The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (read this if TXT) 📕

Tom. Infact, the ease with which he avoided work was matched only by the relative easewith which he had managed hisschoolwork. When he bothered.

BothStan and Kate had attended the same school as the boys. They’d both left atfourteen, Stan to work with his dad at the forge and learn the trade ofblacksmith and Kate towork as a seamstress. They had been sweethearts at school, and they married aswar clouds thickened in the dark sky.

Asa smithy, Stan had originally been exempted from service in a reservedoccupation. The nature of war had changed, though. It was no longer the clashof armies but of industrial economies. Stanjoined the newly formed tank battalions that were part of the Heavy Section ofthe Machine Gun Corps. It was felt that his skills might be of use in a part ofthe armed forces where heavy armour was a critical element. Bob Owen’s dad hadjoined with Stan on the same day in the same battalion. He was nearly blown tobits in the tank next to Stan’s.

Stansurvived the war, but the experience had marked him forever. Even with Kate,the topic was never discussed. His response to the war was silence. In thefirst few years after his return, these silences would last for hours. And thesilences were frequent. The boys and Kate knew to stay away at those times.

Theyhad become fewer over the last few years but recentlythey had returned. The news from Germany had reawakened something in Stan’sdamaged mind. Kate could see this but felt powerless to stop thecreeping dread afflicting her husband. Tom could see it also but Danny, asever, was blithely unaware. He was fighting his own wars, his own battles ofgrowing up.

Theforge was Stan’s escape, his confidant, his redemption. The horse ruled thecountry. And horses needed shoes. Farmers from around the county came to Stanto have shoes made for their horses. Between one and two hundred horses were onthe books and they needed to be shod three times a year.

Healso made crucifixes, iron coats of arms, light holders, plough-cutters, nailsmade of iron, smelted with charcoal that would last centuries. The demand wasendless, the orders came like a river flowing unstoppably during the rains. Thebusiness grew and grew. He would need Danny soon. Maybe someone else. They’dhave to make the barn larger.

Thankfully,Tom had taken to work at the forge quickly and with Danny of age in a year ortwo, he would soon be helping the business to fulfil the order book. The threeof them together, working at the forge; this was Stan’s dream.

Heunrolled his shirtsleeves, rolled from the inside to avoid sparks catching inthe folds, and began to wash his hands and arms.

‘Tomshouldn’t have sent him away. I’d have found him something to do. He needs tostart learning.’

‘Youknow Danny, any excuse,’ laughed his wife.

‘Yes,I know our son all too well,’ said Stan grimly but suppressing a smile.

‘Dossingabout somewhere, no doubt.’

 4

Infact, Danny was a long way from loafing about. Hugh, Fred and Greg looked downat him with malicious intent in their eyes. The boys traditionally confinedtheir rivalry to barbed words and occasional playground pranks. As they grewolder and began to work off their excess energy in the forest shinning uptrees, playing foxes and hounds and making the first tentative steps to courting,the rivalries deepened, and the dislike spilled out into more physicaldemonstrations like goats butting heads in the meadow.

Dannylooked at the three boys and said. ‘Three against one. Not very fair. Are yousure you don’t want to run down to the village and get some help?’

Thewords hid his distinct nervousness. One on one he was more than a match for anyof the boys but if they rushed him all at once, they would easily overpowerhim. Oddly, he did not expect this. Whatever he may have thought of them, therewere unspoken rules in combat. Rules that were etched into their bones andblood.

‘Veryfunny, Shaw,’ said Hugh, stepping forward. As unofficial leader, he would makethe first rush.

‘We’llsee who’s laughing in a minute.’

Dannymanaged the unusual feat of both relaxing and tensing at the same moment. The factthat Hugh had stepped forward meant they would not all jump him, and this madehim feel more relaxed. They would attack one after another. He could handlethis, at least until fatigue crept in. However, his muscles tensed as he stoodfeet shoulder width apart. He moved one foot slightly behind the other inanticipation of a rush.

Hedidn’t have to wait long. Hugh surged forward, and they met in a clash ofbodies. Another feature of the fighting of the boys in the village was theabsence of fists. The two boys wrestled for a moment. Hugh was slightly taller thanDanny but, like his brother, heavier of build. At this stage, Danny recognisedthat Hugh was the stronger. This only mattered when each boy was equal intechnique. But Danny had the ultimate card up his sleeve and he deployed it assoon as the opportunity arose. Relaxing his upper body, he bent back as Hughtried to make his greater weight and strength tell, then quick as a squirrelavoiding an owl, he whipped his body round, throwing Hugh over his trailingleg. Hugh hit the ground with an enormous bump.

Secondslater, Fred Dobbins was on him. Fred had neither height, weight nor technique.He met a similar end in record time. Just as Greg Lunn stepped forward a voicefrom behind called out.

‘What’sgoing on here?’

Theboys all turned around. Four people on horseback were on the ridgeway abovewhere the boys were wrestling. A man and a woman on large chestnut horses lookeddown. Beside them was a young girl. She was around seven years old and astridea grey pony. With her was a boy who was probably Danny’s age.

Theman jumped off the horse and marched down to the boys. He wore a tweed jacket,breeches and leather boots. Tall, with clear blue eyes and a Roman nose, helooked like the lord of the manor which, in fact, he was. Lord Henry Cavendishstared down at the boys.

‘Threeon one? A little unsporting, don’t you think?’ He didn’t seem angry, but hisface was serious.

Hughlooked shamefaced and was about to speak, when Danny piped