“Don’t move!” Sgt. Cooper ordered, pointing his gun with deadly intentions.
“Yes Sir,” came the reply.
As the other six men held bayonets on the two prisoners, Sgt. Cooper stared momentarily at their strange clothes. In all his life, he had never seen such unusual garments before.
“Ya’ll Yankees?” he asked, somewhat puzzled.
“No Sir. We’re from Chattanooga,” came the immediate reply.
“Ya’ll civilians then?” he pressed, still suspicious.
“Yes Sir.”
“Where’s ya’lls weapons,” he persisted.
“We don’t have any.”
“Don’t lie!” Sgt. Cooper blurted loudly. “You’re with that other feller lying dead up there on the hilltop, ain’t ya?”
“No Sir. He was trying to kill us. We were just trying to hide from him.”
“Kill ya, huh? And why would he want to do that?” the sergeant asked, curiously.
Standing six foot one, Brawny, lean and rugged, Geoff could tell Sgt. Cooper was a dangerous man. Staring into his cold brown eyes, Geoff thought hard about his next reply. He looked down to David for an answer. He saw only a man writhing in pain. Looking back to the sergeant, he forced a reply from his mind:
“We trespassed across his land I guess. It must have pissed him off or something. He just started chasing us and wouldn’t let up,” he answered.
“What’s ‘pissing off’?” Sgt. Cooper asked, growing increasingly agitated.
“Sorry, it means made him mad… we must have made him mad by crossing his land without permission,” Geoff explained.
Nervous beads of sweat now developed on his brow as he stared at the gun barrels.
“So that man up there was a Reb too?” the sergeant asked.
Geoff nodded, then replied, “Yeah, I guess so, but I don’t know for sure.”
“Hmm, what’s ya’lls names son?” Sgt. Cooper asked, lowering his guard slightly.
“Geoff Robbins and that’s David Warner.”
Turning to one of his men, he ordered, “Search ‘im!”
A loud moan of pain bellowed from David’s lips. Rolling to his side, he reached back with his hand and pressed on his wound. Instantly, he cried out in pain again.
“My god, he’s been shot!” Geoff shouted, the reality of David’s wound finally registering.
“It appears he has,” Sgt. Cooper replied, seemingly without regard. Turning back to his men, he said, “Search ‘em… search ‘em both.”
“I told you we don’t have any weapons. We’re civilians... and we’re southerners,” Geoff snapped. Looking down at David, he continued, “And aren’t you going to call a doctor or an EMT or something? You shot an innocent man for crying out loud. You can’t just let him die.”
“What’s an EMT?”
“A doctor,” Geoff growled in frustration.
Sgt. Cooper looked down at David, then back to Geoff. He could see there were no weapons between them. Refocusing his attention back to the teen, he read the expression on his face and could tell there was truth. Slowly, a slight smile crossed his lips at the discovery of an able-bodied young man.
Turning to Private Jacobs on his right, he said, “Quickly, inform Lt. Bradford a man’s been wounded. He’ll be needing a doc straight away.”
“Yes sergeant,” Pvt. Jacobs responded.
In an instant, he darted off toward the skirmish line.
“Thank you Sir,” Geoff responded respectfully, then asked, “Do you think he’ll be all right?”
“Don’t know… I ain’t no doc,” Sgt. Cooper replied. Looking down at the blood now saturating David’s shirt, he added, “If he survives the march, I’m guessing he will.”
“The march? How long’s the march?”
“Our post is three hours from here. The doc should be able to patch him up right quick.”
“Three hours!” Geoff blurted loudly. “That’s not right quick. That’s anything but right quick. He could be dead before then.”
Sgt. Cooper nodded. “That’s the nature of our mission, son. We don’t carry around surplus docs in our rucksacks.”
“Dude, I hardly think a doctor is surplus. If you ask me, he’s essential,” Geoff replied in disgusted tone.
“Essential only when a man’s wounded, otherwise he’s surplus,” the sergeant countered.
“Duh… a man IS wounded. I think that makes him essential, doesn’t it?” Geoff snapped, sarcastically.
“Geoff!” David protested through clenched teeth, hoping to silence the angry teen.
Sgt. Cooper studied the young man standing before him. Apart from the teen’s insubordinate tone, something else gnawed at him. Something about the teen seemed odd.
He took a step forward and stared directly into the teen’s eyes. “Boy? You talk funny. I don’t believe you’re from Chattanoogi,” he said, coldly.
“Of course I am. Why would you say that?” Geoff responded.
“Cuz I’m from Knoxville and we all don’t talk like you do. You sound more like a Yankee than a Reb. You sure you ain’t no Yankee?”
“I’m no Yankee. I’m from Chattanooga,” Geoff insisted.
“Hmm… well that don’t really tell me much now, don’t it?” Sgt Cooper replied, growing increasingly suspicious. “Specifically, where ya’ll from? Where’s ya’lls home?”
“Well… it’s kind of hard to explain…”
“Try.”
