News of the World

Johanna receives clothing from the women of Wichita Falls. However, she either does not care for the new clothes or doesn’t know how to wear them properly because she allows the hem of her dress to drag in the red mud, not holding it up when she walks.

The Captain goes off and purchases a wagon with the coin Britt gave him. It’s a used wagon with the words “Curative Waters East Mineral Springs Texas” (14) painted across the side, but it has a spring bench seat that will be comfortable on the bumpy, rocky roads. It’s possible to spread a canvas tarp over the wagon in case of bad weather. The Captain plans on having his pack horse pull the wagon, while the other one walks behind in tow. The Captain changes from his clothes into attire better suited for the road, carefully packing his reading clothes in a carpet bag and his nice hat in a tin box. He then goes off in search of Britt one last time.

The Captain finds Britt finishing loading his wagon. He sees his boy whom he remarks is a hard-worker but who also seems to constantly look at his father anxiously. He asks Britt about the best roads to take. Britt recommends the road along the Red River towards Spanish Fort, then from there to Dallas, and then the Miridian road south towards San Antonio. Britt asks to see the gun the Captain carries. He pulls it out from behind him and gives it to Britt. Britt says how that it’s a gun he would have had when he was 10, and then gives the Captain his own Smith and Wesson, stating how he is very grateful for the Captain's help. They then say goodbye to one another.

The Captain climbs up into his wagon with Johanna, who we learn is 10 years old. There is a pale-haired man and two other men with him watching the Captain and Johanna from the shadows, the same man the Captain recognized in Chapter 1 as someone of a "not commendable reputation" (4). They continue to watch as the Captain and Johanna leave town.

The chapter opens with a flashback to the Captain's past. It’s some time during the War of 1812, and he is 16, serving in the Georgia militia as a private. He has fought in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend under Andrew Jackson. His Captain was a man named Thompson. During the battle, his unit was under heavy fire. Thompson was out beyond the barricades and Captain Kidd went out to save him. He was able to bring him back to safety, but Thompson had already sustained mortal wounds. Captain Kidd was himself wounded in the thigh. After the battle, Kidd was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and he studiously asked others about the requirements and duties of a sergeant, believing that "written information was what mattered in this world” (22), even though he was often made fun of because of it.

The Captain was soon given the responsibility of transporting prisoners, which he hated, to Pensacola, Florida. There he learned the ways of interrogation, hand-to-hand combat (wrestling), and other military skills. Within a few months, he became a messenger, a runner carrying information between units. This was a job he loved doing. He was built for it. He was long-haired, over 6 feet tall, with runner's muscles. Being raised in the mountainous terrain of Georgia tempered him for the endeavors of being a runner for the Provost Marshall. These are his best memories during this time period, and he recalls how he enjoyed the solitude of the work and the amazement of the feeling of being "granted the life and the task for which one is meant” (24).

After the war, he returned to Georgia and became an apprentice in a printing press in Macon, GA. Following his mother's death, and learning of the events of the Alamo, he left for Texas. In San Antonio, he opened up his own printing press. He learned Spanish so that he could print things in both languages. He met his wife there, a younger girl of Spanish descent. He remembers his wife fondly, but there is something painful in their history that isn't yet mentioned. Her name was Maria Luisa Betancort y Real. They had two girls together.

Later on, during the Mexican-American War, he was called back into military service even though he was 50 years old. He was promoted to the rank of captain, and from then on he was known as Captain Kidd. It was his job to organize communications between President Taylor's forces and the Texas Rangers. He recalls a time in February of 1847, while with a young unit of a Texas Rangers in the hills above Monterrey, in Mexico, when he shared some of his previous war experiences with the troops. They were looking for some wisdom from the veteran. He told them to take care of one another, because you never know who will get shot.

During the night, sitting alone in front of the fire, the Captain had reflected on the news he was charged to dispatch. This news was in regard to the infighting and splintered command structure of the Mexican army, and how that "if people had true knowledge of the world perhaps they would not take up arms and so perhaps he could be an aggregator of information from distant places and then the world would be a more peaceful place” (29). It was an illusion that lasted until he was 65. However, he later came to believe that what people really needed was not only information but also stories from remote and exotic places, so that they could forget about their own troubles for a while.

