"Eric Flint - TOG 02 - 1824, The Arkansas War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Flint Eric)

тАЬYes, Andrew Jackson,тАЭ he said. тАЬImpossible to know how heтАЩd react, and what heтАЩd decide. With
Henry Clay, of courseтАжтАЭ

He left the rest unsaid. Monroe, however, did not.

тАЬClay will do whatever serves opportunity, as he sees it. And since he canтАЩt get the presidency without
the support of Calhoun and at least the acquiescence of Crawford, that will determine his course.тАЭ

тАЬHeтАЩll call it a great compromise,тАЭ Adams predicted.

The room burst into momentary laughter, again. The moment over, Adams began rolling up the map.

тАЬLetтАЩs hope we never have to find out.тАЭ




CHAPTER 2


A tavern not far from Lexington, Kentucky

MAY 10, 1824



The innkeeper eyed the big man in front of him uncertainly.

First, because hewas big. At least two inches over six feet and very broad-shouldered. The heavy
Cherokee blanket he was wearing over his uniform made him seem as massive as a bear. He filled
practically every square inch of the doorway to the room heтАЩd rented for the night.

Second, because heтАЩd obviously had some whiskey to drink, even though it was only two hours past
dawn. The smell of it on his breath was not overwhelming but was still noticeable.

And finally, of course, simply because of who he was.

If there was one thing the whole country had come to know about Colonel Sam Houston, it was thatтАж

You never knew. He might do anything.

The innkeeper decided to try reason. тАЬLook, Colonel, you were planning to leave town this morning
anyway.тАЭ

тАЬNot before breakfast,тАЭ came the feared rejoinder. Stated every bit as reasonably.

тАЬWell, sure,тАЭ the innkeeper admitted. тАЬBut thereтАЩs a good tavern just six miles down the road. And your
boyтАЩs already getting your horses saddled.тАЭ

The big young colonel smiled. тАЬChesterтАЩs five years older than I am. Not as tall, I admit. Still, it seems a