The Iron Stallions (5 page)

‘Lucky for you if you hear it at all,

For my trumpet is faintly speaking.

I’m calling them home, Come home! Come home!

Tread light o’er the dead in the valley…’

It brought a lump to Josh’s throat. It had been one of his grandfather’s favourites and his eyes had always had a wistful faraway look as he listened, because there was only one valley he ever remembered – a long slope at Balaclava where he’d led a squadron of the Regiment between the Russian guns in a charge which had been as pointless as it was brave.

As the canteen closed and they reeled back to the barrack room Orne looked at Josh.

‘You’re a funny feller, Josh,’ he said. ‘I’ve heard of gentlemen rankers and I’ve even seen a few now. But you’re different. You belong here but you ain’t one of
us
.’

Josh smiled. ‘Whichever way it is,’ he said. ‘I’m happy. I could stay here for the rest of my life.’

But, though he didn’t know it, his days were already numbered.

They spent all day with horses, riding to riding school, riding in riding school, riding back from riding school, riding to stables, riding to their midday meal, even riding to foot drill. Prescott hated it, because he hated horses and it surprised nobody when he committed suicide.

It was Josh who found him. Rising first for stables as usual, as he clattered downstairs he came across the body hanging from the banister. Prescott had used a headrope and beneath his dangling feet was the stable bucket on which he had stood. Though a normal inquest was held, the army had to hold its own enquiry and everybody who had known the dead man was brought before Major Leduc, his squadron officer, to give their evidence.

Leduc, a lean, dark-featured Jerseyman with a crippled hand, who Josh knew had served with his father in France, studied Josh carefully. ‘Did you know him well?’ he asked.

‘We were in the same intake, sir. We were in the same barrack room. He never seemed to join in, sir. I think he was better educated than most and found it difficult.’

Leduc studied him shrewdly. ‘I’d say that
you
were better educated than most, too, but it doesn’t seem to worry you.’

As Josh about-turned and left the room, Leduc stared after him, his expression thoughtful. ‘What was that man’s name?’ he asked the sergeant-major. ‘I feel I’ve seen him before.’

Two days later, Josh’s name was called from the barrack- room door.

‘Lance-Corporal Loftus! Smarten yerself up, do! You’re for the sergeant.’

‘What’s it about, Corp?’

‘Gawd knows and ’e won’t split. I expect the sergeant’ll let you know.’

But the sergeant was saying nothing. He merely put on his cap, picked up a sheet of paper and signed to Josh to follow him. At the squadron office, Lieutenant Morby-Smith was waiting, but he merely gestured at the squadron commander’s room. B Squadron commander rose.

‘This the man?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Right. Follow me, Corporal.’

When he saw they were heading for the Colonel’s office, Josh knew his days as a ranker were finished.

The Colonel was sitting at his desk. The bookcase contained books on warfare – some his own grandfather’s, Josh noticed – and a green-shaded reading lamp was shining on the Colonel’s face. On the desk were two photographs Josh recognised at once. Behind the desk stood Leduc, dark-visaged and silent as a horse-trader.

The Colonel looked at him. ‘This the man?’ he asked.

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Good soldier?’

‘Excellent, I’m told, sir.’

‘I’d be surprised if he weren’t.’ The Colonel studied Josh, who was standing rigidly at attention in front of the desk. Then, a hint of amusement in his eyes, he turned the two photographs on his desk round to face Josh and pushed them forward.

‘Know who they are?’ he asked quietly.

‘Yes, sir,’ Josh said. ‘My father and my grandfather.’

‘Two splendid officers. This regiment is proud of them.’

‘Thank you, sir. So am I.’

‘And you are Joshua Loftus Colby Goff, I think.’

‘Sir!’

The Colonel retrieved the photographs and sat back in his chair. ‘Lieutenant Morby-Smith’s had his eye on you for a long time,’ he said. ‘Suspected you were a deserter from another regiment. He got Lord Ellesmere to watch you, too. Then I’m afraid you cooked your goose when you appeared before Major Leduc at the enquiry into the death of Trooper Prescott. It wasn’t just the way you looked, but the way you behaved that made him wonder, and he started looking at photographs in the mess.’ The Colonel looked up under one eyebrow. ‘What in God’s name, boy, made you think you could get away with it? You of all people ought to know that a regiment like this keeps a sharp watch on newcomers. We can tell old soldiers at once.’

