Richmond Rail Heist #2

The next day, William met his fellow raiders. Just after dusk, One Eye's instructions sent him to a small, wooded hill, perhaps a quarter of a mile from the road. Regular peals of thunder rumbled ominously overhead, answered each time by the baying of a dog somewhere off to the east, just as regular and just as ominous. So far the rain held off.

Surprisingly, One Eye was not there. In his place was a giant bear of a man, tall, wide, with thick black hair, a thick black beard, and a Roman nose between two dark eyes. He said his name was James, though whether this was his first or his last name did not appear. Approximately two dozen men surrounded him.

What did appear was his charisma and his calm, easy authority, in spite of a strangely high-pitched voice. "Lads," he said, pausing from time to time for the thunder and its answering dog, "you have been chosen for a most important mission which, if successful, will split the Rebels in two and throw them into considerable confusion and disarray. It will not be terribly difficult, though it will require real bravery, and if unsuccessful, they will treat us as spies."

"Spies?" asked one of the men, a thin, green-jacketed man with a prominent adam's apple.

"They will hang us up," James said, looking around at the assembled me as the thunder and dog rumbled again. "If any of you want out, now is the time."

Green Jacket and a man in a tattered slouch hat shook their heads. "I've got a wife and two kids, and another on the way," said Slouch Hat, "I wish you all good luck and all, but I can't go."

"Anyone else?" asked James, catching each man's eyes and looking into them, one by one. Another man shook his head and stepped back, muttering something, and followed Green Jacket and Slouch Hat into the trees.