Read Online Day of Rebellion by Johnny O'Brien - Free Book Online
Authors: Johnny O'Brien
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traitor.”
“Thank you for your opinions,” Backhouse said, his voice sounding strained, for the first time. “I would ask, simply, that you to keep them to yourself if you want to retain my co-operation ; but just so you know, the hypocrisy of my English brethren never fails to astonish me…”
The captain fell silent.
*
After an hour or so, they crested a low rise in the road. Jack’s head had nodded onto Angus’s shoulder, but now Angus nudged him. The site before them made Jack’s jaw drop. Stretching for miles into the hazy distance were tents and bivouacs, set out in orderly rows, swarming with Taiping troops in red coats and conical white straw hats. They had reached the Taiping army encampment outside Shanghai. As they drew close, Jack started to distinguish between different parts of the camp. Alongside the cavalry and infantry was an enclosure of parked up tanks – each one just like the monster that had surprised them back at the barricade. Next to this, there was an encampment of artillery – though the guns were unlike any Jack had seen before. They were painted with slogans and emblazoned with all manner of extravagant decorations and motifs. Along the central axis of the camp, was the most extraordinary sight of all. A series of monster steam engines parked up one next to the other. Jack had seen pictures of old-fashioned steam engines once used for road works and on farms – and these machines were similar. They were great iron and bronze contraptions which belched black smoke and steam. Some had massive bulldozer attachments on the front and others had fortified turrets, with evil-lookingguns sticking out of them. Jack remembered the little Shanghai hardware shop where he and Angus had seen different technologies somehow co-existing – it was the same here, in the Taiping army camp. The uniforms, flags and regalia could have been medieval, as were the lances and great cleavers that the infantry and cavalry carried. But other used technologies much more modern – steam-powered engines and crude petrol-driven machines, artillery and firearms that looked as if they belonged in a more modern age. Everything was mixed up.
Angus was mesmerised by the range of weaponry, but Jack caught Backhouse’s eye as he surveyed the scene. He had a look of pride on his face.
“I will admit my Taiping friends have got some strange ideas, on both Christian doctrine and on government,” he said. “But you can’t fault their energy and organisation. And this army…” He turned to the captain and said, “The British government would be quaking in its boots if they could see it.”
Fleming grunted.
“We are nearly there.” Backhouse said something to the driver and pointed. “You will be taken to a holding tent – normal procedure – there will be refreshments, so please try and make yourselves comfortable. I will come back for you shortly.”
With this, Backhouse stepped down from the jalopy and scurried off. Jack, Angus and Fleming were escorted to a nearby marquee which was enclosed in a wooden stockade.
“Prison,” the captain said matter-of-factly.
But once inside the tent, they were offered tea and food; there was even water to wash themselves.
“You have heard of him, captain?” asked Jack. “I mean Backhouse – you seemed to know of him. You said he was known in England as a traitor?”
“You haven’t heard of Josiah Backhouse? Where have you been my lad? Yes, he’s famous; infamous more like. And he’s a traitor indeed. I couldn’t believe it was him.”
“We are away most of the time… with our father,” Angus chipped in, pleased with himself for having picked up on Jack’s story.
“Well, Backhouse is a British missionary… but he’s more than that, much more,” the captain sipped his tea from a bowl. “Not quite how my mother makes it… but I have to say that tastes good.” He looked around at the inside of the tent and groaned with frustration, “Can’t
“Thank you for your opinions,” Backhouse said, his voice sounding strained, for the first time. “I would ask, simply, that you to keep them to yourself if you want to retain my co-operation ; but just so you know, the hypocrisy of my English brethren never fails to astonish me…”
The captain fell silent.
*
After an hour or so, they crested a low rise in the road. Jack’s head had nodded onto Angus’s shoulder, but now Angus nudged him. The site before them made Jack’s jaw drop. Stretching for miles into the hazy distance were tents and bivouacs, set out in orderly rows, swarming with Taiping troops in red coats and conical white straw hats. They had reached the Taiping army encampment outside Shanghai. As they drew close, Jack started to distinguish between different parts of the camp. Alongside the cavalry and infantry was an enclosure of parked up tanks – each one just like the monster that had surprised them back at the barricade. Next to this, there was an encampment of artillery – though the guns were unlike any Jack had seen before. They were painted with slogans and emblazoned with all manner of extravagant decorations and motifs. Along the central axis of the camp, was the most extraordinary sight of all. A series of monster steam engines parked up one next to the other. Jack had seen pictures of old-fashioned steam engines once used for road works and on farms – and these machines were similar. They were great iron and bronze contraptions which belched black smoke and steam. Some had massive bulldozer attachments on the front and others had fortified turrets, with evil-lookingguns sticking out of them. Jack remembered the little Shanghai hardware shop where he and Angus had seen different technologies somehow co-existing – it was the same here, in the Taiping army camp. The uniforms, flags and regalia could have been medieval, as were the lances and great cleavers that the infantry and cavalry carried. But other used technologies much more modern – steam-powered engines and crude petrol-driven machines, artillery and firearms that looked as if they belonged in a more modern age. Everything was mixed up.
Angus was mesmerised by the range of weaponry, but Jack caught Backhouse’s eye as he surveyed the scene. He had a look of pride on his face.
“I will admit my Taiping friends have got some strange ideas, on both Christian doctrine and on government,” he said. “But you can’t fault their energy and organisation. And this army…” He turned to the captain and said, “The British government would be quaking in its boots if they could see it.”
Fleming grunted.
“We are nearly there.” Backhouse said something to the driver and pointed. “You will be taken to a holding tent – normal procedure – there will be refreshments, so please try and make yourselves comfortable. I will come back for you shortly.”
With this, Backhouse stepped down from the jalopy and scurried off. Jack, Angus and Fleming were escorted to a nearby marquee which was enclosed in a wooden stockade.
“Prison,” the captain said matter-of-factly.
But once inside the tent, they were offered tea and food; there was even water to wash themselves.
“You have heard of him, captain?” asked Jack. “I mean Backhouse – you seemed to know of him. You said he was known in England as a traitor?”
“You haven’t heard of Josiah Backhouse? Where have you been my lad? Yes, he’s famous; infamous more like. And he’s a traitor indeed. I couldn’t believe it was him.”
“We are away most of the time… with our father,” Angus chipped in, pleased with himself for having picked up on Jack’s story.
“Well, Backhouse is a British missionary… but he’s more than that, much more,” the captain sipped his tea from a bowl. “Not quite how my mother makes it… but I have to say that tastes good.” He looked around at the inside of the tent and groaned with frustration, “Can’t
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