09 Beyond the Frontier (Jack Windrush #9) by Malcolm Archibald

Author:Malcolm Archibald [Archibald, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798735860914
Amazon: B0926K2KKY
Publisher: Blurb
Published: 2020-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

“No, Windrush.” Hook, now dressed in full uniform, sat on a cane chair beside Jack, Elliot, and Roberts, alternatively sipping at a whisky and puffing a cheroot. “No, I won't support Bacha Khan, even if he is an old friend of yours.”

“You can trust him, sir,” Jack said. “I've known Batoor, now Bacha Khan, for over twenty years. I consider him a friend.”

“Bacha Khan is an upstart,” Roberts said. “He is the chief of a minor Pashtun clan of the Afridis, trying to become Amir of Afghanistan so he can hob-nob with the Czar of Russia and the Queen-Empress.”

Jack could not deny that. “Aye, but Lytton himself said that Yakub Khan was a very slippery customer whom we shall be well rid of if he disappears.”

“Yakub Khan may or may not have been responsible for the massacre at Kabul,” Hook said. “We shall find out in time.”

“Cavagnari and Lieutenant Hamilton both sent to the Amir for help,” Jack said. “What Yakub Khan sent was half-hearted, to say the least. We'd be better with a man we can trust, and Bacha Khan has proved himself a friend in the past.”

“I appreciate that the fellow Batoor saved your life,” Roberts said. “But damn it, Windrush, you're a British officer, not a blasted politician! Your duty is to obey orders, not to act as king maker.”

“Bacha Khan also offered to help search for Skobelev,” Jack said.

“Skobelev is in Turkestan,” Hook said soberly. “I have a man keeping an eye on him all the time.”

Jack raised his eyebrows but said nothing. A major did not argue with a general. “Batoor must be mistaken then,” he said.

“You told me once you wanted to return to life as a regimental officer,” Hook said, raising his eyebrows. “Have you changed your mind? I'd welcome a political officer with your experience.”

“Major Windrush is going nowhere,” Eliot said. “You're not taking my most experienced officer, General Hook.”

“I have no desire to leave regimental duty, sir,” Jack said.

“Then this meeting is at an end,” Roberts said. “You have done your duty in passing on the intelligence, Major Windrush, and now, as far as you are concerned, the matter is at an end. Politics is a dirty business that we will leave to the politicians. As simple soldiers, our job is to obey orders and fight the Queen's enemy, whoever they happen to be.”

“Yes, sir,” Jack agreed. “I still say that Batoor – that is Bacha Khan – would be a better ally than Yakub Khan.”

“So do I, Windrush,” Hook agreed with a small smile. “However, I also have my orders to follow, and at present, they are to promote Yakub Khan as Amir and our trusted ally.”

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