‘You have got to be kidding,’ Captain Knowles remarked.
But Joe had seen Toni, and was running forward to hold her in his arms. With her height and her auburn hair she was easily distinguishable, yet he still found it difficult to believe she was his sister, in her obviously home-made trousers, blouse and sandals, the straw hat on her head, the belt round her waist from which there hung a revolver, the rifle she carried, and the bandolier slung across her shoulder. ‘Toni?’ he asked in wonderment.
‘Joe!’ she screamed. ‘Oh, Joe. I thought this day would never come.’ She held him close.
‘Sometimes I thought so too.’ He reached past her to shake hands with Rafael.
‘Welcome,’ Rafael said. ‘Oh, indeed welcome.’ But he looked oddly ill at ease, Joe thought; no doubt the presence of the might that was the United States immediately in front of him was making him realise how puny his efforts had been all of these years.
Joe looked at Jack Lisle.
‘Good to see you again, Lieutenant,’ Lisle said. ‘And all of those ships. Where’s your army?’
‘On its way.’ Joe looked for Christina, but she wasn’t there. Garcia was, however, grinning all over his face. ‘Where’s yours?’
‘We are here,’ Garcia said.
‘Well,’ Captain Knowles said; he understood Spanish. ‘You’d better get them down from the hills and help me form a perimeter. We’ll have to dislodge those fellows over there first, and then dig in. We may have to hold this place for a week or so until the doughboys get here.’
‘The Dons will give you no trouble, now,’ Rafael declared. ‘You have but to advance against them and they will take to their heels.’
‘That remains to be seen. I’d be obliged if you would summon all of your people, General Diaz. So we can see just what forces we have.’
‘These are my people,’ Rafael said.
Knowles looked at the fifty odd peons, then at Joe.
‘Right,’ Joe said. ‘Where are your people, Garcia?’
‘These are my people as well,’ Garcia said.
‘Now hold on just one minute,’ Joe said. ‘You told me you could bring a thousand men into the field if we landed at Daiquiri.’
‘Well … there are crops to be tended, and our women to be defended … there will be more men here, in time.’
Knowles looked at Joe again. ‘I don’t think the admiral is going to buy that,’ he remarked.
‘Neither do I,’ Joe said. ‘Can you hold here while I report to him?’
‘Sure, for a while. You’d better tell your pals to be off.’
‘You do not want our help?’ Rafael demanded.
‘Mister, I was unhappy about a thousand guerrillas sharing this post. But that would have been of some help. Fifty of you are going to be as much good to me as a pain in the butt, only twice as annoying. Begging your pardon, ma’am.’ He touched his hat to Toni.
‘Well, then … we shall go about our business,’ Rafael said, and stalked off, followed by his people. Garcia hesitated, then shrugged, and followed.
Toni looked at Jack.
‘I know how you feel, Captain,’ Jack said. ‘But I guess you could have been a little more tactful. I’ll try to bring them back when we’ve rounded up a few more rifles.’
‘I wouldn’t bother,’ Knowles told him.
‘Oh, heck,’ Toni said. ‘To have waited so long, for this to happen.’
‘We’ll be around,’ Knowles said. ‘If you’d like to stay.’
‘Want to stay, hell,’ Joe said. ‘You’re coming out to the fleet with us.’
Toni looked at Jack again.
‘It’d be best,’ he said.
‘You coming?’
He hesitated. ‘I reckon I should hang around,’ he said. ‘We could still be of some use.’
‘Then so will I.’
‘For Christ’s sake … ’ Joe exploded. ‘Look, could I have a word with my sister in private?’ He took Toni aside. ‘What the hell is going on? Haven’t you spent enough time with these outlaws? For God’s sake, you look like one yourself.’
‘Maybe that’s because I am one of them myself,’ she told him. ‘I’m not your little sister any more, Joe.’
‘That I can see. What about being Rafael’s wife? What’s with you and this character Lisle, anyway?’
She hesitated. ‘We are lovers,’ she said.
