THE NIGHT OF THE REQUIEM
THE NIGHT OF THE REQUIEM
"Do you really think this is a good idea?" The woman looked across the desk to her 'employer'.
"Of course I do. I think it's a wonderful idea. You are in charge here. You have the power to release anyone you wish for any reason you wish." The Senator scoffed.
"Yes, sir I realize that but this man…he's a danger to himself and to society. Should he get away from your people the devastation could be catastrophic." Mrs. Dorthea Dix, owner and director of the Asylum, was not so sure pursuing her involvement with the senator and his scheme was such a good idea.
"Rest assured Madame my men are quite capable at their line of work. They will be able to handle your Mr. Bridges with little difficulty." Senator Charles Faulkner did not like the apprehensive look on Mrs. Dix's face.
"You are in this up to your neck, Mrs. Dix." He told her menacingly, "If word got around that the great Dorthea Dix…helper to the mentally insane was allowing her charges to be used in such a manner, why you'd not be able to get elected town dog catcher. And I am certain you want to go on helping the less fortunate am I right?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Y…yes of course I do. It's just that this scheme is so…." Dix stammered apprehensively.
"Outlandish that it will work? You'll see Mrs. Dix. The Southern Confederacy will rise again and this time we will win! Now my men will be here tonight around eight o'clock to collect Mr. Bridges. Have him ready." Faulkner stated authoritatively as Mrs. Dix nodded her head resigning herself to the fate she had chosen.
Several days later--
"Now, soldier," Faulkner, dressed as a confederate general, told Bridges, "What is the assignment you've been given?" Faulkner hoped the long and exhaustive hours of cultivating this man's belief that he was still a Confederate soldier and that the Civil War had not yet ended, were not wasted.
"Sir, you have entrusted me to keep watch on the route from Charlottesville to Petersburg, sir!" Bridges stood rigidly at attention.
"Good, now what are the remainder of your orders, soldier?" Faulkner caught himself before the evil smile could fill his features.
"I am to let all pass with the exception of one Captain Artemus Gordon."
"And why is this?"
"He carries secret documents that would cause the fall of the Confederacy sir!"
"And what are your orders concerning Mr…er…Capt. Gordon?"
"He is to be detained until further contact from you sir."
"Good, very good, soldier. You may carry out your orders." Faulkner waved him away but Bridges stayed, his hand still at his head, saluting.
"Something you need, soldier?" Faulkner asked, wanting to get out of the uniform and back to his office before he was missed.
"Sir, may I ask a question?" Faulkner nodded as Bridges brought his hand down, hoping the Coalition had not made a mistake in choosing this man.
"Sir, just what papers is this Capt. Gordon carrying? Do I need to relieve him of the papers and dispatch him or just keep him prisoner? How am I to get these papers back if they are so important?" Bridges fidgeted nervously.
"Son, you don't worry about that. You just stay in those woods until you capture Capt. Gordon. And keep him contained by any means necessary. I ,or one of my men, will check in on you every few days. Once you have Capt. Gordon and those papers we'll take care of things."
"Sir, yes sir! Permission to leave, sir?" Faulkner nodded and bridges quickly left ready to fulfill his mission.
WWWWWWWWWW
"When do you expect Artemus to arrive?" Colonel Richmond asked James West, Secret Service agent.
"There's no telling for sure, sir. But his last wire said to expect him by the day after tomorrow or possibly Friday, but no later." Jim stared out the window at the snow falling in the fort's courtyard.
"I am anxious to get a look at the files he's carrying. I just don't feel comfortable with him carrying that type of sensitive material on his person." The Colonel commented.
"Artie's a big boy, sir. He can handle himself." Jim spoke with confidence.
"That I don't doubt, Jim but if those papers he's carrying don't get through…" The colonel shuddered at the thought.
"I could ride out to meet him." Jim offered, wanting to be doing anything but waiting.
"No we've already discussed this. Artemus has to make this trip alone. No one will suspect he is carrying sensitive material if he is alone and looks as if he's just on leave." Jim nodded and sighed.
WWWWWWWWWW
Bridges checked his rifle for what seemed like the tenth time in the past hour. He had lost track of the number of days he had been patrolling these woods. True to his word the General had sent someone to check on him and they brought him food and water but Bridges was getting restless. What if this Capt. Gordon doesn't come this way? What if he changes his course? How long would the General demand he stay at his post?
Bridges looked around the dank, dark cave he had found that gave him shelter from the harsh winter outside. He was getting tired of hiding out…Confederate soldiers didn't hide! Instead they faced their enemy head on. Bridges checked his pocket watch and decided that he had spent enough time away from his duty as he pulled on his cloak and went back out.
