Old Green World by Walter Basho Page B

feet. He stripped down, spooned Albert, and began to nuzzle against him. Albert pretended to sleep.
    + + +
    Albert met Richard for another briefing the next morning. They were now talking daily, planning the impending march and the fortifications between the coast and the forest. They would soon go inland and battle the Baixans.
    “We’ll march south,” Richard said. “We may hit some enemies on the way, but the worst will happen when we get to the stronghold here,” he tapped the map, “in the ruins of one of the largest Old Cities.”
    “That’s where they keep the bulk of their troops?”
    “I believe so, yes.” Richard smoothed out his robe again. Albert could tell he was holding back, but he let it go.
    “So, we fight them there. I guess we will beat them. After that, we occupy their city, and Terra Baixa, and make it civilized,” Albert said.
    “Have we ever had a conversation about occupation?” Richard said. Albert couldn’t tell if he was being skeptical or forgetful.
    “You teach us history in your schools, and you say a lot of things in these meetings about civilization,” Albert said. “It’s not hard to piece it together.”
    Richard smiled. “Yes, the Old City will be the seat of a civilized Baixan nation. From there, we will bring civilization across Baixa, and to Viru. Eventually we will cover the world. This will be a good start.”
    “When do we begin the march?”
    “The day after tomorrow.”
    Aengus shook when Albert told him they were heading out. “I knew we would head out soon. It’s just sooner than I thought. We just got settled.” Aengus scratched where his neck met his shoulder. He stared at the spot where the canvas of the tent met the scaffolding, where some light came through. Albert knew by now that this was his comfort spot.
    “Don’t worry. We’ll be marching for months. It’ll be well into summer before we get to their Old City. All these troops will take a while to get through the forest.” Albert held him, with one hand at Aengus’s neck and one in the small of his back. That was what settled Aengus best. “We’re here to do this. You’ll feel better when you’re moving around, when we’re all on the march,” Albert said, with as much enthusiasm as he could.
    “I’m trying to just look at what I feel, like Sister Alice would always tell us,” Aengus said. “But when I do, it’s shaking all through me, and bells ringing, and burning all over. It’s too big for me. I’m too scared, Al.”
    Albert held him a little tighter. “I got some ale, and some bacon that we can cook tonight. It can just be you and me.” They stood there together quietly for a second. “Don’t be scared. I’ll do my best, all right?”
    + + +
    The mass of troops and Adepts and equipment of warfare marched into Terra Baixa slowly, slowly. Someone, something had once dug rough trails through the forest, but nothing dependable. An advance group inched its way into the forest with saws, machetes, torches, and an Adept carrying a box to handle the thick stuff.
    On a good day, the Adept would push herself and get four or five miles in. Most days were not good, though. Most days saw as little as a mile or two of progress, and a lot of sitting and waiting. Most days they stirred up something big, some inhabitant of the forest.
    The second day from the beach, they kicked up a giant bear-dog, eighteen feet long and easily a ton in weight. It dove on one of the soldiers helping to clear the way and took his whole head in one bite. It mauled a second as the crew fled.
    Albert got to the scene before anyone else from camp. He saw the bodies splayed before him, and the bear-dog slowly stalking the Adept, who had stayed behind. He recognized his teacher, Sister Clare. He knew Clare had joined them, but he had only seen her from a distance. She looked so young to him now. It had just begun to rain, a sudden downpour.
    “Can you cast it away, ma’am? Can you throw it into the