Harry.”
Dermot leaned forward, his face now closer to Harry. The smell of his urine was drifting up into Harry’s nostrils.
“Which regiment were you in Harry?”
“The Royal Sussex, Why?”
“Good, I know you’re telling me the truth now! You see we also need to make careful checks on any associates who wish to join our little group. I’ve done a little military research myself over the past few days; if you were in this regiment you’ll know all about its history won’t you?”
Harry shifted his position in the chair and narrowed his eyes quizzically.
“Yes, of course. It’s all taught to new recruits in the first six weeks of training.”
“Precisely. So to ensure my colleagues here know that you are genuine please tell me all about your regiment. It does however seem rather foolish to have had a regimental tattoo and then go on the run from them doesn’t it?”
“Yes, I know, but now I’m stuck with it. It was done years ago when I first joined. A lot of the lads I knew did the same at the time. What do you need to know Dermot?”
“The tattoo first, what does it represent?”
“How did you know about -?”
“I’ll tell you later, please answer the question. Continue.”
Harry sighed,
“The badge has been assembled over the centuries from honours gained in various battles, and presently it depicts a cross like a ‘Maltese Cross’ but with longer ‘legs’ enclosed in a star design. Above is a plume of feathers, like the Prince of Wales’s.”
“Which part of Sussex was the regiment formed from originally?”
“Trick question I think Dermot?”
Harry smiled feeling more at ease now.
“Go on?”
“The regiment was raised in 1701 in Belfast by the Earl of Donegall.”
“When did it receive Royal status?”
“1832 by William lV.”
“Where did it fight in the last war?”
“Dermot, to save you time let me provide some fuller details that we had to learn by heart as recruits.”
“Go ahead.”
“The regiment fought at Quebec in 1759, the Heights of Abraham campaign where the French Roussillon Regiment was defeated. In 1850 the Indian Mutiny then the Boer War then Ypres in the last war. What else do you need to know?”
“Enough, enough I think. That’s what I read about, it’s all true lads, all true.”
Dermot nodded agreement to the others present and then sank back into his chair smiling broadly. Tommy and Darlath’s expressions also changed as they walked across to the drink’s table. Steve remained motionless and scowled, still unable to contain his displeasure.
“You just better not step out of line Harry boy, else I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Talking of lines, I think you owe me a new shirt first!”
“Gentlemen, enough! I now welcome Harry into our little group, and we must all do the same. Understood?”
All the men agreed by raising their glasses and silently toasting Harry, albeit Steve’s attempt appeared rather feeble and brief.
Harry finished his drink and turned to Dermot,
“I’m still somewhat puzzled. How did you know I had a tattoo?”
“Well, how shall I say this without being indelicate?”
Dermot’s eyes scanned up to the ceiling,
“Um – it was Eileen who told me that she had seen it. You see she has a part to play in our little schemes as well.”
“Jesus!”
“Don’t feel that she has betrayed you Harry. In a way she has assisted in speeding up the process of your selection. With my help she engineered your visit to the Dugout this evening. Andrew was going to set up our meeting in a few days time but this opportunity came first.”
“Does Eileen know Andrew as well?”
“Of course.”
“But she didn’t give that impression to me when I went to the ‘Stuart’ the first time with him. It’s very confusing.”
“Don’t worry too much about it lad. You, I understand, helped Andrew out. He subsequently recommended that I should see you and then tonight Eileen directed you to us at the Dugout.”
“So
Dermot leaned forward, his face now closer to Harry. The smell of his urine was drifting up into Harry’s nostrils.
“Which regiment were you in Harry?”
“The Royal Sussex, Why?”
“Good, I know you’re telling me the truth now! You see we also need to make careful checks on any associates who wish to join our little group. I’ve done a little military research myself over the past few days; if you were in this regiment you’ll know all about its history won’t you?”
Harry shifted his position in the chair and narrowed his eyes quizzically.
“Yes, of course. It’s all taught to new recruits in the first six weeks of training.”
“Precisely. So to ensure my colleagues here know that you are genuine please tell me all about your regiment. It does however seem rather foolish to have had a regimental tattoo and then go on the run from them doesn’t it?”
“Yes, I know, but now I’m stuck with it. It was done years ago when I first joined. A lot of the lads I knew did the same at the time. What do you need to know Dermot?”
“The tattoo first, what does it represent?”
“How did you know about -?”
“I’ll tell you later, please answer the question. Continue.”
Harry sighed,
“The badge has been assembled over the centuries from honours gained in various battles, and presently it depicts a cross like a ‘Maltese Cross’ but with longer ‘legs’ enclosed in a star design. Above is a plume of feathers, like the Prince of Wales’s.”
“Which part of Sussex was the regiment formed from originally?”
“Trick question I think Dermot?”
Harry smiled feeling more at ease now.
“Go on?”
“The regiment was raised in 1701 in Belfast by the Earl of Donegall.”
“When did it receive Royal status?”
“1832 by William lV.”
“Where did it fight in the last war?”
“Dermot, to save you time let me provide some fuller details that we had to learn by heart as recruits.”
“Go ahead.”
“The regiment fought at Quebec in 1759, the Heights of Abraham campaign where the French Roussillon Regiment was defeated. In 1850 the Indian Mutiny then the Boer War then Ypres in the last war. What else do you need to know?”
“Enough, enough I think. That’s what I read about, it’s all true lads, all true.”
Dermot nodded agreement to the others present and then sank back into his chair smiling broadly. Tommy and Darlath’s expressions also changed as they walked across to the drink’s table. Steve remained motionless and scowled, still unable to contain his displeasure.
“You just better not step out of line Harry boy, else I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Talking of lines, I think you owe me a new shirt first!”
“Gentlemen, enough! I now welcome Harry into our little group, and we must all do the same. Understood?”
All the men agreed by raising their glasses and silently toasting Harry, albeit Steve’s attempt appeared rather feeble and brief.
Harry finished his drink and turned to Dermot,
“I’m still somewhat puzzled. How did you know I had a tattoo?”
“Well, how shall I say this without being indelicate?”
Dermot’s eyes scanned up to the ceiling,
“Um – it was Eileen who told me that she had seen it. You see she has a part to play in our little schemes as well.”
“Jesus!”
“Don’t feel that she has betrayed you Harry. In a way she has assisted in speeding up the process of your selection. With my help she engineered your visit to the Dugout this evening. Andrew was going to set up our meeting in a few days time but this opportunity came first.”
“Does Eileen know Andrew as well?”
“Of course.”
“But she didn’t give that impression to me when I went to the ‘Stuart’ the first time with him. It’s very confusing.”
“Don’t worry too much about it lad. You, I understand, helped Andrew out. He subsequently recommended that I should see you and then tonight Eileen directed you to us at the Dugout.”
“So
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