WWWWWWWWWW
Artemus Gordon pulled his jacket tighter trying to keep the driving snow from penetrating. It was useless, he decided as he pulled his hat down as far as he could. He had several miles to go before he reached the hotel where he had booked a room for the night. These woods sure aren't helping; they look like something out of Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Artie thought to himself.
"All this snow covering the ground makes it so a man couldn't hear a train sneaking up on him. Makes me feel like I'm being watched." Artie grumped, wishing he were in Raleigh, as he checked his inside breast pocket to make sure the papers were still safely tucked inside.
Suddenly Mesa lurched under him nearly throwing him to the ground. Artie pulled back on the reins then dismounted. Walking to his steed's forelegs he saw that she was pulling one leg and keeping it off the ground. Artie gently lifted her leg and felt her fetlock as he reached down to examine her hoof.
"Oh Mesa my sweet, you've picked up a rock." Artie said as he took out the small pocketknife he carried and gently removed the offending stone.
Artie tended his horse unaware of the shadow in the trees watching his every move. As he straightened and put the knife back in his pocket, the shadow slipped from the shelter of the trees and stealthily crept up on him, his bayonet pointing the way.
As he checked the cinch on his saddle and was about to put the stirrup back in place Artie heard a sound behind him. Damn snow masks everything out here Artie cursed under his breath as he tried to gauge the distance between him and whatever was sneaking up on him. Just as his hand settled on the butt of his pistol, Artie let out a grunt as a large piece of wood kissed the back of his head with the force of a small hurricane. Artie reached out to grab something, anything to keep himself upright but his hands found no purchase. Instead he was seeing stars and his world was spinning as he gave in to the darkness and fell to the snowy ground.
WWWWWWWWWW
Jim finally understood what people meant when they said cabin fever would get the best of them. He hadn't stopped pacing the confines of the Colonel's office for the past hour.
"James, please, save the carpet and take a seat. Your pacing won't make Artemus arrive any faster." Richmond sympathized with him.
"I know that sir. I just hate waiting. Artie should have been here by now."
"You yourself said his telegram said he could be as late as Friday. That's tomorrow. Now stop worrying, it's a wonder you two ever get anything done worrying about each other." Richmond sighed, shaking his head he returned to his paperwork, glad that he at least had something to do to cover his growing unease.
WWWWWWWWW
Artie slowly rose to consciousness feeling very much like he had been run over by the Wanderer. Keeping his eyes closed he tried to make sense of the sounds around him. Was that snoring? Artie continued to listen and thought he heard water dripping in the distance. He took note that there was little light wherever he was when he cracked one eye open.
Artie tried to rise and realized he had been trussed up tighter than his Great Aunt Maude's corset. He winced at the pain in the back of his head and figured that this man must be the one who hit him. He hoped the man had at least taken care of Mesa. Artie looked around and tried to discern where the man had taken him.
What the…I'll be darned! Artie thought as he took in the strange man sleeping soundly on the other side of what appeared to be a cave. The man was wearing a Confederate soldier's uniform. It was in like new shape…just what was going on here? Artie cleared his throat and the man jumped up instantly, grabbing his rifle and pointing it at him.
"Whoa there, son." Artie spoke softly,
"You just sit there and be quiet, Captain." The man ordered.
"Captain…son you have me mistaken for someone else." Artie tried a smile.
"No I do not, sir. I saw your picture lots of times. You're Captain Artemus Gordon, Union spy." The man rattled off smartly.
"Union…son the War is over. It ended years ago." Artie stared at him incredulously.
"He said you'd say that. You aren't going to convince me, Capt. You best just sit there and be quiet!' Bridges pointed the rifle menacingly.
"He…who is he?" Artie asked.
"General Faulkner hisself gave me this mission."
"Just what is your mission?"
"I'm to hold you here till the General comes to get you. You thought you could get away with carrying them papers you have to Washington but the General found out." The corners of Arties mouth drooped. No one had known he was carrying papers to Colonel Richmond.
"I don't know what you're talking about son. Why don't you put that rifle down and we can talk about it?" Artie smiled.
"The General told me you'd try to talk your way out of this. You Union spies are good…real good. But I'm better. We'll just wait for the General to send his men to pick you up. Should be here day after tomorrow I expect."
"Day after tomorrow? Can I ask what day this is?"
"It's Friday near as I can figure. You've been asleep since late yesterday afternoon. I guess I hit you harder than I thought." That means today is Friday! That meant Jim should be getting worried and come looking for me, Artie thought.
"Any chance I can get a drink?" Artie asked.
The soldier rose and went to a box and rummaged through it. Returning with a canteen he opened it and held it to Artie's mouth and helped him drink.
"These ropes are a little tight. Think you can loosen them a little?"
"No sir. I was told to keep you here till the General comes and make sure you stay put." He returned the canteen to the box and took his seat.
