We marched northeast, up along the river towards Montreal, Canada. We were finally on our way to Montreal. Still, I was starting to miss Sue, already. It had been 5 weeks since I last saw her; she had been very upset when I told her…

"What-you're still going back? What, was I not good enough this time? "

"No, Babe, you were great, as usual, it's just.. I have my duties, alright."

"But Autolycus, WHY!?"

"Because once I leave the service, I can't come back in this life time, and I can't afford to just go running around in the war this time, like…"

I stopped myself, I knew shouldn't have started saying that.

"Look," I said stepping closer to her, "I guess its like I said, it just wasn't in the cards. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

But I saw no forgiveness in her face. Instead, she just slapped me, hard, and I let her. Then she punched me. It was about the hardest punch I've ever received from her, hard enough to knock me out this time. When I came to, she was nowhere in site. I returned to

my men, and for the next few weeks, we worked east, working out hostilities with other tribes. Strangely, things rarely did get violent, and I just knew that Sue was somehow responsible for negotiating with the Indians.

Well, no need to dwell on the past, especially when you're Immortal. It was now early September, and we were on our way to Montreal under General Gregory Hatchins. We had marched all day, until late that afternoon. As we walked, I talked with another soldier, Nathan McKinley

"So..Montreal, eh?"

"heheh, yeah. At last."

"Do you really think we'll take it this time?"

"I don't know, Nathan. I do know that I am ready to get on with it," I said with a confident smile.

"How much further do you think it is?"

I thought for a moment.. "Two, Three days, according to General Hatchins, I think."

"This will really give us an edge, won't it? Just think Anthony, we may win this war yet! After More than 30 years, we will finally push the Brits off American soil."

I managed a smile.

"Yeah, I know whatcha mean. My grandfather used to tell me all those stories of when we first started fighting the British. It wasn't meant to be a war, they were just trying to gain some much needed respect from their mother land. He said the British always treated them like children, but expected them to pay the same taxes and respect that the people did over in England. They're the ones who turned things violent. Pretty much like here, with their over arrogance in sea trade." I let out a sigh, "Still, war is never a pretty thing. Tell me something, Nathan, do you have loved ones waiting for you, back home? Children? A little lady, perhaps?"

He grinned at this.

"Yeah, her name's Clarisse. We don't have any children yet, but."

After moment of letting him wander, I said "tell me about her."

"Oh, she's wonderful, Anthony. She's got these eyes; they're a cool, crystal blue, with just the slightest hint of green. Sandy blonde hair, that flows down her shoulders. And just a few subtle freckles on her cheeks. And oh can she sing! Like the voice of the Angels, you should hear her sing in church."

"But can she cook?" I asked, jokingly.

"Oh yes! Best apple pie you've ever had." He sat there daydreaming a minute, then turned towards me.

"What about you? I'm sure you must have some lucky young lass waiting back home, if not Two! Heheh!"

"Well no, actually," I said with a smirk, "There have been loves, in the past. But right now, I have very few ties in this world."

After a brief moment of silence, and a bit of concern from him, I asked,

"Sir, this Clarisse, does she know?"

He paused a moment. "Yes, we've both known we loved each other for more than… well, almost four years now. And I.., Well I, I was going to propose to her, but I decided to wait until I returned from the war."

"Well in that case friend, you Have to come back! Listen, I want you to make sure you to fight as hard as you can for Clarisse, for me. Make sure you survive to return to her."

He smiled, "I've already made that promise to her and to myself, but now, I make it to you, friend. I shall return from this war."

After we had marched on for about another half hour, there was a gun shot from out of the woods.

REDCOATS!!

As we all took cover behind the trees, dozens and dozens and then hundreds more British soldiers began appearing throughout the forest. I hid behind a wide maple tree, and began firing off against our attackers. Nathan had taken shelter behind a tree not far from me, and was also shooting back with his bayonet. After a very short time, however, several of the redcoats apparently managed to creep up on us somehow. Then suddenly, one of them peeked out from behind a nearby tree, firing off his pistol, which grazed Nathan's shoulder.

