Calumbra 23 - Book 1: The Maid

24 - Everybody Talks

"So, Ms. Tate, you knew my uncle when he was little, yeah?" Huntley asked as he crutched his way around.
"Aye, cared for him for a long while."
Two years is not a long time. Trinidad signed with a frown.
His nephew ignored him, preoccupied with his dazzling maid. It was unreal that she was here with him, untouched by time and beautiful as ever. He watched as she listened to his nephew, nodding her head at whatever he was saying and smiling. She had the same disposition as she did when he was a kid; strong, trustworthy, interest in what Huntley said and never seeming overly occupied or ignoring. She was as gentle and loving as she had been thirty years ago.
So unlike him...
"Trinidad?" he heard and looked back at the two from his reverie. "Delaware said that she was on the Titanic when it sunk. Isn't that amazing! She said she even died and was fished out of the water."
How did it feel? he asked.
Delaware looked at him and turned her head a little.
"It was bloody cold. There was hardly a thing to hold on to and even if there was one, you were halfway in the water anyway. There was no point."
Did you see Olivia there?
"What did he say?"
"He asked if you saw Olivia on there. Who's Olivia?"
Trinidad looked at Delaware and she nodded slightly. He closed his eyes and then opened them, looking straight at her. She knew what he was asking.
"I tried but I couldn't." she said.
Huntley looked between his uncle and the maid and hit Trinidad with his crutch.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Delaware blinked but looked back at Huntley.
"How is your father?"
"Father's doing well. He'll be happy to see you, I think. At least from the way that Uncle Trin acted, he would be happy too."
"I don't know. Tavit was heartbroken when I left and I don't think he'll forgive me as easily as Trinidad has."
Who said that you were all forgiven?
Huntley made a face at his uncle for his childishness and looked at Delaware.
"I think he'll be happy to see you again, Delaware. I definitely know that Sullivan will be happy. Both of them. Sully always used to tell me that he was going to be the constant in Delaware Tate's life whenever she returned. He believed in it so much and now he'll get to do that."
"If he survives... Huntley, why did you join the military? Why did you join this horrible war?"
"I felt I had to. My mistake, that's for sure... I won't let my son do it though, if I even have one... No one should look upon all this sickness and blood."
If they draft then he won't have a choice.
Don't worry, you'll be there to protect them. he signed back, holding the crutches with his forearms.
Delaware put a hand on her hip.
"Well then! Secret language, I see. You won't be able to pull that when I learn to sign as well... or at least understand what Trinidad is saying."
Trinidad gave her a dashing smile and she was surprised to feel her cheeks begin to get hot. She had always pictured Trinidad as that curious and lovely little boy, golden eyes of innocence but now she realized that he was a man, a very good looking one at that.
He signed to Huntley and he smiled at her.
"Uncle Trin says that he will keep it secret from you because you left for so long."
"Wicked child. I think it would be best if we got you back to your room, Huntley. I'm sure the crutches are digging into your arms."
"Yeah, they're being a nuisance but it's fine. I like walking around and talking with you."
"Telegram for a Mr. Blackwood! Telegram!" a young man yelled over the park, holding up a small card.
"Oi, here lad!" Huntley yelled as the guy searched.
Trinidad held up his arm for the boy to see it and he ran over.
"Urgent telegram for a Lieutenant Colonel Trinidad Blackwood."
Trinidad snatched the card away and pushed the boy away as he read the telegram. Delaware lifted an eyebrow.
"Lieutenant Colonel... Impressive, Little One."
"He hates it. It makes people get weird on him and he doesn't like that. What's it say?"
He shook his head and walked away as Huntley frowned.
"It must be private if he won't tell me what it is..."
"Most of those telegrams are private. Not even I can get a hold of them, not that I want to."
"You don't understand though, Ms. Tate, Uncle Trin is a sniper for the army. Usually he tells me where he is going but this time... I think he's going to go into enemy lines."

******************

Trinidad grabbed his bag and started to stuff some of the shirts into it as Sullivan slept soundly on the bed. At least he thought he was sleeping.
"Trinidad?" he said softly.
He turned as Sullivan watched him intently.
Go back to sleep.
"You got a mission, didn't you?"
Trinidad didn't answer as he zipped up his bag and threw it over his shoulder.
"Ms. Tate..." Trinidad turned as Sullivan stared at him sternly. "Are you going to tell her about yourself?"
Trinidad shook his head. One day, but not now.
Sullivan closed his eyes. "Do you think she'll accept me as her constant?"
Trinidad walked back and pushed the sweaty hairs from his head.
"Yes." he said with a small smile.
Sullivan was so surprised that all he could do was stare. Trinidad spoke just to him, a privilege he'd only seen given to the lovely Delaware Tate.
Trinidad left the hospital and headed to his new assignment with a sigh. It would be hard this time since he would be by himself again. Usually the snipers were to have more than one of them together so that one could spot and the other could shoot but Trinidad was always so good that he didn't need a spotter if things were too dangerous. He had proved that he was worthy in sticky situations and fared better when alone.
Delaware was coming out of Huntley's room and turned to go check on some other patients.
"Ms. Tate?"
She turned and saw the young man from before walking with a nurse at his arm.
"General Sexton, I'm so glad that you can see now. But how did you know it was me?" she said with a smile.
Radley smirked and then told his nurse that he wanted to speak with Delaware and she took over from the other nurse. He leaned a lot of his weight onto her as they moved down the hallway.
"I'm glad that I ran into you. I was just about to see my subordinates but then I saw your bright hair and had to speak with you personally."
"I see... Maybe I should change its color since it is making me more recognizable than I really want..."
"I think it's beautiful... I think..."
Delaware laughed. "How are your eyes, General?"
"Getting much better, as you can tell, but still fuzzy. I'm hoping to regain most of my eyesight by the time young Sullivan is discharged so that I may leave with you to go back home."
"They are relieving you?"
"An officer without good eyesight is not a good thing to have."
"Ah..."
"My father told me the most peculiar story about you. He said that you were gutted by Jack the Ripper in an effort to find out who he was and save the women he killed. I couldn't believe him but he told me that he was telling the truth... yeah?"
"I have the scar to prove it. Your father was a grand surgeon. You said you wanted to study medicine?"
"Well, now that I don't have to worry about the war, I can focus on it. I was thinking of doing simple things, nothing too major... Are you a scientist, Ms. Tate?"
Delaware laughed. "A scientist? Whatever you do you mean?"
"Well, my father told me that alchemists were early scientists and since you became the way you are by alchemy, I thought that maybe you knew."
"I can do a little but this, what I am, it was a fluke that should have never happened. My father was no more a better alchemist than me but nature helped. I haven't touched the art in centuries."
"I see..."
"Why?" she asked, eyeing the officer with a suspicious look.
"I was wondering if you would be able to teach me some so I could incorporate it into my medical practice but that's alright. I'll learn like everyone else."
She nodded and they talked discursively for a while around the compound.

*****************

"So, what do you think of her?" Huntley asked Sullivan in the room.
Sullivan sat himself up with a hiss of pain but looked at his friend.
"She's alright... I haven't really had a chance to speak with her."
"Oh, right, that constant thing you were telling me about all those years ago... Why, are you afraid?"
"No... I mean, I've been delirious for a few days now and I haven't been able to speak with her."
"Ah, I see... well, do you want me to get her and then you can talk or something?"
"It's fine. I'll be fine... Trinidad went off by himself again."
"Yeah, I know. He got a telegram while we were walking with Delaware. Do you think he'll be alright?"
"Isn't he always?"
Huntley nodded and settled in to get some rest.