Mutiny!: The War for India by Nigel Seed

Author:Nigel Seed [Seed, Nigel]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2021-12-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 33

Reinforcement Not Relief

By the time Steven reached the damaged gates of the residency they had been thrown wide open and the Sikhs and Highlanders had flowed inside. He paused below the stone archway and watched the exhausted but elated soldiers picking up and hugging the small children that ran to their deliverers. Women with dirty faces and dressed in the remains of their clothes brought water from the one remaining well for those men and wept tears of relief and joy. He felt the emotion swell behind his eyes as he looked for his friend in the crowd. He saw him, sitting with his rifle on the rampart, and Jenks raised a weary hand.

Ignoring the euphoria, he made his way through the crowd of people and sat down next to Jenkins. “You made it then, Bom. I was worried about you.”

Steven nodded. “I made it, but a hell of a lot of lads didn’t. The bridge was a killing ground and the loopholes in the houses turned the alleyways into another.”

“Never fuss, they knew what they were fighting for and we can get these people out of here now.”

“Not sure how we are going to do that, Jenks. These people don’t look like they’re in much condition to walk in this heat and there’s still thousands of pandees around the town.”

“They’ll have to ride on carts then, that’s all.”

“Nice idea, mate, but where are they going to find the carts? The relief column doesn’t have enough for all these kids and the wounded. Even if the women were in a condition to walk, I can’t see how we get out without being bloodied again.”

“Well, you’re a bloody Job’s comforter, aren’t you? Best you don’t tell the defenders, you’ll spoil the party.”

“There’s Mulroney just pulling in. How do you feel about seeing if he has any spare rations?”

“Bom, if you’re right, we’re going to need those rations. The food in here is running out a bit quick.”

They walked over to the quartermaster’s cart where Mulroney sat with the whip in his hand to make sure the rations were not looted by desperate people. He looked down at the two gunners.

“Still alive then, boys?”

“And yerself untouched as well. What news do you hear?”

Mulroney sighed. “Between you, me and that dead dog outside the gate, I think we might be in the shit.”

“How so?”

“The quartermaster was working things out with the two generals last night. Seems the relief is a bit of a bust. We might be staying here as reinforcements, to bolster the garrison until a more powerful relief force can get here.”

Jenkins leaned against the side of the cart and looked at Steven. “Bugger! I was looking forward to getting the hell out of here. Seems you were right, Bom.”

Steven felt no pleasure in being proved correct. He, too, would have preferred to leave this battered outpost. The prospect of being surrounded again by a significant number of rebel troops did not feel good at all.

As they were speaking the cavalry detachment made it through the gates and Lieutenant Thomas saw them and rode across.

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