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Back to Chapter 22
23
The three patrols returned early the following morning. They had brought in two more prisoners. Danny, who had gone to see Dyer in the infirmary, saw them riding in through the main gate and pointed them out to Dyer. Dyer paled as he saw the second of the two prisoners dismount.
“What’s the matter?” Danny asked.
“That’s my column commander, Grinder. He’s a total bastard. I don’t want him to see me here.” Dyer was obviously frightened.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he doesn’t. But what can he do to you anyway? You’re quite safe here.”
“Yeah, as long as you lot hold out. But if they beat you, I don’t give much for my chances. I’m no use to them with my leg in this state.” Dyer pointed at his knee, now strapped and heavily bandaged “and they don’t like grasses. Grinder’d string me up in a second if he had the chance. And he’s never liked me, in any case.”
Danny realised with a shock that Dyer obviously didn’t give much for their chances of holding off or defeating the raiders.
An hour or so later, Bill Potter called everyone together for a meeting in the briefing hut. He presented the reports of the three patrols and the information they had managed to get from the prisoners. It appeared that despite Dyer’s opinion of Grinder, the latter had been more than forthcoming about the raiders’ forces and plans. They were in contact with the groups in Thetford and March, and were planning a co-ordinated attack on the pale with the aim of cutting off Newmarket and Bury from Cambridge. This was supposed to be happening within the next week to ten days, after a council of war at the Thetford camp. The numbers that Dyer had given when he was captured were confirmed. Sam Black’s question marks had been deleted from his map.
Bill Potter explained the situation. The flutter was going to be sent up to fly in a wide circle covering all three camps and the ground between them to assess where the raiders’ greatest strength appeared to be. He had been in touch with Cambridge, and a force of three thousand mounted men with light artillery, mortars and machine guns was being assembled. Once the aircraft reconnaissance had been completed a decision would be made as to which of three groups they would attack first. The preference was to go for Thetford – it was in the centre, and if they timed it right, they might be able to catch the leaders of all three bands at the council of war. The biggest danger was that in mounting this attack, they left Cambridge and Newmarket vulnerable to attack from the two bands on the flanks. There was a reserve of a thousand men available and they would have to rely on the aircraft to warn them of any counter-attack. He did not think the strongholds would be of any great use, except as safe harbours for reserves and stores, as the raider bands would simply ride around and past them. They could at least in emergency be used as refuges for those in the towns and farms around and he ordered several groups to ride out in to the surrounding area and warn people to be ready to retreat to the stronghold when they received a signal.
He finished by asking everyone to assemble packs and stores sufficient to keep them going in the field for at least a week, and to be ready to move out at one hour’s notice. His tone was grim.
“The situation is serious – these men are determined, even desperate. Together, they outnumber us at least two to one. On the other hand, I’m pretty certain we know a lot more about their intentions and capabilities than they do about us. As long as we can keep it in the air, our flutter gives us a huge advantage, not just in intelligence about their movements, but also for communication and coordination.” Bill Potter nodded towards the pilot, Fred, who was standing to one side. “So please, Fred, do your best to keep out of trouble and keep that contraption in the air.” Fred nodded his understanding.
“OK, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attention. Please go and get ready now, and we’ll keep you posted. By the way, Fred, how soon do you think you’ll be back?”
“In about two hours, I should guess, if all goes smoothly”
“OK. Are you ready to leave?”
“Yup, just waiting for you to give me the word” said Fred quietly.
“Well, see you in two hours’ time then. And good luck!”
With that Fred left the briefing room, and everyone else began to file out.
Danny and Sally stood watching as the flutter taxied out on to the parade ground. There was a light southerly breeze. The flutter started to roll forward and then accelerated rapidly. Within a hundred metres it was airborne and it cleared the southern corner of the stronghold with twenty metres to spare, and headed out, climbing all the time. Within minutes it was simply a bright pinpoint of light almost lost against the brilliant white cumulus clouds bubbling up from the south.
“Here’s praying he manages to bring back some useful information” Danny said to Sally as they turned back to their hut.
By late morning, two hundred mounted men and women were assembled on one side of the parade ground. In addition there were two mortar units, the mortars strapped on to sturdy pack horses, and two heavy machine gun teams. The machine guns were mounted on wheeled trolleys, towed by horses. If need be, they could be dismantled and carried on pack horses as for the mortars, but as long as they could be towed they could be brought into action within seconds. Bill Potter and Sam Black walked along the line of horses, checking kit and talking to the mounted men and women. Danny and Sally were once more with Johnny’s unit that had gone out on patrol two days earlier.
