Tomb of the Lost (51 page)

“
Yes of course she will.
”

Alf put his arm around Johnny and hugged him man to man.

The scars are getting better Johnny. You
’
re still the man Margaret fell in love with.
”

Johnny dabbed at the tears with his fingertips. He started to laugh out of embarrassment.

“
Look at me. The big, tough, war hero, crying.
”

Two days later a Jeep drove into the camp. It did a large turning circle and pulled up outside Rushton
’
s tent. The Major came rushing out to greet the new officer. Colonel Thomas Higginbotham stood a head taller than the Major. At six feet six inches and well over two hundred pounds he was an imposing figure. He was also in a hurry. He always did everything as quickly as he could.

“
Good morning Colonel,
”
Rushton saluted.

“
John how are things going?
”
Higginbotham asked as they shook hands.

“
Very well Tom.
”

“
Are the two engineers around? I will speak to them straight away.
”

“
Of course sir. Doyle fetch Sergeant Dennis and Private Larder.
”

Two minutes later Alf and Johnny were standing before Colonel Tom Higginbotham. Rushton sat to the right. Doyle stood behind the engineers. Higginbotham looked the two of them up and down. Rather than tell the two of them to come back looking neater and smarter, he just glared at them and listened without interrupting as they once again told their story. He waited until Alf finished with
…
.

“…
.And that
’
s exactly what happened sir.
”

Higginbotham ran bits of what he
’
d heard through his mind, finally he turned to Rushton.

“
John.
”

“
It
’
s an incredible story Sir.
”

“
Yes. Outstanding soldiering gentlemen! I
’
ve come from H.Q. General Bernard Montgomery has heard of your story and has read Major Rushton
’
s report.
”

Both Alf and Johnny stiffened to attention at the mention of Monty
’
s name.

“
Sergeant Dennis, yourself and Private Larder are to remain with the Long Range Desert Group until your unit can be re-located. Their exact whereabouts is not known at this time, but no matter, you will both be seconded to Major John Rushton here. Major Rushton will provide some tasks for you both. You will assist him in every way possible. Is that understood?
”

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
Yes Sir.
”

’
That
’
s not so bad
’
Alf was thinking
’
Could be weeks maybe even months. Working behind both friendly and enemy lines, new challenges, anything different to repairing roads, digging out abandoned vehicles or the very dangerous mines.

What Higginbotham said next brought Alf back.

“
I beg your pardon Sir,
”
Alf wasn
’
t sure he
’
d heard right.

“
You are promoted to Lieutenant. Did I not say it clearly enough?
”

“
Yes Sir. I
’
m just
…
.well I
’
m very surprised Sir that
’
s all.
”

“
The General wouldn
’
t give you a commission if he didn
’
t feel that it wasn
’
t warranted. It
’
s important to remember that. Your commission will start once you
’
re back with your unit. For now here though you will carry the rank and privileges awarded you.
”

“
Yes Sir. Thank you Sir.
”

Johnny wanted to shout with joy. His friend now an officer.

‘
Alf you deserve it
’

“
Private Larder.
”

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
Your unit is now missing a Sergeant.
”

Johnny hardly dared to breathe.

‘
Could it be, just could it be?
’

“
Are you ready to step up to the challenge Sergeant Larder?
”

Johnny
’
s face broke into a broad grin.

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
It
’
s a big responsibility for a man your age. Are you quite sure you can handle it?
”

“
Yes Sir. I believe I
’
m the man you are looking for,
”
Johnny
’
s smile continued. All he could think of right now was about Margaret. Her fiance now a Sergeant. How proud she
’
d be on his arm when they walked into the pub.

“
All relevant papers will arrive in due course. Your commission, yours too Sergeant.
”

Johnny could still hardly believe it. It was like he was in a dream. Soon he would wake up and be disappointed it wasn
’
t real.

Higginbotham pushed his chair back and stood.

“
Congratulations gentlemen and very well deserved.
”

“
Thank you Sir.
”

They both saluted smartly.

“
Now Major Rushton has something for you.
”

They waited patiently while Higginbotham left the tent.

“
I
’
ll need you both ready at dawn. We are to map an area to the North West around the town of Gabes. A total round trip of nearly two thousand miles. As for the rest of today,
”
he tapped a crate with eight bottles of beer in it. Relax, enjoy the day, sorry they
’
re not cold.
”

“
Thank you Sir,
”
they replied.

