Chapter Twenty-Four.
Twenty Four May, 2320 ad.
Walt Renaldo was walking out of the City Hall when Old Billy came toward him at a trot.
It had been four days since the fire and the escape of the two criminals. The City of Redford was still buzzing with excitement. There was a political crisis brewing between the City Council, the City Watch, and the Sheriff’s office.
Walt had just endured a grueling four-hour meeting with the City Council.
The way his day was going, this was going to be bad news. Old Billy didn’t trot. He was far too old for that sort of nonsense.
“Walt, we got a problem.”
“Do tell.”
Old Billy grabbed Walt’s arm and said, “Come on. Everyone to the south on this side of the lake has abandoned their homes and been heading in for the past two hours.”
“Why didn’t you…”
“Those bastards the mayor hired as his personal guards wouldn’t let anyone into City Hall.”
“Billy, what’s going on?”
The sounds of the city had changed. The streets were swarming with people. Walt could hear yelling from the south, near the gates. Horses neighing. Mothers yelling for their children and men shouting at each other.
Walt stared as a squad of armed volunteer militiamen trotted toward the southern end of town. The bell at the city hall started ringing.
“What the hell is going on, Bill?”
“That man, Zapata. He said his people would arrive soon. Fifty men, he said.”
“That’s what he said.”
“There’s lots more than that. Hurry up.”
Walt got out a “How many…”, and then he was talking to Old Billy’s back as the Watchman had spun around and hurried off toward the southern end of the city
Walt finally caught up when the two men reached the southern gate and climbed the ramp to the top of the parapet wall. Billy handed Walt a telescope. Walt held it to his eye and looked southward. He could see people on horses, in wagons and on foot streaming up the south road. They were all in a hurry.
Billy asked casually, “Remember what Katey told the Council about the ‘so-called Heavy Assault Company’?”
“Which part?”
“The part about five hundred men?”
Walt aimed the telescope toward the rear of the stream of refugees. He pulled it away from his face.
“Shit.”
***
The gates were closed, and the walls were manned by the Watch and militiamen. The mayor and his goon squad were looking over the parapet walls.
Mayor Bennet was trying to convince anyone within earshot that he hadn’t been the one to make light of Zapata’s warnings about who he represented. No one was buying it. The mayor was panicking.
That was not good. Walt left the council and Billy to argue with the mayor while he studied what was happening outside the walls. He lowered the telescope and grunted thoughtfully. Walt started when he heard the last part of the mayor’s sentence “…defend the city!”
He turned. The mayor and his goons were getting weirder by the minute. Walt noticed that Kate and the rest of the deputies were all present. Okay then.
Walt said loudly, ”Mister mayor, we will do nothin' to defend this city.”
He heard frightened muttering from the people manning the walls.
Bennet snapped, “That 'aint your decision, Walt! Billy…oof.” The mayor was doubled over with Walt’s fist in his gut. The goons moved forward but found themselves surrounded by pistols, all of them cocked and pointed at them.
Walt decided that gun safety training was going to be addressed soon.
That many people pointing guns, in a circle of all things, made him very nervous.
If a single person fired, it would be a bloodbath.
No one knew where the mayor had found his goon squad. None of them were known to anyone in the city. But in less than four days, they had pissed off just about everyone in the city with their arrogance.
“Billy, Brandt, take these men and put'em in the holding cells in the gate tower. Two armed guards per cell keeping watch.”
The eight goons were disarmed, searched and then escorted by twice their number off of the wall and to the cells.
Walt turned his attention back to the mayor, who was on his hands and knees and had just finished vomiting up his lunch.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doin', Walt?” he wheezed. The city council stood in a huddle, watching closely.
“Shut up and listen to me. There's no defending against five hundred soldiers. Let me remind you that you are the one who said that no one had five hundred soldiers. An' you said no one would bring five hundred soldiers to this city.”
Walt spat on the ground next to the mayor, “You were pretty rude to my deputy when she spent them two hours warning you about them five hundred soldiers.”
