The Temporal Knights

by Richard D. Parker

  “Hello, I’m Doctor Rice,” he said and smiled kindly at her. “You’ll be fine. I’m going to take you to the medical tent now?”

  She nodded at him.

  “Let’s get her there quickly,” Rice said to Gillian and Padstone as they moved forward and grabbed the aged donkey and led him through the camp to the tent. On the way, Rice had Private Starling fetch Lieutenant Wells.

  Once outside the tent, Master Jones grabbed his wife under one shoulder and Padstone made to grab the other.

  “I can walk by meself,” the woman said with quiet dignity though she allowed her husband to help her over the backboard. She was sweating profusely and breathing rapidly from the exertion but she shuffled with a fair amount of grace through the doorway to the tent. Master Jones smiled proudly as the men followed her in.

  “Meg’s a barny one,” he interjected. “Good’n strong.”

  Rice nodded with a smile but forced the husband to wait outside. He could do no good for them. Rice ducked inside and led Meg to a screen on the far side of the tent and ordered her to take off her clothes and put on a gown. She did as he asked with no sign of embarrassment at all. Gillian and Padstone helped her climb up onto the examination table, as the woman looked about, stunned by the bright electric lights, strange instruments and orderliness of the place. She lay quietly as Rice gently, but firmly felt around her abdomen, checking the position of the baby.

  “How old are you?” he asked, mostly to keep the patient occupied and to get her used to his voice. He didn’t really expect an answer.

  “Five and twenty.”

  Rice was amazed but not terribly surprised. “This is to be your ninth child, and you’re only twenty-five.”

  “Tis me hope,” the woman said with a slight smile.

  “You’ll be fine,” Rice replied though he knew a breach could get a little tricky, still he was confident. For her part Meg could feel the strange man’s confidence, which was why she only hesitated a split second when he told her to put her feet in the stirrups and then he raised her gown. Gillian and Padstone both flushed as he did so, but that did not keep either one from moving, pink cheeked, down to the end of the table to see just what the Doctor was studying. Lieutenant Wells soon arrived and joined them.

  “Hope yor all havin’ a time,” Meg Jones snapped, just a bit irritated with the group of men below her feet, but she kept calm, then the contractions came again and she couldn’t think.

  §

  The evening meal was electric with excitement over the coming demonstration. Everyone had already heard the stories of how the Americans routed the Danes, but now they would actually be able to see how it was done with their own eyes. It was almost too much excitement for some of them to bear. The children, of course, picked up on the air of expectation from the adults, and it sent them into a frenzy. The entire town and the grounds around it turned into one large madhouse. All afternoon people wandered into camp and introduced themselves to the General. It made no difference whether they were nobles, peasants or refugees; they all wanted to thank him, touch him or just be in his presence for a few minutes. In short, he was a celebrity, as were all of the Americans now. The only people who were not caught up in the chaos seemed to be the Lady Ellyn, who sat despondent at one of the tables, not eating, talking, or enjoying the festivities; her father sat beside her, equally dour despite his kill during the earlier hunt and both were watched over by the grim-faced Aunt Eldreena. Matt was a no show.

  Peebles frowned on seeing the family so glum, but really there was nothing he could do about it, so he kept out of their way, which wasn’t hard. The meal was served and eaten very quickly, and as always vast quantities of wine and mead were consumed. By the time dinner was over a good number of the locals were roaring drunk but thankfully most were able to control their behavior to some degree. The Colonel gave strict orders that any soldiers participating in the live fire exhibition were to abstain from alcohol. But he was not truly worried that any of his men would be so negligent. The soldiers had grown very disciplined, a habit that would be with them for the rest of their lives.

  The special demonstration for Sir Eadwulf began about a half an hour before sundown. Everyone was obliged to walk or ride nearly a quarter of a mile away from the main gates of Athelney to a large open field where the viewing area was erected. Two large awnings were set up on a rise that overlooked a vast field perhaps three football fields in width and double that in length. Soldiers in full battle gear ringed the field. The general did not want anyone accidentally wandering into the line of fire in the darkness.

