Army, the brutality they were capable of during the war.
Molly: I believe it was the Union general Ulysseus Grant who said "War is Hell."
Brown; I believe it was Sherman, but I understand your point. What do you want?
Molly: I work at a hospital. We'd like both sides to avoid our territory. We will treat the wounded on both sides.
Brown: You have a regard for life, why did you serve the side of slavery?
Molly: I don't feel I did, John Brown. My family didn't believe in slavery, we merely fought to protect our homes. I was a nurse in the war, enlisted at 16. I was eventually trusted enough to help negotiate these alliances with Union nurses. Basically we each agreed to take in wounded from the other side. I saved lives, in some sense perhaps I was serving the side of slavery. You committed murder, terrorism, albeit on behalf of a noble cause. We both wound up in Hell.
Brown: Yes, I supposse we did. Have you contacted Galt's army yet?
Molly: No, you seemed more reasonable. My hope is that, if you agree first, he will also agree to allow both sides to be treated in our hospital.
Brown: Very well. Tell Galt that if he agrees, I pledge to keep the fighting away from this hospital.