After a few moments, the door opened again, and the rissaldar beckoned them inside.
The first thing Jack noticed was the mixture of European and Indian styles that made up the vast room. The next was the array of tulwars and Brown Bess muskets decorating the wall and the Commander-sahib sitting behind a teak bureau at the end of the room.
The Commander-sahib beckoned them closer and dismissed the rissaldar with a casual wave.
Mary salaamed politely, while Jack stood to attention, purely out of habit while in the company of a superior officer. Batoor was a few paces behind, right leg forward and his hand on the hilt of his tulwar. The Commander-sahib leaned back and contemplated them through narrow eyes, while the single ruby in the centre of his turban reflected the light that poured through the windows.
Mary spoke first, saying that she had brought two possible recruits for the Rajah's army.
'Enough of that nonsense,' the Commander-sahib interrupted her in gruff English. 'Don't perjure your soul with a lot of lies. You were taught better than that at the missionary school, Mary Lambert.'
It was the first time Jack had seen Mary truly astonished. 'Do you know me?' she asked at last.
'I do.' The Commander-sahib seemed pleased that he had caught her by surprise. 'And I knew your father, Major Lambert of the Bengal Fusiliers.'
'Oh!' Mary put a hand to her mouth. 'How did you know him?'
'The Fusiliers were based at Gondabad for a season or two,' the commandant-Sahib said. 'I don't know this Pathan fellow.'
'I am Batoor.'
'One name and no history,' the Commander-sahib said. 'There is a long untold story there, I wager. Whose throat have you cut, my man, or whose daughter have you ravaged to bring the wrath of the clan on you?'
The wrath of the clan? What Indian, however educated, would use that type of language? This man is indeed British.
Batoor smiled. 'It is better than I do not go back home for a while,' he said.
'And you.' The Commander-sahib eventually looked directly at Jack. 'I always wondered how you would turn out. I heard about your arrival with the 113th, although why you are with that bunch of blackguards and ne'er-do-weels, I can't imagine.'
'It's a long story.' Jack didn't wish to say too much until he knew more about this man. 'We have come to ask your advice, sir.' “I always wondered how you would turn out.” What the devil does that mean?
'Have you now?' The Commander-sahib scratched his head under the turban. 'Well, I have a proposal for you, Captain Jack Baird Windrush, and as I considerably outrank you in both seniority and years, I will say my piece first.'
'Yes, sir.' Jack couldn't restrain his curiosity. 'How do you know who I am, sir?'
'You'll damn well listen to me first, boy!' the Commander-sahib snapped.
'Yes, sir.'
'I am in command of the Rajah's army,' the Commander-sahib said. 'As such, I train it, equip it and discipline it.'
Jack wondered if he should comment. 'Yes, sir.'
'My knowledge is thirty years out of date,' the Commander-sahib said. 'I need an officer with recent experience of British equipment and tactics. That could be you.'
Jack stared at him. 'I am an officer of the British Army, sir. I will not renounce my allegiance to Her Majesty.'
The Commander-sahib continued as if Jack hadn't spoken. 'I can offer you a position for life, taking over command from me after I die, with unlimited power and as many women as you desire.'
Jack knew that Mary was watching him. 'I have no desire for unlimited power, sir, and no desire for a harem of women.'
The Commander-sahib rested both hands on the top of his desk. 'I could have you killed,' he mused. 'I could have you trampled to death by elephants, thrown from the highest tower or blown from a cannon's mouth.'
'I am sure you could, sir.' Jack tried not to quail before the Commander-sahib's range of possible executions.
'I won't, of course,' the Commander-sahib mused. 'Damn it; one does not treat one's own family that way.'
Jack said nothing until he absorbed the full impact of the words. 'I am sorry, sir. I don't understand.'
'I think you do, Jack. Might I call you Jack? You are my grandson, after all.'
'Oh, dear God.' Jack stared at the Commander-sahib in disbelief. 'Who are you?'
'I am the Commander-sahib of his majesty, the Rajah of Gondabad. In a previous life, I was Major Jack Baird of the Bengal Fusiliers. I am your grandfather, Jack.'
