es where he did his own writing； and spent the rest of the afternoon writing all that had happened to him； all that Alvin had told him； all that he feared for the future。 He also wrote the words of the poem that had e to him the morning before； the verses that came from his mouth but Alvin's vision。 The poem was still right and true； but even as he read the words in his book； the power of them faded。 It was the closest he had ever e to being a prophet himself； but now the gift had left him。 It was never his gift at all； anyway。 Just as he and Ta…Kumsaw had walked on the meadow without seeing anything special； never guessing that for Alvin it had been a map of the whole continent； so now Taleswapper had the words written down in his book and had no notion anymore of the power behind them。
Taleswapper couldn't travel like a Red man； through the night； sleeping on his feet。 So it took him more than a few days to get all the way west to the town of Vigor Church； where he knew there'd be a lot of folks with a long and bitter tale to tell him。 If ever a folk needed such a man as Taleswapper to hear their tale； it was them。 Yet if ever there was a story that Taleswapper was loath to listen to； it was theirs。 Still； he didn't shy from calling on them。 He could bear it。 There'd be plenty more dark tales to tell before Ta…Kumsaw was through； might as well get started now； so as not to fall behind。
Chapter 16 La Fayette
Gilbert de la Fayette sat at his vast table； looking into the grain of the wood。 Several letters lay before him。 One was a letter from de Maurepas to King Charles。 Obviously； Freddie had been won over by Napoleon。 The letter was full of praise for the little general and his brilliant strategy。
So soon we are going to win the decisive victory； Your Majesty； and glorify your name。 General Bonaparte refuses to be bound by European military tradition。 He is training our troops to fight like Reds； even as he lures the so…called Americans into fighting in the open field； like Europeans。 As Andrew Jackson gathers his American army； we also gather an army of men who have better claim to the name American。 Ta…Kumsaw's ten thousand will stand with us as we destroy the ten thousand of Old Hickory。 Ta…Kumsaw will thus avenge the blood of the slaughter at Tippy…Canoe； while we destroy the American army and subjugate the land from the Hio to Huron Lake。 In all this； we loyally give the glory to Your Majesty； for it was your insight in sending General Bonaparte here that has made this great conquest possible。 And if now send us two thousand more Frenchmen； to stiffen our line and provoke the Americans into further rashness； your act will be seen as the key interventioin our battle。
It was an outrageous letter for a mere te and one out of favor to send to his King。 Yet Gilbert knew how the letter would be received。 For King Charles was also under Napoleon's spell； and he would read praise of the little Corsican with agreement； with joy。
If only Napoleon were only a vain posturer with a gift； for seducing the loyalty of his betters。 Then La Fayette could watch his inevitable destruction without soiling his own hands。 Napoleon and de Maurepas would lead the French army to disaster； such a disaster as might well bring down a government； and lead to a curbing of the King's authority； even an expulsion of the monarchy； as the English so wisely did a century and a half before。
But Napoleon was exactly what he seduced Freddie and Charlie into thinking he was： a brilliant general。 Gilbert knew that Napoleon's plan would succeed。 The Americans would march northward； convinced that they faced only Reds。 At the last moment； they would find themselves in bat with the French army； disciplined； well…armed； and fanatically loyal to Napoleon。 The Americans would be forced to array themselves like a European army。 Under their attack； the French would slowly； carefully retreat。 When American discipline collapsed in the pursuit； then the Reds would attack in devastating numbers； pletely surrounding the Americans。 Not one American would escape alive and almost no French lives would be lost。
It was audacious。 It was dangerous。 It involved exposing French troops to serious risk of destruction； as they would be vastly outnumbered by the Americans。 It required implicit trust in the Reds。 But Gilbert knew that Napoleon's trust in Ta…Kumsaw was justified。
Ta…Kumsaw would have his revenge。 De Maurepas would have his escape from Detroit。 Even La Fayette could probably claim enough credit from such a victory to e home and live in fort and dignity on his ancestral lands。 Above all； Napoleon would bee the most loved and trusted figure in the military。 King Charles would surely grant him a title and lands； and send him out a…conquering in Europe； making King Charles ever richer and more powerful and the people ever more willing to endure his tyranny。
So Gilbert carefully tore de Maurepas's letter into tiny fragments。
The second letter was from Napoleon himself to Gilbert。 It was candid； even brutal； in its assessment of the situation。 Napoleon had e to realize that while Gilbert de La Fayette was immune to his intoxicating charm； he was a sincere admirer and； indeed； a friend。 I am your friend； Napoleon。 Yet I am more a friend of France than of any man。 And the path I have in mind for you is far greater than being the mere toady of a stupid King。
Gilbert reread the key paragraph of Napoleon's letter。
De Maurepas merely echoes what I say； which is fortable but tedious。 I shudder to think what would happen if he were ever in cornmand。 His idea of alliance with the Reds is to put them in uniform and stand them in rows like ninepins。 What foolishness！ How can King Charles consider himself anything but a halfwit； forcing me to serve under guch an idiot as Freddie？ But to Charles； Freddie no doubt seems like the soul of wit after all； he does know how to appreciate the ballet。 In Spain I won a victory for Charles that he did not deserve； and yet he is so spineless that he lets his jealous courtiers maneuver me to Canada； where my allies are savages and my officers are fools。 Charlie doesn't deserve the victory I'll bring him。 But then； Gilbert my friend； the royal blood has grown thin and weak in the years since Louis Fourteen。 I'd urge you to burn this letter； except that Charlie loves me so well that I think he could read it word for word and not take offense！ And if he did take offense； how would he dare punish me？ What would his stature be in Europe； if I hadn't helped old Wooden…head to a case of dysentery so I could win the war in Spain； instead of losing it； as would surely have happened without me？
Napoleon's vanity was insufferable； but primarily because it was so fully justified。 Everyword in this letter was true； if rash； but Gilbert had carefully cultivated this candor in Napoleon。 Napoleon had obviously longed for someone to admire him sincerely； without Napoleon diddling with his affections。 He had found such a one truly he had in Gilbert； the only real friend Napoleon would ever have。 And yet。 And yet。
Gilbert carefully folded Napoleon's letter and enclosed it in his own； a simple note that said：
Your Majesty； please do not be harsh with this gifted young man。 He has the arrogance of youth； there is no treason in his heart； I know it。 Nevertheless； I will be guided by you； as always； for you will always know the proper balance between justice and mercy。 Your humble servant； Gilbert。
King Charles would be livid； of course。 Even if Napoleon was right； and Charlie was inclined to be indulgent； the courtiers would never let such an opportunity pass。 There would be such a howl for Napoleon's head that even King Charles could not resist cashiering the boy。 Another letter； the most painful one； was again in Gilbert's own hand； this time addressed to Frederic； te de Maurepas。 Gilbert had written it long ago； almost as soon as Napoleon arrived in Canada。 Soon it would be time to send it。
On the eve of such momentous events； my dear Freddie； I think you should wear this amulet。 It was given me by a holy man to fend the lies