  Sir Eadwulf arrived after the walk, refusing to ride in one of the magic wagons. He was surrounded by all of his knights and advisors, and was also accompanied by the Earl, the Ealdorman, and the Lady Merwinna. They met General Peebles and Colonel Lemay underneath one of the larger awnings where a number of folding chairs had been set up. The Ealdorman played with his chair a bit, folding and unfolding it before finally sitting down. He was not the least bit concerned by the stares he was receiving from Sir Eadwulf and his men. The Americans and their simple gadgets were a constant source of wonder to him, and he couldn’t easily hide his enthusiasm for them.

  Other nobles were positioned underneath the awning to the left while many of the General’s men occupied the one on the right. There were also a great number logs set along the hillside for the common folks to sit and watch the proceedings.

  “Gentlemen,” the General said bowing low. Everyone returned his bow except for Sir Eadwulf, who merely smiled and nodded. The man was obviously back in control of his arrogance, but Peebles ignored the slight.

  “Lord Eadwulf, we have set up a row of old wagons,” he began, pointing below about quarter of a mile down the hillside, “generously donated by the Ealdorman and his lovely wife in order for us to show you some of our capabilities. For my men and I, war is a very serious business, please do not forget that as we entertain you and your knights. We’ve had to deal with a great many questions from the people of Somerset on how we defeated the Danes at Countisbury Hill. Hopefully this demonstration will enlighten everyone.”

  While he spoke Corporal Newton passed everyone, including Lord Eadwulf and his first knight, Sir Eadric, a set of binoculars. The Ealdorman took his pair with obvious delight and immediately began to show his wife how to operate them. The Lady Merwinna was as captivated as her husband with the field glasses, and played with them much as he had a few days prior. At first Sir Eadwulf would not touch his and most of his knights followed his example, but finally Sir Eadric could not contain his curiosity, and quickly glanced through his and gasped. He looked with surprise at his Lord, who was frowning, but then he peered through the binoculars once more. Then he raised and lowered them several times. After a moment Eadwulf raised his own set. Through the glass, the distant wagons immediately jumped very close, as if they were no more than a few feet away. He lowered his glasses, and squinted in the soft light at the distant targets, then raised them once more. Fascinating!

  All around them, the crowd was growing larger as people quickly filled the places on the hillside to the right and left of the awnings. Two Humvees were stationed on either side of the main awning perhaps fifty yards down the gently sloping hill. Several guards were posted around the vehicles to make sure that no one grew curious enough to touch the machines, or was foolish enough to sit directly between their powerful guns and the targets below. Matt sat on a log with Murphy, Selby, Turnbull and Joe Goode, just behind and a little to the left of one of the hummers. His attention however, was not on the target area; instead he kept looking back toward the second large awning where the Lady Ellyn sat with her father and aunt, along with several other minor nobles and knights. She did not look his way but even at this distance he could tell she was sad, upset, and not herself. He couldn’t blame her.

  Dr. Rice was still indisposed with the Jones woman, so the General was forced to become the entertainment guide.

  “We’ve placed a f
ew pumpkins and melons around on the wagons to approximate a man’s head, softer no doubt, but about the same size,” he explained mainly for Sir Eadwulf’s benefit, then he realized just how many children there were in the area and became distracted. “Er...please turn your attention to the pumpkin on the far right; the one sitting on the front of the lead wagon.” Everyone with binoculars immediately moved their glasses about in an attempt to find the fruit he was indicating. He waited patiently for those that were having difficulty adjusting to the magnification. Those of lower status were forced to use the eyesight God gave them.

  “Watch closely,” he said directly to Eadwulf. This technique had worked with the Sir Æthelred and the Ealdorman, now he hoped it would work with Sir Eadwulf and his men. And he silently prayed that there would be no problems since he did not have Dr. Rice’s down home wisdom to fall back on.

