Page 19 of The Unknown Birds

The last jab, more than any of the rest, was all it took to turn Ashley’s fear into idle fury, and she glowered at Reid, higher rank or no.

“Fifteen seconds,” he said, glaring back.

Ash caught Tom’s eye as the others began to follow orders, and shook her head once, hoping if both of them stood firm in their defiance, Reid and his goons might back down. Was it even an order if the men weren’t from her platoon?

“Ten seconds,” Reid growled.

TomTom shrugged a half apology and kicked off his boots.

Calculating whether she could make a run for it, Ash glanced at the moon, now directly overhead. It would expose her like a spotlight all the way back to camp. She was fast, but four on one were not good odds.

What would happen if they caught her and held her down, peeling her sticky uniform off perspiration-damp skin despite her thrashing and clawing, layer by layer until they discovered what she’d done? Would she survive long enough to beg the captain’s mercy?

She could be imprisoned for fraudulent enlistment according to the Field Service Regulations, but might they first tie her to a tree for twenty-four hours, crucifixion-style—Field Punishment Number One—before sending her home in shame? And would it make them hunt down Charles with extra vigor?

“What are you waiting for?” Reid yelled in her face, so close his spit settled on her eyelashes like tiny wet gnats, and she held her breath to block out his fetid stench. “Are you deaf?” he demanded, boxing her ears so they rang almost as badly as they had on the rifle range. “Togs. Off. Now.”

“No,” Ashley replied.

He slapped her cheek hard enough to break the skin. Max barked and lunged, causing one of the other privates to whip out a pistol.

“Dinnae hurt her,” Stewart pleaded, and for a moment Ash thought he meant her rather than his dog.

The private ignored him, cocking the hammer and aiming at Max.

“That’s quite enough,” a voice drawled, and Rook stepped out of the trees, cigarette hanging from his lips, rifle pointed at Reid’s head.

Despite the danger, Ashley’s stomach flip-flopped at the sight of him.

Reid and his men all seemed to know by reputation that Rook wasn’t likely to miss, and Reid gestured to put away the pistol.

When the soldier didn’t comply, Rook said, “You can shoot the dog if you want, but I’ll let Captain Davies know you plan on taking her place. Fancy the taste of rat?”

The private’s blank expression didn’t falter, but he holstered his weapon at last.

“Well, if it’s not the three-legged champion,” Reid scoffed. “That’s a child’s game. We’ve got no grievance with you.”

“You’re holding my runners hostage. Seems like grievance enough.”

“Just putting them in their place,” Simmons said.

“Their place is back at our camp.”

Reid glowered. “I outrank you. I could have you written up.”

“Reid, isn’t it? I heard your lieutenant was looking for you lot. Seems someone put a bug in his ear that you may have deserted. Isn’t that right, Dusty?”

The captain’s batman stepped out of the woods next, his own gun aimed on Simmons. “That’s what I heard.”

“Better take care of that.” Rook gestured with his rifle. “Wouldn’t want to give them cause to believe it.”

Reid huffed, nostrils flaring, and exchanged a glance with his now terrified companions before slinking away.

When they were gone, Rook lowered his weapon and turned back to the runners, all but Ashley down to nothing but their undergarments and identity discs—except for Blake, who wore nothing at all except two cupped hands to shield his dignity.

“Why the fuck are you naked?” Rook asked.

“Lance corporal told us to,” TomTom answered.