osc.am2.redprophet-第70部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a bad idea； in Alvin's mind； to have the cloth of White America in the hands of a Red man's daughter。
In the morning Ta…Kumsaw led him away； back into the forest。 They did not speak of Becca； or anything else； it was back to the old way； with Ta…Kumsaw speaking only to get things done。 Alvin never heard him speak in his Isaac voice again； so that Alvin began to wonder if he really heard it。
On the north bank of the Hio； near where the Wobbish empties into it； the Red army gathered； more Reds than Alvin knew existed in the whole world。 More people than Alvin had ever imagined together in the same place at the same time。
Because such a pany was bound to get hungry； the animals also came to them； sensing their need and fulfilling what they all was born for。 Did the forest know that all its hopes of withstanding White men's axes depended on Ta…Kumsaw's victory？
No； Alvin decided； the forest was just doing what it always did making shift to feed its own。
It was raining and the breeze was cool on the morning they set out from the Hio； bound northward。 But what was rain to Red men？ The messenger had e from the French in Detroit。 It was time to join forces； and lure Old Hickory's army north。
Chapter 18 Detroit
It was a glorious time for Frederic； te de Maurepas。 Far from living in hell here in Detroit； with none of the amenities of Paris； he found the exhilaration of； for once； being part of something larger than himself。 War was afoot； the fort was stirring； the heathen Reds were gathering from the far corners of the wilderness； and soon； under de Maurepas's mand； the French would destroy the ragtag American army Old Chestnut had brought north of the Maw…Mee。 Old Willow？ Whatever they called him。
Of course a part of him was rather unnerved by all this。 Frederic had never been a man of action； and now so much action was going on that he could hardly fathom it。 It bothered him sometimes that Napoleon was letting the savages fight from behind trees。 Surely Europeans； even the barbarous Americans； should be courteous enough not to let the Reds take unfair advantage of their ability to hide in the woods。 But never mind。 Napoleon was sure it would work out。 What could go wrong； really？ Everything was working as Napoleon said it would。 Even Governor La Fayette； traitorous effete Feuillant dog that he was； seemed enthusiastic about the battle ahead。 He had even sent another ship with more troops； which Frederic had seen pull into harbor not ten minutes ago。
〃My lord；〃 said Whoever…it…was； the servant who handled things in the evening。 He was announcing somebody； of all things。
〃Who？〃 Who is it visiting at such an ungodly hour？
〃A messenger from the Governor。〃
〃In；〃 said Frederic。 He was feeling too pleasant to bother keeping the man cooling his heels for a while。 After all； it was evening no need to pretend to be hard at work at an hour like this。 After four o'clock； in fact！
The man came in； smart in his uniform。 A major officer； in fact。 Frederic should know his name； probably； but then he wasn't anybody； hadn't even a cousin with a title。 So Frederic waited； not greeting him。
The major held two letters in his hand。 He laid one on Frederic's table。
〃Is the other for me as well？〃
〃Yes； sir。 But I have the Governor's instructions to give you that one first； to wait while you read it in my presence； and then decide whether to give you the other。〃
〃The Governor's instructions！ To make me wait to receive my mail until I've read his letter first？〃
〃The second letter is not addressed to you； my lord；〃 said the major。 〃So it is not your mail。 But I think you will want to see it。〃
〃What if I'm weary of work； and choose to read the letter tomorrow？〃
〃Then I have still another letter； which I will read to your soldiers if you don't read the first letter within five minutes。 That third letter relieves you of mand and places me in charge of Fort Detroit； under the authority of the Governor。〃
〃Audacious！ Offensive！ To address me in this manner！〃
〃I but repeat the words of the Governor； my lord。 I urge you； read his letter。 It can do you no harm； and not reading it will have devastating effect。〃
Unbearable。 Who did the Governor think he was？ Well； in fact； he was a Marquis。 But then； La Fayette was actually farther out of favor with the King than
〃Five minutes； my lord。〃
Seething； Frederic opened the letter。 It was heavy； when he unfolded it； a metal amulet on a chain spilled onto the desk； clattering。
〃What is this？〃
〃The letter； my lord。〃
Frederic scanned it quickly。 〃An amulet！ Holy man！ What am I to make of this？ Has La Fayette bee superstitious？〃 Yet despite his bravado； Frederic knew at once that he would put on the amulet。 A ward against Satan！ He had heard of such amulets； priceless beyond pare； for all had been touched by the finger of the Holy Mother herself； giving them their power。 Could this be such a one？ He opened the chain and lowered it over his head。
〃Inside；〃 said the major。
Frederic looked at him a moment in bafflement； then realized what was expected and tucked the amulet into his shirt。 Now it was out of sight。
〃There；〃 he said。 〃I'm wearing it。〃
〃Excellent； my lord；〃 said the major。 He held out the other letter。
It was not fastened shut； but it had been sealed； and Frederic was astonished to see that it was His Majesty's great seal imprinted in the wax。 It was addressed to the Marquis de La Fayette。 It contained the order for Napoleon Bonaparte to be placed under immediate arrest； to be returned to Paris in irons to stand trial for treason； sedition； disloyalty； and malfeasance。
***
〃Do you think your pleading moves me？〃 said de Maurepas。
〃I should hope that the justice of my arguments would move you；〃 said Napoleon。 〃Tomorrow will be the battle。 Ta…Kumsaw expects to take his orders from me； only I understand fully what is expected of the French army in this engagement。〃
〃Only you？ What is this sudden vanity of yours； to believe that only you are capable of mand； that only you understand？〃
〃But of course you understand； my lord de Maurepas。 Only it is for you to be concerned with； the broader picture； while I〃
〃Save your breath；〃 said de Maurepas。 〃I am no longer deceived。 Your witchery； your satanic influence； it floats past me like bubbles in the air； it means nothing to me。 I am stronger than you thought。 I have secret strengths！〃
〃It's good that you do； since all you have in public is idiocy；〃 said Napoleon。 〃The defeat you will suffer without me will mark you as the champion fool in the history of the French army。 Whenever anyone suffers an ignominious and avoidable disaster； they will laugh at him and say that he mitted a Maurepas！〃
〃Enough；〃 said de Maurepas。 〃Treason； sedition； malfeasance； and if that weren't enough； now insubordination。 M。 Guillotin will have business with you； I'm quite certain； my vain little bantam cock。 Go； try your spurs on His Majesty； see how deep they dig when your limbs are in irons and your head is forfeit。〃
***
The betrayal was not obvious till morning； but then it was swift and plete。 It began when the French quartermaster refused to issue gunpowder to Ta…Kumsaw's people。 〃I have my orders；〃 he said。
When Ta…Kumsaw tried to see Napoleon； they laughed at him。 〃He won't see you now； or ever；〃 he was told。
What about de Maurepas； then？
〃He is a te。 He does not treat with savages。 He is not a lover of beasts； like little Napoleon。〃
Only then did Alvin notice that all the Frenchman they were dealing with today were the very ones that Napoleon had been circumventing； all the officers Napoleon preferred and trusted were not to be found。 Napoleon had fallen。
〃Bows and arrows；〃 said an officer。 〃That's what your braves excel with； isn't it？ With bullets you would cause more damage to your own men than to the enemy。〃
Ta…Kumsaw's scouts told him that the American army would arrive by noon。 Ta…Kumsaw immediately deployed his men to harass the enemy。 But now； without the range of muskets； they could do little more than annoy Old
