Assassins of History- Transference Page 17
Daphne’s fanning motion created a rather furious current of air that she was applying to her face and neck. My heart was finally slowing down to some semblance of normalcy.
To cover for the awkwardness, I cleared my throat and asked, “Do ya have an occasion to visit Shepherdstown?”
She turned to me and smiled. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. My aunt lives there and our family has visited her a few times during tha last few years. Although she is younger than my father, she has a breathing problem and we periodically drop in to see if we can help her. She is attended by her widowed daughter and a few servants.”
”If I may inquire, what are their names? I responded.
“Mrs. Mumma is my aunt’s name and Mrs. Douglas, her daughter, is my cousin’s name” she replied. The latter name piqued my interest.
“Was yar cousin’s husband kin to Henry Kyd Douglas?” I gently solicited.
“Why, yes. Her husband was a younger brother of Henry. His name was William and he died a year ago in a boating accident near Hagerstown,” she returned.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I know it must have been a shock to tha family,” I rejoined.
“Yes, it was a tragedy and was a sorrow especially felt by my brother Tom. He was quite close to William,” she added.
We had reached the back door of the house. As I gallantly put my right hand under her left elbow to guide her up the stairs to the back door, I suddenly felt a hand of iron grip my right shoulder and Ahab in a booming baritone voice stated, “Ya don’t touch Miss Daphne.”
Chapter 9
I don’t know what came over me. It could have been years of pent up aggression, the frustration and confusion of my transference, the fact that my person had been violated or that I had been wrongly assaulted for such a gentlemanly act. In reality, it must have been a combination of all these factors because I let loose with a primal scream and simply reacted out of habit.
Daphne had already stepped up to the threshold of the back door and was out of harm’s way. So I let go of her elbow with my right hand and clamped down on Ahab’s hand with my left. This held Ahab’s hand in place as I turned quickly to my right to face him. It was fortunate that Ahab had grabbed me with his right hand. My turning to the right had crimped his right wrist. He conveniently moved in a circle to his right to relieve the pressure on his wrist. In response, I continued to move to my right in a tighter circle so that I ended up behind his right elbow. Once in that position I just looped my left elbow over his extended right arm, rotated his right arm until I could see his palm, and went to my knees.
I heard a crack and a cry of pain. I knew that I had either broken his right wrist or right arm. I let go of his hand and arm, but quickly shifted both of my hands to the back of his right elbow and pushed his arm down to the ground while putting all my weight on his extended right appendage. In a jiffy he was face down on the ground and yelling bloody murder.
We were quickly joined by the Newcomer household. One of them had a lantern and everyone was asking what all the uproar was about.
The Dark Mage’s Log: Earth 3 Date: 18620918
Jargunn suddenly heard all the commotion. He informed Lord Dendaras that something significant had transpired and he needed to see what it was and report back. Ending the conversation and reinstituting his cloaking device, he advanced as close as possible to the uproar in the back of the Newcomer home.
I had reacted so quickly I didn’t know what had happened to Daphne. I searched the scene for her and saw her at the edge of the lantern light. Looking from the backdoor threshold, she was white as a sheet with one hand clenched in a fist over her mouth and the other hand on her chest as if she was experiencing a heart attack. Her eyes were wide with terror while looking at me kneeling on Ahab’s arm and hearing his yells. She seemed to be regarding me like a horror from some deep dark dungeon meting out torture to her family body guard.
Ahab was yelling that his wrist was broken and to let him up. Mr. Newcomer put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Let him go.”
I released Ahab’s arm and stood up. I backed away five paces and went up on the balls of my feet ready for his attack, which I expected to happen immediately. Ahab got to his feet holding his wrist and stared at me with a hate that could have burned a cauldron of demons. I knew I had just made an enemy that would find any way he could to kill me in recompense.
Mr. Newcomer said for Bessie to attend to Ahab and told the rest of us to go into the house. Bessie and Ahab retired toward the kitchen, but I made sure that Ahab was moving away from me before I followed the Newcomers into the house.
