Red Hawk Rising

was 06.00 hours (Monday 5th) and the RAF team started rising and preparing for the day. Unfastening the front flap of the alpine tent and crawling out, the cold hit them after the build-up overnight of a fuggy warmth of the tent. The air was crisp and stars still shone in the sky. A light frost was on the grass. The breath of the men formed small clouds of condensation as they talked. The duty team headed for the main tent to start preparing a cooked breakfast for the whole party. After the long night most of the men were glad to get up and start moving. For most of them, 06.00 hours was normal reveille and part of their daily habit and routine. Across the road and not too close to the lodge stood a toilet block for the use of the campers. Corporal Hill and other team members had a quick wash, the water being so cold as to almost numb the fingers and nose. No one shaved. Cleaning one’s teeth was a case of trying to curl the lips outward to avoid the almost painful feel of the water on the lips. All were now out of uniform and wearing appropriate clothing for mountaineering. They favoured multiple layers of clothing that could be peeled off depending on the weather. First light came at about 06.45 hours and slowly strengthened over the next hour to provide full daylight. A mist hung over Loch Morlich and the surface was mirror-like. The early falls of snow glistened on the mountains. It would be soft and loose and easy to walk through except for where it had drifted. At 07.00 hours the team members headed for the main tent. A smell of bacon and eggs filtered out of the tent and they headed in, carrying their mess tins and ‘irons’. As they all sat at the folding tables, a hubbub of conversation broke out and short work was made of the food. Breakfast finished, a second duty team cleaned up and washed the cooking utensils. Each person queued to wash their own gear. In the mountaineering mode, rank did not apply for such tasks.

Everything cleaned up, Flying Officer Crombie called everyone together to lay out the programme. The first day they would all do revision on intelligence gathering exercises and also some physical limbering up in preparation for the exercises on the mountains. Then Crombie’s team would go out for three days and camping for two nights. Bradley’s team would work from the base camp. His pair would go out for one night with Corporals Hill and Stanier and then take the other pair out for the second night. Then the teams would change over and repeat the exercise.

It was 08.30 hours and the men dispersed to their tents and brought out their rucksacks and equipment to check them over.

Over at the lodge, members of the Mancunian Mountaineering Club emerged to see the day. Major Garasov walked across the road with the others to look at the Loch and the scenery. He noted the tents that had been erected after dark and the men outside checking their equipment. He then noted the RAF truck on the other side of the main tent and showed more interest. As his group walked by, Garasov saw the man he wanted to kill, Corporal Hill. He could hardly believe his eyes and wondered what sort of fate brought them both to the same place again, albeit under different circumstances. At the same time, Flight Sergeant Bradley saw Major Garasov. His mind raced back to when that man had held a gun on him. He wondered whether it was someone who looked similar but then he noted the surprised look on Garasov’s face and felt sure that it must be the same person. Flight Sergeant Bradley turned away so that Garasov couldn’t see his face and headed for the main tent. Inside Bradley let out a deep sigh and knew that he must tell Flying Officer Crombie and somehow check on that person. The opportunity would arrive sooner than he had expected.

Major Garasov had turned away after seeing Corporal Hill and tried to keep acting normally with his group. They walked to the water’s edge and admired the scenery, discussing weather and plans. To himself, Garasov was determined to find out the RAF planned routes and look for an opportunity to deal with Corporal Hill. He walked over to the group’s leader, Iain Morrison, and suggested that it may be helpful to know the RAF team’s planned routes in case members of the Mancunian team needed help. Iain Morrison nodded agreement and said that he would make contact with the officer in charge of the RAF team. Garasov felt pleased with himself.

Flying Officer Crombie walked into the main tent and immediately Flight Sergeant Bradley asked if he could have a few words. Crombie nodded and Flight Sergeant Bradley told him about the incident two years ago and that the man who held a gun on him was a member of the group by the lakeside and described him. “Corporal Hill fought with him and the man fell over the edge and we couldn’t find him. He must have escaped with help, sir.”

As he finished speaking, a voice called from the entrance, “I’m looking for Flying Officer Crombie.”

Crombie turned and said, “That’s me. How can I help you?”

The person said, “My name is Iain Morrison and I’m heading up a group from the Mancunian Mountaineering Club, based in Manchester. If our two groups are going to be out in the mountains it could be a safety measure to know each other’s planned routes.”

Crombie said, “Come in and have a seat. Can we offer you a cup of coffee? It won’t take long to brew up. We have some restriction on how much information we can share but happy to help where we can. What are the skills of