The Secret Message by John Townsend

Author:John Townsend [John Townsend]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781272770
Publisher: Ransom Publishing
Published: 2013-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

NO MAN’S LAND

The night was thick with smoke and clinging fog. As they clambered from the dugout through oozing clay and twisted wire, the heavy blanket of mist engulfed them. Stumbling with heads down through soupy, putrid puddles, they couldn’t see a thing – not even each other. Freddy looked up to see if any lights on the horizon might give a sense of direction – as a hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into the mud.

‘Keep your head down, you imbecile,’ the sergeant hissed. ‘Don’t move a muscle. That’s an order. This blasted fog is thicker than they warned and these binoculars are useless. I reckon it’s that way.’ He pointed to the left.

‘But if I’m not mistaken, sir …’ Giles interrupted, ‘the German lines were due north and we now seem to be heading west into the minefield.’

The sergeant swore and swung round with eyes raging. ‘Who the hell told you to speak? You’re a private, so what do you know? Just because you’re posh, you know better, eh? Then let me tell you, sunshine – we’re in the middle of ruddy no-man’s land, that’s where we are.’

A sudden blast threw a spray of mud and a plume of acrid smoke over their sprawling bodies. Gordon whimpered and the sergeant snapped, ‘Shut your whinging, lad. Get up and follow me.’

Freddy couldn’t stop himself. ‘I think my brother was right, sir. Shouldn’t we get our bearings first?’

The sergeant spat back. ‘You’re an idiot, Ovel. I give the orders round here. When I say we go, we go in the direction I command. Got it? I’ve already decided the Hun’s position. Here’s the proof. Ovel, raise your rifle above your head.’

Freddy stared in dismay. ‘Sir?’

‘I said hold up your rifle. If Fritz doesn’t fire, we know it’s safe to make a run for it.’

‘And if they do fire, sir?’

‘I reassess. Don’t worry, lad – they won’t hit from this distance. Not in this fog.’

Freddy knew the risk of answering back, but he couldn’t stop himself. ‘What distance? We don’t know where we are, sir.’

‘Raise your rifle, Ovel. That’s an order. Hold your rifle above your head for five seconds.’

Giles couldn’t bear to watch. ‘Freddy, I don’t think you should …’

The obscenity flew louder than a gunshot. ‘Are you questioning my order? That’s a court martial offence. I’ll have you done for cowardice if you dare speak again.’

Scrambling to his knees, Freddy gabbled desperately, ‘All right, sir. I’ll do it. Here goes …’

He gingerly lifted his rifle above his head, as the sergeant counted slowly.

‘You see, lad – what’s all the fuss? Fritz can’t see a thing either.’

A sudden shot ripped past them. Freddy fell back into a crater, tangled in razor wire.

Giles slithered through the mud to reach him, as the sergeant barked, ‘He’s not hit, you fool. My plan worked. Now we know where they are, we make a dash for it in the opposite direction – to the right.’ He paused before he sputtered, ‘I can smell gas – get out of here.

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