AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Out with it, Jefferson."
"You got some good men here, sir. I hate to leave them if a fight's in the cards. Feels too much like running."
"It's not Texas' fight."
"There's a lot who think that way. I'm not one of them."
Valentine offered his hand. "Jefferson, get to Meadows and you'll have done more for what's coming than a whole company of riflemen. And when you get back to Texas ... there's no way I can make this official, but any pressure that could be brought to bear on Oklahoma or Dallas ... it'll help us if they start screaming to have their troops returned."
"I'm a Ranger teamster, not a general."
"Jefferson, I'll write up a promotion for you to lieutenant in Southern Command. That'll make you an official emissary, if you think that'll help."
"It might at that." Jefferson tried a salute on for size. "Thank you, sir."
Valentine touched his eyebrow in return. "Take good care of that horse. He'll get you there."
* * * *
With the paperwork done, Jefferson rode out after the midday meal. Afternoon gave way to a warm evening; spring was truly on the way. Valentine and Ahn-Kha sat on mats on the floor of his tent, playing mahjong with the pieces Carrasca had painted for him.
"It's a good plan, my David. Stop chewing on it and swallow."
"I feel like I'm making a mistake. I'm basing this on Solon's reaction. Suppose he just cordons us off and lets us sit?"
"Maybe we'll catch him in his hole."
"He's off to Pine Bluff, trying to hurry up the rail gangs and get his precious airfield built. Don't know why, since there aren't any airplanes to bring in. Then it's down to Hot Springs to see how the relocation of TMCC headquarters is coming."
"He doesn't want to put too many eggs in any one state, I notice," Ahn-Kha said, removing a green dragon pair.
"I shoulda seen that coming," Valentine said.
"Colonel! Colonel!" someone shouted from outside.
Valentine stood in a smooth motion, as if he'd been pulled up by wires. He went to the tent flap.
"Yes, Yvaro?"
"There's been ... Sergeant M'Daw, he's stabbed, on the edge of camp. I mink he's dying."
The night turned cold and unfriendly. What in God's name? With Boxcars so close he'd been having M'Daw watched. Valentine still wondered if he wouldn't return to his old allegiance when the time was right.
"Ahn-Kha, tell Lieutenant Nail about this, and have him bring a stretcher. Let's treat him here. Okay, Yvaro, what happened?"
"He'd turned in for the night. I thought so, anyway. Then I hear a shout from the latrine. It was him, and I ran over and saw him. Someone stuck him in the back with one of those wooden spears the Smalls made."
"Your breath smells like coffee," Valentine said. "You got a cup to help you through the watch, I suppose."
"How-yes, sir, sorry sir."
"Just take me to M'Daw. We'll worry about it later."
Valentine ran to the NCO latrine and showers. The men still lived in tents, but Valentine saw to it they had huts for shower and privy. The corporal panted, trying to keep up with Valentine.
M'Daw was unconscious. He lay behind the showers. He'd pulled out the spear and lost a lot of blood. Soldiers were gathered around, and one had a bloody dressing held tight against M'Daw's lower back. Across the mounds of rubble, the lights of the other installations of New Columbia were alive. Valentine did a quick search from the top of a ruined wall, but whoever had stabbed him could easily get away without being seen among the smashed buildings.
Hank Smalls ran up one of the hills toward the camp, crying. Blood ran from his nose and drops covered the front of his shirt.
