The captain gestured, since he knew he was being watched. We can open it from inside, but weve got a couple of women on board, and some older folks. Were going to need some help getting everyone down to the ground.
I dont need any help, Mercy assured him, but he wasnt listening, and no one else was, either.
Robert was already on his way up the ladder that he and Ernie had both scaled earlier, though he dangled from it strangely, so tilted was the ships interior. He wrapped his legs around the rungs and used one hand to crank the latch, then shoved the portal out. It flopped and clanged, and was still. Robert kept his legs cinched around the ladder and braced himself that way, so he could work his arms free.
He reached down to the passengers and said, Lets go. Lets send some people up and over. You. English fella. You first.
Why me first?
Because you aint hurt, and you can help catch the rest. And Ernies got his hand all tore up.
Fine, Gordon Rand relented, and began the tricky work of climbing a ladder that leaned out over his head. But he was game for it, and more nimble than the tailored foreign clothes let on. Soon he was out through the portal and standing atop the Zephyr, then sliding down its side, down to the ground.
Mercy heard him land with a plop and a curse, but he followed through by saying to someone, That wasnt so bad.
That someone asked, How many are there inside?
The captain, the copilot, and half a dozen passengers and crew. Not too many.
All right. Lets get them down, and out.
Someone else added, And out of here. Bugle and tap says the lines shifting. Everybodys got to move-we might even be in for a retreat to Fort Chattanooga.
You cant be serious!
Im serious enough. Thats what the corporal told me, anyway.
When?
Just now.
Son of a bitch . Theyre right on top of us!
Mercy wished she could see the speakers, but she could see only the frightened faces of her fellow passengers. No one was moving yet; even Robert was listening to the gossip outside. So she took it upon herself to move things along.
Maam? Sir? she said to the older couple. Lets get you up out of here next.
The woman looked like maybe she wanted to argue, but she didnt. She nodded and said, Youre right. Well be moving slowest,
wherever we go, or however we get there. Come along, dear.
Her dear said, Where are we going?
Out, love. She looked around. I can make it up on my own, but hell need some assistance. Captain? Or Mr. . . . Mr. First Mate?
Copilot, he corrected her as he climbed into the cabin. Id be happy to help.
Together they wrested and wrangled the somewhat reluctant old man and his insistent wife up the concave ladder and out the hatch. Then went the clubfooted student; and then Ernie, with a little help from Robert; and then Mercy, who couldnt get off the thing fast enough. Finally, the other student and the rest of the crew members extracted themselves, leaving the Zephyr an empty metal balloon lying tipped and steaming on the ground.
Five
Where are we going? demanded Gordon Rand even as he hastened to follow instructions.
He was helping the elderly woman up the back gate and into the makeshift carriage when the second newcomer replied. Fort Chattanooga.
How far away is that? he inquired further.
Better part of thirty miles.
Larsen exclaimed, Were going to ride thirty miles in that ?
And the first man answered, No, youre going to ride two miles in this, and then the rail will take you the rest of the way.
Were outside Cleveland? Thats what the captain said, Mercy said, fishing for confirmation of anything at all.
Thats right. The second Reb had hair so dark, it gleamed blue in the light of the lanterns. He gave her a wink and a nod that were meant to be friendly. But come on, now. Everybody aboard.
The captain lingered by the Zephyr while the elderly couple settled in. The students climbed over the carts edge behind them. I need to reach a telegraph. Ill have to tell my dispatcher that the ship is down, and give them coordinates to retrieve it, the captain said plaintively.
But Mercy saw the artillery flashes and heard the earsplitting pops of gunfire through the trees, and she answered with a guess before anyone else could say it. There wont be anything left of her by morning.
One bullet, Gordon Rand said softly from his spot in the cart. Thats all itll take, on her side, with her tanks exposed like that.
Damn straight, said the blond whod first communicated through the windshield. All the more reason to hit the road, sooner rather than later. We dont want to be anywhere near her when she goes up in flames. Shell take a quarter mile of forest and everything in it.
Ernie gave a yelp when he was hauled onboard, prompting the dark-haired private-Mercy thought he was a private, anyway-to ask if anyone else was hurt. Does anyone need any help? Is this everybody?
This is everybody, the captain confirmed. We werent traveling full. And the line wasnt supposed to move this far south; they told me at Richmond that it hadnt come this far, he complained even as he climbed aboard to join the rest of his passengers and crew.