Adrian rested for four days, letting the wound heal some and replacing the lost blood. He ate a lot of fresh steak and bone marrow, and quickly regained his strength.
As they were saying their goodbyes to start their journey back, Martin teased Adrian. “Man that story is going to really get around. I can hear it now: ‘General Hunter is so tough he sleeps with grizzly bears and has cubs all over the mountains.’” Martin laughed aloud. “That is some story!” Adrian smiled ruefully. It was all he could do. This was a cross he would have to “bear” the rest of his life, and he knew it.
“That’s not quite how it happened, but I don’t suppose there’s much point in trying to straighten that out, is there?”
“Oh no, it’s too good. Way too good as it is.”
Adrian and Greg left the tribe on good terms with promises of future visits and trade. They camped for the night halfway to the village. As they sat by the fire, cooking more elk steaks, Adrian said, “You know Greg, I would just as soon that bear story died right here.”
Greg said, “I don’t think that’s possible. Even if I promised never to tell the story, Martin will. With those scars showing on your neck and face, you’re always going to be called “Bear,” no escaping that. Martin will visit the village and tell the story and it will spread from there. Sorry about telling him, but I didn’t know you wanted to keep your girlfriend a secret.” Adrian threw a stick at Greg who laughingly dodged out of the way.
They arrived at the village the next evening. As they came in the entire village poured out to meet them. The villagers were as happy as any people Adrian had ever seen. They gave a hero’s welcome. A banquet was quickly assembled and the old woman gave a speech.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great honor and gratitude that we present General Hunter with this symbol of our appreciation. Adrian, please step up here so that I can give you this medal.” Adrian stood and walked to the front. The old woman, Francis, he had learned, opened a small decorated box and removed a gold lapel pin that had been handmade by an artisan in the village. It was solid 14K gold and the size of a silver dollar, with a pin on the back. It showed a grizzly bear with two cubs.
Adrian looked at the medal and laughed. “Thank you, but I have to be honest and tell you all that this is not my medal—this is your men’s medal. Everything that happened after Wolfgang took hostages was because of their courage and bravery. Every one of them is a true hero. But, on their behalf I will accept this and wear it proudly.” There was loud applause and cheering.
That night Adrian lay in a bed for the first time in nearly a year. He couldn’t sleep. His life had changed and he didn’t know what he was going to do next. He tossed and turned and thought all night long, but came to no conclusions. He believed that his best use was to train and lead men into battle. He was not a peacetime person, and probably wouldn’t be until he was in his grave.
In the morning, Francis sat next to him at breakfast. “I talked to your uncle Roman on the radio last night. I’ve talked to him several times over the past year. He would ask every now and then if we had seen you or heard anything about you. All I could do was to pass on the rumors we heard of your war, the same stories that have spread everywhere. I called him last night and told him you were back here safe and sound, and presumably sane. He was mighty glad to hear it and told me to tell you that he and Sarah love and miss you. He also asked if you would radio him when you woke up. He has something urgent to discuss.
Adrian jumped up, leaving his breakfast unfinished. “Where’s the radio?”
“Adrian? Is that you son? My God, it’s good to hear your voice. How are you? Sarah’s right here too.”
“Hey Aunt Sarah! I’m doing great. I’m with good friends right now and healthy as I can expect to be. How is everyone?”
After the small talk was over Adrian said, “Francis tells me you have some urgent business to discuss?”
“Son, we have trouble down here. Big trouble. You need to come home; we need your help in the worst kind of way. Will you come?”
“I’ll come straight there. But what kind of trouble?”
“I hate to raise your curiosity like that and not lay it back down, but I don’t want to talk about it on the radio. Too many ears. How long do you think it’ll take?
“I can make it in four or five weeks. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. I need to assemble some kit first.”
“Great. Travel carefully, talk to no one on the way, especially as you get close in, but hurry every chance you get. I would rather no one knows you’re coming. Time is of the essence now.”
They said their goodbyes and Francis said, “Tell me what you need and I’ll find it all today. Also, we have some horses; you can make much better time if you take one. “
“That’s a deal, Francis. I can cut the time in half and it sounds like I need to. Thanks.”
Adrian left on horseback, riding as rapidly as the creature could sustain. Whenever the horse would begin to tire, Adrian would dismount and walk the horse for half an hour, then Adrian would trot a half hour. Then with the horse rested from his weight he would ride again. After two days he came across a dead wolf lying outside her den entrance. A lone wolf pup was snuggled up to her, the pup just past the weaning stage. It was weak with hunger but refused to run from Adrian and snarled, standing over its mother’s body. Adrian pounced on it, picking it up gently. The pup bit Adrian hard on the hand. “Good boy! You should bite me, at least for now. Good spirit, and you’re obviously loyal to a fault. You’re going home with me. Maybe I’ll call you bear, just to confuse people.”
Adrian rode carrying the pup. After a few days’ of being held and hand fed, it quit trying to bite him. After two weeks it accepted Adrian as friendly and didn’t try to escape, instead following him closely as he attended to camp chores. Adrian fed the pup jerky and pemmican at regular intervals. It quickly regained its health. He had become a good companion.
He arrived in the village with the crushing sense of foreboding that had been gnawing at his gut for the three weeks the trip had taken. Roman had called him home saying they were facing a disaster, an event that could mean the death of every man, woman, and child in the village. But Roman wouldn’t say more than that on the radio. Adrian had to live with the open ended statement until he returned home. It had created such a sense of urgency that he pushed his horse to near death to get home as fast as he could.
Roman gave Adrian a hard hug. “Glad you made it back safely, we’ve got big trouble coming and need your help bad.”
“Tell me about it.”
THE END
Adrian's War Page 18
