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. He smiled. I'll put Euphemism in charge of stowing it.He seems anhonest sort. His smile turned wolvish. And the others will watch him, ofcourse." Very good, sir, said Tyrus.Jase looked up at Faren Smith, who cradled his Whitworth rifle in his arms. Mr.Smith, he said, anyone who fails to follow my instructions is clearlyattempting to cheat his fellow crewmen and the Government.Your job is toshoot anyone who disobeys my orders."Smith smiled. With pleasure, sir, he said.Jase handed the Chief the bag of coins. Chief Tyrus, he said, carry on." Sir. Tyrus saluted, turned, and began walking down the trail to the ram.Jase and Melia followed at a more leisurely pace. Can you trust these men? she asked. I have to trust them sooner or later, Jase said. If I trust them now, it'sless likely that later I'll wake up later with a slit throat."Jase crossed to the ram to rig a pair of slings that would carry the money tothe ram, and also to brief Euphemism concerning how to ballast a ship withgold and silver.An armed guard was posted on Arcola's bilges, with a pettyofficer and Euphemism to guard the guards.A pair of crewmen armed with carbines accompanied Jase and Melia to Helius,where he planned to set up a lookout for General Bee.Helius proved to be amodest frame plantation house set amid overgrown cotton fields. Our overseer joined the army and got killed at Pea Ridge, Melia said asJase helped her over the rail fence that surrounded the property. Mrs.Overby, hisfile:///F|/rah/Walter%20Jon%20Williams/Williams,%20Walter%20Jon%20-%20Argonautica.txt (38 of 52) [7/17/03 11:24:50 PM]file:///F|/rah/Walter%20Jon%20Williams/Williams,%20Walter%20Jon%20-%20Argonautica.txt wife, tried to run the place till the Yankees came, said the fieldhands were contraband of war, and carried them off.Mrs.Overby went toHelena, where she had kin, but her last letter said there were a few servantsremaining.Folks too old to leave or too feeble, I suppose, to help theYankees with their designs."Miss Melia proved correct.There were five elderly blacks living on theproperty, three women and two men tending the little vegetable garden they'dPage 43 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlplanted for their own sustenance. Melia set them to cleaning the main housewhile Jase took his men across overgrown lawns to the landing, and posted themon a point nearby with a good view of the river.They carried carbines andflags to signal to General Bee if the tug appeared.When Jase returned, he found the covers taken off the furniture in the frontparlor, and Melia sitting on the sofa drinking water from a tin cup. TheYankees took the silver and the china, she said, but they couldn't take ourspring water.Would you like some?" Thank you, Jase said.He took the cup from her fingers and sipped.There waswhisky in the water.She patted the sofa cushion next to her. Please sit down, captain." Thank you."He removed his pistol belt and sat.She had taken off the smoked spectacles,andJase noticed that her pupils were something like normal size.Perhaps shedidn't need her morning glory seeds today, not with the stimulus of goldrunning through her veins. I would offer you dinner, she said, but there's nothing.The Yankees atethe livestock and ran through our stores all Helius can offer are some driedpeas, salt pork, corn dodgers, and a quart of Bourbon I retrieved from myfather's desk.You'd probably rather have your Navy ration." Your father has better whisky, Jase said. He never believed in rationing his own pleasures." I look forward, said Jase, to following his example.I've been poor all mylife, and I plan to spend the rest of my life enjoying the contrast." Melia looked at him. I know people who could spend that money in a year."Jase shook his head. They must be people without any imagination."She smiled. I didn't think you were the sort to spend it foolishly.I wish myfiancé had that sort of drive."He looked at her in surprise. You're engaged to be married?"One small hand floated to touch the globe of an elegant glass oil lamp,drifted idly over the inscribed glass figure of a horseman. A planter's son.Good manners, a fine horseman, a splendid dancer.Rich, of course.Tall,broad-shouldered, handsome.But one day it occurred to me that this was all hewas, that if you took away his manners and his horses and his mansion housethere would be nothing left.He had no character or ideas that didn't comewith his situation.He wasn't a bad man, or even a weak man he was just,just nothing.Tailored clothing stuffed with straw. Amusement tweaked herlips. So I broke off the engagement it was a great scandal, another reason for meto avoid the society of Natchez and Vicksburg and later my beau became engagedto my sister Harpina.He joined the army last year, and was captured at FortDonelson."And now Harpina was offering herself to strange officers while her intendedwaited behind prison walls. The poor man, Jase smiled.She leaned back on the sofa, took the whisky-spiked water from his hand. You're not like him at all, she said. Take away your commission, yourArcola, your share of the treasure and you would still be yourself.JaseMiller.As, if every one of my father's plantations burned tomorrow, I wouldstill be Melia. She stared boldly into Jase's eyes. Melia, who knows whatshe wants."Jase took her in his arms and drew her closer. What do you want, Miss Melia? he asked. I want for certain, she said, and for ever. He pressed his mouth to hersbefore she could say more.file:///F|/rah/Walter%20Jon%20Williams/Williams,%20Walter%20Jon%20-%20Argonautica.txt (39 of 52) [7/17/03 11:24:50 PM]Page 44 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfile:///F|/rah/Walter%20Jon%20Williams/Williams,%20Walter%20Jon%20-%20Argonautica.txt23.The appearance of the Colchian fleetJase, some hours later, decided to return to Arcola and make certain thespecie transfer was going as scheduled.He was in the parlor, buttoning hisjacket, when he looked out the window and saw his lookout running to thehouse.He ran to the hall and opened the door. Sir! one shouted. Yankees!Yankee gunboats!" Run to the boat! Jase said. Tell Chief Tyrus!"Jase ran to the landing and saw, parading before his eyes, most of the Federalstrength on the river.There were four Eads ironclads, black and beetle-shapedon the water, and a pair of lean Ellet rams.A commodore's pendant flew fromone of the ironclads, so that meant Flag Officer Davis was attending to thismatter himself.Led by the rams, the Federal squadron came down the river in along line, then neatly anchored bow and stern close to the Mississippi shore.Jase watched the squadron through binoculars and wondered what Davis had inmind.The Yanks were looking for Arcola, he reckoned, but if they knew whereshe was hiding, why were they anchored peacefully across the river? The Yankeecrews were deploying awnings and walking casually on the casemates.Rowboatscarried visitors from one boat to the next
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