The Pluck of O'Reilly

By Gary Alan Ruse

A humorous fantasy short story set during the American Civil War about a hapless Irishman who is pressed into service and must call upon supernatural help, and his own wits, to survive a pending major battle and the war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Alan Ruse
• Release date: Mar 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476126326

Gary Alan Ruse

Have been a professional writer of science fiction, mysteries and "techno-thrillers" since the 70's, and served as an Army reporter in Vietnam. I have five previous novels published, "Houndstooth" and "A Game of Titans" in hardcovers by Prentice-Hall with foreign editions in Great Britain and Japan, and "The Gods of Cerus Major" in hardcover by Doubleday, and original paperbacks "Morlac: The Quest of the Green Magician" and "Death Hunt on a Dying Planet" by Signet/New American Library. Also a number of stories published in magazines and anthologies, and more than 1200 newspaper articles in Community Newspapers.

Book preview

The Pluck of O’Reilly

A short story by Gary Alan Ruse

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2000 and 2012 by Gary Alan Ruse

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(Note: A version of this work was published in the anthology Civil War Fantastic by DAW Books, New York, in July 2000, edited by Martin H. Greenberg.)

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You’d best get your head down, O’Reilly, ‘less you’re achin’ to get it hit by a Yankee minie ball. The Confederate officer’s reprimand was drawled in the manner of a casual observation rather than a concerned warning. Only the twitch of his worried gaze in the fading light of dusk revealed a trace of fear about the coming battle.

Private Sean O’Reilly eased back from the embankment and fixed the officer with a guardedly wry look. Yes, Sir, Lieutenant, Sir. Sure’n I appreciate your concern for my well-being.

Your well-being does not greatly concern me, drawled the officer. But I surely would hate to have to take a good soldier off the line just to drive your team and supply wagon. Now, your idle curiosity makes me wonder if I have somehow failed to provide you with sufficient work to keep you busy. Have I given you enough to do?

Oh, yes, Sir. O’Reilly’s tone was rueful. You’ve been most generous.

"Then perhaps you