Free The Last Sunset by Bob Atkinson Page B

be?”
    Macmillan glared at the young soldier. Ferguson
looked as though he was about to offer his diplomatic skills, forcing the
corporal to bite the bullet.
    “Ah remember, er, years ago it was, reading how
a lot of Macdonalds were saved during the Glencoe massacre by Campbell soldiers
who’d been billeted with them. It seems a lot o’ them passed on the warning of
what was about tae happen. They say that’s why only thirty-six people died,
instead of the whole three hundred they’d intended tae kill.”
    Their host regarded the young corporal warily.
“Aye, this is indeed so. But why speak of this now? Surely you do not think
such a scheme has been hatched against ourselfs?”
    Macmillan nodded, grateful he’d not had to
labour the point.
    “The Hanoverians are gonnae do tae Glen Laragain
what the Campbell soldiers did tae Glencoe,” he said, more bluntly than he had
intended.
    “What? But why would they do such a thing? In
God’s name to what end?” Without waiting for an answer Achnacon spoke urgently
to his family. Instantly the mood changed. Shona was called away from her new
friends and gathered into her mother’s arms.
    The Highlander was on his feet now, his eyes
flashing wildly. “Achnacon’s sword arm is as strong as ever it was, but I,
myself, am but one man. All the young warriors is away with Locheil and the
Prince. None is left but the old and infirm.”
    Macmillan and his troops sat like men who’d lit
a candle and watched it turn to dynamite.
    “And yourself, Corporal Andy. Have you come to
betray the hospitality of Achnacon as the Campbells betrayed Glencoe?”
    Macmillan was in desperate need of some higher
authority to take control of the situation and return him to his rightful place
within a clear chain of command.
    Macsorley rose impassionedly to his feet. “No
one here’s gonnae betray you, Achnacon. We’ll stand with you.”
    “Ah’m up for that,” said Rae.
    “We’ll do what ?” blustered Macmillan.
    “…Ah’ve figured out what’s going on here,”
Ferguson suddenly announced. “Ah think we were hand-picked for this. Ah think
the army has us on some kindae special mission.”
    “What are you on about?” Macmillan
growled irritably.
    “Well, think about it. We all just happen tae be in the glen on a live-firing exercise, then we just happen tae be
around when that mist with all thae things in it comes down, and then we just
happen tae be in the area when there’s yon big flash in the sky… Well…?
Don’t you see what Ah’m getting at?”
    “Aw Gawd, Ah cannae wait….”
    “The army’s been experimenting with time travel.
We’ve been specially selected and then sent back tae prevent the massacre. It’s
obvious when ye think about it.” There was an expression of pure triumph on his
face.
    “Aw you great dumplin’ that you are,” Rae
snarled. “The British Army has sent us back in time tae fight the British Army?”
    A shadow of doubt ruffled the bliss on
Ferguson’s face. “Aye, Ah wasn’t quite sure about that bit right enough.”
    Macmillan was relieved to see Achnacon’s
bewilderment. Not all of Private Ferguson’s revelations were lost on the old
clansman, however.
    “You speak again of massacre, as if you have
witnessed this terrible deed that is yet to be. You must say what you know,
Corporal Andy…”
    “It happens in the mist,” Macsorley cut in
before his corporal could reply. “Don’t know the time o’ day. A full company of
infantry is deployed and when they come they move through the glen using just
the bayonet, so there’s no warning. None o’ the men are to be left alive. Glen
Laragain is to be laid waste from east to west…”
    The blood drained from Achnacon’s face. “And
when is this… this crime to take place?” he whispered.
    “The twenty-first of April.”
    A long sigh escaped the old Highlander’s lips.
“’Tis as I had feared… our warriors have proved too slippery for them, so they
seek to punish the old