Grantville Gazette 37

constructing the growing fort. Many of the women were sent out to the fields to tend newly planted crops. Other small groups of women were made to forage for fruits and nuts along the forest's edge, always under the watchful eye of a slaver.

They decided it was one of the latter groups they would approach, since they were the least heavily guarded and cover was nearby. They were confident in their ability to remain unseen by the enemy among the trees and brush. Gerbald stayed back, prepared to distract or even kill the guard if necessary. Pam did her best to disguise herself as a colonist by wrapping her head in a dirty gray cotton towel she had taken from Second Chance Bird's galley and draping a brown wool blanket from Redbird's pinnace over her shoulders. Slipping silently out of the underbrush with the practiced stealth of a long-time birder, she joined the group of foragers.

Walking slowly, as if bound, she made her way from the deeper woods to the forest's edge, joining the women at the trailing end of their party farthest from the guard. She stayed low, endeavoring to be seen but unseen, just another slave. Ahead of her was a tall, statuesque woman in her late twenties, her fair features now deeply tanned and careworn, her golden blond hair tied back in an unkempt pony tail. Pam studied her for a while, before making the decision to approach her. She looked like the calm sort, not someone who would react loudly and stupidly to a stranger in their midst. Pam, following her gut, came up behind her, keeping the tall woman's larger frame between her and the guard who stood some twenty yards off.

'God dag, van.' Good day, friend, Pam greeted her quietly in Swedish and continued in that language, her months with the sailors serving her well. 'Please don't look back at me, just keep working while I talk.'

The woman almost turned to look over her shoulder, but caught herself. One sea-green eye regarded Pam from its corner for just a moment, after which she turned slowly back, continuing to gently pick small berries. Pam briefly wondered how they knew they weren't poisonous but didn't want to think of the likely answer.

'I will listen,' the woman replied quietly.

'Good. My name is Pam Miller, I'm an American from the United States of Europe. There are more of us who remain free. Can I trust you not to betray us?'

The woman nodded firmly, her shoulders tightening under her ragged blouse.

'Good, good, I knew I could. We have some soldiers and we intend to free you colonists, but there aren't enough of us. We have to find a way to set your men free to fight with us when we make our move. We will probably want you women to create a diversion to distract your captors while we do that. Are there those among you who are brave enough to help us?'

The woman turned slightly back toward Pam and hissed proudly under her breath. 'All of us! We will do anything to be free again.'

'I thought as much. I've come to learn Swedes are just as tough as us West Virginia hillbillies! All right then, I need you to spread the word that we are coming, but only to those who really need to know. You can let the rest in on it when the time comes; the secret will stay safer that way. We will make our move from a few days to a week from now; we need some time to get prepared. I'm not sure yet how we are going to pull this off, but I will get word to you people the same way I am now. Make sure it's you or someone trustworthy taking up the rear of your foraging expeditions from now on.'

'It will be so. You are the American Bird Lady who led our expedition, yes? One of the future people?'

'Heh heh, yeah, that's me, the Bird Lady of Grantville. Call me Pam.'

'I am Bengta. I am very happy you are alive. We feared the worst.'

'Nice to meet you, too, Bengta. Just hang in there, we are going to do our best to get everybody out of this, I promise.'

'I am so happy!' the woman's voice was quiet but filled with emotion. Suddenly she lowered it even further, a furtive hiss, 'Pam! The guard comes this way; you must go!' Bengta continued to pick berries and kept her head low, avoiding the surly man's look. No answer came and she soon realized that Pam the Bird Lady was already gone.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Plan is Hatched

The Second Chance Bird at anchor near the site of Poste de Flacq

That evening, after a quick celebration over dinner at Pam and Gerbald's safe return, the senior staff gathered on the high castle deck. The Swedes' faces were a study in smoldering rage as they heard the news of their colonist's enslavement.

Lojtnant Lundkvist shook his head slowly. 'I don't see how such a small force as ours can take on so many, even with our skill and experience. But if you order it we shall try, Captain Pam.'

'Actually, Gerbald and I have been working on a plan. Trickery has worked so far, so we intend to stick with it,' Pam said, her voice full of a sly eagerness.

'It seems that it is our turn for a masquerade, gentlemen,' Gerbald told the men with a positively wicked smile. 'Beware Greeks bearing gifts.'

****

The next morning Pam and Gerbald were rowed to the shore again. They made their way quickly through the forest to where the foraging party was again working their way along the freshly cut forest's edge. Pam winced at the destruction of so much timberland. These renegades were definitely not following her zoning plans. She quickly spotted her contact trailing along at the end of the group. Pam came up behind her, hidden in the underbrush.

'Hello again, my friend. I have news.'

'As do I.'

'Tell me.'

'We have done as you asked. We are prepared to make our break. We have hidden weapons, tools, stones, whatever we could manage. When your signal comes we will fight.'

'That's good. I forgot to ask you last time, what became of the Muskijl's crew and soldiers?'

'The sailors are working on building the fort. Some of them, the officers and marines mostly, are being held captive in the French warship. We all fear for their health greatly; no one knows what condition they are in. Those filthy French bastards and their foreign dogs hung the captain of the Muskijl when he refused to cooperate, as an example to us all. If we weren't so useful, I doubt any of us would have been spared.' Bengta's voice was thick with controlled anger. 'Do you see that heathen devil who guards us? When the signal comes I intend to stove his skull in with a stone, may God forgive me.'

Pam nodded solemnly. 'I killed four like him myself with a pistol a few days ago. It was necessary, God forgives. Just be careful.' Pam reached into her rucksack to pull out a bundle filled with sharp knives, a few hammers and some chisels she had collected from the Second Chance Bird. 'I've brought these for you; can you keep them hidden? They may help.'

'Yes, indeed they will. I will make sure they get to those who can use them best. Thank you, Pam, you are our savior!'

Pam blushed at the woman's fervency. 'I'm just doing my duty. I got us all into this mess and I'm getting us all out. So, here's what's going to happen; make sure only your most trusted leaders hear this part. Tomorrow afternoon you are going to see a strange-looking ship pull into the dock; it's called a Chinese junk and you won't be able to miss it . . .'

As Pam outlined the plan, the woman's face grew bright beneath the grime of the brutal captivity she suffered.

Pam finished up. 'The signal to raise holy hell is going to be 'Save the dodo!' When you hear that, go to work.'

''Save the dodo!' Yes, the princess' funny birds. They are rather cute, I think. We have done as you asked and try to protect them, driving them into the woods when we find them so the heathens can't eat them.'

This bit of news almost made tears of joy erupt from Pam's eyes.