Day 30, Chapter 20
It's the end of NaNoWriMo! I'm nowhere near the end of OHMMS, to my alarm, but then Victorians never use one word where they can use several sentences. So, here is the final chapter written during November, but there will be more. Probably many more, as Our Heroes find ever more long winded ways of saying those Three Little Words without actually saying them.
Chapter Twenty
In which Bracy and Roberts go hunting.
Life was quite back to normal in the fort, and the men of the 404th found themselves with little to do outside their daily duties and the Doctor's regimes of exercises. Although they had complained so much on the Moon, the men did not complain so often about the exercises any more, remembering the battle and how they had seemed so much stronger than the Martians. The exploits of the officers in particular had grown with every retelling by the men, and by now all the private soldiers were convinced that they had witnessed Roberts cut a Martian's head clean off his shoulders, and that Bracy had outrun the entire enemy force while half-carrying Gedge.
'I was the one as was there. He didn't carry me,' said Gedge in protest.
'Thought as you'd have been glad for him to be such a hero,' said Fred wickedly.
'Give over,' muttered Gedge in embarrassment.
Having free time, the soldiers played cards and sang, and went into New London every chance they got to spend their winnings and their wages. The shopkeepers, both British folk and Martians, were more than happy to relieve them of their money, and the men's collections of souvenirs grew and their cash diminished.
Gedge was readmitted to Drummond's programme of training with the ayit. He found, however, that he was very far behind all the others, and had to learn almost everything all over again. He was resigned to this, having told himself that this should be the case, but he discovered that Drummond seemed most unwilling to see any good in him. For most of the time he was left in the care of various Martian flyers, not seeing his comrades in the programme from one training session to the next until he feared he should never catch up with them. Lieutenant Drummond would come sometimes and watch him, then shake his head and say that he did not understand why Lieutenant Bracy had been so eager to have him readmitted. He said this in a way that made it clear that Gedge had been taken back as a favour to Bracy but that Bracy's judgement was being called into question. At first, Gedge tried to do better, to change the officer's views on him. After a little, he realised that Drummond's disdain was directed more at Bracy than at him, and that in fact every complaint Drummond had against him was in fact a sly comment on Bracy's capabilities. Gedge was embarrassed and angry on Bracy's behalf, but could do nothing. His every effort was belittled, his every step of progress ignored. Neither could Gedge relieve his feelings by complaining in his turn. He knew better than to mention such a thing to his friends, and it was impossible to discuss such a thing with Bracy.
With all his heart, Gedge wished he could either do well enough to train with the others once more, or that he could withdraw entirely. He thought that Drummond would find that satisfying, however, and that Bracy would be disappointed in him, so he persevered. To his Martian trainers he spoke in their own tongue, feeling that at least he could become more proficient in one area of training. Their pleasure in finding a British soldier who preferred to speak to them in their own language, and who would patiently accept correction was plain, and he found pleasure in it also, when he met with Bracy to study and could show his progress. The smiles and praise he received from Bracy assuaged his misery over the way he was treated by Drummond. He longed for the day that Bracy could arrange for leave, when he would not have to see any other officer for some days. It could not come too soon for him, he thought.
* * *
Bracy, meanwhile, found his time taken up with meetings between the dignitaries of the city and the officers of the fort. Not a great deal of damage had been done by the Martian force, and what had been done had in fact been repaired. The city's population, however, felt most aggrieved that the Army had not safeguarded their property as well as their lives and would, if they had been allowed, have met with the officers every day to complain and demand restitution. In vain it was explained to them that New London was a city wholly unsuited to the kind of defence they had decided should have been made available, being too spacious in its plan, too sprawling in its size and completely without city walls. When the city men complained that the Army should have told them of this before civilian colonists had chosen the city to settle in, they were reminded of the many papers and reports on the warlike nature of the natives, and the smaller and more defensible settlements that had been proposed, all of which had been turned down by the first colonists in favour of the splendour and grace of New London. Nothing, however, assuaged their feelings of grievance.
'I should very much like to get away from the fort for a few days,' sighed Bracy to Roberts, after a day in which he had been besieged by shopkeepers. 'I think it's most unfair the way that these people are handed down from officer to officer until they reach me.'
'You could pass them on to the sergeants,' laughed Roberts, laughing all the more at the exasperated way in which his friend looked upon him. 'Come now, old man,' he continued, 'surely you do not begrudge me taking one little advantage of rank? Besides, you are so good with these people. Not like me, I fear I should yawn at their complaints and offend them.' He relit his pipe and smiled at Bracy fondly. 'I think I have found a way to relieve your tedium; Drummond tells me there is good hunting to be had in the hills to the east, with those wild sheep-things and a sort of cat that preys upon them. We'll take some of his men as servants, and have a fine week of it, what do you say?'
'That sounds very fine,' smiled Bracy. 'Will it be cooler in the hills? And let's not just take some of the natives along, I must arrange leave also for -'
'No,' said Roberts shortly.
'I beg your pardon?' said Bracy, in a slight confusion at having been cut off in such a brusque manner.
