Читать книгу The Iblis at Ludd - Talbot Mundy - Страница 3

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“Lead on, Jimgrim sahib. I have seen the day when stronger boars than that one bit the dust!”

AS a general rule when Major Jim Grim strode into the administrator’s office in the former German hospice, now British headquarters in Jerusalem, it was to be greeted with that kind of confident familiarity that, from his official superior, warms the fiber of a man’s being. Jim’s standing in the administrator’s favor was the cause of a good deal of jealousy; more than one British officer resented the frequent private consultations between Sir Henry Kettle and the American, although they could not prevent them.

They might have felt less jealous if they had known of the wholesale disregard of personal feelings (Jim’s especially) whenever the administrator considered him at fault.

Jim walked into the administrator’s private office three mornings after having run to ground the Dome of the Rock conspirators, rather expecting the usual smile and exchange of unusual jokes before broaching the day’s business. But Sir Henry Kettle opened on him without formality, with blazing eyes and a voice like flint.

“Look here, Grim, what the—do you mean by this? I’ve received complaint of insolence and insubordination, made against you by Brigadier-General Jenkins. It came in the morning mail from Ludd. Were you insolent to him?”

“Maybe.”

“Insubordinate?”

“That’ud be a matter of opinion, sir.”

“Do you realize that if he presses these charges there’ll be a court martial, and you’ll be broke?”

“I didn’t tell him what I thought of him because he was acting like a gentleman,” Jim answered.

“That isn’t the point. Jenkins may be a lot of things without that excusing you in the least. What I demand to know is, how dare you risk my having to court martial you and lose your services?”

There was not any answer Jim could make to that, so he said nothing.

“Are you under the impression that because an exception was made in your case, and you were recognized as an American citizen when given a commission in the British Army, that therefore you’re at liberty to ignore all precedent and be insolent to whom you please? If so, I’ll disillusion you!”

Jim knew his man. He wanted none of that kind of disillusionment. He continued to hold his tongue, standing bolt upright in front of the administrator’s desk.

“Apply your own standards if you like. How long would insolence from major to brigadier be tolerated in the United States Army?”

That was another of those questions that are best left alone, like dud shells and sleeping TNT.

“Jenkins writes that you gave him the lie direct. Is that true?”

“No. I asked him a question he couldn’t answer without telling a lie, or else retracting what he’d said.”

“He says he offered to fight him.”

“Not quite. He was afraid to go to you with a lame story, and wanted me to help soak Catesby with all the blame for losing that TNT. I know Catesby—know him well. I told Jenkins that if it’ud make him like himself any better he might put the gloves on with me any time he sees fit. It was unofficial—not in front of witnesses—and it stands. He took me up; said he’d give me the thrashing of my life. He also promised not to make a goat of Catesby.”

“Well, he has charged Captain Catesby with neglect of duty in permitting those two tons of TNT to be stolen from a truck on a railway siding. Catesby is under arrest.”

“May I say what I think about that, just between you and me?”

“Certainly not! But for your insolence to Jenkins I could have brought him to book over this business.

“Do you see the predicament you’ve put me in? This isn’t the first time Jenkins has covered his own shortcomings by putting blame on a subordinate. I’ve been watching my chance to turn you loose on him. He gives it to me by accusing Catesby, and you spoil it! You’re the one man Jenkins is afraid of; but how can I send you to investigate him now without upholding a breach of discipline?”

“I’ll do anything to make amends that you would do, sir, if you stood in my shoes,” said Jim.

“I can’t imagine myself in your shoes,” Kettle retorted. “I was never guilty of insubordination in my life.”

“Maybe you never had reason,” Jim answered. “What I said to him was in private. There were no witnesses, but he promised not to make a goat of Catesby. It’s his word against mine, and if he dares press that charge against me I shall call him a liar in open court, and take the consequences.”

“You’ll do nothing of the kind. You’ll go to Ludd at once, clear Captain Catesby if you can, find the real culprit, and do your utmost to whitewash Jenkins in the process.

“I’m leaving for Ludd by motor in twenty minutes myself. I shall see Jenkins and arrange that he’ll accept an apology, which you will make to him the moment you arrive. Do you understand me?”

“I understand I’m to apologize. Yes, I’ll do that, since you wish it.”

“Stay at Ludd until you’ve cleaned up,” the administration added deliberately. “There has been a lot of thieving down there that looks like organized conspiracy. Dig to the bottom of it. That’s all.”