about your brother but this bastard’s work is not done yet. My orders are to keep him alive . . . He dies tomorrow but not before.’
The soldier was far from satisfied but he did not force the issue.
The bearded leader seemed relieved that the soldier had backed down. ‘If you’re around at the time you can do it yourself. I’ll look out for you.’
The soldier released Stratton and stepped back. He sheathed his knife but before leaving he hawked up a mouthful of phlegm and spat it in Stratton’s face.
Then he walked away, his colleagues patting him on the back and consoling him.
‘I lied to him,’ the ambushers’ leader said, watching the soldiers go. ‘I’m going to kill you myself.’
As the bearded leader and his colleagues walked away Stratton slid back down the pole and slumped to the ground. His vision was still fuzzy and he felt nauseous. He dropped his head to one side, closed his eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.
Louisa stood in front of the stables, looking out across the jungle towards Hector’s encampment. She had learned about the return of Victor’s horse and Stratton’s subsequent departure. It was late in the afternoon and the activity in the camp had greatly increased with the rumours of a Neravista attack. Reports that patrols from some of the outlying observation posts had not returned and their reliefs had failed to open up communications only increased the speculation.
Men headed to defensive locations throughout the camp. Sebastian had given the general order to stand to. The rebels’ living quarters buzzed with preparations, the wiser ones among them gathering their possessions and packing them up in order to move quickly if they had to. Generally, confidence remained high that the combined guerrilla forces could repel a government attack.
Their leaders, however, had reason to be concerned. The other brigades had been unusually quiet, in particular their nearest neighbour, Hector. What messages they had received were vague. Their requests for intelligence on enemy troop activity had been met with inconsistent reports and even silence.
Sebastian had said very little about the matter. Some read this as evidence of calm confidence while others felt he had run out of ideas.
Louisa decided to give up waiting and headed back towards the cabin, looking over her shoulder one last time at the edge of the jungle behind her.
Men were preparing for combat in the courtyard in front of the cabins and on the open ground beyond. They were quiet as they speculated about the intentions of the Neravistas and the other rebel brigades.
Louisa entered her father’s cabin where half a dozen officers surrounded the dining table, poring over diagrams of the camp and outlying area and discussing their defences.
Sebastian was not there. She crossed to his bedroom at the back and knocked gently on the door. ‘It’s me, father.’
She heard him reply and she opened the door. Sebastian stood by his wardrobe, holding a smart-looking uniform on a coat-hanger. He placed it on his bed with some reverence.
‘What is that?’ Louisa asked. She had not seen it before.
He looked strangely cheerful, as if the uniform gave him some kind of pleasure. ‘It’s a dress uniform. I had it made some years ago.’
‘It’s very regal,’ she said, wondering why he was revealing it now. ‘Is everything okay, father?’
Sebastian’s expression became serious. ‘I want you to leave, Louisa. Can you do that for me, without arguing?’
‘No,’ she answered lightly.
He looked tired. ‘Why won’t you do as I ask?’
‘I have told you. It’s my life now. It’s no more complicated than that.’
Sebastian took a moment to consider his next words. ‘If you are to pursue your ambitions, this is where we must part company. I must stay and finish what I started. You must go and begin your new life.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘This is over, Louisa. My dear girl, they mean to destroy us.’
‘If that’s true then why don’t you just surrender, prevent all the bloodshed?’
‘Neravista would hang us all anyway. He has already delivered his ultimatum. That would be the end of the revolution. Hector has betrayed me, but not what he believes in. So now I must do what I can to help him, to help what’s left of our struggle. Hector is waiting for you on the road to his camp.’
The reality of what Sebastian was saying hit home and Louisa’s lips quivered as she fought back tears.
‘Will you go now?’ he asked. ‘Before it’s too late.’
She shook her head. ‘I would be deserting. That’s not the reputation