Rose Six: The Passage

By Christopher Charles

Rose looked back at her cards and began turning them over slowly. A red ace came up followed by a red King, red queen, red jack, and a red ten in the same suit. She had a 'royal flush.'

Captain Morgan smiled, "I think the pot belongs to Mr. Donovan, Gentlemen."

John Deer, stunned, stared at the pot in front of him.<

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Colerick
• Release date: Dec 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950901319

Book preview

Copyright 2/21/09

11527513771

Rose Chronicles

Rose One   Witches Brew

Rose Two   Indian Curse

Rose Three   The Flood

Rose Four   The Island

Rose Five   The Spook

Rose Six   Passage

Rose Seven   Gambler

Rose Eight   St Louis

Rose Nine   River Race

Rose Ten   Going Home

Rose Eleven   School Experiment.

Rose Twelve   Slave Boat

Rose Thirteen  Preparation

Rose Fourteen  The Trail

Rose Fifteen   Indian Boy

Rose Sixteen-  Rose, The Indian

6 The Passage

By Christopher Charles

Prologue

Rose is forced aboard a riverboat that must make the passage before the storm comes in. Unfortunately, the storm hits while they are in the passage. Flat bottom riverboats are not made for heavy surf and waves at sea. Survival is the keyword as the boat is tossed about.

1 Influenza

Rose moved through the trees silently. She was moving towards the billows of smoke ahead of her. She tried to be quiet but each step she made forward seemed to give away her approach. The last snapping of a twig beneath her foot had told the Indian ahead of her exactly where she was. In desperation she stopped trying to sneak up on him. Instead, she walked boldly through the trees until she could see him through the bushes.

She saw the Indian’s hand come out from his buffalo robe indicating she was supposed to move around in front of him. Slowly she made her way through the bushes until she was in the clearing by the creek. Keeping her eyes on the Indian, she approached the fire hole in front of him.

The Indian laid the blanket over the fire sending the smoke her direction. She could not see and closed her eyes. She wanted to open them, but she knew the smoke would hurt. She could hear voices. There were others here. She heard people talking, but she could not see them.

She wanted to see, and desperately tried to open her eyes. She heard a voice in the background that she recognized. It was Doctor Richardson.

She has the influenza all right, she heard him say, Best you take her out of the forest. The dampness here could be the cause of it.

It's my fault, she heard her mother say. I had to over-do her sanctification.

It wasn't anyone's fault, Mrs. Donovan, Doctor Richardson replied. Half the camp is coming down with it. I think Captain Bollinger was right. We've stayed too long in this dampness. If we don't leave, we will all be coming down with the influenza or swamp fever as he calls it.

Rose tried to hear more, but their voices were fading. The smoke around her was clearing. She began to hear the voices of children running and squealing. Forcing herself, she tried to open her eyes again, but could not make them work. Tired, she quit trying to open them.

Her ears picked up the sound of a drum beating softly in front of her. She knew who it was instantly. Suddenly the smoke cleared. In front of her sat Chief Black Cloud. His face was wrinkled and old. He was in a trance going through a chant.

She did not dare take her eyes off of him for fear of losing him again. Through the corner of her eye she could see she was in an Indian village. Women and children were moving about her, but they seemed to ignore her presence.

Chief Black Cloud came out of his trance and looked straight at her. She felt herself become weak. He motioned for her to sit in front of him. She managed to walk the few steps to him before her legs gave out.

She found herself sitting across the fire from him. He dropped something in the fire and the village disappeared. A heavy fog replaced it. Even his body was disappearing. Only his eyes remained.

She heard him speak, You will go on a great journey. Do not be afraid for I will go with you.

I don't want to go anywhere, She managed to squeak out, I just want to go home.

You will go so others might learn, he continued, It has already been decided.

She saw him fading from her. Black Cloud, come back! She yelled. Don't go!

I am with you always, The voice whispered before the eyes faded away.

Come back, Black Cloud! She shouted, Come back! Everything went dark for a second, then, her eyes opened. She was looking at the ceiling in her room. It was almost dark. She could see the shadows forming. A red glow reflecting off the ceiling caught her attention.

Immediately she sat up. The glow was coming from outside. Slowly she moved herself out of bed. Her legs were weak. She did not know if she could make it to the window. Using the bed for support, she lunged for the window sill and looked out.

The fire was coming from the creek. Instantly she knew they were burning Chief Black Cloud's body. She felt a tear flow down the side of her face. She heard her mother come up the stairs behind her, but she did not move. She only knew Chief Black Cloud was really dead.

When her mother came through the door and saw her leaning on the window sill, she screamed, Rose, what are you doing? You'll catch your death by that window!

Rose turned towards her mother. She tried to hold the tears back, but she was crying. They're burning him, Mama, she said.

Her mother, taking her into her arms, gently helped her back to bed. It was best, dear, She said, The ground was too wet for burying. What with the influenza going around, it was the best thing to do.

Rose wiped her tears on her mother's dress before she fell back on her bed. Her mother quickly pulled the blankets up around her.

You still have the fever, her mother said, You have to stay in bed. Thank God you woke. We've all been praying for you.

Rose could barely hear her. She