General Chang took a deep breath, and then bowed low. “Duo Maxwell, on behalf of myself and all my soldiers, I offer my most humble thanks.”
What?
Chang continued. “The change in troop deployment took the ambushers by surprise, as they were acting by the original plans. If not for the alterations that you made to the battle plans, we would have been slaughtered to the last man.”
His words fell on deaf ears. The sudden reversal of the world had completely stunned Duo, who was still struggling through the concept that General Chang -- the man who distrusted and despised him -- was bowing before him.
They don’t think that I...?
A sudden change in tone caught Duo’s attention back; Chang was still talking, but much of the formality had dropped out of his voice, and of his posture. His tone now was of... contrition.
“I have behaved very disgracefully towards you,” Chang said quietly, “ever since you came to this encampment. My conduct has been dishonorable, and frankly inexcusable; I only hope that you will be willing to forgive my petty actions and accept my sincere apologies. I owe you my life, and the lives of all my men, and there is no service in the world great enough to repay this debt.”
“Oh,” Duo heard himself say. “That’s all right.” He blinked dazedly up at the General, bemused by the relief that spread over the older man’s face. He actually smiled, an almost perceptible smile, and bowed before Duo once more. Duo watched, feeling very abstracted from the entire situation.
Chang turned partly away from Duo, and returned to lean against the back of his chair, not yet sitting down. “I am partly to blame for this,” he said, more to himself than to Duo. “When Yuy proposed the altered plans, I confined them to the left flank. If I hadn’t done that, if I had not let my jealousies rule me... then Colonel Vant might still be alive.”
Duo’s bemusement vanished into shock, and he sat bolt upright in his seat. Colonel who?
“General,” he heard his own voice saying, and could hardly believe how calm he sounded. “Where is Heero?”
“Oh, Heero?” Chang returned from his momentary preoccupation, looking back down at Duo. “Colonel Yuy is supervising the retreat, of course. The... survivors... of the right flank returned to the encampment as fast as their condition would allow, and I, of course, had to be here. Yuy should be bringing the left, and center, divisions back to the camp sometime tonight, or maybe tomorrow.”
Re: Spoil of War, book 2
Date: 2006-02-28 01:43 am (UTC)What?
Chang continued. “The change in troop deployment took the ambushers by surprise, as they were acting by the original plans. If not for the alterations that you made to the battle plans, we would have been slaughtered to the last man.”
His words fell on deaf ears. The sudden reversal of the world had completely stunned Duo, who was still struggling through the concept that General Chang -- the man who distrusted and despised him -- was bowing before him.
They don’t think that I...?
A sudden change in tone caught Duo’s attention back; Chang was still talking, but much of the formality had dropped out of his voice, and of his posture. His tone now was of... contrition.
“I have behaved very disgracefully towards you,” Chang said quietly, “ever since you came to this encampment. My conduct has been dishonorable, and frankly inexcusable; I only hope that you will be willing to forgive my petty actions and accept my sincere apologies. I owe you my life, and the lives of all my men, and there is no service in the world great enough to repay this debt.”
“Oh,” Duo heard himself say. “That’s all right.” He blinked dazedly up at the General, bemused by the relief that spread over the older man’s face. He actually smiled, an almost perceptible smile, and bowed before Duo once more. Duo watched, feeling very abstracted from the entire situation.
Chang turned partly away from Duo, and returned to lean against the back of his chair, not yet sitting down. “I am partly to blame for this,” he said, more to himself than to Duo. “When Yuy proposed the altered plans, I confined them to the left flank. If I hadn’t done that, if I had not let my jealousies rule me... then Colonel Vant might still be alive.”
Duo’s bemusement vanished into shock, and he sat bolt upright in his seat. Colonel who?
“General,” he heard his own voice saying, and could hardly believe how calm he sounded. “Where is Heero?”
“Oh, Heero?” Chang returned from his momentary preoccupation, looking back down at Duo. “Colonel Yuy is supervising the retreat, of course. The... survivors... of the right flank returned to the encampment as fast as their condition would allow, and I, of course, had to be here. Yuy should be bringing the left, and center, divisions back to the camp sometime tonight, or maybe tomorrow.”