'Just the natives,' said Roberts, 'who will know how to act as beaters and who will know the area. You can practice your Martian lessons on them. I will too, if it will make you laugh. Leave him behind for once, Bracy,' he said, a hard glint in his eye. 'He will still be here when you get back.'
'Rob?' asked Bracy, 'What is this about?'
'I should simply like to spend some time with a chap who says he's my friend,' said Roberts lightly. 'I scarcely see you, Bracy. I quite begin to feel that you prefer your little Private to me.'
'Rob!' said Bracy. 'Why, what is this? You cannot be jealous of poor Gedge!'
'Jealous?' said Roberts, 'Who said anything about jealousy? I am your friend, he is your subordinate. Is that not the case?'
Bracy looked at him, troubled, and thought of the trip to the ancient carvings, remembering the wild emotion that had come over him as he looked at Gedge, when for a moment it had seemed that he understood a great secret. He no longer knew what it was that he had felt, the understanding that had seemed so clear by silent moonlight melting away in the harsh sunlight and the mundane needs of their daily lives.
'Well, but he will be disappointed,' said Bracy, capitulating.
'You have made a pet of him,' said Roberts, smiling cheerfully to have got his way. 'I don't deny he's a cheery little monkey, but it will do him good to see you going off without him. And a trip into the hills will do you a great deal of good too, why it will quite blow the cobwebs from your mind. We shall bag some of these cat-things, and have their skins strewn under our feet as if we were native princes!'
Bracy gave him a broad and carefree smile, knowing that Roberts would not look beyond it, having achieved the result he wanted. In his own mind, he fretted, thinking how unhappy Gedge would be to hear of this. 'Ah, Rob was right all along,' he thought unhappily. 'I making a favourite of Gedge! I should help him better himself without forming such an attachment to him. It is not good for him, and besides, he must think me very queer to spend leisure time with him. I am keeping him from his own friends, the poor lad. He will be glad to be free of me for a time, I am sure of it.'
All the same, he felt strangely guilty to tell Gedge that he was leaving the fort without him, and took great pains to make sure the lad knew that this was because of the knowledge possessed by the native soldiers, and due to no fault in Gedge.
'But I could take better care of you, sir,' said Gedge, 'and if one of them wild cats sprang at you, I could shoot it! I've a good eye for fast shootin', sir, even old Gee says that - I mean, Sergeant Gee has commended my skill at marksmanship, sir.'
'I shan't need you, Gedge,' said Bracy, hardening his heart as he saw the lad's face fall. 'Come now, my lad,' he continued, 'it will be a holiday for you, away from the grammar books and me correcting you.'
'I don't mind that,' said Gedge in a low voice.
'I will be gone only for a week,' said Bracy gaily, although in his heart he felt quite low. 'And then I will be correcting you once more. Really, Gedge, do not look so glum!' He paused and spoke more kindly, saying, 'I know you must think I have forgotten you, going off in this way, but Captain Roberts is very much looking forward to this. I am sorry not to have taken you back to look at the carvings and to explore, but we will go, Gedge. It will just be at a later time than I had thought.'
Gedge smiled wanly at him, whispering, 'Yes, sir.' Bracy smiled at him once more, and put his hands firmly behind his back, discovering in himself a desire to place a hand upon the boy's shoulder or to touch his cheek to console him, he looked so dreadfully sad. He instead nodded politely and turned away, thinking that Gedge would cheer up once he had left.
Three days later he left the fort, with Roberts. They travelled first to the great ayit stables, where they were to meet with Drummond. The tall, thin officer was very excited and could not quite keep his accent from betraying his heritage as he chattered to Roberts about the high time they would have.
'Wait until you see our transport!' he laughed. 'You can both ride, I trust?'
'Yes,' said Roberts, 'of course.'
'I have always found Rob to be an expert rider,' said Bracy.
Drummond grinned widely. 'Two of my men,' he cried, 'are brothers, and the sons of a native gentleman. He is lending us some of his animals, come and see!' He led them to the furthest building, where some of the native soldiers could be seen piling equipment neatly. At his command they stacked everything into a cart, and brought out an ugly beast to pull it. Then another two Martians, both sergeants, brought them into the building and showed them great scaled creatures of the sort on which the enemy Martians had ridden. 'They are called dovs,' said Drummond. 'And these men are accompanying us, the sons of the gentleman who has lent us these mounts. Their Christian names are Barnabas and Luke - altogether easier to remember than the native manner of naming!'
They set out shortly thereafter, the British officers balancing with caution upon their new mounts, while the Martians, Barnabas and Luke, rode easily behind them. Then came the cart with their supplies and another three men of the native regiment to act as servants and beaters. Bracy smiled cheerfully at Drummond's high spirits, but inwardly felt aggrieved, as it became clearer and clearer that Drummond had brought the native sergeants along not as servants, because he particularly favoured them. It was galling to find that favouritism was not so great a sin if practised by another man. As the day wore on, however, his spirits lifted and he found himself enjoying the unaccustomed movement of the dov beneath him. It was very different to a horse, having a lazy sort of roll to its shoulders. The indolent stride, however, was only apparent, as he realised when calculating how far they had come. He laughed in sheerest pleasure as the Martians, at Drummond's urging, spurred their mounts to speed, leaning over their necks and calling out warlike cries to them. The beasts scurried forward in a way that was almost comical until Bracy remembered what it had been like to see a wave of them coming at his men, their claws sheathed in shining metal.
