The Amtrak Wars: Blood River

by Patrick Tilley

  It was a strange evocative sound. The first time she had summoned them, the cry had sprung fully formed from her lips. Steve concluded that it must have lain dormant in her memory since birth but who had put it there? And why did fleeting visions of another world, another existence, pass through his mind each time he heard it. Yet another mystery…

  Late in the afternoon of the third day Steve returned to the cave to find Cadillac sitting with his knees drawn up to his chin and staring morosely into the flames. The small cask of sake stood close by. Steve decided it was better not to enquire whether it was now empty.

  ‘Nice of you to drop in …’

  Steve added more kindling to the fire and settled down facing him. ‘You don’t have to sit here by yourself.’

  Cadillac responded with a sneering laugh. ‘No ..? Well, never mind, we won’t go into that. Perhaps you can tell me when we’ll be moving on. Or have you and Clearwater been too busy to think about that.’

  ‘On the contrary. I’ve given it a great deal of thought.’

  ‘So when do we leave?’

  Steve grimaced. ‘As soon as we can.’

  ‘And how soon is that?’

  ‘Dunno. Another two or three days.’

  ‘Why not tomorrow? Or tonight?’

  ‘It’s not that simple.’

  ‘It never is.’

  ‘Listen! Don’t start, okay?’ Steve pointed to the camp at the bottom of the slope. ‘There are upwards of seventy breakers down there and Malone’s got guards posted all round. So far we’ve kept things nice and friendly but we’re not out of the woods yet.’ He shook his head in puzzlement. ‘Something’s going down. Don’t ask me what, I can’t put my finger on it. But we’ve got to tread lightly.’

  ‘It’s Malone who needs to tread lightly.’ replied Cadillac. ‘I’d kill him if I got the chance, and I’m sure you would too.’

  ‘Maybe. But now’s not the time to get even. It’s Malone who’s holding this bunch of misfits together. He and his four side-kicks are the only ones with enough brains to figure that by helping us on our way, they may be able to cut a deal with the M’Calls at the next annual round-up.’

  ‘Is that what you told him?’

  Steve shrugged. ‘I didn’t promise anything. But if they decide to earn themselves a few brownie points by escorting us the rest of the way …’

  ‘But we don’t need them. Everything’s gone according to plan up to now. How will we explain their presence? All it does is add an extra complication!’

  ‘Listen! Things haven’t gone according to plan – not unless you’d already decided to run into these guys –’

  ‘Oh, come on. Don’t be stupid!’

  ‘Precisely. They’re the ones who’ve complicated everything, not me. I’m just trying to find a neat way out.’

  ‘Brickman. It’s very simple. We just leave!’

  ‘Yeah, but, uh … they’re beginning to think it might be a good idea to keep the horses.’ Steve paused to let the news sink home then added: ‘All of them.’

  ‘I see …’

  ‘That’s why I need a few more days to find out what their intentions are. If we can’t part on good terms, the next best thing is to take them with us. Think about it. If the worst comes to the worst, the M’Calls can always sell them down the river.’

  Cadillac eyed him, hardly able to credit what he was hearing. ‘You’d do that to your own kind?’

  ‘Don’t you?’

  Cadillac hid his annoyance at being outwitted. ‘Yes, I suppose we do …’

  ‘Look,’ said Steve. ‘I know you’ve been getting the treatment from these guys but you’re not the only one. They rate lump-suckers even lower than Mutes. It’s not only your ass I’ve been protecting. I’ve been having to do some fancy footwork myself.’

  It was the opening Cadillac had been looking for. ‘Yes, well, when it comes to fancy footwork, you’re in a class of your own.’

  The heavy sarcasm was not lost on Steve. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘It means that despite saving my life, and swearing on oath to be my blood brother, you are still playing a double game!’

  Steve met this accusation with a dry laugh. ‘What the hell are you talking about!?’

  ‘The wheelboat! When it caught fire and blew up so fortuitously, I assumed – since you said nothing to the contrary – that it was the work of the Talisman! You can imagine my surprise when I eventually got Clearwater to talk about it – and it wasn’t easy, I can tell you – to discover that she believed the boat was attacked by arrowheads. Aircraft from the Federation!’

