They were quiet for most of the walk, each man no longer shocked by the events that occurred on Coal Island, reaching the point where no problem required was capable of a solution that forestalled the future; theirs was a trip to hell. All thought now dedicated to understanding and battling their foe with no regard for the loss that filled their hearts. For them, family was best forgotten.
“I think I know why the Robber King chose Pace,” Anders followed the ridgeline north. It was easier to walk the ridge where there was less snow; also, there was no further need to hide the existence of the stockade, the deception was pointless.
“Pray tell,” Robert watched the woods.
“If you were to fight a battle and wanted to choose your opponent, would he be weak or strong, indecisive or capable?”
Robert understood the question immediately; it was a good question that forced new questions about the enemy. “Go on.”
“Fighting a battle against Pace would be disappointing, I suppose.” Anders stopped and looked at Robert, then shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m not too worried about his tactics,” Robert admitted. “He’ll probably come at us in a two-file line, then shout fire.”
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“That’s my point. I think the Robber King would rather fight you.”
“I’m more interesting?”
“Yep,” Anders nodded, “a better fighter, too.”
“You realize you are suggesting we can kill the creature?” Robert brushed the snow from a nearby boulder and sat. Because the corporal asked the question; Robert no longer needed to watch for danger.
“I hadn’t thought that far,” Anders responded. He remained standing and moving to ward off the cold.
“It means the beast bided its time until we got here. That it found Colonel Beltram and General Cornell lacking a spirit of war. You know damn well I turned my back on war before I got here.” Robert was not angry; he was simply blunt as he considered the issue.
“Beltram was dying. General Cornell was done with war and did everything he could to avoid a fight. You are a soldier trained and forged by his country to fight, who will not shy from battle or what must be done.” Anders ambled a tight circle in front of the rock. “You are the best choice.”
“So it studied Lieutenant Pace and drew him in until it could become Pace. No, that’s wrong; it studied Pace until it could imitate Pace.” Robert cupped his hands together and blew softly into them. “Then how, if there are two creatures as we have determined, did the beast on the Tulip know what to look like?”
“How should I know?” The Corporal snapped and kicked at the snow.
“There is too much strangeness here for any man to fully understand but there is one question I would like answered before I die.” Robert stood and brushed the snow from his coat then gestured for Anders to follow as he set off on the final leg of the journey.
After a few minutes of walking, Anders finally broke the silence. “Alright, what’s the question?”
Robert looked over his shoulder at the Corporal. “Why does it want to kill us?”