blockhouse lines, wearing down their horses, giving them no chance to
rest, employing exactly their tactics of skirmishing. Against the
commandos use counter, commandos. ' Acheson nodded thoughtfully. 'Go
on,' he said.
'Then, clear out the farms, ' Sean went on recklessly. 'Bring in the
women and old men whose crops keep the commandos fed. Force them to
operate in a vacuum. ' In the years ahead Sean was to regret the
impulse that made him say it. Perhaps Kitchener would have scorched
the land without Sean's suggestion, perhaps he had no hand in the
formation of the concentration camps that bred bitterness, Sean would
spend the rest of his life trying to sweetep. But he could never be
certain. He was drunk and angry, but later this knowledge would not
comfort him.
Now suddenly he felt empty as though in a premonition of the monstrous
seed he had sown and he sank into brooding silence while the others
passed his ideas back and forth, building on them, already beginning to
plan.
When the dinner party broke up and they drifted through to drink
coffee, Sean made one more attempt to tear down the barrier between his
brother and himself. He went to him with his pride in his hands and
offered it. 'I was in Ladyburg last month. All's well there. Ada
writes to say, ' 'I receive a weekly letter not only from my wife but
from my stepmother and my son. I am fully aware of the latest news
from home. Thank you. ' Garry stared over Sean's shoulder as he
replied.
'Garry .
'Excuse me. ' Garry nodded briefly and limped away to speak to a
brother officer. He kept his back toward Sean.
'Let's go home, Candy.
'But, Sean .
'Come on.'
Sean slept very little that night.
The Headquarters of the General Officer Commanding the eastern sector
were tastefully situated in the offices of a brewery company in Plein
Street. Major Peterson was waiting for Garry when he arrived.
'I sent for you two hours ago, sir.
'I was indisposed,' Garry told him.
'Old Ach is not in a very good mood today, we'd better not keep him
waiting any longer. Come along.'
Down the passage, where orderlies bustled, Peterson led him, to a door
at the far end. He knocked once and then opened it. Acheson looked up
from his paperwork.
'Colonel Courtney is here, sir.'
'Thank you, Peterson. Come in, Courtney.
Peterson closed the door and left Garry standing alone on the thick
Persian rug in front of Acheson's desk.
'I sent for you two hours ago, Courtney. ' Acheson used the same
reprimand, and Garry shifted his leg uncomfortably.
'I wasn't too well this morning, sir. Had to get the doctor in.Acheson
fingered his white moustache as he examined the dark circles beneath
