Starshine by John Wilcox

Author:John Wilcox
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
ISBN: 9780749012946
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2012-07-27T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Hickman regained consciousness as he was being handed down into the trench. He could hear Bertie saying something but he had no idea what it was, for he was adrift in a sea of pain which seared into intensity as he was jolted along the line and then lowered onto a stretcher. He was dimly aware that his injured leg was being strapped to the other when blessed unconsciousness took him again.

He came to amidst the noise of what he immediately recognised as an advanced dressing station. A doctor was speaking, in the tones of a man who had had little sleep and was harassed and clearly near the edge. ‘For God’s sake man, don’t bring me any more like that,’ he was saying. ‘There’s no hope for them so it’s a waste of time and stretcher space to bring them back. Leave ’em out there to die. Bring me ones I can treat …’

Oh Lord, thought Jim. Which one am I?

He was answered when someone rapidly untied the bandage binding one leg to the other. ‘Oh good.’ The doctor’s face came into focus: moustached, perspiring and haggard. ‘You’re conscious. What was it?’

‘A machine gun,’ he croaked.

‘Hmmm. Better that than a shell, anyway. Calf’s all right. Gone clean through. Foot’s a mess, though. Can’t do anything with that. You’ll have to go down the line. In much pain?’

‘A fair bit, yes.’

‘Right. I’ll give you a jab. Hold still …’

He awoke again – he knew not how much later – to hear someone softly singing: ‘At seventeen, he falls in love quite madly, with eyes of—’

‘Bertie.’

‘Aw, bless the Lord you’ve come round.’ The red, round face came into view, bending over him. ‘How’re you feeling, old lad?’

‘Could be worse. Where am I and what the hell are you doing here?’

‘Well, now, that’s a fine way to talk to a bloke what’s brought you in from no man’s land, I must say. Jimmy lad, you’re well behind the line at a field hospital. What’s left of the battalion – and that ain’t much, old son – has been granted a few days’ leave behind the lines and I managed to find you here. Can’t stay long, so I’m glad you’ve come round, like.’

‘Many of the lads have gone, then?’

‘Oh aye, Jim.’ The blue eyes had now lost all their sparkle. ‘Most of the whole bloody battalion, including the colonel, the adjutant and virtually all of the officers. All attacking that bloody village, so it was. It was a massacre, son. A bloody massacre.’

Hickman grimaced. ‘Did Flanagan get back?’

Murphy’s face reflected the grimace. ‘Yes. The Devil favours his own, so he does. Unlike you, though, he didn’t bring anyone back with him. An’ he tried to cause trouble but didn’t succeed.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He reported you to the only one of our officers to survive, Captain Willerby of C Company. He said you had deserted the trench with what was left of your platoon an’ left him stranded, so to speak.’

Hickman stirred. ‘So I bloody well did.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.