Eulia And The Butterfly Dragon

Chapter 13 Of Oranges and Dragons

Jacob and David sat in a small tavern on the frontier near Pipsqueak's pass. "I love getting letters from Euly," Jacob said.

"They seem to be doing well on their South Gaiter island," David added. "I love Fee's descriptions of what they are doing. I'm surprised by their resourcefulness. I really miss her."

"This is not how I imagined my life to be. I would have been a journeyman and married to Eulia buy now if things were different. There are times I fear loosing her forever. There is no life possible for us under the empire. What do you think are our chances to convince the republic to aid the rebellion."

"Well our cause is growing and very well funded now," David said thoughtfully. "We have managed to bring several rebel groups into a co-ordinated whole. Much of the north and the interior are already in rebel hands. The major population centers and the peninsula are still firmly in the empire's hand. Still they did agree to meet with us here in the frontier."

"They really are our only hope."

"If we could buy arms from the republic that alone will tip the balance."

"The best outcome would be if we could join the republic," Jacob said.

"Either way nothing appears easy. The empire is determined to hang on to power."

"The coastal railroad gives the empire too much flexibility for troop movement."

"What do you think of Jeremy's plan?"

"I like it, a small group to strike the rails and disrupt travel. I do not understand what he means by 'pretzel' effect."

"You pull the rails up over a given section."

"Railroad workers will simply repair the damage."

"This is what he means by pretzel," David bent a stick of liquorish he had been chewing on into a round shape, " you burn the cross ties heating the rails. Then you twist the rails into a pretzel. They can't be straightened and become useless."

"Tell him to pick several men and try it north of Dexter, lets see what he can do," Jacob said.

*****

"So you're booth wearing boots after all," Agnes teased.

"I saw a creepy snake," Eulia said.

"What kind?"

"No idea, I just ran."

"Shrieking?"

"No, but it was a really big snake."

"She did squeak," Phoebe said smiling. Eulia responded by sticking out her tongue.

"You did too Fee!"

"I'm glad you're wearing your boots."

"We're picking oranges today," Phoebe said. "Last trip we got a bushel between us."

"The orchard was totally unguarded," Eulia said, "No one is harvesting the oranges. The Governor General has started renovations on Ian's home, my home. They started building next two other houses next to the house and enlarging the barn too."

"They aren't guarding the chickens either," Phoebe added.

"So we helped ourselves."

"You two seem to roam around freely," Agnes said.

"I know the farm really well, I can find my way even in the dark," Eulia said proudly.

"I'm surprised these boots are so nice, they are light and stay dry," Phoebe said. "And they come up to our knees."