Leavenworth Times

General Robert E Lee surrenders

April 9 '65, Appomattox, VA,

One of the Confederacy's most respected commander, Robert E Lee, surrendered his Army of North Virginia, to the Union General Ulysses S. Grant on this date. While this surrender, is not the formal end of the war, because General Lee only surrendered his own men, with the Confederacy's resistance crumbling, it can be taken with some certainty, that this bloody conflict, which has cost our land so much, will soon be over. The remaining fighting appears to be confined to the more intransigent areas of our beleaguered land, such as Texas.

Heyes finished reading the front page of the newspaper that he'd found discarded in the trash by the stables, and smiled. This was what he'd been waiting for. In a matter of weeks, he and Jed would be away from here, and making their way out in the world, far from this hellhole. A thrum of excitement ran through him, and he was suddenly desperate to share the news with Jed He was in the hole, for fighting again, and wouldn't be out until the weekend, but with his picklocks, he wouldn't need to wait, and was looking forward to seeing the expression on his cousin's face when he realised they would soon be free.

Two Weeks Later.

Jed sleeping behind Heyes, was woken abruptly when he was almost knocked out of bed, as his cousin jerked hard, his hand flying backwards to smack him hard on the head. At first, Jed was annoyed at being woken so violently, but as he rubbed the spot, where the blow had landed, and Heyes made no attempt to talk to him, realised that he was still asleep, another bad dreamt then. Jed often being subject to his own, had a lot of sympathy for him, so decided it was best to wake him gently, But as he touched him, he was startled and more than a little worried at the huge amount of heat coming from his friend, even though he was shivering so hard that Jed could hear his teeth were chattering.

As Jed hesitated, not exactly sure what to do, Heyes shifted uneasily, ending up far too close to edge of the mattress, prompting Jed to jump out of bed and grab hold of him quickly pulling him back to the middle. Though Heyes continued to toss and turn, mumbling to himself, he was safely settled away from either edge, despite the narrowness of the bunk.

Jed still keeping a light hold on his cousin to make sure he remained safe, listened to his friend's wheezing gasps, and his chest tightened, while his heart sounded loud in his ears, as worry left him a little breathless. He stood there for several minutes, unaware of the cold floor on his bare feet and ignoring the chill seeping into him.

He'd noticed that his cousin had been tired and sore for a couple of days, but hadn't pushed when Heyes had claimed there was nothing wrong with a smile and a wink. "Its just all this planning for getting us away safe is keeping me awake." With that he'd put a finger over his lips and said. "Now, we better not talk 'bout it anywhere, but the dorm at night, in case someone is listening."

Desperate not to be overheard by anyone at all, because he knew there was too heavy a risk of being reported and punished, and so having their plans derailed, Jed had accepted what Heyes had said and changed the subject. But now he hissed at himself, annoyed, that he'd let Heyes con him, when he should have known better, especially with the grippe being so rife in the home in the last few weeks.

Jed still clearly remembered how the fever had taken their grandpa, and his determined attempts in recent weeks to damp down the fear of losing his cousin were easily undone, as he continued to listen and wince at his friend's painful sounding breathing. Though fairly sure his cousin wasn't aware enough to understand what he was saying, he still leant into to him and with a slight shake in voice, told him fiercely."Hang on, Heyes, I'll be right back."

With that, after a final worried glance at his cousin, and without bothering to head to his own bed to dress, he simply ran out of the dorm in search of an adult, his bare feet slapping on the dusty floor.

Not paying much attention to anything, other than getting to the sick room as quickly as possible to get help for Heyes, he very nearly collided with someone as he turned a corner. A heavy hand on his shoulder brought him skidding to a halt. "Woah there, Curry...you shouldn't be out of bed!" Jed looked up into the irritated gaze of Simpson, the English Master, who moved his hand, to lie firmly on Jed's chest, easily holding him at bay, before pushing him backwards, in an obvious attempt to cow him, as he asked in a tone that matched his annoyed expression.."You aiming for another caning, boy?"

Jed stared at him, torn between frustration at being stopped, and relief that he'd found someone he could tell, if he could only get him to listen of course. He knew he was courting trouble, but he was too worried to care, and so made no attempt to school his expression into calm, simply shrugging the hold off and saying fiercely. "It's Heyes, he's sick. I gotta get someone to look at him!"