We all retired to the parlor and settled down in the sofas and chairs. I noted that Daphne had taken a seat in a chair on the far side of the parlor from me and was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Mrs. Newcomer was sitting next to Daphne and trying to comfort her. The boys were planted on a sofa and staring at me with a kind of curiosity. I could just almost hear their thoughts, “How did this small man get tha best of Ahab.”
Mr. Newcomer went to the spirits cabinet and poured a glass of wine for Daphne and glasses of brandy for him and me. This time the boys were left out of getting their smidgen of booze. He took the wine to Daphne, who took a few quick sips. Daphne began to get some color back in her cheeks and rein in her fear. Mr. Newcomer then handed me the freshly poured elixir without looking me in the eye. He turned back to stare at Daphne a moment and then asked, “What in tha name of all that’s holy happened out there?”
She quickly dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief and bawled, “I don’t know. We were just fixin to enter tha house, when Mr. Hager let out a bloodcurdling yell and abruptly turned like a whirlwind. Tha next thing I know, therah was a crack and Ahab was on tha ground yelling that his arm or wrist or something was broke.”
Everyone turned to look at me. I had been wondering how Daphne would describe the altercation. After her less than full description, I resigned myself to being thrown out of the Newcomer’s house, out of their favor and out of Daphne’s heart which, against all my self-sabotaging negative thoughts, I had finally decided to pursue.
Mr. Newcomer raised his eyebrows, turned to me and growled, “Is this true?”
I sat up straight and rejoined, “Yes sir, but that’s not tha whole story.”
Mr. Newcomer retorted sarcastically, “Well, what’s tha whole story?”
“As Miss Daphne and I were fixin to enter tha door to tha house, I put my right hand under her left elbow to help her up tha steps into tha house. Ahab clapped his hand down on my right shoulder and gruffly said I wasn’t to put my hands on Miss Daphne. I was just trying to help her up tha steps. When he grabbed me as if I was violating Miss Daphne’s person rather than acting as a gentlemen, I guess I lost my temper and reacted crudely,” I explained.
“Crudely?” Mr. Newcomer yelled. “Ya just broke tha arm of tha best and most trusted servant of this household. His prowess in fighting and his brute strength has protected our family for twenty years and ya come here and break his arm in a matter of minutes,” he roared.
I came out of my seat at the speed of light and stood with one fist clenched and the other with a strangle-hold on the glass of brandy. I saw the Newcomer boys stand also. I didn’t move toward Mr. Newcomer, but Tom took one step toward me. The malevolent stare I directed toward him stopped him in his tracks.
I turned my attention to Mr. Newcomer and uttered through gritted teeth, “I did it in a matter of seconds, not minutes.” Turning my attention back to Tom, I continued, “And, if anyone ever again unjustifiably lays hands on me, it won’t just be a broken wrist they’ll receive.”
I turned back to Mr. Newcomer, handed him the brandy glass, bowed and declared, “I ‘spect I’ll be leaving now.” I turned to Mrs. Newcomer and Miss Daphne, bowed and uttered, “Ladies.” Then I walked out of their house with the most satisfied feeling I have ever had in my life.
In my old 21st century, if I had r
eacted to an unjustified attack on my person, I would probably be talking to the police right now or, worst, be in handcuffs. I guess there were some perks in this version of the 19th century.
The Dark Mage’s Log: Earth 3 Date: 18620918
Jargunn was able to hear the conversations of all the participants in the altercation, except Ahab. He immediately reconnected with Lord Dendaras and informed him of what had transpired.
Lord Dendaras rubbed his chin with his right forefinger and mused, “So, the imposter broke Ahab’s wrist. How astounding!”
Jargunn gently asked, “Sire, do you know this family and their servants?”
Lord Dendaras abruptly replied, “Never you mind. Where has the imposter gone?”
“Back to the town of Harpers Ferry”, answered Jargunn.
Lord Dendaras quickly added, “Well, make sure he is okay for the night. He is getting more interesting by the minute.”
“Yes, Sire”, responded Jargunn. He then waited for Dendaras to cut communications, which was almost instantaneous. Jargunn then prepared to follow the imposter.