Walt shook his head and pointed over the parapet. “You looked out there, you fool. Did you notice anything other than those five hundred soldiers you said were nothing but a flight of fancy? Nothing? I’m not surprised. You never were very smart.”
He looked over at the city council. “Notice anything?”
They all shook their heads no.
“There's no smoke. Nobody's had their farms burned. There's a bunch of our people near the center of that formation.”
He handed the telescope to Ramón. “Look.”
A quarter mile from the walls, there stood three large formations of horsemen. Two more were moving northwest, threatening the western side of the city. Boxing the city in against the river.
Ramón was studying the group of people the sheriff had pointed out to him.
Old Billy re-appeared on the wall. “Walt, those things in your old books called mortars? What did they look like?”
“Like those things all along that line where they are digging in.”
“That’s what I thought. What do you want to do?”
Walt looked over at the city leaders and raised an eyebrow. “Any of you council members want to say somethin'? Anyone?”
Ramón handed the telescope back to the sheriff. “I’m sure you have a plan, Renaldo.”
“Do I got permission to save our asses, or does anyone wanna raise a point of contention?”
Ramón scowled. Having your own words tossed back at you was damned annoying. “Fellow council members, I vote we let the sheriff handle this since I know for a fact that him an Ol’ Billy have been plannin' this for the past four days.”
Two of the council members looked surprised, while the other two looked sullen. The mayor just looked like he might vomit again.
“Nothin'? Carry on sheriff.”
Walt yelled out, delivering a message obviously meant for the defenders on the walls.
“Billy! Have your watchmen disarm every volunteer on the wall!”
Every one in earshot of the sheriff turned and stared at him.
“Have them unload their weapons and lay them next to their feet! Watchmen! Any militia man who reaches for a weapon without orders will be shot! Deputies! Watch the watchmen! Any watchmen that points a weapon over the wall will be shot! Do I make myself clear?”
Walt’s words were passed down the line of militiamen on the walls.
Billy yelled out, “You heard the man! Get to it!”
The watchmen began walking along the walls. Old Billy’s words were also passed down.
A few arguments broke out. Three more men were escorted to the cells in the watchtower.
Little Billy called out from the watchtower on the western side of the gate, “Pa, there’s about twenty-five or thirty horsemen coming up the south road at a walk!”
Walt looked over at the town leadership, then looked at Old Billy and said, “Well, I hope this turns out okay.”
Walt turned to his right and patted Brandt on the back. “You’re in charge, deputy.”
He turned to walk down the ramp when he noticed Old Billy was walking next to him. “What are you doin', you old fool?”
“Walt, I can’t let your dumb ass walk out there all alone. You’ll screw it up somehow.”
“You need to stay here, Billy, and take charge of the defense.”
“Ain’t no defending against that.” The two men reached the bottom of the ramp.
Old Billy looked up and noticed Little Billy leaning over the parapet wall of the gate tower.
Catching his son’s eye, he called out, “William! Find Vega and tell'em he’s in charge now!”
Walt muttered, “You stubborn old fool.”
“Yer one to talk.”
As they headed out, Old Billy told his watchmen, “Close and bar all the inner gates.” They had already done that, but it left him feeling a little less helpless. The gate guards just nodded at him.
***
Walt and Old Billy walked side by side down the South road, stopping when they got within thirty paces of the men on horseback. The group was five columns wide and six deep, moving at a walking pace.
The man at the center of the front row of the horsemen held his left arm straight out to his side, bent up at the elbow with his hand open, and said, “Squad halt.”
The formation halted. Each side studied the other for a few moments. The man who signaled the halt swung down off his horse, followed by the pair of soldiers on either side of him, a man and a woman. They were just as Zapata had described them.
Tall. Fit. Covered in bulky vests and strange equipment. Tan helmets. Eyes hidden behind strange looking eye-pieces. Brown scarves wrapped around their lower faces and necks. Faceless and intimidating.
