Part 17 (1/2)
”There is nothing at Namur, except death and the cursed Boches!” one of the dispatch riders shouted ”We go to the General's new headquarters, now Follow us and ill show you the way But, hurry! If you did see tanks where you say, then we are practically surrounded by the swine
There is not a moment to lose, unless you care to be shot or at best taken prisoner by the butchers!”
As though to give emphasis to their words the dispatch riders vaulted onto their saddles and opened up their ines in a roar of sound that seeain They were off like a shot and over a hundred yards ahead before Freddy could turn the s car around But once he had it turned around the young English youth didn't waste any ti fast to the side of the car and silently
The Belgians roared a mile up the road, then swerved off to the left onto a road that led toward the northwest
”They're heading for Brussels, I'm pretty sure!” Freddy shouted as the wind howled past the car ”That Sergeant was right when he said it looks bad It not only looks, but _is_!”
”The Gerreed
”They Hey, Freddy! Goshlook! The whole road is exploding!
_Freddy_!”
The road ahead had suddenly burst open to spout a sea of blinding light and crashi+ng sound The two dispatch riders seerabbed hold of the sht up into the air Fro his na end over end off through space that was filled hite hot fire and billowing thick black shts whirled around in his brain, and then everything turned black, and becarave
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
_Orders From Headquarters_
It was a kindly face, and the smile arm and friendly, yet somehow Dave Dawson couldn't keep it in focus It would be close to him one moment and seem very real Then a cloud would pass across in front of it and the face would fade out co to hold that face in his vision for years and years He knew that theto hi was so still and quiet about hi that his eyes could see hiteexcept that kind looking face
He'd stare at it hard, trying to bold it in focus, and then his eyes would becouessed that was the trouble; why he couldn't keep seeing that face for very long at a time He'd fall off to sleep
Or was he actually asleep all the ti? He shouldn't be sleeping He reian dispatch riders toward General Boulard's headquarters Soh, had happened What could it have been? Surely he hadn't just fallen off to sleep while Freddy stuck to the wheel _No_, of course not! More of it was co back! There had been a terrific explosion in the road ahead, and the two dispatch riders had disappeared right into it Yes, he remembered nohat had happened But, where was he? Why was everything white? Why was that kind looking, s away from hi lips were saying? Was he dead?
Was this what it was like when you died? And Freddy! Where was his pal, Freddy Farmer? He tried to find suitable answers in his brain, but his head ached so, and looking at that fading face made hi ti away into the depths of foggy ht where it was, and when the lips moved he actually heard what they said
”How do you feel, my lad?” they said ”Does your head hurt very much?”
His head? Why should those lips ask if his head hurt? His head didn't hurt at all! As aabout hi on, anyway? Holy smokes! He was in a bed Under sheets and blankets, and everything He pushed himself up on his elbow as easy as pie, and looked around He saw that he was in a hospital There was a long line of beds down each side of the huge room painted so white it almost hurt your eyes And there was a man, a soldier in every bed because he could see the unifored to a captain in the British Arnia was on the lapels of his tunic
”Steady,voice ”Tell one, sonny?”
Dave blinked and was souely reo but being unable to utter a word
”My head's okay, sir,” he said ”I feel great Where am I, anyway? And what's it all about? This is a hospital, isn't it?”
The h he had been holding his breath for a long time
”Good, splendid!” he finally said ”You're out of it at last You'll be all right, now, my lad But you jolly well had a close one, I can tell you! Might have re, concussion shock Want so to eat?”