by Carly Smesh
David rushed to his mortar team and twisted the base of the weapon a little to the left before nodding for them to fire.
The shell landed almost on top of the gunpowder cask by the Russian mortar, exploding it and, in turn, setting off the other casks of gunpowder stacked in a nearby tent. The resulting blast shook even the crest.
The Russian mortar position was obscured by thick smoke and dust. As it cleared, bodies were strewn all over the place, some still displaying life as they tried to drag themselves away from the blast area.
The mortar had been blown over onto its side, with some of the thick timbers that supported it either blown off or smashed.
David sat down as the Ghurkhas cheered. He reached into his saddlebag, removing his flask, and took a long drink, noticing his hand was shaking violently as his adrenaline began to dissipate.
It had been close, he knew. Too close. If the ball had exploded he, along with half the men, would have been killed or wounded.
The Havildar stood in front of him and saluted, "Colonel Sahib, are you sure you were not born a Ghurkha?" he said with a grin. Then his face grew serious, "Sahib, you are wounded," grabbing David as he fell over.
Only then did David feel the pain lancing through him. A bullet had struck him and blood was running down his legs.
He'd never felt it, but now he was suddenly so tired that he struggled to keep his eyes opened as his strength deserted him.
He dimly remembered being lowered into the gorge on a pallet before everything went black.
For four days David's life hung in the balance. On the fifth day, he opened his eyes,
It took a while for his eyes to focus. As they did, he saw a pretty olive-skinned face peering down at him. He tried to open his mouth to talk but his lips seemed fused together.
The girl shook her head at him and placed a damp flannel against his mouth, at the same time twisting around to shout something to someone behind her.
David looked in that direction seeing a figure bent over a table with the head supported by folded arms. The head lifted and he realised it was Susan.
The next moment she was bending over him, her face glowing with relief.
She tenderly raised his head to allow him to drink.
"Where am I?" he mumbled.
"You are at the Pass entrance, in hospital, darling, now rest please."
He shook his head, "No I must get back," he said trying to raise up.
Susan firmly pushed him back, "David there's nothing to get back for. The Afghans have all gone."
He looked confused, "Where? How?"
"David, don't excite yourself. You have been very seriously wounded,and you almost bled to death. Now you have to regain your strength."
David noticed the blood stains on her white smock, "How long have I been here?"
Susan realised he would not rest until he knew some answers, "Four days. The day after you were brought in, there was a big battle at the Cleft. I'm afraid seven of your men were killed and 14 wounded, but after it, the Afghans left."
David's face registered shock at the loss of his men.
"Now if you will eat a little chicken soup, I'll send for Turin or Sultar and they can explain in detail."
David frowned at Sultar's name what was he doing here he thought.
Two hours later he saw Susan talking to both Turin and Sultar at the tent's entrance.
When they walked to his bed he noticed Turin had his left arm in a sling.
Both Officers gave him a salute, with broad grins on their faces.
"It is good to see the Colonel Sahib back amongst us again," Turin said.
David thanked him then asked for a report on what had occured.
Turin explained that, when David had been taken to the hospital, he had sent a pigeon requesting Sultar's presence at the Cleft. He had intended replacing David at the lookout post and wanted Sultar to take over the Cleft guard.
Sultar arrived three hours later, riding the spare horse he had taken with him in anticipation that his first mount would not be able to maintain the pace for the entire trip to the Pass.
Turin continued his report, "Down below, I saw the Afghans were in an angry mood as their chiefs argued with each other. I thought they would leave, but I forgot what a proud people they were, and you had hurt their pride.
"Just before darkness filled the gorge, I saw large bands of them moving up towards the buttress. I fired a rocket over them and saw many hundreds of them filling the area near the Cleft. I order the mortar at the crest position to open fire and signalled the ones in the gorge to fire as well. I gave the Havildar the order to have the men fire down into the gorge and keep the rockets going.
"Before leaving I lit the fuse of the ball you had extinguished and rolled it over the edge. It exploded in the air in the cleft and you could hear the screams of the wounded and roars of rage.
"I started down the path knowing the attack would come from the Cleft, but before I reached the bottom there was an explosion. That's when I got this little scratch."
"A scratch that needed ten stitches to close it," Sultar added.
Turin glared at Sultar before going on with his report, "The explosion had taken us by surprise, killing three of the mortar teams and wrecking two of the mortars. Then a few seconds later there was another explosion, but muffled this time.
"The Afghans were rolling the mortar balls down the cleft after lighting the fuses. The second ball had rolled into a rifle pit where two riflemen were. The sides of the pit took most of the force of the explosion and nothing was found of the riflemen in it.
We were still stunned when the Afghans came charging out of the cleft. It was hard to see in the darkness until Sultar started throwing his grenades. They landed near the entrance slowing down the Afghans. My arm was useless for firing a rifle, so I joined Sultar in throwing them and firing my pistol.
"In places, the men were fighting hand to hand. The men on the other lookout post started dropping grenades down into the Cleft, effectively stopping any more from coming through. It was a scene from hell. The Afghans could not retreat on our side of it, so it was either be shot down or burnt alive.
