Quicksilver Passion (125 page)

Baker looked out at the fast-moving current. There were no ripples at all and it was a long way to shore.
Sir, I imagine the stupid bastard’s at the bottom of the Missouri now. No wounded man is strong enough to swim that distance.” He gestured toward the distant shore.

Dimon looked at the spot of blood on the deck.
I suppose that’s true,” he mused aloud.
Besides, even if he managed to get to shore, with no weapon and wounded, he won’t last very long. Anyone know for sure who it was?”

The men around them grumbled under their breaths, but no one answered.

Very well,” Dimon snapped,
we’ll know when we do roll call in the morning.”

Sir,” Baker said,
shall we put out search parties in boats or along the shore?”

The colonel shook his head.
We’re behind schedule now what with having to take time to shoot that fellow. As I said, even if he managed to make it to land, which I doubt, he won’t last long wounded with no weapon and no food. He’ll be lucky if a war party doesn’t find him and torture him to death.”

Baker looked out over the muddy surface of the water again. The glimmer of the lanterns didn’t carry very far, but the reflection of the full moon on the surface showed the water smooth as far as the eye could see. The dumb Johnny Reb was dead, all right, but not before he’d finished ruining Baker’s career.

Dimon turned to the ship’s captain.
You may get underway again, captain. We’ve got a long way to go to fight the Sioux.”

The captain’s face in the lamplight looked shocked.
You ain’t gonna make any attempt to find that poor devil?”

Dimon shook his head.
No, I’m quite satisfied we’ve seen the last of him. I hope it was one of our major troublemakers.” He looked around at the sullen men on deck.
Let this be a lesson to you all. I am in command here and there’s no point in deserting. Now let’s go north and fight Indians like you signed up to do! Captain, get underway!”

Cherokee had felt the dull pain explode at the base of his skull as he went over the side, diving headfirst over the rail. It seemed like an eternity he hung in midair and then he hit the water, went deep into its cold depths, and felt the current tugging at him, dragging him down.

Dazed as he was, he couldn’t seem to move for a long moment, and he knew he was wounded and probably drowning. Why not give up and let go? It seemed such an easy way to die—just close his eyes and take a deep gulp of water. Soon it would all be over, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more struggle.