Where The Ground Trembles

In The Shadow of Ashes - 02

While Richard's and Davis were conversing, Ben had slipped out, and now he had come back into the tent, carrying a small tin plate with a few meager rations. He tossed it onto Davis's cot. "Thought you might be hungry," he said, his tone light, though his eyes still carried the same weight they all did now.

Davis grunted in response, sitting up just enough to grab the plate and pick at the food. "Thanks."

Ben dropped onto the cot across from him, stretching out his legs. After a few moments of silence, he chuckled to himself. "You know, you're getting pretty popular around here, Davis."

Davis looked up, raising an eyebrow. "What're you talking about?"

"I mean, think about it. The first time I'm walking into the tent, and who do I see leaving? Sergeant Richardson, of course. The big man himself, checking in on you personally. Then before my visit ends he's back again." Ben leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. "And I get in here, and you're already all patched up. You must have charmed half the camp."

Davis paused, his brow furrowing. "Richardson?" he asked, his voice quiet. "He was just in here before you came?"

"Yeah," Ben said, giving Davis a look. "Didn't you see him?"

Davis forced a chuckle, trying to play it off. "Guess I'm more out of it than I thought. Didn't even realize."

Ben grinned. "I swear, if you get any more attention, they'll have you sitting up in the command tent sipping whiskey while the rest of us get slaughtered."

Davis laughed along with him, but something nagged at the back of his mind. He remembered Richardson's earlier visit—the gruff concern in his voice, the talk about getting ready to march again. It all felt so familiar.

Too familiar.

Davis's laughter faded as his brain replayed Richardson's words. "Get some rest while you can, son." The same soft tone. The same phrase.

The exact same words.

Davis's grip tightened on the plate in his hands, and his heart thudded uncomfortably in his chest. He glanced at Ben, who was still lounging on the cot, oblivious to the thoughts racing through his head.

It wasn't just that Richardson had come twice. It was that he'd said the same thing. It wasn't exact but the message was. And there was no way Davis could've missed him leaving just as Ben arrived.

Something was off.

Davis's stomach turned, but he forced a grin back onto his face, trying not to let Ben see the shift in his mood. "Yeah," he muttered. "Guess I've got it made, huh?"

Ben laughed again, but Davis's mind was far from the present now. He set the plate aside and leaned back against the cot, his thoughts racing. Two Richardsons? Or something pretending to be him?

He didn't have an answer yet.