Justice Read Free

thirty minutes, Washington watched in silence. The only interruption he witnessed was another guard approaching from along the fortified walls, clearly finishing some sort of patrol. The new arrival took up the static position and the initial guard began trudging back in the direction from which the newcomer had come. Washington felt some compassion for the man, who even through the dark and rain gave the impression of hopelessness.
    Were he actually planning an incursion into enemy territory, Washington would not have proceeded. He didn’t know if there were more guards. He didn’t have a full idea of what lay on the seaward side of the fort. But he strongly suspected he had seen all he needed to see, so after a moment, he began moving in the same direction as the departing guard. He remained forty yards away from the wall, feeling exposed.
    Soon enough, the gate was out of sight. He stopped after another fifty yards, moving quickly toward the wall. One thing the British had done correctly was to keep the area surrounding the walls of the fort clear of significant vegetation aside from scrub no more than eighteen inches tall. Ironically, he would be less exposed right up against the fort itself than at any point approaching it.
    He never reached the wall. A cough from behind him stopped him in his tracks after only a few steps. He whirled, taking less than a second to weigh the pros and cons of drawing his pistol. He decided against it.
    He saw nothing. He felt exposed, wishing for a lantern but knowing he had made the right decision in proceeding without one. Minutes passed, and he allowed his eyes to adjust fully to the darkness. He thought he could make out a shape in the dark, not right in front of him but close enough for him to pick it up. Then again, it could be his mind playing tricks on him after staring at nothing for so long.
    Then he heard the cough again, and he decided to press the issue. “Show yourself.”
    Hearing no response, he persisted. “I am no enemy if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
    After a heartbeat, a phlegmy explosion pierced the night, as if a cannon were fired several times under water. The shape in the dark appeared again, this time with more substance and moving toward him. He reached for his pistol. The man – for by now it was clear that the shape was human – came closer. Then he collapsed at Washington’s feet.
    “Enemy or friend, none of that will be my concern for much longer.”
    The voice was a low and raspy whisper, heaving with effort.  A light appeared, and Washington saw a lantern on the ground with a set of gnarled fingers wrapped around the handle. The man must have kept it shielded until this moment. This man could not be part of the garrison, and Washington began to wonder if the light would attract the attention of the guards. He had been prepared for the possibility of being captured inside the fort, so he wouldn’t spend any time worrying about discovery fifty yards away.
    “Who are you?” Washington heard his own voice as a hard challenge, but this unaccustomed situation had removed some of the filter he generally applied to his direct nature.
    Another series of coughs preceded the answer, this one more distressed than the prior. “I shouldn’t tell you. It is supposed to be a secret. It’s been a secret for over three decades. But I am an old man, and I may not make it through the night. My name is Israel Hands.”
    Washington waited.
    “I see that name means nothing to you. That is no surprise, as my name has meant nothing to anyone since before you were born. But perhaps you have heard of the ship I commanded. It was called the Adventure .”
    A bubble of recognition bounced in Washington’s brain, but it didn’t settle anywhere. “I am sorry, sir, but I’m not familiar with that vessel,”
    Hands held up the lantern and squinted. “Ah yes, you are indeed a young man. No doubt you’ve heard of the sister ship of the Adventure . That was