The Unseen Enemy by Tom Walker

Author:Tom Walker [Walker, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Published: 2023-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

*

Charlie stumbled out of the Mess into the pitch-black night. He fumbled for his pipe, but a sharp pain in his bladder told him that he needed to pee. He glanced about and, deciding that the walk back to the lavatories was too far, opted to unburden himself in the bushes opposite. He pushed through a gap in the hedge, unbuttoning his trousers as he did so. He planted his feet and pissed confidently onto the mulchy ground, whistling the tune to Whispering Grass. It was at this point he realised he was not alone.

Two shadowy figures shared the space with him. They were locked in a tight embrace, he realised as his vision adjusted to the dark. Perceiving his presence, they parted as if separated by an electric shock. One sprinting back through the hedge, the other attempted to follow but collided with a tree and fell backwards onto the damp earth, cursing.

‘Strickland?’

Charlie leaned over to help the man, but his hand was batted away.

‘Get your hands off me,’ Strickland stammered as he hauled himself to his feet, ‘I’m quite capable of standing myself.

‘Oh, sorry. You’ve got leaves stuck to you,’ Charlie replied.

‘Your trousers are undone.’

Charlie replied, ‘I didn’t mean to startle you. I’d no idea you were in here.’

Strickland stared back silently. Charlie was unsure whether to speak or not.

‘That was the idea. I suppose you’re going to turn me in then?’

‘Turn you in? What for?’

‘You’ve heard the rumours. God, I know the way they talk about me behind my back on the Squadron. “Splendid chap, Strickland. Shame he never married”. And they wink over their beers.’

‘I don’t follow you,’ Charlie said, bemused.

‘Don’t pull my leg. For being homosexual, obviously.’

‘Why should I do that? You can’t help it.’

‘I’m sure the RAF will look at it like that.’

‘It’s a big company, what it doesn’t know can’t hurt it.’

‘I say, you really mean that?’

‘I do. But all the same, why don’t we step out from behind here?’

On the way back, Strickland was first to break the silence.

‘You know, I’ve never confided in anyone that I feel this way. Well, not to any friends.’ Drunken hoots and roars echoed from the bar. Charlie considered his next words carefully.

‘You can trust me. But just be more careful, please. We can’t afford to lose a good flight commander now. Things are tough enough for the Boss as it is.’

Strickland stared at him for a moment, before replying, ‘I understand.’

‘Good,’ Charlie said, turning to leave.

‘You think I’m a good flight commander then?’

‘You’re alright,’ Charlie smiled.

‘You know, despite what I said, I’d do anything for my chaps. You know that, right? It’s difficult to see sometimes but I want to be like Horatius at the Bridge.’

‘Who?’

‘The Roman chap who held off the Etruscans. He held the bridge over the Tiber so his mates could pull it down and save Rome. Like in Macaulay’s poem.’

Charlie made a face to signify the extent of his knowledge of Macaulay. Seeing it, Strickland continued in a theatrical voice, ‘To

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.