‘Great God in Heaven!’ She had said it in such matter-of-fact tones. ‘What does Rafael have to say about it?’
‘He accepts it.’
‘Just like that?’
‘Until the war is over, yes. We are all waiting on that.’
‘And what happens then?’
‘I don’t know. That’s why we have to see it out.’
‘And where does Christina fit into all this?’ Toni hesitated. Then she said, ‘She doesn’t. But she accepts it. She sends you her … well, she asked to be remembered to you.’
‘Jesus,’ he remarked. And to think only an hour ago his heart had been jumping for joy.
‘You must understand what she has been through,’ Toni said.
‘She doesn’t find it easy to communicate.’
‘You mean she’s told you about us?’
‘Some. Joe … I’d be the happiest person in the world if you and she could get together. She needs someone like you, with your strength. But … you have to love her an awful lot. I guess she’s just not sure enough about that, yet.’
He sighed, and nodded. ‘There’s not a lot I can do to convince her, until this damned war is over.’
‘So do it,’ she said. ‘Take Santiago, Joe.’
‘Oh, we’re going to do that,’ he promised her, and kissed her. But taking Santiago was not going to be quite as easy as they had all supposed. Admiral Sampson, on hearing the reports of both Joe and Knowles, decided that Daiquiri could not be held only by a half battalion of marines; it was simply too close to Santiago, and he could not spare any more men. So the landing party was evacuated, to Joe’s disgust, and instead an assault was made on Guantanamo, another twenty-odd miles away to the east. Here again the garrison was driven out by a brief bombardment, although the small Spanish force withdrew in good order, and the marines had a brisk engagement on landing, which cost several casualties. However, they secured the port and dug themselves in; at this distance from the city there was little risk of a major counter attack. Then the fleet returned to Santiago to continue the blockade until the arrival of the army.
Which began to appear towards the end of the month. By that time they had learned that Hobson and his gallant companions were all prisoners of war and were being well treated, which was a relief. Equally cheering was the attitude of General Shafter and his staff, although the general himself, weighing twenty stone and obviously badly affected by the heat, was the least likely looking commander of a field force Joe had ever seen. Equally, his immediate subordinate, General Wheeler, who would command the cavalry, apparently, was distinctly old. But there could be no doubting their ardour, especially that of the volunteer colonel, Theodore Roosevelt, a heavy set man with a monocle and beautifully cut clothes who, although only possessing the honorary rank of colonel, insisted upon being present at all conferences. Nor were either Admiral Sampson or General Shafter prepared to argue with him, as he was not only Assistant Secretary of the Navy, but President of the New York Board of Police Commissioners. ‘What the devil is the use of going ashore at Guantanamo?’ he demanded, glaring at the map spread out before them on the chart table of the New York. ‘We came here to reduce Santiago, sir. Put us ashore at this place Daiquiri, and we’ll do the job.’
‘I have to say that makes sense to me, Admiral,’ Shafter agreed. ‘It’s close to the city, and it has a railroad. Even if the Spanish have reoccupied it, we can surely drive them out again, and once my fellows are ashore, we’ll move forward and assault those forts, El Caney and San Juan. From what I’ve heard, if we take them the city may well surrender without further fighting.
As for if this General Linares wants to come out of his defences and counter attack us at Daiquiri, why, that’d be too good to be true.’
‘Very good, gentlemen,’ Sampson agreed. ‘Do you wish to seek further co-operation from the guerrillas? Our impression is that they’re not worth a damn.’
‘Every little helps,’ Shatter said. ‘The only hope Linares has is for reinforcements to be sent down from Havana, and the only way they can get here in time is by the railroad. If this General Garcia could cut the line south of Camaguey, or at least block it, then we’d be sure of no unpleasant surprises.’
Sampson nodded. ‘That’s why I asked Lieutenant McGann to sit in on this meeting, gentlemen. He knows the lingo, and he knows this General Garcia personally, as well as his second-in-command, General Diaz.’
Joe shook hands with the officers.