By the morning of the second day they were rising up into the foothills, and the Martians were looking about them with pleasure, pointing out plants and creatures they seemed to think the officers should find of interest. Bracy smiled up into the pale sky and thought how much Gedge would have liked to spend some days with Martians eager to tell him of their world. 'I should find out something to tell him,' he thought, and began to engage the Martians in conversation about the land through which they were passing. They laughed and competed in telling him of sprites and goblins that lived in the dry places to play tricks on travellers. 'But you do not believe these tales for children?' he asked, thinking that he wished some of the droller ones written down for Gedge to practice reading.
'No, indeed, sir,' said Luke. 'Such things do not exist.'
'Only those still in darkness believe such tales,' said Barnabas, who was very like his brother, so like that Bracy supposed them to be twins.
'Oh!' said Bracy, suddenly thinking he might have caused offence, 'when I speak in your tongue, do you wish me to use your native names?'
'No, sir,' said Luke. 'We prefer our English names. Our family is Christian, unlike the devil worshippers of other tribes.'
'Please speak English if you prefer,' said Barnabas, 'Lieutenant Drummond always speaks in English, and we have learned it from our childhood.'
Bracy smiled at them and fell to discussing the creatures they should hunt. Ahead of them he could hear snatches of the conversation between Drummond and Roberts, which also seemed to be on the topic of hunting. Behind them the other soldiers spoke quietly to each other. If he listened carefully, Bracy thought he could make out their conversation also, and noted that while they had all been indicated as bearing Christian names of an ordinary English sort, among themselves they used other names while speaking in their native tongue, although Luke and Barnabas never did.
That night they camped in the hills and drank spiced coffee as the light faded all around them. Even Roberts drank it without complaining, Bracy noted in amusement, and then he fell asleep quickly in the fresh clear air. The next morning they ranged round on foot, seeking tracks and followed the all but invisible marks that one of the soldiers assured them would lead to wild game. They crept along and finally, up above them, saw some of the nervous creatures that seemed to the British officers rather like the wild sheep such as are found in the high places of Earth, with wild yellow eyes and curved yellowish horns. The coats of these were a rich reddish brown, and they sprang from rock to rock with an easy grace, their little hooves nimbly skipping. It took some time and patience for them to work themselves into position for shooting, as the sheep-like creatures were most suspicious and looked about them at the slightest sound. At last the young men had clear shots, and having drawn straws for the first shot, Drummond sighted carefully and squeezed the trigger. At the crack of his rifle, the creatures sprang away, fleeing over paths invisible to all other creatures. Drummond's target, a fine male with a most impressive pair of curving horns, fell down lifeless on a ledge. Two of the natives were dispatched to fetch it down as Bracy and Roberts congratulated Drummond on his shot. They saw no more game that day, however, and moved their camp in the afternoon so that they might come upon a fresh area on the morrow.
By the end of the next day, both Roberts and Bracy had also shot fine trophies, and Bracy was wondering how it was that he had been spending so little time with Roberts of late. It seemed as if it had been a very long time since they had laughed over memories of friends left behind on Earth who had found themselves in positions in the Imperial colonies on Earth, or who had never left England at all. He rather regretted Drummond's presence, as Roberts would keep stopping the talk to explain who their friends were, and where they had met them. And Drummond was annoying to him in other ways, laughing at Roberts' witticisms, but rarely at his, and, much to Bracy's irritation, making fun of the men of the 404th who were involved in the flying training by speaking in their manner.
'Come now, Drummond,' he said, 'they are rough but they are good men, honest and brave.'
'Oh, Drummond, beware!' laughed Roberts. 'For now you have aroused in Bracy the urge to speak on the betterment of the enlisted ranks and how it is unbecoming to think their manner of speech in any way comical!'
'Why, Bracy is but more inured to it than other gentlemen,' said Drummond. 'Do you not take lessons in how to speak like a private soldier, Bracy?'
Both he and Roberts laughed as Bracy struggled not to let his anger show. 'I hardly think that this is a good way in which to speak in front of the men,' he said stiffly. 'I for one do not find it amusing to mock decent soldiers.'
'Oh, Bracy,' said Roberts, 'do not be so humourless. No one is mocking the men. You look for insult where - what was that?'
The noise came again, a low creaking cough that sounded strangely in the night air. The Martians leaped to their feet in excitement.
'It is a namar,' cried Barnabas, and the other Martians held up their hands and muttered.
'What is that?' cried Roberts, his eyes shining.
'Yes, what?' asked Drummond.
'What is wrong with the men?' asked Bracy.
'It is the beast you have been calling a cat,' said Barnabas.
