Soldier at the Door (Forest at the Edge)

by Mercer, Trish

  What kinds of chances would a small child have in the forest, should it happen to get ‘lost’? That would make for a most interesting study . . .

  And what if two vanished, in different parts, without a trace, and their mother was also—

  Walickiah was startled out of his contemplation when he saw a strapping corporal carrying the little boy and walking towards him. The soldier appeared to be exceptionally young, but was surprising large in build. Perhaps it was the extreme innocence of his face that gave him such a youthful look.

  Such a carefully practiced look.

  “Sir,” the corporal nodded to him. “I’m assuming the major lost something?”

  Walickiah slipped back into character and sighed exaggeratedly in relief. “Yes! I think he’s about to rip apart the fort.”

  The corporal chuckled. “Do you want to bring him Peto, or shall I?”

  Walickiah held up his hands. “I wouldn’t know how to hold him.”

  The corporal smiled and continued walking down the hallway, Walickiah behind him. The young soldier seemed quite capable of holding the child. The baby started making an odd grunting noise that sounded like “Unk! Unk!” He wasn’t in the least bit upset or wailing.

  Walickiah took note at how the corporal held him, so that he could copy the position.

  In the main reception area the major came running in just as the corporal arrived. Major Shin’s shoulders sagged in relief when he saw the corporal with his son.

  “Unk! Unk!”

  The major smiled. “Yes Peto, you found your Unk. Zenos, thank you!”

  “I keep telling you, sir, he’s going to grow up to be a scout,” the corporal smiled. “He toddled right into the mess hall as if he knew what he was looking for. No fear at all.”

  The major laughed. “Looks like he made off with a part of someone’s pear, too,” he said as he took his son and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

  Walickiah tried not to stare. Major Puppy Dog was quite the disappointment.

  “Unk!” Peto waved the pear at his father.

  Karna ran into the reception area, the anxious look on his face evaporating.

  “Unk’s pear. Yes!” Shin nodded, and turned to the corporal. “Would you do me a favor?” he said with surprising casualness.

  “Let me guess—don’t tell your wife?” the corporal responded, equally as informal, and not even adding “sir” to his answer.

  “Exactly!” Shin pointed at the corporal and winked, while Walickiah’s eyebrows furrowed in frantic analysis of the situation. “Peto, your mother should be finished cleaning up your mess. How about we go home?”

  The major nodded good night to his men as Peto waved his little hand at them again.

  Walickiah again felt obliged and waved half-heartedly. He should make himself known to the child somehow, so he wouldn’t make undue noise in his presence in the future.

  Out of the corner of his eye he saw the corporal waving like a maniac. Walickiah stared at him and dropped his arm.

  “Bye-bye! Say ‘bye-bye’!” the corporal crooned in a high-pitched voice.

  “Bye!” the little boy said softly.

  The major spun around.

  “Did you hear that?!” His question was obviously directed at the corporal, because he didn’t make eye contact with anyone else.

  “I did!” the corporal squealed like a teenage girl. “He finally said it!”

  “Oh, good job, son,” the major kissed his baby again.

  “My condolences, sir,” the corporal grinned. “He’s going to be as talkative as his sister!”

  “I’m afraid you may be right.” The major chuckled and headed out, trying to get his son to repeat the word, oblivious to everything else.

  Walickiah turned slowly to the corporal who was still smiling at the empty doorway. His suspicion increased, and if he could verify it, his superiors would be most impressed with his efforts on his first full day.

  “I don’t think we’ve met yet,” he smiled thinly. “I’m Lieutenant Walickiah,” and he held out his hand.

  The corporal took it. “And I’m the Unk. Good to meet you!” He winked and jogged down the hallway.

  Walickiah’s mouth dropped open. That wasn’t the response he was expecting. In fact, there wasn’t anything appropriate about that response, and he was sure he said his part correctly.

  He looked confusedly at Karna. “The Unk?”

