The Last of the Cockleshell Heroes by Bill Sparks Michael Munn

Author:Bill Sparks, Michael Munn [Bill Sparks, Michael Munn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, World War I
ISBN: 9781473815889
Google: mAWSAwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-10-21T04:11:40+00:00

6

THE FRENCH ROUGHNECKS OF THE MAQUIS were suddenly our greatest friends. The man who owned the house now became a most gracious host, and he lavished bread, beans and ham on us. We could spend the night there; in fact, he insisted that we should.

There was a much older man there who decided to strike up a conversation with me. I turned to Blondie. ‘What’s he saying?’

‘He wants to give you a drink.’

This was a cheery invitation indeed. I smiled broadly and in my best French accent, which left much to be desired, I said, ‘Ah, oui!’ which was about all the French I could manage. The man beckoned me to follow him. We went outside to a shed where he produced a bottle of brandy and a glass. He poured out a small amount for me. It was brilliant green but hardly more than a mouthful. Mean old bugger, is this all he’s giving me, I thought.

I tipped it back, and gasped for breath; it nearly blew my head off. He laughed loudly as I clutched my burning throat. Right, I thought, I’ll get my own back. ‘Have a go at this, chum,’ I said, taking out my flask of pusser’s rum and offering it to him. He took the flask, put it to his lips and gulped greedily. When he finally stopped and handed the flask back to me, I tipped it upside down; not a drop fell out.

‘You drank the lot,’ I said. ‘You are a mean old bugger!’

Later our host led us to a bedroom where we would spend the night. We realized that we were turning both him and his wife out of their own bed. Blondie protested that this was not necessary, but again the man was insistent. Not wanting to offend him, not now that he was on our side, we turned in for the night. I looked in wonder at the bed — a real bed. I tested it for comfort with my hand. Hard as a rock by normal standards, to me it felt like a bed of air. I lay down; Blondie climbed in beside me. That night we slept as soundly as two newborn babes.

Our host clattered into the room bright and early the next morning. We rose, feeling refreshed and optimistic. Breakfast was ready, there was food to take with us and our water cans had been filled.

The young guide from the previous day had returned. He would show us where to go, he announced cheerfully, and tomorrow we should be in Ruffec.

Blondie thanked our host profusely and feeling as though we might really now be on our way to freedom, and with food in our bellies, we set off through the forest with the young man.

We made good headway and the day was thankfully void of any excitement. The time came for a brief respite. We sat down and took out our water cans for a refreshing drink. To my surprise and delight, instead of cool water I tasted a fruity red wine.

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