As Bill and Sam reached the end of the line there was a shout from the northern watch tower. Everyone looked to the north west where the flutter could now be seen glinting in the sun. Within a few minutes its characteristic engine sound was audible. It flew south of the stronghold parallel to the parade ground, then north and finally turned in to land almost soundlessly in front of the line of mounted troops. When it had come to a halt, Bill Potter and Peter Blackstock walked over to greet the pilot, and the small group walked in to Bill Potter’s office, Fred carrying his camera from the ’plane.
After a half hour, Peter Blackstock came out of the office.
“OK everyone, attention” he shouted. Everyone turned to face him. “Please come in to the briefing room.”
Peter Blackstock stood in front of the map in the briefing room and waited until everyone was seated.
“OK, ladies and gentlemen, we think we have a plan. We’ve spoken to Cambridge and the main force is moving out as I speak. They expect to be within striking distance of the camp at Thetford sometime tonight. Meanwhile the reserve force is making its way here to protect this flank from any attack from Needham Market. Fred has managed to get a remarkable amount of photo reconnaissance of how the raiders’ forces are dispersed. The good news is that as far as we can tell the commanders are already assembled at Thetford, and the raiders at March, north of Ely are spread over a wide area, apparently foraging. The force at Needham Market appears to be assembled and ready to move, but presumably waiting for whatever the council of war at Thetford decides. We’re not sure how efficient their communications are or what independently the force at Needham may decide to do. Our plan is to try and deliver a killer blow against Thetford without either March or Needham knowing about it, and then to attack Needham, but we have to assume that Needham may get wind of this and decide to attack us here or come up behind our force attacking Thetford.”
“So our job right now is to provide a flanking screen between Needham and Thetford, if we can, to interfere with any communications between them and to warn the main force if Needham attempts to take it from the rear. We’ll also be providing early warning for everyone hereabouts to make for the stronghold if an attack develops here from Needham. Fred will obviously keep flying patrols, but he can only do that during daylight and if the weather allows. I’m going to divide you into three groups – the main group with the mortars and machine guns, will travel down the A14 towards Stowmarket and Needham. The aim is to set up a block east of Stowmarket to prevent any move in force by Needham to attack our lot at Thetford. If we can get that block set up without being observed, we may at least have the element of surprise. To help ensure that the other two groups will ride out as screens on the main group’s flanks and front – your job is to kill or capture any raiders you come across, ideally, but most critically, to keep them away from our main group. Obviously if you encounter the main Needham force moving out, and Fred hasn’t been able to warn us, your first priority is to let the other two groups know what is going on, and then to fall back, either to the stronghold here, or if you can, to support our main group which will try and set up a block wherever it seems most likely we can stop the raiders.” Peter Blackstock looked around the room. There were no questions. “OK, I’d like to talk to the three column commanders now. Everyone else, get yourselves ready to move out within the hour. And thank you, and good luck. I think we’re going to have a hard fight, but I think we’re going to win through, and you all are very important to that.”
Peter Blackstock turned back to the map with Bill Potter and Sam Black, where they were joined by the three column commanders. A low murmur developed into an excited chatter of voices as everyone else got to their feet and filed out on to the parade ground.
Danny and Sally had loaded up their horses. They had rations for three or four days, and had each been issued with twenty rounds of ammunition. Their column was the largest of the three, as it had the greatest area to cover, from south of Stowmarket east across the A14 to intercept any move north by the Needham Market group to join up with or support Thetford. Ahmed, who was their column commander, briefed them all on the parade ground.
“Spread out as far as you can, as long as you are in sight of whoever is to your left and right. I will be on the left end of the column, Jack here will be in the middle. If you meet anyone and you can nail them do so. If they are in too much strength, head back towards me and pass the message on up the line. If you can’t do that, fall back on the A14 and try to join up with the block column. If you see a red flare go up, come to me. If you see a green flare, try and get back to the stronghold or the block column. I want to move out in ten minutes – we need to get well ahead and south of the block column if we’re to provide an effective screen.”
Danny glanced at Sally and then walked back to the infirmary. He wanted to say goodbye to Dyer, although he didn’t know why.
He walked into the infirmary hut and saw Dyer sitting up in a bed by the window.
“Hi. I just came to see how you were before we left.” Danny said.
“I’m OK thanks.” Dyer replied.
“I don’t suppose you’re going to wish us luck . . . I expect you’re cheering for the other side.”
“No mate, seriously, good luck. I hope you sort them out” Dyer said.
Danny looked surprised. “I’ve no friends there really. All it’s been about for me, my whole life, is survival. Most of them are mean bastards, and none of them would understand what you lot are up to. It’s quick thrills and trash the weak is all that counts. I want you to win, I really do . . . if it wasn’t for this bloody leg, I’d be volunteering to ride with you.”