'They want us to say Shining One,' said Luke, 'for although they are Christians they are very bad ones, and think that saying the creature's name will bring it down upon us.'
'Quickly! It will elude us!' cried Roberts, catching up his weapon.
The little party left the camp and crept through the night, hearing again the cough of the namar. The ground was rough, and the light from the moons was dim, yet the Martians had but little difficulty in creeping along, while the British officers found it more difficult. Bracy took a mean satisfaction in hearing a swallowed oath from Drummond as the Scottish officer stubbed his toe against a rock.
'See!' whispered one of the Martian soldiers, indicating the barest of marks on the ground. 'It has come this way.'
They moved on, not speaking, hardly breathing for fear of alerting the beast to their presence. Bracy felt his heart race, and he tightened his grip on his gun. Then there was a growl, low and fearsome, to their right and above them. Bracy looked up at the Martians' urging and saw a pair of eyes gleaming in the darkness. There was the suggestion of movement, as if the beast were lashing its tail back and forth in fury. As he watched, his eyes began to pick out more details, and he saw the creature was astride one of the sheep, whose lifeless head hung down from a ledge. It was enormous, he realised, at least twelve feet long, with a huge head and paws the size of dinner plates.
'We have disturbed it at dinner,' murmured Roberts, slowly and carefully bringing his weapon to bear on the namar. 'Come on, now. Let me get a good shot at you.'
The namar shifted and snarled, showing them its fearsome teeth. Then it suddenly seemed to decide it should cede them the field, and moved backwards. Roberts groaned in frustration and lowered his rifle. At that very moment the beast sprang forward from its ledge, aiming, so it seemed to pass over their heads and make its escape up the opposite rocks. Roberts brought his rifle up again, smooth and fast, firing upwards as the creature's belly showed white above them. It screamed most fearfully, and one of the Martians shrieked in alarm. The namar scrabbled for a moment at the rocks for which it had jumped, then it tumbled back, dead and limp to fall on the ground almost at Roberts' feet. Its huge size was obvious as it lay before them, as was the quality of its coat, a glossy spotted and mottled mass of shining fur.
'A splendid shot, Rob!' cried Bracy, embracing his friend in excitement.
'Marvellous, marvellous!' said Drummond.
The Martians made a singsong cheering noise, and picked up the namar to bring it back to the camp. It was a happy little group that trooped back and built up the fire again, drinking more coffee and talking late into the night. When morning came the officers examined the namar with glee, and both Bracy and Drummond clapped Roberts on the shoulder time and again. The creature was a deep golden colour, the spots and mottles being of various shades from the lightest of yellows to the deepest coffee-brown. It had large sharp teeth and claws and a most magnificent tail, which was tipped with fur of the palest apricot.
'Have you ever seen anything like it?' asked Roberts in astonishment. 'I think I need never hear my uncle's tales of shooting lion in awe again!'
'A trophy to be proud of!' said Drummond. He looked slyly sidelong at Bracy, continuing, 'If we may be proud of such a gentlemanly pursuit, Bracy?'
Bracy ignored him and stroked the beast's fur, thinking how handsome it was. Drummond snickered over his head, saying, 'Perhaps we can have the men organise a dog-race to amuse you once we return.'
'Have I offended you in some way, Drummond?' asked Bracy, standing up.
'Why, no,' said Drummond, feigning amazement, 'I was merely making a pleasantry.'
'Now, let us not quarrel,' said Roberts, frowning.
'Indeed, no,' cried Drummond at once. 'How touchy he is!' he murmured.
'Let him be,' murmured Roberts in as quiet a voice.
Bracy looked at him, wanting to cry out, 'Rob! Do you take his part over mine?' He remained silent, however, and set to cleaning his rifle, thinking only as he started that it might look as if he were sulking but being too proud to go over to where Drummond was now speaking quietly and confidentially to Roberts, his hand resting companionably on Roberts' shoulder. He angrily stripped his rifle and cleaned every part of it, wishing that Gedge were there. He should not be so angry if Gedge were there, he thought. He would have to set a good example.
They did not see another namar before they had to return to the fort, although each of the young officers bagged more game, including a strange, tall bird with tiny wings that ran very fast. It seemed to them like an ostrich, only many times the size, and its feet were fearsome things that would have served to disembowel even a beast as large as the namar. They straggled back into the fort on foot, having left the dov behind in the buildings where the flying programme was centred. Their cartload of trophies had also been left there, to be collected by the servants of Luke and Barnabas' family, who would dress the skins for them. Bracy was very glad to see Drummond walk off towards his own house, saying he would surely die if he did not have an immediate bath. Roberts gave him a weary smile and led the way back to their house. As Bracy went along he looked around, without saying to himself that he was in search of anything in particular. At last he saw that which he looked for and grinned as Gedge looked over and waved cheerily in his direction. 'Too familiar,' he thought, and then, 'thank heavens. No dissembling in Gedge, at least,' and he raised his own hand and waved back, laughing quietly to see the joy shining from the lad's face.
'Did you say something, old chap?' asked Roberts in exhaustion.
