The Bridge Page 8

Page 8
wooden bridge to a camp that had been set up for them by the river's edge. The prisoners were ordered  to dismount and were marched to the quartermaster's tent where Jeppe untied their wrists. "Get your bedrolls and canteens, then I'll take you over to the paddock so you can see to your horses,"
he snapped Whereas before, Jeppe had tried to make his voice sound tough and assertive, now the gruffness ansd agression were real. The next fellow who bends over for this young man was in for a treat, North thought. The lucky bastard!

     As they fed, watered and groomed their horses, Jeppe stood, legs wide apart, his rifle held at the ready. He was clearly aroused, North noted. Occasionally he turned to stare openly at the boer's bulging groin and hoped that despite his sore arse, he'd be that lucky bastard. But he realized that this was not to be when they marched back to their tent. He almost groaned with disappointment when he saw that their tent had been pitched no more than ten feet from a large canvas affair with an awning, under which a trestle table and chairs had been set up. The commander sat at the table and beckoned them as they approached. When they stood before him, he said "When the good burghers find out that we have some khaki prisoners they might well be tempted to call for a lynching. Its therefore prudent to have you close to me, where you can be well guarded."
"Thank you sir," Flint replied, and North wondered if he too was disappointed at not being able to have an hour or two alone with his trooper.

     After having had an excellent evening meal, the food having been provided by the townsfolk, the soldiers sat in front of their tent watching the sun drop over the horizon. Jeppe had gone, along with most the men, to the dorp's busy tavern and they were guarded by a wiry weasel-faced boer who could or would not, speak English. Suddenly they heard the sound of appoaching horses and moments later two men in travel-stained jerkins and breeches strode through the well-lit camp towards the commander's tent. When they finally stood before the trestle table, one of the scouts reached into his shoulder satchel and produced a sheet of paper which he handed to the seated commander. He studied it for a moment, then looked up, "Very well gentlemen, what news do you have for me?" The scount turned and pointed at the soldiers. "Don't worry about them, they can't understand Afrikaans," the commander said. North hid his growing excitement, they still had'nt discovered that he spoke Afrikaans fluently. The scout shrugged and said,  "Very well. Kotze must be present before I go on." The commander nodded, "You'll find him camped along by the bridge." The
scout turned to his companion,  Would you be kind enough to fetch him Reitz?"
"Certainly Pete," he replied and strode off along the river. *

     North studied the sturdy bearded scout, called Pete, standing before the trestle table. He was a big man North and admired the masculine curves of his muscular arse as he bent forward to accept a light for the cheroot that the commander had offered him. He exhaled a stream of smoke, before turning slightly and resting his hand in the table, thereby affording North a fine view of his lamp-lit groin. North smiled to himself and felt his cock stir. No drawers there you cheeky bastard, he thought, as he appraised the cock and what looked to be a fine set of balls. Then he heard Flint swear under his breath he swung his head round to see the other scout returning with the big bald headed Kotze and
his four men.

     When all the men had arranged themselves in front of the table, Pete began, "You have been ordered to take your men east tomorrow to Lydenburg sir, to join forces with Kock and Steyn. A major engagement is imminent." The commander nodded, and the scout continued, "Kotze, you and your men will go with the commander as far as Nebo. Then you will strike south to dynamite the railway bridge over the Devil's Falls Canyon." Pete the scout waited for the outburst of laughter and the back-slapping among Kutze's men to subside before he went on, You will pick up an explosive expert, who will be waiting for you at Drusdorp. Do you know it?"
"Ja, it used to be a dorp , but it was abandoned years ago. Now its a ruin about three miles from the railway bridge, "Kotze replied in his deep rasping voice. "Exactly," replied the scout, then continued
"The expert will destroy the bridge and intercept any messages on the telegraph line before he cuts it.
Then you will return immediately to Lydenburg. Command wanted me to make that quite clear. Is that understood Mr Kotze?"
"Perfectly," Kotze purred and the expression he wore reminded North of a lion that has just made a big kill.

     "That only leaves us with the matter of our prisoners," said the commander. North's body tensed and he masked it by yawning expansively and lying back on the grass. "That you must sort out yourselves," the scout replied  and looked intently at the soldiers for the first time. "I can't take them with me if there's to be fighting," said the commander. "Very well, let's shoot them," replied Kotze
with a cold smile ."You know very well we can't do that," snapped the commander. "So what do you
propose we do with them?" purred Kotze. The scout, having satisfied himself that the prisoners were not following, turned his attention back to the discussion and replied, "Obviously we can't take them with us without orders."
"Very well you will have to take them with you Kotze," the commander sighed.  "Why, that will be a pleasure sir," Kotze replied. Choosing to ignore the sarcasm  dripping from the big man's mouth the commander added, "They are prisoners of war and must come to no harm. I'm holding you personally
responsible, is that understood Kotze?"
"Of course sir," came the reply and the purr in Kotze's voice made a worm of unease twist in North's
belly. With studied nonchalance he sat up and looked at the men gathered around the trestle table.