Rally Cry (56 page)

The Tugar commander paused at the top of the hill and beckoned. Two of his warriors came out, and leaping from their mounts, untied the ropes around the arms of two humans.
Looking back, Muzta stood in his stirrups, and raising his head back, he.
gave
a long ululating cry that spoke of pain and sorrow. Rearing his mount up, he disappeared over the hill, the two guards galloping off behind him.

Tears clouding his eyes, Andrew watched as she came running down the hill.

He jumped from his mount and dashed forward, shouting with joy as Kathleen leaped into his arms. Oblivious to the thousands who watched, the two sobbed in each other's arms, whispering, laughing, and again crying.

"I never thought I'd see you again," Andrew said, wiping away his tears.

"I never thought I'd see you again," she said, holding him close.

"I want Father Casmar to marry us right now," Andrew said, his heart bursting with joy. "I never want to be separated from you ever again."

Nodding, she kissed him again. There was another shout of joy beside them as Tanya dashed
forward,
flinging herself into
Hawthorne's outstretched arms.

Andrew looked over at the young man whose eyes now looked so terribly old.

Andrew stepped over to him and extended his hand.

"How are you, son?"

"I think I'll be all right, sir,"
Hawthorne whispered.

"You saved us all," Andrew said.

"But at what price, sir?"

"There's always a price," Andrew replied. "I wish the world, any world, were different. But here and now there was a price for what we are, and you paid it. Remember that as you watch your children grow—let us hope in peace. Someone has to bear the nightmare so others may gently sleep."

"After they took me prisoner, it was Muzta who ordered me saved," Vincent whispered. "It was a strange thing, sir. Last night he told me a good many things about the Tugars, their ancestors, even about the tunnel of light that brought us here from earth. When we've got time, sir, I'd like to tell you."

"First we need a long rest, and time with our loved ones," Andrew said quietly. "Then there'll be plenty of time to talk."

Andrew looked again at Kathleen and smiled. Now with her love perhaps the nightmares would finally go away.

Together the two couples started back across the field, their friends circling in around them.

Eagerly Kal reached out, taking
Hawthorne's hand, while all about them the regiment gathered, shouting with joy.

"So when do we get our constitution?" Kal asked, looking up shrewdly at Andrew.

"I said I'd only run things till the war was finished," Andrew replied.

"Excellent. Tell me, Andrew Keane, were you thinking of running for president?"

The men of the regiment started to howl with delight.

"Honest Keane!" they shouted.
"Republicans for Keane!"

Andrew looked about, shaking his head.

"Well, one way or another there's going to be a one-armed war hero as president," Kal replied, his features aglow. "As of today I'm forming a Democratic Party and running for president of the
Republic
of
Rus.
"

Leaning back, Andrew roared with delight, not even realizing that he was laughing for the first time in months.

Reaching out with his right hand, he grabbed Kal's left.

"I knew you were a politician the first time I set eyes on you," Andrew said happily.

"And this manifest destiny thing," Kal said. "Why, I was thinking with that steam train we could sweep democracy and freedom out around the world, following a transcontinental railroad."

Stunned, Andrew looked over at Hawthorne, who shrugged his shoulders, trying to feign innocence over the leaking o* that bit of information.

"First I think we have a new republic to build right here," Andrew said, pointing back to the city. "And it's time we began."

And together the group started back up the hill, where eagerly the people of Rus, and those who had come to join them, joyfully greeted their first day of peace and newfound freedom.

William Forstchen, born in 1950, was raised in
New Jersey
but has spent most of his life in
Maine
. Having worked for more than a decade as a history teacher, an education consultant on creative writing, and a Living History reenactor of the Civil War period, Bill is now a graduate student in military history at
Purdue
University
in
Indiana
.

When not writing or studying, he devotes his time to the promotion of the peaceful exploration of space or to one of his numerous hobbies which include iceboating (a challenge in
Indiana
), scuba diving (an even greater challenge in
Indiana
), and pinball machines.

Rally Cry (1991
)
The
Union Forever (1991)
Terrible Swift Sword (1992)
Fateful Lightning (1992)

Battle Hymn (1996
)
Never Sound Retreat (1997)
A Band of Brothers (1998)
Men of War (1999)
Down to the Sea (2000)