“My home isn’t there anymore.”
“Really? So where did it go? Did it just disappear like a fart in the wind?” the sergeant responded sarcastically, now snickering to his men.
“It got washed away in a flood.”
“A flood, huh… Son, we ain’t had no flood lately.”
“You’re wrong, there was. We were living in a shack on the edge of the river and it got washed away. That’s why we’re wandering,” Geoff said, pointing to David, feebly trying to talk his way out of the jam.
“Interesting… along the edge of the river, huh? Well that shouldn’t be too hard to find. Why don’t we’all just have a look see, shall we?” Turning to his men, he called out, “Franklin, Meier, take the boy here to the Chattanoogi and confirm his story. Shouldn’t take y’all too long seeing how’s the river is just a short distance away.”
“Yes sergeant,” both privates answered.
David struggled to speak.
“Sir, the kid’s not telling you the truth,” he said started, his voice low and weak. “The reason is, we both escaped from a jail in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He didn’t want you sending us back, so he made up that story. We may be drifters, but we’re definitely not Yankees.”
“Is this true?” the sergeant asked of the surprised teen.
“Yes Sir,” Geoff responded reluctantly, now glaring down at David in frustration.
Sgt. Cooper stared at both men. A smile crossed his face.
“So what did ya’ll do?” he asked of Geoff.
“We stole some food…” David blurted out through gritted teeth, cutting off Geoff before he could speak. “We were hungry and we stole some pies. That’s all… just pies.”
“Pie thievin’, huh?” Sgt Cooper mocked. “Watch ‘em boys. These are dangerous men.”
As the laughter died down, he continued.
“Well drifters, good thing y’all ain’t Yankees. I would’ve kilt ya here on the spot,” he said in grim tone. Pointing his loaded weapon for effect, he continued “But seeing how y’all are both on the run and you ain’t no blue-bellies, I’m sure you ain’t got no objections to fighting for the proud Confederate army, do ya?”
“But he’s wounded?” Geoff countered.
“You’re right. I could just leave ‘im here with the local sheriff or I could march ‘im to our post where the doc ‘ill fix ‘im up. You two ain’t scared of killing off Yankee scum, are ya?” the sergeant asked, now staring directly at Geoff.
Geoff swallowed hard. This was the exact scenario he was trying t
o avoid. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off…
“We’ll take the job,” David shouted, through clenched teeth.
“I figgered. Ya’ll wouldn’t have liked the alternative.”
“What was the alternative?” Geoff asked, warily.
“I wouldn’t have sent ‘im off to no stupid sheriff,” Sgt. Cooper responded coldly. Pointing his pistol, he mimicked firing at David. “I would’ve kilt ‘im here on the spot.”
Nodding in understanding, Geoff’s eyes conveyed his message: no further words were needed.
-----*-----*-----*-----
Chapter 6
Lt. Bradford sat high in his saddle and led his men along the Chattanooga River. Following the well-worn trail, he kept a careful watch for the enemy while maintaining a swift pace of four miles an hour through enemy territory.
Following at the rear of the column, David struggled to keep up. With each step he took, the muscles around his wound flexed and went into spasm, sending a jolt of pain throughout his body. Blood trickled through his fingers as he applied compression to the stem the flow and as time passed, it dried to his hand in sticky clumps. As the minutes ticked by and his strength weakened, he watched the column of soldiers pull farther ahead, leaving him further behind. Anxiety grew rapidly within him as he noticed the troubled stare of the sergeant monitoring his progress further up the line.
Marching closely behind the soldiers, Geoff watched the man’s boots in front of him, taking care not to follow too close. Aside from the sound of heavy footsteps, the column of men was quiet, leaving him to his thoughts. As he marched, his mind drifted off to his now deceased brother. Graphic images of the horrific event raced through his mind and he once again, was overcome by emotion. A tear trickled down his face as he pictured his brother’s mangled body tragically crushed inside the car. Wiping the drop from his face, the sergeant took notice and frowned unsympathetically. Seeing the sergeant’s expression, Geoff immediately straightened his posture and marched with purpose. With a simple nod, the sergeant conveyed his approval.
Sgt. Cooper eyed his men as he marched alongside the column. Moving up and down the line, he ensured the efficiency and speed of their progress. As gaps in the formation began to appear, he called attention to the lagging soldier with a “gentle” tap, encouraging the man to tighten his position within the rank. Looking toward the rear, he noticed David falling further behind. Quickly, he spun on his heels and hurried to his position.
Seeing the sergeant rushing past him, Geoff stopped to take notice.
“Keep moving,” Sgt. Cooper ordered sternly.
Instantly, Geoff turned back to the column and hurried back in line. Looking over his shoulder, he observed the sergeant with curiosity.
“Keep a-movin’. You’re falling too far behind,” Sgt Cooper ordered to David in a hushed, yet forceful tone. “We all cain’t tolerate stragglers on this here patrol… too dangerous, ya here?”
