“I was on the bridge” he said “ in the middle of the bridge — me and Bridgeport and Pender. We were guardin’ it with three dogs. No one was crossin’ — we were just there to guard it, not to get toll. We had swords and spears, and we had the dogs. We’d been there since dawn. We were waitin’ for Wing to send someone up to take our place. Then one of our dogs, Buddy I think it was — he barked.
“Then, ‘Look,’ says Bridgeport, and points down the bridge toward the Town end. So I look, and Christ, the bridge is full of people. I never seen so many people on the bridge. They were spread right across it, and they were walkin’ up towards us. They were Langley’s men, I knew that right away. They were Langley’s men and they all had them crossbows. Then all the dogs start barkin’. It wasn’t that kind of barkin’ like when the dogs want to you to let them loose so they can take after somethin. It was more a scared kind of barkin’. But when they’re scared, that’s when they make the most noise. And while they were goin crazy barkin’ they were backin’ away a little, and the leashes went slack.”
Will had been sitting beside a boy who was near his own age. Now he rose and went to his grandfather and leaned against him. His thumb was in his mouth.
Nordel went on “There must of been fifty of them, and every one had a crossbow. They just come up the bridge without a sound. And out in front was a wagon sort of thing, except that it just had two wheels. And it had long shafts, and two men on each shaft were pullin’ it up the bridge.”
There was muttering from the listeners in the hallway, and from the hallway came Tyrell’s voice like a sudden crackle of gunfire. “That’s his rickshaw. I knew we should of killed that son of a bitch when we had the chance.”
Nordel said “We didn’t know what to do. We knew we should stay and protect the farm…” He paused. When he resumed there was a momentary break in his voice. “But we knew we didn’t have a chance. While we were talkin’ over what to do they were getting’ pretty close. Then somethin’ bounces off the pavement in front of us. It come low and straight, so none of us saw it comin’. Digger gives a loud yelp and don’t stop yelpin’, and I see he’s got somethin stickin’ out of his chest. Pender, you still got that?”
One of the men held something up. He said “I hid this under my poncho.” It was a six-inch length of reinforcing bar, sharpened at one end, with three hard plastic vanes like arrow feathers attached at the other end. Daniel Charlie had been standing near the door. Now he stepped carefully in among Wing’s men and took the crossbow bolt from Pender. He said “Someone’s got a grindstone. And someone’s got a hacksaw. This ain’t skagger work.” He went back to his place by the door and stood there examining the bolt, turning it in his hands.
Nordel continued “Pender picked up Digger, and we took off back to the farm. I guess everybody must’ve heard the barkin’ and yelpin’, ’cause they were all outside waitin’ for us.”
The boy who had been sitting beside Will said “We saw them comin’ down the bridge behind you.”
Nordel said “We held down Digger and pulled that thing out of him. But he was bleedin’ too much. We could see he wasn’t going to make it.”
Wing muttered toward the fire “I should’ve been ready for them. Why the hell wasn’t I ready?”
Frost said “Wing, there’s no way you could’ve known what they were up to. But now we know. They’re not taking any more farms after this.”
“You’re god damn right they’re not.” It was Tyrell.
Nordel went on “We couldn’t fight them — not with just swords and spears — I guess our dogs could of messed up two or three of them , but what’s the point? — they probably would of killed all of us then. And we couldn’t run away and leave the farm. So we just waited. They come down our trail, with that there rickshaw at the front. Sure enough it was Langley sittin’ in it. We could see him clear now. The rickshaw had a roof to keep the rain off, and he was wrapped up in a heavy blanket…”
“A quilt” said someone.
“…a quilt. A pink quilt” Nordel went on. “He stopped when he got close, but still out of spear-throwin’ distance. His men spread out in a line on both sides with their crossbows pointed at us. The four men set down the shafts of the rickshaw, and Langley pushes that pink quilt off and steps out and comes forward a couple steps. He’s wearin’ a real leather jacket.
“He just stands there a minute, lookin’ at us, smilin’ a little. Then he stretches out his arms and gives a big loud yawn. He says — he’s got this whiny voice — he says, ‘Ain’t this weather a bitch? I hate to come out on such a nasty day, but I knew you’d be at home eatin’ spuds and havin’ a nice a rest after your outstandin harvest.’ He’s got some red sores or somethin’ on his face, and he’s scratchin’ at these while he’s talkin’.”
Some plastic bowls and some spoons were passed in from the hallway. Using one of the bowls as a ladle, Noor dished out soup. The young boy woke up and was given a bowl, but the baby kept sleeping. Noor had far from enough, but before she was finished, pots of more hot soup started arriving. She closed the doors of the fireplace.
Nordel ate for a few minutes, then set his bowl down and continued his account. “‘Anyway,’ says Langley, ‘first things first. Chuck them weapons over this way. Just chuck them on the ground.” We waited. We knew we had to give up our weapons, but no one wanted to be the first. ‘Don’t go makin’ me mad!’ shouts Langley. Wing had his sword with him. He throws it out about twenty feet. Then we all did the same — swords and spears on the ground. And we all stood there, men at the front, women and kids behind, and we knew he could do whatever he wants with us now. What choice did we have? I guess we could of chose to die. But we didn’t. I guess we should of.” Nordel looked down at the floor.
Frost said quietly “No, you did the right thing” and when Nordel did not continue he said “What happened after that?”
The room was heating up. There was a strong smell of wet wool and wet hair. Nordel took a breath and went on, but without looking up from the floor. “When all our swords and spears were out there on the ground, Langley says, ‘Now keep aholt of them dogs. Or we have dog for supper. Sound good, Freeway?’ He meant that big bastard we see at the market sometimes. He was standin’ behind Langley a little and off to one side. He had a sword but no crossbow. Freeway says, ‘Yum,’ and Langley’s soldiers all laughed.
“Langley says, ‘You got a nice farm here. I like farms. You like this here farm, Wing? You put a lot of work into this place. Shame to lose it. Well, I tell you what. You got the milk of human kindness. I like that too. It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. So I’m going to let you keep this farm. Why? Why am I going to let you keep this nice farm? ’Cause I got it too. I got the milk of human kindness. Ain’t I, boys?’ And his soldiers are all laughin’ and shoutin’ out how Langley’s got the milk of human kindness.
“And when his men settle down he says, ‘Here’s the deal. This is what they call a proposal. I propose that you can stay here on your farm, Wing — how does that sound?’ Wing didn’t answer, of course. So Langley says “And you can grow potatoes and carrots, and milk your cows just like always. Come on — it sounds great — admit it. I get the bridge though. You knew that. It don’t take a genius. I like bridges even more than farms, see. You pay a tax every time you want to cross, but that’s a small price for getting’ to keep your farm.’ He shrugged. ‘A tiny price. Eeny weeny. Ain’t it?’ No one said nothin’. We knew he wasn’t finished. He was just entertainin’ his soldiers and showin’ us who’s the boss. Then he says, ‘Oh, I also get your women.’”