To Touch the Clouds : The Frontier Series 5 Read Free Page A

answered, glancing at his tiny monoplane parked only a few yards away. ‘I know aeroplanes will be vital in winning the war when it does come.’
    Patrick smiled. ‘Maybe, as a means of observing the enemy and directing cavalry formations against them.’
    ‘More than that,’ Matthew said with passion creeping into his voice. ‘They will be used to bomb and machine-gun the enemy in places where we cannot reach them with our current arms. Only the lack of development of better aircraft prevents us from equipping planes to carry out those tasks already. We both saw what those rapid firing weapons could do to us in South Africa,’ Matthew continued, referring to the time when he had enlisted under-age and fought as a mounted infantryman at Elands River while his cousin Patrick Duffy served as an officer with the mounted infantry in many battles of the Boer War. Matthew’s youth hadbeen eventually revealed and he was sent home to Australia. ‘I think the days of the mass cavalry charges are over. Aeroplanes will become the new cavalry to swoop on targets and support our infantry.’
    ‘You know, you are talking military heresy,’ Patrick cautioned, grinning. ‘The gentleman of the cavalry will never admit to being upstaged by mere machines.’
    ‘Mounted infantry will still have a role,’ Matthew consoled. ‘I just see that the invention of the aeroplane is going to change warfare beyond our wildest dreams.’
    ‘Matthew,’ Patrick said, ‘it is getting late and I have to return to Sydney for an important company meeting but I need to talk to you at more length about your ideas. There are people I want you to meet and I am offering for you and Mr Gates to come to my place on the harbour. You know where my house is. If it is possible I would like to have you both attend – say, next Sunday at 3pm. We have important business to talk about.’
    Matthew sighed. He always felt that the time might come when he would eventually be forced into a meeting with his estranged Sydney family. It had been many years since he had met with Fenella Macintosh on a beach at Manly to say farewell. He vividly remembered the pain in her eyes as he walked away and out of her life.
    As if reading Matthew’s thoughts Patrick added with a smile, ‘Fenella will be at dinner that day with her young man.’
    ‘I am glad to hear that, sir,’ Matthew answered.
    ‘I am your cousin,’ Patrick continued. ‘You may as well call me by my name. After all, you no longer have any connections to the army that I know of.’
    ‘I think that I would be more comfortable calling you by your first name, Colonel.’
    Patrick slapped Matthew on the shoulder, understanding the military joke between them. Despite their blood link the younger man was paying his cousin the respect due to a highly decorated and experienced soldier. It would not be Patrick but Colonel that Matthew would continue to call his cousin.
    ‘As you wish,’ Patrick replied, turning to walk back to his car which he’d parked at the end of the paddock by a newly constructed sturdy tin shed. ‘I will see you both next Sunday for dinner.’
    As Randolph and Matthew watched him stride away Randolph turned to Matthew. ‘What was that all about?’
    ‘I am not sure,’ Matthew answered, shaking his head. ‘It has been years since I last had contact with the family in Sydney and now the colonel suddenly turns up out of nowhere. Whatever it is, I am sure we will learn over a good meal and port wine at the Macintosh mansion on Sunday. In the meantime, we have to put the old girl to bed.’
    Matthew and Randolph strode towards the little Bleriot. Hooking up ropes, they pulled it towards the shed they’d especially constructed to house the aircraft. As they towed the Bleriot Matthew could not take his thoughts off Fenella. It had been so many years and they had both changed so much. Matthew had one advantage in their meeting, however. He had seen her while sitting in the darkened