Free Scorpion Sunset by Catrin Collier Page A

of preferring the masculine confines of the officers’ mess to domesticity and family.
    She glanced at the clock, then headed for the kitchen to check if the curry was still edible.
    Officers’ Mess, Basra
    June 1916
    The moment Colonel George Perry stepped through the door, an orderly materialised before him.
    â€˜Good to see you back in Basra, Colonel Perry, sir.’
    Perry knew he’d seen the man before but if he ever knew his name, he’d forgotten it. ‘Good to be back.’
    â€˜Can I get you a drink, Colonel Perry, sir? Your usual?’
    Perry looked at him blankly.
    â€˜Large whisky with ice, Colonel Perry, sir?’
    â€˜Just the ticket.’ Perry headed for the table where his immediate subordinate and fellow Kut survivor, Major Cleck-Heaton, was holding court with a group of younger officers. From the immaculate state of the junior officers’ uniforms he assumed they were stationed in HQ.
    Cleck-Heaton and the officers rose from their chairs as he approached.
    â€˜Colonel Perry,’ Cleck-Heaton effected the introductions. ‘May I introduce my godson, Major Reginald Brooke.’
    â€˜Good to meet you, sir.’ Reggie Brooke saluted.
    â€˜Informal, captain. We’re in the mess.’
    â€˜Saluting a survivor of Kut, sir. A hero.’
    Cleck-Heaton continued. ‘Lieutenant William Bowditch, Royal Navy …’
    Perry peered at the young man. ‘We had a Bowditch in Kut.’
    â€˜My brother, sir. I was hoping he’d be sent downstream when Townshend surrendered.’
    â€˜As I explained, Bowditch, only the most severe cases of wounds and sickness were repatriated. Unlike Colonel Perry and I, your brother was fit to march,’ Cleck-Heaton countered. ‘He’s better off than us. Able to sit on his rear end and take his ease in a prison camp for the duration, while we continue to campaign.’ He continued. ‘Colonel Perry, I present Captain Grace.’
    â€˜Related to the naval officer who was also with us in Kut?’ Perry enquired.
    â€˜Yes, sir. The Grace and Bowditch families tend to do everything together, sir,’ Grace replied. ‘We live in the same town and when our elder brothers joined the navy we decided to follow suit.’
    â€˜All four of you opted for the navy?’ Perry stated the obvious.
    â€˜As did our fathers, Colonel Perry. How was my brother when you last saw him, sir?’
    â€˜As Major Cleck-Heaton said, well enough to march. Your brothers will be sitting out the rest of the war in comfort in a Turkish camp, Bowditch, Grace.’ Perry turned to the orderly and took his drink.
    â€˜Shall we sit, sir?’ Cleck-Heaton pulled out a chair for Perry. ‘I’ve been telling Reggie and the others of the hell that was Kut.’
    â€˜I’m grateful to be out of the hospital and eating something other than mule and horseflesh. In any other circumstances, ninety per cent of our strength in Kut would have been regarded medically unfit for active service,’ Perry added thoughtlessly.
    â€˜Yet the Turks sent so few downstream,’ Grace couldn’t resist the comment after the ‘well enough to march’ remark.
    â€˜As I said, only the most severe cases,’ Cleck-Heaton glanced at Perry. ‘Colonel Perry and I weren’t discharged from Basra hospital until this morning. Fourteen died after admission and that was just on our ward.’
    â€˜They were in addition to those who died on the journey,’ Perry added. ‘More than fifty per cent of the medically unfit who were exchanged for our Turkish prisoners didn’t live long enough to see Basra.’
    â€˜Can we trust the Turks to provide medical care for our sick and wounded, Colonel Perry?’ Bowditch enquired.
    â€˜Absolutely!’ the colonel was emphatic. ‘I’m certain the care they’ll provide will be comparable to our own once the POWs reach Baghdad. Until then