Redemption - Leon Uris [297]
Rory picked up the General’s concern, clearly. “Yes, sir. The Turks were hitting us with mortar fire prior to their charge to retake Chunuk Bair. Major Hubble and Jeremy went out to the perimeter to stop them.”
“Well then, and this is hypothetical…suppose, for argument’s sake…you were present but did not hear Colonel Markham give orders to arrest Malone. Suppose Colonel Malone wanted to stay on Chunuk Bair and you heard Colonel Markham say that he was representing General Brodhead and, after looking over the situation, thought it would be best to get off Chunuk Bair…. Hypothetical, of course.”
Rory had no trouble buying into Brodhead’s lies because it could continue to give him access to the General and to Dublin Castle. For what purpose, he did not yet know, but he was in Ireland to find out.
“I’d say that was about the way it went,” Rory said.
“Suppose you could manage that if you’re called?”
“You’re my general, sir,” Rory answered.
The General’s butler arrived and announced dinner. Brodhead led Rory to the dining room with his arm about the young man’s shoulders. “I think you’ll find this a tad better than what we were eating at Anzac Cove.”
Indeed it was, from venison down to an extravagant trifle. Chitchat and remembrances of a pair of good fellows wove through the courses. When the decanter of Napoleon was opened, warmed by flame in its great bubble glasses and swished about, Brodhead returned to serious matters once more.
“What is your status vis-á-vis the Army?”
“Your invitation for me to come to Ireland was just perfect, sir. As I said, the medical staff feels I’ve gone as far as I can for now and really don’t need hospital control. I opted for an open-ended furlough and I’m free for three months. I could return to New Zealand for a discharge. Or, I could stay in England after a final medical evaluation. It’s rather up to me.”
“Do you have anything to do in Ireland?”
“I want very much to see Countess Caroline Hubble.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Flynn, the chap who got me to the beach, has grandparents and other relatives here. Two of the other men in the battalion also had Irish relations. I’ll call on them.”
“After that?”
“Little meditation somewhere. When I’m meditated out, I’ll probably try to wipe out London.”
Brodhead chuckled.
“You might like it here in Ireland, Landers. It has some rather decent places. Splendid boating at Kinsale. I could lay that on for you. Also, some marvelous private trout streams in Ulster. Horses, they are good with horses, the Irish—about the only thing they’re good at. Some of the scenery in the west is worth taking in. The people are strange but harmless. They are awful liars. You’ll find that out the first time you ask for directions.”
“Never thought about staying in Ireland for any time.”
“Landers, I’ve done something naughty.”
“You, sir?”
“Sometimes when an exceptional officer is up for medical discharge, the War Office will make an exception, if…a ranking officer requests him for special duty.”
GLORY! “Sorry, General, I don’t follow you.”
“I am convinced that what I am doing here in Ireland will do as much to preserve the British Empire as our army in France. It is vital to our continued imperial existence that we silence the Irish. We can’t have Irish ale house politicians pounding on the peace table, now, can we. They’ll set off unrest through our entire colonies.”
“I think I understand what you’re saying, sir.”
Brodhead reached into the pocket of his smoking jacket and withdrew a handful of officer’s pips. “I wore these when I was promoted to captain, more years ago than I’d like to think about. The War Ministry