War Game

and to Superintendent Weston, who was also his future boss as well as his immediate one, he resented the interloper's presence.

But there was nothing unusual about that professional tug-of-war; what distorted the pull was a third force exerted by his loyalty to the Double R Society, at least so far as he didn't want the interloper to get the wrong ideas about its operations.

'I see.' He nodded gravely, stifling the temptation to observe jocularly that James Ratcliffe's final 'special effect' had been the most spectacular of all. 'But this time he was just in charge of—ah—making smoke, eh?'

Digby gazed at him mournfully. 'No, sir.'

'No?'

'He was also one of the special casualties.' Digby swallowed.

Understatement of the day. But rather than say that Audley managed a mild questioning grunt.

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'The special effects are laid on to ... interest the spectators.'

Digby nerved himself to the required explanation with an obvious effort. 'On this occasion Jim Ratcliffe led our attack

—the Roundhead attack, that is—on the Royalist line right in front of the crowd—'

7. The battle will commence at 3.15 sharp. (i) Roundhead vanguard fired on by Royalists blocking line of advance along Old Road . . .

. . . (viii) General assault by Roundheads with whole force except vanguard (still engaging road block force). Death of Colonel Flowerdew (Roundhead commander) . . .

Audley frowned. 'I didn't know there was a Roundhead attack. I thought the Royalists simply charged, and that was that.'

'Oh, that was in the original battle— the real one.' Digby's voice lost its official flatness and became at once more animated. 'We didn't set out to reproduce it accurately, it wouldn't have been possible because—well, it was one big cavalry charge, and we've only got six horsemen.'

'And it would have been over too quickly.'

'It would. And it would have been dull for the crowd, too. It isn't that we don't try to be accurate when we can, as far as it's possible without horsemen. But this was a case where we dummy5

had to give people something for their money—'

'And there's nothing like 'the push of the pike' for that, eh?'

Audley decided that a non-patronising smile would be in order. 'So—Jim Ratcliffe led the attack. And became a

'special casualty'?'

'That's right, sir. He played the part of Colonel Flowerdew, who was hit by a cannon ball—he really was hit, in the real battle. We simply moved him up closer to the crowd so they could see what happened.'

'When what happened?'

'When—he was hit by a cannon ball.'

Audley lifted an eyebrow. 'And that, I take it, was a special effect—being hit by a cannon ball? I can see that it would be!'

Digby grinned. 'Only a small cannon ball. Not from a Saker or a Drake, but a Fawconet or even arabinet—a three-quarter pounder, say.'

'Oh, sure.' Audley grinned back, happy to have found this easy way through the sergeant's armour. 'Just a very little one. But it wouldn't have a very little effect—special effect, I mean.'

Digby's grin evaporated, as though he'd remembered suddenly that the discussion was not academic. 'No. Blood everywhere. The crowd really goes for that, sir.'

Very true, thought Audley. For crowds there was nothing like blood for money.

'So how do you give it to them, then?'

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'There are a number of different ways.' Digby shrugged.

'The one we use is the simplest and safest. The casualty wears a loose linen tunic—white for the best effect —and white breeches too if possible. Anything that'll show the blood, anyway. . . . And under it are fixed several contraceptives—condoms—full of red dye and a bit of air to make them easier to burst. Actually, we've tried using balloons, but condoms are better.'

But condoms are better: You Can Rely on Durex. Although this was one reliability test the family planners certainly hadn't thought of.

Only Digby was deadly serious now. And more, there was something in his manner which told Audley that it would be a mistake to burst out laughing.

Burst?

'How do you burst them?'

Digby shook his head. 'There are some pretty dangerous ways of doing that. I heard of one fellow using explosive caps on a thick leather pad. But we use drawing pins in special gloves: the moment the cannon goes off —and you have to be not less than twenty yards away diagonally from it—you strike the chest hard with the palm of one hand and the back of the other hand.' He stared at Audley with peculiar intensity. 'It usually works well enough.'