Stone That the Builder Refused - Madison Smartt Bell [314]
He cocked a forefinger and aimed it between Guizot’s eyes.
“Captain Guizot,” he said.
Guizot tensed. Until this moment he’d not been certain that Rochambeau actually knew his name.
“As well as anyone, you know the shame of our losses here.”
“It is so, mon général,” Guizot croaked.
Rochambeau glanced at his watch and then at the sky. “I give you command of a fresh company for this morning,” he said. “I think you’ll find small resistance now in the fort. If you succeed, that company shall remain your command for the duration.” He looked down at the body of the black man he’d just killed, then raised his eyes to the captain again. “I believe you will know how to do your duty.”
With the thrill of the news his scouts had brought him, Toussaint’s whole person trembled like the body of a terrier on a hot scent. He caught Placide by his upper arms. “You’re certain it was him. Leclerc!— and you can bring us to that place.”
“Yes, I am sure of it. Morisset too.” Placide was stammering in his own excitement. “We were seen by one of the captains who escorted us on the voyage, and yet they could not overtake us when he had raised the alarm.”
“But they may be forewarned by him.” Toussaint covered his mouth with one hand.
“There was an action on the line as well,” Morisset mentioned.
“From the fort?” Toussaint wheeled toward him.
“No.” Morisset glanced at Guerrier. “It was some of the field hands who overshot our position. Probably some of those we’d armed today.”
“No matter, no matter.” Again Toussaint’s face began to shine. “What confusion they may cause is all to our advantage now. But we must strike with no delay.”
He turned to Guiaou, who went flying off to fetch Bel Argent almost before Toussaint could complete the order. Morisset went with Monpoint to get the whole cavalry into the saddle. Toussaint was looking critically at the sky, where the stars were still bright on a black velvet ground. But before Bel Argent could be led up, a rider came galloping into the torchlight, pulled up his horse in a swirl of dust, and jumped down before his mount had stopped moving, lurching to catch himself against the trunk of a palm. Guerrier hurried to take the helmet he was fumbling from his head. Freed of the helmet, Riau wiped sweat from his face with his palm.
“What news of Dessalines?” Toussaint rapped out.
“I couldn’t reach him.” Riau straightened from the tree trunk and spread a hand over his sternum; the hand heaved outward with the force of his breath. Toussaint allowed him a moment of respiration.
“Lamartinière has left the fort,” Riau said finally. “I crossed his rear guard going up the Cahos. They couldn’t hold out for lack of water—they say Dessalines sent word for them to leave. Lamartinière cut his way out through the army of Rochambeau. There are nearly five hundred left of the garrison.” Riau sucked in a fresh breath. “Lamartinière is going up the Cahos to join Dessalines,” he said. “But I thought I ought to come to you first.”
“Too late!” Toussaint said. His voice burned. When Riau’s face went vacant, Toussaint raised his eyes to him and said, “Not you, Riau, you have done right.” He stopped and lowered his head. “So the fort has fallen.”
Guiaou, who was just leading Bel Argent into the ring of torchlight, stopped cold, bewildered by the collapse of the atmosphere. Riau found the reins of his exhausted horse and discreetly led the animal away. The others had all vanished too. Only Guiaou and Guerrier remained with Placide and Toussaint, who sank down, somewhat unsteadily, onto a chunk of timber, and dropped his face in his two hands.
Placide felt a sickening, giddy spin. If his father lost his certainty, nothing stood between himself and the void. He had not recognized that until now. And why, why could they not still act? But he found he could think his own way through it. With all the field hands they had raised, Toussaint alone was still handily outnumbered by the seasoned French troops gathered at Petite Rivière, and now that the fort was empty they could spend their whole strength on repelling