'Oh, dear God.' Jack could only stand and stare at the old man. 'Oh, dear God in heaven.' He felt Mary's arm slide into his and was glad of her support. 'How did that happen?'
'The usual way,' Baird said. 'Man meets woman—'
'No, I mean, how did you become Commander of the Rajah's army? How long have you been here?'
'I was stationed here with the Fusiliers,' Baird said, 'and I loved the place and the people. The old Rajah, the present Rajah's father, offered me the position and I took it, about thirty years ago.'
Jack tried to work out the timeline. 'My grandmother? When did you meet her?'
'Long before that, Jack. I met her when I was in the Company's employ. We were together for years, it was no fly-by-night affair. We were legally married; such things between Briton and Indian were much more common then, than they are now.' Baird was smiling; his eyes warm as they probed Jack's. 'She was the reason I left the Company's employ, you see. The regiment was posted to Calcutta, and I wished to stay here, so when the old Rajah offered me the post, I took it.'
'My mother?'
'Your grandmother and I decided it would be better for her to grow up within the British sphere. The British star was on the ascendancy. It tore your grandmother's heart to hand her over.'
Jack nodded. Most British residents in India sent their children 'home' to be educated for much the same reason. Life was hard for British families in India.
My grandfather. This man is my grandfather. Jack's mind whirled with the new knowledge. I have this man's name. Dear God, help me. I knew that I felt at home in India and now I have more family here.
'We will talk about family matters later,' Baird said. 'You must know that I've been searching for you for some time. I gave out the word that nobody was to harm you.' His smile revealed perfect teeth. 'I even offered a reward if somebody could bring you to me, unharmed.'
Jack remembered the naik saving his life and the attempt to kidnap him, as well as Jayanti's surprising behaviour. 'I wondered what was happening,' he said. 'But other British prisoners have been murdered.'
Baird nodded. 'They are not my grandsons.'
'You are British,' Jack reminded. 'Don't you have any loyalty to Her Majesty?'
'My wife was Indian,' Baird said gently. 'My only daughter was half Indian. My grandson is part Indian. My employer is Indian. I have many more Indian than British friends. Am I more British or Indian? Who means more to me? Loyalty is not something to be assumed, taken for granted, or based on place of birth. Out here, whoever pays the most buys allegiance, while friendship has to be earned.' He glanced at Batoor. 'Our Pathan companion dances to a different tune with his loyalty to his clan.'
Jack remembered Colonel Hook saying something similar about money. 'I presume that the Rajah of Gondabad is in the pay of the rebels, then? Does Jayanti or Nana Sahib pay his wages?'
'The Rajah is neither for nor against Britain,' Baird said. 'Nana Sahib has little money. Oh, Nana taxes the lands he travels through, and his men rob the rich merchants, but he lost the loot of Lucknow, and when Campbell chased him out of Bareilly, he had no time to rob the treasury. My Rajah is waiting to see who is the stronger, and he will join that side. Like many out here, he is a pragmatist.'
'Jayanti and the rebels are sheltering in his fort,' Jack reminded.
'Yes,' Baird said, 'and if Sir Colin Campbell arrived, the Rajah would also give shelter to the British. You will notice that you're still alive, and the Rajah has confined the rebels – as you term them – to one area of
the fort. My Rajah has not chosen yet, and although his army is small – well, three thousand well-trained men might turn a battle.'
'That is true,' Jack agreed. 'So the Rajah could be persuaded to join us?'
'He could,' Baird said. 'If the Company came up with a sizeable pension and could be trusted to keep its word.'
'I cannot promise a pension, but perhaps the British could muster up a single large payment,' Jack said, his mind working furiously. 'Perhaps the British could find payment enough to buy the Rajah and ransom the British prisoners from Jayanti.' He was aware of Mary staring curiously at him and continued, recklessly. 'Would that do the trick?'
Baird's smile was slow. 'It might. How would the British manage to find such a payment in the middle of a war?'
