The Forever Man: Betrayal by Craig Zerf

Author:Craig Zerf [Zerf, Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Small Dog Publishing
Published: 2015-06-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

‘We’ve lost eight commando groups in the last two days,’ said Tad. ‘All totally wiped out. That’s one hundred and sixty men. We have to do something about it. It can’t go on like this. I suggest that we increase the size of the commando groups, maybe one hundred. Venture out in strength. Also, the ratio of young inexperienced men is far too high. I think that we need to put at least thirty older more experienced warriors in each enlarged group. A captain or lieutenant in charge, instead of some newbie. What do you think?’

Nathaniel stood on the battlements of the wall and stared out across the open land and into enemy held territory. ‘Have the Fair-Folk engaged the Roaches yet?’ He asked, ignoring Tad’s question completely.

‘Nothing major,’ answered Tad. ‘A few minor scuffles but, on the whole, they seem to be pushing the Annihilators our way.’

‘So,’ continued the marine. ‘All seems to be going according to plan. Would you agree?’

‘On the whole, yes,’ agreed Tad.

‘So why do you want to put it all at risk by changing the plan?’

‘I don’t want to change the plan, per se,’ argued Tad. ‘I simply want to bolster the commando groups. One hundred and sixty lives are too many.’

‘Acceptable losses,’ said Nathaniel.

‘No losses are acceptable,’ argued Tad. ‘At least let me put some experienced men in charge of each group.’

Nathaniel shook his head. ‘Young men fight hard and take risks. Age and experience brings with it a certain reticence. We want the Annihilators to perceive our random attacks as a final act of desperation. Throwing our young men in their path in a futile ability to slow them down as they approach our final defenses.’

‘So,’ said Tad. ‘What you are saying is that we need to take casualties. It’s part of your plan.’

‘Regrettably, yes,’ sighed Nathaniel.

‘That’s cold,’ said Tad. That’s really cold. I don’t think that I can agree to that.’

The Forever Man turned and looked at Tad. His eyes bored into him, blazing like fire-lit emeralds. A frisson of fear rippled through the Little Big Man. He felt like a domesticated dog that has just been confronted by a full grown wolf for the first time. A disturbing mix of fear and respect and a need to please.

‘I never told you to agree with it,’ said The Forever Man. ‘I have simply told you to do it.’

Tad bowed slightly. ‘And so it shall be done, my king,’ he said. ‘Even though it wounds my very soul to do so.’

The Little Big Man turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Nathaniel alone on the wall.

‘It wounds me too,’ whispered Nathaniel. ‘And I shall have to live with it forever.’

In the next week they lost another ten score warriors. Two hundred young men, not yet out of their teens.

And the Annihilator advance continued across the front, heading for the killing ground in front of the wall.

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