Torn Shadows Part 6

Lydia spent the next week secluded to General Cauldwell's house, but not of her own accord. The streets were no longer safe for anyone but especially for a defenseless young lady. The rebels had become more and more aggressive during this time, raiding the houses of government officials and attacking businesses that were known to support the government. Dozens of soldiers and policemen had been killed and several civilians had died as well. this made General Cauldwell very cautious and brought him to confine Lydia to his home for her safety. this did not please her and she would often roam the halls to avoid succumbing to the boredom. But at night she could hear the gunshots and shouts that were signs of the national upheaval that was occurring all across the country. She had heard news that federal troops had been completely pushed out of the town of Clidet.
However, three days followed that were strikingly silent. The rebels did not conduct their usual raids, and Lydia slept soundly because of the lack of gunfire at night. This gave her a hope of escape from this prison.
One morning she approached the General in his office. Papers were scattered about and he still was looking decrepit due to his lack of sleep.
"General, may i speak with you?"
The general's eyes brightened and he tried to put on a relaxed air, "Of course my dear come in."
"I was wondering," she began tentatively, "Could i possibly take a stroll this afternoon around the block, for some fresh air?"
"Most certainly not." the general replied bluntly
"But the streets have been quiet for days, and i am being suffocated here." Lydia continued a little desperately.
"Whenever the streets go quiet it means the enemy is planning something big! This is most definitely not the time to go strolling."
"Surely you are being paranoid general..."
"As long as you are under my protection and this conflict goes on, you shall not leave this house. Is that understood Ms. Edmont?"
"yes sir" Lydia replied downcast and submissive
"Why don't you go to the kitchen and have Heather fix you a nice breakfast?" the general offered trying to be nice.
"yes sir."
Lydia, of course did not visit Heather in the kitchen and did not do as the general ordered. Instead she decided that she knew best and that the general had grown paranoid due to lack of sleep. Therefore, she put on a shawl and slipped out one of the side doors of the house onto the street.
It had been so long since Lydia had taken a quiet stroll. the first thing she noticed was the overcast sky, gray with clouds. This, she decided was not going to ruin her day so she decided to go to the park, where she knew of a great spot to sit and think under a pecan tree. Not many people were walking on the sidewalks, and those that were walked either hastily looking all about or slowly without looking anywhere but where their foot would fall next. She let her mind wander and it did so for quite some time.
During this time Major Hall returned to the general's home and reported to him about his latest round of patrols.
"Quiet as a tomb out there sir. Much too quiet."
"That is exactly what i told Lydia."
"Lydia sir?"
"She asked to go for a walk earlier this morning and i told her that now the streets were much to dangerous."
After this meeting Major Hall decided to check on Lydia to see if she had found any way of occupying herself. Upon arriving at her quarters he knocked, but received no answer. He knocked several more times before a young maid went inside to see what Lydia was doing. She told Major Hall that she was not in her room. He preceded to search the whole house, top to bottom, before returning to the general.
"Sir, Ms. Edmont is not here." he reported urgently.
"What do you mean not here?" the general asked perplexed.
"I mean she is not in your house, sir."
"Did you check..."
"Everywhere sir."
The general finally connected all the pieces. "She has defied my orders and gone for a walk."
"I have my men still in the truck sir, we can search for her."
"You do that Major, and when you find her bring her straight to me. That girl needs a stern talking to."
"Yes sir."
Major Hall rushed out of the house and jumped into the patrol truck with his group of ten soldiers and they sped down the streets in search of Lydia.
Lydia was not so worried about her own safety. She had wandered the streets aimlessly for a while, not knowing where she was going and frankly she did not care. All she wanted was the freedom she felt. Coming to her senses she gazed at her surroundings she stood on the porch of the capital building, thick stone columns stood ten feet apart holding up the awning above. Two guards stood at attention by the door about fifty yards ahead of her. She looked out at the wide lawn in front of the building and the line of houses beyond, nothing seemed to stir.
Suddenly, a patrol truck drove up to the side of the building and out jumped Major Hall. He ran over to Lydia who made no attempt to run, though she was disappointed that her stroll had to end before she could get to the park.
"What in the world are you doing here?" Major Hall asked scolding her like a child. "Do you have any idea how worried the general is? You have scared the both of us half to death."
"I was only out for a stroll." Lydia replied purposely to be difficult, "Is it a crime to walk the streets now Major?"
"You are a difficult young lady Ms. Edmont. Now will you please come with me back to the general's home where it is safe."
"I think you are both paranoid. I think it is perfectly safe here."
At that moment two loud cracks split the air and both the door guards fell dead. Major Hall pushed Lydia to the ground as they took cover behind a pillar. The major chanced a look out from his cover and his heart stopped. The once empty line of houses was now an anthill filled with armed rebels milling about. A huge crowd of them was running head long toward the capital building.