Chapter 381

.

Eve wasn't sure what to do. There were several options before her, none of which sounded pleasant. One was to walk away, let Benson and Walker's people slaughter the Molochites, including seven children and three pregnant women. Another was to fight Benson, possibly kill her old friend, destroy the fragile peace between the two groups. Another thought horrified Eve, that Benson was right. These people had murdered recently, had tried to burn infants alive, might try this again if allowed to live. The children seemed to range from eight to twelve, too young to know better. If they lived, they would try to avenge their parents' deaths. And the pregnant Molochites, they also might kill innocents if they were spared. Eve decided to radio colonel Greer. If she was going to fight Benson, or walk away, the responsibility should go with her superiors. One advantage of being in the army was she could always pass the buck. Eve radioed Greer, there were only five minutes left of Benson's deadline. To her suprise Greer told Eve to take out all the Molochites, make sure they posed no more threat. Eve went back inside the cathedral. She told her subordinates to go back to camp. This might be dis-obeying orders, but she didn't want them to live with this guilt. By now the Molochites were all frantically praying, likely some were just doing it because they hoped Benson would spare them. They now outnumbered Benson's group ten to one, all his team had were the guns. Eve wanted to walk away too, but she had a responsibility to her comrades too. Perhaps this was where Eve belonged now.