'Not a word, Rob, not a word,' said Bracy in satisfaction. His heart was lighter than it had been in days. He felt like he had come home at last.
Chapter Twenty
In which Bracy and Roberts go hunting.
Life was quite back to normal in the fort, and the men of the 404th found themselves with little to do outside their daily duties and the Doctor's regimes of exercises. Although they had complained so much on the Moon, the men did not complain so often about the exercises any more, remembering the battle and how they had seemed so much stronger than the Martians. The exploits of the officers in particular had grown with every retelling by the men, and by now all the private soldiers were convinced that they had witnessed Roberts cut a Martian's head clean off his shoulders, and that Bracy had outrun the entire enemy force while half-carrying Gedge.
'I was the one as was there. He didn't carry me,' said Gedge in protest.
'Thought as you'd have been glad for him to be such a hero,' said Fred wickedly.
'Give over,' muttered Gedge in embarrassment.
Having free time, the soldiers played cards and sang, and went into New London every chance they got to spend their winnings and their wages. The shopkeepers, both British folk and Martians, were more than happy to relieve them of their money, and the men's collections of souvenirs grew and their cash diminished.
Gedge was readmitted to Drummond's programme of training with the ayit. He found, however, that he was very far behind all the others, and had to learn almost everything all over again. He was resigned to this, having told himself that this should be the case, but he discovered that Drummond seemed most unwilling to see any good in him. For most of the time he was left in the care of various Martian flyers, not seeing his comrades in the programme from one training session to the next until he feared he should never catch up with them. Lieutenant Drummond would come sometimes and watch him, then shake his head and say that he did not understand why Lieutenant Bracy had been so eager to have him readmitted. He said this in a way that made it clear that Gedge had been taken back as a favour to Bracy but that Bracy's judgement was being called into question. At first, Gedge tried to do better, to change the officer's views on him. After a little, he realised that Drummond's disdain was directed more at Bracy than at him, and that in fact every complaint Drummond had against him was in fact a sly comment on Bracy's capabilities. Gedge was embarrassed and angry on Bracy's behalf, but could do nothing. His every effort was belittled, his every step of progress ignored. Neither could Gedge relieve his feelings by complaining in his turn. He knew better than to mention such a thing to his friends, and it was impossible to discuss such a thing with Bracy.
With all his heart, Gedge wished he could either do well enough to train with the others once more, or that he could withdraw entirely. He thought that Drummond would find that satisfying, however, and that Bracy would be disappointed in him, so he persevered. To his Martian trainers he spoke in their own tongue, feeling that at least he could become more proficient in one area of training. Their pleasure in finding a British soldier who preferred to speak to them in their own language, and who would patiently accept correction was plain, and he found pleasure in it also, when he met with Bracy to study and could show his progress. The smiles and praise he received from Bracy assuaged his misery over the way he was treated by Drummond. He longed for the day that Bracy could arrange for leave, when he would not have to see any other officer for some days. It could not come too soon for him, he thought.
* * *
Bracy, meanwhile, found his time taken up with meetings between the dignitaries of the city and the officers of the fort. Not a great deal of damage had been done by the Martian force, and what had been done had in fact been repaired. The city's population, however, felt most aggrieved that the Army had not safeguarded their property as well as their lives and would, if they had been allowed, have met with the officers every day to complain and demand restitution. In vain it was explained to them that New London was a city wholly unsuited to the kind of defence they had decided should have been made available, being too spacious in its plan, too sprawling in its size and completely without city walls. When the city men complained that the Army should have told them of this before civilian colonists had chosen the city to settle in, they were reminded of the many papers and reports on the warlike nature of the natives, and the smaller and more defensible settlements that had been proposed, all of which had been turned down by the first colonists in favour of the splendour and grace of New London. Nothing, however, assuaged their feelings of grievance.
'I should very much like to get away from the fort for a few days,' sighed Bracy to Roberts, after a day in which he had been besieged by shopkeepers. 'I think it's most unfair the way that these people are handed down from officer to officer until they reach me.'
'You could pass them on to the sergeants,' laughed Roberts, laughing all the more at the exasperated way in which his friend looked upon him. 'Come now, old man,' he continued, 'surely you do not begrudge me taking one little advantage of rank? Besides, you are so good with these people. Not like me, I fear I should yawn at their complaints and offend them.' He relit his pipe and smiled at Bracy fondly. 'I think I have found a way to relieve your tedium; Drummond tells me there is good hunting to be had in the hills to the east, with those wild sheep-things and a sort of cat that preys upon them. We'll take some of his men as servants, and have a fine week of it, what do you say?'
'That sounds very fine,' smiled Bracy. 'Will it be cooler in the hills? And let's not just take some of the natives along, I must arrange leave also for -'
'No,' said Roberts shortly.
'I beg your pardon?' said Bracy, in a slight confusion at having been cut off in such a brusque manner.
'Just the natives,' said Roberts, 'who will know how to act as beaters and who will know the area. You can practice your Martian lessons on them. I will too, if it will make you laugh. Leave him behind for once, Bracy,' he said, a hard glint in his eye. 'He will still be here when you get back.'
