“What choice do you have?” Hosea prodded. “War is coming, and you’re not prepared.”

Voltaire lifted his chin. He looked over Hosea, and weighed his next words. “That may be true,” he said, solemnly.

Hosea nodded. “Then let me help.”

Voltaire looked around at his men, then into the woods, where Fly Man had disappeared. “Contrary to what you’ve heard,” he said, finally, “I am not the leader of the group known as Voltaire’s Army. After my exile, the leaders of the so-called Voltaire’s Army stole my name, and my cause. So, the current violence is not at my command. In fact, I doubt the leaders of the so-called Voltaire’s Army know that I, the true Voltaire, am still alive.”

This revelation shocked me, but Hosea seemed to take Voltaire’s words in stride.

“My followers, my true followers,” Voltaire confessed, “are numbered. Just what you see here and a few more. Will you still help us?”

Hosea didn’t hesitate. “With the right weapons, it will be enough. I will get you the weapons I promised, and I will train your men. Then, we will part ways. Agreed?”

Voltaire lowered his poisoned spear from my throat.

The Silver Pin

THE SILVER PIN

Over my sigh of relief, an amicable conversation began around me.

“How long have you made your camp in these woods?” Hosea asked.

“About two months,” Voltaire answered.

“Is there room for three more?”

“You’ll have to clear your own resting place if you want privacy, but there’s always room by the fire.”

“Sure, sleep by the fire, if you can stand old Walker’s chattering,” someone said.

Several bandits laughed.

Shaking, I hurried to my horse. I accepted my pack from Hosea, slung it across my body and put my foot in the stirrup. I tried to mount Mary, but slipped and fell instead. William came to my rescue.

“Arika—”

“No—leave me alone!” My voice stuck out poorly in the cooperative atmosphere.

“Arika, are you okay?” Hosea asked.

“I just want to walk,” I lied. My body trembled so, I didn’t have a choice.

“If she prefers to walk, it’s not a great distance,” Voltaire said, helpfully.

“Okay then, we walk,” Hosea agreed.

Hurt by my rebuff, William retreated to his own horse as our caravan moved forward. Hosea and Voltaire walked side by side, discussing the future of the Kongo. Behind them, shame burned my eyes.