by J W Murison
Although this was familiar territory and the creatures of the night talked louder to me here than they ever had over there, they told me quite categorically that I was the only person around. I pretended that I might not be and sent my combat senses foraging out into the night in search of those who would do me harm.
I searched all the rivers again and again. Eventually with dawn’s first light I headed home. I’d exhausted myself but at least I hadn’t been fretting over what might or might not be. I found everyone had finally gone to bed except for those men of my old company who had sat and waited up for me. I was handed a dram and we spent the next two hours sitting reminiscing about our days in the war. When I finally went to bed I fell instantly asleep and never rose until midday.
Chapter 33
It was children running around the halls on a journey of exploration that finally woke me. I smiled thinking how nice it would be if they were mine, but quickly pushed the thought to the back of my mind.
I fell in line with the children as they were called to dinner. The hall went quiet as I entered. I gave a nod of recognition and things resumed. There was still a lot of meat from the previous day, fresh bread had been baked and there was soup too.
I took a bowl and sat with the children, soaking the bread in the soup first in the traditional manner. The children laughed at me. They had never seen the Laird dip his bread before. I realised Robyn must have been up early as I savoured the taste of her bread. The soup was definitely Connie’s. After dinner people quickly took themselves away. The only ones not affected by the oppressive atmosphere were the children.
I scratched my head as the Doctor appeared with Mrs. Fox. She was looking flushed and happy and if possible 5 years younger as she hung on his arm. I raised an eyebrow at him; he flushed and moved a little nervously. Mary saw the direction of his gaze, blushed, made her excuses and hurried off, running straight into Fiona McDonald who positively hissed at her.
Mary straightened herself and gave it to her straight between the eyes. I couldn’t hear the words but Fiona reeled back as if she’d been slapped. Mary left, looking for her family, no doubt with her head held high.
‘Opps,’ stated the Doctor watching the same scene as I was.
‘Anything happening here I should know about, Doctor?’
‘Not unless you’re privy to people’s private affairs.’
‘Anything that concerns a member of this Glen is my affair, Doctor.’
He flushed an even deeper red. ‘Yes of course I’m sorry. I ehhmm …’
My face split into a grin. ‘There’s no need to go into details, Doctor. It was pretty obvious yesterday you two had hit it off, and if I may be as bold it’s pretty obvious you spent the night together. I meant about Fiona and Mary.’
‘I’m afraid they had words last night after you left.’
‘I see.’
‘I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what about.’
‘I have already had a personal dose of Fiona. I’m sure she tried the same thing on you and Mary.’
‘I’m afraid so, but as Mary pointed out to her we are not you or Robyn and shall do as we damn well please. Our interests are our own and no-one’s business but our own, neither did she care what anyone else in the Glen thought of us and she wasn’t going to let an embittered old hag like Fiona get in the way of her happiness.’
I grinned, ‘ah well that’s all right then.’
He frowned. ‘It is?’
‘Och aye, there’s no respectable man in the Glen who will get involved in a personal catfight between two women. Just remember to keep your opinions to yourself around the men. Let them fight it out. Personally I wouldn’t give a damn for Fiona’s chances.’
He nodded. ‘Thank you Alasdair. I’ll remember that.’
I bumped into Robyn in the hall as I searched for John. Her eyes shone as they looked into mine; I could see tears behind them.
‘Don’t cry Robyn. Is there still room for hope in your heart?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then hold it in as tightly as I am.’
‘You mean until the General arrives?’
‘Yes.’
‘What do we do in the meantime?’
I grasped her to me and her nails dug into my back. ‘Pray as hard as I am.’ I kissed her lightly on the lips and went off about my business.
The next few days passed slowly and there was an air of despair in the Glen. Although many of the men sympathized with me on a personal level, I’m sure they kept their mouths shut when they were at home. There was nothing they could do about it.
I found every wakened minute an agony that’s hard to describe. Often during the war I’d come across men who could no longer cope with the stress of war and had taken their own lives. I had always been filled with scorn for those men, but now I finally realised the depths of despair a man could fall into.
Throughout those days Robyn was never far from my side. Her constant presence was such sweet agony, and occasionally when we could no longer stand the strain we slipped away to some quiet wee spot and held one another for a few minutes. Those precious moments kept me sane but only built up the hunger we felt for one another. I knew if I slipped into her room at night she would not turn me away, but I had promised her father.
The only real good news was the General was taking me up on my offer straight away and was due to arrive on Saturday. On Wednesday fate took hold of the people of the Glen and gave them a really good shake.
Chapter 34
John and I were sitting in my study when the walkie-talkie crackled to life.
‘Post one to the Laird, come in.’
I snatched it up off the floor. ‘Aye, go ahead Jock.’
‘Sir, we have a truck sneaking its way up the Glen.’
‘Do you think it’s the poachers Jock?’
‘Six men I can make out and their faces are blackened. I also saw what looked like a rifle in one man’s hand. I’d say it was the poachers.’
I looked at John and realised he was feeling the same sweep of emotions I was. Action; the heart pounding call to put your life on the line. I suddenly felt good again and couldn’t stop the grin that spread over my face.