“
I beg your pardon Sir,
”
Alf wasn
’
t sure he
’
d heard right.

“
You are promoted to Lieutenant. Did I not say it clearly enough?
”

“
Yes Sir. I
’
m just
…
.well I
’
m very surprised Sir that
’
s all.
”

“
The General wouldn
’
t give you a commission if he didn
’
t feel that it wasn
’
t warranted. It
’
s important to remember that. Your commission will start once you
’
re back with your unit. For now here though you will carry the rank and privileges awarded you.
”

“
Yes Sir. Thank you Sir.
”

Johnny wanted to shout with joy. His friend now an officer.

‘
Alf you deserve it
’

“
Private Larder.
”

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
Your unit is now missing a Sergeant.
”

Johnny hardly dared to breathe.

‘
Could it be, just could it be?
’

“
Are you ready to step up to the challenge Sergeant Larder?
”

Johnny
’
s face broke into a broad grin.

“
Yes Sir.
”

“
It
’
s a big responsibility for a man your age. Are you quite sure you can handle it?
”

“
Yes Sir. I believe I
’
m the man you are looking for,
”
Johnny
’
s smile continued. All he could think of right now was about Margaret. Her fiance now a Sergeant. How proud she
’
d be on his arm when they walked into the pub.

“
All relevant papers will arrive in due course. Your commission, yours too Sergeant.
”

Johnny could still hardly believe it. It was like he was in a dream. Soon he would wake up and be disappointed it wasn
’
t real.

Higginbotham pushed his chair back and stood.

“
Congratulations gentlemen and very well deserved.
”

“
Thank you Sir.
”

They both saluted smartly.

“
Now Major Rushton has something for you.
”

They waited patiently while Higginbotham left the tent.

“
I
’
ll need you both ready at dawn. We are to map an area to the North West around the town of Gabes. A total round trip of nearly two thousand miles. As for the rest of today,
”
he tapped a crate with eight bottles of beer in it. Relax, enjoy the day, sorry they
’
re not cold.
”

“
Thank you Sir,
”
they replied.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Alf and Johnny woke to a chilly dawn. It had been two days since their promotions and they found themselves emerging from the back of the truck they had slept in to a chilly desert. There was light on the horizon and the stars were still out. They both shivered as they stood in the twilight. Rushton came around the truck and motioned to them.

“
Help yourselves to some coffee.
”

They went over to where a small fire had been lit. An old, well used pot over the flames. Doyle was standing near by, his coffee steaming in his tin mug.

“
Morning gentlemen. I mean Sir,
”
he said though Alf noticed he didn
’
t salute as was customary from a subordinate.

’
Never mind. I
’
m not his Lieutenant anyway.
’

“
I
’
m trying to get used to the idea as well. Aren
’
t you Johnny?
”

“
Yes Alf
…
.Sir
…
.
”

Johnny found it awkward too. For as long as he
’
d known Alf he had always been Sarge or the old
’
un. Now he was an officer
…
.Well it didn
’
t seem right!

“
You can call me Alf when no one else is around,
”
he said while Doyle
’
s back was turned.

Doyle turned and presented them with a coffee each. It was black, unsweetened and smelt different. It tasted different too. Johnny took a swig.

“
It tastes funny.
”

Doyle had finished his. He shook his mug out onto the sand and held it out for a refill.

“
You mean it doesn
’
t taste of petrol for once.
”

“
That
’
s it,
”
Alf said swilling a mouthful.

“
This pot here,
”
Doyle said gesturing to it with his mug
“
Is the proud property of Ian Butcher here
…
.
”

Butcher raised his left hand as a greeting.

“
This coffee pot is his prized possession. It makes the best coffee in this whole war.
”

“
I
’
d say it does,
”
said Alf taking another swig
“
It tastes like real coffee.
”

The others in the group were all starting to gather around the little fire. Each holding mugs awaiting their coffee. Butcher was the best maker and he was unofficially chief brewer among them. Rushton suddenly appeared in their midst.

“
Right men listen up.
”

He waited a few moments for silence. The small flames crackled in the still air. One of the men let off a loud fart and there was sniggering from those around him.