Con flew back in. One by one the Dus returned from their leaves. They pushed south following the high ground along the Irrawaddy valley. They moved into Sinlumkaba in early October. Sinlum was located on a nine thousand foot mountain overlooking Bahmo and was the Kachin Headquarters and capital. They pulled in there under orders to rest, reorganize, and recruit. Danny’s force arrived three days after Con’s.
The training and recruiting began. From the mountain top they could see the artillery puffs as the battle for Bahmo by the American-Chinese Forces progressed street by street. In the cool of the evenings they could hear the sounds of the big guns. On October nineteenth the evening message brought shocking news: Stilwell Relieved of Command.
Recruits came from all the Hills. New Americans joined the units to help train and organize. Patrols were sent into China. Lashio and the opening of the Burma Road was the next objective.
Civilian Kachins began to pour into Sinlum. Con and Danny decided to move their main forces out of the town for the severe training program. Sinlum was offering the troops too many diversions. They set up a camp, airstrip, and training area twelve miles from Sinlum. They trained harder than ever. The troops did everything at double time.
Con was placed in overall command. Base wired to keep building the numerical strength. The force swelled to three, then four thousand. It seemed to be getting almost out of control.
The Jap was not the same Jap that had defeated them in the north. The Jap was weak, sick, hungry, and for the first time showed normal, human emotion. He was no longer fanatic. Prisoners came easier. The kick-off was to be in late November. The Kachins asked for a great Manau before their departure south. Permission was granted.
Ten days before the Manau Con’s special patrol to the Karen Hills to locate Gus’s stevedore-agent radioed in that they had located their man. Con flew south in a light plane piloted by a young French Canadian. They landed on a dry river bed in the Karen Hills. They flew the agent first to Sinlum where Doc Travis gave him emergency medical treatment. The agent was then flown to base and safety. The special mission had been accomplished simply, without a hitch.
It was evening at Sinlum. The artillery boomed in the valley. They sat in the living room of a small white cottage that had once been the billet of a British border outpost. The rains were over and the air was clean and crisp at nine thousand feet.
“What do you think about it?” Con was asking Danny. “All the old group; Niven, Danforth, Goodwin, you and I, we’ll act more or less in a headquarters capacity from now on. Turn everything over to the Kachin Subadars and the new Americans. Once the new Americans are broken in, of course. Then we can move around taking over special jobs, and supervising generally.”
“It will almost have to be that way. Do we have enough competent Kachin officers?” Danny asked the Subadar Major.
“For the most part, yes,” Subadar Major Winston Smythe-Churchill said. “It’s the lower, noncommissioned ranks that lack capable men.”
“I have a suggestion,” Nautaung said. “Why not have one or two companies of elite forces. The very best, toughest, fastest men for the hardest jobs.”
“Excellent,” Danny said. “The only reason headquarters wants us big is the threat we’ll pose. I think a couple of good companies on each side of the Road could stir up enough activity anytime as long as the Jap’s knew the larger force was behind them. And we can easily make sure they knew our strength.”
They made the final plans that night. Danny was to cross the Road with two thousand men and swing south on the west side. Con was to stay east with two thousand men. Each would have two companies of elite troops. They would co-ordinate their every activity. The formal meeting broke up and they broke out the laku. There was a fire in the fireplace of the cottage and they were all standing around chatting.
“When are the chaps, Ringa, Niven, and Danforth coming up from the training area?” Danny asked Con.
“I don’t think there’s any reason for them to come here, do you Danny? We can break this camp and join them. Where do they want to hold the Manau?”
“They would like to hold that here,” Nautaung said.
“It would be best,” the white haired Subadar Major said. “This is their capital.”
“Why not?” Danny said.
“We’ll march them up,” Con said. “Better yet, we’ll let them break into dispersal groups and see who can get here the quickest. Twelve miles and only one trail. That would make a good contest.”
“That would be what you say a rat-race,” Nautaung grinned his ancient grin.
“The Dua never misses a chance to get in the training,” the Subadar Major’s eyes sparkled. “That will be a good contest to start the Manau with. We will have a shoot too. I think the shoot should be held in the camp and the prizes awarded here.”
“That is good,” Nautaung said. “But the foot races and the jumping contest should be here before all the families. Some will come a hundred miles to say good-bye to their sons and wish them well.”
“As you like it, Nautaung,” Con said. “Work it out what ever way you wish. You and the Subadar Major. It will be five days from today?”
“Yes, Dua,” Nautaung said.
“I gave the Subadar supply officer five thousand rupees out of the fund,” Danny said. “For purchase of pigs and chickens and laku.”
“Is that enough?” Con asked.
“We can stretch it,” the Subadar Major said.
“Stretch it, hell,” Con said. “Spend all you want. The men deserve it. How much money do you really need, Nautaung?”
“I cannot say for sure. But I will help myself to the fund,” he grinned.
There was a great concentration of artillery in the valley below. They all went out on the porch and looked into the valley. There were fires in the town and flares in the air above the town, and next to the town the Irrawaddy River wandered peacefully, glistening in the moonlight. They watched it for a while then all went back inside.