'Rob?' asked Bracy, 'What is this about?'
'I should simply like to spend some time with a chap who says he's my friend,' said Roberts lightly. 'I scarcely see you, Bracy. I quite begin to feel that you prefer your little Private to me.'
'Rob!' said Bracy. 'Why, what is this? You cannot be jealous of poor Gedge!'
'Jealous?' said Roberts, 'Who said anything about jealousy? I am your friend, he is your subordinate. Is that not the case?'
Bracy looked at him, troubled, and thought of the trip to the ancient carvings, remembering the wild emotion that had come over him as he looked at Gedge, when for a moment it had seemed that he understood a great secret. He no longer knew what it was that he had felt, the understanding that had seemed so clear by silent moonlight melting away in the harsh sunlight and the mundane needs of their daily lives.
'Well, but he will be disappointed,' said Bracy, capitulating.
'You have made a pet of him,' said Roberts, smiling cheerfully to have got his way. 'I don't deny he's a cheery little monkey, but it will do him good to see you going off without him. And a trip into the hills will do you a great deal of good too, why it will quite blow the cobwebs from your mind. We shall bag some of these cat-things, and have their skins strewn under our feet as if we were native princes!'
Bracy gave him a broad and carefree smile, knowing that Roberts would not look beyond it, having achieved the result he wanted. In his own mind, he fretted, thinking how unhappy Gedge would be to hear of this. 'Ah, Rob was right all along,' he thought unhappily. 'I making a favourite of Gedge! I should help him better himself without forming such an attachment to him. It is not good for him, and besides, he must think me very queer to spend leisure time with him. I am keeping him from his own friends, the poor lad. He will be glad to be free of me for a time, I am sure of it.'
All the same, he felt strangely guilty to tell Gedge that he was leaving the fort without him, and took great pains to make sure the lad knew that this was because of the knowledge possessed by the native soldiers, and due to no fault in Gedge.
'But I could take better care of you, sir,' said Gedge, 'and if one of them wild cats sprang at you, I could shoot it! I've a good eye for fast shootin', sir, even old Gee says that - I mean, Sergeant Gee has commended my skill at marksmanship, sir.'
'I shan't need you, Gedge,' said Bracy, hardening his heart as he saw the lad's face fall. 'Come now, my lad,' he continued, 'it will be a holiday for you, away from the grammar books and me correcting you.'
'I don't mind that,' said Gedge in a low voice.
'I will be gone only for a week,' said Bracy gaily, although in his heart he felt quite low. 'And then I will be correcting you once more. Really, Gedge, do not look so glum!' He paused and spoke more kindly, saying, 'I know you must think I have forgotten you, going off in this way, but Captain Roberts is very much looking forward to this. I am sorry not to have taken you back to look at the carvings and to explore, but we will go, Gedge. It will just be at a later time than I had thought.'
Gedge smiled wanly at him, whispering, 'Yes, sir.' Bracy smiled at him once more, and put his hands firmly behind his back, discovering in himself a desire to place a hand upon the boy's shoulder or to touch his cheek to console him, he looked so dreadfully sad. He instead nodded politely and turned away, thinking that Gedge would cheer up once he had left.
Three days later he left the fort, with Roberts. They travelled first to the great ayit stables, where they were to meet with Drummond. The tall, thin officer was very excited and could not quite keep his accent from betraying his heritage as he chattered to Roberts about the high time they would have.
'Wait until you see our transport!' he laughed. 'You can both ride, I trust?'
'Yes,' said Roberts, 'of course.'
'I have always found Rob to be an expert rider,' said Bracy.
Drummond grinned widely. 'Two of my men,' he cried, 'are brothers, and the sons of a native gentleman. He is lending us some of his animals, come and see!' He led them to the furthest building, where some of the native soldiers could be seen piling equipment neatly. At his command they stacked everything into a cart, and brought out an ugly beast to pull it. Then another two Martians, both sergeants, brought them into the building and showed them great scaled creatures of the sort on which the enemy Martians had ridden. 'They are called dovs,' said Drummond. 'And these men are accompanying us, the sons of the gentleman who has lent us these mounts. Their Christian names are Barnabas and Luke - altogether easier to remember than the native manner of naming!'
They set out shortly thereafter, the British officers balancing with caution upon their new mounts, while the Martians, Barnabas and Luke, rode easily behind them. Then came the cart with their supplies and another three men of the native regiment to act as servants and beaters. Bracy smiled cheerfully at Drummond's high spirits, but inwardly felt aggrieved, as it became clearer and clearer that Drummond had brought the native sergeants along not as servants, because he particularly favoured them. It was galling to find that favouritism was not so great a sin if practised by another man. As the day wore on, however, his spirits lifted and he found himself enjoying the unaccustomed movement of the dov beneath him. It was very different to a horse, having a lazy sort of roll to its shoulders. The indolent stride, however, was only apparent, as he realised when calculating how far they had come. He laughed in sheerest pleasure as the Martians, at Drummond's urging, spurred their mounts to speed, leaning over their necks and calling out warlike cries to them. The beasts scurried forward in a way that was almost comical until Bracy remembered what it had been like to see a wave of them coming at his men, their claws sheathed in shining metal.
