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 Posted - August 03 2009 : 08:56:04 AM
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By the time that Thorne led the column to the others, it was clear that further travel for any distance was unwise. The sun would set before they could reach the District Commissioner.
"Our car might get there in time," said Anne, "but only if the road isn't washed out in places and there haven't been any rockslides. But there are some narrow places where the road can be blocked, and any cars coming can be ambushed. Surely, this Karanja fellow will know that. The road is a logical place for him to look for victims."
"I'm afraid that you're right," agreed Thorne. "Sergeant, lets get over to those rocks and set up camp. We can use them for cover if we're attacked. Good place to put the machinegun. Mr. Clifford, get some men out on perimeter defense. We'll rotate them with others after supper is ready. I want them at least 200 yards beyond the main camp."
"Craig," asked Jennifer, "where shall Anne and I stay tonight? We have a tent if you tell us where to pitch it so that we're out of the way."
"I think you'd better be near me and Lt. Clifford," the captain responded. "We'll look after you, and you'll be well protected if we are attacked. We'll have those antelope cooking soon. Afraid that we haven't much else to offer. But we do provide al fresco dining, if the wine list is non-existent." He smiled and the girls laughed.
"We'll make out all right, Craig," said Anne. "Look, we have some pots and some tinned vegetables. Enough for you and Lt. Clifford and the white NCO's to join us."
A weary Thorne accepted, and the column prepared to settle in for the night.
Dinner went well, and they were all soon in better spirits. But as Thorne posted sentries, they heard drums, ominous under the circumstances. Thorne sent for two of his soldiers who were from local tribes. It took some coaxing, for they were as afraid of the witch doctor's reputation as were most blacks. But they translated the drum talk, and the news was grim.
Thorne swore and doubled his sentries.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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976 Posts |
Posted - August 03 2009 : 09:39:00 AM
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The safaris had pressed on and were in sight of the D.C's boma when shadows began lengthening. But all news wasn't good.
They had paused for Roxton, Charles Tremayne, and Stuart Hamilton to glass the surrounding land as the others ate sandwiches and drank tea. The men had gone up a hill that afforded a good view for some miles.
"Look there," gestured Roxton, "What's that?" He indicated something moving in the long grass just over a mile away. Their binoculars soon revealed a large number of natives, moving toward the D.C.'s compound.
"That looks bad," Tremayne declared. "Stuart, hadn't we better get down there and warn Sir John and his people?"
"We bloody well had, and for our safety as well as theirs," growled Hamilton.
The safari packed up and drove for the compound, the hunters already preparing to defend themselves if other tribesmen tried to head them off.
"Maybe you'd better shout to those people that you're Mem'Sahib Juju, Marguerite," teased Veronica Malone. Finn grinned.
Marguerite looked up from loading her .275 Rigby rifle. "If they get much closer, the time for shouting is probably past," she said grimly. "The good news is that I doubt that the mundumugu's promises that white peoples' bullets will glance off of his followers will prove true. I suspect that they're about to find out the hard way that he's led them down the primsrose path to destruction."
Her husband grimaced. "Let's hope they break and run soon, if it does come to shooting. We came here to hunt, not to fight a war. We don't have unlimited supplies of ammunition."
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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976 Posts |
Posted - August 04 2009 : 10:41:51 AM
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In an hour, they reached the District Commissioner's home and the police post contained within the same walls. A sentry opened the gates and the convoy rolled in.
A police inspector asked who they were, and on being informed, told them to park off to one side of the compound, and sent for Sir John Musgrave, the D.C. whom they had met on the previous years visit.
Musgrave arrived and greeted the hunters and their clients and safari staffs. He acknowledged that natives had been trickling in all day, telling of death and destruction. Many were terrified by Karanja's claims about his followers being impervious to bullets and by his alleged supernatural qualities. The news of his ceremony in which the chief whom he hated and his wives had been slain and consumed had spread among the Africans, and they were in dread. White settlers were also coming in in considerable numbers. Others had telephoned to say that they were fortifying their homes, and would make a stand where they lived. Everyone wanted something done.
"I've radioed Nairobi, and two battalions of the Kenya Regiment and additional KAR troops will be here by train in a day or so. More police are coming, too. The rub will be to get through tonight and into the afternoon tomorrow. By then, we should have enough force on hand to move against this blackguard on his own turf. Until then, I'm afraid that all we can do is to hold here and try to fight off any attacks."
"Blacklaws, Hamilton, Alex, I am glad to see you and to have you join us. And Lord and Lady Lindemere and Lord and Lady Roxton, it is good to see you again. Lady Roxton, you and your charming friend Mrs. Challenger will be pleased to know that if we are attacked, I will be delighted to have you shoot as many of those fellows as you please." He chuckled. "This time, there will be no question of legality."
"I don't want to shoot anyone if I don't have to," replied Marguerite cooly. "We don't have a lot of ammunition, anyway. Sir John, may we see Amanda? I have been looking forward to greeting her again."
"She's out back, getting some refugees settled in," the D.C. answered. "But we have been expecting you. She told me that you'd be dropping by, having corresponded with you. She's very keen to see you, too."
"What about those warriors that we saw on the way here? They may be here at any time. We couldn't drive fast enough until we got to the road to beat them here by much!" Finn was worried, and Musgrave saw that her distinguished husband was also concerned.
"I may have the answer to that, ma'am," said the inspector as he walked up. "Did you come from the southwest?"
Roxton nodded. "We were camped near a village called M'Bamba. People there warned us about the mundumugu. We drove pretty straight to get here as soon as practical."
"I'm afraid that I may know what became of your pursuers. There's now a column of smoke rising from a village that's en route to here from your former location. I rather fancy that those rebels stopped to raid that village. That's why we haven't seen them yet. But I'll wager that they'll be here by dusk." The inspector ran his eyes over the newcomers. "We'll have our work cut out for us if they attack in
the dark."
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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976 Posts |
Posted - August 13 2009 : 7:37:54 PM
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Back in Thorne's camp, they had just finished dinner, much aided by the canned vegetables from the ladies, when a shot rang out from one of the pickets. The soldiers stood to, but it soon proved that all that had happened was that a black sentry had fired at a noise. He had at least hit his mark, for a dead jackal lay where he had aimed. It had probably been attracted to the camp by the smell of cooking meat.
Thorne was angry, but also amused. He told the man to be more careful of what he shot at. "We can't have you killing one of us who's just gone to the potty now, can we?"
The sentry was contrite, but said, "Bwana,the noise was low for a person, but I thought that an attacker might be crawling towards me, or that the mundumugu had transformed himself into a jackal or a honey badger."
Thorne stopped himself from swearing at native gullibility. These people really weren't down out of the trees yet in some ways, and they believed what they believed. It was quite credible to this African that a witch doctor might make himself into an animal.
He admonished the man to be more careful, telling him that such tales of witch doctors were rubbish. It was all that he could do, and he returned to his tent.
There, he had to tell the white NCO's, the ladies, and his lieutenant what had happened. "Clive, remember this. These are the sort of troops that we command." Thorne was disgusted, and the others rolled their eyes.
Jennifer wanted to laugh. She took Thorne by the shoulders, kissed him and said, "Oh, Craig! Thank you for saving us from the enchanted jackal! Whatever would Anne and I do without you?"
They did laugh at this, even Thorne enjoying the kiss and the humor.