“Yes Sir,” David replied through gritted teeth. “I’m doing my best, but I’m losing a lot of blood. I feel the onset of shock developing. If I move much faster, I’m afraid I might collapse.”
“I’m sure you’re right, but it don’t matter none. If you don’t keep up, we all ‘ill have to leave ya behind,” he responded, raising his hand to his holstered pistol.
David’s eyes shifted to the weapon, then back to the sergeant’s eyes. He could see determination in them. With a slow deliberate nod, he responded:
“Understood.”
Suddenly, a low volume laugh sounded further up the line. Sgt. Cooper turned back to the column of men, searching for the offending soldier. Before hurrying off, he glared back at David in warning, then raced toward the front of the line.
David took a deep breath and exhaled. Holding his wound even tighter, he began to walk once more. Within several steps, he quickened his pace. In seconds, he caught up to the column and held his position next to Geoff.
Looking over at David, Geoff instinctively felt offended by the presence of someone he disliked. As he observed David’s appearance, he could see the ashen color on his face and the beads of sweat that rolled from his brow. His eyes glanced down toward David’s hand and noticed the caked blood that clung to his fingers. Looking up, he could see the terrible pain David was suffering and for a moment, forgot his feelings of contempt.
“Bad?” Geoff asked, sympathetically.
“At this pace, yes,” David nodded.
Geoff swallowed hard. Aside from seeing the death of his brother the day before, he had never seen another person in that kind of distress and the sight of it disturbed him deeply.
“They won’t let you rest?” Geoff asked, incredulously.
David winced in pain, then shook his head. “Uh uh. If I fall too far behind, he’ll shoot me.”
Geoff’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Man, that’s bullshit,” he responded in an angry whisper. “They shot you. They should cut you some slack.”
“I’m guessing they will once we’re clear of enemy territory, but until then…” David responded cryptically.
Geoff scanned nervously for the sergeant. He could see him halfway up the line. As he watched, he heard the sound of exhaling beside him. Turning back, he watched David now expelling heavy breaths of air with each footstep he took.
“Dude, you alright?” he asked aloud, his emotions now getting the best of him.
With the loud exclaim, Sgt Cooper dashed to the rear of the column. Looking angrily at the two, he grabbed his holster and growled, “I ain’t telling ya twice. Keep it quiet or there’ll be trouble.”
“Sir, he needs to rest. Even a minute would help,” Geoff countered in a low respectful tone.
Sgt Cooper stared at David for a moment as he marched beside him. David’s loud exhales and his gasps of pain were too much noise for the sergeant’s tolerance. Lifting his gray woolen coat, he withdrew a long knife from another holster hidden beneath his garment. He stared sympathetically at the two for a moment, then spoke.
“I won’t risk all these boy’s lives on one noisy feller… especially if he’s wounded and wanted by the law.”
Geoff’s eyes widened. His mind raced frantically as he watched the sergeant move closer to David.
“Sir… wait!” Geoff blurted loudly. “What if I help him? What if I help carry him along? If he leans on me, he won’t have to work so hard. He’ll breathe quieter and won’t make a sound… I promise. If he does, you can kill him then, but give him a chance at least,” he implored.
Sgt Cooper thought about the proposal. He studied Geoff’s face for a moment and noticed fierce determination registered across it. With a slight nod, he stowed his knife in its sheath.
“Ok, you can help ‘im… but keep it quiet back here,” he said sternly.
“Thank you Sir,” Geoff responded sincerely.
As the sergeant hurried back up the line, Geoff grabbed David’s arm and draped it across his shoulders, holding it on the other side. David leaned into Geoff and began to walk. With a large portion of his load now gone, his movements felt less pained and he breathed with less effort.
“Any better?” Geoff asked.
“Yeah, a lot better,” David said through labored breaths. “I really appreciate this.”
“You owe me,” Geoff responded bluntly.
David stopped for a moment and stared, trying to obtain a read on the young man’s face. There was no mistaking the cold expression that marked his resentment.
“Geoff, I’m a little confused. If you dislike me so much, why are you helping me?”
“Dude, just because I don’t like you, doesn’t mean I want to see you take a shank in the chest. Jeeze!” he responded acidly, struggling to keep his angry voice to a low whisper. “Maybe if you had shown my brother the same decency, he’d still be alive right now.”
“Geoff, I don’t know how else to say this… I didn’t give up on your brother.” David thought about adding more to the discussion, but r
ealized the danger in their conversation. Quickly, he added, “Maybe we should talk about this later, when we don’t have a sergeant breathing down our necks.”
“Whatever,” he responded coldly.
David turned his focus to the front and concentrated on his movements. With each step he took, he leaned into Geoff and thrust his weight forward. Shifting his weight to Geoff again, he stepped forward with his other foot, repeating the process over and over. An hour later, with the flow of blood now reduced to a small trickle, David felt less pain. Still supported by Geoff, he marched along with greater strength as they passed from enemy territory and into the safety of Confederate controlled land.
Prisoner in Time (Time travel) Page 12