Summer of the Three Pagodas by Jean Moran

Author:Jean Moran [Moran, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788542579
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2020-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Fighting finally began in earnest and war became as it always had been, confusion as much a part of its make-up as shelling, falling bombs and sporadic fire exchanged with a largely unseen enemy.

Pyongyang was heavily bombed, but the fighting on the ground to the south continued. Only the city of Pusan, a large city in the south-east of the country, seemed to be holding its own.

The countryside all around Seoul had become a battleground, a hit and miss affair of ground gained only to be lost again.

Under the circumstances things had gone well enough, though problems always arose in a multinational military manoeuvre, the business with the radios on different frequencies being just one of them.

Connor and his battalion – bloodied and sullen, staggered back to the outskirts of Seoul well aware that the DPRK was not far behind them.

The debriefing was fast and not without a few hard words exchanged between Connor and the US contingent sitting in judgement on what he had to say.

‘They’re right behind us and if we don’t act swiftly Seoul is lost.’

‘Nonsense. We’re bringing in fresh troops.’

‘I take it these will be men taken from the occupation force in Japan?’

‘Do you have a problem with that, Sergeant?’

‘They’re a peacekeeping force. Mostly new recruits that have never seen any action. Sir.’ The last word, the formal address, was added casually as though it was the last word he would have used for any of those sitting before him.

Jaws locked and the eyes that regarded him hardened. Connor was summarily dismissed and told to hold fast and stay in touch.

Once he’d closed the door firmly behind him, he stood seething. He would not – could not – move from his belief that a lot of dying would ensue before the incoming troops earned their spurs.

‘Sergeant O’Connor?’

Colonel Warrington had approached him unheard. The very fact that he was here surprised him.

He saluted as was expected of him, though reluctantly. It was down to this man that Rowena was here and you, he thought, like a bloody lovesick fool, followed right behind her.

‘Sir.’

‘You look surprised, Sergeant Major.’

‘I wasn’t expecting to see you here, sir. I understood you were based in Hong Kong with the UN delegation.’

‘Let’s just say I got tired of sitting behind a desk.’

Warrington was smoking a fat cigar, his eyes steely through the pungent smoke.

‘I want to speak to you. Come on through.’

Connor followed him along a cool passageway into his office. Warrington sat in the upholstered chair behind his desk. With a flick of his wrist, he indicated the chair immediately opposite.

‘Cigar?’

Connor took one, rolling it between his fingers as he tried to guess what this was all about. Warrington had a reputation for getting things done and was rumoured to be involved in the more unsavoury aspects of spying and subterfuge. What was he after?

The colonel didn’t offer him a light.

‘I’ll keep it for later.’ It slid easily into his top pocket. Wondering at the thinking behind this treatment, he locked his hands together in his lap and waited.

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