  Steve, wrong-footed by the sudden jump in the conversation, instinctively gave an evasive answer. ‘Where’d she get that idea?’

  ‘Are you saying she’s wrong?’

  ‘Not exactly.’

  ‘Okay, Brickman, just what, precisely, are you saying?’

  ‘That you’re drawing the wrong conclusion.’

  ‘So, in other words, Clearwater was right. The wheelboat was attacked by aircraft!’

  ‘Look, uhh – I’m not sure what your problem is. We got out, didn’t we? And you’ve been in the spotlight ever since.’

  ‘So…?’

  As he posed the question, Clearwater returned. Sensing the atmosphere, she sat down between them without saying anything and warmed her hands over the fire.

  Steve threw her a loaded glance then said: ‘So why should it matter how the wheelboat sank? It did. And that’s all there is to it.’

  Cadillac smiled pityingly. At last … A chance to get his own back. ‘How typical! You’re so riddled with lies and deceptions, you are incapable of admitting the truth. I’ll ignore that sneering remark about me being in the spotlight, except to say I’ve not forgotten the fact that if you hadn’t saved my life, I wouldn’t be here. But that’s not the issue. What we need to establish before we go a step further is which side you’re on.’

  ‘Isn’t that obvious?’

  Cadillac threw up his hands and appealed to Clearwater. ‘You see what I mean?’

  Clearwater’s eyes locked onto Steve’s. ‘Tell me, Cloud-Warrior – the burning of the wheelboat – was this the work of your friends in the Federation?’

  ‘Yes …’

  ‘And did you summon them?’

  Steve hated having to lie to Clearwater. Unless he could quickly find a way to sidetrack this line of questioning he was going to be forced to come clean. He nodded. ‘In a manner of speaking.’ He saw her expression. ‘Yes, okay, I did! But I’m not working with them. I used them. It was the only way we could escape from the wheelboat – and we only just managed that!’

  ‘I agree,’ said Cadillac. ‘It was a master-stroke.’

  ‘Good.’ Steve slapped his outspread knees. ‘Let’s leave it there. The Kojak are happy, you guys are on your way home, and Talisman got all the credit.’ He eyed them both. ‘What more do you want?’

  ‘I want to know why they did, Brickman. We blew several holes in one of their wagon-trains, remember? For which you were supposed to get the blame. It’s obvious that someone – and it might even turn out to be you – has put the record straight.’

  Steve frowned at his tormentor. ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘Oh, come on! I’m not that naive! If your masters were prepared to send –’ He sought Clearwater’s help, ‘What was it –four?’

  ‘Five …’

  ‘Five aircraft over nine hundred and fifty miles to burn that boat, they must think you’re still working for them. I can’t think of any other reason, can you?’

  Steve shrugged off the veiled accusation of treachery. ‘You tell me. You’re the one with all the answers.’

  Cadillac’s patience began to wear thin. ‘That’s ‘cause you’re not coming up with any!’ He upended the cask of sake and took a quick swig.

  Steve gazed at Clearwater for a moment then said: ‘Ask her. She knows where I stand.’

  Cadillac’s voice soured. ‘Does she? I wo
nder.’

  ‘Listen, I really don’t need this – okay?’ Steve got to his feet and made a strenuous attempt to keep calm but some of the bottled up anger found its way into his voice. ‘We’re even. I owe you nothing. And that includes an explanation! I’ve done my bit to help us get this far. If that’s not good enough, then tough shit! I’m getting sick of pulling your nuts out of the fire.’ He pointed to the western hills. ‘Wyoming’s thataway! Go ahead! Ride off into the sunset! I’m bailing out!’

  Clearwater seized his arm as he turned away. ‘Cloud-Warrior!’

  ‘Forget it. I’ve had it with this guy! He’s been on a tightrope to disaster ever since he got his nose back in that stuff!’ He looked over her shoulder at Cadillac. ‘Keep taking the medicine, pal! You’re doing just fine!’

  Cadillac scrambled to his feet and started to gather his belongings together. ‘Come on, let’s go! We’re safer without him!’

