Battle Hymn by William F. Forstchen

Author:William F. Forstchen
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2013-05-27T04:00:00+00:00

"Do you think he suspected?" Gregory whispered as they sat down on his bunk.

"I just hated lying to him," Ketswana replied.

"Look, it was the only way we could convince him to move it up. If we had barged in there announcing that they were going to take him and it was time to break, he'd have fought like hell."

"The schedules, though. It's going to be tough."

"Of course it'll be tough. Damn, do you honestly think we're really going to make it? Maybe we've cut our chances from one in fifty to one in a hundred. So big deal."

Ketswana looked at him and smiled.

"And another thing," Gregory said. "I want to make a promise with you."

"Go on."

"No matter what happens, we make sure the three of them get out. It'd be just like Hans to suddenly turn and stay behind to buy time. He did that to me once before, at the Potomac. The last train was pulling out, he could have gone on it, rightfully claiming that he was going back to organize the next line of defense."

Gregory looked away for a moment.

"Kesus, it was hell. Rain, fog. We knew the bastards were closing in. But not one person panicked as that train lurched off, leaving the rest of us to walk. He turned to me and then ordered me aboard. I refused, but he shouted at me to get on the train, that I was needed to organize the bringing up of a relief."

Gregory sighed and shook his head.

"I got on the train. I'd like to think I did it because I was ordered to, but there was a voice inside telling me Hans Schuder had just given me my life. The train started to pick up speed and I looked back. He was standing there, cradling his Sharps carbine in his arms, chewing on a plug. And then he shouted, 'Marry that girl.' The night and the fog closed around and he was gone. I knew then what he had given me."

Gregory looked around the barracks.

"I got my extra year of life, my marriage, my child. I never would have had it. I would have died on the Potomac."

"The promise," Ketswana whispered.

"We give him his life, no matter what the cost."

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