The Accidental Spy by Jack Durish

Author:Jack Durish [Durish, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-06-15T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Nick follows a shallow ravine as he approaches the mission in the failing light of day. He studies the small cluster of buildings in the twilight. No smoke evinces any fire. No movement evinces any occupation. Even the air is still with expectation, and the frozen stalks of weeds stand at attention.

Evenly spaced trees in a cluster on the far side of the mission suggest an orchard though their limbs are bare in the winter cold. Nick is familiar with apple and pear orchards that abound at home. These might be them he thinks to himself. Maybe peaches.

He had told the others that he might not return until daybreak to give himself plenty of time to scout the place carefully. He waits for the cover of darkness before crossing the bare earth that separates him from the ravine to the edge of the nearest building, a shed.

One-by-one, Nick investigates every building. All are deserted. The few pieces of furniture that remain are broken. It appears that refugees or soldiers may have sheltered there, but none recently. There is no trace of food or anything useful to sustain life or give comfort. Still, the walls are solid, and the windows can be covered to contain any warmth that can be generated in the copious fireplaces and old cast iron stoves that he finds in every room.

Nick leaves the chapel for last. Surprisingly, the pews remain though they have been toppled like dominoes and lay in disarray. Bibles and hymnals are scattered on the floor, most torn and desecrated. He is bending to pick one up when he feels a hand on his foot.

A voice whispers from the shadows. "You're out of uniform, Joe."

Nick jumps to one side and crouches with his bayonet at the ready. He is surprised when a nasty-looking blade begins to encircle his neck. His reflexes save him from its edge. He drops and rolls and rises to face a point midway between the two threats he had encountered. When the voice again sounds from behind, Nick spins and faces it as he wonders how many of them there are.

It whispers again from behind. "Very good, Joe. I couldn't have done better myself. Many throats have been slit by my blade and I could have slit yours before I said anything, but you're not my enemy."

Nick scans left and right searching for a wall to put at his back. “Who are you?”

A Gurkha infantryman steps out from the shadows in a place that Nick hadn't expected. "An ally."

Nick slides his leading foot back to turn his other side towards the Nepalese warrior and tosses the bayonet to the hand that is now closest to the Gurkha.

"Who are you, Joe? Why are you leading a band of women and children?"

Nick's eyes narrow as he studies his adversary. He is less than average in height, but wiry and quick. "Is there anyone with you?"

The Gurkha laughs. "No, just me. Do I seem like more?"

Nick smiles in spite of himself. "You had me wondering.

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