Field of Honor

It was a little after 4 o'clock in the morning when Chief Justice Rehnquist let the four men into the Smithsonian. The halls were dark and empty of prying eyes. They soon reached the room where the dueling weapons were kept; all the presidential weapons were gathered together.

Vincent paused for a moment to look at the Kennedy Pistols: nine inch, smooth bore, black powder. At one time they were perfectly matched, but no longer. The one that had sent a ball bounding though JFK's skull was still intact, but the one that the president had held on that deadly day was shattered. It had virtually exploded in JFK's hands, giving rise to countless conspiracy theories. So ended Camelot. Vincent wondered if another "Camelot" would end today.

The other men had moved on ahead and Vincent quickened his pace, hardly glanced at the heavy Roosevelt Sabers. When he caught up, Rehnquist had already swung open the glass front of the display case and was now removing the Fords. Two exquisite rapiers gleamed in the partial light. Vincent held his breath in awe of the perfect weapons, even the two Secret Service men seemed frozen by their majesty.

Kenneth Starr grunted and harshly grabbed one of the rapiers. He swung it around a couple of times, flexed it, looked closely at handle, and performed other "tests" which he had probably read about in some fencer's handbook somewhere. When finished, he handed the sword to Vincent and then repeated his performance with the second weapon. Vincent held the Ford in his hand. He couldn't help himself: he stuck angarde and moved through a few fundamental exercises. The rapier was fabulous and Vincent felt honored to be holding it: he also felt humbled and undeserving. He remembered the same mix of emotions when Bill had asked him to serve as Second in this current affair of honor.

Reverently he placed the sword into the velvet lined case that the Chief Justice was now holding open. Starr placed the matching sword in its place parallel to the first. Rehnquist closed the case and the two snaps on the front. Vincent placed a simple golden band through the first snap. Starr place a store-bought padlock on the second. "Can't be too careful", he grunted. Vincent ignored the insult and took the case. All five men then left the Institute.

Officially, of course, the Fords were still in the museum. Officially Vincent and Kenneth were still asleep in their homes. Duels had always been illegal, even though civilization always demanded that men act with honor.

- more to come : under construction -