Part Two, Chapter Five

Donovan could see the military base from the mountain, but once they were on the valley floor, winding through the streets on the outskirts of town, he was less certain how to get there. This proved not much of a problem, though. Signage was good, and as they got nearer, military presence increased. Men in uniform trotted by on horses. Transport vehicles roared past in clouds of dust and diesel fumes. Ribbons fluttered from streetlamps. Placards with patriotic slogans were pasted on seemingly every available surface. From a street corner a boy waved newspapers for sale and shouted the major propaganda points. "Oil found in Chiapas! Major victory in Nacogdoches! Guangdong province secedes from China - sues for peace!"

Donovan turned to Carina to ask if she would like a copy of the paper, but saw her back stiffen. He followed her gaze and watched a military hearse go by, horses draped in black, coffin covered by a flag. Behind it came a cart with a war widow and her black-clad, solemn children. He searched Carina's face, looking for a clue as to what she was feeling, but after staring for a long moment at the procession, she turned away.

Finally they found what they were looking for — a motel just outside the military base. Judging from the number of people in black or in uniform, it would seem there was no one here who wasn’t on official business. Donovan found it a little eerie to be among so many military folk and he had been touching the pouch of papers through his shirt every few minutes since their arrival, but as they approached the motel that Alvi had recommended in his letter, he saw the red gypsy cart parked in a grassy campground nearby, and was reassured. Alvi's connections would keep them from harm.

They parked their wagon in a guest parking area where security guards swarmed over it, checking for munitions and contraband. They confiscated his shotgun, but gave him a chit and promised he could retrieve it when he left town. Donovan fought down his worries and accepted this guarded good grace. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention by making a fuss. Alvi would tell him if the guards were above-board.

They walked to the campground, Donovan moving stiffly because it had been so long since he had worn his leg brace. Carina hung back, twisting a fold of her skirt in her hands, as Donovan knocked at Alvi’s door.

"Yes, yes, a minute!" came a voice from inside, followed by clattering and banging. The wagon rocked from side to side as if a whole army of peddler-spies were inside, but finally the door opened and Alvi peeked out. "Friend Donovan! Good to see you. Did you come alone?" At the sight of the figure in black behind him, he frowned and hurried down the steps. Carina refused to meet his eyes and he had to cup her chin in his hand. "Can this pale little thing be my sweet Carina?"

For the first time in a week, she broke into tears.

"Come here, angel." He folded her in his arms and she sobbed against his chest. "Alvi will make it better for you. Everything is going to be okay, I promise." He rocked her in his arms, murmuring comforting words and kissing her hair, then he led her up the steps and into the gypsy wagon. Forgetting all about Donovan, he shut the door.

Donovan stood outside, nonplussed. The wagon was too small for three, but he hadn't brought Carina all this way to hand her off while he remained an afterthought. He was indebted to Alvi, but not by that much. He marched up the wooden steps and let himself in.

* * *

Their first order of business was to get Carina some decent clothes. On that point, Alvi was firm. “You are the wife of a war hero and the sister of a colonel. You cannot go around in this rag.”

Carina looked at her skirt sheepishly. “It’s all I had left after I burned everything else.”

Alvi clucked his tongue. “I should’ve brought you the news myself. I would never have allowed you to do such a foolish thing.”

Donovan raised an eyebrow. “We could hardly watch her every second of the day, with a harvest to be brought in."

“Of course not. That is why I should have come. You could have continued your important work without having to leave this lovely flower in the care of a child.”

With an effort of will, Donovan let the vaguely worded reproach pass. “Do you know if there are rooms available at the motel? They look pretty full and we’d like to get settled before we do anything else.”

Alvi’s face lit up at a chance to drive a bargain. “Even if they say they have no rooms, I will make sure one is available.” He bustled around the cart, throwing on a jacket and checking the contents of his pockets. He paused in his activities and touched Carina’s hair. “You should not have done this to yourself, but perhaps it makes you look more sympathetic, hm?” He opened a wicker chest and produced a length of black silk bordered in translucent silver thread. “Wrap yourself in this when we talk to the innkeepers. I will not let you embarrass yourself in front of people with that dress.”

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