Craven's War: Stand and Fight by Thomas Nick S

Author:Thomas, Nick S.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swordworks
Published: 2021-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Wellington glared at one of the pamphlets they had recovered whilst Craven and Ferreira awaited from across the table for some response. Thorny studied another behind the General. The words clearly meant nothing to either of them as Wellington finally turned it around and held it up towards Ferreira.

“This is aimed at you, I am told?” he asked angrily.

“Yes, Sir.”

“And what does it promise you?”

“Money, Sir, and freedom to go home to our families without harm.”

Wellington sighed as he looked back to Thorny in horror, the Major appeared as equally concerned.

“Sir, you fear the men in Almeida would take this offer?”

“I fear them believing it would be enough to lead to ruin,” replied Wellington.

“Pay is late, and those men besieged have little to look forward to, far less when the guns start firing,” admitted Thorny.

“You think they would take the money, Sir?” Craven asked.

“Don’t be a fool, Captain. Of course men under duress will take a handful of coin,” snapped Wellington. He sighed and sat back in his chair to think the situation over.

“This prisoner says the enemy have a man on the inside, in Almeida, is that correct?”

“That is what he said, Sir.”

“Not all that surprising, we have spies everywhere and so do the enemy,” replied Thornhill.

“We need Almeida to stand strong as long as it can, and that should be no short time. We cannot have the enemy undermining the troops there, especially as we have so little influence. If word got out about this, the whole garrison could turn on Colonel Cox and surrender to the damned French!” Wellington looked to Ferreira.

“Do you share my fears? Would your countrymen give up the fortress?”

“I fear they would.”

“Captain Craven, you bring me problems, but do you also bring me solutions?”

“The prisoner we have will surely not be the only man delivering material such as this, Sir, and if there is a spy amongst the troops, he may succeed with it all by himself. He could have sowed the seeds of doubt for weeks or months.”

“Can we get word to Colonel Cox?” Wellington asked the Major.

“It will not be easy, and even if we could, how would he weed out such a spy? Any attempts could be enough to cause the entire garrison to turn against him and do the spy’s job for him.”

Wellington thought about it for a few moments before he smiled, realising the answer was standing right before his very eyes.

“Yes, you two gentlemen brought this to our attention, and so you are perfectly positioned with which to continue on the work.”

Craven coughed and stuttered.

“You…you want us to go in there?”

“You are most adept to spotting a rogue, and Captain Ferreira here speaks the language and can gain more insight.”

“Is the fortress not encircled by the enemy, Sir?” Ferreira asked.

“Certainly, but one or two men might make it inside under the cover of darkness,” replied Thorny.

“I don’t see you volunteering, Sir!”

“Captain Craven, when I allowed you to go on serving with this army, in spite of

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