‘I’m not an old soldier, sir.’

‘Goffs are old soldiers from the time they cut their first teeth.’

Josh drew a deep breath and explained what had happened.

‘Well, there’s not much to be ashamed of in that,’ the Colonel admitted. ‘Most of us get up to pranks of one sort or another at school. But wouldn’t it have been better to stay and face the music?’

This was an angle that hadn’t occurred to Josh. Nevertheless, he had an answer. ‘Not really, sir. I think I’d come to the end of my schooldays. I wanted to join the Regiment. I’ve always wanted to join it. Ever since I was a boy it seemed the only thing to do.’

The Colonel eyed him. ‘How old are you? The truth.’

‘Nearly eighteen, sir.’

‘You know very well the Regiment wouldn’t hesitate to have you – as an officer. Your background’s everything that’s to be desired. Unfortunately, you’re still too young. I’ve been in touch with your school. They feel that perhaps you shouldn’t go back.’

‘Perhaps they’re wise, sir. I think I’d be a bit too adult for school now.’

The Colonel nodded. ‘I suspect you’re right,’ he said.

‘However, now we have your correct age, we can’t keep you, you know. What can you do for a month or two?’

Josh managed a smile. ‘Perhaps I could make up to my mother for what I’ve done, sir. It’s been a pretty lonely life for her since my father was killed.’

‘I think that might be a good idea. I might add that though I don’t entirely approve of what you did, I admire you for it. It takes courage to join the ranks of the army, and I suspect you’ll find it a great asset when you return as an officer.’

Back in the barrack room, Orne appeared at once.

‘What’s it all about, Josh?’

‘They’re chucking me out.’

‘Outa the Regiment? They must be barmy. You’re the best soldier they’ve got. What’s it for?’

‘Under age. There’s another reason, too. They want me as an officer.’

‘They’ve given you a commission?’

‘Well, it’s not quite what it sounds. I’d have been coming as an officer eventually, I suppose, but things got a bit out of control.’

He explained what had happened and Orne studied him, wide-eyed.

‘You mean you’re one of
them
?’ Suddenly they were aware that a barrier had lifted between them. They weren’t enemies but they lived on different sides of a fence. ‘One thing,’ Orne went on slowly. ‘You’ll know all the dodges because you’ve tried ’em yourself. What happens now?’

Josh drew a deep breath, then he smiled. ‘I think,’ he said, ‘that you and I ought to go to wet canteen tonight and celebrate.’

Curiously, the first thought in Josh’s mind when he reached home was one of sentiment and he was close to tears to be among familiar lanes, to see the cottages inhabited by the host of Ackroyds who had once ministered to the needs of the big house. For the first time he realised how much a part of him they were.

The news appeared to have got around and there were smiling faces and waves, as if they’d been waiting for him. One of old Tyas’ great-grandsons, with whom Josh had more than once gone ferreting, waved to him from the back of a big Clydesdale, and there were several shy smiles from the girls. His mother was waiting for him in the hall, as uncertain of him as he was of her. Their hands touched then they were in each other’s arms.

‘Oh, you silly, silly boy,’ Fleur Goff said. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ She stood back to look at him. ‘You’re enormous, Josh! Enormous.’

‘The army builds you up,’ Josh agreed.

She looked at him, tears in her eyes. ‘I can’t help thinking,’ she said, ‘that your father would have approved. Your grandfather, too. It must have taken some courage. Was it terrible, Josh?’

He smiled. ‘No, Mother,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t. On the whole, I loved it. It came so easily to me. I knew how to do everything before we started.’

Fleur stared at him, her eyes welling with tears, a doubt in her breast. ‘I’d half-hoped–’

‘Mother, I know what you half-hoped,’ Josh said. ‘But it’s no good. It’s part of my life and always has been. I took to it like a duck to water.’

‘I was only thinking of–’

‘–Father. I know.’ Josh put his arms round her. ‘But, Mother, let’s not forget Grandfather who went through sixty years of it – almost all the time on active service – and he got away with it. I shall, too. Think of Joshua Pellew Goff. He came through Wandewash and half a dozen other battles in India. Great-grandfather Goff came through Waterloo. Grandfather Goff came through Balaclava, the American Civil War, the Franco-Prussian War, the Zulu War, and the South African War, to say nothing of half a dozen minor wars and the North West Frontier.’

