The Sapphire Child (The Raj Hotel #2) - Janet MacLeod Trotter Page 0,165

mess in Delhi together, Lomax. It’ll not be long.’

Andrew gave him a grateful smile. His fellow officer had a knack of raising morale with his encouraging words and cool head. John Grant was unflappable and Andrew strove to follow his example.

As the battle for Admin Box entered its third week, they began to notice changes. The Zeros that had inflicted damage from the air were no longer seen racing out of the blue sky; only their own Spitfires and transport planes were in evidence.

The ground attacks became more sporadic and the tanks that drove counter-offensives at enemy dugouts were being met with less resistance.

John relayed the latest intelligence to Andrew.

‘They’re not being resupplied like we are,’ he said with grim satisfaction. ‘They reckon Colonel Tanahashi and his men are running out of ammo – and rations. And what’s more,’ said John, excitement in his voice, ‘relief is on its way.’

Exhausted and battle-weary though he was, Andrew was exhilarated by the news. He felt heady with relief. This was the first time the combined Indian and British armies had stood their ground and defeated the Japanese forces. It would be a huge blow to the enemy and their plan of invading India.

As the friends stood up in the trench, Andrew clasped John’s shoulder. ‘That is bloody good news, Captain Grant! It calls for a celebration. I’m off up the trench to swop my chocolate ration for some cigarettes.’

John laughed and clapped him on the back. They began to move off. A few paces along the trench, Andrew heard a grunt behind him. He turned around to see John looking at him with surprise on his face. The next moment, there was a whistling sound and a mortar shell exploded on the lip of the trench.

Andrew hardly had time to push his friend out of the way when he was thrown into the air. Something hard slammed into his head. An unbearable noise rang in his ears. Everything went dark. He had a split-second vision of diving into Dal Lake. Stella was already in the water grinning at him. ‘I’m here with you.’ Were the words his or Stella’s? Then he knew nothing more.

Chapter 58

New Delhi, March 1944

Major Maclagan had been away all week on another frantic chase around Northern India for tent poles, visiting sawmills and harassing suppliers to speed up their operations.

Stella was thankful for his return so that they could now discuss the latest developments on the Burma Front. Her emotions had see-sawed throughout February as bad news was followed by more hopeful reports.

Tales of incredible courage and sacrifice were seeping out as it became clearer by the day that the Indian and British forces had held out against huge odds and had not been annihilated. Not only had they repulsed the Japanese brigades but they had gone on the offensive, capturing border territory along the coastal strip.

‘I wonder if Andrew and Captain Grant are among them?’ Stella fretted. ‘I wish I knew.’

‘No news from his parents while I’ve been away?’ asked her boss.

Stella shook her head. She hadn’t heard from them since February when Esmie had sent her a joyful but emotional letter telling how Andrew had written to her on the eve of battle.

. . . He said he was truly sorry that he had wasted so much time being angry with me and that I’d never deserved to be treated so cruelly. He was full of remorse about it – dear Andy! – and he asked for my forgiveness. I can’t tell you how many tears I’ve shed since the letter came – tears of relief but also regret. I should have made more effort to win him back too. Oh, Stella, I long for the day when I can throw my arms around our dear boy and hug him tight. We’re so anxious about him, knowing he is in the Arakan – or so he tells us in a coded way, referring to his ‘friends’ the mosquitoes and leeches – and also how there are fishing boats that look like shikaras . . .

Stella was thrilled for Esmie that Andrew had finally offered an olive branch. How she wished she too had received a letter from Andrew to comfort her with loving words. But none had come.

Then she thought how unfair she was being to him. He had obviously reached the same conclusion as she had, that their romantic embrace at Tiger Fall had been an aberration – a moment of madness brought on by