Elephant Wrangler

Elissa leaned against Orta’s neck, feeding the rest of the Pundar weed to the weak elephant. Orta chewed the weed, not able to lift her head. Her trunk slid along the ground to grab Elissa’s ankle, a soft embrace of the woman who loved and cared for her. The elephant sighed as the Pundar took effect and opened one eye to look at her caretaker as her last breath huffed out.

Elissa nodded to the handful of elephant handlers gathered on the other side of the carcass, careful not to show them the tears on her face. She stood up straight and walked away from Orta, not looking back and feeling everything breaking inside. She nodded to soldiers who saluted her as she made her way back to her tent. The sounds of the handlers’ saws cutting up the elephant were more than she could bear.

She laid on her bedroll, the tears flowing freely, and mourned Orta. Mourned all of the elephants that had died in the Alps, on the battlefield, or from wounds and sickness. They all died in the cold and snow, so far from their home. She had loved them all, but Orta was special, not just because she was the last and best of the elephants. She had been the only female elephant, matriarch of the herd. Elissa and Orta were two of a kind, females in a male world. The difference between them was that all the male elephants knew Orta as matriarch and no one knew Elissa was a woman.

In her life as an elephant wrangler before joining the military, Elissa had often been mistaken for a man. When the Carthaginians were looking for people to handle and look after their elephants, they assumed she was a man when she showed up. Being tall and lean with a naturally low voice, Elissa did not try to dissuade them from that assumption. She quickly became head wrangler because of her prowess with elephants in battle, her ability to get the elephants to do what needed done, and her medical knowledge applied to the oft-injured animals. She thought that the elephants looked to her because they knew she loved them. Elephants are very smart and aware.

So Elissa continued as a man, not difficult when everyone assumed you were a man. Though she had come into the military as an elephant wrangler, everyone had to be a soldier. Surprising herself, Elissa excelled as a soldier, rising through the ranks, proving herself equal to anyone. Now… she would have to be a full-time soldier, one in the vast army of Hannibal.

The Romans spent the winter harassing the edges of Hannibal’s army, never giving him the set battles he desired. Elissa saw plenty of action, though. Her easy relationship with animals made her a natural with horses and her bravery in the many skirmishes on the edge did not go unnoticed. She quickly became a captain in the cavalry and commanded a regiment of horsemen.

Elissa was proud of herself, but at night in the privacy of her tent, she thought of the elephants and dreamed of the days when she was not at war. Simpler peaceful times working with the most beautiful creatures on earth.

After a skirmish with Roman cavalry, an almost daily event, Elissa was sitting on a bedroll after being stitched up from a sword slash across her thigh. She had been to this valetudinaria (medical tent) enough times to know all of the men who kept this army from bleeding out.

The General walked into the tent and Elissa struggled to get up with her stiffening leg.

“At ease, Captain,” Hannibal said, putting a hand on her shoulder to keep her from standing. He looked at the two capsarii (medics) standing at attention and nodded his head toward the tent flap. The two men quickly left. He looked back to Elissa.

Her heart rate was up. The General was an aloof man and seldom came into the main camp area. She had no idea why he would come down to talk to her unless her secret had been discovered.

“How bad is your cut, Captain? Still able to ride?” Elissa nodded. “Yessir.”

“You have been doing a fantastic job. Your regiment has the highest rate of engagement and success in the cavalry.” Hannibal smiled and Elissa knew she could not lie to this man. He was intense and brilliant. But more, he was honest and caring of his troops.

“Thank you, sir! We try to do what we can. I have the best soldiers.”

“And they have the best captain… which is why I was torn before I came down to see you.” Elissa’s breath caught in her throat. He knew and she would be sent away or worse.

“I want you to come up to the command area and lead my personal guard.” The General mistook Elissa’s exhalation for disappointment. “I know, I know, not as exciting as leading a regiment, but a necessary job.” He hurried on. “We have few officers capable of the amount of planning we need to do. You are one of those very few and I can’t afford to have you killed in a small skirmish.”

Elissa was elated. “Of course, General! I am honored to be chosen.” Her elation deflated as she thought about the secret she was keeping. Given this opportunity, she knew that she could not be dishonest with him.

“That is good. I think we will work well together. I have long admired your abilities. I don’t believe there is another person in the world that could have gotten thirty elephants through the Alps and into battle the way you did.”

“Thank you, sir.” She had to end this charade she’d been playing at for so long. “General, I… I am a woman.” Elissa could feel the tears trying to come out.

Hannibal smiled at her. “I know.” Elissa didn’t know what to think. The General continued. “Soldiers should be courageous and loyal. The best soldiers are courageous, loyal, and smart.” He put his hand on her shoulder again. “You are one of the best. Whether a soldier pees standing or squatting is irrelevant.”

Elissa was dumbfounded. He was accepting her for herself, not as a pretend man. Her mind was reeling. “Uh… thank you, sir!”

The General patted her shoulder once and turned to leave. He stopped at the tent flap and faced her again. “Take a day to heal a little and bring your belongings up to the command area tomorrow evening. The spring campaign will begin soon and we’ll be busy.” He chuckled. “The military is strange mix of men and beliefs… Best to continue keeping secrets secret.”

“Yessir.”