Harvest of War by Hilary Green Read Free Book Online Page B

working in the field – and I speak Serbian and Bulgarian.’
    â€˜Very well. I’ll bear that in mind.’
    â€˜Then I can go?’
    â€˜I’ll let you know when I’ve made my decision.’
    Leo was left to chew her nails until news came that changed all the plans that had been drawn up. The Bulgarians, presumably warned in advance by friends in Greece, launched a pre-emptive attack and Sasha and his men, along with their British and French allies, were caught up in a desperate defensive action. The planned advance was put off until September the twelfth.
    â€˜Isn’t that too late to start a new campaign?’ Leo asked when Sasha told her. ‘Winter comes early in the mountains. You don’t want to be caught up in the sort of conditions we suffered last year.’
    â€˜If we don’t go then we shall have to wait until spring,’ he said. ‘And who knows what might have happened? We have to take our chance. With any luck we shall be through the mountains before the bad weather comes.’
    As September the twelfth loomed closer it occurred to Leo for the first time that she might be pregnant. Her periods had stopped after the privations of the winter retreat and, although they had restarted while they were on Corfu they had been irregular, so she had not paid much attention to when the next one was due. But one morning she woke feeling queasy and all day she was aware of a tightness in her breasts. Thinking back, she realized that she had not had a period since the night when she had first slept with Sasha. He had taken precautions since then but in that first passionate encounter neither of them had thought of the risk. She wondered whether to tell him of her suspicions but immediately decided against it. If he thought she was carrying his child it would only add to his burdens. He would have enough to contend with, without worrying about her. He would probably forbid her to join the field ambulance, assuming she had the opportunity. Worse still, he might insist on her going back to England, where she could be sure of better medical attention. She had no intention of obeying such an order, but she did not want to quarrel just as they were about to part. She decided to say nothing until winter brought an end to the fighting, at least for the time being.
    On the night of the eleventh they made love with an aching tenderness and in the morning she watched him mount Flame and said goodbye to him with all the courage and optimism she could muster. Then she reported for duty and was told to make ready to leave with the field hospital the following day.
    In Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, Luke attended a medical board and was passed fit for active service.
    â€˜Congratulations!’ the chubby doctor in charge said to him. ‘I’ll bet you’re itching to get back to your mates and give the Boches what for.’
    Luke restrained an impulse to punch his self-satisfied face. ‘Not if it’s going to be anything like the last shambles,’ he said bitterly. ‘Besides, I’d been hoping for a few months longer. My wife’s pregnant. I’d like to have been around for the birth.’

Six
    Tom spent the first two days of his leave sitting in Notre Dame, absorbing the atmosphere of indestructible peace. From time to time he got up and wandered round, gazing at the windows, the statues, the works of art of all kinds that adorned the cathedral, but most of the time he sat and let his mind go blank. On the third day, he got out his sketch book and began to draw, filling the pages with details of soaring columns and intricate carvings. When he felt stronger, he made his way to the Louvre and stood for a long time in front of the Winged Victory, contemplating the product of another warrior society and wondering if anything of beauty could result from the brutal conflict he had just left behind him. A few days later he summoned the energy to