The two soldiers on either side of the leader held strange, dangerous looking short black rifles. Black boxes stuck out of the bottom of the rifles, Walt recognized them as ‘magazines’. Black bayonets with clip points, gentle curves, and wickedly sharp gleaming edges were attached to the end of the rifle barrels.
The body-guards had their rifle stocks pulled tight into their shoulders and the muzzles pointed at the ground directly in front of Walt and Billy.
Strange black pistols on their thighs. Huge knives that bordered on short swords on their opposite thighs. Black battle-axes hung from their waists. The two body-guards were tense.
The leader had no visible weapons. The man was completely at ease.
Walt swore at himself. The man had no weapons other than that army of horsemen behind him and the two killers beside him.
What Zapata had failed to mention was the sheer menace they practically radiated. Those two body-guards were coldly and patiently waiting for the slightest reason to kill him and Billy. Both of them had their fingers on the triggers of their weapons.
Walt tried to swallow, but his mouth was as dry as the desert floor.
Having disarmed the city defenders to make sure there were no accidents, he suddenly regretted the fact that he and Billy both had pistols on their sides. He coughed.
He was about to identify himself when he almost cried out in relief. A scout had walked out of the formation. A small woman wearing a reddish/brown cloak and a shapeless, floppy hat.
The leader started to speak, but Walt cleared his throat and interrupted him with a hoarse, “Kiowa!”
The scout and the three soldiers on the ground froze and looked at him with surprise. The mounted horsemen shifted, horses whickering and stomping.
The woman walked around the commander and his body-guards.
"Boca, stand down!"
The scout ignored the leaders furious hiss.
The scout walked up to Walt, her eyes never leaving his. She tipped the large hat off of her helmet, letting the cords hold it on her back. The woman was completely relaxed, showing no fear at all. She didn’t have a rifle, but her right hand was clasping the grip of the pistol on her upper thigh. She stopped about ten feet from Walt and Old Billy. The woman made sure she was out of the line of fire of the black rifles behind her.
Walt watched those black rifle muzzles and bayonets inch up, changing their point of aim from his feet to his hips. His heart was pounding.
Those two faceless monsters were going to fucking shoot him. They were just waiting for an excuse.
The woman wearing the cloak asked, “What do you want?”
He croaked, “Teacup.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Her head cocked to the side. Oh shit, he had forgotten part of the challenge. He held out his hand, the one marked by Zapata. The woman looked up at him, never taking her eyes off of his face. It was disconcerting. Like she was memorizing every line.
She wore a pair of those strange goggles over her eyes. Her hand never left the pistol. Just as he was feeling uncomfortable, she glanced at his hand, then reached up and tapped the left side on the strange eyepiece.
The lenses darkened; her eyes no longer visible.
She tapped again, looked at him, and said, “Tempest.” And then she smiled.
William Sanchez Senior started breathing again. He wasn’t sure when he had started to hold his breath, but he was very lightheaded. He swayed a bit.
The scout looked at him and exclaimed, “Whoa! Hey there, you okay?” She reached out with her left hand. “You want some water?”
Old Billy laughed. Walt joined in. It only lasted for a few moments.
They were going to live.
***
The scout turned her body so she could keep her eyes and her gun hand aligned with the two townsmen.
“Captain, this man has given the challenge we were told to expect from Baby Face.”
The two lawmen looked at the three soldiers behind the scout. The leader uttered a quiet command to his bodyguards. That caused the two hulking soldiers flanking him to stand up straight and relax their grip on their weapons somewhat. The rifles were attached to their chest harnesses somehow. Even though the guards had relaxed, the black rifles were still pointed in the general direction of Walt and Billy.
Walt and Billy both noticed that didn’t reduce how scary they were. Not one bit.
The leader reached up and removed his helmet and goggles, handing them to the man on his left. The two soldiers accompanying the leader unwound the scarves around their necks and faces.
As they got closer, the leader smiled. The bodyguards didn’t. Their rifles never pointed directly at Billy or Walt, but they never pointed anywhere that wasn’t really close.
The leader walked forward and extended his right hand. He was about six feet tall, with a triangular face. Light brown eyes under thin eyebrows. Fair skin and his jet black hair was cut very short.