  Clearwater grasped Steve’s hands before he could make fists out of them to smash into Cadillac’s face. ‘This is madness! What will you do?’

  ‘I’ll stay with these guys. What the hell? At least they’re my own kind!’

  ‘But they are not your kind any longer. Look at your hands! Do you think they will let you live amongst them marked like this?’

  ‘Aww, c’mon, honey! It’s just paint! I’ll find some pink finger leaves and scrub it off. Christo! It’s not going to be that difficult!’

  Clearwater greeted this with a sad smile. ‘Do you think their minds will change as swiftly as the colour of your skin? I have seen the way they look at us. They call you “lump-sucker” –’

  ‘Yeah, I know –’

  She tightened her grip on his hands. ‘In their eyes you are unclean – as we are. You will not be safe with them. These men may have fled from the dark cities, they may parley and barter with the Plainfolk, but in their hearts they hate and fear us.’

  ‘Then maybe I’ll be able to teach them a thing or two – show them it’s possible for your kind and mine to live together. It’s not quite what I had in mind but it’s better than having to listen to that asshole sounding off!’

  Cadillac’s temper flared. ‘I couldn’t have put it better myself!’ He beckoned to Clearwater. ‘Come on. Let’s pack up and get out of here before I do something we may both regret!’

  Clearwater drew back. ‘No! I shall not leave unless the three of us are together!’ She stamped her foot angrily. ‘Make peace with your blood-brother! Now!’

  Cadillac raised his clenched fists and turned his eyes to the sky. ‘Sweet Sky-Mother! What a bitter cup you have poured me!’ He flung an accusing finger at Steve. ‘I shall not ride with this lying toad until he swears on your head to tell us the truth!’

  Clearwater’s blue eyes fastened on Steve. It was amazing how they changed hue depending on her mood. This time, they were a deep azure, liquid pools that invited his soul to plunge towards the very centre of her being. ‘Do this for me …’

  ‘Okay,’ said Steve lightly. ‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’

  She took his hand as he made the sign of the cross and laid it on her breast. ‘It is my heart that will be pierced, Cloud-Warrior. If your words are untrue they will kill me, not you.’

  Steve had an uncomfortable feeling she meant it. They all sat down again. Clearwater picked up the small cask of sake and passed it to Steve. Amazingly, Cadillac did not object. Or did not dare to. Steve would have liked to pay him off by swallowing the lot but he contented himself with a couple of sips to lubricate his tongue then handed it back and used the Japanese word for ‘Cheers!’ he’d picked up from the leader of the ronin Noburo Naka-Jima. ‘Kanpai!’

  With great reluctance, which sprang from his ingrained habit of keeping his true thoughts and feelings to himself – plus any information which, if kept secret, might confer a tactical advantage, he told them about the telepathic gift that he and Roz had been born with. A gift that was, as far as he knew, theirs alone.

  And he described how, when he crash-landed after his arm had been pinned to his helmet by Cadillac’s cross-bow bolt, the same wounds had appeared in Roz’s right arm and scalp: only to disappear without trace some hours later. This led, inevitably, to explaining how this deep rapport which they had kept to themselves since early childhood had forged an unbreakable bond; ‘one-ness’ that went far beyond the most intimate bonds of friendship and which he could not adequately describe.

  His deep secret now revealed, Steve lapsed into embarrassed silence, hoping that Clearwater might understand what he was talking about. And praying that she might also understand the message he sought to convey with his eyes: his equally profound feelings for her. Clearwater had opened up a totally different side to his nature, had aroused emotions that, at first, he had been unable to describe. She had taught him both the meaning and the language of love. He had told her this many times. And he wanted to tell her again but was unable to do so in Cadillac’s brooding presence.

  ‘Do you love her?’asked Clearwater.

  ‘Not the way you mean.’

  ‘And what way is that?’

  They both ignored Cadillac’s question.

  ‘And Roz. Does she love you?’

  Steve paused, thinking of Santanna Deep. ‘Do I have to answer that?’

  ‘You already have. How does she feel about me?’

  ‘She doesn’t understand.’

  ‘In other words she regards me as a threat.’