“Subadar Major,” Danny said, “what is your opinion of this woman that Danforth keeps?”
“What woman?” Con asked.
“Billingsly’s wife. One of them. It came out he had three, well, one of them came to get his effects. A very beautiful girl. Danforth spotted her and she stayed on. He’s sleeping with her. She cooks for him, too,” Danny said.
“All the comforts of home,” Con said.
“I do not think it is bad, Dua Danny,” the Subadar Major said. “I think it is good in a way. To have one of the Dus sleeping with one of bur women. It brings us all closer.”
Nautaung grinned nodding. “She is a fine figure of a woman. I have nothing to say. I do not see where anyone is hurt, however.”
“She has a half-wit brother,” Danny said. “Danforth has been very good to him. He’s fully developed physically but mentally he’s around four or five.”
“Is that why she’s sleeping with him? To get care for the brother?” Con asked.
Nautaung and the Subadar Major grinned.
“She is like a mother to her brother,” Nautaung said.
“Can we help the boy?” Danny asked.
“No,” Nautaung said. “It is hopeless. The missionary priest took him when he was younger to Rangoon. To the expert medical doctor. There is nothing. Like the Du Lau’rel he is in a different world.”
They all had another drink and then the Subadar Major and Nautaung left. Con put another log on the fire and sat down on the floor across from Danny.
“That was a fine suggestion by Nautaung,” Danny said. “About the elite troop.”
“Everybody changes,” Con said. “Everybody but the old man. He is like the mother to end all mothers. Quiet, loving, and always there.”
“I hope I’m like him in my next life,” Danny said. “At least partly like him.”
Con grinned. “How have you gotten along with Danforth?” he asked.
“Wonderfully. Oh, I don’t believe he really cares for me the wa
y he puts on. I think that’s just an underlying way of getting at you. He’s really got it in for you, I’m afraid.”
“His bark’s bigger than his bite,” Con said. “You can’t blame him. I went over his service record at base. He’s been kicked in the ass all his life.”
“A lot of people have. Ringa certainly has.”
“Ringa’s one in a million,” Con said. “I’ve learned a lot from Ringa.”
“He’s ambitious,” Danny said. “Very ambitious.”
“Is there anything wrong with that?”
“Not at all. Not the way he’s going at it. I hope he gets what he wants.”
“He’ll work for it. He’ll work his ass off for it whatever it is.”
“I saw the Subadar Major La Bung La at base,” Danny said. “I really think losing his arm did him a lot of good.”
“I do too,” Con smiled. “But don’t say that around people or they’ll put us both in the bug-house.”
“I took him to the Colonel’s house for dinner. He was highly flattered. He told me what happened.”
“What did he tell you?” Con said surprised.
“That he chickened out.”
“That’s hard to believe isn’t it?” Con brushed his goatee with the back of his hand. The new log was burning fully and he slid away from the fire a few feet.
“He’s got it licked now,” Danny said. “He knows it, too.”
“I’m going to get married after this campaign. Will you be there and stand for me.”
“I’d be highly flattered, old boy,” Danny said. “Did permission come through?”
“No. But it will,” Con said inhaling slowly of the cigarette, seeing the reflection of the fire in Danny’s monocle. “Colonel Piccolo’s going to fix it for me.”
“You met him?” Danny said. “You didn’t?”
“I sure as hell did. It’s torture ain’t it?”
“You bloody bastard. They pledged you not to tell me, didn’t they?”
“Yes. But we talked about you. He knows you. And you know him. And that’s all your getting from me.”
“You’re getting mean as hell lately. And enjoying it. You might at least drop a little hint, you know.”
“Oh no. You’re not going to con me out of this, Danny boy. Not this time.”
The porch door slammed and Bill Goodwin walked in with the evening message. Con read it his mouth twisting into a half cynical grin.
“They’re sending in a Staff officer from Delhi to inspect us tomorrow. Inspector General’s Department,” Con said. “They moved him in on the Colonel so fast he couldn’t stop it.”
“This is it then,” Danny said. “You can’t drop your guard for a second in this show.”
“We’ve got no Uncle Joe Stilwell to protect our asses now,” Con said.
“Any reply?” Bill Goodwin said. He was tall and blond and twenty years old. He had a child’s complexion and little boy blue eyes; very athletic. The side of one cheek stuck out from a large wad of chewing tobacco.
“Sit down, Goodie. This will take some doing,” Con said.
“Is this guy one of them that’s trying to take over our outfit?” Bill Goodwin asked.
“That’s what we’re led to believe. At least the Colonel inferred in his message that he was one of them. And Ray Pearson usually doesn’t make blind inferences.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Danny said. “It’s not cricket but it might work. We’d have to get down to the training area and have the Inspector meet us there instead of here.”
Danny quickly summarized his plan. They drafted a reply. They asked that the visiting lieutenant-colonel meet them at the training area rather that at Sinlum. They said there had been a sudden rain and the Sinlum strip was not fit for a landing. Danny and Con got up at three A.M. and walked to the training area. They went immediately to the headquarters basha and laid Danny’s plan out to Niven who was to execute it.
