Hanging on the Wire by Gillian Linscott

Author:Gillian Linscott [Gillian Linscott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2013-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

FOURTEEN

‘DESERTION.’

Brigadier Moss practically spat the word at Dr Stroud, standing in the porch, booted legs apart. Jenny had tactfully disappeared before he came out to see what was causing the delay. I stayed.

‘You are aware that this is a case of desertion?’

‘Yes, I’m aware of that.’

Dr Stroud’s voice was weary.

‘Say “Sir” when you address me.’

Brigadier Moss’s voice was like a blow.

‘Yes, Sir, I am aware it is a case of desertion. But I would point out that this is a hospital for …’

‘It’s still a military establishment. What do you propose to do about it?’

‘Clearly, we’ll have to look for him … Sir.’

‘And how do you propose to set about that? When was this man last seen? Was he present at morning roll call?’

‘You’ll appreciate, Sir, that things were confused this morning.’

‘Meaning you didn’t take a roll call? What about last night?’

I already knew enough about Nantgarrew to be sure that roll calls formed no part of its routine. Dr Stroud did his best.

‘He was present at the evening meal.’

‘So for all we know he may have disappeared during the night?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘For heaven’s sake, man, he could be thirty miles away by now.’

At least he didn’t know about the bicycle and I certainly wouldn’t be the one to tell him. The Brigadier’s reaction to Robin’s disappearance had at least confirmed one thing for me. Whether he’d shot Keyson or not, I was in no hurry to hand him back to the system that made a death sentence out of a word.

I watched, through the late afternoon and evening, as search parties were organised. David, along with two of Dr Caspian’s more athletic patients, was detailed to search the hill ridges. He set off, swinging an ash stick and looking more like a hiker than a soldier, and I knew that he at least would be out of the way for hours. Sergeant Kelso, the driver and the Padre were sent marching up the valley road, the Padre roaring out ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ as they went, in a surprisingly strong baritone. Brigadier Moss drove himself down the valley, Dr Stroud sitting uncomfortably beside him, to interrogate the local farmers. The sun was down on the top of the hills by the time they got back and Brigadier Moss’s temper had not improved. When he found that none of his other search parties had any success he announced he was going back to Newport to begin a wider hunt.

‘At the moment, I’ve no alternative but to leave you in charge here, Major Stroud. You may expect to hear from me.’

That was said in front of Dr Caspian and several patients as Brigadier Moss climbed into his motor car. Dr Stroud made no reply and the car roared away down the drive, the staccato bursts of its engine seeming to make their own military comment on the state of affairs at Nantgarrew.

Jenny came out when the car drove away, face full of questions, hands clasped together so hard they must have been hurting each other.

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