Horrible Harvest

“Terrance? Show yourself, boy.”

The young black man stepped forward. Huffing like a train, he said, “Been sent by Master Miller to fetch Mr. Stockton.”

“So? Fetch him.”

“Can’t. He ain’t took up in his tent – ”

“You’re gonna have trouble finding him,” I said.

“What are you saying?” Tate asked.

“He’s been arrested. Captain Doc sent him Chattanooga-way. To General Longstreet. He’s to face charges. Abusing his rank and such ”

“Abusing of his rank?” Tate groaned. “That man has lived his life entire in abuse of his humanity. He is a slug of rage and contempt. The only thing he is molded properly for is as a member of this brigade’s command. Your captain has made a grave error.”

“Ain’t his first.”

“It is likely to be his last. Master Miller will till the grounds to hell in search of his colonel. Your captain will face a firing squad and any others participating in his act of mutiny will be tortured into permanent states of stupor.”

“Bells been rung. Can’t unrung it..”

Tate sighed and give the matter some thought. “The colonel’s gone on a raid, Terrance.”

“Raid?”

“Yes. He caught wind of a farm this side of Murfreesboro with a stash of gold and liquor.”

“He did? Who says? Master Miller – he’ll ask me straight away. He’ll say – He’ll say, ‘Terrance boy, who told you about this raid? Who? And I’m gonna have to give up a name. Who says, Mr. Tate?”

“I say it, boy. You heard it from me. That’s what you tell Master Miller.”

“But the fella here – This soldier-man – He says colonel’s been arrested. Sent to Chattanooga.”

“He’s on a raid.”

“You want me to lie to Master Miller?”

“I want you to repeat my lie. You’re not lying. You’re just telling Master Miller what I told you.”

“But the soldier-man said – ”

“You didn’t hear what Augustus said – ”

“What’re you talking on – I heard – ”

“You heard nothing, boy.”

The growl in Tate’s voice rocked Terrance. “It’s just that I’ma get the lashes when the lie gets brought out.”

“You won’t,” Tate said. “I will.”

“But the lie is gonna come out my mouth – ”

Tate approached Terrance, grinding the fire out of his teeth. “You leave here and tell Master Miller Mr. Stockton is on a raid. You say nothing else about what you heard here. When the lashes come, they will be mine. I swear on all that is holy. They will be mine.”

Terrance swallowed the lump in his throat and give Tate a shallow nod. “Yes, sir, Mr. Tate. Mr. Stockton – He’s on a raid – A house up Murfreesboro-way. There’s gold and such.” He turned and slowly made the trek back to the farm Mr. Miller had stole for his headquarters.