  “You may fire when ready Sergeant,” Pebbles said lightly into his headset. He spoke so softly that at first Eadwulf was confused, and looked about to see who the General was addressing, but then Peebles motioned for him to watch the scene below. There was a pop off to his left and before Eadwulf could raise his glasses he caught sight of a melon exploding in the distance, then there was another pop to his right, and another melon exploded. Eadwulf raised his glasses and just caught another melon in the act of disintegrating. Then both M60’s from the hummers opened up simultaneously with a stucco of noise that paralyzed Eadwulf and his followers. Screams erupted throughout the crowd, but for the most part no one moved.

  Through his glasses, Eadwulf could see melons exploding, wood being torn and ripped for some unknown reason. Directly behind the wagons he could even see dirt and grass flying up into the air. He lowered his glasses slightly and looked over at one of the magic wagons. The daylight was dim enough now that the occasional tracer bullets were clearly visible and he quickly realized that they were launching invisible projectiles of some kind…like a crossbow only far deadlier. They were awesome weapons. He raised his glasses once more and was impressed by the damage, and then, with a scream that grew louder and louder as it fell, the first mortar shell hit directly behind the last wagon, blasting it into the air and toward the spectators. It was still flipping end over end when another shell screamed down and landed directly on top of the lead wagon, utterly destroying it.

  Most of the locals were now on their feet. Many stood paralyzed with fear, covering their ears against the noise, but a few screamed and ran from the place, some not stopping or returning.

  Sir Eadric was also on his feet clearly trying to control his fear and Sir Eadwulf sat next to him completely stunned by the display he was witnessing. He clutched the glasses with all his might and forced them hard against his eyes as if his strength would create a better view. The Earl of Mercia was smiling though even he jumped at the noise of the simulated attack, and the Ealdorman was laughing aloud at the expressions around him. General Peebles gently reached out and touched Eadwulf’s hand, and with easy pressure lowered the binoculars. Eadwulf looked up at him, eyes wide with fright and wonder, until Peebles nodded back down the hill. The Lord turned just as a rocket tore from a Humvee. It roared away like thunder and streaked to the target like a bolt, then exploded in angry fury. Eadwulf was awestruck, everyone was awestruck; even Leoforic watched the destruction with all the wonder of his neighbors. ‘Tis just wot the compewter claimed the Ammericaans could do,’ he thought with grim satisfaction.

  The wagons were now completely destroyed; just so much timber, and then surprisingly, fire sprang from the growing darkness and leaped across the tall grass to the remains of the wagons. The bright flames ignited the wood instantly.

  “There are men out there,” Eadwulf whispered softly, though he’d failed to spot them until now. They were quite close to the destruction and well hidden.

  His bold plan to control the Americans wavered slightly in his mind, but then in a flash he realized he had to go through with it if he was ever to feel the crown on his head. Let these men ally themselves with the King of Wessex, and Alfred would truly be invincible. If that happened Alfred would control these men, and Alfred would control the country. Nothing could stand against him. ‘But tis I who will control these men,’ Eadwulf thought with quiet determination.

  The air on the hillside was buzzing with excitement. The adults were enthralled but it was the hoards of children that were truly charged up by the event. Hundreds of them ran this way and that, burning off the extra adrenaline the excitement had infused in their small bodies. The girls ran about giggling, and the boys pretended to be Americans. Eve was laughing and running with the pack, but took a short rest to come over and climb into the General’s lap. His kissed her head, missing her though she was with him. Now that there were children to play with, it seemed he got to be with her less and less. She took no notice of this and quickly scampered off as a group of young girls called to her as they ran by. In a shot they were off, heading toward the fire below. Sir Eadwulf watched this entire scene between the general and the girl with great interest, great interest indeed.

  The demonstration was over, and the Ealdorman stood and called for more logs to be added to the fire their new friends had so kindly built. Everyone was smiling and laughing and within moments music began to fill the air. Even Lord Eadwulf smiled, obviously much impressed. Sir Eadric however, was visibly shaken, and looked from the wagons to his Lord and back. At that moment he wished for nothing in the world except a new Lord and master.