"Right, you funny people: back to bed. We need to get to Sir John's place early tomorrow. They may need us there."
Jennifer led the captain aside and said softly, "Craig, I hope that I didn't embarrass you. But I've been wanting to find an excuse to kiss you all day. I remember how well you kissed me the last time we were together. A girl doesn't forget that. Can we do something together after this witch doctor affair is over? Anne and I would love to host you at our place. Have you got any leave coming? You could stay a week or so and get in some fine hunting. We need some predators and extra game cleaned out, anyway." She hoped that she wasn't blushing as badly as she felt that she was.
"In fact, I can probably take some leave soon," he admitted. "Might I hope for a better kiss, when we don't have an audience?"
She blushed crimson now. "Actually, if it won't embarrass you too much, you can have as good a kiss as I can manage, right now, or at any time you wish. I like you, Craig, very much. You stir things in me that no other man has. If we were alone, who knows what I might do, if led into it by you? I'm sorry to sound like a brazen hussy, but you make me want to be shameless with you. And if I don't tell you this, some other woman may, on her behalf. I should hate that, for I like being with you more than I dare say."
She leaned into him, and he took her in his arms. "Jennifer, I have hoped that you might feel this way. I, too, have missed you, very much. There are things that I want to say, that I dare not now. But I want very much to visit you. I need to decide about my future, and I want to discuss that with you before I make some important decisions. Now, get back into your tent before I yield to temptation and scandalize the entire camp!"
He kissed Jennifer, and smacked her on her desirable behind as he turned toward his own tent. She went so weak in the knees with desire and joy that she stumbled a bit as she ran to her own cot.
"I do hope that you managed to reassure the lady, Sir," said Clive. "It doesn't do to have girls worried about this wog wizard who's got so many people in a dither." He was clearly trying to keep a straight face, as were the white NCO's.
Thorne grinned, in spite of himself. "I hope to reassure her a great deal more when this is over, you varlet! Now, you lot get off to sleep. Dawn comes early."
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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976 Posts |
Posted - August 16 2009 : 10:59:22 AM
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Amanda Musgrave came around the house from where she had been overseeing the barbecuing of several game animals shot earlier in the day. Anticipating a seige and seeing the arrival of refugees, her husband had sent out some policemen to kill a buffalo and a number of antelope. Kettles boiled vegetables from the garden and from the cans and jars brought by the unexpected guests.
The settlers had seemingly decided to treat the threat from the witch doctor's men as a social occasion, and were breaking out refreshments. Neighbors were greeting one another, discussing everything from cattle dips to horse racing and hunting.
When she saw Marguerite Roxton and her mate, Lady Musgrave called to them and rushed over as fast as was dignified for the wife of the District Commissioner.
"Marguerite! John! What a lovely surprise! I suppose that you've heard that we may be attacked by some black demon's rebels? We've been fortifying the place, but John says that troops will reach us tomorrow. And we're well armed. I think all will be well. But we'll have to wait until all of these unexpected guests trickle off home when the matter is ended. Then, we can receive you properly, and I do so much want to learn that wicked dance that you mentioned, Marguerite. Where are the Challengers, and have the Malones joined you again?"
Marguerite hugged her and said that both of the other couples were there, probably talking with the police and the settler leaders about how best to defend the boma if the enemy did come.
Amanda invited them in with a few other close friends to where she and her servants were serving a more intimate dinner within her home.
Her husband soon arrived with the Challengers, the Malones, and some local companions. A party began, as drinks made the rounds, and people mixed and met.
Finn and the other former Treehouse women were talking when some local women came over and introduced themselves. They were getting acquainted when one woman said, "Oh, dear: here comes Alice Winters, and I'm afraid that she's had a few too many drinks. Again, bless her heart."
Alice peered owlishly at the safari women and demanded, "Do I know you?"
"I don't believe so," Marguerite ventured. "I'm Marguerite Roxton, the Countess of Avebury. My friends and I and our men are on safari. We came last year, and liked it. Most of the time." She avoided mentioning their adventure with the slavers, hoping that it wouldn't arise.
"Really?", asked a skeptical Alice, as several other ladies drifted over to join the group. "And who are you?" she asked Finn. "The bleeding Duchess of Kent?" She smirked.
"Uh, no," said Finn. "I don't look anything like her. She and the Duke live maybe a mile from George and me, and I've seen her at a couple of parties. In fact, they came to a book signing party for us, and their being there got a lot of social climbers to come and buy my books." She grinned.
Alice squinted. "Why are you having to sell your books if you can afford to come on safari?"
"Mrs. Challenger is an author. She writes the books that she was selling." Susan Wilson was proud of her boss, and amused by the woman who had drunk too much before dinner, And she felt that it couldn't hurt to let everyone know that an author was present...just in case anyone wanted to place a book order. As long as the mundumugu's rebellion had caused people to congregate here, maybe they could use the event to their advantage.
"Who is Mrs. Challenger?" asked another lady. "My husband is talking to a Prof. Challenger in the next room. Very distinguished looking large man with reddish golden hair. Seems to know a lot about some new crop fertilizer that he said he's invented. My Paul seems very interested. We have a farm, you know."
She looked at Finn and Susan. "Are you girls his daughters?"
Finn tried to hide her pique. "Susan works for me, my secretary. And I'm not George's daughter. I'm Mrs. Him." She flashed her wedding band, the gold ring being what she wore on safari, with her diamond ones packed away except for formal gatherings.
"Of course you are, my dear," said Alice. "And Gywenneth," she confided in a friend, "this brunette lady is the Countess of Avebury." She winked.
Amanda Musgrave walked over and said,"Yes, we met the Earl and Countess last year, and the Challengers. I'm honored to have them as our guests again. Everyone, dinner is served. Lets go in and find our husbands and be seated. Susan, would you like to sit by Finn?"
She would, looking proudly at her boss and friend.
As the food was being passed around and the wine poured, Sir John took his place at the head of the table. He called for silence and said, "Sorry all, but there's been some bad news. I've had a telegram saying that the troop train expected tomorrow has been delayed.It seems that Karanja's men have torn up the tracks some 50 miles from here. Trucks and a repair crew are being dispatched from Nairobi tonight. But I think we may be for it until they arrive. Lets not drink too heavily; we may have to defend ourselves in a few hours. I'll establish a watch schedule, and if the enemy approaches, we'll stand to arms. In the meantime, enjoy dinner. I'm just sorry that this savage had to start a rising. We haven't had a bad one here since the Nandi war of 1906. Anyway, dig in, and eat heartily. At least, this has gotten us all together, and we haven't seen some of you in months." He sat, accepting a glass of wine from his wife.
Talk was at once of the "rising", and of how soon the enemy might arrive and his likely capabilities.
Alice fixed her eye on Marguerite Roxton and demanded in a voice that could be heard over the others, "Are you really a flaming countess?"
Roxton gave her an annoyed look. "Yes, she is. And the blonde lady with the professor is really Mrs. Challenger, the writer. I'm sure that she'll sell you autographed copies of her books if you like.
Now, perhaps Sir John will let us know our posts in case anything happens."
Musgrave began describing the defenses and assigning men to cover the area. He had gotten about halfway through his speech when Alice said loudly, "I've never met a damned countess before. Can't your husband just tell the witch doctor to go away? I mean, he's a bleeding Member of Parliament, isn't he?"