He smiled, showing off gleaming white and even teeth. “Gentlemen, I am Captain Hector Seizar Montoya Alvarado. I command the 301st Heavy Assault Group. I am pleased to meet you.”
He shook their hands. “I am looking for someone, and I think you might have a story to tell me.”
Walt tried to speak, but all that came out was a strangled “Earghh…” followed by a bout of coughing; his mouth and throat were still dry as a bone.
The frightening woman standing to the right of Alvarado stepped forward and handed him a canteen.
Walt noticed that when she did that, she had one hand on the canteen and the other on her holstered pistol.
He took a drink and swallowed. He made to offer it back, but she indicated Old Billy might like a drink as well.
The captain chuckled. “Fear and uncertainty can dry out the tongue pretty badly.”
“Yes, señor, it can.”
The captain asked, “Whom am I addressing, señores?”
“Walt Renaldo, Sheriff.”
“Billy Sanchez, Chief of Police.”
“And the name of your fair city?”
Billy answered, “The city of Redford.”
The captain raised his left hand above his head and made a downward movement with two of his fingers, pointing at the ground.
Behind him, the mounted horsemen swung out of their saddles. He turned to the scout and said, “Boca, send traffic to Three One Niner Six. Message begins, ‘Knife-fighter’ sets condition Two, acknowledge.”
The scout reached up and grabbed a small square thing attached to the front of her vest at her throat and repeated the strange sentence word for word. She stood motionless for a moment, then said, “Razor acknowledges condition two.”
The captain smiled at the two men from Redford. “What all that means is that I have instructed my men to relax a bit. We don’t want to start any trouble, and I don’t want any accidents.”
Old Billy said, “I know how you feel. I had my men on the walls unload and put their weapons down 'fore we walked out here.”
“We saw that. It looked like there was some disagreement in the group by the gates. Do you mind telling me what that was about?”
Walt started. “Oh. I have a message for you. ‘Township unaligned, leadership divided, possible allies, proceed accordingly. Allen Zapata was here and left 0200’ four days ago. He and Stevens were in pursuit of the Brotherhood raiding party.”
“Stevens?”
Old Billy answered, “Stevens is a survivor from one of the farms that was attacked. Them men took his sister. He had a pretty bad head injury. Zapata said it was a concussion.”
Walt spoke up. “I gave 'em supplies and maps to help them move quicker. The disagreement at the gates was the mayor and the city council not likin' my plan to avoid the city being burned to the ground.”
“Well, it’s unlikely it would have come to that.”
Old Billy cleared his throat and said, “Walt, wasn’t there another code word you was supposed to tell them?”
“Oh right, ‘Honcho’. Sorry señor, today has been very trying.”
“You are the sheriff of this city, not the administrator?”
“Yes. Zapata said that the mayor was possibly compromised. Uhhm, also the mayor may or may not have threatened his life.”
Alvarado laughed. “Captain Zapata has a way with people!”
The two bodyguards smiled slightly, but the scout wore a grin that threatened to split her face in half.
“Hang on, you said Captain Zapata? He tole me he was a squad leader.”
Alvarado smiled. “Well, as the commander of the Five-Hundred and Fifty-Sixth Heavy Assault Group, he is technically in charge of all the men in the squads. So he didn’t really mislead you. Squad leader is a position, not a rank.”
“How else did he mislead me?”
“Sheriff, how about I tell you a story? Captain Zapata is the commander of a Heavy Assault Group, just like I am. He is a senior officer in the Army of the Republic, just like I am.”
The Captain continued. “Unlike me, he has been awarded three medals for valor on the battlefield, making him one of the most highly decorated officers in the entire Army.”
“Medals can only be won on the battlefield. Most medals are presented to the dead heroes' family. Along with a folded flag, an urn full of ashes and the thanks of a grateful nation.”
Alvarado laughed, "Actual living, breathing heroes' are something most people don't get to experience."