Jargunn began to evaluate the whole ‘Earth 3’ situation. Absently, he mused the following questions out loud to himself, “What does Lord Dendaras know that he isn’t relating to me? How am I going to accomplish my mission if I don’t have all the information about the participants?”
Making a fateful decision Jargunn made the following promise to himself, “I need to contact the Eternal Oracle when I get back to Axeylon 5 and find out any previous missions with all the people the imposter has contacted on ‘Earth 3’.”
Once I marched down the front steps, I walked over to Beau, who had been fast asleep on his feet, and untied him from the tree. He aroused himself as I mounted and I pointed him back to Harpers Ferry. I didn’t prod him into his famous back-breaking trot, but just let him mosey along. I took a few deep breaths and began to ponder why I had responded to the events tonight in such a way to cause injury.
I had just reacted without any thought for my safety, which normally would predicate any actions I took. I didn’t even worry if I died or not. Also, the feelings I had experienced for Daphne Newcomer were well off the charts from my normal subdued sentiments. In that regard, I guess my altercation with Ahab had quelled any further communication with Ms. Newcomer. I had to admit I really would miss her. However, overall, I don’t believe I had ever enjoyed such freedom, such an unfettered attitude toward life. It was as if a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It was the closest I had ever allowed myself to just live life as it comes and not try to control it.
Finally coming back to the present moment, I realized it was dark, but there was a full moon with no clouds. Thus, I could see the road well enough to keep Beau moving in the right direction. Finally, I came to where the road branches off to the north and passes the Confederate outpost on Bolivar Heights, where I first met Captain Mosby.
Getting over my narcissistic feelings of justice, reality set in. I had made an enemy of the most prominent man in the area. All of a sudden the great weight that had been lifted returned with a vengeance. My name will be notorious in a matter of days and I will probably be kicked out of the day school job in Shepherdstown within the week. I had to tell someone what had happened. On a whim I turned Beau in the direction of the Confederate outpost, hoping that the Captain hadn’t finished his report and gone to his lodgings in Harpers Ferry.
Kicking Beau furiously got him into his famous vertebra-jolting trot. In just a few minutes I arrived at the Confederate outpost. I dismounted Beau, who let out a long sigh, and immediately went to sleep. I really didn’t believe it until I walked around to tie his reins to the hitching post and saw that his eyes were closed and heard his wheezing breath. I just shook my head and turned to go up the outpost stairs to the porch.
There was a new soldier on guard at the door, who immediately positioned his musket to guard the door and asked, “Whatcha want?”
I snapped, “I need to see Captain Mosby if he is still on tha premises.”
The soldier curtly replied, “He’s busy writtin his report to tha Colonel and dudn’t wanna be disturbed.”
I retorted, “Well, could I see him for just a moment? I promise I won’t take much of his time.”
He smirked and declared, “That ain’t possible.”
I immediately took a position as if I was at attention and commanded, “Listen Private, I am the person that reported the Yank cavalry in tha area today and accompanied tha Captain on tha skirmish. I need to see tha Captain without further delay. Do I make myself clear?”
This really got the soldier’s attention and to my delight wiped the smirk off his face. He hesitantly mumbled, “Wait herah on tha porch.” Then he left his post to seek Mosby.
I fidgeted around walking back and forth on the porch for a few moments. Finally, Captain Mosby walked out and without any preliminaries asked, “What are ya doing here? I figured ya would be wooing Ms. Newcomer as we speak.”
I blurted out, “I broke Ahab’s arm.”
Mosby bellowed, “Ya did what? This is not tha time for a joke of this nature.”
“It’s true,” I admitted.
Mosby looked at me in disbelief for a moment and then announced, “Well ya better come inside and let’s talk.”
The Captain took me into his quarters, dismissed the sentry and offered me a seat and a glass of bourbon, both of which I readily accepted. Almost immediately we were both startled by fearful noises from the stable in the rear of the outpost, which abruptly stopped. The Captain shrugged it off and brought his chair from behind his desk so that we were sitting face to face and only about three feet apart. In a belligerent voice he demanded, “Well, what happened?” I related the whole occurrence including my crude response at the conclusion of the fracas and hasty departure.
