We the People vol 2: Liberty or Death

The road to Bennington proved harsh. Thane and her companions were dogged day and night by Indian rangers and Canadian volunteers. Fortunately, Stark knew the landscape well, having lived in the area for some time.

“The Canadians fight for their own reasons, but the Indians will not serve Burgoyne if things seem hopeless.”

Thane glanced down at the General, who had paused to pick a rock from his steed’s shoe.

“How do you know that?” Her voice was harsher than intended. “Because they’re not white that makes them cowards?”

“No, my good lady,” Stark said, smiling slightly “because I lived with them for over a year.”

“As what, like an ambassador?”

Stark laughed, nearly dropping the knife.

“No, more like a hostage. They ransomed me for some one hundred thousand crowns, so I’m told. While I awaited the long process of sending messages back and forth, I was the guest of the Abenaki.”

“So they kept you in a cage, or what?”

“No, when I say guest I mean it. My foster family treated me well, made sure I was always fed. They even allowed me to go on hunts, with an escort of course. They are a complex folk. If you are even handed with them, they will be so with you. Well, unless you’re dealing with Pawnee or Mohawk. THOSE Indians deserve the ‘savage’ moniker I’m afraid.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to punk you out,” Thane said.

“Didn’t mean to what?”

Thane hand to laugh at Stark’s bewildered, wide eyed stare.

“Sorry. It’s a saying from the...uh, from where we come from.”

“And where was that again?” he asked.

“Don’t answer, Thane!” Faraday jabbed a finger at Stark. “You haven’t told him that we’re from the future yet, so don’t let him trick you into saying it!”

Thane wanted to scream, but on the way out her throat it morphed into self-mocking peals of laughter.

“From...the future?” Stark asked.

“Yeah, you know she’s a little off. She didn’t mean THE future, as in a fourth dimensional sense, but rather our home town of, uh....Few Chur in the, um, Swiss Alps.”

Thane’s improvisation was rendered useless because she couldn’t stop giggling.

“Are you suggesting,” Stark said, chin cupped in his hand as he stood in the sun-streaked dirt road “that one might move through time as easily as one moves through the halls of one’s manse?”

“I’m suggesting you get your flat fixed or whatever and get back on your damn horse,” Thane said in a low growl. “We’ve been nothing but helpful to you from the first god damn second you laid eyes on us, so how about cutting me a little bit of freaking slack? You think you can do that Mr. big shot General hero of the Revolution!”

Stark’s mouth opened, then closed. His eyes narrowed, brows low on his face, and he seemed on the verge of an angry outburst. Then he visibly calmed, regarding Thane with a new light in his eyes. His voice quivered a bit when he spoke.

“Am I really going to be called a hero?”

“Uh...” Thane gulped.

“Because heroes tend not to survive the battles in which they become heroes,” Stark said sadly. “I had hoped to see my Molly again.”

“Look, General,” Thane said with a sigh “I can’t explain it all to you right now, but you have to trust me. The less you know the better. As much as possible, we need you, the real John Stark doing what John Stark does. I mean, did. We do NOT need General Second Guess himself Stark wondering what he could be doing differently based on his future knowledge. Me and Hannah here, we have our talents but we don’t know jack and squat about running an army or winning a war. So think of us as your bodyguards and nothing more, capice?”

Stark grinned, crinkling up his wizened face with mirth.

“Capice, my good lady. Ah.” He watched with a satisfied grin as the pebble in his mount’s shoe finally dislodged. “Serendipity.”

“What’s serendipity?” whispered Faraday to Thane.

“I don’t know-wait. I think Chui said it was ‘Striking gold when you go digging for worms.’ How it applies in this situation is beyond me.”

“Well, Stark seems to like you now. Why do so many men like you, Thane? You’re not that pretty.”

“You want to walk?” Thane growled. “Faraday, I love you like a sister but you need to work on your social skills.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Not that many guys like me, Faraday.”

“Sure they do. Bast does, Po did, James does, and I bet if Montel liked girls that way he would too.”

“I’m not sure that ANY of them would really be able to love me, Faraday,” Thane sighed. “I mean, I eat people. There’s no way to get around it. Plus, what happens when people fall in love?”

