Django Wexler - The Thousand Names

The colonel moved. He sent the knife skittering over the dirt toward Winter, between Davis’ legs. At the same time he twisted, lashing out with a kick that caught the big sergeant precisely in the back of the knee.

Davis bellowed again, one leg folding up involuntarily, and his arms windmilled as he toppled forward. He caught himself before he hit the ground, held up on hands and knees, half over Winter.

She forced herself to move, in spite of the protests from her abused body. Her hand found the knife and ripped off the sheath. It was a short blade, not really a fighting knife at all, but Davis was right there , gaping at her, the apple of his throat bobbing stupidly-

“Take the knife,” Jane said, as though instructing a friend in how to carve a roast. “Put the point of it about here”-she raised her head and put a finger on her throat, just under her chin-“and press in, upward, as hard as you can.”

Winter obeyed.

• • •

She didn’t recall cutting the colonel free, but she must have. The next thing she remembered was sitting huddled on the floor, arms hugging her knees to her chest, and the colonel was bending solicitously at her side.

“Lieutenant?” When that elicited no response, he bent a little closer. “Winter?”

She blinked, looking up. Colonel Vhalnich gave a quick smile and offered her a canteen.

“Water?”

Winter took it shakily and fumbled with the cap. Once she got it open she took a long pull, wincing at the pain in her jaw, and spat a pink stream into the dirt. Her mouth still tasted of blood, but she downed the rest in a single greedy swallow.

“You look quite a mess,” the colonel said. “Are you badly hurt?”

Her brain was slowly starting to function again. “I-” More blood dripped off her upper lip. She wiped her hand across her face and it came away crimson. “Think he broke my nose.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to intervene. As you saw, he had me at something of a disadvantage.”

“The others,” Winter said, suddenly cold. “What about Folsom and the others?”

“Folsom?” The colonel cocked his head. “Ah, the corporal commanding Captain d’Ivoire’s guard. They’re in the other tent with the captain, I believe, along with Miss Alhundt. We’ve really been treated quite well, all things considered. Although the captain was worried about Lieutenant Warus.”

“He’s all right,” Winter said. “They were going to kill him, but I got to him first.”

“Remarkable,” the colonel said. “You are an officer of considerable resource, I think.”

Winter struggled to her feet. The edges of her torn shirt flapped against her skin, where they weren’t gummed tight with blood. “We had better let them out.”

“They’ll keep a few moments longer.” There was a hint of amusement in the colonel’s gray eyes. “First of all, I suggest that you button your jacket.”

Oh. Winter looked down at herself, too numb to feel embarrassment. She closed the buttons slowly, her fingers feeling clumsy and fat. Only when she was finished did she look back up at the colonel. He raised an eyebrow.

“I knew, of course.”

“Of course,” Winter said, deadpan. “Of course you knew. Everybody knows.” A hysterical giggle escaped, in spite of the pain it brought from her ribs. “You’re all just pretending not to notice, for my sake, aren’t you? It’s a big practical joke. I might as well walk through the camp naked, since everyone fucking already knows -”

“I doubt that would be a good idea,” the colonel said. “I’ve been making something of a study of you, Lieutenant, and I don’t think I flatter myself too much if I say that I am more observant than the average soldier. As far as I can tell, your secret remains unrevealed.”

“Except to the commander of the whole regiment,” Winter said bitterly. “Wonderful.”

“I’m not planning to mention it to anyone else,” the colonel said, “if you were worried on that score.”

Winter paused, watching his impassive expression. Her thoughts felt slow and diffuse, and her head throbbed with every heartbeat, but she gritted her teeth and forced herself to focus. What the hell is he talking about? Bobby was one thing, but this was the colonel .

“I. .” She shook her head. “Why?”

“Firstly, it would seem to be an ungracious response to your saving my life.” He gestured at the facedown body of Davis. “While Captain Roston was concerned with preserving a veneer of legality, I’m certain the senior sergeant would have prevailed on him eventually that his captives were too dangerous to be allowed to live.”

“I didn’t come here to save you,” Winter said. “I came for my men.”

“I guessed as much,” he said. “It doesn’t change the outcome. And, secondly, I’ve remained silent this long because I feel you show considerable promise as an officer. The army needs more like you, not fewer, the fact of your gender notwithstanding. Your stand on the docks at the river was. . inspired.” Another fleeting smile. “I suspect that few among the army officers are as pragmatic as I am, however. Thus, it is best that your secret remain a secret.” He chuckled. “In particular, I suggest you keep it from Captain d’Ivoire. He has old-fashioned ideas when it comes to gallantry and would feel compelled to hustle you away for your own protection.”

“So you’re just. . not going to say anything?” She was having a hard time wrapping her mind around the concept.

“I’m going to thank you for stopping an attempted mutiny,” he said. “And probably promote you in the bargain, once we’ve gotten clear of our current difficulties.”

“We haven’t stopped anything yet,” Winter said. “Captain Roston-”

“Let me worry about Captain Roston,” the colonel said. “We’ll collect Captain d’Ivoire and your men, and then I think you’re due for a rest.”

She was too tired to protest, or even ask questions. It felt good to have someone else giving orders for a change. And she had to admit it suited him. She would never have known from the colonel’s demeanor that he’d been bound and gagged just minutes before. His thin face was animated, and something in the depths of his eyes made him seem on the edge of a smile that never quite appeared. He looks happy . She couldn’t imagine why.

He walked to the tent flap, held it open. “After you, Lieutenant.”

Winter drew herself up, in spite of the pain, and saluted. “Yes, sir !”

MARCUS

Marcus’ wrists chafed where he was bound. They’d used ordinary camp rope, thick and rough, and try as he might to hold still, the edges scraped painfully against his skin. At least he hadn’t been gagged.

Jen, as a woman, had been spared the indignity; Adrecht remained a gentleman. The same could not be said of the Second Company man Sergeant Davis had left to watch the prisoners, who spent entirely too long staring thoughtfully at the Concordat liaison.

They were in a large tent, empty except for a few makeshift writing desks. Marcus and Jen had a corner to themselves, while the corporal and rankers who’d been taken along with the colonel sat in a huddle on the other side.

Adrecht himself hadn’t had the stomach to face to the prisoners, which gave Marcus a little bit of hope to cling to. He knows he shouldn’t be doing this. If I could only talk to him, I could make him understand. Unfortunately, Adrecht seemed to have delegated his captives to Davis, and Marcus harbored no illusions about his rationality.

Fucking Davis. I should have had him strung up long ago. He’d known how awful the man was, even in Colonel Warus’ day, but back then it hadn’t been his problem. Besides, petty cruelty and thuggery were practically a sergeants’ tradition. But not mutiny.