'I'm not certain that they could,' Jack said, 'but I think it might be worth trying.' He paused and held the old man's gaze. It had been a shock to meet his grandfather, and he hadn't yet analysed how he felt. 'The longer I take, the more chance there is that Jayanti will tire of the prisoners and kill them off.' He grunted. 'I'm surprised she has kept them so long.'
'Thank the Rajah for that,' Baird said. 'He was angry when Jayanti decapitated so many of the prisoners.'
Jack gave a slow nod. 'If I'd been a better chess player, more men would be alive today.' He knew that Mary was confused.
Baird nodded. 'Jayanti enjoys her little games.'
Now that the idea was in Jack's mind, he wished to get started. 'Commander-sahib… grandfather.' He paused. 'What should I call you?'
'Whatever you wish,' Baird said.
Jack avoided the issue. 'Thank you for your help, sir,' he said. 'I will leave at once, with your permission.'
'I've searched for you for years, Jack, and now you wish to run away?'
'Duty calls, sir,' Jack said.
'Wait!' Mary put a hand on Jack's arm. 'Commander-sahib. My father – could you tell me about him?'
'Next time, perhaps, Mary,' Baird said. 'Your man lacks his mother's patience. He is a soldier.'
Only when Jack left the room did he wonder if he would ever see the Commander-sahib again. He wished he'd spent more time with the old man. No. Jack pushed that thought aside. I have my duty to do. I have to try to save as many of the 113th as I can and persuade the Rajah to support the British. My desires must take second place to my duty as an officer of the Queen.
Chapter Fifteen
Elliot shook his head when he heard Jack's news. 'Your grandfather is the Rajah's military commander? We can surely use that.'
'Only if the Rajah decides to join us,' Jack said. 'If the Rajah is on our side, Jayanti and her warriors can't stay in the fort.'
'What's your plan, Jack?'
'Do you remember back at Lucknow, when Riley and Logan were absent for a while and Sergeant Greaves reported them?'
'I remember,' Elliot said. 'You caught them swimming, as I recall.'
'That was their story. Now, you and I know Riley better than that. He was after something more interesting than a face full of Indian river water.'
Elliot nodded. 'I thought it strange at the time.'
'Cast your mind back to when Campbell evacuated Lucknow, and there was a convoy of tumbrels and wagons carrying treasure and the crown jewels.'
Elliot glanced at Mary. 'I remember. We were a bit busy, what with escorting the civilians out of the city.' He didn't mention that Jack's mother had died during the evacuation.
'Riley and Logan disappeared for a while there, as well,' Jack said.
'I can't remember that.'
Jack saw that Mary was listening intently. She had been in a convoy of refugees, easing out of the besieged Residency while the outnumbered British tried to fend off the mutineers and rebels.
'At the same time, an entire treasure wagon went missing,' Jack said. 'Thirty-seven wagons left the city, and only thirty-six arrived safely. I had more important matters on my mind at the time.' Jack didn't refer directly to the death of his mother. That was still an intensely painful memory.
'Do you think Riley and Logan stole it?' Mary asked.
'I do,' Jack said. 'That's why they returned to the river a few weeks ago.'
'What are you planning, Captain Jack?' Mary narrowed her eyes.
'The Rajah of Gondabad might be bribed. The British prisoners, our men of the 113th, can be ransomed and we may know the location of a treasure wagon,' Jack said. 'Put them all together, and we can do a power of good.'
'There is a huge step from pure speculation to fact,' Mary cautioned.
'Would it not be better to ask Sir Colin first?' Elliot asked. 'Or even Colonel Hook? We're taking a lot of responsibility dabbling in such things.' He hesitated. 'If it comes out that we acted without authority from above, it won't do our careers much good.'
'Sir Colin is the best general in the army,' Jack agreed, 'but he's not renowned for his speed. He would as likely send a full expedition to find the wagon or rescue the prisoners, and by that time, it would be too late. As for Hooky – I beg your pardon, Colonel Hook – where is he? He jumps around so much.'
'With fifty of us, we'll make better time than Sir Colin.' Elliot looked worried.
'I'm not taking fifty men,' Jack said. 'This is a quick expedition. I will take ten men, mostly to act as porters, including Riley and Logan. You'll stay here in charge of the remainder.'
