The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (latest ebook reader txt) 📗

‘Don’t. We should go now.’

Bob looked like he would alsojoin them, until Danny all but frog marched him to his bed.

‘All right, all right, I’mgoing,’ he whispered.

A few minutes later Danny and Carrutherswere dressed and walking along the parade ground to the sergeant’s quarters.They walked inside and found O’Dowd’s room. It was well after two and theyexpected he would be somewhat displeased.

‘Here goes,’ said Danny,knocking on the door. There was no response. Danny looked at Carruthers,‘Should I go in?’

‘No, I wouldn’t advise it.’

‘Afraid “old Sod” might be in anightdress with the captain?’

Carruthers looked shocked by thissuggestion and not amused. This made Danny’s grin even wider. A lot of thingswent on in the countryside. Nobody necessarily approved but nor did they speak of it. They wereobviously a bit primmer in the city.

Danny rapped the door again,only louder. This time they could hear noise from inside. Danny knocked againand whispered loudly, ‘Sergeant, wake up.’

The door opened and O’Dowd’sface poked through angrily, ‘What the hell do you think…?’

‘Sergeant, it’s Harn,’ said Carruthers.His clipped tones brought O’Dowd to a standstill. He knew immediately what theproblem was.

‘Wait here.’ Less than a minutelater O’Dowd was at the door again, in his uniform trying to put his boots on without socks.

They made their way quickly outof the sergeant’s quarters over to the senior officer’s quarters. A similarepisode ensued as they notified Captain Budd. By now ten minutes had elapsed.The next step, led by Budd, was to inform the gate of Harn’s actions.

‘We need to organise a smalldetail of troops to go to the bus and train stations. He won’t get very far.’He turned to Danny and Carruthers, ‘You two return to your barracks. Thank youfor telling us. Youdid the rightthing.’

The two men returned to bed. Carruthersglanced at Danny, ‘Your friend may still have problems.’

‘I know, bloody fool,’ saidDanny grim-faced. ‘Harn will point the finger at him, all right.’ With thisunhappy thought, Danny fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

The next morning the barrackswas blissfully unaware of the previous night’s events until someone noticed theabsence of Harn.

‘He’s done a bunk.’

Carruthers and Danny looked atone another and with a shake of the head they decided not to say anything onthe topic. Bob looked at them remorsefully but remained silent. He knew therewould soon be hell to pay but the fact he had stayed would count in his favour.

O’Dowd made their life miseryas usual in the morning, but no mention was made of the affair. Around mid-morningBudd appeared at the drill and whispered to O’Dowd.

‘We need three men for a task. Carruthers,Shaw and Owen fall out.’

‘Lucky sods,’ said Arthur outof the side his mouth to Danny.

The three men followed Buddtowards the senior officers’ mess. They walked along the corridor to thecommanding officer’s. Budd gave a quick rap on the door and walked in. Thecommanding officer looked up from his desk. Colonel Foster was a man closer toseventy than sixty. Had this inconvenient war not come along, he would havebeen enjoying a well-earned retirement in Dorset.

The thought of this saddenedhim immensely. What saddened him even more was the necessity of sending theseyoung men off to a war that he’d hoped would never happen again. The men likedhim although his appearances were rare.

‘Sir,’ said Budd, ‘This is Shawand Carruthers. They alerted us to the absence of Harn. This is Owen. Accordingto Harn, Owen tried to accompany him.’

Foster looked first at Bob. Hewas not unsympathetic in his manner and he asked simply, ‘Is this true?’

‘Yes, sir,’ replied Bob,despite the advice of Danny.

‘You returned though,’continued Foster.

‘Yes, sir.’ Bob glanced atDanny and Carruthers as he said this.

Foster turned his attention tothe two other men and then looked back to Bob.

‘Why did you want to leave?’asked Foster. Bob explained the situation with his wife. Foster listenedintently. When Bob had finished, he asked, ‘What age are you?’

‘Nineteen, sir.’

Foster shook his head and feltsuch sadness. He remembered hundreds of faces like Bob’s that he’d commandedonce. Most were buried in the fields of Flanders. He remembered the crueltywith which the army had treated those who had suffered from the natural fearany sensible person would feel.

‘How did you gentlemen come tobe involved?’ Foster had now turned to Danny and Carruthers.

‘I’m a light sleeper, sir,’said Carruthers.

‘You’re fortunate, Carruthers. Thismay save your life one day.’

Carruthers smiled for a momentand then related what had happened. When he had finished Foster asked them whatthey had done to preventHarn from leaving.

Danny answered this time, ‘Wetried to persuade him, sir. He wasn’t having it. Bob came with us, but we letHarn go.’

‘Why?’

And there it was: the key question thatDanny had been wrestling with since he’d woken up. Danny took a moment and thenanswered truthfully, ‘Bob’s my friend. I would have battered him rather than see him go. Harn, sir, isnot what you’d call a friend. If we’d started a ruck, it would have woken thecamp and we’d have been in the same situation here anyway.’

This was the best Danny couldcome up with in the situation but even he felt the chances of it working wereremote. Now, he realised in surprise, they were all culpable to a greater orlesser degree in Harn’s AWOL.

The silence in the office onceDanny had finished was overpowering. It was almost palpable. Foster glanced at Buddand then back to the three men.

‘Harn was caught last night atthe train station. This would not have happened so quickly without your timelyintelligence. However, had you acted in the way you acted towards your friend,it need not have happened at all,’ said Foster to Danny and Carruthers.

Turning his attention to Bob,he said, ‘Nobody chooses to go to war unless they are a damn fool. You are nodifferent from any man here. You have no, more, right to avoid war than any otherman. You are not a special case, Owen. Remember that. I sympathise with your situationbut remember, many men like you have already given their lives against thistyranny. Many more will. In all likelihood, some of the men in your barracks willdie. If I could stop that happening with a snap of my fingers,