devlin 01 - the eagle has landed(1975) by Bill

Author:Bill [Bill, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePub Bud (www.epubbud.com)
Published: 2012-01-08T16:00:00+00:00

‗Very well. Appleby.‘

The boy returned Kane‘s salute, turned and doubled away.

‗I thought Americans were supposed to take things terribly easy,‘ Pamela said.

Kane grinned. ‗You don‘t know Shafto. I think they must have coined the term martinet especially for him.‘

As they went up the steps to the terrace, an officer came out through the French windows. He stood facing them, slapping a riding crop against his

knee, full of a restless animal vitality. Pamela did not need to be told who he was. Kane saluted. ‗Colonel Shafto, allow me to present Miss Vereker.‘

Robert Shafto was at that time forty-four years of age, a handsome, arrogant-looking man; a flamboyant figure in polished top boots and riding breeches. He wore a forage cap slanted to his left eye and the two rows of medal ribbons above his left pocket made a bright splash of colour. Perhaps

the most extraordinary thing about him was the pearl handled Colt .45 he carried in an open holster on his left hip.

He touched his riding crop to his brow and said gravely, ‗I was distressed to hear of your accident, Miss Vereker. If there is anything I can do to make up

for the clumsiness of my men . . .‘

‗That‘s most kind of you,‘ she said. ‗However, Major Kane here has very kindly offered to run me back to Studley Constable, if you can spare him, that is.

My brother is priest there.‘

‗The least we can do.‘

She wanted to see Kane again and there seemed to be only one sure way she could accomplish that. She said, ‗We‘re having a little party at the presbytery tomorrow night. Nothing very special. Just a few friends for drinks and sandwiches. I was wondering whether you and Major Kane would care

to join us.‘ Shafto hesitated. It seemed obvious that he was going to make some excuse and she carried on hurriedly. ‗Sir Henry Willoughby will be there,

the local squire. Have you met yet?‘

Shafto‘s eyes lit up. ‗No, I haven‘t had that pleasure.‘

‗Miss Vereker‘s brother was a padre with the First Parachute Brigade,‘

Kane said. ‗Dropped with them at Oudna in Tunisia last year. You remember that

one, Colonel?‘

‗I certainly do,‘ Shafto said. ‗That was one hell of an affair. Your brother must be quite a man to have survived that, young lady.‘

‗He was awarded the Military Cross,‘ she said. ‗I‘m very proud of him.‘

‗And so you should be. I‘ll be happy to attend your little soiree tomorrow night and have the pleasure of meeting him. You make the necessary arrangements, Harry.‘ He saluted again with the riding crop. ‗And now you must excuse me. I have work to do.‘

*‗

Were you impressed?‘ Kane asked her as they drove back along the coast road in his jeep.

I‘m not sure,‘ she said. ‗He‘s rather a flamboyant figure, you must admit.‘

The understatement of this or any other year,‘ he said. ‗Shafto is what is known in the trade as a fighting soldier. The kind of guy who used to lead his

men over the top of some trench in Flanders in the old days armed with a swagger stick.

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