A Close Shave (Tales of Empire Book 3) by William Slim

Author:William Slim [Slim, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Published: 2023-04-04T16:00:00+00:00

General Hotblast VC and the Power of Command

This story, originally entitled ‘Cook, General’ was written in 1937 but was never published.

*

Major General Hector Hotblast, V. C. had had a good morning. The troops of his division had marched past the Exalted Visitor with a swing and a steadiness that could not fail to redound greatly to their commander's credit. The traffic control, the parking of the cars, the marshalling of the spectators had all gone with admirable smoothness. The whole review must, thought the General complacently, have given in the right quarters the impression that at the head of affairs was a man of personality, a man with power of command. There still remained the lunch, but he had taken the precaution of ascertaining what dishes the Exalted Visitor favoured, and, thank Heaven, that new cook was first class. Yes, the lunch would be all right, punctual and perfect like the rest of the arrangements. The General allowed his mind to dwell in pleasurable anticipation on the next Honours List – Sir Hector Hotblast, V. C., K. C.B. It came well off the tongue, very well indeed.

As he paced beside the Exalted Visitor towards the waiting cars, the General twisted his white moustache to an even more dashing angle and expanded his already ample chest. There was a slight but visible increase in the tension of his Sam Browne belt even now buckled in its last hole. Major General Hotblast was, as ever, a formidable figure yet some reflection of the pleasant thoughts passing through his mind showed in his rugged face, softening its habitual fierceness almost to benevolence.

Lieutenant Tommy Brown noted this mellowing effect, not only because it is the duty of an A.D.C. to study his General's every expression, but because, if this gentler mood persisted, he might take advantage of it. He might, he felt, hope to renew, without the certainty of the explosive refusal that had previously greeted it, the suggestion that the relationship of A.D.C. might be converted to the more intimate one of son-in-law.

The Exalted Visitor entered his car, the General followed; Lieutenant Tommy Brown and an Equerry slipped unobtrusively into the two seats facing them. Amid cheers, waving hats and handkerchiefs, they moved off towards Flagstaff House and lunch.

As the car approached the gate leading from the parade ground into the main road there was a rush of spectators, eager to catch a closer glimpse of the Exalted Visitor. The handful of red capped military police was swept aside and in a moment the exit was filled by a cheering crowd, growing denser every minute.

"Get out and clear ‘em away” barked General Hotblast to his A.D.C.

Tripping over the Exalted Visitor's long legs, Tommy scrambled out, and advanced, a little dubiously, on the crowd.

“I say,” he appealed “you might get back, you know…”

The crowd grinned at him tolerantly and went on cheering.

“I say, really, you know! You must get back, please…”

Lieutenant Tommy Brown made shooing motions with his arms. There was a little laughter mixed with the cheers.

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