By the morning of the second day they were rising up into the foothills, and the Martians were looking about them with pleasure, pointing out plants and creatures they seemed to think the officers should find of interest. Bracy smiled up into the pale sky and thought how much Gedge would have liked to spend some days with Martians eager to tell him of their world. 'I should find out something to tell him,' he thought, and began to engage the Martians in conversation about the land through which they were passing. They laughed and competed in telling him of sprites and goblins that lived in the dry places to play tricks on travellers. 'But you do not believe these tales for children?' he asked, thinking that he wished some of the droller ones written down for Gedge to practice reading.
'No, indeed, sir,' said Luke. 'Such things do not exist.'
'Only those still in darkness believe such tales,' said Barnabas, who was very like his brother, so like that Bracy supposed them to be twins.
'Oh!' said Bracy, suddenly thinking he might have caused offence, 'when I speak in your tongue, do you wish me to use your native names?'
'No, sir,' said Luke. 'We prefer our English names. Our family is Christian, unlike the devil worshippers of other tribes.'
'Please speak English if you prefer,' said Barnabas, 'Lieutenant Drummond always speaks in English, and we have learned it from our childhood.'
Bracy smiled at them and fell to discussing the creatures they should hunt. Ahead of them he could hear snatches of the conversation between Drummond and Roberts, which also seemed to be on the topic of hunting. Behind them the other soldiers spoke quietly to each other. If he listened carefully, Bracy thought he could make out their conversation also, and noted that while they had all been indicated as bearing Christian names of an ordinary English sort, among themselves they used other names while speaking in their native tongue, although Luke and Barnabas never did.
That night they camped in the hills and drank spiced coffee as the light faded all around them. Even Roberts drank it without complaining, Bracy noted in amusement, and then he fell asleep quickly in the fresh clear air. The next morning they ranged round on foot, seeking tracks and followed the all but invisible marks that one of the soldiers assured them would lead to wild game. They crept along and finally, up above them, saw some of the nervous creatures that seemed to the British officers rather like the wild sheep such as are found in the high places of Earth, with wild yellow eyes and curved yellowish horns. The coats of these were a rich reddish brown, and they sprang from rock to rock with an easy grace, their little hooves nimbly skipping. It took some time and patience for them to work themselves into position for shooting, as the sheep-like creatures were most suspicious and looked about them at the slightest sound. At last the young men had clear shots, and having drawn straws for the first shot, Drummond sighted carefully and squeezed the trigger. At the crack of his rifle, the creatures sprang away, fleeing over paths invisible to all other creatures. Drummond's target, a fine male with a most impressive pair of curving horns, fell down lifeless on a ledge. Two of the natives were dispatched to fetch it down as Bracy and Roberts congratulated Drummond on his shot. They saw no more game that day, however, and moved their camp in the afternoon so that they might come upon a fresh area on the morrow.
By the end of the next day, both Roberts and Bracy had also shot fine trophies, and Bracy was wondering how it was that he had been spending so little time with Roberts of late. It seemed as if it had been a very long time since they had laughed over memories of friends left behind on Earth who had found themselves in positions in the Imperial colonies on Earth, or who had never left England at all. He rather regretted Drummond's presence, as Roberts would keep stopping the talk to explain who their friends were, and where they had met them. And Drummond was annoying to him in other ways, laughing at Roberts' witticisms, but rarely at his, and, much to Bracy's irritation, making fun of the men of the 404th who were involved in the flying training by speaking in their manner.
'Come now, Drummond,' he said, 'they are rough but they are good men, honest and brave.'
'Oh, Drummond, beware!' laughed Roberts. 'For now you have aroused in Bracy the urge to speak on the betterment of the enlisted ranks and how it is unbecoming to think their manner of speech in any way comical!'
'Why, Bracy is but more inured to it than other gentlemen,' said Drummond. 'Do you not take lessons in how to speak like a private soldier, Bracy?'
Both he and Roberts laughed as Bracy struggled not to let his anger show. 'I hardly think that this is a good way in which to speak in front of the men,' he said stiffly. 'I for one do not find it amusing to mock decent soldiers.'
'Oh, Bracy,' said Roberts, 'do not be so humourless. No one is mocking the men. You look for insult where - what was that?'
The noise came again, a low creaking cough that sounded strangely in the night air. The Martians leaped to their feet in excitement.
'It is a namar,' cried Barnabas, and the other Martians held up their hands and muttered.
'What is that?' cried Roberts, his eyes shining.
'Yes, what?' asked Drummond.
'What is wrong with the men?' asked Bracy.
'It is the beast you have been calling a cat,' said Barnabas.
'They want us to say Shining One,' said Luke, 'for although they are Christians they are very bad ones, and think that saying the creature's name will bring it down upon us.'
