Jack Steel Adventure Series Books 1-3: Man of Honour, Rules of War, Brothers in Arms. Iain Gale

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ with snow. A wild country that reminded Steel of the land that lay to the west of his family home, far away towards the Western Isles. Yet, for all the familiarity of the breathtaking scenery and gentle, bucolic images which surrounded him, with every step they took further away from the army and into enemy territory, Steel sensed the increasing possibility that they were walking into danger.

      The door of the barn swung open and a tall figure was silhouetted against the growing light.

      ‘Ready to move, Sir? Found you some coffee. Can’t say what it tastes like, though. Never touch the stuff myself.’

      Having no servant with him, Steel was happy to allow Jacob Slaughter to minister to his needs. He had left Nate with Hansam’s half-company back at the camp to guard his kit. You never knew who might take a fancy to it. Now the big Geordie peered down at him through the half-darkness and offered his officer the part-filled tin cup.

      ‘Thank you, Jacob. Most thoughtful.’ He took a long drink from the mug and let the thick, acrid liquid trickle down his throat.

      ‘Can’t say that I’m keen to see this dawn, Sarn’t. But it brings us one more day closer to our return, eh? How are the men?’

      ‘All present, Sir. Sixty-three of our lads, and myself and Mister Williams. Though I don’t know as I’d say that they were all quite “correct”, if you understand me. Carter and Milligan are complaining of sores on their feet. Tarling looks like he might be coming down with the ague and Macpherson’s cut hi’self in the hand, on his bayonet, Sir. Cleaning it. Mister Williams is already standing-to. He’s a good lad. Keen as mustard. Just what we need.’

      This then, thought Steel, was his escort with which to bring back the flour for the army and the precious treasure whose loss would bring Marlborough’s ruination. He chanced another sip of the steaming brew and winced at the taste.

      ‘We’ll need to move fast today, Sarn’t. Word will have got out that we’re here.’

      They made an easy target in their obligatory scarlet coats, with the wagon train strung out along the road. They marched in full order, as if they might have been on duty at St James’, and Steel felt the gaze of a hundred imagined enemy eyes observing their every step and waited for the first shot to ring out from the tall trees that flanked their progress. Steel stood up, carefully, handed Slaughter the empty mug and folded his cloak. He brushed himself clean of the straw and mire from the floor and followed his Sergeant out into the cold dawn.

      In the little courtyard the men were gradually assembling, stamping their feet and blowing on fingers.

      Slaughter announced his presence: ‘Henderson, Mackay, Tarling. You others. Stand-to. Officer on parade.’

      The men moved more smartly into line and formed three ranks.

      ‘Form them up, Sarn’t.’

      ‘Marching formation. Move to it.’

      Within minutes the men had changed formation. Steel looked down the column of march. Forty wagons, strung out in line. Enough to carry 300 quintails of flour. That would keep the entire army in good supply for a day, but well divided and distributed, it might last for a week. Time enough for the command to find another source. He saw that each wagon was now flanked by a four-man escort. ‘At the command, the column will move off. Forward march.’

      The sleepy civilian waggoners whipped their beasts into action and the red-coated column again began to move east.

      They had been travelling for barely three hours when, reaching the top of a hill they saw the road stretch away before them in a shallow valley before climbing again steeply. And there, at the top of another hill, lay the distant roofs and gables of a village.

      Steel, unused to riding with a supply train and impatient to increase the pace, pressed his thighs together and urged his horse, a chestnut mare that he had purchased in Coblenz and christened Molly, forward and down the slope. Dust rose from beneath her hooves and as she took up the pace to a gentle trot her harness added a high note to the rhythmic clank which marked the passage of a body of armed men.

      For a moment, Steel stopped and turned in the saddle. He looked past young Williams and over the heads of the men then, turning back, dug his heels into Molly’s flanks before pulling a wad of tobacco from his pocket. He placed it in his mouth and began to chew. Steel’s only desire was to accomplish his mission as quickly as possible and return safely to where the army might next be encamped. Wherever that might be. He felt restless. In need of action. This was not the place for him, up here at the head of a marching supply train. Perhaps if he were to march with the men. He reined in his horse and slid from the saddle. Spitting the tobacco from his mouth into the roadside and grasping the reins, he slipped easily into time with the column, alongside Slaughter who grinned at him with pleasure.

      ‘Come to join us, Sir?’

      ‘Needed a change, Sarn’t. Just that.’

      Slaughter pointed off to the left. ‘There it is again, Sir. More smoke. Men don’t like it. They was all talking about it last night.’

      Over the last two days, as they had marched, they had become increasingly aware of tall plumes of smoke rising against the sky, visible from some distance. The men had wondered at them and suggested a number of explanations. That the French were burning crops, lest they fall into allied hands. That bridges and barges were being destroyed to impede their progress. Even that they indicated some great battle whose glory they had missed. But Steel knew what they really meant. Before they had left Hawkins had intimated one more fact to him and he in turn had passed it on only to Hansam, Williams and Jacob.

      Marlborough was going to burn Bavaria. No one, God willing, soldier or civilian, would be killed. But in a last effort to force the Elector to quit his pact with the French, he would send out troops to lay waste every town they found. Steel was secretly appalled at the thought. Yet he understood how it fitted perfectly with the logic of the sort of warfare on which Marlborough had now embarked. This was total war. War waged by, almost, any means. So the horsemen would come with their burning torches and they would be ruthless, though yet with an edge of clemency.

      Still, the rising grey-black clouds provoked him to a shiver. What effect would this have upon the native population, forced from their homes and rendered penniless? What reception might he and his men now expect as they made their way through this pleasant country whose neat fields and townships had lately so delighted his eye. He suspected that at best, should they find a village still intact, they would not be made to feel welcome. At worst, well who knew? Visions of ambush filled his mind. Of erstwhile lawful people taking the law into their own hands to revenge this outrage. Of redcoats with their throats cut in their sleep. Who could know what unexpected dangers awaited them? He moved to the side of the sweating horse and, unbuckling the saddle-bag, withdrew a worn and folded sheet of paper.

      It was a map, given to him by Hawkins before they left. But while it showed the major towns and rivers, precious few of the villages were marked on it. Steel knew from the position of stars that he was still going east, with the Lech at his back and the other, smaller river they had crossed, the Paar, to the south. And that he realized, must mean that they were headed in the right direction and that one more day’s march along this road should bring them to their goal and then they could return to what they did best. Steel was no spy or secret agent. He was a soldier. Just that. He wondered that Hawkins had marked him out for this mission, then remembered Arabella. And with that memory came the sensation of a feather bed and a vision of her face. He spat tobacco husk on the ground. Christ but she was devious.

      ‘All right, СКАЧАТЬ