Johanna is walking alongside the wagon, barefoot, singing a tune in the Kiowa language. She feels very alone. She sings to keep from crying. The Captain is driving the wagon. She considers options like running away or starving herself to death. It’s drizzling out. The Captain senses her anxiety and takes the time to show her his armaments in an attempt to console her. At first, she seems bewildered, but she makes a quick sharp nod that the Captain takes as a sign of understanding, though he doubts that she believes that the two of them are on the same team.

They continue on. He remarks how different she is, that she carries herself like a Native Americans though she is blonde-haired and blue-eyed with freckles on her cheeks. He remarks how white people are more open, unguarded. The Indians, on the other hand, have a sort of “kinetic stillness” (33). He then attempts to teach Johanna her name by pointing at her, which is something that startles and worries her because the Kiowa never point at others unless they mean to do harm. She wonders if he’s trying to use evil magic against her. However, he continues to point at her nonchalantly, repeating her name, enunciating clearly with emphasis on the syllables. He then points to himself and does the same for his name, Captain. He does this until she repeats what he tells her and he gets the idea she understands.

They come to a river crossing. It isn't easy, but they cross without too much difficulty, even though one of the wheels cracks and will need to be repaired once they reach Spanish Fort. They stop for the night, and the Captain again attempts to teach her some English and communicate with her. He shows her the stove he brought along and how it works. Johanna is quizzical. She is surprised by the heat and fire of the stove and makes the Kiowa sign for fire, which the Captain recognizes. He understands some of the sign-language of the Plains Indians and signs “Yes” to her. He then makes a dinner of coffee, cornbread, and bacon. He gives Johanna her portion. She doesn’t eat it straight away. Rather she sits awhile with it, then sings over it, before finally eating. After the meal, he sits and leans back against his saddle. She lies on a blanket, never taking her eyes off of him. He reads the Chicago Tribune and tells her about a meat-processing plant in Chicago. The Captain thinks about his role as a man striving towards the condition of humanity to protect children, to kill for them if necessary. He shares his opinion with her about the importance of the written word.

Before going to sleep he prays for Britt, who is often in harm's way, for his daughters, his son-in-law, and his grandsons who are all going to make their way from Georgia to him in Texas. He also prays for himself and Johanna.

The duo approach the town of Spanish Fort. The horses grow restless and they hear riders in the distance. It's a US Cavalry patrol. The Captain makes a sign to Johanna to let her know that they are friends. Nevertheless, Johanna is frightened and cowers in the back of the wagon. He recognizes that she is afraid he is going to hand her over to the soldiers. The cavalry men draw close, led by a lieutenant (LT) who speaks to the Captain. The LT is friendly and asks simple questions, especially about Johanna. The Captain explains the situation and shows the LT the papers from the Agent. The LT questions the Captain about what weapons he is carrying. The Captain only admits to the shotgun (Johanna is in the back underneath some blankets, hiding with the revolver). The Captain is slightly disrespectful at this point, interjecting his dislike of the law that prevents people from carrying revolvers in post-war Texas. The LT doesn’t take offense, even commiserating with the Captain.

Because he does not turn her over to the soldiers, Johanna becomes much friendlier and happier with the Captain, even deciding to ride on the bench in the wagon with him, something she has refused to do previously.

They make their way into Spanish Fort, also known as Red River Station, which is a crossroads town full of people making their way to other destinations. The chaos and noise is unsettling for the Captain and he wonders, if it is so bad for him, then how bad must it be for Johanna. The Captain begins readying the wagon for the evening, and removes the revolver shells from their hiding place in the flour, moving them to a spot under the bench of the wagon. Johanna’s English is slowly improving, and he asks her to ready the stove. She tells him “Yes” and moves off to gather wood.

There has been flooding that has made further crossing difficult. There are many people waiting in and around the town for it to subside, so that they can move on.