Redemption - Leon Uris [229]
“Dr. Pearlman, as the vet of the Anzac Expeditionary Forces, you are commissioned as a first lieutenant.”
“But how? I don’t officially exist!”
“You are on detached duty from the Czar’s Army. Russia is an ally.”
“Lieutenant Pearlman?”
“Lieutenant Pearlman?”
“Hey, Lieutenant Pearlman.”
“This puts us all on a first-name basis,” Christopher said. “Landers…Rory, you’re off to Lemnos in twenty-four hours. Lieutenant Modi, you’re off on a buying mission, at once. I’ll explain in a moment. Tarbox and Goodwood will work with Jeremy on the logistics of breaking down the battalion and getting it moved. Jiggle things around to get maximum speed and efficiency.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Yurlob.”
“Sir.”
“You’re in charge of all mule gear. Pick a work party from B Company.”
He turned to Rory again. “You are to take a platoon from A Company to Lemnos and fence the paddocks, and what support buildings will be needed, blacksmith shop, medical shack, etcetera, etcetera. At the same time you will scout out the terrain of Lemnos and track out a three to five mile training run. Your orders state that the commanding officer on Lemnos is to give you top priority. After we break here, make up a rough plan of what you’ll need and bring it to my office.”
“I’ve got it.”
“Doctor Modi. We have commandeered a cattle boat and have it on hold at Alexandria. You will locate four to five hundred tiptop mules and open up sources to keep reinforcements coming, as required. Get the first batch to Lemnos, yesterday.”
“Questions, Major Chris. I am utterly beyond certain that I can come up with a couple hundred mules at once.”
“Lord, where?”
“Cyprus. The Cyprus mules are renowned. They are even in Shakespeare.”
“You don’t say? Which play would that be?”
“Othello.”
“Bully. Well, we are in good fortune. Cyprus has been annexed and is directly under control of British forces.”
“I know the mule dealers from my years in Palestine. Because of the urgency, I need a few things.”
“Shoot.”
“Greeks are Greeks. I’ll have to bargain hard. If I know I can pay a premium, they will sell me all the mules we need and their daughters as well.”
Chris stopped to consider. It flashed through his head that he didn’t quite trust the Jew and was hesitant to give him carte blanche. What the hell. One had to trust.
“Can you work around the traders?”
“You don’t change two thousand years of doing business. If a dealer can be worked with a bribe, then let him get us the mules. He’ll find them in a minute.”
“Rather hate doing business that way, but, considering the circumstances, pay what you must and get them to Lemnos.”
“Good,” Modi said. “In that case I would like to take the best negotiator with me, a man from the Zion Mule Corps. He speaks Greek. I have been on many trips with him. Cyprus has Greeks, Turks, and Arabs. He knows, first rate, how to deal with them.”
“That sounds reasonable. What is this chap’s name.”
“Ben Gurion. David Ben Gurion. No rank like the rest of the Zion Mules.”
“Odd name, what?”
“It is an ancient Hebrew name. Many Zionist settlers changed to such names. And, one more thing. I need Yurlob to come with me. I can verify the health and physical condition of the mules. However, I must have an expert to make judgments on habits and temperament. Even some of the best mules do not train well. I must have a man with the perfect eye.”
“It’s a good suggestion,” Rory said.
“All right, then, it’s the two of you…and this Ben…something fellow.”
“Believe me,” Yurlob said in agreement, “they will not sell us any three-legged mules.”
March 18, 1915—Dispatched from Headquarters, Cyprus at 0530 from special mule purchasing commission to Major Christopher Hubble—Seventh New Zealand Light Horse Battalion—Camp Anzac—Mena Egypt Stop Decoded at Corps Message Center—Delivered okay. Message as follows:
Three hundred twenty-eight magnificent mules purchased and en route to Lemnos. Two hundred more promised by end of week. Ship will round trip for them. Because of volume Ben Gurion was able to purchase lot well below market value.