  ‘It’s my fault for not explaining things properly,’ said Steve ‘You know what I mean – the difference between our relationship and the way I feel about her.’

  ‘Is there a difference?’

  ‘Hey, c’mon!’ laughed Steve. ‘You’re already skinning me alive. What d’you want?’

  Cadillac lowered the cask from his lips. ‘The truth!’ He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. ‘So … your masters know of this bond between you.’

  ‘Yes. Ever since you put that arrow through me. But at the beginning, they didn’t know we were able to send thought-messages to each other. It was just this shared stress phenomenon – what the medics called “psychosomatic trauma”.’

  ‘But they know you can talk to each other now,’ insisted Cadillac.

  ‘Of course! Roz had to tell them! It was the only way she could help us.’

  ‘Obviously. What also strikes me is the extraordinary faith they appear to have in your kin-sister’s abilities, and the speed with which they reacted. And the organization and effort required to send those five planes over that distance, to make a pin-point attack in the dark! Just to save your life. Amazing…

  ‘Of course, they don’t know you’re no longer a loyal subject of the Federation. But they must think Roz is reliable. Why else would they go to so much trouble? I can only think of one explanation. She must have proved her worth before this. You say they are holding her hostage to ensure your obedience but it’s clear they must know it was not you who blew up the wagon-train. Otherwise they’d have killed her to get back at you. What other messages have you been sending, I wonder?’

  ‘None! The only time we had the same depth of contact as on the wheelboat was when the five of us and Side-Winder were heading towards Long Point in those powered inflatables. The words, or the thoughts –’ Steve searched for an apt description, ‘– the totality of the experience which comes through all of a piece and tells you everything you want to know, only comes through – according to her – when I open up. In moments of high stress the contact occurs on an involuntary basis, otherwise it’s down to me. Unless I switch on, she can’t reach me.’

  This was not strictly true but Steve was not aware of the progress Roz had made in the period since their ill-fated rendezvous – arranged with the connivance of certain members of the First Family – at Santanna Deep.

  ‘And what did she tell you on the way to Long Point?’ asked Clearwater.

  ‘That what I’d decided to do was the right thing.’

 
‘And what was that?’

  Steve turned to Cadillac. ‘Stay with you, steal the planes and head west.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because that was the way things had been planned.’

  ‘Who by?’

  ‘She didn’t say.’

  It was Clearwater’s turn again. ‘Have you talked to each other since we left the Kojak?’

  ‘No.’ Steve hesitated then said: ‘I’ve tried to keep that side of my mind shut down. Unless we got into another impossible jam I was going to stay off the air until you were safely back home. I, uhh – well, to be honest, I didn’t want to risk giving our position away. Roz wouldn’t betray me but, uhh – the thing is, I just don’t know what kind of pressure she’s under.’

  Clearwater nodded but it was impossible to tell whether she believed him or was merely acknowledging receipt of the information. Steve stared defiantly across the fire at Cadillac. ‘Satisfied?’

  ‘Yes. For the moment.’

  And fuck you too …

  When night fell, they curled up around the fire in their individual sleep furs. Clearwater lay within arm’s reach of Steve but by tacit agreement they’d stayed out of each other’s beds so as not to cause further hurt to Cadillac’s wounded ego. At the Kojak settlement it hadn’t been a problem: Cadillac had been provided with his own lodge and an ample supply of what the fishermen called ‘night bait’ to dress his hook. But the situation became more delicate when the guy whose girl you’d taken over was lying on his jack less than three yards away – and might not even be asleep.

  Tonight was different. Steve woke to find Clearwater easing her body beneath his furs. ‘Whaa –?’

  Her fingers sealed his lips. ‘Sshhh …’ She caressed his face then kissed him hungrily. She was naked except for the threadbare cotton undervest she’d brought out of Ne-Issan. Her hand slid down his chest and found the knotted drawstring of his walking skins. Steve got the message and started to wriggle out of his trousers while she ran the flat of her hand over his stomach.

  A swift pull on the side ties of his triangular loincloth cleared the decks for action. Clearwater slithered on top of him and sat crouched forward, astride his belly while she lifted her vest over her head. Steve lying beneath her managed to lift his as far as his armpits.