‘Yes, it shows,’ Crassus spat, desperate to regain his authority. ‘Now Swift, this little stunt of mine. General Staff are worried. There is a strong feeling that we should be taking the fight to the enemy.’
‘Look –’ Crassus put his hand up to stop Johnny.
‘I intend to show my offensive spirit by raiding the enemy trenches tomorrow night.’
‘You want to raid the German trenches?’ Johnny asked not quite believing what he’d just heard.
‘Yes, so what say you, Swift? Play up and play the game!’
Chapter 2
Johnny stared at Crassus, amazed by the man’s gall, and couldn’t think of a single reason to stop the bloody idiot from getting everyone killed.
‘I had to twist the Colonel’s arm slightly to get permission, but it’s just the sort of show to get one’s name about.’
‘Crassus, is there nothing you wouldn’t do to advance yourself?’ Johnny asked.
‘Don’t adopt that superior tone with me, Swift. You’re not above playing the game. Rather than trying to make your way based on merit, you rely on family connections. The Colonel tells me you had an uncle arrange your entrance into the Foreign Office and the regiment.’
Johnny shrugged matter-of-factly. It had been the easiest way of getting out of a difficult situation. His ‘uncle’ helped him get nominated for an interview panel in the Diplomatic Service. It was his first and last act of patronage and it came with the requirement that he took a commission.
Johnny still had the last letter his uncle had written to him, in his tin. Full of advice on how to soldier in the tropics and deal with his servant. When things got really bad, Johnny meant to write to the old duffer and tell him just how much he appreciated his patronage.
‘Now, we’re to reconnoitre the area prior to the raid, to get a feel for the ground,’ Crassus continued.
‘We… you’re the Scout Officer,’ Johnny said.
‘Yes Swift, but this is your patch. I had rather assumed you might have the decency to volunteer.’ Before Johnny could respond, Crassus began to shout, ‘What the bloody hell? You, Corporal, what have you got there?’
Corporal Williams and some of the men from his fatigue party had climbed back down into the trench with armfuls of wine and beer.
Williams ignored Crassus and reported to Johnny. ‘I’ve finished checking the wire, sir, it’s in a bad state but the boys are doing the best they can with it.’
‘I asked you a question, Corporal!’ Crassus shouted, pointing at the contraband.
Williams held out a bottle of white wine to show him. ‘Vin blanc, sir, would you like some?’
Crassus climbed up the side of the trench and looked over the parapet. Johnny followed. Half the men on fatigue were trading with grey clad Germans.
Johnny swore. He’d forgotten to tell Williams to conduct the trade behind the German wire and out of sight. The whole thing had become so much part of the daily routine that the men didn’t realise or care that someone from battalion would think it inappropriate.
Crassus made a deep sigh of disgust and slid back down into the trench. Johnny jumped down after him and took the bottle of wine from Williams, had a swig and passed it to Crassus. The only thing he could do was bluff it out. ‘It’s really not that bad a vintage, considering.’
‘How beastly. I can’t believe you actually condone such behaviour,’ Crassus gasped.
‘It’s more that I turn a blind eye really. There needs to be a certain amount of live and let live, otherwise we’d never get anything done,’ Johnny said, hoping to appeal to Crassus’s practical nature.
‘Lieutenant Swift, I don’t know about you, but I’m here to kill the enemy. Not play house with them.’
‘Well, I’m here to try and get my men home.’ Johnny said.
‘How do you propose to get them home if we don’t get on with winning the war?’ Crassus asked.
‘I’m just trying to make life bearable.’
Crassus glared and stood himself to attention. ‘Lieutenant Swift, I had thought you would assist in my reconnaissance of the enemy positions out of duty. Now I see that I must insist.’
‘I have a platoon to run, Crassus. I can’t go charging off on some hair brained scheme.’
‘I’m sure the General Staff would be interested to hear of the lack of discipline in the men you command. Not to mention the total lack of moral fibre you show in allowing them to consort with the enemy!’
‘You can assure the General Staff that every effort will be made to assist you,’ Johnny said. He knew when he was beaten.
‘Stout fellow,’ Crassus said with glee. ‘That’s the spirit.’
‘I wasn’t Captain of the school rugby team for nothing,’ Johnny replied wearily.
‘I was never selected for the team, but I suppose I went to a school with higher standards.’
‘Am I expected to provide men for this “stunt” or is it just you and I?’ Johnny asked.
‘Oh, I have a man.’ Crassus turned and called behind him. ‘Savage, make yourself known.’ A tall man came out of the darkness and walked towards them, managing a brisk military march through the mud, and smartly snapped to attention. He had the solid professional manner of a regular.
‘We’ll go over once your chaps have finished clodhopping about out there, Swift. Stealth is the order of the day.’
‘It’s almost impossible to get through this mud quietly,’ Johnny explained, ‘we’ll be heard a few yards out and if the fatigue parties have finished, the Germans will be obliged to open fire.’
Crassus twitched as Johnny corrected him. ‘Very well, we’ll go now and make use of your cosy little arrangement with the Huns.’
‘We need to find the whole in the wire the Germans use to come and trade. Once we’re through, I’m going to head for the first shell hole
