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

formidable a fortress as any in the continent.тАЭ

Scott leaned over. His finger landed forcibly on the Arkansas. тАЬThatтАЩs the only really suitable invasion
route. And Driscol knows it. And he spent some time as a young sergeant in the French colors, staring up
at WellingtonтАЩs Lines of Torres Vedras after having marched across all of Spain. And saw that his
commander, Massena, never ordered a full assault. Massena had sixty-five thousand men in that army.
How many soldiers will the United States send against the Confederacy of the Arkansas?тАЭ

MonroeтАЩs reply came instantly. тАЬNot one, so long as I am president.тАЭ

There was an awkward silence. Pleasantly, Monroe said to Scott: тАЬThank you for your advice, General.
It was very helpful. And now would you give us a moment, please?тАЭ

Scott rose to his feet. тАЬCertainly, Mr. President. IтАЩll be in my offices at the War Department, should you
need me again today.тАЭ He turned and nodded to Adams. тАЬA pleasure, as always, Mr. Secretary.тАЭ

He probably even meant it, Adams thought. Winfield Scott and he got along quite well, as a rule. If for
no other reason, because Scott was even less prone to suffering fools gladly.




After the general was gone, the silence returned for a time. Finally, sighing, Adams spoke up. тАЬThere is
some talk, I believe, that people might want me to succeed you, Mr. President.тАЭ

тАЬYes, so IтАЩve been led to believe.тАЭ

Monroe maintained a studied blandness in his expression and tone of voice. It was the firm protocol of
the young republic that no gentleman suited to be chief executive in the first place would ever directly
express any ambition for the post, as absurd as that apparent indifference might be. Even Henry Clay
maintained the posture, though every suckling babe in the nation knew that the Speaker of the House
lusted for the presidency as other men lusted for food or whiskey or money or women.

Adams scratched under his chin. тАЬShould that unlikely eventuality come to pass, my answer would be
the same as yours. Not one dollar spent to send one soldier against the Confederacy.тАЭ

Monroe nodded. тАЬJacksonтАЩs answer might be different. HeтАЩs as savage as anyone on the subject of the
runaway slaves for whom Arkansas has become a magnet. But heтАЩs also far shrewder than most people
realize. Even something of a genuine statesman, I think, in his own way. Finally, Jackson takes his honor
seriously, and there is his vow to Houston. Which he mightтАФor might notтАФfeel has been satisfied by
now.тАЭ

Houston.Always Houston, it seemed. On Mondays, Adams thought the young man was the republicтАЩs
greatest blessing. On Tuesdays, its greatest curse. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, he was indifferent to
the question, for the secretary of state had many other things in midweek to occupy his mind. By Friday,
he was back to blessing the youngster, and on Saturday to showering him with silent curses.

Sunday, of course, was the Sabbath. On Sundays, Adams studied the Bible and tried not to think about
the subject of Houston at all. Sometimes he even succeeded.