Scraps & Chum (21 page)

“
It is taken care of,
”
Paul said.
“
Now go!
”
He slapped their horses and they bolted into the darkness.

It took but a moment to return to the town, where even more people were now out running around. Women were crying and hugging their husbands, men were loading guns; dogs barked, horses whinnied. Paul grabbed a young boy who was running by with a rifle, yanked him to a stop. The boy was afraid, his inexperience with war plainly visible in his eyes.
“
The Tavern?
”
Paul asked.
“
Don
’
t stand there, boy, tell me where the tavern is!
”

“
Over here.
”

Paul grabbed two more men with guns and beckoned them to help. Together, the four of them entered the dark tavern.
“
Spread out and find the trunk,
”
Paul ordered.
“
Don
’
t waste time!
”

The four of them stumbled around in the dark, knocking into tables and chairs, muttering curses as they banged their shins. From the back room the boy
’
s voice called out: 
“
Over here. I found it!
”

All four men were there in a heartbeat, staring at the large trunk filled with records of the Sons of Liberty.
“
We must carry it out of here and arrange to get it to Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams. Help me with it.
”

***

A new smell was in the air. The smell of a thousand humans from somewhere else. The beast lifted its head out of the tall weeds, the chicken blood on its nose congealed and cold, and looked toward the woods it recently came through. Visible within the criss-crossed limbs, a sea of red was marching.

Somewh
ere in the recesses of its eons-
old brain, it knew not to bother the red humans. Somehow it knew they were off limits. It didn
’
t know how it knew these things, it just knew.

Slinking through the grass, it moved further away from the town. Its prey was still close by, but it would have to wait even longer now.

***

“
Pick it up!
”
Paul shouted.
“
We have to hurry!
”

The four men struggled with the heavy trunk as they carried it up a dirt road toward the woods.  If I keep exerting myself, thought Paul, I
’
ll never last the night. I
’
ve come too far to give up now.

William appeared on horseback, leading Brown Beauty alongside by her rein.
“
Paul!
”
h
e shouted.
“
Paul!  They
’
re here!
”

Paul and his workers dropped the trunk. Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. They all looked back toward the other end of town, where
the
morning
’s
sun was just climbing over the horizon, not yet high enough to reveal the approaching army.

“
The men are gathering on the field.
”
William said. He was doused in mud and wet with sweat, but he was strangely calm, eager even.

“
We have to get north, warn the others,
”
Paul replied.
“
Quickly men, heave!
”

They picked up the trunk once more and carried it uphill.

***

It was slinking around the field, staying close to the trees. Many men had gathered in the field, each holding
the same type of weapon that had wounded
its chest hours before. Too many men
with too many weapons. The situation was growing worse. Better to get away from this threat. It moved slowly, working its way toward the north

***

The morning sun crested the horizon, spilling gold over the moist green and brown field. The air was damp and cold, the smell of birch and oak pungent. Men of varying ages, from boys to seniors, stood still as the fog swirled around their feet. A sea of red jackets marched their way, trampling the beginnings of spring
’
s grass back to dirt. In the trees, a single bird began the first song of the morning; the last song some of the men would ever hear.

The sea of red made its way through the town, leaving a trail of cries and screams in its wake, then marched onto the field and stopped. In tiers, the enemy positioned itself for battle, the men in front dropping to their knees, the men in back pointing their guns over the heads of the front row.

Several seconds passed and nobody was sure what to do.

Then, it was a Regular who saw movement in the trees past the Rebels. Something dark and low lurking just out of view. So they want to fight dirty and sneak up on us, the man thought. With a flex of his finger, he fired at the figure in the trees, his shaking hands causing the bullet to veer at an angle and strike one of the rebel
’
s instead.

Lead pellets cut the air and men began to fall.

***

Paul and William jerked at the noise. Not far away, the Battle of Lexington Green had begun. How many men will die today, Paul wondered. And do they realize what they are dying for?  And a final thought: I am terrified.
“
You three, get the trunk to John and Sam. William,
—
”

“
We have work yet to do. I know. Let
’
s hurry.
”

Mounting Brown Beauty once more, Paul sympathized with the mare
’
s obvious fatigue. But he was in desperate need of her agility. Should the men on the field fall to the Regulars, the next stop would be Concord, where the munitions cache lay in hiding.

The two horses pounded over the frozen ground, racing with an urgency they could not understand. The woods closed in on them as the trails narrowed and became a few single paths northward. The chill air was warming ever so slightly, but the remaining fog was still cold.

“
They arrived faster than I thought,
”
William said over the rapid hoof
beats.

“
Lexington will hold them for a few,
”
Paul replied,
“
but they will be close behind.
”

“
Should we find a blockade, I stand at your side. You know that.
”

“
No, should we be blocked one of us must draw all attention so that the other can ride on. Promise me!
”

Both men agreed.

It was then a horse carrying a lanky man came barreling around a curve in the trail, narrowly missing the riders. Both men reared and up and nearly fell off their steeds.
“
What the hell!
”
shouted Paul.

The new man diverted his horse into the woods and rode behind the trees, pulling his weapon. Paul and William drew their guns and aimed but the thick lattice work of birch and maple branches offered only slivers of the man.

“
There he is!
”
s
houted William.

“
Show yourself!
”

“
I can
’
t get a shot.
”

“
There!
”

From out of the trees, the man suddenly appeared with his rifle aimed at Paul. All three men bared their teeth, flexed their stomach muscles. It was Paul who shouted.

“
Nobody shoot!
”

Everyone held their weapons out, nobody daring to move. The man on the horse broke the silence.

“
Dr. Samuel Prescott,
”
he said,
“
and you are?
”

Paul nodded.
“
Paul Revere. This here is William Dawes.
”

“
Ah. I
’
ve heard of you
,
Mr. Revere.
”

“
Have you now?
”

“
Of course. I too am a patriot. Your name gets around.
”

“
You damn near killed us there.
”

“
Many apologies. I did not expect to see anyone on the road.
”

“
You
’
re aware the Regulars are right now fighting in Lexington. Why are you riding about?
”

“
I was…visiting…a friend. Something came up. It was better for me to leave.
”

“
Ha!
”
exclaimed William.
“
I
’
m not dense, you know. You and your lady friend w
ere caught with your pants down?
By her husband
,
I assume.
”

The three men laughed. In the distance there was a low explosion. The horses became uneasy and walked in circles and the laughter died on the spot.

“
Time for jokes later,
”
Paul said.
“
We
’
re off to Concord. I
’
ll not have these Regular scum taking our stores.
”

“
Concord, huh?
”
Prescott rubbed his chin.
“
Well I
’
m not welcome in Lexington, that
’
s for sure. But I
’
m headed to Concord myself.
”