23
The Promised Land
the paper cartridge, plus the piece you first bit off, in that order, down
the barrel from the muzzle end and ram it hard right to the other end.
Then return the ramrod to the housing alongside the barrel again so
it doesn't get lost. You are now in charge of a lethal weapon so gently
hold the hammer and take up the strain while you pull the trigger to
release it to a safe position. Point it away from people while you are
doing this - just in case. But make sure the hammer doesn't strike the
frizzen. The last thing you want at this stage is a spark. That is - unless you
want to kill someone! If you should get a misfire just recock
the hammer and try again but don't hang about'"
"I then asked why he was so resolutely determined, so dead set on
killing this fugitive."
'"He has violated our sacred land by coming here uninvited. He
has killed our men in battle, raped our women, stolen our food, murdered
old men and children and looted all our towns and cities along
the way. No retribution would be too great for him."'
'"You mean this one man had done all that? He must be the archvillain of all time! How
do you know that?"'
'"To me he represents them all. When word gets back to France
from all quarters about how we have punished them they will never
try to invade us again."'
'"I doubt they will ever try to invade you ever again after what they
have been through. Would you, if the situation was reversed? This
man you are so determined to kill is obviously just a lad. They all
are from what I have heard. He's somebody's son. Bonaparte has
already used up and destroyed most of the youth of Europe. Now
he's scraped the barrel sending these kids to firm up what was left of
existing regiments. I heard that the majority of this army are conscripts except
for their Old Guard and the staff officers, and these are
not officers, - are they?"'
'"Not sure, but you could be right in that respect, the dead one was
not an officer, didn't seem like one. Conscripts they may well be but
the fact is they should have refused to fight"'