Lieutenant-Colonel Russell arrived at noon. He was a compact, medium sized man with a well broken nose and leathery skin. He had on freshly pressed uniform, garrison cap, and paratroop boots so highly polished you could see your reflection in them. He was thirtyfour years old, and wore campaign ribbons from the European theatre.
Danny and Con greeted him. They took him to their basha for lunch. The half-Colonel wasted no time informing them of the tactics he had used in North Africa when he was a combat officer there. Toward the end of the meal there was a great deal of firing to the north. Danny and Con didn’t say anything. The half-Colonel finally asked them what it was. Con said probably from the firing range. Danny said very nonchalantly that if it wasn’t from the firing range it was a Jap patrol. He told Lieutenant-Colonel Russell that patrols were hitting them regularly, and at night usually infiltrated. Con added that it was merely a nuisance activity. No real threat.
The half-Colonel was highly intrigued with the camp. You could tell that he thought it was all very romantic. He began to question them on tactics but before they could reply he would state his theory on how he would do it. He had taken the advanced infantry course at Fort Benning, he said, and had learned quite a few things about guerrilla tactics. He had been in tanks for a while too, and visualized how Con and Danny might put tanks to good use. Danny and Con were very attentive and considerate, praised his thoughts, and had a hell of a time trying not to laugh in his face.
In mid-afternoon the half-Colonel, attempting to be very subtle, asked to see their books on funds. They had expected this and were more than happy to show him. When he opened the master ledger he found all the writing to be in Burmese. He asked them to explain and they said that neither one of them could read it. He called for the accountant. They introduced Nautaung as the accountant but Nautaung did not speak English. Con translated Nautaung’s Kachin, then Con would turn to the half-Colonel and tell him the question was a little off key when you put it into Burmese, would he please re-phrase it. Finally the half-Colonel gave up on the books.
They had dinner outside the headquarters basha. During dinner Doc Travis came up and was introduced. He talked about the four men that had been bayoneted during last night’s infiltration. Niven came in hurriedly and said that one of their outposts had reported another Japanese column approaching the training area. Con and Danny ate on completely unconcerned. There was periodic firing from all around the perimeter of the camp. The Subadar Major came in with a Jap helmet and some papers. They had just killed the Jap near headquarters supply, he said. Con gave the papers to the half-Colonel asking him if he would be kind enough to turn them over to base.
Con, Danny, the Subadar Major, Nautaung, and Ringa, and the half-Colonel went to sleep in the basha. The basha was built on posts about eight feet off the ground and had a high grass ceiling. They weren’t in bed, in their sleeping bags, over a half-hour when heavy firing started very close by. Tracer bullets began to fly through the basha roof.
“I say, Con, I suppose we’d better get down in the foxholes under the basha.”
“Let’s,” Con said. “Come on, Colonel. I guess a few of them got through,” he said nonchalantly.
They had long slit trenches under the basha. Niven came running up. There’s about fifty Japs right here in the headquarters he said, then disappeared.
Niven seeing that they were all in the trenches returned to his Kachins about fifty yards away. They sent tracers screaming into the basha. The roof caught on fire. Niven’s group began to throw grenades all around. He had four of the men begin to scream: “Banzai. Banzai. American-Kachin you die.” Then Niven had a few of the Kachins scream as if wounded, then they began to fire under the basha about three feet over the slit trenches.
Back in the slit trench the Subadar Major and Nautaung delightedly feigned sleep. Con leaned against the edge of the trench smoking a cigarette. Danny was acting as lookout.
“I keep watch for the first hour,” Danny said casually. “You can go to sleep, too, Colonel Russell. By all means don’t raise your head over th
e trench. They’re just a few yards away and can see your silhouette, you know.”
“I’ll take the second shift,” Con said.
“You’re going to sleep?” the Colonel asked dazedly.
“If you let this keep you awake every night you couldn’t do your job, you know,” Danny said.
The firing continued on. The basha roof smoked and burned in places. In the distance flares were going off. About four in the morning the firing stopped. When the dawn came there was Japanese equipment scattered all over the area. After the Inspector half-Colonel had gotten a good look at it Con ordered it cleaned up. In half-hour the area was spic and span. Niven came in and said they had buried five Japs.
The half-Colonel was white. Doctor Travis thought he might possibly be in a state of shock. He took his blood pressure. It was way up. He told the half-Colonel that he thought he had been working too hard. He suggested an immediate rest. The half-Colonel agreed that his health hadn’t been too good. They radioed base for a plane. The Colonel flew out a little after noon. Con and Danny told them how sorry they were he couldn’t stay longer, they were very anxious to hear about the African campaign. The Colonel said he thought they were doing a magnificent job and would see that a record was made of that fact. His plane took off.
“He’s never heard a shot fired in anger before,” Con said.
“I don’t think so either. But how did he get all those bloody ribbons?”
“That’s what they give you when they want to get rid of you in the American Army,” Niven said. “Brother. And there wasn’t a Jap within fifteen miles of us.”
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