A shot in the dark

A shot rang out. Jack looked up. The shot was followed by a cry, a splash and a girl’s scream. In the darkness it was hard to make out who had been hurt. Jack could see Robert and Fred, their faces lit up by the lanterns. They were by the boat, it wasn’t them. Where was Delphine? Frantically he ran towards her voice.

“Delphine it’s me, Jack. Where are you?” he called out.

“Here. I’m here.” Delphine’s voice trembled.

Jack saw her outlined against the barn, crouching down. Jack ran to her.

“What happened?”

“Georges. He saw the soldier on the horse, he thought you were going to be attacked. He had a gun. I didn’t know. He must have loaded it before he left. He shot him. I tried to stop him. He ‘it me.”

Delphine touched her face, as if to feel check again it had really happened.

“Jack I ave never seen him like this. His face, he was so angry. Like he did not know me.”

“Where did he go?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t see. He just ran. Is he hurt?”

“Who, Georges?”

“No. The Captain?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t see anything, it’s so dark.”

Jack looked round. A riderless horse was at the edge of the creek. It was the Captain's.

"Let me go and see. Are you okay to wait here for me? Don’t move and you’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon.” He kissed her on the cheek, in the same spot Georges had struck her a few moments before.

Robert was by the horse, as Jack neared him he could see a man in uniform lying in the water. Robert was cradling the man’s head on his lap.

“Davy, it’s me, Robert, can you hear me?”

The man groaned. “It hurts here.” He put his hand to his side. Even in the darkness Jack could see the dark blood staining the whites of his palm.

“How does it look?” he asked.

Robert looked up at Jack, and shook his head. Jack understood he was not to say anything.

“A few days rest and you’ll be just fine.”

“Good. Good.”

Robert jerked his head and whispered.

“Get going lad. Davy’s men will be here in a moment. You don’t want to be caught. Take the girl and go.”

“But what about you?”

“I can’t leave Davy. I’ve known him since he was a lad. It was my idea he join the excise. He wouldn't be Captain now if wasn't for me.”

Jack scrambled to his feet.

Robert took Jack by the shoulder and shook his hand.

“God be with you and good luck.”

“The same to you."

"Now off you go.”

Jack went back to the barn.

“Delphine we have to run. The soldiers will be here any moment, and there’ll be hell to pay for shooting the Captain.”

Delphine nodded and held out her hand. The two of them ran as fast as they could down the lane, away from the sea, away from the dying man.

A shout rang out, “There’s two of em. Over there.”

“Stop em, don’t let em get away.”

Jack dodged into the hedge, pulling Delphine with him.

“We’re going to have to cut through the woods. Are you okay?”

“Oui. Suis bien. Allez, allez.”

“There’s only two of them, we’ll be able to lose them in here.

The two fugitives crashed through the briar, ducking branches, jumping ditches as fast as their legs could carry them. Luckily the two soldiers muskets slowed them down, and soon they tired of chasing through the thorn bushes.

“Leave it. We’ll fetch the dogs in the morning. Let’s get back to the Captain.”