Alvarado smiled. “Allen Zapata has been an officer for twenty-six years. He has been in three campaigns, eight pitched battles and more police actions than I can count.”
"He has also been thrown in the brig five times and faced a firing squad once. I can tell you that the whole firing squad thing was a giant misunderstanding.”
The scout sniggered while the body-guards just shook their heads.
Walt and Billy just stared at him. Alvarado shrugged, then continued.
“Three weeks ago, he and Master Sergeant De La Cruz were on their way to visit an old friend for a week’s vacation. When they arrived at the villa, they found the place half burnt, ransacked and littered with bodies. They determined that two people had been abducted.”
“The first was a research scientist. A scholar named Oliver Santiago. He is very important to The Republic of the Americas. Some believe that Dr. Santiago was specifically targeted for abduction.“
“The second doctor was an army surgeon named Elizabeth Matheson. This woman is the wife of the Third Army commander, and to all appearances, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Alvarado shrugged. “That being said, kidnapping the wife of an army commander could mean she was taken with the idea of blackmail, coercion, or ransom. When the Third Army commander arrived, the captain and the master sergeant were ordered to find and possibly rescue the two doctors if they could.”
“I had my entire command assembled for a surprise war game when I was informed of the situation. It took me a day to finish gearing up, and then we started the pursuit.”
“Your town here is the second population center we have stopped at on our march. This is the farthest north the army has gone into Nuevo Mexico.”
The captain paused, then asked his subordinates, “Did I forget anything?”
The scout responded with, “New base of operations.”
“Right, we will set up an outpost somewhere near the lake. We will compensate the landowner generously.”
Walt and Billy looked at each other. Walt was the first to speak. “So, this is an invasion?”
Alvarado laughed. “No señor. It would be nice to be near your city, but we can move up or downriver to a place that you do not claim as your own. But we need access to the river in order to move supplies and men. Unfortunately, there are plenty of empty lands to the south of you that most likely don’t have anyone left to lay claim to the land, thanks to the Brotherhood.”
Alvarado shook his head. “We counted seventeen burned forts and compounds on our march upriver. The east bank of the river suffered no attacks. But we had a screening element flanking us on that side and they reported destroying four good sized herds of Night Walkers.”
"South of the lake, my scouts found the aftermath of a battle with well over a hundred and twenty walkers destroyed in one place. Do you know anything about that battle? It took place at the south-western end of the lake at a rock formation that had a barred entrance.”
Alvarado shrugged, “It happened two nights ago, when the sky burned. I’m told that there were only two or three people pitted against those Walkers. My people are dying to know what transpired there. Do you have a large infestation nearby?”
Walt shook his head. “That place is just called ‘The Fort.’ We got the same number of Night Walkers that everyone else does. I’m not gonna lie to you. A hundred and twenty Night Walkers in one place is damned scary.”
Three more soldiers walked up. The woman said, “Captain, Razor requests permission for Charlie-Mike to deploy and begin operations.”
“Yes, of course, specialist. At once.”
The woman grabbed the square box at her throat. “Three one niner, this is five-five, ‘Six’ says turn’em loose.’”
Old Billy asked, “Charlie-Mike?”
Walt looked at the farther formations and saw the soldiers getting off their mounts, and saw a few wagons make their way forwards. Alvarado smiled. “The Charlie-Mike section are the cooks. The mess section. We have had little to eat today. Would you care to join us for lunch?”
***
Half an hour later, Walt and Old Billy were seated at a folding table. Captain Alvarado was seated with his staff. There were plates and cups in front of everyone. The food looked like steaks in a brown gravy, with roasted root vegetables and two pitchers of water in the center of the table. The soldiers that made up the column were seated in small groups on the ground, chatting quietly amongst themselves and eating off of metal plates.
The captain spoke, “That is an interesting story, sheriff. You said after the fire, there was an incursion of night walkers. Do you think the captain and this Stevens fellow encountered them?”
