Crossing the River
Chapter 2, Pages 15-17
Encumbered by
intermittent cloudbursts, they walked the nine miles of muddy road to Framingham
He
began obliquely. “The mud makes its attempt to disguise our disguise.”
“Disguise?
Mmm, yes. I take your meaning. That nestlecock in the wagon. Tearing suspicious,
he was!”
“Indeed,
Captain. Despite our dissembling
endeavors we are conspicuously British! The behavior of the landlord, Jones,
was further evidence.”
“Mmmm.
Yes.” Centering his weight on the heels of his shoes, Browne rubbed his ample chin.
He looked down his thin nose. “I suppose we shall have to do something! Our attire. As you say, it declares, ‘Arrest us!’
What's to do?”
“Sir.
What would you suggest?”
Browne’s
face flushed.
Lord,
I’ve embarrassed him!
“When
I ask you a question, ensign, I expect an immediate answer, not a question!”
“Yes
sir.”
“Be
advised not to make game with me!”
“No sir, I would not, sir.”
“Answer the question! What have you to advise?”
“Nothing,
sir, beyond what you yourself, I am certain, have contemplated.” He regarded
Browne guilelessly.
Arms folded across his chest, Browne frowned.
“Perhaps not, but I want to hear.”
“Yes
sir. I should be happy. Permit me, however, to say that I was seeking by my
question the opportunity to profit from your appreciation.”
“Of
what?”
“Of
our situation.”
“Yes,
yes. Go on.”
“Yes
sir. I shall.” De Berniere straightened. “First, … do you not think, sir, that
the less we converse with the local inhabitants the less we endanger
ourselves?”
“I
do.”
“Yet
some intercourse must transpire?”
“It
must.”
“Though
I have knowledge of how the provincial speaks, I confess I have not the vocal
facility to mimic him.”
“I
couldn't speak his buggering tongue if life depended on it!” Staring over De
Berniere's head, Browne scowled.
“Indeed,
sir. You have identified our predicament precisely.”
Again
Browne looked past him. De Berniere detected a blush of satisfaction. Proceed
cautiously, he told himself.
“As to the matter of communication,” he
continued, hesitantly, “have you considered Corporal Howe’s usefulness?”
“Howe?
God’s life, explain yourself!”
“To
act as our spokesman, if you will. Do you think he has the right necessities?
He does have the common touch, I
would say.”
Browne
drew his lips back against his teeth. De Berniere waited for the idea to
germinate.
“I
admit that he does talk like them,
being the lout that he is. As for knowing what to say, … what not to say …”
“He
was quick to recognize the wagon driver's suspicions.”
“Yesss.
But to know what to say … I suppose
we could direct him beforehand, …”
“I
conceive that we could.”
“But,
damme, I do not like it! We should have to treat
him as a bloody equal!” Browne’s scowl persisted.
“In
public you mean.”
“Exactly!”
“He
will eat with us in taverns.”
“Precisely.”
“If I
catch your meaning, sir, he must be one of us, or rather, if he is to represent
us in conversation, we must in our deportment be quite like him.”
The
Captain harrumphed.
“I
see,” De Berniere said. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“I do
not fancy the arrangement, De Berniere, but, given the importance of our
assignment, I accept its necessity.”
Looking past the ensign, focusing on the pines into which Howe had disappeared,
Browne glowered. “He has been my servant several months. I am not entirely
satisfied with him. This will swell his head. He will come out of this
expecting a commission, which if I
have my say, he will not receive!”
“Little
chance of that, I should think, sir.”
“I
suspect not. I fancy not!” Browne
answered. “Cuffy enlisted men do not
become officers. But I will not tell him! What we have decided. Tell Howe what we have agreed upon, how
he must proceed. Unless he gets above himself, I shall not speak to the man!”
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