Ties That Bind

Herb Hamlet

Description

If Virginia Ryan thought joining the Australian Army Nursing Corps would be the most demanding thing she had to do, she finds there are much worse outcomes when the British oil field she's sent to in Borneo falls into the hands of the Japanese. Greg Cutler, a Z Force commando, is the sole survivor of a team sent to destroy oil production. He rescues Virginia from pursuing enemy soldiers and they escape into the jungle fighting all the way, trying to ignore a growing attraction. Greg recruits Dyaks to the Allied cause and they escape Borneo by boat, intent on returning to Australia. They are recaptured and each believes the other dead. Can they find each other again?

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 26 novembre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781785383328
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
Ties That Bind
Herb Hamlet



Publisher Information
Published in 2015 by
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
The right of Herb Hamlet to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998
Copyright © 2015 Herb Hamlet
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.



Part 1
Chapter 1
Borneo - February, 1943.
She ran for her life, crashing through heavy undergrowth, stumbling over roots of trees. The razor-sharp foliage of the Brunei jungle tore at her clothing, at her arms and legs in an unforgiving attempt to slow her down. Sweat beads ran down her face and into her eyes, trickling down her neck, her chest, her back, soaking her clothes. I can’t keep up this pace much longer. They’re still back there, following. I don’t know where to hide. They’ll find me...
Her Japanese pursuers made no secret of their progress, laughing and yelling to each other, enjoying the pursuit, confident they would soon track her down. Her heart raced, while monkeys in the trees above her squealed, excited by the chase, giving her position away. Driven on by pure fear, she gasped for breath, her mouth dry, her throat constricted.
Suddenly shouts and a woman’s piercing scream echoed through the jungle, followed by a single shot. She swallowed down the rising bile threatening to choke her. Muriel! Emily!
There had been three of them and now one was undoubtedly dead. She took hold of a sapling for support, gasping, fighting to maintain a clear head, to ward off the panic. They’ll find me... no they won’t. Come on Virginia, just keep going.
Another scream, a shot, a Japanese yell of triumph and she started off again, valiantly trying to increase her speed through the almost impenetrable barrier, so thick only an odd ray of sun was able to force its way through the leafy canopy. The sun’s heat, however, had little difficulty in making its way to the forest floor, turning it into an oven. Virginia’s anxiety increased to a new level. Out of breath, adrenalin waning, she took refuge behind the trunk of a tall tree, leaning against it, gasping, fighting to breathe again, at the same time trying to hold back the strangled sobs of fear. I’ll never get away. I must. I can’t let them get me. What will I do?
Her thoughts were ineffectual attempts to distract herself from her terror. Blessed Father, please help me.
As if in answer, a strong hand clamped tightly over her mouth. Eyes wild with fear, fright pervaded every pore of her body as she waited for the inevitable, the end. Her pounding heart jumped and missed a beat, and then a man’s, Australian-accented voice whispered in her ear, ‘Be quiet, lady. Just stay put and everything will be all right. Understand?’
She nodded as best she could with his hand firmly clasped around her jaw. Then he was gone, as silently as he had come, disappearing into the undergrowth like a ghost in the mist. She stood trembling, indecisive about what course of action to take. Her nerves frayed as the seconds passed. He told me to stay. Where is he? Should I run?
***
Corporal Greg Cutler, a commando with the Australian Z Special Force, silently circled the last Jap soldier, lagging behind the other two. A job had to be done and revenge was sweet. He’d lost so many of his mates to these murdering bastards. He ignored how his tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth, and the sweat pouring off his body, saturating his uniform. Somewhere within, a heightened awareness began to infiltrate every fibre of his being. His muscles quivered in anticipation, ready to face the threat. He experienced the same sensation whenever exposed to any form of danger. His lips tightened, and he gritted his teeth as he thought of the cowardly murder of the two young Australian nurses. Guilt consumed him. It’s a hell of a war for a woman.
His blue eyes narrowed, his face grim as he silently cursed himself for being too late to help them. Poor kids. Yellow bastards won’t get the other one. I’ll bloody die first.