  Karna nodded. “Baby tender for Major Shin,” he said offhandedly. “Uncle. Some of us think he should get a special medal for changing their dirty cloths.”

  “A soldier baby tender? For the major?” His hunch grew stronger.

  “Naturally,” Karna smiled. “I told you, this fort is a most interesting assignment. Do you want to be a back-up for Unk?”

  Walickiah thought about that. How much easier would his task be if he became the back-up baby tender? Never mind that he knew nothing of children, it’s not as if he would be doing much for long—

  He considered the possibility too long. Captain Karna took his delay as a response.

  “I’m only teasing you. They wouldn’t trust their children with anyone else than Shem Zenos.”

  Lieutenant Walickiah smiled faintly and followed the captain back up the stairs, satisfied.

  How perfect. In the fort for only a day and a half, and already he had identified the Quiet Man.

  ---

  Shem Zenos walked back to the mess hall, picked up his dishes, and brought them to the washing station. Then he idly wandered back to his barracks, lost in thought and worry.

  Lieutenant Walickiah. So this was the next stage.

  Major Shin was in major trouble.

  And now, so was Shem.

  ---

  For someone who had never stolen a thing before in his life, Dormin made off quite well with the horse, he thought to himself. Maybe he did have a talent.

  What he didn’t have was more time.

  He’d already wasted too much in Idumea looking for his brother, and now he had to get back on schedule and to Winds. As he rode the black horse along the dark roads, he tried to justify in his mind what he’d done by taking the animal. The words wouldn’t come. Everything sounded either feeble, or something his brother would say, which was pretty much the same thing.

  But it was over now, he was sure of it. Sonoforen had chosen his fate, Dormin was now choosing his. But only by riding all night and day and night again would he meet his fate on time.

  He just might have to steal a few more horses.

  ---

  It was a sunny and cool afternoon in the middle of Harvest Season, the 46th Day. Perfect weather for the Strongest Soldier Race.

  “Actually,” Perrin clarified to his wife for the umpteenth time that morning over breakfast, “it’s to test Stage Three, the Tower Banner Notices. Not to see who the strongest soldier is. So please stop calling it the Strongest Soldier Race!”

  “But everyone else in Edge is calling it that,” Mahrree defended sweetly.

  “Because you got them to!”

  “Yes,” she giggled, “I did, didn’t I?”

  The day should have been declared a holiday, Perrin decided later. The towers which had captured the citizens’ attention as they were constructed were now fully manned and readied. It seemed most of the population of Edge put their work on hold to come watch the first trial of the system, especially since they heard that the Commander of the fort would be racing the young Hero of Edge.

  Also probably Mahrree’s doing as well.

  It was early afternoon when Perrin approached at the village green tower on horseback from the west, having made sure the towers in that quadrant were ready for their first test. Corporal Zenos was coming to meet him from the east, and Captain Karna from the south, with verification that the towers in those quadrants were readied as well.

  What the three men hadn’t expected was the festival atmosphere that greeted them by the amphitheater. Over a thousand adults and children wer
e milling around, chatting, and even selling food and drinks as they waited for the race.

  Perrin shook his head at the unexpected scene. A cheer rose up when the three men arrived from different roads, converging at the village green tower. Major Shin nodded to the crowd and waved politely before walking his horse over to his captain.

  “Karna,” he said in a low voice, “this is madness! We posted bulletins to forewarn the citizens, not to be their entertainment.”

  The captain chuckled. “Remember Major, you’re winning hearts and minds, and that’s important since you’re now also the Administrators’ Eyes and Ears and Voice.”

  Perrin shook his head and mumbled, “Only a few body parts remain my own.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Karna,” You can borrow some of mine. I’m still your third and fourth hands, and second mind.”

  Perrin winked in gratitude.

  Corporal Zenos looked around nervously from atop his mount. A group of young women, with their own homemade cloth banner proudly sporting the name of ZENOS, caught his eye. They waved enthusiastically. Sareen was one of them, and Perrin noticed Zenos wincing as the silly girl giggled.

