The Sound of Thunder (27 page)

Sean affirmed. The old boy knew more of his past then he suspected must have made a few inquiries. Sean was flattered and the harshness gone from his voice.

“What, in your opinion, will be their course of action from now on?” Acheson pursued the subject and Sean tasted his champagne while he considered his reply.

“They will scatter, break up into their traditional fighting units, the commando. ” Acheson nodded, from his position on the General Staff he knew this had already happened.

“In so doing they will avoid the necessity of dragging a supply column with them. Once the rainy season begins these small units will find grazing less of a problem for their horses.

“Yes. ” Sean saw they were all listening now. He thought quickly, cursing the wine that had dulled his brain. “They will avoid battle, run from it and swing round to jab at the flanks, then run again.”

“Supplies?” asked the Brigadier.

“The veld is their storeroom, each farm upon it a haven.

“Ammunition, weapons, clothing? ” persisted the Brigadier.

“Every British soldier they capture or kill will provide a brand new Lee, Metford rifle and a hundred rounds of ammunition. ” “But how long can they live like that?” Garry spoke indulgently, as though to a child. “How far can they run?” He glanced around at the others seeking their support, but everyone was watching Sean.

“How wide is the veld, that is how far they can run. ” Sean turned on him, stung by the tone of his voice. “My God, you know them.

Hardship is a way of life with them. Pride, the watchword that will carry them on.”

“You paint a pretty picture. ” Garry smiled easily. “It is unusual to find such appreciation of grand strategy among the rank and file.” Then he looked higher up the table once more with an emphasis that excluded Sean from the conversation. “As I was saying, General Acheson, I believe, ” “One moment please, Colonel.” Acheson in turn excluded him and put his question to Sean. “If you had the running of it, what plan of action would you adopt?”

Across the table Garrick Courtney coughed in a manner intended to inform the company that his brother was about to make a fool of himself.

It was not lost on Sean. “The problem revolves around one single fact. The mobility of the enemy,” he stated grimly.

“Your perception does you great credit,” murmured Garry.

“Our first problem is to contain him and then to wear him down, ” Sean went on, trying to ignore the taunts of his brother.

“Contain him?” The Brigadier fired the question.

“Herd him into a limited area,” Sean explained.

“How?”

“Say, by a series of set fortifications,” Sean suggested.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you propose to divide the whole of the high veld into paddocks and farm the enemy as one would dairy cattle?” Garry was still smiling.

“The new blockhouse lines along the line of rail are proving effective. It should be possible to extend them across the open veld, every time the enemy had to pass through them he would be subjected to a mauling by the garrisons and his position would immediately be pin, pointed.

“The cost would be enormous,” Acheson pointed out.

“Not as great as supporting an army of a quarter of a million men in the field for another five years,” Sean brushed his objection aside, he was well set on his run of ideas. “Then, within the defined areas small well, mounted bodies of men, unimpeded by supply wagons and artillery, would be used to raid the commandos, hitting them in an unrelenting series of raids and ambushes. Driving them on to the blockhouse lines, wearing down their horses, giving them no chance to rest, employing exactly their tactics of skirmishing. Against the commandos use counter, commandos. ” Acheson nodded thoughtfully. “Go on,” he said.

“Then, clear out the farms, ” Sean went on recklessly. “Bring in the women and old men whose crops keep the commandos fed. Force them to operate in a vacuum. ” In the years ahead Sean was to regret the impulse that made him say it. Perhaps Kitchener would have scorched the land without Sean’s suggestion, perhaps he had no hand in the formation of the concentration camps that bred bitterness, Sean would spend the rest of his life trying to sweetep. But he could never be certain. He was drunk and angry, but later this knowledge would not comfort him.

Now suddenly he felt empty as though in a premonition of the monstrous seed he had sown and he sank into brooding silence while the others passed his ideas back and forth, building on them, already beginning to plan.

When the dinner party broke up and they drifted through to drink coffee, Sean made one more attempt to tear down the barrier between his brother and himself. He went to him with his pride in his hands and offered it. “I was in Ladyburg last month. All’s well there. Ada writes to say, ” “I receive a weekly letter not only from my wife but from my stepmother and my son. I am fully aware of the latest news from home. Thank you. ” Garry stared over Sean’s shoulder as he replied.

