Chapter 17 – Professor Linton Is Taken!
We found a
swath of devastation that marked the path of the Martian soldiers. Their
assault was indiscriminate, we found men, women, and children were among the
dead and injured. We immediately began to render what aid we could. I set a
message to the fort to send all available men to help in the effort.
A nearby
warehouse was transformed into a makeshift hospital. We had no access to the
Martian hospitals, as they were all in pro government controlled areas. The
doctors who backed the democracy movement emptied their offices of supplies and
came to our hospital. My men immediately pitched in bringing in wounded and
getting things set up. It was heart wrenching to see those innocent people
coming in battered and bloodied.
I was incensed
by the brutality of the attack. Such violence could not be tolerated and I was
forced into action. I grabbed a platoon of men and marched toward Mr. Reytik’s
office. As we neared the Mayor’s office, I noticed Martian riflemen lining the
roof. When we came into earshot we were ordered to halt. I shouted to the man,
“We are here to see Reytik!”
“I will inform
him!” the man replied.
As we waited
for Reytik, I noticed movement on adjacent roofs. I was not the only one to see
it, as the men began to react by fidgeting with their weapons and looking for
the closest cover. “Men, be still and stay calm. I do not think they will attack us unless
they are provoked. Just keep an eye on the roofs and be prepared to move in a
hurry.”
Reytik came out
with a guard of twelve men. He stopped about ten feet from our position and
said, “Hello Mr. Roosevelt, what can I do for you.”
“Mr.
Roosevelt,” he said “I have been lenient with these rebels up until now, for
your sake. That has resulted in increased violence from those ‘friends’ of
yours. It is now time to handle this
uprising in the manner that it deserves.”
“I cannot allow
you to perpetrate indiscriminate violence on your own people.” I said.
“I have already
set my plans into action Mr. Roosevelt.” Ryetik said. “You can try to stop them
if you like. However, I would suggest that you not. Otherwise, your time here
will be short. Good day Mr. Roosevelt.”
With that, he
turned and walked away. I ordered my men to return to out station. As we walked
away, I had a sneeze. In that instant, a bullet whizzed just past my head. Had
I not sneezed, I would have been killed. A number of my men quickly turned and
returned fire. I believe we scored several hits in the volley. We then ducked
into a side street amid a hail of bullets. We made our way quickly out of the
government sector before stopping to access the situation. We were not followed
and we saw no other snipers.
“Gentlemen,” I
said, “I believe we are at war. Let us get back to our station and make
preparations.”
With that, we
returned to our post. From there we telegraphed the officers at the fort to
come to the station to hold a war conference. It was decided to keep most of
our force concentrated at the fort. Therefore, 2 companies of men, the Gatling
guns, and the mountain gun were to remain at the fort. The heavy weapons were
to be kept in readiness for rapid deployment. One squad was to always be on
watch, both at the fort and the station. I did not wish to risk my men on small
patrols, so I asked Borlak if he could provide intelligence on the movements of
the government troops. To this he readily agreed.
I then talked
with Chronto and asked if he could get twenty men that we could train to use
our spare Trapdoor Springfields. He replied that he could supply one hundred
recruits if we needed them. I said that the twenty would be enough for now and
that they should report to the fort as soon as possible. They were at the fort
within an hour
Lt. Griffin and
Sgt. Fish were sent to drill Borlak’s men. Both men were favorably impressed
with the speed with which the Martians picked up the evolutions. These
axillaries were to prove invaluable in the days to come.
After a tense
week, I met with Lieutenants Griffin and Wilcox, who were instructing Borlak’s
men and Chronto’s troops respectively. Asking about their readiness, I was told
that they took to the drills with amazing rapidity. However, it was not known
how they would behave in actual combat. For that, we would have to wait until
the shooting started. I agreed with their evaluation of the Martians and told
them to keep working our new recruits.
In the predawn
hours of the next morning we were awaken by a banging on the door of the
station. One of my men went to the door, but no one was there. He did find a
note tacked to the door, however. It was written in Martian so I sent for
Professor Edgren. While I was waiting for the Professor, I asked the lookout
what they saw.
“Nothing Sir,”
he replied “I heard the tapping, but when I got over there I could not see
anything.”
I sent the man
back to his post and ordered Sgt. Bell to take a squad and purchase a number of
the Martian light globes so that we could illuminate the exterior of our
station as well as our fort.
When Professor
Edgren arrived, I handed him the note. As he read the note, he staggered back
and fell into a chair.
“Miss Linton
has been kidnapped!” he said. “It appears that a desert leader named Jordak,
who rules along the Scamander canal, has taken her for ransom. In return for
Miss Linton, he wants control of all the towns from Lacus Ismenius to the town
of Gaesus, some fifty miles from here.”
“And he thinks
we can deliver this to him?” I said angrily.
“Not at all.”
Said Professor Edgren. “These demands are made of Reytik, He gave us a copy of
them as a courtesy, he says here.”
“I will not
have my people use a pawns in some Martian power struggle!” I exclaimed. I then
called for my orderly.”Take down this message.” I ordered. “'Miss Linton alive
or Jordak dead.' Now, find a Martian messenger to take it to this Jordak.”
I then called
for another orderly. “This is a message for Reytik.” I said. “Have Miss Linton
returned to me unharmed or I will take provocative and decisive action to
ensure the safety of my people.”
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