"He shoots pretty well, too," observed Challenger. "And I rather fancy that Karanja will be more impressed by that."
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Posted - August 19 2009 : 10:01:50 PM
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"Speaking of which," Marguerite asked, "do his followers really believe that white people's bullets will bounce off of them? Are they that stupid and primitive?"
"I'll answer that, Marguerite," said Stuart Hamilton. "These wogs can be remarkably clever about some things. My camp cook does wonders with an old tin oven. But when it comes to superstition, they do odd things. They routinely smother children born feet first, or if a vulture's shadow passes over the hut where a woman is giving birth. They think that both impose a curse, a 'thahu'. If they believe enough in a witch doctor, they can truly think that his fantastic claims are true."
"We had a horrible famine strike the Zulu where I come from," said Geoff, the South African. "One of their shamans dreamed that they should kill all of their cattle, and the gods would create even more. Didn't happen of course. His medical and miracle worker credentials were badly tarnished by that. In fact, the other wogs killed him."
"Why do they make such outlandish claims?", Marguerite persisted. "As soon as my husband or mem'Sahib Bunduki here draw a bead on him or his lot, that claim will be proven false. I shoot rather well, myself."
Musgrave shrugged. "I suppose these medicine men have colossal egos. Rather like some politicians in England, if Lord Roxton will excuse the comment. And, Karanja likely believes his own claims. He's probably quite mad. I'll try to hang him if he's caught, if his lawyer doesn't get him off on an insanity plea."
"No worries," laughed Susan. "If Mem'Sahib Bunduki sees him, he's history. A very small footnote in history, I should think."
Alice demanded, "Who the hell is this mem'Sahib Bunduki I keep hearing about? Is she some expert shot, or what?"
Roxton was becoming vexed with Alice. "She's Mrs. Challenger, Finn, the lady next to the Professor. She's my usual hunting partner, apart from my wife. And she indeed hits what she shoots at. If the mundumugu gets past me, my wife, or Prof. Challenger, Finn will likely kill him."
"What about me?" demanded Ned Malone. "I usually hit what I shoot at, too, including a black mamba that almost killed the Challengers last year."
"You certainly did, Ned," conceded Challenger. "As for a practical issue...Sir John, might we be issued some .303 ammunition? Several of us in the three safaris own .303's for light rifles, and our cartridge supply is modest. We came to hunt, not to fight a war."
Musgrave said that he'd have the police issue rifle ammunition to those with .303's, that being the British service cartridge. "We have good stocks of it here, thank goodness. This post often resupplies Army patrols, so we stock ammunition and other stores. And we have three wells here. We shan't want for water if the seige is prolonged. Any other questions?"
"Where can I buy Mrs. Challenger's books?", asked Grant Fellowes, a local farmer and magistrate. "I've heard about them. Is it true that you ladies wore rather less in that Brazilian jungle, young lady? I gather that there are some notorious photos and drawings..."
Margurite saw her chance to tease her "sisters". "Only the blondes did that, sir. I was respectably dressed, as befits a lady. But what can one expect from blondes?" She smirked at Finn and Veronica.
Most laughed, especially when Finn stuck out her tongue at Marguerite and Veronica tossed a lemon slice at her.
As dinner ended and people broke up into groups to discuss what they would, several men and two younger women cornered Finn and gave her book orders. Susan took down their addresses and accepted the money with relish. As Susan wrote out receipts, Finn got out all three of her titles, and let those interested examine them, to see what they were ordering. She sold what copies she had, and promised to expedite delivery on the rest. Asked for autographs, she signed both her normal name and, on request, as Mem'Sahib Bunduki. The native name amused many there. She gave autographs on whatever paper those asking had, as the book supply was limited. She was radiant, excited to meet her fans, and Susan was also clearly thrilled, if her efficient self. Challenger also looked proud.
Marguerite took Challenger aside and whispered,"Good thing that you taught our Finnykins to write, George. She has so much fun signing those autographs." She winked evilly, knowing that Challenger would defend his wife.
Instead, he said, "Both Challengers seem to be doing well, Marguerite. I've taken orders for several tons of my new fertilizer." He looked happily at her.
An aide came in and approached the D.C. "Excuse me, Sir John, but I'm afraid that the sentries have sighted a large body of armed natives approaching. It looks like this fellow Karanja has finally arrived."
Alice heard, and still about five sheets to the wind, said, "Well, tell them to go elsewhere. We've already eaten, and they shouldn't expect to be served here, anyway."
People chuckled, and Amanda got two settler women to take Mrs. Winters to a bedroom and try to get her to take a nap. Everyone else got their rifles and went to their assigned posts. It looked as if action was at last at hand!
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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976 Posts |
Posted - August 20 2009 : 05:25:19 AM
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Karanja was indeed in charge of the approaching group, some 300 strong. He should have had nearly 200 more men, but after raiding the village that the inspector had seen smoking in the distance, his followers had found native beer in many of the huts. A celebration had been planned, and beer and food were on hand. So were the women who were allowed to live, and between raping them and swilling beer, many of his number had fallen asleep or had become too lethargic to march further that day.
Furious, his lieutenant in charge had had the women bound and placed in huts that could be easily watched. Then, he and some of the more intelligent, alert, followers had dumped the remaining beer, despite threats from the rioting savages. Eventually, things quieted down, but his war chief of this group had had to send word to Karanja of what had happened, and tell him that he would try to rouse the sleeping or drowsy men by dawn, and march to join Karanja's main body of the force.
Karanja had been beside himself with rage, but he knew his fellow Africans, and wasn't as surprised as he might have been. His command was hardly as discliplined as a formal group of Masai, let alone the Zulus found much further south on this continent. He would surround the D.C.'s boma and start drums beating to drive the whites and the black refugees within mad with dread.
As soon as more of his people trickled in, he initiated this plan, having a group of men begin chanting his praises. He soon felt much better. He decided to wrap his blanket around himself and sleep, telling most of his men to do likewise. "Sing sometimes until dawn," he admonished his subchief. "Keep the white devils uneasy."
But as he drifted off to sleep, he was horrified and frightened to hear that the whites also knew how to sing!
There was a rumble of drums and a blare of police trumpets, then the strains of, "God Save the King" reached him! It sounded as if more people were in that fort than he'd realized. And from the way that they were singing, they were anything but terrified...
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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976 Posts |
Posted - August 21 2009 : 06:15:53 AM
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It turned out that a number of men present sang in local choirs, some of them Welsh. That led to a rendition of, "Men of Harlech", the defiant notes not lost on the defenders or on Karanja's wariors.
Finally, the police band played, "The British Grenadiers", to general applause. "I certainly wish that the Grenadier Guards were close at hand," remarked Roxton. "They'd make short work of that lot."
Marguerite took his arm, kissed him, and said, "Why do I need the Grenadier Guards? I have you." Roxton's heart was full, and he knew a great bliss as he turned her in his arms and took her lips with a passion unseemly in public, as some clearing of throats and harrumphing soon made clear to the noble couple!
Embarrassed, they nonetheless strolled arm-in-arm to the area where John would make his stand if the enemy came for them before reinforcements arrived. Others noticed that they stood very close, and several times, they kissed or rubbed noses.
