"Joe Haldeman - Guardian" - читать интересную книгу автора (Haldeman Joe)

said that it could wait. The gold wasn't going anywhere.
The Fourth of July celebration was frenetic with patriotism and righteous
bellicosity, beginning with the description of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders' charge
up San Juan Hill on July first. Then came word that the Spanish fleet had been totally
destroyed at the Battle of Santiago.
My boy was in agony over the thought that the war might be over before he could
get to Cuba. That was my most fervent wish, of course, and for that reason I cheered as
loudly as the rest.
The fireworks were to give me nightmares, though. I dreamed I could see Daniel
charging bravely through the enemy fusillade. Daniel lying torn and dying, dead, in the
Cuban mud.
The next day, at dawn, I gave him one of the golden eagles, but not my blessing,
for his birthday. He went down to the station to wait for the first train to Topeka.
Having gone to the safe-deposit box, I suppose the eagles were on my mind. But I
had almost forgotten about the raven.
I was watering the newly planted vegetable patch, trudging back and forth from
the outdoor pump, when I heard wings beating and was startled to turn and see an
oversized raven in my path. I instantly recalled the one who had stopped my flight in
Philadelphia.
It hopped twice and said, "No gold."
I think my heart actually stopped. "What?" It couldn't possibly be the same bird.
"No gold," it repeated, and didn't budge as I approached it.
"But I have gold," I said, feeling both moronic and terrified. "In the bank."
"No!" it screeched, and flapped up to eye level. "Gold!"
"What are you? Are you a sign?"
"No gold," it said again, almost quietly. Then it flew a block down the street and
perched on the flagpole in front of the bank. "No gold!" loud, twice, and it flew away.
I stood there dumb under the baking sun, watching the bird disappear in the
distance. Then I took off my sun hat and doused myself with well water.
I went inside and combed my hair and changed into a church blouse. I had a cup
of cool tea and then went down to the bank and put all of the golden eagles into my
purse, doubling its weight. At home I put them in a paper bag and hid them in the rice
canister. I didn't know what else to do.
When Daniel returned the next afternoon, I was ecstatic to see him not in uniform,
but that was only a temporary state. The regiment had accepted him, but told him to go
home for a week to "put his affairs in order." I knew better than to suggest that he spend
the week reconsidering his decision.
I wasn't thinking clearly myself. Of course he would have to use proper
identification to prove he was of age; of course the army would send his name to various
authorities, to make sure he wasn't a criminal on the run. Including the Pinkerton Agency.
It took until the seventh for Edward to catch up with us.
We had moved into our own small house a couple of weeks before, which made
all the difference. A large man knocked on the door, and when I started to open it, he
pushed his way inside.
"Pinkerton," he said, and showed a badge. "You kidnapped the son of Edward
Tolliver."
"I did no such thing." He stepped forward, close enough to touch me, but I stood
my ground. "I rescued my son from . . ."
"From what?" he demanded.
Saying the words almost made me vomit. "Sodomy. Incest."