At the end of my tale, Mosby leaned back in his chair and contemplated me with a confused expression. It seemed like hours that I was under his close scrutiny, but it was probably only about sixty seconds. Abruptly he appeared to have deduced an answer to a perplexing question.
He leaned toward me and declared, “Hager, undeniably ya are tha most bewildering person I have ever met. Ya are just full of surprises. Tha town barber was telling me all tha local gossip this afternoon when I was getting a haircut. This was before ya arrived with tha news about tha Yank cavalry. He vowed and declared that a person had gotten away from being robbed by Jones Gill last night. Tha barber mentioned that tha victim, who had been jumped by Gill and his brother, had just come from tha newspaper office. When we were at the Newcomer’s tonight, ya had shared that ya had been at tha newspaper office yesterday. I nevah believed in my wildest dreams that tha person who got away from tha Gills was you, but it was you, wasn’t it?”
I just nodded my head.
Mosby added, “I just now made tha connection about tha Gills. Well my friend, ya really know how to make an impression. First, ya get away from tha two worst characters in tha region. Then ya best tha meanest bare-hands fighter in western Virginia. And best of all, ya threaten tha richest and most influential man in the region. Good Lord! Just for starters, yar gonna have everybody in tha area try to pick a fight with ya just to see if they can whip tha man that bested Ahab Dugan. Plus, Ahab will be after ya in tha foreseeable future. Ya can bet on that.”
I just stared at him in stunned silence. Then I blurted, “What do ya mean tha meanest bare-hands fighter in western Virginia?”
Warming to the subject, Mosby informed me, “About thirty years ago Ahab was a field slave for tha employer of our dinner host’s father, Mr. Newcomer Senior, who had seen Ahab fight for his employer against all comers. Ovah tha years Ahab earned a lot of fight money for his master.”
“Well, tha story goes that Mr. Newcomer Senior somehow procured Ahab his freedom and he’s been tha guardian angel, if ya want to call him that, for tha Newcomers ever since. And tha rumor is that any antagonist of th
a Newcomers visited by yar new found nemesis never lived to tell about it.”
“Man, when ya step into a bed of snakes ya do it in style. Jones Gill and brother Seaborne aren’t going to take kindly to being outdone by a school teacher either. They have a reputation to uphold. But, tha danger from Mr. Newcomer is by far yar most serious problem. After he gets to spreading around what ya did, ya are gonna be shunned by every person of any standing in the community.”
The impact of what I had done and who I had done it to literally took my breath away.
I stared at Captain Mosby and finally said, “Cap’n, what am I to do?”
He replied, “Well, I don’t envy ya tha enemies ya have made in tha last forty-eight hours, but tha first thing I’d do is start carrying a revolver. If ya aren’t proficient in shooting, the second thing I’d do is get that’a way as soon as possible.”
I asked, “Do ya have a pistol that I can borrow?”
“Unfortunately, I personally don’t,” he answered, “but our northern brethren did supply us with a cache of arms, and I can give ya two pistols before they’re entered into our inventory. I am gonna give ya two Navy Colts and some ammunition. They’re our favorites, as well as tha Yankee cavalry’s. I will show ya how to load ‘em, but yar gonna have to learn how to shoot ‘em.”
“Captain, I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay ya for yar help in this matter. I really appreciate it,” I acknowledged.
“Jim, yar alerting us to tha presence of tha Yankees today helped to put a crimp in their operations and, if I may say so, advanced my career immeasurably. I am obliged to ya.”
I responded, “Well, it was tha least I could do for tha country.”
We stood and shook hands not as just friends, but as comrades in a cause for the first time.
Mosby then shook his head and said, “The only thing I can think of in regard to Mr. Newcomer is to get to Shepherdstown as soon as possible. Word of yar run-in with him might not get there for a while. If’n I was ya, I would try quickly to engrain myself in the community in some way that would keep ya from being ostracized.”