The Khyber Connection (TimeWars 6)

“Well, we’ve got to figure some way out of here,” Learoyd said. “Where do those stairs back there lead?”

“To a parapet overlooking the Khyber Pass,” said Finn. “Forget it. There’s no way down. And the door’s too heavy for us to break through.”

“We’ll have to try and jump them when they come for us,” Learoyd said. “There’s nothin’ else for it. We haven’t anythin’ to lose.”

“I doubt they’ll give us a chance,” said Finn. “They know what they’re doing.”

“Well, we can’t just sit ‘ere!” said Mulvaney. “We?

?ve got to do something! C’mon, mates, we’ve been in tougher scrapes than this!”

“The best thing we can do is bide our time and wait for an opportunity,” Delaney said, worried that the headstrong Mulvaney might do something foolish. “I’m in command here, and I won’t have any man throwing his life away trying to be a hero. Getting ourselves killed won’t solve anything.”

“He’s right, you know,” Learoyd said. “We’ve got to keep our heads cool. Lieutenant, you say there’s no way down off that balcony. Might there be a way up?”

Delaney shook his head. “We’d have to stand on each other’s shoulders to reach the rocks above, and we’d never make it without climbing gear. It would be suicide.”

“It could be worth a try,” Learoyd said. “If one of us could make it—”

“I say we give it a go!” Mulvaney said.

“What do you say, Lieutenant?” said Learoyd. “What have we got to lose?”

“A man’s life,” Delaney said.

Learoyd shrugged. “That’s not so very much, now is it? Let’s have a look.”

They went up the stairs and stood out on the wind-swept parapet high above the pass. Learoyd looked up. “Lord, I see what you mean,” he said. “We would indeed have to stand on one another’s shoulders for one of us to reach that overhangin’ rock up there, and then there’s no tellin’ what’s beyond.”

Mulvaney spat into his hands and rubbed them together. “Well, who’s first then?”

“I think I’ll have to go,” Learoyd said. “I’m the lightest.”

“Sahib,” said Din. “Let me. I am smallest, no? Din good climber.”

“You’re sure you want to try it, Din?” Learoyd said.

“ ‘E is the lightest,” Ortheris said, “and I ain’t much good with me sore arm.”

“All right, Din,” said Finn. “Be careful.”

“Up you go, Lieutenant,” said Mulvaney. He braced himself and Finn climbed up on his shoulders. Ortheris stood beside Mulvaney to brace him and Andre took the other side as they started to form a human pyramid. Finn stood up on Mulvaney’s shoulders, only too aware of the yawning abyss beneath them.

“All right, Learoyd, you’re next,” said Finn.

Learoyd carefully climbed up, balancing himself on Mulvaney’s shoulder and Ortheris’s good shoulder. Slowly he stood up and placed an arm around Delaney for support.

“Don’t look down,” said Finn.

Learoyd, of course, looked down at the drop below them, and quickly shut his eyes. “On second thought, perhaps this wasn’t such a very good idea,” he said.

“You all right?” said Finn.

Learoyd swallowed hard and nodded. “Right. Next man.”

“Come on, Din,” said Finn.

Carefully Din climbed up Mulvaney’s back, holding onto the Private’s burly shoulders for support.