"Ah!"

I leaped over to his attacker, stabbing him in the gut with the tip of my gun, and then firing it off right into him. Then, throwing down my bayonet, I drew my sword, and began cutting down the half-dozen-or-so enemies that surrounded us.

"You ok?" I asked Nathan.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," he replied, already back up shooting again.

"Good, then watch this for me!" I tossed him my bayonet.

"Ok..!? Wait, what are you?"

But I was already up the tree. I quickly went from tree to tree until I was well into their side of the battle. I was going to try to go take their big cannon. However, as soon as I got with 20 yards, I felt another Immortal nearby, who immediately threw a knife at me, which made me fall right out of the trees. As soon as I was able to get back to my feet, I saw the Immortal who had attacked me, and he was running away from the battle. I hesitated to follow him, as I needed to capture the cannon first. Cursing under my breath, I made the decision to stay and take the cannon. There were at least two dozen redcoats guarding it, and I didn't even have my bayonet with me. I decided to try sneaking around behind them. I crept, ever so quickly and quietly around behind them and, gunning down two of them with my flintlock, I then took out another three of them who ran to where I was hiding, but was forced to retreat.

But by that time however, more of our troops had advanced on the cannon, so I ran to try to catch up to the coward who had knocked me out of the tree. It was getting dark now, and I thought who am I kidding? There's no way I'm going to catch him, now. But just when I was about to give up and go back, I felt the buzz. I quickly turned, drawing my sword, but he already had a pistol out on me; his sword in the other hand

"Richard Borington, of Colchester, England."

"Heh, great, so this is how you do things, huh? Look pal, why don't you put your little pea shooter away, and I'll show you how things got done in my day."

"Oh, I will fight you, soon enough. But not here… Heheh, you don't recognize me, do you?"

"Frankly pal, I can't even See you. I don't know if you've noticed jackass, but it's night time and we're in the woods, you can't see ANYTHING!"

He just snickered, pointing his gun at me. "You just go back to your little American friends and forget about Montreal. You've lost the element of surprise; you know there's no way for you to win, now. In fact, I'd say you Americans have probably about as much chance in this war as YOU have of winning the Prize, hahah."

"How old are you, Buguh" I said; I knew I hadn't pronounced it right, but that was the whole point, heheh. "How old are you, buguh, about 300? Listen, I've been around quite a long time, and trust me on this one: America is going to last, heheh, which is more than I can say for you, pal. So long, Boyo!" I said, turning to leave.

"Wait! If you are so old, why do you even care about those… Americans, anyway? Even their country is infantile."

"Maybe now it is, but someday, this will be a great nation, probably even greater than Britain. Why? Why do I admire them? Well, like I said, I've seen a lot in my long life, and these people have got it where it counts. Sure, I may not be from here, but neither are most of these people, and that's what's great about America. And the great irony of it, is that you British tarts helped to make it!" I said, walking away. "By the way," I added, "Thanks for the language, and-oh yeah-Autolycus, Ancient Greece, and yes, we will meet again."

With that, I left, pondering further on what I had said to him. Yes, this was my land, even if I wasn't from here. Who knew, maybe in a few years, the white Americans might even grow to respect the Indians and the Black people.

I eventually found my way back to my company. We had won the battle, and their losses were far worse than ours, but it was like Richard had said, we had lost the element of surprise, we would have to come up with something else, and fast; Summer had ended, and Autumn coming up on us fast; winters are in Canada are anything but fun.

"Sir, how long will it take for reinforcements to arrive?" I asked General Hatchins.

"Two weeks, by this point, I'd say. Why?"

"I think I may have a plan."

So, after a little bit of convincing, I explained my plan to him: I would take a small army of 300 men to create a diversion on the east side of the city, using hit and run tactics, while the rest of the army marched in from the west side. It was crazy but possibly effective, simply because the diversion would be coming from the side they would Expect the actual attack to come from, since we would be crazy to come from the west Now.

Maybe it would be crazy enough to work…