Chapter 25
Déj
Christian saw the black pillars of smoke as they approached the town. Von Mercy’s orders were clear: go no farther than Déj. But it looked as if someone had arrived already. And even more alarming were the column of citizens steaming out of the town and away from the evening’s devastation.
“Impalers,” Lieutenant Karl Enkefort whispered as they rode together at the head of their company.
Christian nodded. Could be, though they had not encountered any terror group since they had entered the Transylvania plateau. Christian was beginning to think the rumors of such men were false. Apparently, he was wrong.
He heard the rumble of horses behind him. He turned in the saddle and saw Colonel Renz approaching with his aide-de-camp. He saluted. “Sir.”
The colonel reined his horse to a stop. “Captain von Jori. Move your men into Déj and determine the source of that smoke. Provide aid as you are able and as needed. We want to make it clear to these people that we are here to help, not harm. You understand me?”
“Yes, sir, I will do so, but it appears as if everyone is leaving.” Christian pointed to the line of women, children, carts and mules, leaving Déj. “A lot of them, at least.”
“Which is a bad sign, Captain. You know as well as I do that the common man has an inherent sense when it comes to danger. Those people were obviously hit hard last night. They see a battle coming.” Colonel Renz cleared his throat. “But not everyone leaves their homes, Captain. Some will stay out of pride if not arrogance. See to their needs, if any, and start looking for a field or road flat enough, smooth enough, for a plane.”
“A plane, sir?”
Colonel Renz nodded. “Von Mercy had just informed me that one of his Dvoraks has arrived in Nagybánya, but it can’t fly any farther unless we find a place for her to land.”
“Her, sir?”
“Yes, Captain. Apparently, there’s a woman flying it. She needs at least two hundred feet of flat field or road to land the infernal thing. The more feet, the better, he said. We’re in a river valley. You’ll find something near Déj for sure. Now, get going.”
“What about the rest of the regiment?”
“I’ve sent flankers out to scout the area. I don’t want a Moldavian army jumping up our backside and pinning us against the Szamos. Go, and report back to me immediately.”
Christian saluted again. “Yes, sir.”
Colonel Renz left and Christian turned to Lieutenant Enkefort. “You hear all that?”
“I did.”
“You have your radio?”
Enkefort nodded and tugged on a leather satchel buckled to the side of his saddle. “Ready.”
“And you know how to use it?”
The lieutenant flashed a modest smile. “If Len Tanner taught me correctly, I do.”
Christian returned the smile. “Very good. Then move us out, Lieutenant Enkefort, and at the trot.”
Communications tent
Nagybánya (Baia Mare)
Len Tanner wrote down as much information as he could ascertain from the spotty radio communiqué from Colonel Renz. He was annoyed. He couldn’t tell whether the interference was because of weather, elevation, or from human error at the other end. Once taught, down-timers were quite competent at working a radio, but like everyone, using a radio under pressure could have a person making all kinds of mistakes. And it would appear that the enemy was closing in.
“Let me speak to him,” von Mercy said, almost pushing Len out of the way. Len slid over and gave the general room.
“Push this button and speak, General,” Len told him.
Von Mercy pushed the button. “Colonel Renz, tell me again your status.”
There was a pause, then, “… have moved into Déj…several buildings razed overnight…deaths…citizenry remaining noncooperative…requesting further instructions.”
“Have you determined the location of the Moldavian army?” Von Mercy practically screamed the words.
“… no sighting as of…Impalers burned the…searching for landing site for… ”
“Screw it!” Denise said from behind them. She had come into the tent as quiet as a mouse, wearing her flight gear, holding her leather helmet. “Let’s not wait for a site. If I have to, I’ll land in the middle of the town, so long as someone on that side can guide me down and it’s got a street long enough and wide enough.”
“It’s a risky move, Denise,” Len said.
“Not really,” she said, moving forward. “If I haven’t got a place to land, I’ll just turn around and come back. At least with me in the sky, you’ll get a signal boost and not have to mess around with these garbled transmissions.”
Len looked at von Mercy. “What do you say, General?”
Von Mercy ignored the question and pushed the button again. “Colonel Renz…is Déj secure?”
Garble, then, “Yes, sir, for now, but the Moldavians must be near… ”
The general nodded, which Len found amusing. Though, perhaps it wasn’t as odd as it appeared. Colonel Renz was not standing a few feet away. He was nearly forty miles away. But his voice, though garbled, must sound to any down-timer like he was right in the tent.
“Stay put, Colonel,” von Mercy said. “Hold that city and keep your radio open. I’m sending in the Dixie Chick immediately, and we’ll be on the march soon.” He looked as if he wasn’t sure how to finish the conversation, then seemed to remember. “Von Mercy…out.”
He turned to Denise, but she was already gone. Von Mercy shook his head. “Impetuous woman.”