When Shadows Fall Read Online Free PDF Page A

Canal, German storm-troopers all over it like flies. We tried to slow ’em down to allow time to get the gun carriages out. Timmy—Timmy lost it.”
    “What happened?”
    “There was heavy fire, all sides. We was outnumbered, too. We began to retreat back across the fields, and then I saw Timmy. He was acting strangely, crying, grabbing his head. Then I knew what he was going to do.” Rourke hesitated. “Christ, Lieutenant, I wanted to go with him, as scared as I was. But there were officers watching. I yelled at Timmy to come back. He didn’t listen, he kept on running.”
    “And?”
    “And they grabbed him in the next village. Captain Blevins and his men. They arrested him.” Rourke met Adam’s eye. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
    Adam swiped the soup bowl off his knee and cursed. “Damn it. Damn it! Blevins? He said nothing to me earlier.”
    “It’s true, sir,” said one of the other privates. “I heard Timmy’s being held under arrest in Amiens, awaiting court-martial for cowardice.”
    Court-martial.
    For those who ran away in the heat of battle, punishment was swift and deadly. A final punishment. Adam had witnessed it already in the war. But not Timmy. Surely not Timmy Hannigan, who had saved his life.
    He leapt to his feet. “Damn that Blevins, the sneaky bastard. Amiens, you said?”
    “Yes. But, sir,” Rourke warned, “you won’t be able to help him. And he’s not the only one they’ve taken.”
    “We’ll see about that.” Adam snatched up his rifle and left the bewildered platoon of soldiers. He marched back into the village and was able to cajole a horse from a Welsh captain who was a little worse the wear for drink. Then he rode, hard, back along the twelve miles to Amiens.

    When he reached the command post, he snapped his fingers at the private on guard and demanded the whereabouts of Captain Blevins. He was then directed to another building two miles through the fields.
    “But I shouldn’t go out there if I were you, sir,” the private advised. “They’re about to—”
    Adam rode on.
    When he found it, he ditched the horse, brushed past the attentions of two sentries, and thundered through a side gate round the back of the farmhouse. There was a long yard, stubbled with grass and weeds. Several officers had congregated under the awning of an open woodshed and beyond, at the far end of the yard, were three wooden posts.
    The three accused had been bound fast to the posts with thick rope, securing them from their feet to their chests like stringed meat. A patch of white cloth blindfolded their eyes.
    Nearby, a priest intoned prayers, while twelve men stood with their backs to the targets, rifles by their feet. Adam let out an exhausted breath.
    “Jesus, no.”
    Some of the officers had noticed his intrusion. Captain Blevins moved from their ranks and grabbed Adam’s arm. “Lieutenant Bowen, in heaven’s name, man,” he whispered, “what are you doing here? Who let you in?”
    “You knew,” Adam hissed. “You knew earlier, when I met you. Christ, Captain, Timmy’s innocent. He was frightened, that’s all. I know he ran, but you don’t have to do this.”
    “Shh.” Blevins ushered him towards the gate. “This is a military procedure, Lieutenant. Remember your rank, damn it. You’re not allowed in here. The colonel’s watching.”
    “Damn the colonel,” Adam snapped.
    Now they had drawn attention again. Colonel Mallory sniffed in annoyance. “Might we not have decorum, Captain Blevins?”
    “Yes, sir,” Blevins answered, trying to nudge Adam to the gate.
    “Can’t you control your own company, Captain?”
    “Yes, sir. Just about to, sir.”
    “Timmy’s no coward.” Adam addressed Mallory directly, trying to curb the panic in his own voice. “Sir, that boy’s been fighting for you for four years.”
    At his voice, one of the bound bodies twitched. A weak, high voice piped up. “Lieutenant? Is that you, Lieutenant? Oh, thank God. I can’t