Page 54 of Wherever My Heart Roams

"When I see something going on, I'll be eating in my room, as I'm not a well person, at least that is what you might tell other passengers. You can slip me notes on a tray of food those times. Other times we can meet here or you may have to deliver messages to me on land. I'll send instructions for those meetings. Just keep up the front that you are helping the south in every way. It will naturally be expected of you. So it won't look strange to anyone. But you must at all times let us know if you are moving anything for the south and when and where you are moving it to."

Wade nodded but then he stared at the General. "Why are you trusting me so easily? I have to ask; I am a southerner after all."

The General smiled crookedly and eyed him. "We aren't. This is your boat. And like you said it's for entertainment. If you want to keep it, you'll have to inform us regularly, or we'll confiscate it and take it over and you will no longer have the controls of it. You are a spy in the union army. If caught by the south, they'll hang you, and you know it. If caught by us, you'll lose this boat."

"So in other words, I really have no choice?"

The General scrutinized him with a frown, "This is war, sir. And as such we do what we have to do. You are a southerner; we are well aware of that. We don't trust you, so your boat will be at stake should you fail us."

Wade slowly fisted his hands, but he realized too, that if he gave this General any reason to suspect he wouldn't, he could be putting everyone in danger. He had to carry through now.

He firmed his lips. "I understand."

"I was sure you would. It isn't personal. I like you, but war is war. You must realize that from this moment on, your loyalties must change."

"I realize it sir."

"Good, then we have nothing to worry about. Your life here won't change that much, just keep us apprised of what goes and comes. And if you do your job correctly you could become a hero in the end. After all, we're all Americans…aren't we?"

Wade thought about that a moment. He had always been a patriot, and the General was right, he was an American. "Yes sir, we are!" Wade nodded.

"I'm glad we finally understand each other. I trust I can expect regular reports at least once a week from you."

"Of course. But when people notice you on board all the time, what do I tell them?"

"That I’m an ailing man, who wants to spend the last of his days on board, enjoying all the luxuries this fine boat provides. That should do well, don't you think…"

Wade nodded, "Yes, I think I can pull that one off, if you play sickly, at least."

The General smiled, "I can do that easily. I do have tuberculosis."

"You're serious?"

"I am!"

"I had no idea."

The General nodded slowly. As they were getting ready to leave one at a time, the General started coughing and took out a handkerchief to cover his mouth.

"How bad is it, sir?"

"Bad enough…" he finally managed to say.

"I'll leave first…" Wade said.

"Fine…and thank you! For asking about me." The General said. "Despite the fact that you are a southerner, I feel that you still are an American. I'm glad of that, son."

Wade turned to stare at him a moment. "I'm very sorry for your health."

The General tried to smile, but it fell short. "G-day."

Wade left, but he had a strange feeling about all of this. What if something happened to the General? How would he explain that? And to whom? He'd ask about that at their next meeting.

Chapter Fourteen

A double spy could be very tricky and at some point he might have to choose what side he was on, he determined. And the sad thing was, at this point even he wasn't sure. Unlike the soldiers, his top priority was his family and his boat. In that order.

However, spying for the north would be easy enough, spying for the south now would really be tricky, especially if General Martin planned to travel with them regularly.

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