Old Billy answered instead, “At sunrise, I sent out four patrols to check the area around the city for burrowed walkers or any injured folks. One of my patrols found a group of twelve Night Walkers that had been trampled and had their heads bashed in. There were also three sets of hoofprints. Two of them were shod like the captain’s horse, and the other was unshod. They headed east to the river and probably crossed at the ford.”
“These maps you gave them. Would they have helped speed up their pursuit?”
Walt said, “Definitely.”
“I don’t suppose you could supply Boca and lieutenant Davis with a copy of the maps you gave them?”
“They were quick hand drawn copies of the maps of our territory, as well as thirty miles past our border up-river. It will take a few hours to make a really good copy.”
Lieutenant Davis interrupted, “Señor, if you bring me the originals, I can have exact copies made in about 15 minutes.” Walt and Old Billy looked at each other. “Plus, it would help us find a place outside of your territory to set up our new base.”
Sergeant Major La Moussa spoke for the first time, “Thanks to the Kiowa, we have pretty good maps of the areas we have advanced through. I have been talking to the S-2, 3 and 4 shops and we have identified a destroyed compound about thirty-three kilometers south of here, near a tight bend in the river, two kilometers south of the lake.”
“There was a large Cottonwood in the center of the compound with a tree fort in it. That would be an ideal place for us to set up a post. We buried the remains of thirteen men and boys in what looked like a family cemetery.”
Old Billy and Walt shared a glance. Walt looked at the captain and said, “That would be the Gonzáles farm. There were five women and girls abducted from there. Maddie Gonzáles was the youngest child of the Gonzáles family. She is eleven years old. That land belongs to her family. If she is still alive, that land belongs to her.”
Captain Alvarado nodded. “Señores, if that young lady is in the group we are pursuing, we will do everything in our power to bring her back here. We are not thieves or invaders. We can rebuild her home, clean the well, and ensure the land does not fall into disrepair. And when we bring her back here, she will have the Army of the Republic to defend her from anyone or anything that would ever try to do her harm.”
Lieutenant Davis said, “As I understand it, señores, Maddie’s homestead is beyond the borders claimed by the city of Redford?”
The captain held up his hand. “Gentlemen, if the young lady requests it, we will move out. Like I said earlier, if she allows us to stay, we will compensate the landowner. Believe it or not, we are actually good neighbors. We will not enter your lands if you don’t want us too, but consider this. We can rid this area of Night Walkers. Our doctors and medicines are far beyond anything you have.”
“We will treat and care for any who ask for help. You have books in a personal collection, sheriff. We also have many books available on many subjects. Including subjects that could massively improve your living conditions. Our tradesmen will arrive in a few weeks. Bringing foodstuffs and trade goods. Paper. Metals. Chemicals that your blacksmiths and craftsmen can use to improve their goods. Dyes. Livestock. Seeds. Musical instruments. Tools.”
Walt and Old Billy exchanged a glance. Billy shrugged. Walt said, “I think this is something that should be discussed with the city council.”
“Ahh, but you have been deemed trustworthy.
Captain Alvarado said, “A senior officer of the Army of the Republic decided you were an ambassador. You mentioned that your mayor and some of the city council might be compromised. The brotherhood avoided violence inside your borders and had immediate access to your leaders. I don’t want to deal with your city council sheriff. I am placing my trust in you.”
“The 31st will leave in four hours. I am leaving a squad of soldiers, a mortar team, and a support element to rebuild and improve the Gonzáles compound. In fact, we are going to call it Fort Maddie Gonzáles. I will leave leftenant Wiegert in command.”
Walt wanted to object, but held his tongue.
“Sheriff, I realize this may make things complicated for you, politically. Your history books, they mention electricity? Radios? Light bulbs? Time pieces?”
“I know what those things are.”
“We will be leaving you with some gifts. Bribes, if you want to be realistic. A radio so you can communicate instantly with the detachment and some handsets for your deputies and supervisors for your watchmen. They have a range of about 32 kilometers.” Boca cleared her throat.
The captain shrugged, then glanced at the scout. “That would be about, oh… “
She smiled and said, “20 miles. With an antenna.”
