The Horizon (1993) Read Online Free

some progress.’
    In his mind Jonathan could see the explosions, the huge columns of earth and burned trees being blasted into the sky. Men running and falling, soundless as in a nightmare. Any progress there would be something, he thought, but he said nothing. As a very senior colonel who had been recalled from retirement to command here, Tarrier would not need much telling. It was said that casualty lists were to be posted throughout the country, instead of relying merely on those dreaded telegrams.
The War Office regrets to inform you that your son
, or your brother, or your father . . . What would people think about the war then? It was not a matter of a few hundred, even a few thousand. Jonathan had heard it from officers he had met in France, reinforcements dragging their boots to the front line. In one attack, they had lost twenty thousand men in three hours. Unless you had been there it was impossible to imagine.
    ‘And me, sir?’
    The colonel scowled as he heard voices in the outer office. More visitors. Requests, questions, apologies. It never stopped.
    ‘I want you to draw your gear and tropical helmet and report back to me.’ He hesitated, making a decision about the officer facing him across his paperwork war. ‘There’ll be a lieutenant-colonel in overall charge once you reach Port Said. He’ll be sailing with you.’ He glanced at the wall clock. ‘Be on board now if I know Jack Waring. The marines will have to work as a team, all day, every day while on passage through the Med.Once the pressure is removed from Suez, new orders will likely be despatched. Some men will be posted to the ships already there, others—’ He shrugged. ‘Who knows? In this damned war you can’t plan for tomorrow, never mind a few months from now. I’ll make sure your majority comes through.’ His eyes crinkled. ‘I don’t want you to be out-gunned by the R.M.L.I., do I?’
    He walked with him to the door. ‘You’ve got the experience, and the men will look to you. Two V.C.’s in one family – well, dash it, man, who wouldn’t?
Reliant
will probably be joining the squadron out there. It might be all over by the time she drops anchor. I can’t see Johnny Turk standing up to a battering from all those broadsides.’ But he did not sound confident.
    ‘One thing, Jonathan.’ The colonel rested a beefy hand on his shoulder. ‘I am sending a subaltern with you. Bit young – too young, his mother would say . . .’ He added harshly, ‘My son as a matter of fact. No favours. But keep an eye on him, eh?’
    He roared, ‘Stop whispering out there, and
come in
if you must!’ But it was too late. Just for those few moments St John Tarrier had shown himself as an ordinary man, who could still care and worry like any other parent.
    Jonathan found himself outside in the damp air beside the busy, marching figures. Would this place ever be the same again, he wondered. The contests, the lively garden parties, with the ladies in summer gowns and the girls looking bold-eyed at the young officers in their smart uniforms. Would anything be the same, come to that?
    ‘Squad,’
alt
!’ A sergeant stepped out smartly and saluted him.
    ‘Yes?’
    The sergeant swallowed hard. ‘ ’eard you was ’ere, sir. Cap’n Blackwood, right, sir?’
    Jonathan waited as the man composed what he was going to say.
    ‘I’m Sarn’t Fox, sir. My brother was sergeant-major with your . . . er, Cap’n David. We was all sorry to ’ear about him goin’ down in that cruiser.’
    Jonathan nodded, unable to speak. He should have been prepared. The Corps was a family, and many of the marines, like their officers, came from generations of sea-soldiers. He recalled starkly how this sergeant’s brother had commiserated with David when Neil had been shot dead in South Africa. The family.
    ‘Thank you.’ He knew that the waiting squad of marines were staring with curious disbelief as captain and sergeant shook hands.
    Then they saluted one