She was still doubtful. ‘If it’s what you want, Josh–’

‘Mother, it
is
what I want. It’s what I’ve wanted ever since I’ve been old enough to think about it.’

‘It isn’t just all that talking your grandfather did during the war when your father was away?’

‘No, Mother.’ Josh waved a hand, trying to explain. ‘It’s all those other Goffs, right back to the year dot. Grandfather, great-grandfather, Joshua Pellew Goff, those Goffs who fought for the king in the Civil War, all of them. I can’t explain it.’

She gave him a tearful smile. ‘I think you can, Josh,’ she said. ‘I think you have.’

There was no question of returning to school, but the story had got around and at Christmas, Toby Reeves turned up, driving his father’s car with his sister Ailsa alongside him.

‘By George,’ he said, ‘you must have had some guts, to go and live among all those gutter pickings you get in the other ranks.’

‘I didn’t find them gutter pickings, Toby,’ Josh said.

‘Didn’t mean it, really, old chap,’ Reeves said quickly. ‘Just a figure of speech so don’t get all bolshy just because you’ve found out how the other half lives. Hear they made you a lance-corporal.’

‘Yes.’ Josh smiled. ‘I’ll be as proud of that as I will of anything, even if I live to be a general.’

‘Will you be going into the Regiment?’

‘Soon as I’m old enough.’

‘Wouldn’t mind joining you. My father’s mob were foot-sloggers but I’ve never enjoyed exercise and I can ride a horse.’

‘I think it was very brave of you, Josh,’ Ailsa said. ‘I should think you’d be a very good soldier.’

‘Yes,’ Josh said cheerfully. ‘I think I shall be. Why didn’t you bring Louise?’

Ailsa’s face fell. ‘She’s gone back to America,’ she said. ‘Her father’s in Washington now.’

‘I ought to write to her,’ Josh observed. ‘She’d be interested.’

‘You could write to me,’ Ailsa suggested. ‘I know I’m still at school but I won’t be much longer. Only about three more years.’

Because there was little else for him to do, Josh began to take an interest in the little patch of land his mother owned, walking round it with old Ellis Ackroyd by his side or asking his grandmother’s advice. She welcomed his interest with her slow Virginia drawl, and for the first time he was aware how strong she had kept it, as if she felt she was part of two countries and had no intention of giving up her roots in either.

‘I’m just trying to make sense of the bills,’ she said. ‘One day they’ll be yours to deal with.’ She looked up at him. ‘You’ve grown, Josh. Our family were never very tall. Perhaps it was my fault because I’m so small, but your grandfather was never very big either. On the other hand, of course, every generation’s bigger than the last, and I declare, Americans these days seem like church steeples.’ She peered through her spectacles, her eyes bright with humour. ‘Still, perhaps it’s as well. The young have tremendous burdens to bear. There’s so much sadness in the world. That dreadful man, Lloyd George, promised so much with his election after the war, but so little was done. But then, his cabinet was full of people who looked as if they’d done very well out of the fighting.’

He let her prattle on, thinking she’d forgotten what she’d been saying, but she surprised him with her alertness. ‘Your grandfather would have been proud of you,’ she said. ‘So would your father. They always advocated officers spending time in the ranks and I always thought they were right. In our Civil War the soldiers used to
elect
their officers but that caused problems because if they didn’t like them, they also used to dis-elect them. I’ll be very proud to see you in your regimentals before I’m gathered. Have you seen your Uncle Robert yet, dear?’

‘No, Granny. He always seems too busy with business.’

And other things, too, the old lady thought. Trying to make sure of a share of the Cosgro money, Robert had long since dissociated himself from his own family – even to the extent of spelling his name differently – and only his misbehaviour with another woman during the war had enabled her husband, the Field Marshal, to force him to give up his claims on Braxby Manor.

‘I should go and see your Aunt Elvira, though,’ she said. ‘And your cousins. Aubrey’s a nice boy. And then, I think, you should spend some time with your Aunt Helen in Germany. She’d enjoy having some representative of the family calling on her. She must be lonely now that the old Graf is dead and your Uncle Karl was killed.’

Josh’s Cousin Aubrey, who, since the death of his uncle, had become Lord Cosgro, flung himself at Josh delightedly.

‘Josh!’ he said. ‘How terrific! What was it like? Was it hard?’