Amanda Musgrave saw, and led her husband behind some boxes and let him know in no uncertain terms that he was her champion, and that as soon as the emergency had been resolved, she wanted to prove it to him at some length. He had been busy letting her know just how much that would please him when an aide came, calling him to inspect the defenses. But he went more happily than he would have, had his wife not made her feelings known.
George and Finn Challenger excused themselves from talking to the Malones and Finn asked George to set up a trust fund for Susan. "If anything happens to me, Genius, see that she's taken care of. We don't pay her enough to save a lot on her own."
Challenger agreed, but told her that if one of them perished, it was more likely to be him. "I think Amanda will come soon, Darling, and take you ladies to the house, where you'll be more safe."
"Great," said Finn. "If the other women go, that's their call. But you and I are staying together. I'd go nuts worrying about you if I was with them, and you know damned well that I'm a good shot." She had that defiant look that she only occasionally got, and usually when she was resisting being sent somewhere safe. Normally, if she wanted something, she didn't nag: she was just so sweet and desirable that Challenger hadn't the resolve to refuse her wishes. And she didn't abuse the effectiveness of her charms. On the contrary, she nurtured him as few wives did. He marvelled at times how this slim blonde woman had become his, and had told him that she had rather be his than to be a queen elsewhere. And in doing so, had made him realize that science could no longer be his obsession to the degree that it had been until some months after he had rescued her from an ominous fate, in her own time. He taught her to read and to care for moral principles. In turn, she taught him a broader humanity, and to laugh more than he had done in all of his life. And he had begun to live that life more fully than he had ever expected.
Susan came and asked to stay with the Challengers. They both hugged her and assured her that they would all protect one another. Finn told her their plan to establish a fund for her if they all survived the coming battle. She cried at that, and Finn felt grateful that she could help this loyal employee, who had lost her own family. They were only five years apart in age, but Finn Challenger sometimes felt like a mother to Susan, certainly at least an elder sister.
Ned and Veronica came, and Ned pointed out that they and the Roxtons were all godparents to one another's chidren."We need to designate some other people to help out if all of us get wiped out. We're too often together when real danger comes into our lives."
They agreed, and tried to think who might accept such a heavy responsibility. Vee's mother was still lost, presumed now to be dead, and Finn was an orphan, as were both of the Roxtons.
Their discussion was cut short as Marguerite approached. "Listen, people: I've asked Sir John if it mighn't be a good time for Morrighan to make an appearance and see if I can scare the devil out of those savages." She was smiling a triumphant grin, ready to do mischief unto the enemy.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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976 Posts |
Posted - August 22 2009 : 02:38:41 AM
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"Uh, Marguerite, is that a good idea?", wondered Veronica. "These settlers are probably not too wild about some white woman pretending to be a reincarnated Druid priestess. And it may conflict with their Christian beliefs, especially for the several Boer families. And I bet the women in particular will raise Cain if they see us in those outfits. When we did that in camp, it was among friends, and there weren't any older, really conservative people. But here..."
"Quite right," agreed Lady Roxton. "But, being my brilliant self, I've arranged with Amanda Musgrave to borrow some black sheets and tablecloths that we can use for robes. No pointed hats, I'm afraid, but we aren't that sort of witch. And she has some long white candles that will do nicely. We just walk around in our previous patterns, I wave my dagger, and pronounce a curse on Karanja. Then, I throw some of George's magic powder on the fire to make a big puff of smoke and some sparks, and we're done. Oh: Sir John has an electronic loud-hailer that we can sing our little chant into. And when I curse the witch doctor, the savages can't help but hear. Including Karanja, I hope."
Challenger was concerned. "Marguerite, if you're captured, Karanja may treat you really badly for that." He was clearly worried, as were all of her friends.
But she wasn't very perturbed. "George, if he catches me, my admittedly trim, fit, lovely body is likely to receive his attentions in very unpleasant ways, in any case. I have a feeling that any reasonably attractive white women here are going to be passed around among his minions, and fare the worse for it. Afterward, unless he plans to sell us to Arab slavers, we'll probably be mutilated, as will everyone else in here. By the time that they're done with us, we'll be begging to die."
Ned shuddered. "I can believe that," he muttered. "I read the old news accouts of what Custer's command looked like after the Battle of the Little Big Horn, and what the Sioux did to the soldiers. The lucky ones were those who were dead when the Indians got to them. I bet these creeps act pretty much the same way toward their captives."
Susan was pale. "Will they really hurt us girls much, if they hope to sell us? The slavers won't buy us if we're disfigured, will they? The ones last year told Holly, Vee, and me that we'd face some unpleasant things, like being whipped and trained. But they said that nothing they did would mark us permanently, unless they decided to brand us."
Marguerite touched her shoulder tenderly. "Susan, these people are a little more primitive and bloodthirsty than those organized slavers. And when they're going wild or have had enough to drink, they're capable of anything...except compassion. I'm going to have Roxton shoot me if Karanja wins this battle. Then, he and George had better shoot one another. They do awful things to men, too."
Roxton was redfaced. "Marguerite, I'm not sure if I can do that. I love you so very much..."
"And that's why you had better kill me," she said. "If you love me, John, don't let me be captured alive."
She looked at Finn and at Felicity Tremayne, who had walked up with her husband. "All right, F and F. We need to get our black robes on. Finny, are you going to don that outfit that you wore on the Plateau? If we win, maybe some men will rush over to see you in it, and buy your books. It'll be their only chance to see your scandalous attire, just as you wore it in the book photos and drawings. I should think it'd make their night. Or, week!"
Finn was intrigued. "May I, Genius? Will that embarrass you too much? I bet it would sell some books."
Challenger thought briefly, then nodded, partly because he wanted to get Finn's mind off what would happen to them if captured alive. And it was probably quite true that it would result in more book sales, although some of the married men would have to buy the books when their wives weren't looking. "I hope it doesn't scandalize any of the farmers enough that they cancel their orders for my new fertilizer. But go ahead, Darling. I shall quite enjoy seeing you in that outfit, myself."
Finn grinned, kissed him and went to the truck to get the outfit from her luggage. She took Susan and Veronica with her, to help her change rapidly. But mostly, she wanted to talk to Susan in near privacy.
They stepped into a tent to change. Finn had Veronica keep watch at the entrance. Finn put on her old outfit from New Amazonia, or really an exact reproduction, and took Susan by the shoulders.
"Vee, step in here, please," she asked. And when Mrs. Malone responded, Finn held Susan's right hand in both of hers and said, "Vee, I want you to witness this, but keep it to yourself, unless I'm killed. Susan, if I am killed, I want you to take care of my husband. In every way that I do. Marry him if you can. If you will. If he's too old for you, or you can't get him to fall in love with you, at least be the best secretary that he could hope for. But think about seeing if you can land him. You'll remind him of me, which may help. And he's a good catch. You'd have security, and he's a lot more physically active than you may think. George is in really good shape for a man of any age. And he's a real 'prince', who'd treat you like a princess. I want you two to take care of one another if I fall tonight or tomorrow, whenever these bastards come. Vee, you tell George that I said this, in case Susan wants to take me up on this offer. She could do a lot worse! There's just one condition."
"And what might that be?" asked a stunned Veronica Malone.
"That if I don't get killed or maimed so badly that I want to die, Susan had better stay away from my husband, because I plan to keep him!"
She grinned, causing both other women to smile. Susan blushed scarlet. "Ma'am, I couldn't possibly please the professor as much as you do. But you're going to be fine, so don't worry."