‘You will accompany the army ashore, Lieutenant McGann,’ Sampson said. ‘And once there you will re-open communications with the guerrillas, and inform them of General Shafter’s requirements. But first, you will reconnoitre Daiquiri once again, and see if it has been reoccupied by the enemy.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Joe said. Once again, things promised to start moving.
*
But still at an agonisingly slow tempo. He discovered that the Spanish troops had not after all reoccupied Daiquiri — no doubt, like Shafter, recognising that they could be driven out whenever the Americans felt like it — and that in fact a handful of Garcia’s men now controlled the little port, lording it over the unhappy citizens, several of whom had been hanged for ‘collaboration’. He commanded that the bodies be given a decent burial and that all summary executions must cease, and then set off into the hills to seek the main body, who he was told were ‘besieging’ Santiago. Meanwhile the army was coming ashore, with considerable difficulty, for it was necessary to swim the mules in, and a swell had got up, suggesting that there might be bad weather in the offing. Joe, standing on the dock with Colonel Roosevelt to watch the doughboys disembarking, remarked, ‘You’re going to have some troubles with your horses.’
‘No, we’re not,’ Roosevelt said, grimly. ‘I’m the only member of my command who has a horse.’
Joe pushed his cap forward over his eyes to scratch his head. ‘With respect, Colonel, I had the idea that yours was a cavalry regiment.’
‘That’s what it is,’ Roosevelt agreed. ‘But we were embarked in such haste there was no room for our mounts.’
‘But General Wheeler … ?’
‘Commands the United States Cavalry. Don’t ask me how they run this man’s army, Mr McGann, because I’m damned if I know. There had to be a cavalry commander beneath the divisional commander, and so Wheeler is here. Maybe some horses will turn up some time. Hell, my boys are quite capable of fighting on foot. They have their rifles, and they sure can shoot straight.’
Joe left them to it, and made his way up to Obrigar. Christina was there, standing on the hilltop and waving as he approached. ‘We have been hearing all sorts of rumours from the guerrillas,’ she said.
‘Well, I guess most of them are true. We have an army, or at least a division of the army, coming ashore, and we’re going to march on Santiago in a week or so.’
‘I am so glad of that,’ she said.
They gazed at each other, and he kissed her, and sensed a certain stiffness, as if she was regretting her promise. But he had no time to try to discover what the trouble was, and in any event she came with him up into the hills to find Garcia. They reached the guerrilla encampment without difficulty, but most of the men, including the three generals, were away on some raid, as was Toni, and he could only sit down and wait for them to return.
But the thought of Toni going on a guerrilla raid … ‘My little sister sure has changed,’ he remarked, as they sat by the fire that night.
‘We have all changed,’ Christina said. ‘Rafael … ’ she gave a little shiver. ‘He is a self confessed murderer. A rapist and a looter and a torturer. He glories in these things.’
He wondered if that was upsetting her. Well, it certainly should. ‘Is that why he and Toni have, well, virtually separated?’ She made no reply, so he probed further. ‘You know about her and Lisle?’ Because that was another possible reason for her change of mood.
‘She has told me.’
‘Some set up. What does Rafael think about that?’
‘He has not told me.’
He glanced at her. ‘So what do you think about it?’
‘This is a strange time,’ she said. ‘When people do strange things. If … if Jack can make Toni happy, and wishes to do so, then I am happy for them both.’
‘And Rafael?’
‘I don’t think he has ever made Toni happy. And I have told you that he has changed most of all. He has become a bandit, like Garcia. I do not think he can ever become civilised again.’
‘But they are still married.’
‘That is very sad,’ she agreed.
‘You know … ’ he held her hand. ‘I once had the idea that you and Lisle had something going. That maybe that was why you wouldn’t say yes when I first asked you.’
She did not look at him. ‘I said no because I knew what was going to happen to us.’
‘I understand that now. Which is why I am so very glad it’ll soon be over.’
Now she did look at him. ‘Can it ever be over? For us?’
‘For you,’ he said fiercely. ‘For you.’