“They have sex?” Faraday asked, blue eyes innocent as ever.

Thane slapped a palm over her face.

“No, I meant they get MARRIED. God, who have you been talking too? Never mind, I don’t want to—look, Faraday, people get married so they can live out their lives together. Raise a family and grow old. I can’t have a family and I can’t grow old. That’s like two of the job requirements I don’t meet right off the bat!”

“Excuse me,” Stark said, pulling back on the reigns to slow his mount to their more leisurely pace “I hate to interrupt, but we are nearing the fair city of Bennington, jewel of Vermont.”

Stark’s tone clearly indicated he thought they should be as impressed as he was. As they neared the crest of a tree-shrouded hill, they caught glimpses of the city in the twilight. It was larger than any city she’d seen in the past, bigger than Manchester by almost half. A constant chorus of hammering cut through the smoky haze, and Stark pointed out the blacksmiths hard at work on muskets.

“They are working to supply an army I sadly no longer have to command,” he said bitterly.

“Sorry,” Thane said, because it seemed like she should say something.

“It is possible that some more volunteers have assembled here in Bennington.” He kicked his horse into a canter and rode down the hill. The women followed a moment later, Thane certain that Stark was on the verge of tears.

Stark was able to get lodging at an Inn called the Lame Turkey. He sent word that all volunteers for the colonial militia should assemble one hour after dawn in the town square. A few gold coins insured that the town criers would be enthusiastic at their trade. Faraday practically dragged Thane to meet their friends.

“Go, be with your...people,” Stark said, a bit eagerly. “I am well protected in this city.”

“Okay, General. Have it your way. But I’ll be back later to check on you.”

“I know you will, my dear. You’re very brave.” He took Thane’s hand and kissed it, while Faraday looked away and snorted.

“I told you,” Faraday said as they walked through the gas-lit streets of Bennington.

“Told me what?”

“He likes you.”

“Stark?” Thane glanced over her shoulder at the Inn, growing ever more distant. “Nah, he’s married.”

“He kissed your hand, though.”

“He was just being polite,” Thane said with a shrug.

“Then why didn’t he kiss my hand?”

“I-” Thane shook her head “I don’t know, Hannah. Do you think I know everything?”

“More than me, most of the times.”

Thane laughed.

“About some things, maybe, but don’t sell yourself short.”

“This is it,” Faraday said, stopping.

They were standing outside of the Stagger Inn, a less than tidy establishment that boasted sagging walls and a fetid, moldy stench. As they stood taking it in a dirt-streaked man stumbled out of the door and vomited on the muddy road beside them.

“Eww,” Faraday said.

“THIS is the place you guys picked? Really?”

“It’s the only place that would let Bast sleep inside.”

Thane bit back her anger and followed Faraday through the unevenly-cut door. They trudged through the nearly deserted common room and up a short flight of stairs. They were standing in a hallway with four doors. Faraday led Thane past the first three and knocked twice on the last, then knocked three times, then twice once more. Thane heard rapid footsteps and the door swung open widely. Bearclaw stood there, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

“Faraday!” James said, smiling. His jaw dropped when he saw Thane. “You found her!”

Thane entered the room, accepting a hug from James and a handshake from Montel. Bast was ensconced behind a table with Chui, who was wringing his hands. The rotund linguist obviously was dying to say something to Faraday.

“Where’s Creepy?” Thane’s question brought blank stares from the others. Bast cleared his throat and stood up.

“She ran away,” he said bluntly.

“What? Why?” Thane noted that none of them could quite look her in the eyes. “What happened?”

“I’m afraid it was my fault,” Franklin said, staggering out of the privy. He carefully closed the door behind himself. “Do NOT venture within the confines of that fell place, whew!”

“Somebody better start talking or I’ll have to kick some--”

“Creepy was...upset when Franklin stepped on a Brown Recluse,” Montel said. “She sicced a bunch of nasty critters on him.”

Thane’s heart sank. She turned to face Franklin.

“Did they hurt you?”

