Killer Angels, The - Michael Shaara [9]
"We are in your debt." Lee stared at the map. "Thank you. Now I'm sure General Longstreet will see to your accommodations.'' The spy was dismissed, had sense enough to know it. He rose reluctantly. He said, "It has been my pleasure, sir, to have served such a man as yourself. God bless you, sir."
Lee thanked him again. Longstreet instructed Sorrel to see that the man was fed and given a tent for the night and to be kept where Longstreet could find him if he needed him, which meant: keep an eye on him. The spy went out into the dark. Longstreet and Lee sat alone at the table in the rain.
Lee said softly, "Do you believe this man?"
"No choice."
"I suppose not." Lee rubbed his eyes, leaned forward on the table. With his right hand he held the muscle of his left arm. He shook his head slowly. "Am I to move on the word of a paid spy?"
"Can't afford not to."
"There should have been something from Stuart."
"There should have been."
"Stuart would not have left us blind."
"He's joyriding again," Longstreet said. "This time you ought to stomp him.
Really stomp him."
Lee shook his head. "Stuart would not leave us blind."
"We've got to turn," Longstreet said. His heart was beating strongly. It was bad to see the indomitable old man weak and hatless in the early morning, something soft in his eyes, pain in his face, the right hand rubbing the pain in the arm. Longstreet said, "We can't risk it. If we don't concentrate they'll chop us up."
Lee said nothing. After a moment Longstreet told him about Meade. Lee said,
"They should have gone to Reynolds."
"Thought so too. I think he turned it down."
Lee nodded. He smiled slightly. "I would have preferred to continue against General Hooker."
Longstreet grinned. "Me too."
"Meade will be... cautious. It will take him some time to take command, to organize a staff. I think... perhaps we should move quickly. There may be an opportunity here."
"Yes. If we swing in behind him and cut him off from Washington..."
"If your man is correct."
"We'll find out."
Lee bent toward the map. The mountains rose like a rounded wall between them and the Union Army. There was one gap east of Chambersburg and beyond that all the roads came together, web-like, at a small town. Lee put his finger on the map.
"What town is that?"
Longstreet looked. "Gettysburg," he said.
Lee nodded. "Well-" he was squinting-"I see no reason to delay. It's their army I'm after, not their towns."
He followed the roads with his finger, all converging on that one small town.
"I think we should concentrate in this direction. This road junction will be useful."
"Yes," Longstreet said.
Lee looked up with black diamond eyes. "We'll move at first light."
Longstreet felt a lovely thrill. Trust the old man to move.
"Yes, sir."
Lee started to rise. A short while ago he had fallen from a horse onto his hands, and when he pushed himself up from the table Longstreet saw him wince.
Longstreet thought: go to sleep and let me do it. Give the order and I'll do it all. He said, "I regret the need to wake you, sir."
Lee looked past him into the soft blowing dark. The rain had ended. A light wind was moving in the tops of the pines-cool sweet air, gentle and clean. Lee took a deep breath.
"A good time of night. I have always liked this time of night."
"Yes."
"Well." Lee glanced once almost shyly at Longstreet's face, then looked away.
They stood for a moment in awkward silence. They had been together for a long time in war and they had grown very close, but Lee was ever formal and Longstreet was inarticulate, so they stood for a long moment side by side without speaking, not looking at each other, listening to the raindrops fall in the leaves. But the silent moment was enough. After a while Lee said slowly, "When this is over, I shall miss it very much."
"Yes."
"I do not mean the fighting."
"No."
"Well," Lee said. He looked to the sky. "It is all in God's hands."
They said good night. Longstreet watched the old man back to his tent. Then he mounted and rode alone back to his camp to begin