The captain continued, “One of our radio operators will show you how to use these things. Everything is powered by sunlight. A few clocks for your city hall, watch house, and sheriff’s office. Wrist watches for the watchmen. I think maybe something special can be given to your mayor, a bribe to soften the blow of being cut out of these negotiations. Do you think he would appreciate a horse and saddle? A breeding mare? Well, I’ll let you think about that one.”
Walt and Old Billy just looked at each other in amazement.
“Sheriff, I want you to understand something. If you call on the radio and require assistance, the post commander will send help. For instance, if you are being attacked by bandits, or maybe a large herd of walkers. But if you call, it must be for an external threat, and you had better need it. Our men will not be used to oppress your population or prop you up if you suddenly decide you are going to set yourself up as king Walt the first of Redford.”
Alvarado shrugged, “You are going to have to figure out how to deal with your new problems like a politician.”
“If you need a safe harbor, you can come to the outpost. But you need to know that if you are wanted by the leaders of your town for breaking your laws, you will be turned over if a legal request is made from a judge or magistrate.”
“Oh, and you will need to make sure your people know exactly what our weapons can do in case anyone thinks attacking us would be a good idea. Leftenant Wiegert will arrange a few small demonstrations. She will also give you a brief overview of the laws that govern our nation.”
Walt gaped at the captain. “You’re just leaving?”
“As much as I would love to stay and get to know the delights of your little city, I have a mission to accomplish. Leftenant Wiegert has some experience with diplomatic situations. She will be in communication with higher headquarters. Someone from the diplomatic corps will be traveling with the traders and will take over relations with your city when he or she arrives.”
Five mounted men approached, three soldiers leading a riderless horse, and two civilians. The two civilians were a man named Peter Pasillas and his son Pedro.
As the men dismounted, Peter asked with a smile, “Sheriff. Chief Sanchez, are you enjoying your lunch?”
“I’ll admit it’s a lot better than I thought it'd be when I heard the words ‘army rations.” Walt said with an answering smile.
Old Billy said with a huge grin, “It’s actually better than the wife’s cookin', but if you tell that to anyone I’ll throw you in jail for the rest of yer life. That goes for you too Pedro.”
Everyone laughed. Walt glanced from the captain to the newcomers. “What can I do for you, Pete?”
The Sergeant Major half raised a hand to get Walt’s attention. “The captain asked me earlier to have my people ask these two if they would mind escorting some of our men to the city. We want to ease some minds and ask for those maps the sheriff mentioned earlier.”
Alvarado observed, “You gentlemen have been here an hour. Your people on the walls have been watching with telescopes and have seen you break bread with us, but I imagine they are still very concerned about what is going on.”
Leftenant Davis said, “Those maps would be very helpful. If you would feel uncomfortable letting the maps out of your possession, we have things called ‘cameras’ that can make images of the maps without even touching them.”
Alvarado spoke, “Sheriff, there are things I would like to discuss with you in the time we have remaining. If you could send a message to whomever is in charge, we would appreciate it very much.”
“Do you have something to write on? I’ll need to send a few messages.”
One of the soldiers escorting the Padillas stepped forward with a large, flat canvas case and handed it to the sheriff. Inside was a sheaf of high-quality paper and things that reminded him of the writing tools that Zapata had in his possession when they searched his gear.
After Leftenant Davis showed him how the pen worked, Walt scratched out three messages and folded the papers up into neat envelopes. They were addressed to ‘Brandt’, ‘Ramón’, and ‘Kate’.
Leftenant Davis picked them up, put them away and said, “I’ll see you soon, Jefé.”
Old Billy held up his left hand and said, “Hold on there. When you get to the gate tell them The Chief said to be polite.”
Davis cocked his head to the side and asked, “Is that some sort of password?”
“Nah. It’s just a reminder that I don’t like my watchmen be'in rude to strangers.”
Walt watched as the party mounted up. The three soldiers were armed in the same way as the captain’s bodyguards. The Leftenant was armed with one of those strange black and blocky pistols.
Captain Alvarado turned back to him and said, “Now, where were we?”