‘I hear once again the call to action John Buchanan, will you take my side?’
He burst out laughing. ‘Not even you could stop me Alasdair.’
I pressed the receiver. ‘Everyone hold their positions, we’re on our way. Do not engage them unless it looks like we’re not going to arrive on time. I want a report from every post as they reach you.’
We quickly loaded up our faithful 303s and packed away some spare magazines. As we rushed for the door Connie called us back. We only stopped for a moment to quickly explain what was happening. We left the women, their faces bloodless on the doorstep.
I barley felt the ground pass beneath my feet as we rushed to battle once again. Every few minutes one of the sentries called in and guided us to those men who were the biggest threat to the Glen in centuries.
Halfway there the Doctor came on the spare set in the castle, ‘Alasdair, Connie’s just told me what’s happening. She’s called the police. Shouldn’t you wait for them?’
‘These men use arsenic Doctor. By the time they get here every fish and half the river for miles will be dead. They are also armed, the police aren’t. Don’t worry, we’re professionals, remember?’
‘I understand, is there anything I can do?’
‘Just stand by in case we need you, hopefully we won’t.’
‘Do you have a first aid kit anywhere in the house?’
‘We have a half dozen or so surgical packs somewhere; I think Connie knows where they are.’
‘I do,’ she shouted down through the airwaves. I saw John smile at the sound of her voice.
‘I’ll be ready just I case I'm needed,’ he reassured.
‘Thank you Doctor. Let’s hope you won’t.’
‘It’s nice to know though, isn’t it?’ John voiced his opinio
n.
I just happened to agree with him. ‘Aye it is. Mind, no heroics, we’re not in the army now.’
‘Hah! Listen to who’s talking,’ he barked.
‘Ok this is far enough. Let’s stop and cam up.’
We took a few precious minutes to darken our faces and hands then set off again. Our hope was to intercept them before they could dump their deadly load into the river. It looked like we were going to manage it too.
Two men had jumped off the truck and started to lay nets. The others were forced to abandon the truck and manhandle the drums further up the river on makeshift stretchers. I came to Graham Mc Donald’s position.
‘Can you see them lad?’
I could almost see him blush. He was well aware of what his mother had said to me, but I had no intentions of taking it out on the lad.
‘Yes Sir, they’re over there, just coming round the bend.’
I addressed John, ‘It’s as we thought, those look like the men who were staking out the river.’
‘Aye,’ he agreed ‘and that means they should stop directly below us.’
I turned on young Graham, ‘stay here; do not follow us down. If you see anything happen to us, make sure the men have left before you approach. Do you understand?’
‘Yes Sir.’
‘Good man,’ I slapped him lightly on the shoulder.
I got on to the walkie-talkie. ‘Ok, everyone move into your final positions. You know what to do if there’s any firing.’ I switched the radio off. It wouldn’t be switched on again until after we had caught them.
John moved out first, I followed five paces behind as we moved noiselessly through the undergrowth. They had chosen a nice open spot to lay their poison. Unusual, but it was the best point in the whole river to do it. The water was quite shallow here and they would get an even distribution. Besides, it would only take them five minutes to anchor the barrels on the riverbed, puncture them and leave. We had to stop them before they did that.
We took up our positions and waited. John was about ten yards away. It wasn’t long before they showed up. I noticed immediately the discipline of the group. One of them moved forward first and did a quick ‘recce’ of the clearing, but not thorough enough.
It was immediately apparent to me they were ex soldiers, but they had been too long away from the war. It didn’t mean they weren’t dangerous though, on the contrary, it made them twice as dangerous.
They moved into the open and laid the stretchers down. I could make out four small barrels, two on each stretcher. Heavy gloves were being donned. This was the moment. I had to force saliva into my mouth as it had dried up.
‘Stop what you’re doing and put your hands in the air.’
Their answer was swift. Fire lanced into the night as they opened up on us.
‘Shit!’ I cursed as I rolled away from the position I’d been in as automatic fire laced it. The sound of a Thompson sub machine gun was unmistakable. Soon there were three of them sweeping the bushes we lay in and the cold crack of a rifle.
I raised my head just in time to see one of the men get smashed off his feet as a round from John hit him square in the face. Yelling with fright they dived for cover. I sighted on one and fired. There was a yelp of pain but he kept firing. I ducked again as their fire swept from John’s position to mine. There was a scream of agony as John finished off the man I’d wounded and then to my horror came the thunk of 45 calibre slugs slamming home into someone’s chest nearby.
The darkness of my breed welled up from my soul and with a below of rage I snapped off a shot. It took off the head of the last Thompson gunner and then I took to my feet and charged. The rifleman tried to scramble away, but there was no mercy in my heart this night. A round from my rifle smashed in to his side and to my surprise another round caught him right in the heart. I spun to find John on his feet, rifle in the aim and as steady as a rock only a few yards away.
I didn’t understand it. We approached one another slowly, both frightened by what we might find.
‘John are you fine?’
‘Aye Alasdair you?’