"I think we're all going to get through this," Finn conceded, "but Susan, please think about what I said. I mean it. George and you will need one another, and I trust you to look after my Genius." She wiped away a tear, and said, "Come on, you two. We'd better go find Marguerite, before someone burns her as a witch."
Veronica pulled Finn to her and both women sobbed briefly until the lady whom they were about to look for came in and asked what was the matter. Felicity looked baffled. Marguerite asked her to wait outside and demanded to know what was amiss. She knew that her friends were bold, and that the prospect of battle alone would not unnerve them like this.
Blushing, Finn told Marguerite, admonishing her to keep her secret, as she had with Veronica and Susan. "If all goes well, George isn't going to need a new wife. The one that he has loves him far too much for that!"
"I should say so!", exclaimed a subdued Marguerite. "Oh, Finnykins! What a noble thing to offer! Susan, I'd tell you the same about Roxton, but he likes brunettes." She sniffed and hugged Finn.
They called in Felicity, telling her that what had passed was all some sentimental stuff about Finn worrying about her husband if she was killed. Then, the ladies donned their improvised robes and went out and pronounced themselves ready to do psychic battle with the demented witch doctor.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 23 2009 : 3:18:59 PM
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Some men had built a fair-sized fire in front of the gate. The flames would serve to illuminate the ladies as they went about their somber task of pronouncing doom on Karanja.
Some settlers had grumbled, especially the local vicar of the Church of England. Musgrave had asked him to be patient. "If this mumbo-jumbo will help to unnerve the savages, I'm all for it. Apparently, there really is a rumor that Marguerite is a reincarnation of the ancient sorceress, Morrighan. Even some people back in Avebury believe this, and she performed a similar ceremony in camp on their way here. It made their blacks afraid, so lets try it here, too. If nothing else, it should be good entertainment. Tom," he turned to a settler friend, "you and Bob Hascombe get your rifles and be ready to pop any of Karanja's men who try to rush the ladies as they do their chanting, or whatever."
"Why does Mrs. Challenger have to dress that way?" a woman demanded. "She hasn't got much more on than what the natives wear!"
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 23 2009 : 4:03:12 PM
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Amanda Musgrave came to Finn's defense: "Harriet, it's just for awhile. She's trying to sell more of her books about that expedition that her husband led into remote Brazil, to some strange Plateau. She's going to give some more autographs after their dance or whatever the ceremony is. Her readers want to see how she looks in those clothes that she wore on the Plateau. I'm letting John look. I'm confident enough of his love that I don't mind too much if he sees things like that occasionally. I'm sure that all of the men will enjoy it. They do, you know." She laughed, and kissed her mate, to his embarrassment.
"I rather think that part of the idea is that Finn will gyrate a bit before Lady Roxton leads the other women in their ceremony," noted Sam Hammersmith, who was a banker on safari when news of the native revolt had driven him to seek shelter. "Her friend Mrs. Malone says that she is a very skilled dancer, and that pirouetting around will add a little mystique to the events." He looked eager with anticipation.
"Add a little smut, more likely," said a woman, and others laughed.
Marguerite waved her hands to clear the way for Finn, who was not yet robed, as were Marguerite, Felicity,and Veronica. But the other women wore their regular hunting clothes under their improvised robes. Finn left her gunbelt with her mate, to better let her move and to show off her body and the brief black shorts and midriff-baring top. The black boots just added to her erotic appeal.
The drummers from the safari began beating out a rythym that pulsed in tune with the human heart, and Finn pranced out before the fire.
Bells and cymbals now joined the drums, with an occasional toot from a trumpet, as a carefully coached police bandsman added to the music. All eyes in both camps were on Finn Challenger, as the young blonde dancer enchanted her audiences.
Two women watched through their binoculars, and one reminded the other that Finn had taken up with George Challenger before either could have known that Jessie Challenger had died of flu before her husband had begun making love to the attractive refugee from New Amazonia. "She's clearly a shameless slut," the other agreed. "But she can dance, can't she? My word, this is worse that what I've heard that the French whores do for audiences in Paris!"
But most watched, some more happily than others. And Susan Wilson took 12 more book orders from men who liked what they were seeing...
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 25 2009 : 6:39:34 PM
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Finn finished her dance, meant largely to get the natives watching, so that they would see the full show to come. With a few flourishes and twirls, she ended her act and pranced gracefully back through the gate to the improvised fortress.
She was greeted with a towel and a canteen, for she was sweaty and thirsty. She saw both enchantment and disapproval on the faces of those who received her. As she donned her black robe, two girls asked if she could teach them to dance. "What you do is so much more... intriguing...than the Charleston and other modern dances," gushed one. "That was rather racy. We'd like to learn to do that."
"Maybe," said Finn. "I'll ask my husband. We plan to visit here for awhile after this witch doctor is a goner. I kept it pretty tame out there, considering. I have some nastier moves that I figured would upset some people here. How wild do you want to be? My friends are even better dancers, especially Marguerite."
"I shouldn't wonder," sniped a middle-aged woman. "After all, we've seen in the papers how the Countess was once a slave girl in Amarrah. I've no doubt that she learned many naughty things there."
Finn glared at her. "Marguerite is my friend, and she went through hell in Amarrah, and managed to escape, at great risk. She had to relive some of that when she and the other girls were kidnapped here last year. Think about what you said and how it'll make her feel. She's a great woman, who has made her way in life against terrible odds. So have I, for that matter. Don't bitch about her until you've overcome as much as she has, and turned out to be a really nice person, in spite of the odds."
Marguerite overheard and said, "Thank you Finnykins. You are a true friend, and it is a privilege to know you." She leaned over and hugged Finn before they accepted their lighted candles and walked solemnly out to complete their act.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 25 2009 : 7:18:40 PM
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Both the whites and Karanja found the ceremony to be impressive, as the women walked their circular paths, the candles and the black robing lending an imposing air to the proceedings. A policeman carried the loud-hailer, so that her voice would carry to all, on each side.
Karanja watched, then fell to the ground and chewed grass in fury as he heard the Countess proclaim, "I am Marguerite, the Countess of Avebury, and it is procliamed of me that I am the reincarnation of my former self, Morrighan, ancient High Priestess of Avebury and of Avalon. I was the most powerful sorceress of my time, a thousand years ago, and I come now to curse Karanja wa Kamau and his followers. This rite will cast a pall on his activities, and flummox his ambitions for glory, at the expense of all decent people, black and white. If you would live, desert his cause, and return to your villages to live in peace."
"Karanja wa Kamau, I curse you, and proclaim your impending doom! Hear me! Your star is falling, and you will soon die! I so conjure it! With this stroke of my dagger, I infuse you with a creeping death that will soon occur in real life!" And she thrust her dagger sharply downwards.
"I utter the sacred, magical words: alnilam, rajak, absonullum, harrak!" And she placed her dagger and its silver-capped sheath on the ground before her and danced around them four times in each direction.
"It is finished," she proclaimed. "Karanja, enjoy what is left of your life, for your days are sharply numbered! I have spoken!" And she led Felicity, Finn, and Veronica back into the gate, their tall candles and robes lending a frightening aspect to their performance.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 26 2009 : 09:16:08 AM
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"Well, I never..." muttered Giles Featherstonehaugh, who ran grocery and auto repair businesses in Nairobi and in Naivasha. "Bloody heathens, the lot of them. As bad as Karanja, maybe."
