osc.am2.redprophet-第13节
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Until Bonaparte took his hand away from Frederic's wrist。
It was as if Bonaparte's hand had been his connection to a great source of life and warmth； with the touch removed； he grew cold； weary。 But still there was Bonaparte's smile； and Frederic looked at him and remembered the feeling of promise he had had a moment before。 How could he have ever thought working with Bonaparte would be anything but rewarding？ The man knew his place； that was certain。 Frederic would merely use Bonaparte's undeniable military talents； and together they would triumph and return to France in glory
Bonaparte's smile faded； and again Frederic felt a vague sense of loss。
〃Good evening；〃 said Bonaparte。 〃I will see you in the morning； sir。〃
The Corsican left the room。
If Frederic could have seen his face； he might have recognized his own expression： it was identical to the look of love and devotion that all Bonaparte's junior officers had worn。 But he could not see his face。 That night he went to bed feeling more at peace； more confident； more hopeful and excited than he had felt in all his years in Canada。 He even felt what； what is this feeling； he wondered ah yes。 Intelligent。 He even felt intelligent。
***
It was deep night； but the canalmen were hard at work； using their noisy steam engine to pump water into the lock。 It was an engineering marvel； the steepest system of locks on any canal in the world。 The rest of the world did not know it。 Europe still thought of America as a land of savages。 But the enterprising United States of America； inspired by the example of that old wizard Ben Franklin； was encouraging invention and industry。 Rumor had it that a man named Fulton had a working steam…powered boat plying up and down the Hudson a steamboat that King Charles had been offered； and refused to fund！ Coal mines were plunging into the earth in Suskwahenny and Appalachee。 And here in the state of Irrakwa； the Reds were outdoing the Whites at their own game； building canals； steam…powered cars to run on railed roads； steam…powered spinning wheels that spat out the cotton of the Crown Colonies and turned it into fine yarns that rivaled anything in Europe at half the cost。 It was just beginning； just starting out； but already more than half the boats that came up the St。 Lawrence River were bound for Irrakwa； and not for Canada at all。
La Fayette stood at the rail until the lock was filled and the fires of the steam engine were allowed to die。 Then the clop； clop； clop of the canal horses and the boat slid forward again through the water。 La Fayette left the rail and walked quietly up the stairs to his room。 By dawn； they would be at Port Buffalo。 De Maurepas and Bonaparte would go west to Detroit。 La Fayette would return to the Governor's mansion in Niagara。 There he would sit； issuing orders and watching Parisian policies kill any future for the French in Canada。 There was nothing La Fayette could do to keep the Americans； Red and White together； from surpassing Canada and leaving it behind。 But he could do a few things to help change France into the kind of nation that could reach out to the future as boldly as America was doing。
In his own quarters； La Fayette lay on his bed； smiling。 He could imagine what Bonaparte had done tonight； alone in the room with poor empty…headed Freddie。 The young te de Maurepas was doubtless pletely charmed。 The same thing might well have happened to La Fayette； but he had been warned about what Bonaparte could do； about his knack for making people trust their lives to him。 It was a good knack for a general to have； as long as he only used it on his soldiers； so they'd be willing to die for him。 But Bonaparte used it on everybody； if he thought he could get away with it。 So La Fayette's good friend Robespierre had sent him a certain jeweled amulet。 The antidote to Bonaparte's charm。 And a vial of powder； too the final antidote to Bonaparte； if he could be controlled no other way。
Don't worry； Robespierre； my dear fellow； thought La Fayette。 Bonaparte will live。 He thinks he is manipulating Canada to serve his ends； but I will manipulate him to serve the ends of democracy。 Bonaparte does not suspect it now； but when he returns to France he will be ready to take mand of a revolutionary army； and use his knack to end the tyranny of the ruling class instead of using it to add meaningless crowns to King Charles's most unworthy head。
