Redemption - Leon Uris [218]
His battalion was fit. Jeremy whined that they had been pushed too hard, but they were fit.
Damned gaffer squad was good, too, best special squad in the corps. They had done the impossible task of teaching men as much as they could possibly know about mules without most of them having ever seen a mule.
Christopher dearly wanted to exact a stern punishment, to let them know who was who. Yet, to be overtaken by a desire for vengeance could exact a price too high to risk.
“Stay with your bloody gaffers,” Chris said. “The book is closed on this incident. You have your job, Jeremy, and I want you to keep your nose out of my command.”
“That’s fine with me,” Jeremy said, “but remember one thing. If you lay a finger on any one of my boys, I’ll break your neck.”
70
The River Jordan
Flows down the mountainside
The earth is still
My Galilee
Her haunting valleys
Ancient olive trees
Her sun worn rocks
Her mystic sea
Oh how I love you
How I long for you
My Galilee
My Galilee
I see soft winds
Bending my fields
I hear a cry
A lamb at its birth
Oh how I love you
How I long for you
My Galilee
My Galilee…
Modi’s song faded and his accordion shut down. Villa Valhalla dimmed for a rest. March groaned on and a restlessness tensed the gaffers, a sense of movement would soon begin as warships continued to pound the Gallipoli.
Even paradise had its limitations. The squad had tasted euphoria. Valhalla would become the centerpiece of grand remembrance for all their lives. For now, though, they were ready for war.
Johnny Tarbox was more highly keyed than the others. Rory knew it was something about a long lost mother now taking form in woman after woman. Rory was always able to calm him down. Good thing. Johnny sometimes didn’t realize he was going on a tear.
The Lieutenant and First Serjeant Landers sat on the veranda looking over to the spires across the river that marked a great Moslem city. Sonya’s pipe had the magic elixir that made conversation free…except for that locked chamber.
Sonya stood in the doorway.
“Johnny all right?” Rory asked.
She nodded he was asleep. Tarbox hates women, I hate men. Yet we love them as well. How torturous, she thought.
“You would like some fruit or drinks?” she asked, working her eyes on Rory’s. They waved no and she retreated, but the power of her eyes remained.
“She’s been so good to us,” Jeremy said. “But she longs for her unrequited love. For God’s sake, don’t go into battle without making an effort to forget Georgia.”
Rory did not answer.
“Did I ever tell you I was in love with a prostitute once, desperately, eternally.”
“In actual fact?” Rory asked.
“In actual fact,” Jeremy said. “It was on the Midlands Tour with the rugby team. I was being tutored for Trinity by Conor and he kept an indecent watch on me. Locked me in my room if my studies weren’t up to snuff. I figured a foolproof way to get around him.”
Rory thrived on Jeremy’s tales of Conor. He settled back, happily.
“Her name was Felicia or something…Christ, this stuff destroys your mind. My grandfather traveled with the team but believe me he stayed in a better hotel. So, I fell desperately in love with this…Marcia…that’s it, Marcia. Grandfather covered for me. I’d tell Conor I was going over to see Sir Frederick and spend the night. He checked up by phone a couple of times and there I was…and there was Marcia right in bed with me. Freddie even slipped her from one town to another until Conor paid me an unexpected visit. I only slipped past him one more time, after the Bradford game.”
“That’s when you won the Admiral’s Cup?”
“Aye, first Irish team ever to do so. Grandfather threw a victory party to end all parties. When it moved from his hotel to a very, very fashionable brothel, Conor locked me in my room. I stuffed pillows in