The Remnants. W. P. Osborn

screaming that they were “filthy stowaways”. He then ordered them thrown all the way back down below decks into the bowels of the coal bins in the engine room. Once below, he thrust a long blade under Jack’s throat and laughed aloud in thick Portuguese-English to assure them that Ali, the custom’s manager, was his paid agent.

      “De Esmeralda ‘ees no bound for Philadelphia!” he snickered. “Ah, no senors, she goes straight for Rio de Janeiro,” he roared in delight.

      He then notified them that the captain had placed them under “’his special protection.” Somoza ended by assuring them that he intended to see that they paid heavily because they were “dirty cowards and criminals who try to steal their passage.”

      * * *

      Back in Tunbridge Wells, Rose grew more anxious by the day. Despite his regularity of writing, Dan’s letters arrived at very irregular intervals - often in bundles of two or three at a time. Each dispatch provided more evidence of an increasingly terrifying condition and she knew from newspaper coverage that the fighting had become desperate. Tales of bloody attacks and horrific epidemics left her sleepless and distraught. “We have become as useless as gray geese at Christmas,” he wrote, “we know death is at the door and we can only dream of escape.”

      The newspaper editorials were even more devastating. They made it clear that unless the regiment was reinforced, they would soon be wiped out. The latest package of letters detailed in a very ominous tone the state of Terry’s illness and of Jack’s constant demands that they make a run for America. Rose began to draw the firm conclusion that they had to escape. Danny’s final words to her were more of a prayer as he recalled their pledge and his determination to return to her no matter the risk. “I’ll be back in time for you Luv, just as I promised - eighteen months or die tryin’. Then we’ll find a new life together somewhere safe and be far away from this stinkin’ army forever.”

      That morning Rose wept quietly in the tiny tack room where she and Dan had spent their last hours making love. She poured over his last letter again and knew that his situation was dire.

      Later that same afternoon, her mother pulled her aside with some unexpected news of her own. Her older brother Stephen had died suddenly in Australia, leaving Lily his sole heir. A letter from his lawyers advised that unless she was prepared to embark for Sydney to claim his cattle ranch and herd, they were prepared to sell the assets and forward the net proceeds directly to her. Mother and daughter vigorously debated the idea of quitting their positions immediately but Rose’s heart was set on waiting for Dan. Lily finally capitulated - Australia would have to wait.

      While shopping in town the next afternoon, at his request, Lily and Rose met privately in a small café with Harvey Rutledge. Harvey was Lily’s occasional companion from the church choir, a bright baritone on Sundays and butcher’s assistant during the week. He casually informed them that last week he had received a cryptic message intended for Rose and directed to his care at the shop. It was addressed from a Dr. Persuad in Lahore, India. He explained that although he’d never met the good doctor he certainly had captured his name and address correctly. Harvey carefully unfolded the small note and read it aloud. Clearly the message meant nothing to either Harvey or Lil but Rose was stunned to hear that “one of the gray geese had died and the other two would be shipped immediately to the USA.”

      * * *