Simpson his own face angry, glared back at him, showing very clearly how little he appreciated his defiant attitude. It was obvious that he was considering that it meant he was due a reminder of his place in the world, the dark room or a caning came into Jed's mind, knowing with his luck probably both. He was hardly reassured when the man asked sharply. "And how exactly do you know this boy? Sneaking outta your own bed again? You know the rules. I think you'd better come with me."

Jed blinked, his shoulders slumped, and he swallowed hard, the flash of defiance melting away in the face of his rising panic. He needed to get through to the man, so pride was unimportant as long as he got his cousin some help. He unashamedly allowed his voice to crack, as he made his plea, meaning every word as he said quietly, but firmly. "Sir, punish me later if ya gotta, but please just take a look at my cousin before ya do. I can't lose him too."

It was so unusual that the Curry boy allowed himself to show any emotion other than anger, and the fact he'd given up trying to cover the worry he was feeling, somehow touched Simpson. He made the decision a little against his better judgement to believe him, and said carefully. "All right, Curry, show me...but if this is some kinda ploy, it won't go well for either of you." Though Simpson was fairly certain from the look of relief that crossed the young man's face at his agreement, and the speed with which he headed back towards the dorm area, that he wasn't lying about his cousin being ill, and he followed quickly.

It only took Simpson a cursory look at the boy, on arriving in the dorm, for him to realise that Heyes was indeed sick, and looking over at his cousin, who was hovering worriedly behind them, he said. "All right, boy, I'll get your cousin to the sick room. But you will go and wait outside the Dean's office, because we're going to have a discussion about your attitude, once he's settled."

Jed's face flickered, and with his emotions still not hidden as well as usual, Simpson could easily see the battle between compliance and anger playing out in his expression. He clearly saw when the worry for his cousin meant that compliance won, and wasn't surprised when the boy gave a heavy sigh and said softly. "Please Mr Simpson, lemme come with you, then after, you can take me to the Dean's office yourself, and I won't be no trouble whatever happens."

Hannibal moaned, and the younger boy paled, his whole attention shifting to his cousin at the sound, and he reached out to pet his arm, as he said so quietly that Simpson had to strain to hear him. "I'll come see ya, soon as I can, after they lemme out of the hole."

That soft tone, which was clearly just meant just for his cousin, convinced the teacher that the words weren't an attempt to con him into changing his mind, which was something he wouldn't put past the older boy.

A feeling confirmed when the boy looked up at him, his face blank, and his shoulders slumped, it was a look familiar to the master as the boy's way of accepting he had done all he could. "He ain't real heavy, Sir, I can carry him, if you don't want to. I just need you to explain that I ain't lying."

Simpson shook his head, wondering how on earth the lad expected to lift his cousin off the bed, let alone carry him. It was then that he decided that he wouldn't insist on punishment. It was obvious that Jed's behaviour this time, had merely been a reaction to worry for his cousin, and the only lesson he'd take from being sanctioned for it, was that caring was bad, which was not something he wished him to learn. "All right Jedediah, just this once I'll let your defiant behaviour in the corridor go unpunished. But don't think that means that I will allow this attitude in you on a regular basis, anymore than the other masters' do. I am not a soft touch, is that clear?"

Jed gave him a bright, grateful smile, and nodded fiercely. "Yes, Sir, and thank you, Sir."

"Now move back, so I can lift him. Don't argue with me, you try and carry him, I'll be giving the nurse two boys to care for...and she's already busy enough that one more will be challenge enough."

ASJ

Heyes dragged himself out of a confused fog, and as he did so murmured. "Jed."

The younger boy sleeping lightly on the floor by his bed, woke at the sound and was soon in his feet. "Right here, Heyes...you sure had me worried."

Blinking dazedly at him, becoming aware of the shadows still round him, concern hummed as Heyes' confusion faded a little, and he realised where he was. Clearing his throat, he said worriedly. "You oughta be in bed."

Jed shook his head, squinting at the watch he held in hand. "We got a bit of time before they come checking...I've timed them." Heyes stared down at the familiar watch in his cousin's hand, and he frowned, wondering why it wasn't under his mattress where he usually hid it. Jed grinned at him, before his expression sobered. "Your watch works better than mine, besides I figured it'd be safer with me anyways while you were here."

Heyes nodded, and said faintly. "We'll be outta here before ya know it, I promise, because me being sick, ain't gonna stop us leaving next week, I promise."

Heyes feeling fuzzy headed and dopey, wasn't sure if Jed's answering humph indicated agreement, but before he could find out, his eyes closed on their own, and he was dragged quickly back into sleep.