Warrior Song by Robert F. Clifton (best english books to read for beginners .txt) 📕

“No sir'.

“Good should anyone ask you, I confined you to quarters. Nonetheless, come see me at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.'

“Yes sir. Thank you sir.”

Chapter Ten

Command Decision

The next morning McKenzie walked the red, yellow and orange leaf covered sidewalk that led to the Headquarters of General Thomas Miller. A slight breeze blew and it carried a chill as if it was warning of the winter to come. He walked up the steps and into the building returning salutes from posted sentry's. He expected to see Colonel Willett and face his wrath, but Willett was not in his office. “Where's the Colonel?”, asked McKenzie to the sergeant seated at another desk.

“The Colonel is under the weather today sir. He telephoned and said that he wouldn't be on duty today”.

“I have a ten o'clock appointment to see General Miller. Would you let him know that I'm here?”

“Yes sir. One moment sir”.

Three minutes later the sergeant stood in the open doorway of General Miller's office and said, “The General will see you now sir.”

“Thank you”, McKenzie replied as he walked into the room. “Good morning Sir”, he said to the General.

“Good morning Lieutenant. I was just about to have a cup of coffee. Will you join me?”

“I'd be honored sir”.

“Let's you and I just sit and relax, enjoy our coffee and talk as two soldiers. Is that alright with you?”

“Certainly sir.”

“Good, good. Do you prefer cream in your coffee?”

“No sir.”

“Sugar perhaps?”

“No sir, black is fine”.

“Alright then, have a seat.

McKenzie carried his cup and saucer to a chair next to a table. There he placed the coffee china on the table and waited for the General to sit down. When he did Alan took a seat.

“Now then, let me get right to the point Alan. It is Alan, isn't it?”

“Yes sir”.

“Fine. Let me get right to the point. As a graduate of West Point, is it your desire to make the army a career?”

“Yes sir, I do”.

“Excellent. Now, what I'm about to tell you can be considered a military secret. It it goes no further then from this room. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir.”

“The truth is, within the next three to six months we will be at war with Spain. Admiral Dewey will receive orders to take his Pacific Squadron to the Philippines where he will attack and destroy the Spanish Fleet. You see Lieutenant, President McKinley wants this war which means neither you or I can do a thing to prevent it. When the war does come the President will call for volunteers. Right now our standing army is at thirty five thousand. The army will need troops, troops to fight in Cuba and any other Spanish possessions that we have to invade. As we seek volunteers, the army does not need the news press running stories of an army Major seducing young women or a depressed army colonel killing another army officer in revenge for his daughters death. At the same time, we do not need the press to run negative stories reminding the citizens of this nation of the Battle of The Washita, The Custer Disaster or Wounded Knee.

Stories of that nature show the army as callous killers of men, woman and children. I'm sure that you will agree that such bad publicity given to the army would be detrimental to nation wide recruiting. Also, keep in mind that in any war there is a great need for competent field officers. Colonel Willett is one that comes to mind. So, what I'm saying Alan is this. I want you to know that you've done an excellent job in answering the question of just who killed Major Parker. However, let's face it we both know that Conrad Parker was a no good son of a bitch and deserved to die. And, we both know that if we were in Colonel Willett's place we would have probably done the same.

Now, I'm suggesting this. Just who killed Major Parker remains between Colonel Willett, me and you.

I have prepared two orders regarding you. First, you are now promoted to Captain. Second, after thirty days leave you will be transferred to San Francisco.”

“I thank you for the promotion sir, but why San Francisco? I thought I'd go back to Texas and finish constructing heavy gun emplacements.”

“San Francisco places you far away from the Eastern Newspapers in case one day some reporter remembers Parker's murder. And, I'm almost certain you will be building gun emplacements in and around Manila Harbor. My last and final question to you Alan is are you in agreement for what I propose?”

“For the good of the army? Yes sir”.

“Excellent, excellent.”.

“Now, I suggest you pack, enjoy your leave and when you get there, San Francisco.”

“There might be one other problem sir.”

“And what would that be?”

“The New York City Police and Detective Sergeant O'Malley.”

“I believe that a sum payment of a years salary would have Sergeant O'Malley close an unsolved case. Don't you?”

“Yes sir.”

“Then I wish you good luck in your new assgnment and congratulations on your promotion.”

“Thank you General”.

“You're dismissed”.

On a cold, sunny morning, Captain Alan McKenzie met with the Indian Agent John Chambers and asked him the location of Charles Lean Bear. After being told where the man was and given directions McKenzie made his way along a path leading to a cabin where the Cheyenne carpenter was building a new barn. Charles Lean Bear came down off of a ladder and placed a hammer on a keg of nails. Looking at McKenzie he said, “I see you have returned. And since you are here you must want to talk with me again. I have nothing new to tell you.”

“I came to tell you Charles that after today you will probably never see me again. The reason I am here is to show you something.” McKenzie reached into his jacket pocket and removed a newspaper clipping which contained the photograph of Conrad Parker, Dorothea Willett and her father, Alonzo Willett. “See if you can remember this man,” said McKenzie pointing to Parker.

“It is him. Is he the one that is dead, the one the one you asked me about months ago?”

“Yes.”

“In the picture his hair and beard appear black. I know it as red, bright red, but still it is him.”

“Good. I came here Charles to show this and hopefully to give you peace. Conrad Parker is dead. In a way your mother's death is revenged, not by you, but by someone who Parker also offended.”

“Thank you. Knowing this now brings me satisfaction”, said Charles Lean Bear as he shook McKenzie's hand.

*********************************

On a cold, December night on the open prairie Avanaco looked up at the dark, cloudless, starlit sky at the Milky Way and sang a prayer song. “Hear me Ma' heo' o. My enemy is dead. From this day I will hate no more. Hear me my mother Nandita who lives again in Seana, the camp of the dead. The one who took your life, is no more. Then he sang to his dead father, Occunnowhurt (Yellow Wolf) the song of victory and the song of a warrior.

Publication Date: 08-05-2015

All Rights Reserved