Blunted Lance (41 page)

He remembered things his grandfather had said about the Last Post. Military funerals. Muffled drums and lonely graves in empty fields all over the world. Cavalrymen who’d gone ahead. Notes of loneliness and the exile of men far from home. As he fought to hold back the tears, he noticed that the old men alongside him were stiffer than ever, their faces bleak, their mouths taut as they listened. ‘A trumpet can play puck with your inside,’ his grandfather had once said, and as he saw a tear steal out of Ellis Ackroyd’s eye and trickle down his cheek, Josh knew that it was playing puck with at least one man there that day.

When it was all over, Josh requested permission to remain behind. His mother gave him a curious look but she didn’t object. She knew how attached he had been to the old man and he was old enough now to know what he was doing. As the cars drove off and the gun carriage clattered away, he stood with Aubrey by the lych gate of the church, two boys uncomfortable in their best suits, their hair plastered down in spikes.

There were things to do. Josh had thought about his problem for a long time before putting it to Aubrey. Somehow, he felt, the adults had betrayed the two dead men. It had not been as his grandfather had suggested. They had done the thing as they’d pleased and hadn’t bothered to consult him, the only one, he felt, who knew what the dead man had wanted.

As the Rector disappeared and the lane emptied, he looked at Aubrey. Good old Auby, he thought warmly. It hadn’t made any difference, his becoming a lord. He was still a little shy and a little overweight, and still anxious to be friendly with the younger, more forceful Josh.

‘There were things he wanted that weren’t done,’ Josh said, faintly self-important. ‘I knew exactly what he asked for, but when I told them they just said “We’d better leave it to the authorities.” It’s up to us to put it right.’

They re-entered the church silently, both a little nervous at being there alone now that everyone had gone, still faintly awed by the pomp and ceremonial that had attended the funeral.

‘It’ll do for them both,’ Josh whispered. ‘Grandpa always used to say that a real cavalryman wasn’t fussy about all that band-playing and rifle-firing over the grave. It’s for my father and our grandfather.’

‘What do we do?’ Aubrey whispered.

A sheet of paper changed hands and Aubrey stared at it.

‘Is that it?’

‘Yes.’

‘What do we do with it?’

‘Sing it.’

‘I don’t know the tune.’

It had never occurred to Josh that Aubrey wouldn’t know the song. Because he had grown up with it, he had assumed that everybody knew it.

‘Well,’ he said. ‘You’ll just have to do your best. I don’t think he’d mind. Are you ready?’

Standing together at the back of the church, in the darkest corner they could find because they were faintly embarrassed by what they were doing, the two boys began to sing, Josh’s voice skating up and down because it was just beginning to break.

‘Wrap me up in my old stable jacket

And say a poor devil lies low,

And six of the Lancers shall carry me

To the place where the best soldiers go.’

As they finished, Aubrey looked at Josh. ‘Is that it?’

‘Yes.’

‘All of it?’

‘All he wanted.’ Josh rose and headed for the church door. ‘I think it’ll be all right now.’

(in order of first publication)

These titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

(in order of first publication)

These titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

(in order of first publication)

These titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

Published by House of Stratus

Back to Battle The third title in the exciting naval trilogy featuring the courageous Kelly Maguire. Commander Kelly Maguire, leader of men in the British Navy, finds himself plunged into blistering attacks at the battle of Dunkirk. From bitter fighting in the Mediterranean, to the landings at Normandy, this action-packed saga takes Maguire through trial to triumph. Against a background of personal tragedy, this is a compelling story of love and adventure.

The Blunted Lance The second novel in the Goff family trilogy. The Goffs, a family devoted to The Regiment - the Nineteenth Lancers - find themselves charting a history of the world from the Sudan to South Africa, Flanders to Palestine. Charging and retreating on the wide plains of a failing British Empire, Coby Goff rises to the rank of Field Marshal and Dabney is honoured as a hero. But they witness the decline of the beloved cavalry, defeated in the face of pounding artillery, the tank and machine gun.

The Bright Blue Sky The first in Hennessy’s breathtaking RAF trilogy. The reckless days of early aviation are brought to life in a tale of daring, dashing young pilots waging war, and of the raging struggle between the hearts of two brave men for the heart of a beautiful woman. This is the first story in the trilogy involving Corporal Quinney, an air ace in the RAF; a hero blazing through the skies to dogfight high above the Italian front, confronting deadly foes and challenging a treacherous rival in love and war.

The Challenging Heights The second in Hennessy’s breathtaking RAF trilogy. Dicken Quinney, a brilliant, heroic character, comes to life in this turbulent action novel. Quinney finds himself flying in the Baltic in a fight against the Bolsheviks. But tragedy mixes with adventure as Quinney loses his lover, Zoe.

The Dangerous Years The second title in the exciting naval trilogy featuring the courageous Kelly Maguire. There is talk of peace across Europe as the First World War draws to its bloody conclusion and the German naval fleet limps into Scapa Flow for a humiliating surrender. But for Lieutenant Kelly Maguire, new conflicts arise in Russia, the Mediterranean and the Far East. Maguire faces brutal choices and violent action. Rising through the ranks of the Royal Navy he is sent on a mission to the killing-ground of China. For Maguire, dangerous years are ahead.

The Iron Stallions The third novel in the Goff family trilogy. The Goff family have lived and died for the Nineteenth Lancers for generations but when Josh Goff runs away from school to enlist in the ranks of the cavalry under a false name, he winds up on the beaches of France. It is D-Day and heavy artillery pummels the landscape around him. As he fights, Goff learns that the cavalry is still expected to save the day, or die bravely in the attempt.

The Lion at Sea The first title in the exciting naval trilogy featuring the courageous Kelly Maguire. Midshipman Kelly Maguire has always had a love affair with the sea. And when war clouds gather over Europe, Maguire is put to the test along with the marine might of the Royal Navy. From the Hellish battles of Gallipoli to the barbarous action at Antwerp, Maguire begins to learn the lessons a sailor must face. Glory and danger abound in this sizzling saga of adventure, blood and guts.