“Thanks Dyer, that’s good to hear” Danny said, with feeling. “We’ll talk when we get back. If we get back, I should say.”
“You will mate, don’t worry. I’ve got a good feeling about it. They may be rough and tough, but none of them really know what they’re doing it all for, and they’re as likely to run as to fight, if things get nasty.”
“OK then, be seeing you” said Danny, and walked out and back across the parade ground to Sally and their horses.
They left soon after midday, riding out in extended order more or less south east from the stronghold. By nightfall they had reached the line they intended to patrol. Word was passed down the line to find bivouacs and lay up. Sally was about one hundred metres away to Danny’s left – to his right a woman who had introduced herself on the ride out as Jane, was one hundred and fifty metres up the slope, her horse tethered behind a hedge. About an hour after dusk, Jack, the column second in command rode through and had a brief word with each of them. As they were in sight of each other he suggested they take it in turns to keep watch and grab the chance to get some sleep. Jane agreed to take the first watch, for three hours, so Danny and Sally got together to make a small meal and talk. After three hours Sally went up to relieve Jane, and Danny settled down to sleep.
Sally woke him some time after midnight and he walked back up to his bivouac. The waxing moon was half full, and silvery clouds were scudding across its face from the west. Apart from the sound of the breeze in the trees, and the occasional hoot of an owl, the night was still and quiet. He began keying in the stillness, his eyes travelling slowly across the horizon to the south. Away to the east he could see an orange glow, the fires he assumed of the raiders’ camp at Needham. From time to time, to ward off stiffness and to warm himself up, he walked along the hedgerow towards his companion on the right, and back down to where Sally was sleeping.
* * *
The day dawned grey and drizzly. Danny felt cold and tired, and suddenly, it seemed for the first time, he was gripped by a deep dread. This might be their last day. The hundreds of desperate men making their way from the east could so easily overwhelm them, and put an end to all the years of effort, of his father, and the Chisholms, the other villagers, his friends and colleagues in Cambridge, and the gradual climb out of something dying and going nowhere to the hope for a real future, not just for them, but for humanity. And he was filled with a deep quiet rage, that these wild desperate men could destroy all that and any chance of a future. Then he thought of Dyer, and remembered his story, of a miserable, wretched, hopeless life, seemingly without any love or care, affection or respect, and wondered how many others of the raiders had experienced the same. That they were after all only doing what life challenged them to do, gave them no other choice but to do, and he was filled with gratitude for the luck that his and Sally’s lives had been filled with. He keyed again, and let all the confusion and depression and anger drift away, and gave himself up to whatever these days would bring.
An hour or so later he saw the flutter, high in the sky to the west heading south of their position. A short while later he heard the engine again and turned to see it lining up to land on the flat hill top behind their position. As it came to a halt, the fan still turning, Jack galloped up across the field to the flutter, and he saw Fred step out from the cockpit. There was a brief discussion, and Jack handed Fred a heavy looking satchel. The flutter taxied back fifty metres or so and then turned into the light breeze and took off, heading east.
Jack trotted down the hill towards their position. Sally and Jane came over.
“Right, we’ve got some news. Fred has spotted a flanking column, about two or three hundred men with wagons, coming up the next valley” Jack pointed over a low ridge to the south east. “We’ve just about got time to get into position at the head of the valley and set up an ambush. We’re just going to delay them and then make a fighting retreat back towards the block, about seven kilometres north of here. We want to try and draw them on to the block, and hopefully do some real damage with our mortars and machine guns. And Fred’s going to try and cause a bit of mayhem for us at the same time. Jane and Sally, you head up to the ridge now. Danny, head on down the line and get everyone back up here and into position – I’m going back to talk to the commander.”
Danny rode off to tell the rest of the line the plan. Within half an hour he and the others had joined the rest of their wing spread out among the trees and ditches along the top of the shallow valley. Their horses were tethered 150 metres behind them, in their direct line of retreat towards the block. Through his telescopic sight Danny could make out a straggly group of horsemen and carts about a kilometre and a half away, down in the valley bottom, following an old track. Word came down to make no attempt to open fire until the main body was within three to four hundred metres and to look out for the flutter.
About fifteen minutes later Danny saw the flutter high and behind and to the right of the advancing column. He could hear no sound of the fan and it was clear that none of the advancing men on the ground had spotted the aircraft. The flutter went in to a steep dive heading at the tail end of the column where three or four wagons loaded with gear were moving slowly along the track. Just as it reached the end of the column it pulled up sharply and Danny saw half a dozen small black objects falling quickly to the ground – they bracketed the wagons and horses and Danny could hear shouts and cries of alarm, and then six loud explosions. The sound of the flutter’s engine could just be heard but even now no one on the ground seemed to have seen it. Horses were thrashing around, some dead, some desperately injured. Two of the wagons had overturned and one seemed to be on fire. Finally someone spotted the flutter and a volley of shots rang out but the flutter was already diving below the ridge line and out of sight.