  “Major, maybe we shouldn’t do this today—the race I mean,” Zenos said quietly giving sidelong glances to the girls who called for him and waved more boldly.

  He waved timidly back.

  They squealed.

  He blushed.

  Captain Karna shook his head. “That would be a bad idea, Zenos. Those girls have been waiting for nearly an hour to see you,” he warned him. “If we cancel now we’d most likely have an angry mob on our hands. Major, perhaps that could be the signal for the purple banner?” He grinned.

  Major Shin smiled in agreement. “Then I guess you best be on your way to the fort, Captain. You have a relay race to finish setting up. We’ll be up shortly after we’ve checked the last two stations.”

  “I’ll have the surgeon waiting on standby for you two. If you’re able to complete what I’ve set up for you, neither will be walking well for a week!” Karna laughed, kicked his horse, and headed to the fort.

  Shin looked over to Zenos. He was staring at his horse’s mane trying not to notice the crowd, and especially trying not to look at the girls who kept calling for him.

  Sareen and another girl had taken off their cloaks, despite the chill of Harvest Season, and slid their short sleeves down to reveal their bare shoulders, and even a bit beyond. ‘Cleavage’ was a new Idumean fashion, a trend Perrin told Mahrree she didn’t need to adopt.

  By the redness of Zenos’s ears, Perrin knew he had seen the girls’ efforts to attract his attention.

  “Let’s go over to the tower to make the announcement,” the major said to him.

  Zenos clucked his horse to match the major’s gait. The men made their way to the twenty foot perimeter of low rocks ringing each tower to remind the children—and their curious fathers—that they weren’t allowed any closer.

  “I understand your concerns, Corporal,” Major Shin said leaning over and patting him kindly on the back. Now that they were out of earshot, he could gauge the corporal’s readiness in relative privacy. “Not feeling up to it? No problem. Just concede defeat now. You did look a little tired on the sofa the other night.”

  Zenos narrowed his eyes and gave him a stern look. “I was tired, sir, because you and Mrs. Shin didn’t get home from inspecting the Moorland fort until well after midnight. I was sleeping.”

  The major glared at him. “Sleeping on my favorite pillow!” he whispered.

  Zenos matched his glare. “The one your wife gave me, when she warned me the two of you would probably be late. She said you had two more. And,” he added smugly, “it was quite comfy, sir. I enjoyed drooling on it.”

  The major fought a tug at the side of his mouth. “So that’s why you stayed there all night?”

  “You could have woken me up, sent me on my way,” Zenos said, his face starting to twitch.

  “No I couldn’t. I tried! Your sergeant was right. You are impossible to wake unless you smell breakfast cooking. Besides,” his face became as soft and mushy as he could make it, “Mahrree thought you looked so sweet sleeping there.”

  When Perrin said ‘sweet’ he knew he was starting to lose. The smile he meant to provoke on Zenos was sneaking around his mouth instead.

  Zenos saw it, and likely thought he could seal his victory. “Just how ‘sweet’ did I look, sir?” But it was too much. He snorted.

  Perrin pointed at him and grinned. “You did that to yourself! No noise, remember? Ha! That’s not the first thing you’ll lose today, Zenos.”

  Shem laughed. “It was ‘sweet’ that did it. I saw you starting to lose too!”

  “Doesn’t matter who starts losing, it’s who actually loses. That was your rule, remember?”

  Over the past several weeks this competition had become almost an obsession with the two men. The day after the major interrogated the corporal in his office, a timid Shem came over in the evening. During dinner—and with Mahrree’s prodding—Perrin and Shem talked over the ridiculousness of their confrontation the day before. Soon they were re-enacting the incident for Mahrree, this time with laughter and teasing about who should have broken down first.

  Somehow over the next few days a competition evolved to see who could stay sober the longest, no matter what the other said. They were becoming adept at watching each other’s eyes and faces for clues that one of them was about to break into a genuine smile or a laugh. At first Shem lost quickly, but in the past two weeks his ability to match the major’s glare had improved. It was that skill that allowed him to remain sober while challenging the major to the race. But he still struggled with stifling his laughter that always insisted on coming out as a snort.