The armed Japanese soldier laughed and spoke in a loud voice to his colleagues, obviously stimulated by the hunt, thoroughly enjoying himself. Greg could almost smell his blood lust. He slung his Thompson.45 calibre sub-machine gun over his shoulder and pulled the strap hard. Taking in a deep breath, he crept up behind the Japanese soldier. At the same time, he removed a thin, short, flexible coil of wire from his webbing pouch. At each end of the wire was a wooden handle notched for the fingers of the human hand. In three quick silent strides he was upon the Japanese man, the coil held high with both hands. The loop noiselessly fell over the surprised Jap’s head - for him, there was no time to consider what was happening - no warning or premonition of the fate about to befall him. Greg’s reverse pull so swift and severe, the wire sliced deep into the flesh of his neck and breathing passages with complete and utter finality, coming to rest against his spinal cord - no cry, no sound, except for the air escaping from the dead soldier’s lungs through the bloodied slice. Greg had heard that sound before and he hated it. He silently lowered the man’s body to the ground. He would not have suffered. He’d have felt a fire across his throat, then nothing. For a fleeting moment, he gazed down at the wide eyed, shocked expression on the young soldier’s face. Blood already soaked the front of his shirt. Only about eighteen. He replaced his one quick flicker of remorse with disgust. Still a murdering bastard.
He wasted no more time, the second soldier just ahead and to his left. He could hear him yelling to his comrades. Greg disposed of him in a similar fashion to the first. Well ahead of the other two, the third enemy soldier thrashed his way through the undergrowth. He’s close to her. I’ll have to hurry.
The remaining Jap called to his companions - there was no answer. He gave a surprised exclamation and then laughed as if they were playing some sort of game with him. He pressed on, following the fugitive woman’s trail through the undergrowth. He would beat the others to her - she would be his prize.
Greg increased his speed. I have to get to her - save her. This bastard wants his commander’s approval, even if it means killing another defenceless woman.
***
Her breaths still coming in short gasps, Virginia cowered behind the tree, frightened out of her wits, unsure about what to do next. She heard rustling in the undergrowth, twigs snapping, branches being brushed aside. Indecision plagued her. A voice inside urged her to start running again. He told me to stay here. Where is he? The Jap is coming. I have to get away.
Before she could move, a crash in the thick foliage made her gasp. A Japanese soldier broke through, looking around. He grinned as he stepped towards her. Virginia sunk down behind the thick trunk - she knew he’d seen her. Kneeling, defenceless and whimpering, she looked up at him, sheer terror tightening her stomach. Her eyes bulged at the sight of the large weapon in his small hands. She managed to swallow the sandpaper dryness in her throat enough to beg for her life. ‘Please no,’ she pleaded, ‘don’t do this.’ She looked into eyes, devoid of compassion. A look of malevolence filled them. Frozen with dread, she watched him lift his rifle and aim it at her. I’m going to die. Blessed Mother Mary, please pray for my soul.
Resigned to her fate, she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable - what else could she do? A burst of gunfire followed - she didn’t feel anything - no bullets ripped into her. Bewildered, she opened her eyes to witness the blood-spattered body of the Japanese soldier collapse face down on the ground in front of her. Still staring at her in death, his eyes were wide with surprise.
The Australian soldier strode into the clearing, shouldering his now silent sub-machine gun, and came to help Virginia to her feet. She still shivered.
‘You all right now, lady?’
‘Y, ye, yes,’ she stammered in a trembling voice. ‘Thank you for saving me.’ She looked around, still frightened. ‘Where are the other two Japs?’
‘Both dead.’ His lips tightened.
A wave of relief washed over her. ‘Who are you?’ Her voice a little stronger now.
‘I’m Corporal Cutler of Z Force.’
‘I’m Sister Ryan of the Army Nursing Service.’ She was regaining her composure fast. ‘No kidding.’ He pointed to the red cross on the sleeve of her grey dress. ‘I would never have guessed.’
She coloured. ‘Don’t be impertinent.’ Receiving no reply, she went on. ‘What happens now?’
‘You’ll have to come with me, lady. I still have a job to do here.’ A realisation hit him with a thud.
Though grateful to him for saving her life, something in his manner ruffled her feathers. ‘I wear a lieutenant’s insignia, so you should address me as ma’am, corporal,’ she instructed him in her best nurses tone. He looks strangely familiar. Have I seen him before?
His eyes clouded and his expression tightened suddenly. ‘That’ll be the bloody day.’ He took a step towards her. ‘Listen, lady, I won’t be dictated to by a female, even if she does outrank me. I’m the soldier here and I’m highly trained for this sort of job.’ A snarl curled h