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The next morning in the Mission Square where workmen had already begun the
Construction of the reviewing stand by the wall while others strung flags and banners in
the trees, many of the townsfolk gathered to watch the activity and speculate about what
lay ahead. The consensus, at least among the young was that War was good. It seemed to promise adventure and excitement though no-one had any real idea what it entailed except that it involved conflict and killing. To the people of Dentonsville endings were inevitable and violent endings were not unusual. Death was a part of life and they knew, from the legends of the 'Men Apart' than when you die you go to Heaven if you were good, Hell if you were bad, and if you were neither, which applied to most, you became a spirit, a Demon of the Past, and blew with the wind until the Day of Judgment. But how did you die in War. And where did you go then, having, by definition, gained God's love? Only old Thomas had known the answer to these questions, they said, but by then his spirit was in Hell. Both Carl and his father were in the Square that day supervising the workmen's activities though the old Shopkeeper was so distraught that he could hardly stand and Theresa had to stay with him to prop him up although she was almost as distraught as he was. Carl, regarding them both sadly kept well away from them. He had mixed feelings about what had happened. He wished to stay in Dentonsville and be Shopkeeper after his father. He wanted to keep Theresa, and Vereena for that matter - he had certainly not given her up - and neither of them would be going to the War. On the other hand Carl recognized that the Sheriff had them all beaten and that things were not going to get any better. That was clear from the way they had contrived to make him the Corporal of the Company of the 'Men Apart'. It was intended as an insult though he did not take it as such. It was, he thought angrily as he paced about, as if everything had been planned with the intent of doing the most destruction possible to the social fabric of the town. Everyone who mattered, who could do a good days work, or who had the experience to help others was going. It didn't make any sense at all but there was no resisting it. How could anyone resist going to gain God's love? The podium was constructed by the middle of the afternoon. The intent was that everyone who was to be in the Brigade would assemble in the square to be assigned to their companies and then Preston would address them. The Sheriff and his men had been circulating in the town all day, hunting people down, informing them without equivocation of their new vocation. Thus the crowd grew larger as the day wore on but, if there was to be any organization, it did not become apparent. People just came and stood around, most looked very confused and many of them were crying as, even if they fully supported the idea of War, it was difficult for a man and wife to comprehend that they were to be sent away, perhaps forever, leaving their children to fend for themselves. Some of these still had their infants with them and the Mayor, the Magistrate and the Sheriff's men could be seen circulating among them, instructing them as to their duty. Fortunately, the 'Men Apart' were much easier to marshal into a group because they were used to always going to the same side of the Square and also because, wherever they went the settled people went in the other direction. Thus Carl was far distant from Theresa and his father when he encountered Ursus Griffon and his sister Vereen. 'Hello there, Corporal. We just got here. Are you going to teach us how to march?' Ursus was very cheerful and Vereen pressed herself against Carl seductively, putting her arm about his waist. 'What are you doing here?' he hissed.' Go back home at once.' 'But other girls are going,' she said. 'I want to go with you, Carl.' 'Well, you can't. You're not old enough! Besides, no-one's going anywhere today. Ursus, take her home for me!' Ursus was a jovial, gregarious fellow. He was already running his mouth to several friends. 'See? I told you that's what he'd say, Vereen. Now I gotta go back home and miss the fun.' Vereen looked as if she might not go but Ursus grabbed her by the arm. 'Listen, girl, you're not so old that our Pa can't take a whip to you if you don't do what you're told.' They disappeared none too soon for there was Theresa and her father emerging from the throng. 'There are too many people here, Carl,' she said. 'I'm going to take your father home.' 'Do you need some help?' 'I can still walk on my own!' said the old man bitterly. 'I'll see you tomorrow, then, Theresa,' said Carl as they left. As it grew dark Preston climbed up onto the podium. The Pastor had instructed Carl to install loudspeakers on the wall for the occasion, though he had no idea what their function was until the Captain began to speak. Then, though they were very loud, the Captains voice was almost unintelligible and the noise caused more confusion and unhappiness. Still, you could make out what he said. Prepared by the Pastor, the speech was martial, invoking citizenship, respect, duty and sacrifice. Afterwards the Pastor said a prayer and blessed the crowd and by morning the people knew what War was. They felt the stirrings of its greatness and its glory in their bones. |
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