"Not as bad as Karanja, by a long shot." Stuart Hamilton explained that his clients were actually Christians, and that this ancient pagan ceremony was not in any way intended to compete with their modern beliefs. "The Countess and her husband and friends are some of the finest people whom I've ever met. Ask Geoff Blacklaws. He'll agree with me. This was just to get the wind up in Karanja's followers. They'll be uneasy over this, and when a few drop to our bullets, they'll think that her curse overode his that was suppposed to make them impervious to lead poisoning. You know Alex Davenport, I think? Ask Alex about his clients, too. Very fine couple. Lord Lindemere is Marguerite Roxton's brother. His wife was part of that ceremony. Surely you don't think that Lady Lindemere would lend herself to any cause that wasn't worthy of her?"
His wife joined in. "I'm Diana Hamilton, Mr. Featherstonehaugh. You know my father, Angus Hardy. I was one of the women taken by the slavers last year, with Lady Roxton. She saved me and herself, and later, Mrs. Malone and others, from an awful fate. I think that Lady Roxton is a true heroine and a patriot. I am honored to call her my friend, and Finn Challenger, too. They did what they did to give us an edge in fighting an uphill battle. I'm grateful to them for trying. And Finn is a pretty good entertainer. I saw you and your mates watching her. Go ask for her autograph. She's famous, you know."
"Infamous, more like," spoke the grocer's wife. "But spunky! I like her courage. I've heard her African name, mem'Sahib Bunduki. Can she really shoot?"
Holly Delecorte Blacklaws laughed. "Yes, she shoots better than Diana here, and that's saying something! And I can't tell you how glad I was when she saved me, Diana, Mrs. Malone, and Finn's girl, Susan. We were about resigned to being slaves when they and the Musgraves and Diana's father set things right. I think the Roxtons and the others will be great assets when the savages come for us."
So the talk went. The ladies who had challenged Karanja in their dark robes returned them to Amanda Musgrave, and Finn collected her gunbelt from her husband, buckling it on and adjusting it for comfort. She drew her Smith & Wesson .38, checking that it was loaded, and checked the keen edge of her hunting knife. Both were as they should be, for Finn Challenger kept her weapons ready for use.
"Are you changing clothes, Finny?", asked Veronica.
"Don't do it, Mrs. Challenger!" shouted a man. "If I'm going to die tonight, I want to die seeing you in that outfit until it happens." He laughed, as did several of his friends.
Finn gave him a saucy grin and blew him a kiss. "I guess I'll leave this on, then, if George lets me. If I went to change, that's probably when the attack would come."
Challenger chuckled. "As a service to morale, then, I'll not object if my wife keeps on her present outfit. I don't mind if I make some of you fellows a bit jealous. And if it gets cold, I have a blanket here."
After some additional banter, the explorers took up positions together with their white hunters, toward the right end of the defenses, near the gate. Marguerite wiped off her dagger, lest the dew from the grass rust it, and thrust the sheath in her belt. "If they get close enough, I'll stick Karanja with this. He'll really feel cursed then!" She winked at her mate, who had sharpened the dagger and knew how serious a weapon it was, if need be.
"I got us some .303 ammunition, ma'am," said Susan. She passed brown leather bandoliers of cartridges to Finn and to Marguerite.
In time, the settlers slept at their posts, only a few remaining on watch. They would need what rest they could get, when the time for battle came.
An hour before dawn, word went quietly around to rise and look alert, for day might bring the charge that they dreaded. One of the girls who wanted Finn to teach her to dance brought tea, with egg sandwiches. The explorers let her stay with them and talk to Finn and Veronica, and the girls were soon giggling.
Roxton looked at Challenger and winked. "Not even bloody Karanja the wicked witch doctor can dampen the spirits of this group!"
"True," agreed the famous scientist. "When one has tea, one has spirit. I say, John, will you pour me a little more of that while you're up?"
The men were just finishing their tea and Finn was leaning comfortably against her husband's chest, his arms around her, when noise arose from beyond the walls.
"Stand TO!" shouted an officer, and a trumpet blew the alarm call. The hour of battle was at hand!
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 27 2009 : 8:43:45 PM
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Searchlights revealed hundreds of savages crawling toward the improvised fort, and the police and the few soldiers present raised their rifles.
"Volley fire, front rank, FIRE! Reload! Rear rank, FIRE! Reload." The Army captain in charge went through this procedure several times, then commanded, "Independent, fire at will! Mark your man as he comes, and don't waste ammunition. A dead man is what we want, so we don't become dead, ourselves. If any of you civilians want to join in, feel free. We have plenty of targets!" He raised his own Lee-Enfield, shooting any of Karanja's men who tried to slip around to the side of the main body and gain the walls of the fort.
"I see one!," called Finn, and shot him off of a stack of mealie bags used as emergency fortifications. She cycled the bolt of her sporting .303 as rapidly and smoothly as any member of the 1914 British Expeditionary Force had ever done, and Challenger was proud of his wife. He looked at John Roxton, who had taught Finn to shoot, and Roxton also smiled and raised a thumb in congratulations.
Three native men gained the wall, and Roxton, Challenger, and Susan Wilson at once blasted them into eternity, the three rifle shots coming almost as one.
Susan looked pale. She turned to Finn and , "Ma'am, I just killed a man!"
Finn touched her shoulder and said, "Great, Susan! You did that very well You probably saved my life or someone else's, maybe your own. Work your bolt. Get another cartridge in your rifle's chamber before another black thug comes after us. And get a clip of cartridges ready to reload. Load after every five shots, so that you always have five more rounds in the magazine, in case you don't have time to reload. They may come in a big rush."
And a rush did come. Finn shot four men in rapid succession, working her rifle like a trick shot at a circus, or a hardened veteran of the Western Front in World War I. A man saw, and muttered to a friend, "My word, no wonder they call that little blonde bint mem'Sahib Bunduki. Did you see that?!"
The men were also firing heavily, and the attackers soon broke off and retreated. The searchlights and watch fires revealed over a hundred of Karanja's men dead or struggling feebly on the ground, badly wounded. Many other wounded had been helped to safety by their fellow terrorists.
"Well, that's that," declared Veronica. "That taught them a lesson. Ned, will they be back?"
"Probably," her husband replied, and Roxton and several settlers assured him that this was likely.
"We have at least one advantage," conceded a woman who had seen Marguerite's ceremony earlier that night. "Mrs. Challenger's slutty little dance and that witchy mumbo-jumbo will make them think that they're well and truly cursed. Our bullets damned surely didn't bounce off of the savages!"
Finn regarded her cooly. "If you think my dancing is good, just watch my shooting!"
"I did, Sweetie," answered the settler woman. "I hate to admit that I can see why the Professor married you, beyond the obvious reason. But it seems that you have uses other than in bed."
Challenger looked scornfully at her. "Madam, I assure you that Finn is also superb between the sheets. Our children are not adopted. And she is the best companion in all ways that any man has ever known. My wife is fond of declaring that ours is the love of the ages, the romance of all time. I often suspect that she is correct. Don't dismiss her lightly. She is far more than an attractive blonde girl in a brief black costume."
"And what am I," demanded the Countess of Avebury, "chopped meat?"