'Quickly! It will elude us!' cried Roberts, catching up his weapon.
The little party left the camp and crept through the night, hearing again the cough of the namar. The ground was rough, and the light from the moons was dim, yet the Martians had but little difficulty in creeping along, while the British officers found it more difficult. Bracy took a mean satisfaction in hearing a swallowed oath from Drummond as the Scottish officer stubbed his toe against a rock.
'See!' whispered one of the Martian soldiers, indicating the barest of marks on the ground. 'It has come this way.'
They moved on, not speaking, hardly breathing for fear of alerting the beast to their presence. Bracy felt his heart race, and he tightened his grip on his gun. Then there was a growl, low and fearsome, to their right and above them. Bracy looked up at the Martians' urging and saw a pair of eyes gleaming in the darkness. There was the suggestion of movement, as if the beast were lashing its tail back and forth in fury. As he watched, his eyes began to pick out more details, and he saw the creature was astride one of the sheep, whose lifeless head hung down from a ledge. It was enormous, he realised, at least twelve feet long, with a huge head and paws the size of dinner plates.
'We have disturbed it at dinner,' murmured Roberts, slowly and carefully bringing his weapon to bear on the namar. 'Come on, now. Let me get a good shot at you.'
The namar shifted and snarled, showing them its fearsome teeth. Then it suddenly seemed to decide it should cede them the field, and moved backwards. Roberts groaned in frustration and lowered his rifle. At that very moment the beast sprang forward from its ledge, aiming, so it seemed to pass over their heads and make its escape up the opposite rocks. Roberts brought his rifle up again, smooth and fast, firing upwards as the creature's belly showed white above them. It screamed most fearfully, and one of the Martians shrieked in alarm. The namar scrabbled for a moment at the rocks for which it had jumped, then it tumbled back, dead and limp to fall on the ground almost at Roberts' feet. Its huge size was obvious as it lay before them, as was the quality of its coat, a glossy spotted and mottled mass of shining fur.
'A splendid shot, Rob!' cried Bracy, embracing his friend in excitement.
'Marvellous, marvellous!' said Drummond.
The Martians made a singsong cheering noise, and picked up the namar to bring it back to the camp. It was a happy little group that trooped back and built up the fire again, drinking more coffee and talking late into the night. When morning came the officers examined the namar with glee, and both Bracy and Drummond clapped Roberts on the shoulder time and again. The creature was a deep golden colour, the spots and mottles being of various shades from the lightest of yellows to the deepest coffee-brown. It had large sharp teeth and claws and a most magnificent tail, which was tipped with fur of the palest apricot.
'Have you ever seen anything like it?' asked Roberts in astonishment. 'I think I need never hear my uncle's tales of shooting lion in awe again!'
'A trophy to be proud of!' said Drummond. He looked slyly sidelong at Bracy, continuing, 'If we may be proud of such a gentlemanly pursuit, Bracy?'
Bracy ignored him and stroked the beast's fur, thinking how handsome it was. Drummond snickered over his head, saying, 'Perhaps we can have the men organise a dog-race to amuse you once we return.'
'Have I offended you in some way, Drummond?' asked Bracy, standing up.
'Why, no,' said Drummond, feigning amazement, 'I was merely making a pleasantry.'
'Now, let us not quarrel,' said Roberts, frowning.
'Indeed, no,' cried Drummond at once. 'How touchy he is!' he murmured.
'Let him be,' murmured Roberts in as quiet a voice.
Bracy looked at him, wanting to cry out, 'Rob! Do you take his part over mine?' He remained silent, however, and set to cleaning his rifle, thinking only as he started that it might look as if he were sulking but being too proud to go over to where Drummond was now speaking quietly and confidentially to Roberts, his hand resting companionably on Roberts' shoulder. He angrily stripped his rifle and cleaned every part of it, wishing that Gedge were there. He should not be so angry if Gedge were there, he thought. He would have to set a good example.
They did not see another namar before they had to return to the fort, although each of the young officers bagged more game, including a strange, tall bird with tiny wings that ran very fast. It seemed to them like an ostrich, only many times the size, and its feet were fearsome things that would have served to disembowel even a beast as large as the namar. They straggled back into the fort on foot, having left the dov behind in the buildings where the flying programme was centred. Their cartload of trophies had also been left there, to be collected by the servants of Luke and Barnabas' family, who would dress the skins for them. Bracy was very glad to see Drummond walk off towards his own house, saying he would surely die if he did not have an immediate bath. Roberts gave him a weary smile and led the way back to their house. As Bracy went along he looked around, without saying to himself that he was in search of anything in particular. At last he saw that which he looked for and grinned as Gedge looked over and waved cheerily in his direction. 'Too familiar,' he thought, and then, 'thank heavens. No dissembling in Gedge, at least,' and he raised his own hand and waved back, laughing quietly to see the joy shining from the lad's face.
'Did you say something, old chap?' asked Roberts in exhaustion.
'Not a word, Rob, not a word,' said Bracy in satisfaction. His heart was lighter than it had been in days. He felt like he had come home at last.