Warrior

'What? Shakespeare talked like that?'

'Like what?'

'Like me.'

Hervey looked at him quizzically. 'Now that you mention it—'

But Somervile had closed with him again, and so Johnson fell respectfully back a length.

'Some sort of hornbill, as I never saw before. What was that you were saying?'

'About Guntoor?'

'No; Private Johnson.' He looked over his shoulder and nodded, to Johnson's satisfaction. 'Much Ado About Nothing, was it not?'

Hervey had to think for a moment. 'It was.'

' 'Thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.' And thou dost indeed, Hervey. And I am depending on it.'

Hervey scowled back. 'It is for that dependability that His Majesty pays me, Sir Eyre.'

Somervile affected no notice. 'You know, Hervey, this infantry command you are to take up . . . I am not so certain it is second best. There may perhaps be the greater opportunity for distinction.'

Hervey looked at his old friend, curious. 'What makes you say that? What greater distinction might there be than to make history with the lieutenant-governor of the Cape Colony?'

The sun's increasing warmth had brought out the horseflies – bigger even than those in Bengal. Somervile's charger was beginning to object to their attentions, and Hervey's Molly the same. 'Before I address that, I propose we trot a while to see if we can shake these beggars off.'

Hervey signalled to the column, though he doubted they would leave the flies behind at a mere trot; and he did not consider it wise to allow a canter just yet in country he did not know (bare country that it was, as poor grassland as the great plain in Wiltshire).

'And so: distinction?' he prompted, raising his voice a little as they bumped along.

Somervile looked pleased. 'There's much to be done in Canada. Not an affair of arms, of course – or rather, I trust not – but of consolidation, with the Americans, the border, the native Indians and the like.'

They had spoken only a little of Canada since Emma had told Hervey the good news. Both were of the view that contemplating the next posting was the besetting sin of the too-ambitious man.

The prospect was appealing, though; it did not do to be forever taking up arms. 'And when is it, you say, that you go?'

'To be decided. Indeed, I ought to repeat that the appointment is yet to be approved, but if Huskisson manages to stay at the Colonies Office the position will be mine. I did not mention, too, that it is upon the most agreeable terms.'

Hervey checked his mare, for she was beginning to force the pace. 'I am excessively pleased. When I was last—'

But the sudden activity of the scouts half a mile ahead stayed his recollections. Hervey's hand was raised even before Somervile noticed.

The column fell back to a walk, and then halted. Out came the telescopes.

'What do they signal, Hervey?'

One scout was circling around a second, anti-clockwise, in a twenty-yard radius, his horse on a long rein.

The movement contained all the information Hervey needed. 'Zulu, on foot, between one and two dozen, stationary.'

'Scouts, perhaps?' suggested Somervile, trying to keep his horse still enough to train his telescope.

'I would think so,' said Hervey, searching the ground to left and right. 'We expected them, did we not?' They had been marching for two hours and more – long enough for Shaka's standing patrols to have learned of the column's approach.

All Serjeant Hardy's scouts were now observing the Zulu from the crest of the hill.

Hervey was keen to close with them to make his own reconnaissance. 'Hardy's orders are to halt on first contact. Shall we take a look?'

Somervile was already so active in the saddle that Hervey was certain what his answer would be. 'Why do we wait?'

'Proprieties,' replied Hervey – and a shade impatiently, turning in the saddle to look behind. 'The scouts are under Brereton's command.'

He strained to see what the officer in acting command of E Troop did.

But Brereton appeared to be doing nothing other than observe.

Hervey saw Serjeant-Major Collins come up from the rear, halting beside his troop leader, and the brief conference which followed.

Cornet Kemmis now left the column and cantered forward, saluting as he passed the head of the column.

Hervey sighed.