Her man pulled her to him and hugged her. "No, you're Finn's chief competititor for Lover of the Ages. I may even build you a pedestal like that that George puts Finn on in their bedroom at home." He kissed her, and Marguerite glowed with pleasure.
"You literally put your wife on a pedestal?", asked the woman who had badgered Finn. "My word, you must really love her." Her expression softened, and she smiled at the Challengers.
Veronica glared at Ned Malone. "You need to build me one of those wooden pedestals, Buster. I'm tired of hearing about Finn's. Don't I rate one?"
Ned leaned over and kissed her. "When we get home, I'll make you one for the bedroom,and one for the living room. When I'm just especially proud of you in general, which is most of the time, and we have guests, you'll go up on the one in the living room."
Veronica blushed. "And the one in the bedroom? Dare I ask?"
Ned grinned. "To get perched on that one, you have to do things that I can't mention in front of all these people!"
Roxton laughed, and Marguerite also smiled. Finn kissed Ned, and grinned even wider than he had. Veronica blushed crimson, but smiled, also. Challenger chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. He had grown to laugh more easily since meeting Finn, and their other friends often aroused his sense of humor. He felt better than ever before, after coming to relax with this surrogate family that had formed on that remote Brazilian plateau. He had found dinosaurs there, but he had taken home far more. He felt warm all over as Finn leaned into him, and he put an arm around her.
"Look: the sun is coming up," a man proclaimed. "We'd better be sure that our guns are fully loaded. They'll probably come again as soon as they can see well."
Some ladies who had joined Amanda Musgrave in the kitchen came around with tea, croissants, and Danish rolls. There was butter for the croissants, which had been baked with the help of a French member of their company.
"If I die today," offered a man, "I'll die happy, after these. I say, Lady Musgrave, you have quite outdone yourself. These are really superb!"
Amanda beamed and thanked him. "I bake better than I dance or shoot, Mr. Leonard, but I try to support our little adventure."
But even as they ate and laughed, everyone thought of what this day would bring. Susan loaded her rifle and caught Finn's eye and that of the girl who wanted to learn to dance. She tried to look brave. And hoped that she would be brave, for she knew that her courage would soon be tested again...
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 29 2009 : 9:38:48 PM
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Karanja was furious. He had lost over a hundred men, and the remainder were accosting him, demanding to know why his magic hadn't protected them from the white peoples' bullets.
Even as they quarrelled, some men ran forward, shouting taunts and threats at the fort.
Sir John Musgrave turned to the police inspector, "Martin, can your chap with the Lewis gun dissuade those varlets? Be nice if he put them all to sleep, permanently."
And the Lewis light machinegun chattered briefly, three bursts killing eight men and sending three scampering to cover, carrying two wounded.
Finn stood up where she could be seen in the dawn's growing light. She cupped her hands to her desirable mouth and shouted, "Hey, witch doctor man! Morrighan's magic is stronger than yours. You can't compete with the high priestess of Avebury. You've been beaten by a fuc-ing WOMAN!" She whooped, bringing a blush and a smile to Marguerite's face.
"Finn, get down from there!," demanded an anxious Challenger. "Those bastards may have captured guns from someone. I won't have my wife getting shot or arrowed for displaying silly bravado."
Roxton plucked Finn from her place on the wall and set her down by her mate. "George is right, Finny. Marguerite and I couldn't bear to lose you."
Finn sulked a little but saw their point. "Okay, Johnny. I guess that I was finished, anyway."
She brightened as the two girls who wanted her to teach them naughty dances applauded. "Oh, Mrs. Challenger!," gushed one, Samantha Townsend. "You were so brave, and I guess that you told them off! They may really believe that it was Lady Roxton's curse that made them fail."
Even the vicar admired Finn's boldness. "Mrs. Challenger, I cannot agree with some of your language, but I must say, you expressed what is in most of our minds. Countess, I was perhaps too critical of your little ceremony. It may well have jarred those people."
"I hope so," teased Roxton."She certainly knows how to jar me when she's in a bad mood!"
Most who heard that laughed, and the sound carried to the black rebels' ranks. Karanja promised that when they took the fort, Finn Challenger would be staked out naked for any warriors who wished to use her. "I will not be humbled by these women's insolence. Leave me alone now. I will make more magic. Soon, I will discover how to bypass that English bitch's sorcery. When our other men arrive, we will teach those white dogs what it is to feel the wrath of Karanja wa Kamau!"
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - August 29 2009 : 9:50:22 PM
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In the cavalry encampment, Capt. Thorne and his men were having an early breakfast of antelope steaks and some canned potatoes donated by Jennifer and Anne, from the supply in their car.
"Craig, how will you protect us?" wondered Jennifer. "Our car has to travel on the road, and it passes through that narrow gap that we talked about. If the rebels have set up an ambush there, we shall be in for a rough time, at best. Can you send some troopers with us?"
Thorne replied, "I think we'd all better go with you. Drive slowly enough that we can keep up, or drive up ahead occasionally and wait until we catch up. We'll go ahead on dangerous stretches of the road, where ambushes are likely. That road goes by the D.C.'s place, and we're headed there, anyway. We'll get underway right after breakfast. The sun will be up enough by then that we can see any rebels and you can see any obstacles in the road. Wouldn't do to hit a boulder that's rolled off a hillside or put a tire into a warthog hole."
And so the soldiers and the two beauties with them cleaned up and prepared to get underway, the girls very grateful for the escort. And Jennifer was especially glad to have Craig near at hand. In fact, she was hoping that whatever he wanted to discuss later might make him more available all the time. Truth be told, Jennifer liked Craig Thorne a great deal. In fact, she knew that she was probably in love with him, and her feelings for him grew each time they were together. Maybe this adventure would let her determine if he shared her feelings. She hoped so, in which case this awful emergency would have some good come of it.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - September 02 2009 : 09:25:31 AM
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Dawn came fully into day at the D.C.'s compound, and Musgrave looked through his binocular at the numbers of natives swelling the ranks of Karanja's force.
He turned to Lord Roxton, Lord Lindemere, and the police and military commanders. "Gentlemen, we shall soon have to face the fact that he has hundreds of warriors, and this will be a fine-drawn affair, if we survive at all. Lord Roxton, I should be obliged if you and Mr. Hamilton will take it upon yourselves to get bullets into Karanja and his chief lieutenants as they come. If we can kill them, the rest may lose heart and disperse. Please make them your primary targets. I know that you chaps are fine shots. If anyone can nail them, surely you can."
"I'd like to put Finn Challenger up on those mealie bags, where she can get a good view of them," offered Roxton. "She shoots as well as I do, maybe because I taught her. And she knew damned well that careful markwomanship might ensure our survival on that Brazilian Plateau where we met." He smiled. "Besides, she just likes guns for their beauty and for the security they provide in a troubled world. I've seen her kill a headhunter at 300 yards, from a perch in a tree. I think that she can kill Karanja if she gets a clear shot. But Stuart and I will be happy to take a crack at him and their other leaders. If that doesn't work, I'll send Lady Roxton out there to give that lot a piece of her mind. That should send them packing!" He chuckled, as did Lindemere, Marguerite Roxton's half-brother.
