Read Online The Collected Short Stories by Jeffrey Archer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jeffrey Archer
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between Suffolk and Edward Islands.
Many of the islanders were waving Union Jacks, and some were holding up pictures of the queen. Ted smiled and checked his watch. The plane was due in seventeen minutes.
The prime minister, the local mayor, the chief justice, the commissioner of police, and their wives were lining up at the end of the red carpet. The sun beat down from a cloudless sky. As Ted turned in a slow circle to take in the scene, he could see for himself that everyone had made a special effort.
Suddenly the sound of engines could be heard, and the crowd began to cheer. Ted looked up, shielded his eyes, and saw an Andover of the Queenâs Flight descending toward the airport. It touched down on the far end of the runway at three minutes before the hour, and taxied up to the red carpet as four chimes struck on the clock above the flight control tower.
The door of the plane opened, and there stood Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, PC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, FRS, DCL (Hon.), LL.D. (Hon.), attired in the full dress uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet (summer wear).
âIf thatâs what he means by âfairly informal,â I suppose we should be thankful that he didnât ask us to lay on an official visit,â murmured Hazel as she and Ted walked to the bottom of the steps that had been quickly wheeled into place.
As Mountbatten slowly descended the stairway, the crowd cheered even louder. Once he stepped onto the red carpet the governor took a pace forward, removed his
plumed hat, and bowed. The admiral saluted, and at that moment the combined bands of town and police struck up the national anthem. The crowd sang âGod Save the Queenâ so lustily that the occasional uncertain note was smothered by their exuberance.
When the anthem came to an end, the governor said, âWelcome to St. Georgeâs, sir.â
âThank you, Governor,â replied Mountbatten.
âMay I present my wife, Hazel.â The governorâs wife took a pace forward, did a full curtsey, and shook hands with the admiral.
âHow good to see you again, Lady Barker. This is indeed a pleasure.â
The governor guided his guest to the end of the red carpet and introduced him to the prime minister and his wife, Sheila; the local mayor and his wife, Caroline; the chief justice and his wife, Janet; and the commissioner of police and his latest wife, whose name he couldnât remember.
âPerhaps youâd care to inspect the honor guard before we leave for Government House,â suggested Ted, steering Mountbatten in the direction of Colonel Hodges and his men.
âAbsolutely delighted,â said the admiral, waving to the crowd as the two of them proceeded across the tarmac toward the waiting guard. When they still had some twenty yards to go, the colonel sprang to attention, took three paces forward, saluted and said crisply, âHonor guard ready for inspection, sir.â
Mountbatten came to a halt and returned a naval salute, which was a sign for the sergeant major, standing at attention six paces behind his colonel, to bellow out the words: âCommanding officer on parade! General salute, pre-sent arms!â
The front row, in possession of the unitâs entire supply of weapons, presented arms, while the second and third rows came rigidly to attention.
Mountbatten marched dutifully up and down the ranks, as gravely as if he were inspecting a full brigade of Life Guards. When he had passed the last soldier in the back row,
the colonel came to attention and saluted once again. Mountbatten returned the salute and said, âThank you, Colonel. First-class effort. Well done.â
The governor then guided Mountbatten toward the white Rolls-Royce, where Bill was standing at what he imagined was attention, while at the same time holding open the back door. Mountbatten stepped in as the governor hurried round to the other side, opened the door for
Many of the islanders were waving Union Jacks, and some were holding up pictures of the queen. Ted smiled and checked his watch. The plane was due in seventeen minutes.
The prime minister, the local mayor, the chief justice, the commissioner of police, and their wives were lining up at the end of the red carpet. The sun beat down from a cloudless sky. As Ted turned in a slow circle to take in the scene, he could see for himself that everyone had made a special effort.
Suddenly the sound of engines could be heard, and the crowd began to cheer. Ted looked up, shielded his eyes, and saw an Andover of the Queenâs Flight descending toward the airport. It touched down on the far end of the runway at three minutes before the hour, and taxied up to the red carpet as four chimes struck on the clock above the flight control tower.
The door of the plane opened, and there stood Admiral of the Fleet the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, PC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, FRS, DCL (Hon.), LL.D. (Hon.), attired in the full dress uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet (summer wear).
âIf thatâs what he means by âfairly informal,â I suppose we should be thankful that he didnât ask us to lay on an official visit,â murmured Hazel as she and Ted walked to the bottom of the steps that had been quickly wheeled into place.
As Mountbatten slowly descended the stairway, the crowd cheered even louder. Once he stepped onto the red carpet the governor took a pace forward, removed his
plumed hat, and bowed. The admiral saluted, and at that moment the combined bands of town and police struck up the national anthem. The crowd sang âGod Save the Queenâ so lustily that the occasional uncertain note was smothered by their exuberance.
When the anthem came to an end, the governor said, âWelcome to St. Georgeâs, sir.â
âThank you, Governor,â replied Mountbatten.
âMay I present my wife, Hazel.â The governorâs wife took a pace forward, did a full curtsey, and shook hands with the admiral.
âHow good to see you again, Lady Barker. This is indeed a pleasure.â
The governor guided his guest to the end of the red carpet and introduced him to the prime minister and his wife, Sheila; the local mayor and his wife, Caroline; the chief justice and his wife, Janet; and the commissioner of police and his latest wife, whose name he couldnât remember.
âPerhaps youâd care to inspect the honor guard before we leave for Government House,â suggested Ted, steering Mountbatten in the direction of Colonel Hodges and his men.
âAbsolutely delighted,â said the admiral, waving to the crowd as the two of them proceeded across the tarmac toward the waiting guard. When they still had some twenty yards to go, the colonel sprang to attention, took three paces forward, saluted and said crisply, âHonor guard ready for inspection, sir.â
Mountbatten came to a halt and returned a naval salute, which was a sign for the sergeant major, standing at attention six paces behind his colonel, to bellow out the words: âCommanding officer on parade! General salute, pre-sent arms!â
The front row, in possession of the unitâs entire supply of weapons, presented arms, while the second and third rows came rigidly to attention.
Mountbatten marched dutifully up and down the ranks, as gravely as if he were inspecting a full brigade of Life Guards. When he had passed the last soldier in the back row,
the colonel came to attention and saluted once again. Mountbatten returned the salute and said, âThank you, Colonel. First-class effort. Well done.â
The governor then guided Mountbatten toward the white Rolls-Royce, where Bill was standing at what he imagined was attention, while at the same time holding open the back door. Mountbatten stepped in as the governor hurried round to the other side, opened the door for
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