“Dear God!” As the Sudanese fired, Jack dodged to his left, with the bullet thumping into the hard-packed sand at his feet.
“He’s mine, sir!” Donnelly was a yard behind Jack, with his rifle ready. He aimed and fired in the same movement, with the heavy bullet catching the Sudanese soldier in the face. Jack had a momentary vision of the Sudanese standing erect with a curtain of blood above his head, and then he toppled backwards, out of sight.
“Good shot, Donnelly! You’re not meant to have a loaded rifle!”
“Yes, sir. You can put me on a charge later.”
“I might overlook your disobedience on this occasion,” Jack said and hauled himself up the wall. He knew he would relive that moment at night once the danger was past, but at present, he had a regiment to lead into battle.
Although Jack d
