Jack Higgins - Chavasse 02 Read Online Free

ribbons on his shirt making a fine show.
    â€œNot good, Mr. Chavasse, not good. I can tell you unofficially that Prime Minister Nehru and the Indian government are prepared to receive the Dalai Lama. Piroo here was to fly him out as soon as he arrived.”
    â€œWhich isn’t likely now, I’m afraid,” Piroo said. “I made an overflight—quite illegally, of course.” His finger touched the map. “Here is the Dalai Lama’s column. I’d estimate by now about fifteen miles to go.” He indicated again. “And here, twenty-five miles behind them, a Chinese column coming up fast—jeeps, not horses. Certain to catch them before the border.”
    Chavasse examined the map carefully. “When did you see all this?”
    â€œAn hour ago. Not much more.”
    Chavasse nodded. “I came that way myself. The terrain is terrible. Even a jeep is lucky to cover ten miles in an hour. Rough ground and boulders everywhere.”
    â€œSo?” Ram Singh said.
    â€œThat means the Chinese are still on the other side of the Cholo Gorge. Hundreds of feet deep. There’s an old wooden bridge there. It’s the onlyway across. Destroy that and they’ve had it. The Dalai Lama will be home free.”
    â€œAn attractive idea, Mr. Chavasse, but if you are suggesting that Lieutenant Piroo should somehow bomb their bridge, I must say no. Chinese territory, that is what they claim, and we are not at war with China.”
    â€œWell I am.” Chavasse turned to Piroo. “You carry parachutes on that thing?”
    â€œOf course.”
    Chavasse said to Ram Singh, “Meet me halfway, Colonel. You’ve already allowed Piroo to fly over there. Let him volunteer again. You find me some explosives. On the way in we drop a message to the Dalai Lama’s column to alert Hamid as to what’s going on, then I’ll parachute in at the bridge and blow it up.”
    â€œBut what happens after?” Piroo demanded. “You’ll be all alone out there on foot.”
    â€œHopefully Hamid will ride back for me.”
    There was a long silence as all the officers exchanged glances. The colonel looked down at the map, drumming his fingers on it. He glanced up.
    â€œYou would do this, Lieutenant?” he asked Piroo.
    â€œMy pleasure, Colonel.”
    â€œMadness,” Ram Singh said. “Total madness.” Suddenly he smiled. “We’d better get cracking, Mr. Chavasse. Not much time.”
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    * * *
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    Ram Singh said, “A very simple explosive, Mr. Chavasse.” He opened an army haversack and produced one of several dark green blocks. “We get it from the French army.”
    â€œPlastique,” Chavasse said.
    â€œTotally harmless until used in conjunction with one of these timer pencils.” Ram Singh held a few up. “Five-minute fuses, but the two with yellow ends are two minutes.”
    The haversack was put on Chavasse’s back, then he pushed his arms through the straps. One of the officers helped him into a parachute, another gave him a Sten gun with two magazines taped together, which he draped across his chest.
    Ram Singh picked up a weighted signal can with a great scarlet streamer attached to it. “The message for Major Hamid. It tells him exactly what you intend.” Ram Singh put a hand on Chavasse’s shoulder. “I hope he finds it possible to . . . how shall I put it . . . to retrieve you, my friend.”
    â€œHe’s a Pathan,” Chavasse said simply. “You know what they’re like. He’d walk into the jaws of hell just to have a look.” He smiled. “I’d better get moving.”
    Ram Singh pulled on a parka and led the way out. It was snowing a little, loose flakes on the wind and very cold. They crossed to the Navajo, where Piroo already had the engines warmingup. Chavasse paused at the bottom of the Airstair door and Ram Singh shook