The Shadows of God - J. Gregory Keyes [37]
“You did well by me, Governor Nairne,” Oglethorpe said that evening, as they sat in a half-darkened room, poring over maps and papers taken from Mar's things.
Nairne, a square-faced fellow with salt-and-pepper hair, nodded wearily. “Thank you, Margrave. I most sincerely tried to. For commanding the Continental Army, we all owe you immeasurably. I could not see your capital taken while you were elsewhere.” He leaned back and took a deep puff on his clay pipe, and the pungent scent of tobacco bloomed into the air. “Besides, where else to go?”
“Another few days’ march would have had you in Apalachee territory, which has more easily defended forts,” Oglethorpe pointed out.
“And abandon good Englishmen?”
“I have taken to calling us Americans,” Oglethorpe said quietly. “After all, many who fight with us owe little to England. Our own colonies were enemies not long ago.”
“Aye. And I want that well mended,” Nairne said.
“I believe you do. Those in your Parliament who hate Azilia are with the Pretender now, as I see it. Out here, we are all brothers. Azilians, Carolinians, Maroons, Yamacraws, Apalachees.”
“Now you sound like our Mr. Franklin.”
“Mr. Franklin is wiser than I first gave him credit for.” Oglethorpe lifted his sherry. “I got this from the Apalachee. It was a gift from Don Sancho of San Luis. It is my last bottle.” He sipped it carefully. “Have we heard from Mr. Franklin?”
“That he was in danger. We got word that the Pretender's ambassador, Sterne, had gone ahead to the Coweta. Don Pedro —speaking of Apalachee bravos—followed after Franklin, to warn him.”
“What about his aetherschreiber?”
“As you must know, we've been having trouble with those. It's my guess that the Russian warlocks have some method of intercepting their messages. We've stopped using them.”
Oglethorpe frowned, then turned to MacKay, who sat, half drowsing, at the end of the table.
“Captain MacKay, go invite the Earl of Mar to join us, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And, MacKay, by ‘invite,’ I mean ask civilly, but if he gives you any back talk, haul him here by his ears.”
MacKay winked. “Yes, sir.”
Mar was nearly apoplectic when MacKay brought him in.
“Good evening, my good earl,” Oglethorpe said. “Captain MacKay, you may release the gentleman now.”
“Very good, sir,” MacKay replied, letting the blustering lord's very red ears go.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Have a seat, Mar, if you please.”
“I do not please. What more can you ask of me? I betrayed my entire army to you.”
“Indeed, and so you are several times a traitor. Do you think I'm grateful to you? You are a worm, sir, and so act like one. If you do not, I shall expend whatever energy is required to bring you ‘round to your wormdom, though I doubt it shall need very much. I may not even need my Indians.”
“What do you want?”
“You've met Governor Nairne?”
“I have not.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Nairne said. “I am very well pleased to see you here. I hope you and your murderous friends have treated my city of Charles Town well, or I may be more pleased to have you with me than you can imagine.”
“Charles Town is quite well, and under proper English rule.”
“Oh, indeed? And how can English rule be proper without English law, which I have seen none of? Never mind, sir, we are not met here to debate.”
“What then?”
“Governor Nairne has learned that you have been intercepting our aetherschreiber communiqués. Where are they?”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Oglethorpe drew his pistol, took careful aim, and shot Mar in the foot.
That set off a bit of scurrying among the guards, but it was just as well. Mar wasn't able to talk properly for a few moments, but he drew a packet of letters from the inside pocket of his coat.
“That's all of them,” he said feebly.
“Sir,” Oglethorpe said, “I have let you keep as much dignity as possible, but you are trying me. I did not have your person searched, and see how you repay me. If I suspect you are hiding a single thing from me, I will have you publicly stripped and searched. Do you