CHAPTER 28
Washbrook and Hutton surprised Edrich by arriving together in Kashgar. Edrich and Robbins watched from the window of Robbins’ office as the two British officers entered the Residency. Washbrook was under his own power, but Hutton was in a litter slung between two horses.
‘I bet I know which one is Hutton, Bill.’ Robbins glanced at Edrich who merely raised his eyebrows and went and sat in a chair by the desk. Robbins rang his bell and gave orders to his servant to have the man in the litter taken to a small bedroom straight away and to bring the fit officer to his office at once. Robbins then sat down at his desk and joined Edrich waiting in silence. A few moments later the door opened to admit a fit and, to Edrich’s eyes, a disgustingly healthy looking and smart Washbrook. Edrich stood and returned Washbrook salute.
‘Good afternoon, Major Washbrook, may I introduce Sir Walter Robbins the British Consul here in Kashgar.’
Washbrook first saluted Robbins and then when the latter proffered his hand he shook it.
‘You look disgustingly fit, Major Washbrook,’ Edrich said jovially.
‘If you say so colonel,’ Washbrook responded looking at Robbins.
The journey up had not improved him thought Edrich but he forced himself to maintain his joviality. ‘So Hutton, what seems to be the matter with him, fall off his motorcycle?’
‘No, if you recall, colonel, Captain Hutton was not very well when we were in Srinagar. He got to Gilgit fine on his intrepid machine but he seems to have got some sort of complaint on the journey across the Pamirs, which developed into a fever. As a result he couldn’t travel for several days and so when my party caught up with his six days ago we organised a litter and made all speed for here. In addition his bad back has also given him pain almost continually.’ Washbrook shifted his gaze to Robbins and changed his tone, Edrich felt, to one of obsequiousness ‘is there a doctor who could have a look at him, Sir Walter?’
Edrich spoke before Robbins had a chance to reply, ‘I’m sure that if there is a doctor here Sir Walter will organise a visit from him, won’t you Sir Walter?’ Robbins felt the tension and merely nodded at Edrich who then asked, ‘did you have any problems on the road?’
‘Such as what?’ Washbrook looked puzzled.
The man is obviously just trying to be difficult thought Edrich. ‘Problems with the Chinese authorities, sniped at by bandits, attacked by giant lizards or birds, basically, major, anything that hindered your progress up here. Is it too hard for you to imagine what a problem is?’ Edrich felt furious that he let himself get sarcastic. Sarcasm aimed at a subordinate would not impress Sir Walter.
Washbrook flushed. ‘No problems except Captain Hutton’s illness. Do we have any news on the mission?’ Washbrook gaze flickered between the two men in front of him.
‘No. As soon as I know you’ll know,’ Edrich spoke perfunctorily. ‘Now you must be tired. I suggest that you use the rest of the day to get the lie of the land. We can discuss matters over dinner tonight. I know there is the traditional ban on discussing business in the mess but I think we can make an exception for this evening. Do you not agree, Sir Walter?’
‘Yes, colonel,’ Robbins wanted to say, “This is a consulate not an army mess,” but he decided now was not the appropriate time to correct Edrich.
‘Thank you. I will go and visit Captain Hutton in a moment.’
‘You won’t forget the doctor, sir?’ Washbrook bleated at Robbins.
‘Of course not, major.’
Edrich watched Washbrook exit the office and then glared at the door before he turned his attention to Robbins who was looking at him with pursed lips. Edrich felt himself flush. Robbins broke the silence.
‘There seems to be tension between the two of you, colonel.’ Robbins raised his hand and waved it at Edrich, ‘don’t worry managing people I know is difficult.’ Robbins then picked up and rang his hand bell to summon a servant. ‘We’re in luck we’ve got a Russian doctor, on the run from the Bolos, staying with the Swedish missionaries. In normal circumstances it would be a local medicine man that would probably make Hutton drink snake’s blood. That I don’t recommend.’
Hutton was in bed with blankets tucked up to his ears when Edrich arrived but immediately sat up on the latter’s entry. Hutton’s face glowed so red that it reminded Edrich of a setting sun and it looked uncomfortable.
Hutton forced a smile that caused him to wince and stated the obvious, ‘somehow I got too much sun, sir. I forgot that even though we were high up in the mountains that the sun still does damage.’
‘God, Hutton, you are an experienced enough old hand not to get caught by the sun. You look like a Red Indian,’ Edrich pointed at the man’s face and then began to wonder if he should sketch Hutton as he now was. Edrich smiled to himself because he knew what he would call it, “Red face gives a warning”. Edrich sat on a chair besides Hutton’s bed leaned forward and resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands he spoke solicitously. ‘What about your back? I need to know because when we get permission from India to go to Tashkent we will move straight away. We are hoping to hear from India on any day now. So,’ Edrich drawled the last word, ‘will you be fit to travel with us? If not, then I am afraid that I will have no compunction in leaving you behind. Is that clear?’
Hutton sighed, ‘yes, totally clear. I think the back is getting better slowly and I expect to be over this fever soon. I don’t want to let you down, sir.’ Hutton looked so forlornly at Edrich that he felt sorry for the man.
‘I’m sure of that, Hutton, old chap.’ Edrich only just stopped himself patting the man on the shoulder as he would a child. ‘Sir Walter has sent for a Russian doctor rather than the local medicine man so at least you won’t have to drink snake blood.’ Edrich laughed as did Hutton until his face reminded him that it was burnt. ‘He should be here soon. Just get well.’ Edrich stood and as he left the room he turned and smiled encouragement at the sick man; I wish I had got paint that colour he thought as he closed the door behind him.
Edrich was touching up his view of the Tien-shan Mountains when the Russian doctor, with Bedi as translator, came to see him. The doctor told Edrich that he thought that Hutton’s fever had been brought on as much by his general weakness as by the sun but he was convinced that the man would be fine following two days of bed rest. When Edrich asked the doctor about Hutton’s back the doctor shrugged and said, ‘a bad back is a bad back and there’s nothing I can do about that. Captain Hutton told me his back does seem to be getting better slowly.’ The doctor thought for a moment, ‘and I have to accept that.’