“Garry .

“Excuse me. ” Garry nodded briefly and limped away to speak to a brother officer. He kept his back toward Sean.

“Let’s go home, Candy.

“But, Sean .

“Come on.”

Sean slept very little that night.

The Headquarters of the General Officer Commanding the eastern sector were tastefully situated in the offices of a brewery company in Plein Street. Major Peterson was waiting for Garry when he arrived.

“I sent for you two hours ago, sir.

“I was indisposed,” Garry told him.

“Old Ach is not in a very good mood today, we’d better not keep him waiting any longer. Come along.”

Down the passage, where orderlies bustled, Peterson led him, to a door at the far end. He knocked once and then opened it. Acheson looked up from his paperwork.

“Colonel Courtney is here, sir.”

“Thank you, Peterson. Come in, Courtney.

Peterson closed the door and left Garry standing alone on the thick Persian rug in front of Acheson’s desk.

“I sent for you two hours ago, Courtney. ” Acheson used the same reprimand, and Garry shifted his leg uncomfortably.

“I wasn’t too well this morning, sir. Had to get the doctor in.Acheson fingered his white moustache as he examined the dark circles beneath Garry’s eyes, and the chalky colour of his face. “Sit down,”

he ordered.

Acheson was silent, watching him. But Garry avoided his eyes. He felt brittle from the previous night’s drinking, his skin dry and sensitive, and he fidgeted in the chair, clasping and unclasping the hand that lay in his lap.

“I want one of your men,” Acheson spoke at last.

“Of course, sir, ” Gary nodded.

“That sergeant, Courtney. I want to give him an independent command.

Garry sat very still

“You know who I mean?” Acheson persisted.

“Yes, sir.”

“You should,” Acheson murmured dryly. “I have personally recommended him to you on two occasions for recognition.

He flicked through the sheaf of papers in front of him.

“Yes, sir. ” Garry’s right hand was opening and closing again.

“I notice you took no action on either of my recommendations. ” “No, sir.

“May I ask why?”

“I didn’t have … I didn’t think the occasions merited further action. ” “You thought that my judgement was in error?” Acheson asked politely.

“No, sir. Of course not, sir,” Garry answered quickly.

“Well, then?” Acheson’s eyes were pale blue, but cold.

“I spoke to the man. Congratulated him. After Colenso I gave him leave. ” “Very decent of you, in view of the wounds he received there.

“I didn’t want to … You see, he’s my brother. It was difficult , favouritism. I couldn’t really do much. ” Garry wriggled sideways in his chair, his hands came up pawing the air as though to pluck words from it.

“Your brother? ” Acheson demanded.

“Yes. My brother. “I know him, I know him, you don’t. You can’t have any idea. ” Garry could feel the pattern of his thoughts disintegrating, his voice sounded shrill in his own ear. He had to explain, he had to tell Acheson. “My leg,” he shrilled, “my leg. You see it. Look at it! He did that. He took my leg. You don’t know him. He’s evil. He’s evil, evil. I tell you he’s evil.”

Acheson’s expression had not changed, but his eyes were colder, more watchful. Garry had to reach him and make him understand.

“Anna.” Garry’s lips were wet and blubbery. “My wife, Anna. He did that to her. Everything he touches, you can’t know how he is. I know. He’s evil. I tried, I hoped at Colensobut you can’t destroy him. He is the destroyer. ” “Colonel Courtney!” Acheson’s voice cut into his tirade, and Garry jerked at the crack of it. He covered his lips with his fingers and slowly he subsided into the chair.

“I just want to explain. You don’t understand.”

“I think I do,” Acheson clipped the words short and harsh.

“I am granting you indefinite leave on grounds of ill, health.

“You can’t do that, I won’t resign my commission. ” “I have not asked you to,” Acheson snapped. “I will send the papers to your hotel this afternoon. You can take tomorrow’s train south.”

“But, but, sir, ” “That will be all, Courtney. Thank you.”

Acheson turned his attention once more to his papers.

That afternoon Sean spent two hours with Acheson, then fie returned to Candy’s Hotel and found Saul in the billiard room.

Sean selected a cue. Saul laid both balls against the far cushion, and straightened.

“Well?” he asked, as Sean chalked his stick.

“You’ll never believe it.”

“Tell me, and let me be the judge.”

