The Tyranny Trilogy by Rupert Colley

Author:Rupert Colley [Colley, Rupert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PublishDrive
Published: 2017-04-05T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9: The Hunt

Adolphus felt hung-over but then he did most mornings. But he was damned if a thumping head and a queasy stomach was going to stop him from making the most of Otto’s rifle. Sunday was his friend’s day at the market in the neighbouring village, four kilometres away. The evening before, in a drunken show of friendship, he’d agreed to let Adolphus use the rifle for the day. And Adolphus felt honoured by Otto’s trust, for Otto said he’d never lent it out before.

Adolphus enjoyed his evenings with his new friend. After months of despair in this godforfuckingsaken village in the land the Nazis forgot, it was a relief to have found a mate, for here, in this shithole, time dragged. Generally, things had slowly started improving – the villagers were gradually coming round to accepting the exiled commie and his family. His wife, Marta, and he were now on civil speaking terms with the neighbours, as were the twins with their daughter, Monika. And then Otto appeared. What a man with his glass eye, his rifle, and his capacity for drink that rivalled his own.

Marta prepared his breakfast – porridge and coffee, standing at the stove, wooden spoon in hand, a fresh bruise on her face. The twins sat at the table with him, neither of them saying much, sullen as usual. He knew why, they didn’t like him hitting their mother; they resented it. Wimps. His own father used to dole out far worse to him and his mother, and did he complain? Did she? No, of course not, wouldn’t dare to, but it did him, and her, a lot of good, taught him to be tough, to be a man. It prepared him for life.

‘So then, boys, ready to come out later with your old man?’

Silence.

‘Martin? Peter?’

Still silence.

‘Well, what about it? I’ll teach you how to fire the rifle and who knows, you might bag your own supper.’

‘Do you really think that’s wise, Adolphus?’ said Marta from the stove.

‘Oh, for goodness sake, course it is.’

‘But a rifle? You forget sometimes, they’re only thirteen.’

‘If they’re going to become country boys they might as well start learning to live like ones.’

‘I’m not happy–’

‘I’m not asking whether you’re happy with it, they’re coming out with me and that’s it.’

He caught a flicker of a smile on Martin’s face and felt vindicated. He reached out, placed his hand on the boy’s arm and winked at him.

*

The forest felt cool after the warmth and effort of trekking through the wheat fields. With Otto’s rifle cocked and slung over his shoulder, Adolphus felt rejuvenated – the hangover was gone, his stomach full, his lungs full of country air.

‘Come on, boys, keep up.’ They caught him up, panting. They were enjoying themselves; they wouldn’t admit it but he could tell, especially Martin. They shared half a bottle of water between them. ‘We’ve got a kilometre or two to walk first, and then we’ll see what’s around. OK?’

‘Yeah, sure,’ said one.

‘OK,’ said the other.

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.