Destination Hope - Book 5 - Reconciliation - Chapter 4

Each day we see a new assault on the Unites States Constitution from the political left and their puppets in the Democrat Party. Thankfully, the Senate Judiciary Committee found enough guts to vote to move Judge Kavanaugh's confirmation forward. Because the Democrats have no shame, they do not recognize their behavior as shameful, which itself is a shame. The Democrats drove our nation into a bloody civil war in 1861. They seem to want to repeat history.

In this chapter, the main character longs for an end to that terrible conflict. For new readers, Chapter 1 is linked here: Chapter 1

Destination Hope – Book 5 – Reconciliation

A Novel By:

Charles J. Patricoff

Copyright © 2014 by Charles J. Patricoff. All rights reserved.

Chapter 4

Good News

Later that week, Nathaniel suffered from some strange respiratory distress, fatigue, and general influenza-like symptoms. His nose would drip for several minutes, and then it would clog, making it impossible to breathe. His throat felt constricted, so he took to his bunk. By mid-afternoon, he drifted to sleep.

Sergeant O’Brien startled Nathaniel to consciousness by banging on his bunk-bed supports. He unhooked his swagger stick and smacked Nathaniel’s bare feet hanging over the bed’s end. “Get up, Reb,” Sergeant O’Brien ordered.

Confused and disoriented, Nathaniel struggled to make sense of the situation. He blinked his eyes against the pain-stabbing daylight. “What’s this all about, Sergeant?”

“Colonel wants to see you, Reb. That’s all I know.”

Nathaniel tossed his wool blanket aside and sat up. The back of his neck stiffened and ached with an internal pressure. His mouth tasted metallic and felt dry, like someone stuffed it with raw cotton. His head pounded as if a mule had kicked him right between his eyes.

Sergeant O’Brien grabbed Nathaniel’s shoulder and gave it a forceful squeeze. “Come on, Reb, we ain’t got all day.”

Nathaniel managed to get to his feet. He wobbled a bit. The room seemed to spin for a second. He grasped the top bunk to help gain his footing.

“You don’t look too good there, Major,” Captain Foster observed as he took a second to intervene on Nathaniel’s behalf.

Nathaniel felt a bubbling rumble and a gripping cramp in his gut. “I need to go to the sink, Sergeant.”

“Make it quick.” Sergeant O’Brien stepped aside and let Nathaniel pass. Once outside, Nathaniel hobbled to the less than attractive, yet necessary, end of the prison compound.

Some things cannot be rushed no matter who is waiting.  Nathaniel tried not to groan, but…

Sergeant O’Brien paced like an expectant father. When Nathaniel appeared, pulling his trousers tight with his rope belt, Sergeant O’Brien declared, “It’s about time, Reb. Now, fall in.”

It dawned on Nathaniel that this detail omitted his regular escort, Private Hakey. As they began the long walk to the Colonel’s headquarters, Nathaniel broke with custom and asked, “Where’s Private Hakey, Sergeant?”

“Sick.”

Nathaniel shuddered. “Any others?”

“It’s none of your concern, Reb.”

Nathaniel understood O’Brien’s attitude, but, his concern grew. He grasped the situation and hoped something worse would not break out. He swallowed and his throat burned. The clouds above rumbled. Rain fell.

By the time the detail reached Colonel Hill’s office, Nathaniel and his escort dripped from the drizzle. Nathaniel wiped his forehead. I can’t get sick, not now.

Sergeant O’Brien knocked on the office door. After receiving permission to enter, Sergeant O’Brien apologized for their damp condition and explained their tardiness.

“Are you going to be alright, Graham?”

Nathaniel assumed Colonel Hill’s concern was genuine and answered, “Time will tell, Colonel.”

“Well, maybe what I’ve got to tell you might help.”

Nathaniel said, “Thank you, sir.”

“I’ve given all the details to General Johnson, but let me say this: you must have some friends in high places.”

General Edward Johnson

Nathaniel did not hear one word. His eyes rolled up, and his legs folded underneath him as if transformed into boiled spaghetti noodles.

 Nathaniel woke up in his bunk with a hot, wet cloth resting on his forehead. He heard the sound of carousing pounding his eardrums. He groaned. “What happened?”

Lieutenant King sat on the edge of Nathaniel’s bunk rails and said, “Welcome back, Major. You’ve got quite a fever, Major. Seems you dropped like a box of rocks in the Colonel’s office. Me and a few of the fellas carried you back and put you in bed.”

“What time is it?”

“You missed supper. I reckon it’s around eight. It’ll be lights out soon.”

“What’s the rub with the men?”

“Oh them, it’s good news, sir.”

Nathaniel closed his eyes. “Are you going to fill me in, or do I have to pry it out of you, Lieutenant?”

“I’m sorry, sir. You’re gonna be pleased.”

Nathaniel nodded. It took considerable effort. The pounding in his head intensified.

“We are speculating of course. We don’t know from where the orders came. But General Johnson told us our privileges have been restored.”

Nathaniel struggled to comprehend. “Wait, what?” He closed his eyes tighter this time and rocked his head on his thin pillow. “What are you saying?”

Lieutenant King whistled. He had a powerful set of pipes. Lieutenant Pierce peeled away from the revelers, and rushed over to Nathaniel’s bunk. He called as he approached, “Hey, Major. Great news, eh?”

Nathaniel forced a smile.

Lieutenant King intervened. “I figured you could explain it better.”

Lieutenant Pierce hung on the back of the bunk above Nathaniel’s. “Colonel Hill must have been forced to do this. But we can send and receive mail again, plant gardens, play sports, everything like before. No new prisoners are expected and as more and more are released by joining the Yankees, we’ll have immediate relief to our overcrowded conditions. Many of the boys believe the Yankees will send us home, real soon.”

“That’s good news, Charlie.”

“Maybe they’ll let you get married, Major.”

“Maybe. I need to write Eleanor straight away.”

Lieutenant King said, “I’ll fetch your journal for you, sir.”

“Thank you, Tom.” Nathaniel smiled and then frowned. I’m so close to a new life, so close to physical liberty, and so close to future happiness. What a time to get sick.

Thanks for reading. If you like the story, please leave me a comment.