Hide and Seek for Love Read Free

exceedingly thirsty in the heat of the sun, but he thought it would be a mistake to stop for any length of time or linger for too long to talk to the tribesmen who spoke to him.
    As he had learnt in his many years of service, just one faulty word or one uneasy movement could make the enemy suspicious.
    If he was on edge, the tribesmen were too, thinking about what they had to do before dawn the next day.
    On and on he shuffled, walking in the almost limp manner of a tired elderly man.
    As he grew nearer and nearer to the Fort, he could see there were just a few soldiers moving about with most of them obviously following the Indian habit of enjoying a long siesta at midday.
    There were a number of bushy shrubs growing not far from the main gate and David sat down in their shade, crossing his legs Indian style and bending his head as if he was concerned only with his prayers.
    The gates of the Fort were closed and he could only wait and hope that they would soon be opened to receive a visitor or one of their own Officers.
    It was over two hours later when he could see two horsemen followed by a detachment of soldiers coming up the side of an adjacent hill.
    They were, he thought, some Officers calling on the Colonel or perhaps they were carrying a message from the powers that be.
    It would be dangerous, as David well knew, for the Officers to ride alone without an escort.
    It was a regular joke that behind every stone on the North-West Frontier there was an enemy waiting to take a potshot at you.
    Sadly it was true and David knew that the Officers, although they appeared at ease, were acutely conscious that at any moment a rifle might be fired at them.
    To reach the path that led to the main gates of the Fort they would have to pass by him.
    Slowly he rose to his feet.
    Then, as the Officers rode towards him, he held out his hand.
    â€œHelp the poor, Sahib.  Help those who are hungry.  Help those who are ill.”
    He was speaking exactly in the sing-song voice of an Indian beggar.
    As the Officers were completely ignoring him, he ran beside their horses, calling out again and again,
    â€œHelp, Sahibs, please help and you will be blessed by Allah for your kindness.”
    Those watching from the Fort had seen the Officers approaching and the gates swung open.
    As the horsemen rode into the Fort, David followed closely behind them.
    He was well inside before the Sergeant of the guard saw him.
    â€œ You ,” he called out, “get out of ’ere!”
    The Sergeant walked menacingly towards him.
    As he reached him, David said in English,
    â€œTake me immediately to your Colonel – ”
    The Sergeant stared at him.
    By this time the two Officers had rode on and were dismounting as two soldiers ran to their horses’ heads.
    â€œClose the gate now,” David ordered the Sergeant.  “Bolt it and then take me to the Colonel at once.”
    The Sergeant was obviously astonished, but equally he was aware that despite his extraordinary appearance the man speaking to him was English – and he was giving him orders in the same manner that a British Officer would do.
    David pulled off his headgear and smoothed back his greasy hair.
    He was tired, very tired, but he had achieved what he had set out to accomplish and this at least gave him a small glow of satisfaction.
    The Sergeant had told the guard to shut the gate and now he was back again at David’s side.
    â€œWho are you?” he demanded aggressively.
    â€œThat is my business, Sergeant.  Now do as I told you and hurry about it.  There is no time to be lost.”
    Bewildered yet feeling he could not refuse to obey him, the Sergeant walked ahead.
    The two Officers, unaware of what had occurred, had already disappeared and their escort were chatting with a small group of soldiers.
    David could hear them laughing and no one had the slightest idea that he had achieved a minor victory in The Great Game by getting himself into