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When Armistad Foote had finished his transcription, he turned to the telegraph key--a newfangled sideways number that tapped horizontally, instead of up and down--and sent a series of dots and dashes with such astonishing speed that Mercy wondered how anyone, anywhere, could’ve possibly understood it When the transent finally pushed the device to the side and leaned forward on his elbows
"And what can I do for you today?"
"My name is Mrs Lynch I don’t mean to interrupt your afternoon, but I’ured you could tell ht be to head west"
"And how far west do you ht-eyed little man, wiry and precisely tailored in a striped shirt with a black cinch on his right sleeve He smiled when he talked, a smile that was not completely cold, but was the professional s easy questions for people whom he’d rather usher out of his office via catapult Mercy recognized that smile It was the same one she’d used on her patients at the Robertson Hospital
She sat up as straight as she could e and nodded for eo all the way, to Tacoive , Mrs Lynch, but you don’t plan to undertake this trip alone, do you? May I inquire about your husband?"
"My husband is dead, Mr Foote, and I absolutely do intend to undertake this trip alone--seeing as how I don’t have too many options in the matter But I have money," she said She squeezed at the satchel as she added, "In gray and blue, ith this being a border state and all; and I brought a little gold, too--since I don’t knohat’s accepted out past Missouri It’s not a lot, but I think it’ll get eted, using his heels to kick his oiveling seat to the left, and then to the right, pivoting at his waist withouthis torso or arht be delicate, "And Mrs Lynch, am I correct to assume--by the cadence of your voice, and your demeanor--that you’re a southern wo Heading west ain’t like heading north or south, is it? But I’ to keep the crossness out of her voice
"Virginia" He turned the naainst the woray state, to be sure H very shortly--within the afternoon--for the western territories, with a final destination of Tacohtened "That’s wonderful! Yes sir That’s exactly what I’ the way," he cautioned as if this were sohtprove" He hunted for a word "Unsympathetic"
"What’s that supposed towest is a Union train by origin, and ers and crew are likewise allied in sentih you can be absolutely confident, this is a civilian operation and in no way tied to the war effort at all Not exactly"
"Well, which is it? Not at all, or not exactly?"
He flipped his hands up as if to say some of each, and explained "One of the last cars is transporting dead soldiers back to their ho, and the like As far as I know, and as far as I can tell, that’s its sole official business, and they’re taking passengers along the route as a matter of convenience, and to offset the cost, of course" He shrugged "Money is ood as ours Suffice it to say, they have a refrigerated car full of valued cargo--the huiven to suspect that perhaps it holds a war hero or two, or maybe even General McDowell, whoseand fah the caskets were sealed and unmarked, except by serial numbers, so I’m afraid I can neither confirm nor deny those suspicions" But he suessed at a secret
"Prettyme is that the fastest, easiest--and you haven’t added cheapest, but I’ll trust you wouldn’t bring it up if it were unaffordable--way I can get on?"
"That’s the suh Probably faster and safer than just about anything else we’ve got headed that way for the next month, truth be told"
"And why’s that?" she asked
He heain, only momentarily "There’s a bit of a ine itself is of er cars are a civilian contribution" His tone lifted into so more optimistic "Which means that you can expect virtually no trouble at all frohwaymen who trouble trains these days It’ll be quite secure" He stopped, and started again "And anyhat of it, if anyone soinia? This is a civilian task, and a civilian train"