Danny looked Alf up and down.
“It’s all pretty boring stuff mate. Just making maps and logging stuff. Not really much to it.”
Every half an hour Rushton would pull his Jeep over to allow the convoy to continue with Doyle in the lead. He would wait for the towing vehicles to catch up. The first time he did this he was surprised to see the two engineers in the Jeep. The Jeep was more comfortable than the truck which would certainly be warmer.
“We’ll continue for another two hours,” he said once they’d stopped and got out of the vehicles. He spread a map across the jeep’s bonnet.
“Here,” he said pointing to a location on the map “We will take a short rest. The others will no doubt arrive there long before you do.”
He considered again the possibility of tipping the broken down Jeep over the side of the mountain. It would make life easier, but he could ill afford the loss.
“When you stop we’ll try to get it started again.”
“Yes sir,” Alf said “I think it’s fuel starvation. Can’t be sure until we have the proper tools.”
“Try it now,” Rushton ordered.
Danny turned the engine over once again.
“Stop!” Rushton said “You’ll wear the batteries down and if you keep turning it over we’ll have to bleed it too. I’m going to go ahead and catch the convoy again. When you get to this fork here….” he again pointed to his map “….I’ll leave an empty ammunition can on the road we take. Not sure which one it will be but the can will be somewhere near the turn. There’s been a fair bit of rain on the mountains lately so the higher road may not be accessible. Won’t know ’til we get there.”
“Understood sir.”
“Is there anything you need Boyle?” Rushton asked looking into the back of the Jeep.
Boyle leaned over the back of his seat. They had plenty of water, some food, spare fuel, a spare wheel, spare chains, shovels, first aid kit.
“You seem to have everything you need,” Rushton looked up at the Vickers ’K’ machine gun mounted above the rear seats.
“When was that last serviced?”
“Um not today sir. I think it was yesterday.”
“Might be a good idea to give it the once over just in case. You never know when you might need to use it.”
“I’ll do that sir,” Alf volunteered.
“Very well. I’m really beginning to like you Lieutenant. You are proving yourself to be of some worth.”
“Thank you sir.”
Rushton climbed back into his Jeep and roared away.
“’Ere Alf was he being sarcastic?”
Alf watched the dust kicked up by the speeding Jeep.
“No I don’t think so.”
“Take it from me,” Boyle said “The Major is the easiest man in the world to get on with but God help you if you ever upset him. Him and that guard dog of his sergeant Doyle.”
When they got to the fork they could see the ammunition case on the lower road. It was now spitting with rain and Boyle guessed Rushton hadn’t wanted to push his luck. Dry mountain roads could very easily become killer landslides, roads could be washed away in seconds burying everything in their path.
Alf looked up at the cloud covered peaks. It was much colder now and felt damp. He pulled his scarf up to cover his neck better and pulled the collar of his jacket as high as it would go over the scarf. Now it started to rain. The first cold drops stinging his face was a shock to the system. He wiped the water away.
“You might find some hats in the back somewhere,” Boyle said.
Johnny instantly began the search.
“Under the sheet.”
Johnny found a flat cap and an old hat that looked like a fedora and something that looked Australian. Boyle took the fedora, Johnny the Australian.
“Suits you,” Alf said.
His hat was too big and after trying to keep it on twice and failing because of the wind he threw it back at Johnny.
“Do you want this one then Alf?
Alf shook his head.
“You keep it.”
His short hair was wet in minutes. Boyle looked across at him and grinned. Alf just squinted back.
“You could always sit in the truck mate.”
Alf thought about it. The truck was cold and uncomfortable. You got thrown about a lot inside it. The Jeep wasn’t much better but the seats were more comfortable. The truck was at least dry inside. But then if he did sit inside it all he could do was look out at the Jeep following. He decided to stay where he was.
“I’ll stay where I am.”
“Suit yourself.”
Alf glanced up again at the craggy slopes above them. Rocks jutted out here and there, sometimes hanging out over the road. Sometimes looking up he could see rocks and stones tumbling down and once he saw animals, goats or sheep he couldn’t be sure. They were hundreds of feet up perched precariously above nothing. To fall would be certain death.
’Incredible animals’
Now it began to rain hard. The truck pulling the Jeep was getting slower and slower. The two vehicles limped in at the rendezvous point to join the others. They arrived to a great cheer.
“Glad you could make it Boyle.”
“What took you so long?”
“My grandfather drives quicker than you.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah,” Boyle said as his friends mocked him.
The three of them got out of their Jeep. Rushton was heading towards them.
“Oh here we go,” Johnny said “You two men can get to work on that Jeep straight away. The others have all had a rest. But you two can get straight to work. No rest for you….”
“Johnny!”
“Yeah well he can kiss my arse.”
“That’s enough before he hears you.”
“Well I’m getting tired of it Alf.”
“I know but just be careful what you say out loud son.”
“Still in one piece then I see,” Rushton said looking the Jeep over.
“Yes sir. We were hoping to have a short break before taking a proper look at her.”
“That’s absolutely fine lieutenant. Wilkins and his team will be dealing with it.”
Four men Alf and Johnny had not seen before set to work on the Jeep, undoing the chains, moving the truck. In no time the bonnet was up and the four of them were poking and prodding about.
“I’ve not noticed these men before sir,” Alf said.
“No. They’ve been out for nearly two weeks. This was our rendezvous point. We’re going to remain here for the rest of the afternoon. We’ll be moving on tonight. There will be a full moon.”
Billy Wilkins popped his head up from out under the bonnet.
“It’s damp Sir.”
“Damp.”
“Yes the leads are damp. It’s this damp desert air, especially first thing in the morning. The electrics, well, they just don’t like it Major. We’ve got a loose wire here or a damp connection or something. It could be the coil or the conductors….”
Rushton put up a hand to stop him. Wilkins was well known for running into details, giving lectures when one wasn’t necessary. He was also the best mechanic anyone had ever met.
“Spare me the details. Can you fix it?”
Wilkins’ enthusiasm as always was infectious.
“I hope so sir. I’m certainly going to try. In no time at all we’ll have old Vera here running. You mark my word sir.”
Johnny looked at Alf.
“Vera?”
“Yes Vera,” Boyle butted in.
“You named your Jeep Vera?”
“Yes Vera. After Vera Lynn….What’s so funny?”
“Bet Vera Lynn’s impressed. Giving her name to an old rust bucket.”
“This is a very good Jeep. We always name our Jeeps.”
“But Vera Lynn is a beautiful woman.”
Boyle was offended.