The Blank Flag of Arthur Kerry

By Kristopher Reisz

A sailor finds himself caught in the war between the North and the South, as well as between ageless superstition and mad science.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristopher Reisz
• Release date: Nov 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311588302

Kristopher Reisz

Kristopher Reisz (Athens, Alabama) is the author of Tripping to Somewhere and Unleashed, both published by Simon Pulse. The Drowned Forest is his first book for FLUX.

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The Blank Flag of Arthur Kerry

By Kristopher Reisz

Copyright 2013 Kristopher Reisz

Smashwords edition

Originally published in Shades of Blue and Gray: Ghosts of the Civil War, edited by Steve Berman

Smashwords edition, license notes

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Arthur felt the other prisoner’s nose crunch under his fist. The pollywog dropped fast, squirming and squalling while the guards ran up. Arthur raised his hands over his head, but a guard still bashed him in the temple with his club. All Arthur could hear were screams. Gull screams, caws hardened into nails of pain hammering through his skull. Arthur tasted bitter iron in his mouth. He crumpled to the muck to beg angels or devils listening to let him lay in the dirt awhile. But the guards heaved Arthur up. They dragged him toward the sweatbox…. Or maybe they’d only shoot him this time.

He glanced up to see, instead, two men in blue officers’ coats standing there. At first, all Arthur could focus on were shining gold buttons. Then one of them said, Arthur? Is that you?

He would have known that voice anywhere. Boone.

His old friend embraced him, then moved aside the greasy hair around the swelling on Arthur’s temple. Guards, what did you do to this man?

Had to sock him one, sir. Fighting.

Uh-huh. And starve him half to death, too?

Gets the same rations as the other prisoners, sir.

Arthur noticed how the guards kept calling Boone sir. He chuckled, So, you’ve really signed on for this war?

Boone nodded. And you’ve joined the rebels?

Arthur shook his head, which swept fresh pain across his skull. "Just ran the blockade a few times. A job, like any other. Ever since they—since you—established a blockade around the southern ports, the rebels