At the same time, all along their line firing began. Several of the outriders either fell or jumped from their horses and started to return fire, but could not find targets among the trees. A hundred well aimed rifles were starting to wreak terrible damage on the men and horses in the valley bottom. A few of the raiders had attempted to ride up towards their positions, but stood no chance in the two hundred metres of open field climbing up to the trees.
A bugle sounded. Danny kept his place, while Sally and Jane and a few others ran back to where the horses had been tethered. Danny kept firing, aiming his shots as carefully as adrenaline and fear would allow, all the time looking across the whole valley for any sign of a flanking attack.
“Come on Danny, I’ve got your horse” Sally shouted at him. He and the others who had continued to lay down covering fire now ran back and mounted their horses and followed the stream of riders after the commander and Jack. They were riding over high flat heathland, spotted with hawthorn and gorse bushes. Ahead was a raised bank, the remnant of the old Ipswich to Ely railway line. As the lead horses breasted the embankment Danny heard the repeated crack of rifle fire and turned back to see thirty or more raiders coming over the brow of the hill. Within seconds the first riders in the column had taken up firing positions along the embankment and poured a steady stream of covering fire into the mass of oncoming riders. Again many fell, or their horses fell, and others threw themselves to the ground to find what cover they could in the low shrubs and bushes, but they were at a real disadvantage, unable to see targets along the top of the embankment and themselves subjected to a withering fire in more or less open ground. Now more and more raiders were coming up from the valley, but taking more care, leaving their horses in the dead ground and inching forward from bush to shrub.
The bugle sounded again. Two thirds of the column slid back down the far side of the embankment and mounted and then rode off in the protection of the embankment to the east. Again Danny remained giving covering fire, but this time the raiders seemed to have realised the significance of the bugle call and started to make a series of pepper and salt rushes towards the embankment. Firing then came from further along the embankment, from the head of the column, and Danny and the rest took their chance to mount up and follow.
As he cantered in the lea of the slope, Danny glanced up and saw the flutter again, high above the flat heath, commencing a soundless dive on to what he assumed was the main body of the raiders’ column still climbing up from the valley floor. He heard faint popping sounds, more grenades he supposed, followed by the surging roar of the flutter’s turbofan and another fusillade of rifle fire. The flutter climbed away and flew off in the direction of the block.
All the rest of that morning they continued. Danny was impressed by how at each stage, there seemed to be another good defensive position from which they were able to pour accurate fire into the pursuing raiders. They were not following a direct route to the block, as far as he could tell, and he assumed that Jack or the commander must have reconnoitred the defensive positions the night before. As the morning wore on the raiders became more cagey and the column slowed its retreat – they did not want to give the raiders the slip. At the same time Danny was acutely aware how exposed their flanks were – at any moment a party of the raiders might separate and slip round and catch them in the flank or the rear. Clearly the commander was concerned too. A whispered message came down the line, to prepare for a flat out run back to the block, which was now about two kilometres away across flat open ground. Looking behind, Danny saw the flutter making a shallow glide over where he assumed the block must be set up. The engine note had changed, seemed less steady than before. He saw something fluttering, falling from the aircraft, like a weighted scarf and then the flutter pulled slowly up and headed off in to the west.
* * *
The last run across the heath was like a panicky horse race, with no one looking back to see how close the raiders were. They had at last tried to move round both flanks of the fleeing column and Danny heard the cracks of rifle fire from his left and right. He flung himself forward, his head down and beside the neck of his horse, heels frantically kicking her flanks and his loose reins slashing her rump furiously. He saw Sally ahead, with Jane, and then a cry and Jane flung up her arms and flew off the back of her horse. She hit the ground with a sickening thump. As Danny drew level with her body he could see from the angle of her neck and head she must be dead. Two or three horses fell and ahead one man stumbled groggily to his feet. Danny pulled up and gave him a stirrup and they rode on into a shallow dip in the ground which gave them some momentary relief from the withering fire of the raiders. But now Danny could hear firing from the direction of the block, off to their left and right, and the raiders fell back, confused by the fresh outbreak of shooting when they were sure they had the whole column in full retreat.
Suddenly it was over. They were through the crude barrier of logs and earth and brush wood, within a fifty metre square perimeter. Now he heard the staccato chatter of the machine guns and the crump of the mortars opening up. But they very quickly fell silent. Suddenly, magically, there was no sound at all apart from a single skylark climbing up in to the now blue blue sky above.