27 May; surgeon's wagon

"I've been having a chat with Miss Ross, over the recent events. Would you tell me what happened, as far as you can recall, Newbury?" He looked awful, in Vickery's opinion. Some of those bruises would doubtless last a week or more.

What happened? His brow furrowed with concentration, his concern about Jenny's departure being forced aside for the moment. What did he remember, anyway?

"They said somethin' 'bout goin' for a walk," Newbury answered presently. "Toward the woodline, like. One of 'em give me a shove and another put his foot out front of me. That's when they started in with their boots." He touched his knee and grimaced. "Wouldn't've been so bad if they hadn't done for my knee. Bastards."

Then one of them had knocked him in the head and his memory of anything else got fuzzy. He shrugged and promptly regretted it, for it caused his side to throb again. "Don't remember too much else."

Ah. Vickery nodded thoughtfully. That did tie in with Jenny Ross' version of events, at least. "Did you provoke them in any way - say or do anything that might have led them to do that?"

"No sir," he replied. He hadn't said anything until after they'd shoved him down. "S'posin' it was parta their game, maybe."

"I intend to press charges against them," Vickery said. "If you are fit enough, and if the surgeon will permit, will you be willing to testify against them?"

Newbury's fingers curled lightly around his much-abused knee. "Course, sir. Even if he don't permit."

He couldn't very well go after those bastards the way they deserved, but a court-martial was the next best thing.

"Very well, then." He thought of another thing. "I know they were kicking you rather severely, but I do not suppose you know who it was who borrowed your sword bayonet to stab one of them?"

His sword bayonet... Newbury frowned. He remembered the thought that somebody had grabbed for it, but he couldn't recall who or even if that blur of memory was real. But if one of the provosts had been stabbed, it probably had happened. Serves that bugger right, anyway.

"No, sir."

"Ah, that is a shame, although it cannot be helped." He was going to ask how severe Newbury's several injuries were, but decided that was probably a query better put to the surgeon.

"Get some rest then, Newbury. And for your own safety, you are going to be confined here until you are fit enough to rejoin us on light duties. Understand? If I hear so much as the merest ghost of a whisper that you have left the vicinity of this wagon without the permission of the surgeon, you will not like the consequences."

Rest. Newbury had little interest in anything else.

"I don't know's I wanna go no-place, outta the wagon, sir," he told the captain. Which was no more than the truth. It hurt to even roll over, really.

"Well, that's all right, then. I will leave you to get some rest, and will send to let you know when this court-martial will be convened." If it even would be, of course. He would have to find Captain Blackwood and appraise him of the situation. And apologise for involving him and his regiment in it without his knowledge.

"Yes sir."

He sank back onto the well-padded mattress and tried not to curse. Now that he had forced his mind to clear, the pain from all over his body was annoyingly constant.

He would send the surgeon to check on him before leaving to find Captain Blackwood. He also needed to ask the surgeon's opinion about Newbury's fitness to stand as a witness, of course.

Mister Todd was waiting near by, having quietly withdrawn from earshot upon Captain Vickery's arrival. Sensing that the Rifles officer had concluded his conversation, the surgeon now approached.

Vickery turned to head off in search of the surgeon, to find the man in question approaching. He must have been watching them. Well, that would certainly simplify things.

"A shameful business, this," he said, indicating the wagon, and thus its occupant. "I fully intend to press charges against the perpetrators, of course, and I would value your medical opinion on whether Newbury will be fit enough to stand as a witness."

"Indeed," Mister Todd agreed. "Rifleman Newbury... I believe he may be fit for it, but much of that choice lies with him as much as it does with me. I shall have to stop his laudanum if he is to be coherent enough to give testimony."

The surgeon sighed and collected his thoughts. "He has suffered no serious injury to his skull, which is fortunate, but I cannot say the same for his ribs. I fear at least one may be broken. His knee is in noticeably poor shape as well. He will require assistance to walk, but if he is careful, I have no objection to his turning out for a trial."

"He rather gave me to think he'd do his best to testify even if you were against the idea," Vickery said dryly. "And I am sure Cotton will be more than willing to lend a hand to get him there, though I will let him know about Newbury's ribs, and I will try to ensure he gets to sit down. I am not having him falling over and injuring himself any worse if I can help it." He looked frankly at the surgeon. "That is one of the drawbacks of laudanum, but I daresay that you'll be able to dose him after his gives his evidence, should it prove necessary."

The surgeon nodded. That was sensible enough. "I shall, indeed. This will be a decision to put to him in the morning, regardless. Am I to expect a visit from any other officers this evening, or even tomorrow?"

Although Newbury had seemed emphatic about wishing to testify, to Vickery's mind, maybe he would think twice in the morning. He considered. "I do not think so if, as you have said, he will be fit to stand as a witness. If he unable to do so, or unwilling, the court may accept a written deposition. In which case he will have to dictate his testimony to either myself or another officer."

"Very well. I will inform his guards - " Todd was unable to suppress an ironic smile here, " - of this, so they may be prepared for the possibility. I must say, I have not seen such willing cooperation between our lot and the redcoats. It is all rather interesting."

Vickery smiled. "Let us hope that such cooperation does not just fizzle out. Although I must admit to being disheartened to find that the French are seemingly not the only enemy we must contend with and that we have to put up with having men such as those provosts abusing what little authority they have been entrusted with."

"Indeed. While it does last, I will be glad for it." Todd gestured blithely toward the dim outline of one of the Inniskillings standing by the wagon. "Not the least as those fellows are surprisingly fair company."

Then he shrugged. "Do you suppose those three will be appropriately punished?"

Vickery sighed. "I doubt it. Though I can hope. If anything, they'll suffer some sort of punishment for rendering another soldier unfit for duty. Which isn't justice but may be as close to justice as Newbury will get."

There was the additional question of whether Jenny would get justice for the attempted rape, or whatever it was, but there seemed even less chance of that if the court decided she was a whore, as they very well might.

Pity. Todd sighed.

"Whatever happens, I hope they will be more restrained in future. This whole affair is a disgrace."

"I cannot help agreeing with you." Vickery turned his head slightly and smiled as he caught sight of Cotton hovering anxiously nearby. "If you are permitting visitors, it seems Newbury has a friend who wishes to see how he is."