Heaven and Hell Read Online Free PDF Page A

party had been slain by Indians. An ex-preacher, Colonel J. M.
    Chivington, had mustered Colorado voluneer troops to retaliate against a Cheyenne village at Sand Creek, though
    there was no evidence that the village chief, Black Kettle, or his people Were responsible for the killings. Of the three hundred or so that Chiv
    20
    HEAVEN AND HELL
    ington's men slew at Sand Creek, all but about seventy-five were women and children. The raid had outraged many people in the country, but the sergeant wasn't one of them.
    The dentist's patient shrieked again. "No, sir," the sergeant mused, Page 22

    his pen scratching, "we can't be choosy at all. Got to take pretty near whoever shows up." Another glance at Charles. "Traitors included."
    Charles struggled with his anger. He supposed that if he went ahead--and he had to go ahead; what else did he know besides soldiering?--he'd hear plenty of variations on the tune of traitor. He'd better get used to listening without complaint.
    "Can you read or write?"
    "Both."
    The recruiter actually smiled. "That's good, though it don't make a damn bit of difference. You got the essentials. Minimum of one arm, one leg, and you're breathing. Sign here."
    The locomotive's bell rang. Maureen dithered. "Sir--Brigadier--
    all passengers on board."
    In the steam blowing along the platform, Charles hugged his bundled-up son. Little Gus, six months old now, wriggled and fretted with a case of colic. Maureen was still wet-nursing the baby, and this was his first bad reaction.
    "I don't want him to forget me, Jack."
    "That's why I had you sit for that daguerreotype. When he's a little older, I'll start showing it to him and saying Pa."
    Gently, Charles transferred his son to the arms of the housekeeper, who was also, he suspected, the older man's wife-without-marriage certificate. "Take good care of that youngster."
    "It's almost an insult that you think we might not," Maureen said, rocking the child.
    Duncan clasped Charles's hand. "Godspeed--and remember to hold your tongue and your temper. You have some hard months ahead of you."
    "I'll make it, Jack. I can soldier for anyone, even Yankees."
    The whistle blew. From the rear car, the conductor signaled and shouted to the engineer. "Go ahead! Go ahead!" Charles jumped up to the steps of the second-class car and waved as the train lurched forward.
    He was glad for the steam rising around him, so they couldn't see his eyes as the train pulled out.
    Charles slouched in his seat. No one had sat next to him, because Page 23

    of his sinister appearance: worn straw hat pulled down to his eyebrows, Lost Causes 21
    the gyPsy m^e beside him. On his knee, unread, lay a National Police Gazette.
    Dark rain-streaks crawled diagonally down the window. The storm and the night hid everything beyond. He chewed on a stale roll he'd bought from a vendor working the aisles, and felt the old forlorn emptiness.
    He
    turned the pages of a New York Times left by a passenger who'd gotten off at the last stop. The advertising columns caught his eye: fantastic claims for eyeglasses, corsets, the comforts of coastal steamers. One item offered a tonic for suffering. He tossed the paper away. Damn shame it wasn't that easy.
    Unconsciously, he began to whistle a little tune that had come into his head a few weeks ago and refused to leave. The whistling roused a stout woman across the aisle. Her pudgy daughter rested her head in her mother's lap. The woman overcame her hesitation and spoke to Charles.
    "Sir, that's a lovely melody. Is it perchance one of Miss Jenny kind's numbers?"
    I Charles pushed his hat back. "No. Just something I made up."
    "Oh, I thought it might be hers. We collect her famous numbers sheet music. Ursula plays them beautifully."
    "I'm sure she does." Despite good intentions, it sounded curt.
    "Sir, if you will permit me to say so--" she indicated the Gazette on his knee--"what you are reading is not Christian literature. Please,
    take this. You'll find it more