“Ah, no, I believe the lass’s intent was to frighten me only,” Franklin replied. He pushed his glasses up on his nose. “Alas, she took it rather personally when I, believing my life to be at risk, doused her with lamp oil and set her ablaze.”

“Oh my...is she all right?” Thane’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You know, she’s only a little girl.”

“My dear, have you not gazed into the black pits of her eyes?” Franklin laughed without mirth. “That is no child.”

“Looks like a child to me,” Thane hissed. She turned toward the door and stalked away.

“Where are you going?” Bast asked.

“To go find Creepy. Franklin better work on his apology while I’m gone.”

“Apology?” Montel said, but Thane was already stomping down the hall. She exploded onto the street and made for the woods, the only logical place she could think of that Creepy might have hidden. On her way, she was harassed by a large horse fly.

“Go away!” she jumped and swatted, but couldn’t lay hands on it. Finally it dawned on her what the fly’s real intent was. She stopped, put her hands on her hips and snarled “all right, damn it, take me to her!”

As if by magic the fly took off in a straight line, disappearing between two ramshackle dwellings. Thane squeezed in past the rotted timber and stepped over refuse. A mound of bugs skittered in every direction, parting to allow her egress. Creepy leaped out of a pile of blankets and wrapped her arms around Thane.

“Take it easy, kiddo,” Thane said. She tried to examine Creepy for burns, but the girl seemed none the worse for wear. “Did you get hurt when Franklin set you on fire, Rashemi?”

Creepy nodded vigorously, showing Thane her arm. The soft brown skin seemed smooth and unblemished to her eyes.

“Uh, it doesn’t look like you were burned.”

Creepy shrugged.

“Come to think of it,” Thane said “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you hurt. Or sick, for that matter. Remember when Chui got the flu and then passed it around? Even Bast got sick, but you and me....”

Thane shook her head.

“Never mind. That’s not important right now. Let’s go back to the others, Rashemi.”

Creepy shook her head stubbornly and dropped into a squat.

“Oh, come on, sweetie. I’ll make Franklin apologize and everything.”

The girl perked up, eyes bright and shining.

“Let’s go,” Thane offered her hand and Creepy took it. They walked back to the Inn together, like sisters.

Franklin didn’t want to apologize to Creepy, and she didn’t want to be in the same room with him. After a tense few minutes of icy silence Thane sprang to her feet, drawing everyone’s attention.

“All right,” she growled “I have had it up to here with the bullshit!”

Chui looked down at the floor, swallowing hard. Faraday seemed confused, while Jimmy was trying to hide a smile. Bast’s face remained its usual placid appearance, but his brown eye was shining in the candlelight.

“My dear,” Franklin said, standing up himself and wearing a smile that said he was somewhere between amused and annoyed “do you have any idea of who you are speaking to?”

“Yeah,” Thane jabbed her finger in his chest “the hundred dollar bill dude. The founding father of our country. Also a fat, lecherous ass who thinks his crap don’t stink. I expect more maturity from someone of your stature, and I haven’t seen it yet!”

Franklin flushed bright red, but he didn’t deny her words. Creepy snickered at his plight, and Thane turned her fiery gaze on the Hindi girl.

“And you,” Thane glared at the girl until she wilted “why do you always have to throw gasoline on the fire? Honestly, Rashemi, someone pours a glass of water on you and you want to drown them in a tsunami. Show a little restraint, will you please?”

Thane started for the door. She was feeling a bit embarrassed by her outburst, and didn’t want to linger once the shield of her anger dissipated. Before she left, Thane fired one more salvo.

“I’m not just sick of you idiots, I’m sick of this whole damn country. Slavery, inequality, and don’t get me started on how these people treat women. What’s the point of trying to save history, or even the world? No matter what we do, people will just screw it up again. It’s hopeless.”

She hurried out the door and into the Bennington night. Thane needed to see Stark and plan their next move, but she walked the darkened streets in the opposite direction. Soon the cool, dark beauty of the forest enveloped her. Thane felt more relaxed the further she got from her companions.

It was all wrong, all so very wrong. America the Beautiful, at its birth the home of slavery, misogyny, genocide and war. Things were better in her own time, weren’t they?