  “Well, Major Shin, we’ll see who loses next!” His corporal tried his glare again. “Go make your announcement.”

  Perrin nodded, got off his horse, and climbed the tower until he was about fifteen feet off the ground.

  Everyone gathered at the green quieted when they saw him.

  “Citizens of Edge,” the major called to them, “I appreciate your coming out, but I’m not sure why you’re here. The race will include each of the towers and, from what Captain Karna has revealed to me, even some of your homes. Apparently certain ‘disasters’ will be visiting you. Besides the corporal and me, that is,” he added.

  The crowd began to laugh.

  The major shook his head. “But if you’re all here, who’s going to be ‘in danger’ and give Corporal Zenos or me our notes proving we reached you?”

  The villagers looked at each other and nodded in understanding.

  “So I ask that each of you return to your homes. Zenos and I will be starting the race in less than an hour, beginning at the fort. In order for us to accurately determine the effectiveness of this new system, I ask that none of you impede our progress—”

  He glanced down at Shem.

  “—even if Corporal Zenos agrees to try your cookies. Once he starts, he just doesn’t stop.”

  Insulted, Zenos exclaimed, “It was only two cookies, sir! And they were different kinds! And I was far ahead in that race anyway!”

  Edgers laughed and a few patted Zenos on the leg.

  The major grinned. “Mrs. Reed? I trust Captain Karna didn’t put you on the route this time. And if he did, remember—no baking.”

  The older woman in the middle of the laughing villagers blushed and waved at the major.

  “We will accept drinks of water, however,” the major continued, “but nothing else. Mr. Arky, I’m talking to you, sir.”

  The crowd roared again and Mr. Arky nodded guiltily. His exceptionally potent ‘secret’ mead batch—and its effects on Mr. Arky, several innocent bushes, and one unfortunate and now balding cat—had been the talk of his neighborhood for the past week.

  “Now if you’ll all head home, I promise we’ll do our best to reach each of your areas. Don’t make me order you!” he added w
ith a slightly cheesy smile.

  The crowd cheered and started to leave.

  Major Shin climbed down the tower and climbed back on his horse.

  “Winning hearts and minds, Major. You could teach all the lessons,” Zenos chuckled at him.

  “Basic diplomacy, Shem—emotionally manipulating your audience,” the major said quietly. “What my wife called ‘officers charm school.’ The trick is to get them laughing. If someone laughs with you, then they assume you’re their buddy. They don’t realize you’ve already gained the upper hand.”

  Shem grinned. “I’m going to remember that, sir.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you already knew that.”

  And Perrin was quite sure about that. The corporal was far cleverer than he let on, almost as if he was embarrassed by his quickness. And that was also why Perrin kept him close, just as Hogal had told him. He needed a boy like that on his side in everything.

  The two soldiers walked their horses towards the edge of the green, but a cluster of young females pushed their way through dispersing crowd like a flock of gibbering geese, and rushed up to Shem.

  “We’re cheering for you, Corporal! Make us proud!” Sareen winked and giggled.

  Perrin didn’t bother to stop his horse as Corporal Zenos politely did, but nudged it out of the way of Sareen’s flock, he decided it might be called, that had grown larger and didn’t even notice the second horse and rider.

  “Don’t mind me,” he muttered quietly as he guided his horse around the sudden obstacle. “Only the commander here, trying to secure Edge. Certainly don’t want to get in the way of something as important as flirting . . .”

  Sareen’s friends—half a dozen now, and all looking strangely similar likely because females this age tended to preen together—started giggling at Shem, as if senseless giggling were also a new fashion trend. Out of the corner of his eye, Perrin caught the motion of two of the girls hurriedly sliding their sleeves off of their bare shoulders. He immediately looked away, and chuckled in pity for his corporal.