For Kingdom and Country Read Free Page B

his head and winced, and pulled himself down to the end of the bed.
    ‘What am I doing here? What am I doing wearing that bloody uniform?’
    ‘You fight with us, sahib, to protect those we love, all that we hold most precious, from the evil Turk and the corrupt German.’
    ‘Bollocks, Sid,’ Lock said. ‘What we fight for is a lie! It’s all for greed, for money, for oil. For fucking oil, Sid. Sick black death … on our hands, on every man’s hands. I cannot … I will not be a part of it. No more, Sid. No more.’
    ‘But you are, sahib, and you have been. I know nothing of oil, sahib. But Major Ross wanted me to tell you that you are a true hero and that you have saved the reputation of the regiment by your actions at Barjisiyah Woods. He is very proud of you.’
    ‘He’s a using bastard, Sid, and well you know it,’ Lock sniffed.
    ‘Maybe that is so, sahib. But he is a good using bastard. Better than that monkey’s arse, Lieutenant Colonel Godwinson. And we need men like you to keep men like Godwinson in … What is the term you like, from the chess, sahib? In check? Yes?’
    Lock grunted and ran a hand through his matted hair. ‘I’ve lost half the platoon, Sid. What can I do with so little? We’re finished. We’ll be swallowed up by that bloated aristocratic fart Godwinson and his bloody nephew. I’ll lose my command, not that I really ever had one …’ He fell silent for a moment. ‘ I’m lost, Sid.’
    Lock shook his head and pulled himself to his feet. He wobbled uneasily as he staggered over to the dressing table.
    ‘No, sahib, you have not,’ Singh replied earnestly, as he followed the naked Lock across the room. ‘You have fought and won with much, much less. The platoon … it is still yours. That is why Major Ross wants to see you, why he sent me to find you, Captain sahib.’
    But Lock didn’t hear Singh’s words as he leant down on the dressing table and stared back at his own reflection in the mirror. He looked trulyawful. His face was sallow and rough, and his eyes were red and dull. He really did look as if he had been single-handedly fighting a war. He laughed suddenly and, pulling himself upright, he weaved his way unsteadily over to the bathtub. He hesitated, then stepped into the water and slumped down. He looked over at Singh, then closed his eyes and let himself slide under.
    Singh watched as the air bubbles burst on the surface of the water. And just as it seemed that Lock had been under for too long, the fair-haired officer suddenly shot up again, gasping. Water sloshed and splashed over the edge of the tub, soaking the floor, and Lock shook the water from his hair like a dog. He groaned, squinted up at Singh, and rubbed his eyes.
    ‘Sid! How are you?’ he smiled affably and sniffed. ‘What time is it?’
    ‘It is getting late, sahib. The sun will be gone soon.’
    Lock hauled his soaking body out of the bathtub and squelched over to the window. He pushed the shutters wide open and squinted at the setting sun.
    ‘What does Ross want, Sid?’
    ‘I do not know, sahib. Something to do with General Townshend, and the new election in Britain. Politics.’ Singh shrugged, and looked over to the two girls that still slumbered in the bed. ‘And she does too, sahib.’
    Lock shivered. Goosebumps had broken out on his skin.
    ‘She?’ he asked, as he turned back and pulled a sheet from the bed, wrapped it around himself, and walked over to the fireplace. He crouched down and reached for a fresh log from the basket at the side.
    ‘Memsahib Amy,’ Singh replied quietly.
    Lock threw another log onto the fire and stared silently down at the flames.
    ‘All right, Sid. I’m up. I’m sober … well, conscious anyway. You go on ahead. I need to get dressed and settle my account here.’
    ‘No, sahib,’ Singh smiled wryly down at his friend, ‘I am to accompany you. Major Ross’s strict orders.’
    Lock rose stiffly to his feet and walked over to the armchair. He let the