Yeah, so much better, she thought. Women kidnapped, little girls raped, people starving while preachers live in mansions. It’s always been screwed up and it always will be.

A soft tread on the forest floor behind alerted her to a familiar presence.

“I know it’s you, Bast,” Thane said. She turned around and crossed her arms over her chest, smirking at him as he hiked up a small rise to stand beside her. “You’re slipping. I heard you coming a long way off.”

“I was only four yards away.”

“For you, that’s a long way off.”

“Maybe I stepped on a branch on purpose, so you wouldn’t be startled and injure me.”

They both laughed, but Bast shook his head.

“I’m being somewhat serious. You’re a phenom, Thane, and I don’t just mean what your body can do.”

“Interested in what my body can do, are you?” Bast licked his lips, and she giggled. “Oh, calm down, Leroy. I’m just messing with you.”

“Are you all right, Thane?” Bast’s lips turned downward, his brow furrowed. “You seemed...upset.”

“Yeah, we have a child working with us, and then Creepy was being difficult.”

Bast grinned, but it fled quickly.

“I get the feeling there’s something more to it.”

“Yeah, well...I guess I’m having a crisis of faith. I mean, what’s so great about America that we have to fight this hard to save it? So what if the British win the war? You can’t tell me you’re impressed by what you’ve seen, Major. These people threw you in chains!”

Bast’s jaw set hard, and his eye sparkled like a black diamond.

“Yes, they did. I try to think of how many years have passed, but it doesn’t seem like that long. My experiences don’t change our mission parameters.”

“Mission parameters,” Thane said half mockingly. “Always the loyal soldier. How can you still be a patriot when everything is and always was so damn awful?”

Bast offered his hand to her.

“Walk with me.”

“Uh, okay.” Thane put her hand in his much larger one. Bast gave it a squeeze and then led her down the grade and past a frog-infested pond. A layer of green muck lay on its surface, largely obscuring the depths below. As they passed by a turtle splashed into the green, creating a dark circle that slowly spread across the pond.

The moon lit their way well enough as they picked along a game trail. Bast led her up a gently sloping hill until they were standing in a grassy meadow.

“When I was nine,” Bast said “my father took me to see my Grandfather in the VA hospital. Old Paint, we used to call him, because his last name was Painter. I held my father’s hand, a lot like I’m holding yours now, and he took me into the hospice wing. Old Paint, a virile, strong man who once charged the beaches of Normandy...had degenerated into a withered husk.” Bast gestured to his face and neck. “He had tubes running all through his body. It was...horrible, to see him like that.”

Bast turned his gaze on her own, still holding her hand.

“Now, you understand that my Grandfather went to war for a country that wouldn’t let him sit on the front of the bus, or teach in a school, or even eat at the same restaurant as he people he was fighting to protect. You know what he said once, when my uncle asked him why he fought? He said ‘I’m not fighting for the America that is, I’m fighting for the America that’s going to be.’ That’s always stuck with me.”

Thane arched an eyebrow, not feeling convinced.

“So, America is the lesser of many evils?” she asked. “Not much of a rallying cry. If I was your Grandpa, I’d have said screw you and burned my draft card.”

“Oh, I doubt that, Thane.” Bast gently held her chin and brought their faces close together. “You always end up doing the right thing. You don’t want to care, but you do.”

“You think I care?” Thane knew she didn’t have to breathe, so why was she so light headed? Bast’s scent invaded her nostrils, his warmth seeped through the thin clothing between them.

“I know you do...” Their eyes closed, lips met, in a slow, lingering kiss. Gently, he pulled her in closer against him, until their hearts were mere inches away. His hand cupped the back of her head while she kneaded the hard muscles in his shoulder and back.

Thane pulled her face away, still held in his embrace.

“Leroy,” she said breathlessly “what does this mean?”

Bast released her, brushing his lips with his fingers.

“It means I have failed to control myself,” he said harshly. “Again. We should be getting back.”

“Leroy, wait-” Thane said, but she was speaking to his back. She covered her eyes with her hands and sank to her knees in the moonlight, sobbing gently.