The Whiskey Rebels by David Liss Page A

Pearson may be another matter, and perhaps for her sake you would search for her husband. I want you to understand that he is in no danger. None of them are. We only wish for you to no longer trouble yourself with Mr. Pearson’s whereabouts. If you do that, you shall find many of your own difficulties will be gone. They will vanish like smoke. Mr. Pearson is in no danger, but it is vital that you not pursue him.”
    “You convinced Mrs. Pearson that I ought not to pursue him,” I said.
    “She understands what is at stake.”
    “And what is at stake?”
    “The future of republican virtue,” he said. “Nothing less, sir, nothing less. Do you want to stand with the virtues of the Revolution, or do you submit to Hamiltonian greed?”
    “I am no Hamiltonian,” I said, not failing to note the significance of his name appearing in this conversation.
    “I thought as much,” he answered. “I can tell you little, but there will have to be trust between us, as we are both brothers of the Revolution and patriots.”
    “Mrs. Pearson is concerned for her husband, and perhaps even for her own safety. You would need to convince me that her family is in no danger.”
    “I promise you, he is unharmed. They are in no danger from us.”
    “And yet you watch her, threaten her.”
    “Never,” he said. “We would do no such thing.”
    “And you have seen fit to have me cast from my own home.”
    He shook his head. “I have heard of that but, again, it is not our doing. You have enemies unconnected to us, Captain Saunders; you would be better served cultivating friends. Think on it. Why should we harm Mr. Pearson? We do not seek to harm you, only to aid you in your current embarrassment. Were we villains, were we interested in doing violence to those who oppose us, we could simply kill you.”
    “I’m hard to kill,” I said.
    He laughed. “No one is any harder to kill than anyone else, and that’s the truth.”
    I knew otherwise but saw no point in saying so, not when I might offer a demonstration. I took a deep drink of the whiskey and then doubled over once more, coughing and gagging. From the corner of my eye, I could see the Irishman looking away politely, pretending to watch a pair of antic squirrels rather than listening to the prolonged sounds of my retching.
    At last I sat up and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and took another drink of whiskey. This time, I remained upright.
    “You see?” I said to him. “Hard to kill.”
    He took from his pockets a piece of paper sealed with wax. “You need only trouble yourself with these matters no longer. Fifty dollars in notes to do nothing. A good bargain.”
    I held out my hand, and he gave me the paper, which felt warm in my ungloved hand. “Suppose I take the notes and continue to look for Pearson?”
    “You do not want to do that, Captain.”
    “Oh?”
    “We are not people to cross.”
    I put the notes into my coat pocket. Why should I not? I was not a person to cross either.
    “I do not fear you, Irishman, and I believe you have erred significantly. The lady is frightened, for her husband and for her children, and I believe she is frightened of you. I shall find out who you are and what you’ve done with Pearson, and put an end to whatever you plan.”
    The Irishman folded his hands together, and a ghost of a smirk appeared under his orange whiskers. He was very confident, that one. “You’ll do all that, will you? Have another drink, lad. Vomit once more upon the ground. That’s what you’re good for now, and not much else. You won’t help your lady friend by pretending to be what you were before you became a ruin of a man. Now, if you’ve no mind to behave sensibly, agree to my terms or return to me my notes.”
    “And what shall happen if I don’t choose to?”
    He grinned again, showing me a mouth full of even brown teeth. “Look across the street, upon the roof of the prison, near the cupola. There is a sharpshooter, another of Daniel