‘Christ aye,’ both of us burst out laughing with relief. There was, I’ll admit, a little back slapping too. ‘So what happened back there? I thought you were hit.’
‘No I thought you were. I could swear I heard a round hit you in the chest.’
I shook my head. ‘No it wasn’t me.’
A thought occurred to both of us at the same time, John voiced it, ‘then who was it Alasdair?’
Fear surged through me. ‘Go look. I’ll check this lot.’
They were all dead. I could hear firing in the distance and switched the radio back on.
John shouted, ‘Alasdair quick.’
I ran over and found him leaning over the body of the young Mc Donald. The lad had taken a burst straight in the chest.
I knelt beside John who was applying a compress to the wound. I could see it was bad. There was no point in asking why the lad had followed us down against orders, the facts were he had and now he was badly injured. I went and fetched one of the stretchers, rolling the barrels off on to the grass. I took my jacket off and laid it over the canvas.
‘Give me your jacket John. We don’t want to risk any arsenic getting on him. I did the same with his. Together we gently lifted the lad on to it.
The shooting stopped. The silence was ominous. I got on to the radio, ‘Tam what’s going on?’ I’d put Black Tam in charge of ambushing the men at the truck.
The radio crackled to life. ‘We’ve captured both of them.’
‘Ok leave two men with them until the police arrive, I need runners over here. We have a wounded man.’
There was a moment’s hesitation. ‘One of the poachers Sir?’
‘No Tam, they’re all dead, one of ours.’
Connie’s voice screeched down the radio, ‘John John …’ I’d forgotten for a moment they were listening.
He snatched the walkie-talkie from me. ‘Connie I’m fine, it’s Graham Mc Donald, now please get off the line darling.’
‘Yes I’m sorry.’
The Doctor’s voice took over. ‘How serious is it Alasdair?’
‘Very, he’s taken a burst from a 45 calibre in the chest. It looks like the right lung is punctured. It’s close to the heart but missed it clean I think. No sign of any exit wounds, Doctor. They’re all still in there. Is anyone else hurt?’ I asked all in general. Every station reported in the negative.
‘At least that’s something,’ I told John as we sorted ourselves either side of the stretcher.
I keyed the radio once more. Station 7 was on the other side of the river where he had a panoramic view of the whole area. I sent him to get Fiona.
We took the strain and started off as quickly as we could. We hadn’t got far before the first men began to reach us. We took it in relays. Each had been with us in the services and needed no telling what to do. We picked up the pace, running now, passing the stretcher from hand to hand on the move without breaking stride. I was as proud of them that day as I’d ever been.
Chapter 35
The Doctor was waiting and took immediate charge. Connie had thrown herself in to John’s arms. I leaned myself against the hall table gasping for breath. I looked up to find Robyn staring in horror at me.
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked feeling a bit put out that I wasn’t on the receiving end of a big hug.
She pointed, ‘Alasdair your arm.’
‘Oh!’ My right sleeve was drenched in blood. I hadn’t even noticed it. I’d taken a round through my sleeve and received a small flesh wound. I realised it was the anaesthetic affects of the adrenalin rush that had preventing me from feeling it. I also knew that now I knew about it, it was going to start hurting.
‘Damn it, I must be getting old, catching one like that.’ Robyn had turned pale. ‘Don’t worry,’ I told her flexing my arm, ‘it can only be a wee flesh wound. I’ve had heaps of them. It will be all right in a few days.
’
Suddenly she burst into tears and flung herself into my arms sobbing. ‘I thought you’d been hurt seriously. You’d better let father look at it.’
‘Just as soon as he’s finished with young Graham. Until then do you think you could find me a bandage?’ I wiped away a tear from her beautiful face.
‘Yes ok,’ she hurried to comply.
I sighed with relief. At least it occupied her for a few minutes and let me check upon young Mc Donald. The Doctor had almost finished his examination. ‘How is he?’
‘Not good, I’ll need to operate almost straight away, but I need blood. Have you any idea of his blood type?’
‘None, we don’t have blood transfusion gear anyway.’
‘I’ve managed to rig something up with glass jars and some tubing and a syringe I found. They are all in the kitchen sterilizing.’
‘We need to get him off this stretcher. It was used for transporting arsenic.’
‘I’ve scrubbed down the gunroom table and covered it. Let’s get him through there.’
Two of the men grabbed the stretcher and we all went through.
‘Are there any of the men here O’ negative?’
‘Aye, John and myself for starters, I’ll ask the rest here then on the radio. You might end up with half the Glen here. I think most of the men from the Glen are.’
‘That’s good, but I can’t take yours, you’ve been wounded.’
‘That’s nothing,’ I reassured. ‘There’s more where that came from and I don’t think you have much of a choice at the moment, do you?’
He grimaced. ‘No I don’t suppose I do.’
The gunroom table was covered in a white sheet. A number of the surgical packs were carefully laid out. Our two stretcher-bearers lifted him onto the table.
‘Go back for those arsenic drums,’ I told them, ‘I don’t want them left beside the river in case they leak.’ They rushed off to do my biding.
‘Were any of those two O’ negative?’ the Doctor asked.