Grinning secretly Sean cannoned twice and then sank the red.

“From sergeant without portfolio, to a full, blown major and an independent command,” he announced.

“You?”

“Me.” Sean chuckled and missed a cannon.

“They must be crazy.”

“Crazy or not. From now on you will stand in my presence, adopt a respectful tone of speech, and miss that shot.”

Saul missed.

“If you’re an officer and a gentleman why don’t you behave like one and keep your mouth shut when I’m making a play.

“You also have changed your status.

“How?”

“You’re now a lieutenant,” Sean informed him.

“No! “With a gong.

“A gong?”

“A medal, you fool.”

“I’m overcome. I am speechless.” At last Saul broke down and began to laugh. It was a sound which Sean enjoyed. “What kind of gong, and what for?”

“Distinguished Conduct Medal, for the night of the train.”

“But, Sean, you …”

Sean interrupted. “Yes, they gave me one also. Old Acheson got quite carried away. He started hanging medals and promotions on everything that moved, with the same dedicated fervour as a bill, poster putting up advertisements for Bovril. He damned nearly pinned a medal on the orderly who brought in the coffee. ” “He gave you coffee?”

“And a cigar,” Sean answered. “He counted not the cost. It was like two lovers on an assignation. Repeatedly he addressed me as My dear fellow ” “And what is this command he gave you?”

Sean racked his cue and stopped laughing.

“You and I are to head one of the first counter, commandos.

Small, lightly equipped units to ride in and ginger, up the Boer.

Harass him, wear him down, chase the guts out of his horses and keep him moving until he runs on to one of the big columns.”

The following morning they rode out with Major Peterson to inspect the band of volunteers he had assembled for them.

“A mixed bag I’m afraid, Courtney. We’ve scratched together three hundred and fifteen. ” Peterson was gloating a little behind the apology. He had not forgotten that poppycock.

“It must have been difficult,” Sean agreed. “You only had a quarter of a million to choose from. What about officers?”

“Sorry. Only Friedman here. But I have got you an absolute gem.

Sergeant, major. Snaffled him from the Dorsets. Fellow by the name of Eccles. First, class, absolutely first, class.

“And Tim Curtis, the one I asked for?”

“Sorry again. They’ve reopened the gold mines, All engineers are being pulled out and sent back to work.

“Damn it, I wanted him. What about machine, guns?

“Four Maxims. Bloody lucky to get them.”

“Horses?”

“A bit of a struggle, but you can go down to remount and take your pick.

Sean went on relentlessly with his demands and questions during the ride out towards Randfontem. His excitement for the challenge of this venture rose steadily as they argued and talked.

At last he was taking it seriously. He asked the final and crucial question as they trotted past the sentries into the great army camp on the outskirts of Johannesburg.

“Has Acheson decided in which area I will be operating?”

“Yes.” Peterson dropped his voice. “South, east Transvaal.”

“That’s where Leroux is!”

“That’s right. The gentleman who met your train the other day. ” Jan Paulus again!

“Here you are, Courtney.”

A little apart from the main camp stood three lines of white canvas tents. A field kitchen smoked at the far end and around it were clustered Scans warriors.

“My God, Peterson. You said a mixed bag! You’ve robbed the army of cooks and batmen. And what are those, sailors, Be Jesus ” Peterson shared thinly and shifted in the saddle.

“Press, ganged them,” he admitted. “GunDery detail from Repulse.

Ah, here comes your sergeant, major. ” Eccles approached in column of fours; bull, built, black moustache, a few inches over six feet and all of it held stiffly erect.

Peterson introduced them and they appraised each other.

“A right scruffy lot we got here, sir.

“We’ve got a bit of work to do, Eccles.

“That we ‘ave, sir.

“Let’s get started then.” And they glowered at each other in mutual respect and liking.

A week later they were ready to go. Saul had named them “Courtney’s Fighting Scouts.” They were all well mounted, although there were some interesting styles of horsemanship evident, especially among the delegates from the Royal Navy.

By bullying the quartermaster Sean had arrived at a standard uniform similar to that of the Imperial Light Horse; slouch hats, khaki tunics and riding breeches, bandoliers, puttees and issue boots. They had forty fat and healthy pack, mules, four Maxim machine, guns and Eccles had trained teams to serve them.