The battle essentially ended at that point and we gathered up our wounded and dead. Most were caused by the first explosion. The Memsahib would not rest as she treated the wounded, but two died later. Their wounds were too severe for her to save them.
We gathered 289 Afghan bodies up from the camp area and the Cleft the next day. By then the Afghans had left, taking with them the bodies of those who died on their side of the buttress. I examined the Russian mortar. The casting was split. It will never fire again. We also found 36 Russian mortar bomb balls by the buttress. I had them divided between the two lookout posts. They can be lit and rolled over the edge should the Afghans attack again.
"The wounded," David asked, "How bad is it?"
"One has lost an arm, but Memsahib Doctor says he will live. The others are not so bad and all will recover in time."
David looked at the two Officers, "Gentlemen Kana owes you a debt of gratitude for what you achieved."
Turin shook his head, "Colonel Sahib, it is you who is owed the gratitude. When you were brought down on the pallet, the men had to be stopped from rushing through the Cleft to seek revenge on the Afghans. They fought for you that night. Not for Kana, but for you."
Susan came to his bed, "The Colonel Sahib must rest now gentlemen."
"And you must rest too, Memsahib Doctor. You have had none for over three days now,"
Sultar murmured.
Susan pushed a stray strand of hair from her face and nodded tiredly.
Chapter 27
It was another three days before Susan would let him get out of bed for an hour.
As he recuperated, he expressed his alarm about her putting herself so close to the battle by placing the aid station at the entrance to the Pass instead of at the Fort.
"If I had," she replied, sweetly, "you, along with half t
he wounded would be dead by now."
On the fifth day, against her protests, he said he was fit enough to return to the Fort and gave the order to prepare to move. The tents were broken down and the equipment packed, then loaded into carts.
When he emerged from his tent, David found Kahn tied to one of the carts. He whinnied when he saw him and tried to lick his face, as David fondled him. He mounted awkwardly, his chest still bound where the bullet had broken two ribs. Then, with Susan mounted on Tana beside him, they started back slowly, following the carts.
It was late afternoon when the Fort came into sight. The escort had trotted on ahead, but David had been more than content just to let Kahn walk slowly, his chest feeling each step Kahn took.
At the gate, the cart stopped and Susan dismounted, "Go on ahead darling I need to check something," she said.
He passed through the gate and then stopped. His entire command was lined up on parade.
Subedar Major Para roared out the order and, as the entire command came to 'present arms,' he wheeled about and saluted David.
David's throat constricted with emotion as he returned the salute. Then the entire command started cheering throwing their hats into the air.
He managed to dismount by his quarters where Hanga, a huge smile on his face, took charge of Kahn. It was only then that he noticed the Prince and Ashar Kahn standing on his porch watching him.
David stopped and started to bow his head but the Prince took hold of his shoulders,
"You will never bow to me again David," his voice filled with emotion, "it is I who should bow to you."
David tried to protest as the Prince led him inside, placing him in an armchair.
Ashar Kahn handed him a whisky, "My Son, I think you have a need of this," he said, smiling.
David took a sip as the Prince and Ashar sat down with their drinks.
"Your Officers have given me a full report of what happened in the Pass."
Then you must know that my Officers, Turin and Sultar fought the battle, not I Sir."
The Prince chuckled, "Yes, so I heard. You, on the other hand, were apparently distracted putting out burning fuses on Russian mortar bombs or standing in full view of a thousand rifle-firing Afghans while directing the fire of your mortar that destroyed the Russian one. Is that not so?"
David stuttered that the real fight had happened when he was absent.
Ashar Kahn smiled, "My Son, your modesty does you credit. From the tales I have heard from the men who were there, your courage inspired your men. Yours and Memsahib Susan's. She refused to let you die, she stayed by your side for over forty-eight hours. Such a women should be a wife, if a man had sense enough to know."
"I've asked Susan to marry me, but we have to find a priest and I have to get a ring," he protested.
The Prince and Ashar burst out laughing.
"It so happens that a Reverend Makpeiece will be visiting Kana in a week's time, at my invitation. I'm sure he could be prevailed upon to carry out a wedding. As for a ring, I'm sure this would fit," the Prince said, removing a heavy gold ring from his little finger.
"Thank you, Sir," David stammered, "But Susan should pick the ring."
"What makes you think she didn't?" a female voice said.
David twisted around in his seat. Susan was stood in the doorway. She came and sat on the arm of his chair, bending over to kiss the top of his head.
David flushed with embarrassment.
The Prince smiled at them, "So that takes care of the wedding ring, but what of the engagement ring?"
David looked confused, "I...I haven't had time to look for one," he stuttered.
"Of course you didn't. You were far too busy saving my kingdom," the Prince murmured, "See if she would like this one," he said, handing David a velvet bag.
Susan craned her neck to look as he opened the bag and then gasped, inside was a gold ring with a huge blue-white diamond.