But, disturbingly, she wouldn't let him make love to her, although they had to wait three days for Garcia and his men to return. Joe had no idea what to make of it, and was so distracted he was only a little relieved to learn that Garcia and Rafael had decided, on their own initiative, to disrupt the railway north of Santiago. Now they were cock-a-hoop with the success of their plan, and regarded him with contemptuous superiority. ‘So, you wish our help after all,' Garcia said. ‘Well, you can tell your generals that we have sealed off Santiago province for him. All he now has to do is engage the Dons.’
‘And win,’ Rafael added.
Joe nodded, keeping his temper with difficulty. ‘He will do that,' he said. ‘He but supposed that for all your broken promises, you might like to take part in the final battle.’ They glared at him, but he continued coolly. ‘If you do not, then I doubt you can hope to form a government here in Santiago.’
‘In Santiago?’ Rafael demanded. ‘We intend to form the government of Cuba.’
‘Not unless you take part in the battle, under American command.’
Rafael snorted, but Garcia said, ‘What does he want us to do?’
‘He wants you to hold your men in readiness in the hills to the north of El Caney,’ Joe said. ‘He will send word to you when his plans are ready, with exact orders as to your dispositions.’
‘Ha,’ Rafael said again.
‘We will wait for you, in the hills north of El Caney,’ Jack Lisle said. He had not previously taken part in the discussion.
Joe nodded. He had already gained the feeling that, however much he might dislike the man, Lisle was the only one who could be relied upon.
Before leaving, he managed to have a moment alone with Toni. ‘Perhaps you could find out what is on Christina’s mind,’ he said. ‘She is the most changeable girl I have ever known.’
Toni chewed her lip for a moment. Then she said, ‘Can you keep a secret?’
‘I would say so.’
‘I mean, really. I want you to promise that no matter what I tell you, you will not mention it to Christina until she herself raises the subject.’
He hesitated, wondering what new and terrible revelation he was about to hear.
‘Promise,’ she insisted.
‘Okay, I promise. So shoot.’
‘Well … she has nothing on her mind, more than usual. But she has something on her stomach.’ She waited for his reaction, and when he didn’t show any, merely raised his eyebrows, she said, ‘She thinks she’s pregnant, goose.’
�
�Pregnant? But … Holy Smoke! How?’
‘Well, if at your age you don’t know how, then I guess you’re both in deep trouble.’ ‘I meant … it’s only just over a month since I was here.’
‘So, she’s missed her period. Sure, I know that’s not conclusive, but apparently it’s never happened to Christina before, not even when she was being half starved in the internment camp. So she naturally supposes that’s it.’
‘And hates me for it?’
‘I think she’s rather happy about it. But I also think she doesn’t want you to know, in case you feel even more obliged to marry her. What do you feel about it?’
‘Me? Why … I’m over the moon.’
‘Then for God’s sake get down there and take Santiago and let’s get some sense back into our lives.’
‘And you?’
‘Some sense into mine as well,’ she said. ‘Whatever is going to happen, I want it to happen sometime soon. Not next year.’
*
The realisation that he was going to be a father only truly sank in as he made his way back down to Daiquiri. Then he wanted to burst into song. That meant that she was irrevocably committed to being his wife. They would have to be married just as soon as this business could be wrapped up. He had hardly been able to restrain himself from telling her that he knew when he had said goodbye, but he managed to, before hurrying back to discover how soon the assault on the forts was due to begin.
He found that things were not going well with the army. The division was still a long way from completing the disembarkation of all the stores and equipment considered necessary to sustain it in the field, while there reconnaissance patrols had been pushed out to the west and encountered the Spanish, the defenders had shown none of the pusillanimity that had been so confidently expected, but had stood their ground and inflicted several casualties. Far more serious, although the troops had only been ashore hardly a week, the first cases of fever had already appeared. To make matters worse, General Shafter had also reported sick, prostrated by the June heat, and had been unable to come ashore at all, although he continued to direct operations from the fleet, which led to considerable delays.
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