The Khyber Connection (TimeWars 6)

“If I was them, I’d wait for the battle,” Finn said.

“It would be easier for them to kill Churchill in all the confusion.”

“You don’t think they’re down there already, do you?”

“I doubt it. It would be difficult to infiltrate a brigade that’s been together as long as this one has. Most of the men would know each other, and strangers would be spotted pretty quickly. And infiltrating the tribesmen would make it that much harder for them to get close to Churchill. Easier when you’re on the same side. No, they’ll wait for all hell to break loose when the brigade goes up against the Ghazis. My guess is they’re out here somewhere in the dark, just like we are. Waiting.”

“Or looking for us,” said Andre. “If they can scan for warp discs, then they know we’re here.”

“I’m betting against it,” Finn said. “They have no reason to carry scanning equipment with them on this trip. They want to travel light. And as far as they know, we’re still back in that cell inside the temple, being interrogated by Bryant and the others in the party.”

“Unless one of them’s gone back to check in,” she said. “Any way you look at it, we’re taking a big gamble.”

“True,” said Finn, grinning at her, “but you’re taking it with an Irishman. That’s as near to a sure thing as you can get.”

“I’d still feel better if we had the entire First Division with us,” Andre said. “I’m also worried about Mulvaney, Ortheris, and Learoyd.”

“I know,” said Finn. “I hope they weren’t foolish enough to go back when they saw we didn’t come out.”

“They’re just the type who would,” said Andre.

Finn nodded. “Much as I hate to say it, we can’t afford to worry about them now. Their lives aren’t as important as Churchill’s. We have to take care of the hit squad first. Then we can go back for them.”

“Assuming we’re still alive.”

“We will be. I’m not quite ready to retire yet. We need to get close to Churchill in a hurry when things start happeni

ng,” said Finn. “I don’t like trying to clock into the middle of a battle and looking for him while everybody’s shooting at each other.”

“You’re right. I think we should go down there,” Andre said.

“How do we explain our presence? We were sent back to Peshawar from Malakand, remember?”

“True, but what if we never got there?”

“Okay, what are you thinking?”

“Listen to this and tell me if it sounds plausible. We started out towards Peshawar, but ran into enemy tribesmen on the way. We ran, but we couldn’t get through. We became separated from the others when my horse was shot out from under me. You turned back to help me, and we were cut off. We managed to escape and we followed the regiment, keeping to concealment as much as possible. Your horse went lame several miles away from here and we had to chance going the rest of the way on foot. We arrive at the brigade camp looking very tired, and relieved as all hell to get through with our skins intact. What do you think?”

“Not bad,” said Finn. “I don’t think they’ll have any reason to question the story. We already look pretty bedraggled, but it’ll help if we mess our clothes up a bit more. It’ll get us back into the camp, and we’ll be able to keep close to Churchill. I like it. You’d better carry the disruptor. We can tear up these robes a bit and rig up a way to tie it to your thigh. It might be difficult to conceal on me, and I don’t think anyone will go looking up your dress. These are Englishmen, after all.”

“Too bad,” she said, smiling. “I was going to suggest one way to keep close to Churchill tonight.”

Delaney stared at her.

“Just kidding.”

“With you, sometimes it’s hard to tell.”

They made their preparations and then started down toward the camp. “Be careful,” said Finn. “We don’t want to get shot by the pickets.”

When they were a short distance from the camp, Finn spotted the picket line. At almost the same time an alert soldier spotted him. A shot sent them both sprawling face down in the dirt.

“Hold your fire!” Finn shouted.

The astonished soldier challenged them, and when Finn replied, told them to come forward.

“All right, here goes,” said Finn.”Cross your fingers. We may be able to pull this off yet.”