  §

  The celebration was passing through its second hour when Dr. Rice and Father Gillian suddenly appeared, both smiling very broadly.

  “Twas wondrous,” the Father was telling the Lady Merwinna, his hands waving about excitedly. “Twold na ‘ave believed it meself if’n I was na there. This man...” he said grabbing Rice’s shoulder, “has worked a miracle before me vary eyes.”

  “The mother and baby are fine then?” Peebles asked, sitting on Merwinna’s right.

  “Oh yah,” Gillian said.

  “The baby was large, over eight pounds, and breach,” Rice explained. “We had to go with a cesarean to save him. The parents named him Gordon for some reason,” Rice added, all smiles.

  “Ceesaireaan?” Merwinna asked, not understanding. She had done her share of mid-wifeing over the years, and knew a little about birthing baerns, as did every woman and girl in this time.

  “You’d na believe it, but the baern wold na come out. Twas rough on both the wee lad and his mum...but the docktor, he put Meg to sleepin’, and then cut open her belly and just pulled the lad, kickin’ and screamin’ out of his mum. He was purple, and a might angry, but alive.”

  Merwinna went white. “Then Meg is...”

  “Na,” Gillian answered knowing her thoughts and everyone else’s within earshot, which included Sir Eadwulf, and a few of his knights. “Rice just sewed her back up, like he was doin’ some mending and just a little time passin’ afore the lass wakes up weak, but right as rain...twas....twas...I canna find the words.”

  “That’d be the first time,” the Ealdorman quipped and laughed deep and hearty, the sound so infectious that everyone was forced to laugh with him. The mead was flowing well and the Ealdorman was feeling better by the minute, truly blessed. ‘These Ammericaans held luck by the arse, that be for sure.’

  An excited crowd gathered around the nobles and everyone was cheering the good news, and even Sir Eadric was caught up in the electricity. He found that these deadly strangers, though terrifying at times, seemed to be filled with nothing but goodwill. He found them perplexing, but there was something about their manner that he also found comforting and reassuring.

  “A remarkable story,” Eadric commented despite the look he received from his Lord. He’d always had an interest in medicine, and the mysteries of not only the human body but of all life. As a small boy he’d actually cut open a small dog that was crushed under the wheels of a passing wagon. He wanted to see how the animal worked. In the end he just
had a bunch of pieces, flesh, bone, and blood, and knew no more about dogs than when he had started, but he was fascinated nevertheless. “Mayhap I could see the woman?” he asked, and Dr. Rice raised an eyebrow in surprise. He studied the knight for a long moment but saw only curiosity, so he nodded.

  “She’s sleeping now, but perhaps in the morning,” he said, then added. “If the young lady has no objections.”

  Eadric nodded satisfied, truly hoping the lady would not object.

  The crowd slowly dissolved back down closer to the fire, and went back to dancing and the like. It seemed a very happy affair until General Peebles caught sight of Sir Oldalf talking earnestly to Sir Æthelred, the Earl of Mercia. They were too far away for him to hear what was being said, but it was clear they were in a heated discussion. The General noticed that Sir Eadwulf was also watching the encounter, and then nudged Eadric, who likewise looked on.

  He was about to mention the incident to Lemay when he saw Major Thane walking down the path directly toward the two arguing men. Sir Oldalf broke away just before Matt reached them and turned to him as if to say something, but instead continued on in the direction of the town. The Earl however, greeted the Major and they walked back to the celebration together.

  Peebles watched carefully as Matt approached and gave a wan smile to everyone who spoke to him, before continuing on around the fire. The Lady Ellyn was not present, she’d retired shortly after the demonstration, but he watched the Major search anyhow. He smiled grimly as several young beauties approached the Major wanting his attention or possibly a dance, but Matt always declined and continued on.