Musgrave and the other men smiled. "Well, we may need to resort to something that drastic. But lets try shooting first. If we can kill the leaders, and they see that our bullets aren't being turned to water or whatever that madman promised his minions, they may break. I've got men around back and on all sides, in addition to the front. But I think it is at this wall that their main assault will be directed. Send your women in with my wife. If we are overrun, they can make a final stand from within the house. God help us, I pray that it won't come to that!"
"I'm not going in. My place is with the Genius." Finn had walked over, bringing Challenger a bandolier of fresh ammunition. She looked determined, and Roxton repeated his suggestion that she get up high and try for Karanja.
"Very well, Mrs. Challenger," said the D.C. "But your husband must agree, and if they get too close or turn out to have rifles, down you come, and indoors."
George Challenger slung the bandolier over his chest and took his wife's hand. "She has my permission. I have trusted my life to her before, and she has never failed me, or our friends. I want Finn beside me, no matter what happens."
The Prinsloo brothers, Christaan and Hendryk, stood near, also. Hendryk spoke for both of them, his English heavily Dutch-accented, but easily understood. "Meneer, my wife and my sister-in-law will also stand with us. In the past, our people put their trek wagons in a defensive circle when the Zulu and other wild tribes came at them, and the men shot as their women reloaded their spare rifles. We can do the same. All I want is that we ask God's blessing on us, as our forefathers did at Blood River. He in His infinite grace may well deliver us from the kaffirs."
"What's Blood River?" asked a settler.
Geoff Blacklaws answered. "It was a battle where the Boers, or Afrikaaners, like the Prinsloos' ancestors beat off a bloody great mob of Zulus. They promised God that if they won the battle, they would build a church on the spot."
"Ja," agreed Christaan. "It is there now. The Church of the Covenant. And on each Dec. 16, we celebrate Dingaan's Day, after the name of the defeated Zulu king. But we also call this the Day of the Covenant."
"I'll be happy to lead anyone who cares to join us in a prayer," offered the vicar. "I'm Church of England, not Dutch Reformed Church, but I very much doubt that God will worry over denominations at a time like this. Neither should we."
Musgrave thanked him, and the vicar passed word that he would hold a brief service in ten minutes.
He had barely finished his prayer when someone from the front wall shouted, "Here they come, the whole bleeding lot of them!"
"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition," said Ned Malone.
"Neddy, that isn't funny," admonished his wife.
"Not meant to be,"replied Ned. "Here, Honey. Take your .275 and see if you can knock off some of those guys." (Veronica was one of the wives who had insisted on staying with her man.)
Finn was boosted up on the mealie bags and tried to find Karanja in the 4X scope on her .275 Rigby, but he was nowhere to be seen. She did shoot three other men who seemed to be encouraging the hostiles, then Challenger pulled her down behind cover as bullets snapped overhead. Clearly, the enemy had raided some farms and stolen guns from the slaughtered families who lived there. And arrows began falling among the defenders. The Kikuyu didn't use archery tackle, but not all of Karanja's followers came from that tribe. Some certainly had bows and seemed to know how to use them!
"Here they come!," shouted a man announcing the obvious. And with wild howls and screams of rage, Karanja's followers charged the fort in their hundreds!
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - September 02 2009 : 8:43:36 PM
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Craig Thorne's patrol had advanced almost to the D.C.'s post when they heard heavy firing ahead. It came from just over a rise of ground, and he knew that the Commissioner's boma was down there.
He ordered that his horsemen advance in a column of fours, and ordered all rifles loaded. The white sergeant and corporal from the Kenya Regiment were told to be ready to situate their Vickers machinegun on short notice. Its firepower might make all the difference in a close-fought contest.
Then Thorne turned over the column to his lieutenant and trotted forward with an advance escort of ten men and an askari sergeant.
Jennifer and Anne watched him go, and looked at one another. "He'll be back," comforted Anne, who knew quite well how her sister felt about Craig Thorne.
In about 10 minutes that seemed an eternity to Jennifer, Thorne was back. "Ladies, you'd better leave the car. Bring your weapons and what few other essentials you need, and ride behind a trooper. Jenn, I'd be obliged to have you on my saddle, if you please."
Of course, she did please, and the column was soon in motion, Thorne leaning over to brief the machinegun crew on where he wanted them when they crested the rise of ground and came within sight of the improvised fort.
The sound of fighting was now louder, and it was obvious that their aid was badly needed. Thorne decided to have his men ride around the enemy, firing as they went. He had studied the tactics used by the Boers much further south, and knew how they formed a defensive laager
of their wagons, as described by the Prinsloo brothers in the fort. And some of their men had mounted their ponies, circling the attacking Zulu impis (regiments), firing from their saddles.
This worked well, as long as those shooting from within the enclosure were careful not to hit their friends on horseback. If the Zulus got too close, the Boers just trotted off, returning as soon as they had reloaded their single-shot muzzleloading rifles. What had worked in South Africa nearly a hundred years before should work here, especially as Thorne's men had modern Lee-Enfield magazine rifles, each holding ten shots before they had to be reloaded. And the Vickers gun would add still more firepower. "The Devil's Paintbrush", one wag had called the machinegun in World War One, and it was an apt description of its potent effect on the battlefield.
But when they crested the rise, Thorne saw that the volume of fire from within the fort was such that his men would sustain casualties if they rode around the enemy. And he would have to place the machinegun so as not to have its deadly spray of bullets hit his own men. Clearly, a new plan would have to be devised, and quickly!
Thorne gestured to the lieutenant. "Clive, get over here, fast!"
When he arrived, Thorne said,"Listen carefully. This is what I want you to do..."
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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Explorer
976 Posts |
Posted - September 03 2009 : 12:52:26 AM
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Moments later, Clive galloped off with 40 men. He was to engage the enemy at the rear of the fort, where the defenses seemed weakest. He had a Lewis gun. He would place this light machinegun below the positions of his other men, so that it could fire unemcumbered down into Karanja's warriors. The other men would have their horses lie beside them, as they sat or lay in the grass and fired with their rifles. They would be high enough above the line of fire from the fort that the defenders' bullets shouldn't strike them. The odd ricochet would have to be risked.
In their favor, most Kenya settlers were hunters who shot well, and wild firing was minimized.
In front of the fort, Thorne spread his men out above the line below which the Vickers would traverse, its muzzle spraying a deadly arc into Karanja'a rear and middle ranks. Again, the defenders' shooting would be mainly below their own ranks. As Musgrave and his men became aware that fresh soldiers had arrived, he would surely warn others to keep their aim low. The soldirs on the slopes above would encounter a minimum of friendly fire.
The women were an additional problem. With little time to solve it, Thorne placed them with the Vickers gun crew and half a dozen riflemen. He charged the sergeant with the responsibility of keeping Anne and Jennifer from harm. Then, he turned his horse and led his remaining men to their firing points on the slope above the fort.
The two men got the Vickers onto its tripod and ready to fire. The sergeant spoke encouragingly to the women, whom he knew from civilan life. He told Anne that if his assistant was hit by a bullet, she was to take over feeding the ammunition belt into the gun.
"Watch to see how the corporal does that," he cautioned. "Jennifer, why don't you pop any of the natives who get too close? Otherwise, ladies, just keep your heads down and enjoy the show."
He drew his revolver, checking to be sure that the cylinder was fully loaded, holstered it, and watched Thorne for the signal to open fire.
"There is nothing quite so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect." Sir Winston Churchill |
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A Lion Comes!