For La Fayette's knack was not to read other men's thoughts； as de Maurepas suspected； but it was nearly that。 La Fayette knew upon meeting them what other men and women wanted most。 And knowing that； everything else could be guessed at。 La Fayette already knew Napoleon better than Napoleon knew himself。 He knew that Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to rule the world。 And maybe he'd achieve it。 But for now； here in Canada； La Fayette would rule Napoleon Bonaparte。 He fell asleep clutching the amulet that kept him safe。
Chapter 4 Lolla…Wossiky
When Lolla…Wossiky left Ta…Kumsaw standing by the gate of Fort Carthage； he knew what his brother thought。 Ta…Kumsaw thought he was going off with his keg to drink and drink and drink。
But Ta…Kumsaw didn't know。 White Murderer Harrison didn't know。 Nobody knew about Lolla…Wossiky。 This keg would last him two months maybe。 A little bit now； a little bit then。 Careful； careful； never spill a drop； drink just this much； close it tight； make it last。 Maybe even three months。
Always before he had to stay close to White Murderer Harrison's fort； to get the cups of dribbling likker from the dark brown jug。 Now； though； he had plenty to make his journey； his great north journey to meet his dream beast。
Nobody knew that Lolla…Wossiky had a dream beast。 White man didn't know cause White man had no dream beast； White man slept all the time and never woke up。 Red man didn't know cause Red man saw Lolla…Wossiky and thought he was a likker Red； going to die； had no dream beast； never wake up。
Lolla…Wossiky knew though。 Lolla…Wossiky knew that light up north； he saw it e five years back。 He knew it was his dream beast calling； but he never could go。 He started five； six； twelve times north； but then the likker would seep out of his blood and then the noise would e back； terrible black noise that hurt him so bad all the time。 When the black noise came it was like a hundred tiny knives in his head； twisting； twisting； so he couldn't feel the land no more； couldn't even see his dream beast light； had to go back； find the likker； still the noise so he could think。
This last was the very worst time。 No likker came for a long； long time； and for two months at the end even White Murderer Harrison didn't have much for him； maybe one cup in a week； never enough to last more than a few hours； maybe a day。 Two long months of black noise all the time。
Black noise made it so Lolla…Wossiky couldn't walk right。 Everything wiggles； ground bumps up and down； how can you walk when the land looks like water？ So everybody thought Lolla…Wossiky was drunk； stagger like a whisky…Red； fall down all the time。 Where does he get the likker？ they all ask。 Nobody has likker but Lolla…Wossiky still gets drunk； how does he do it？ Not one person has eyes to see that Lolla…Wossiky isn't drunk at all。 Don't they hear how he talks； clear talking； not drunktalk？ Don't they smell he got no likker…stink？ Nobody guesses； nobody reckons； nobody calcalates； nobody figures。 They know Lolla…Wossiky always needs likker。 Never nobody thinks maybe Lolla…Wossiky has pain so bad he hopes to die。
And when he closes his eye to stop the world from rippling like the river； they all think he's asleep and they say things。 Oh； they say things they don't want no Red to hear。 Lolla…Wossiky figured that out very quick and so when the black noise got so bad he wanted to go lie down on the bottom of the river to shut out the noise forever； instead he staggered to White Murderer Harrison's office and fell down on the floor by his door and listened。 Black noise was very loud； but it wasn't ear noise； so he could still hear voices even with the roaring of the black noise in his head。 He thought very hard to hear every word under the door。 He knew all that White Murderer Harrison said to everybody。
Lolla…Wossiky never told anybody what he heard。
Lolla…Wossiky never told anybody anything true。 They never believed him anyway。 You're drunk； Lolla…Wossiky。 Shame on you； Lolla…Wossiky。 Even when he wasn't drunk； even when he hurt so bad he wanted to kill everything alive to make it go away； even then they said； Too bad to see even a Red get so awful drunk。 And Ta…Kumsaw； standing there never saying anything or when he did； being so strong and right； when Lolla…Wossiky was so weak and wrong。
North north north went Lolla…Wossiky； chanting to himself。 North a thousand steps before I take a little drink。 North with the black noise so loud I don't know where north is； but still north because I don't dare to stop。
Very dark night。 Black noise so bad the land says nothing to Lolla…Wossiky。 Even the white light of the dream beast is far off and seems to e from everywhere at the same time。 One eye sees night；