He looked at her as he took it out, her eyes were wide and she nodded as he slipped it on her finger. She kissed him and then leapt up and kissed the Prince and Ashar on their cheeks.
The Prince took David to one side as Susan chattered to Ashar.
"My agents have reported the Afghans lost over 500 killed or wounded. It seems the tribal chiefs are not happy with each other, trading allegations of cowardice as the cause of their defeat. This has now triggered old animosities amongst them, resulting in open warfare. Russians have been killed in Kabul for not doing enough to supply and support them. So I think it is safe to say we should have no trouble from that corner for quite a while now."
"That's just as well, Sir. I need to order replacement mortars and shells, as well as more rockets when we get more magnesium."
The Prince smiled, "You also need to visit Susan's parents and seek their approval. So I think a visit back to England for the two of you is in order."
David looked in surprise at the Prince.
"A sea voyage would be ideal for starting a honeymoon, don't you think? But, before your wedding, I need first to honour the men who fought so bravely for this kingdom and its people. I should like you to draw up a list of those who need recognition. We will hold the ceremony at the city to let the citizens know what these brave warriors have done to save them."
The following day David brought up the Prince's instructions at Officers Call.
Turin and Sultar put forward several names of men who had committed various acts of bravery:
The two men who continued to fire their mortar even though their comrades lay dead or dying around them and they themselves were wounded.
The three Ghurkhas who had leapt from their rifle pit to fight hand to hand when a group of Afghans threatened overwhelm them.
The Havildar on the crest whose quick thinking in throwing down grenades into the Cleft halted the Afghan advance.
They also mentioned men who had died in defending their positions against overwhelming odds.
Turin said the Memsahib Doctor should be recognized, along with her assistants.
"They never slept for over three days in order to tend to the wounded. Without them we would have lost more men."
David added Turin and Sultar's name to the list. Then asked Subedar Major Para to write up a report on the events of the battle and dispatch it to the Palace. He knew the award ceremony was scheduled in four days.
He had missed the cremation of the Ghurkhas who had fallen, due to still being in hospital at the entrance of the Pass, but was informed the Prince and Ashar Kahn had been there.
He was slowly getting his strength back, but was under strict orders to report daily to the hospital to have his dressing changed by Susan.
She, along with an assistant, had remained at the Fort to treat the more seriously wounded. He had been upset when she insisted on sleeping in her own bedroom with her assistant,.
"Any exertion by you could open your wounds again and I need you fully healed for the wedding," she had said firmly, adding shyly, "And the honeymoon."
David couldn't help but notice the looks between Turin and the pretty assistant who assisted Susan in dressing his arm. He discovered her name was Shera.
Susan ate with him each evening, Hanga fussing around them.
"Have you decided who is giving you away yet?" He asked her as they relaxed after dinner one night.
She chuckled, "Ashar Kahn has agreed to it. He was so pleased when I asked him."
David laughed, "The Prince said he would have stripped me of my rank if I had not asked him to be my best man."
The day finally came when David, with Susan by his side, rode out of the Fort at the head of his riflemen. Turin came behind at the head of the survivors of the battle. Many, including Turin, still bandaged. Then came Sultar at the head of fifty of the Cobra troop. Behind them, Para and Hanga escorted the wagon carrying those unable to ride, with Shera acting as their nurse.
Crowds thronged the city streets cheering as the riflemen made their way to the Palace.
Peshawar directed David and Susan to a room where the Prince, resplendent in full Maharaja regalia, waited with Ashar Kahn and, David surmised, what could only be the Prince's children.
The eldest, who must have been Yasmin, rushed to Susan to hug her and admire the ring she wore.
The Prince chuckled, "Women and their baubles."
David smiled and started to bow his head when the Prince's voice cracked out, "I have forbidden you ever to bow to me again," he said sternly.
"My apologies, Sir," David replied, chastised.
The Prince smiled at him, "As I have already said, it is I who should bow to you."
He led David to a table and removed the sheet that covered it, "We do not practice the British method of awarding medals for valour. That is something we will change today."
The table contained a mass of gold medallions with a tiger's head on them and suspended from a Lovat green silk neckband. "Every man who fought there will get one today."
He pointed to a another row of decorations, "For extreme service to my country, we have commissioned these, the Khana Cross." They were simple gold crosses, each attached to a rifle made of silver, each again suspended from Lovat Green silk ribbons. Engraved in the centre of each cross was one word: Hero.
Not trusting his voice, David nodded as his eyes became misty. Just a bit of stray dust, he assured himself.
David stood on the rostrum behind the Prince, looking at the ranks of his men arrayed in front of them. Crowds thronged the open plaza.
The Prince began with a brief description of the battle, telling his people how these men, natives of another land, had crushed the Afghan invasion of their country; telling them how some had died and others been seriously wounded in defence of them. Afghans might well have been standing here today, ruling over the kingdome, if not for these men who had risked their lives to protect the citizens of Kana.
Then, one-by-one, the Ghurkhas came forward to receive their medallion, giving a sharp salute to the Prince as they did so, then bowing their heads as he slipped the neckbands over their heads.