Ashes by Laurie Halse Anderson

Author:Laurie Halse Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

CHAPTER XXVII

Friday, September 28, 1781

IF THE ENEMY SHOULD BE TEMPTED TO MEET THE ARMY ON ITS MARCH, THE GENERAL PARTICULARLY ENJOINS THE TROOPS TO PLACE THEIR PRINCIPLE RELIANCE ON THE BAYONET.

–GENERAL ORDERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 28, 1781

A GREAT COLUMN OF RED dust rose in the sky to show me the path to safety.

Near twenty thousand soldiers on the march, plus their wagons and horses, threw up such a gigantical red cloud that King George over in England could have spotted it himself. It would be easy to hide in such a maelstrom of confusion. Before that moment the thought of hiding in the middle of the pack of soldiers would have seemed to me as safe as hiding in the mouth of a serpent.

But we had no choice.

We hurried down alleys and slipped through the narrow spaces betwixt buildings. Ruth shushed the barking dogs and startled chickens we encountered. I forced my feet to walk steady, feigning a calm I did not possess, until well beyond the extent of the town itself, then we ran as if we were speeding to catch up to our company.

We soon reached the end of the long line of men and supplies, the lumbering wagons filled with spades, shovels, axes, tents, flour casks, and iron kettles. I checked over my shoulder one last time but saw no sign of Hallahan, nor a wagon in pursuit of us. In fact, we had walked so far, so quickly, that I could no longer see any sign of Williamsburg.

I slowed my pace. “Does your foot hurt?”

Ruth matched her steps to mine and gave a quick shake of her head. “When we gonna find Aberdeen?”

“Soon,” I said with a confidence I did not feel.

We walked along the edge of the road, overtaking the slow wagons one by one. No one remarked about our presence. I noted the air of purpose with which the people around us walked. I imitated it, acting like I knew exactly where I was going and was certain that I would get there soon.

As my fear of Hallahan faded a bit, my apprehension about what to do next grew. We had to eat. We needed a safe place to sleep. Mayhaps we could work for the French; they paid with silver coins. We could leave as soon as we earned enough to get to Philadelphia. But what if Aberdeen was right? What if the British won the coming battle? Should we, in fact, make our way to Yorktown and seek him out?

The image of Curzon’s face drifted across my mind. I gave my head a good shake to get rid of it. I wouldn’t ask for his help, not ever again. I didn’t even know what regiment he belonged to. Before I turned to Curzon, I’d seek out Ebenezer Woodruff. He’d find us work among trustworthy fellows.

As the sun reached the middle of the sky, we caught up to the drovers herding the cattle and sheep that would feed the army. I tried to step with care, but the dung on the road could not be avoided.

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