CHAPTER 15
Edrich arrived at Srinagar two days after the others but it was too late in the evening to talk to them. The following morning Edrich called Washbrook into his office to discuss planning their journey. Washbrook had already started to organise the three separate parties of men and animals for the journey north so Edrich decided to leave him complete what he had started. The two men agreed that the three parties would take different routes whenever possible and the gap between each group setting off would be three days. Edrich would go first, then Hutton with Washbrook bringing up the rear. When Edrich asked why Hutton was not helping him organize the trip, Washbrook replied that the man was working on his motor bike. When Edrich asked why Hutton was working on a motor bike, Washbrook replied, it was a subject that Hutton wished to broach with the colonel.
‘I think I’ll go and see, Captain Hutton, and I’ll leave you to complete your work. Good job, keep it up.’
‘Thank you, sir good of you to say so.’ Washbrook tone was formal but without warmth.
Edrich walked down to where the vehicles were kept. Hutton was lying on his stomach whilst a corporal squatting beside him was pointing out something. The corporal sprang to his feet and saluted Edrich; Hutton struggled slowly and awkwardly to his feet and performed the same action.
‘Morning, Captain Hutton, corporal,’ Edrich said as he returned the two men’s salutes, ‘corporal, would you excuse us for a moment.’
The corporal saluted again and as he marched away he wiped his greasy hands on an oily rag.
Edrich waited until the corporal was out of earshot. ‘Captain Hutton, Major Washbrook tells me that rather than helping him you are playing with this machine. Why is that?’
‘He said he was happy to do the bulk of the organising but if he needed help he would ask me, sir. I did discuss with Major Washbrook on the way up to Srinagar that motor bikes are now said to be very durable. I thought that we could test that fact if I rode one as far as Gilgit. Also it would save a horse and all its’ fodder needs, sir.’
‘How so, Captain? Won’t you need to carry the motorbike’s petrol? What about spare parts? What happens if it breaks down? We are not engineers and we are not taking any with us either. If we are only taking it as far as Gilgit how are we going to get back Army property to its base? How if you are only taking it as far as Gilgit do you propose to go from there to Kashgar?’
‘Actually the motorcycle is my own property not the Army’s, sir. The machine can carry a lot of the spare petrol itself. The corporal has been giving me a crash course in mechanics. I think that I’ll be able to deal with most emergencies myself. As for getting back here well I’ll ride the motorcycle back when the mission is over and we are returning to base. You are the only one of us scheduled to remain up there sir. As for travelling beyond Gilgit I thought I’d use an animal.’
‘What about your back?’
‘My back is still is very painful and stiff but better than it was, sir. I thought that riding the motorcycle would be easier on my back.’
‘How, Captain, do you work that out? The road to Gilgit is rough so you’ll be bouncing up and down no more or less than probably you would on a horse.’
‘Well I do find it easier than being on a horse, sir. I’ve tried it round here yesterday. After all I don’t have to climb up high to get onto this beauty,’ Hutton patted the motorbike affectionately. ‘None of that arching the back and throwing one’s leg over like I would for a horse - I just straddle her.’ Hutton looked at the motorbike as Edrich would at a lovely woman.
‘You’ll only be climbing onto your horse a few times a day, Hutton.’ Edrich looked at Hutton and saw the disappointment in the man’s face. ‘Look if you promise me that this will not interfere with your ability to travel you can use it.’
Hutton’s face burst into a huge smile. ‘Don’t worry, sir. You won’t regret it. I’ll get to Kashgar safe and sound. Bit like a bad penny I always turn up.’
‘No doubt you are that,’ said Edrich without thinking as he turned away to walk back to his quarters.
Hutton stared after him not sure whether he had the colonel correctly. He shrugged and with a wave of the hand summoned the corporal back to the motor cycle. Hutton got on to his hands before lying down beside the machine. ‘Now you were saying if I have to adjust the chain, corporal,’ Hutton spoke over his right shoulder to the corporal as the latter squatted beside him.
As expected the journey north to Kashgar was physically demanding for Edrich. The higher they climbed the more first one old wound ached and then the other. The journeys invariably started at six in the morning and were suspended by two o’clock in the afternoon because of the effort of walking and riding at high altitudes. It was May so snow still lay heavily on the mountainsides of the Pamir, the Hindu Kush and the Karakoram ranges whilst in contrast the valleys and plains were unbearably hot. Edrich painted: whenever he felt able; whatever was before him; provided the afternoon’s weather was benign.