A Thunder of Drums

'No, no, no.'

'No! No!'

Well, let's get on down there so you can water these horses.

Before that patrol back there catches up with us

with that stinkin' dead meat.

Let's don't rush it, Hanna.

You know, it just don't look right to me somehow.

It's gettin' on towards noon, and

'there ain't no dinner smoke coming from that chimbley.'

Well, I was just sayin', these horses need water.

And them dead troopers are six feet already.

Won't last till we get back to Fort Canby

I'll tell you that. Come on.

Anybody home?

Tom?

Tom Detweiler?

You know, since that drunken fight we had yesterday

I'm as jumpy as some old deaf virgin.

Hold it there.

Why, it's a little Detweiler girl.

Hello, sis.

You ain't scared of me, are ya?

My golly!

She sure does look scared, alright.

Where's your mamma and your daddy?

'Erschick?'

Lieutenant Porter?

Maybe you and Sergeant Rodermill

better go inside.

We tried to get the little girl to speak

but she just wouldn't say a word.

Then we took a look back in here

and saw what they had done

to her mama and sister.

Tousled both women and killed them.

Shut up, Hanna.

'Stay out of that room in there.'

Lieutenant Porter?

Chances are this little girl

never will speak again.

I seen it happen before, sir.

No men here?

Detweiler and his son?

Yeah, we found both of their bodies

out behind the shack.

Also the tracks of ten hostile ponies.

Well, I'll stay here with two men

to bring the Paymaster through.

You force-march the bodies on to Fort Canby, Sergeant Rodermill.

Yes, sir.

And take the little girl with you.

Yes, sir. I'm all done.

Hanna, you bring the child out to me.

Two married men to dress the women for burial.

You five and Robinson hand over the range

to the man on your left.

- Hanna? - Yes, sir.

Mount up and ride out on point.

Woo-wee, they sure do stink.

'Who goes there?'

Sergeant Rodermill.

Lieutenant Porter's patrol.

Baker?

Baker!

Come on, son. Up here.

Hoo.

Baker, this child's name is Detweiler.

She's suffering from shock and exhaustion.

Come in!

Mr. Gresham, that's Lieutenant Porter's patrol

out there with four men dead.

Who were they?

'Corporal Griesshammer, sir.'

'Troopers Cudlet..'

'...Eames'

'and Gantry.'

Porter stayed at Detweiler's to pick up the Paymaster.

The First Sergeant is outside, sir.

Rodermill!

- Yes, sir. - What happened, Rodermill?

What did Mr. Porter let himself get into?

Is the captain asking me to report

over Lieutenant Porter's head, sir?

You are my First Sergeant, Rodermill.

Now, what did you people walk into?

Well, we didn't, sir. They walked into us.

Always the same old thing, sir.

Departmental standing orders

which forbids us attacking hostiles...

Rodermill.

How did the four men get killed?

Well, sir.

With two days gone..

Coming down south from the paradise..

We saw signs

of 30 mounted Comanches.

Now, as far as I can figure

I driven a few off right

a few off left, hit out

let us pass

and hit us from the rear and running fight

out of nowhere.

Well, outside of being sucked in

were you satisfied with the fight?

Yes, sir.

Pour yourself coffee.

Yes, sir.

Comanches, Rodermill?

Well, the first thing we found was

their open fire pits

fresh horsehide

baked horse bones.

There was plenty of game around.

But you know, Comanches, they'll eat horse meat

no matter what.

'That Detweilwer, sir.'

They found the homesteaders' wife and daughter violated.

And fresh murdered yesterday.

Mr. Gresham, Comanches rape their own

that's their idea of courtship

but they don't generally fancy white women.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir?

Well, were they or were they not Comanches?

Well, it is up a little far north

and west for Comanches, sir.

There's some doubt in your mind then?

Not until it was some doubt in the Captain's mind, sir.

I'm the First Sergeant like you say.

The Garrison Women have got the word, sir.

Mrs. Griesshammer and Gantry's wife.

That's all, Rodermill.

'Yes, sir.'

Take the coffee with you.

Yes, sir.

Gresham, you handle the brave and comforting words

you're the officer on guard.

I'll do the Commanding Officer stint at the..

Funeral services.

Yes, sir.

Gresham?

This should give you a second thought

about your own marriage.

It's a little bit late to take your advice, Captain.

Is Tracey already out here?

It's not my advice, mister. It's a rule of the game.

Bachelors make the best soldiers.

All they have to lose is their loneliness.

Comanches.

"Grant that they may not languish

"in fruitless and unavailing grief

or sorrow as those who have no hope."

Sentry.

Lieutenant Porter with Paymaster's detachment.

'Yes, sir.'

"He leadeth me besides the still waters.

"He restoreth my soul.

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness."

You two help with the Paymaster's detail.

Thank you, McQuade.

Riding the wagon in from Detweilers

eased my arm considerably.

I had to come in on a horse.

I was born here.

The winds just turned.

You can smell the oven bake of the desert.

'Alright, you men, lend a hand here.'

'Get these trunks off here.'

- 'Get 'em off. Get in there.' - Hello, Rodermill.

Well, how long it's gonna take you to remember me?

Well, if I move slow, sir.

Yeah.

Carl McQuade was a CO here and you were his son.

I remember, sir.

How are you? Sergeant?

Well, I ain't gettin' any younger sir.

Well, you were, Senior Corporal then.

Now, that could be.

If I remember right..

You was a little curly haired boy.

'Move out to stable.'

Little old curly headed boy, so were you.

Care to step into headquarters, sir?

Captain Maddocks will be in shortly.

He's reading services at the funeral.

Captain Maddocks?

Yeah, I,

I don't place him.

Must be new since my time here?

In here, maybe.

Captain Maddocks ain't new.

Not since anybody's time.

He's been around this army for quite a spell, sir.

You care to step into headquarters?

Step in, sir.

Sir.

Stand easy, mister.

Well..

Well, I-I haven't seen

a tailored uniform for..

Eight years.