Mixed expressions of relief and disappointment crossed Elliot's face. 'If you don't mind me saying so, sir, this is not the best defensive site. The locals already know that we're here, so it won't be long before Jayanti and her women come probing, or maybe even Nana Sahib if he's still around.'
'That's true,' Jack said. 'The pandies would like nothing better than to snap up an isolated British garrison. It would hearten their supporters and increase their prestige. Do you have anywhere else in mind?'
'Yes, sir.' Elliot had evidently given his situation some thought. 'Do you remember that old Hindu temple we camped at last year, after the Gondabad massacre? It's a bit further away and much more defensible. I think we should move there.'
* * *
It was strange to return to the temple where they'd found refuge the previous year. It was strange to have the old Hindu gods watching over them and the exotic carvings staring at them through a green screen of vegetation. The war could have been on a different continent as child-sized monkeys capered and screeched, butterflies rose in clouds from the grass, and in the distance, a deer barked. Although the heat bounced from the stonework, the spring of bright water that bubbled in the centre of the temple was welcome, and the men relaxed in the shade, swatted flies and mosquitoes and set to work preparing defensive positions.
'This is familiar.' Mary looked around her, smiling. 'I'm going to explore and renew old memories.'
Jack nodded. 'Take care.' He called over Riley and Logan. 'You two, I want you.'
Logan came with his usual swagger while Riley was more cautious, suspecting trouble. Jack took them to a secluded area between two heavily carved pillars as Hanuman the Monkey God gazed down on them. 'Now, I want the truth, Riley.'
'Always, sir,' Riley lied.
'When we left Lucknow last year, you two hid some treasure.' Jack didn't try to be subtle. 'Don't deny it.'
'What makes you think that, sir?' Riley asked.
'Your behaviour, Riley, and your character,' Jack said.
'Could you explain, sir?' Riley asked.
That was sufficient fencing. 'When Sir Colin evacuated Lucknow last year,' Jack faced Riley directly, 'you two stole one of the treasure wagons. That wagon is the property of Her Majesty. You could be hanged.'
The silence confirmed what up until then had only been a strong suspicion.
'It is my duty to place you both under arrest,' Jack said.
'Yes, sir,' Riley said. 'What are you planning?'
'What do you mean, Riley?'
'We know each other, sir. You have something in mind that doesn't concern a noose.'
Jack hid his am
usement. 'You're a clever man, Riley. Now listen.' He explained the situation as Riley and Logan nodded.
'So, you want us to go to Lucknow, retrieve this alleged treasure and hand it all over to some Indian Rajah,' Riley said.
'That's right,' Jack agreed.
'And if there's no treasure and we object?' Riley asked.
'There is a treasure, and you won't object.' Jack spoke softly. 'I know you, Riley, and I know Charlotte. You won't let her down.'
Jack knew that threats wouldn't work with Logan and appeals to patriotism would be a waste of breath. Men with the bitter-hard background that most of the 113th shared had little cause to love their homeland. However, while Pathans had Pashtunwali, loyalty to clan and family, British soldiers had loyalty to their regiment and Jack used that as a lever to persuade Logan to join him.
'I know you as well, Logan. You're not a thief.' That last part wasn't entirely accurate for like many British soldiers, Logan had the idea that anything not nailed down was fair game. 'That money will buy the lives of a score or more soldiers of the 113th.'
'Aye,' Logan said. 'We cannae let the pandies kill they lads, Riles.'
'We'll leave before dawn tomorrow.'
Logan grunted reluctant agreement and Riley could only nod.
'Very good. Get yourselves prepared.' Jack watched them walk away.
'Jack,' Mary touched his arm. 'Come with me.'
She led him through the temple building, past the statue to Hanuman and pushed past a tangle of creepers to an inner chamber that Jack had not noticed before. The sudden coolness surprised Jack.
'Where are you taking me?'
She put a finger to his lips. 'Shush Jack. Trust me.'
'I do,' he said.
A single shaft of sunlight permeated the chamber, highlighting strange carvings of copulating couples.
Windrush- Jayanti's Pawns Page 19