The Mountain by David L. Golemon

Author:David L. Golemon
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466861428
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

13

CONSTANTINOPLE, CAPITAL OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

The Yorktown was being tied up to the crowded dock. Many citizens of the empire’s capital had spilled out to see the American warship as she entered the harbor. The sailors and marines were surprised to hear the “Star-Spangled Banner” playing. A thirty-piece band had been secured to welcome the Americans and their kind but surprising gift of a railroad to the empire.

As John Henry came topside he felt embarrassingly uncomfortable in his dress uniform. The bright red sash highlighted the saber in its polished sheath, and his boots had been cleaned and polished by the crew of the Yorktown. The one accoutrement that he despised was the helmet with its gold trappings. The braided plume that rose from the centerline spike made him feel more like a flamingo than an officer in the United States Cavalry. John Henry pursed his lips and then placed his white gloved hands behind his back as he awaited the others by the gangway.

He was soon joined by Jessy, dressed the exact same way as Thomas, and he was feeling equally awkward in the Union colors. He hated the fact that his men down below had gotten a very good look at their commander as he quickly walked past them a few minutes earlier. Both men still carried the battle scars of their fight three days before. Claire and the doctor had done an admirable job of stitching and making the bruising look far less than it really was. As Captain Jackson joined them he had to smile at the uncomfortable way the two army officers waited for the others. Unlike the two men who stood before him, Jackson felt no discomfort whatsoever in his dress blues. The two-corner hat was a bit much, but he was still proud to wear the gold braid and tails of a U.S. naval officer. He’d had many more chances to become comfortable in his uniform than the other two frontiersmen.

“Well, I must say, you two cleaned up nicely,” Claire said as she stepped around the two for a quick inspection.

“I know to you this may be a ridiculous question, but why is she is coming along, again?” Taylor asked without turning his eyes away from the overflowing dock area.

“Because the planners of this so-called mission neglected to include an interpreter that speaks the language of the empire,” Jackson said as he saw his second-in-command approach.

“I’m being brought along for purely aesthetic reasons, I assure you. You know as well as I that according to Secretary of State Seward’s report, the sultan is an unapologetic womanizer, and that I very well could be an asset for keeping his mind on something other than your railroad ruse.”

“I can’t believe she said that all in one breath,” Taylor mumbled. In their silence the others secretly agreed.

They heard Sergeant Major Dugan long before they saw him.

“Why do I have to stay aboard and watch Gray Dog and these Rebs?”

“Because we don’t need you popping off at the wrong time and creating an international incident.

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