by A S Neill
They found as many rifles and revolvers as they required, and they started out on the road to Burgos. They tried to catch horses, but these had become too wild. They tried a car but the roads were chock full of troops and artillery and provision wagons. It was the heat of summer, and marching was cruel, for most of them were unaccustomed to walking, and their feet got blistered.
They came to the outskirts of Burgos, and then they decided to wait till dark before they entered. They slept in a Red Cross wagon by the side of the road. About midnight Robert awoke suddenly. He nudged Michael.
"I heard steps outside", he whispered. They peered over the side of the wagon. "It's one of the German blokes", said Michael. "Come on, let's get him."
They crept out of the wagon, and began to track the unsuspecting German. He sat down on a stone and lit a cigarette. The boys crept up behind him, and suddenly they pulled a sack over his head. Robert made things surer by clumping him over the head with his rifle, and then they ran and awoke the others. Robert's blow had made him unconscious but not wounded.
"I know", said Fritz. " He is me very like. I vill his clothes take off and I vill go and they vill think I am his."
"That's all very well", said Neill, " but you don't know where to go to."
"But", said Fritz, "I can all places go and I vill find them."
So Fritz set off in the German's uniform. They deliberated about what they should do with the German soldier.
"Spike would have bumped him off," said David.
"Yes, but we couldn't very well do that", said Bunny. "He hasn't done us any harm."
"No", said Michael, "but he might. We can't keep him unconscious by biffing him on the nut all the time, and if we tie him up he'll yell unless we gag him. Really it would be safer to do him in."
At this point the German woke up and stared about him vacantly. Suddenly he found that he was in his shirt and underpants, and he looked alarmed.
"Wo ist mein Uniform ?" he asked excitedly.
Neill explained to him that a fellow countryman had borrowed it.
"But", cried the German, "they vill him shoot. I run avay because the man Silvo so cruel to the womans. I am deserter. They vill shoot him." He had just spoken when the noise of a rifle shot pierced the air.
"Follow I", cried the German, and he rushed towards the town. They followed at a run. At the corner of the first street Bunny tripped over something. It was the body of Fritz. He had been shot through the heart. They all stopped.
"Oh, the swine!" cried Robert with clenched fist; "they will pay for this. Hi, you, what's your name?"
"Sepp", said the German.
"O.K., Sepp, are you on our side?"
“Ich hasse Silvo", said Sepp tensely.
"I don't know what that means", said Robert, "but the way you said it is all I want to know. Where are they?"
"They is in a what you say Kaserne in the next street. I take you by little streets. Come."
As they approached the barracks they heard a girl's scream.
"That is the Betty", whispered Sepp. "Silvo he not her like because she say him he bad man, not?"
Said Neill: "I don't see how we are to attack the barracks across that open space."
"This is where the whitewash comes in", said Robert, and he deftly whitened all their faces. "Now look", he went on, "you see there are lots of statues dotted about the place. Our game is to get among these statues, and then edge our way by inches nearer the barracks."
"Er", said Pyecraft, "I think it a splendid idea, but with this cough of mine I might give you all away."
Neill cleared his throat. "Getting a cold too", he said cheerfully.
Robert gave the men a withering look, and his silence said more than any words could have said.
It was still dark, but the dawn was creeping on them.
"We must act at once", said Robert, and he led the way creeping on all fours. When dawn came the four boys and Sepp were standing rigid and white in the barrack square.
"That takes nerve", said Pyecraft as he and Neill watched from behind a stone Major-General of generous cover.
"I know", said Neill. "Let's creep round and do a flank movement. The garrison will shoot at us and that will give the boys a chance to move forward."
So they crept round, and, when they were on the west side of the barracks, Neill sent a rifle shot through a window. He was answered by a volley, and Pyecraft, who could see the boys, cried that they had advanced a lot. "Give 'em another shot", he said. Neill emptied his magazine, and Pyecraft shouted in delight that Robert and David had reached a point ten yards from the barracks. Then came a mishap. Gordon had a wasp settle on his nose, and if there was one thing that put the shivers down Gordon's spine it was a wasp on his nose. He stood it as long as he could, then he slogged it. He was seen by Silvo and a shot rang out. It got the wasp.
"Take cover!" yelled David, and they dropped behind statues. They began to fire, while Neill and Pyecraft continued to fire from the flank. In a lull in the firing they heard Silvo's voice.
"Surrender at once or we shall kill the girls."
"Keep him talking", whispered Bunny. "Do you notice that old Pyecraft is shoving the Major-General before him and getting closer?"
"Right", said Robert, and then to Silvo: "If we surrender will you spare our lives?"
"Yes."
"And let the girls come with us ?"
"No, never."
Robert kept one eye on Pyecraft, who was by this time quite close.
"Well, then, will you make a bargain, Silvo ? Give us one of the girls and you can keep the other two."
"Which one?"
"The one with the beautiful face", said Robert.
"Which one is that ?" asked Silvo.
They saw Pyecraft raise his right arm, and a bomb crashed into the wall. There was a loud explosion, and when the smoke had cleared away they saw a huge gap in the wall. They had been wise enough to rush forward in the cover of the smoke and dust. Pyecraft got there at the same time, and they stormed the barracks. The Germans threw up their hands, but Silvo fired straight at Robert, missed him by a hair's breadth, and got Sepp in the throat. Sepp dropped with a horrible gurgle. Then Pyecraft laid Silvo low with the butt of his revolver, and the battle was lost and won . Rapidly they tied the prisoners up, and Neill went in search of the girls. He found them tied to posts in a dungeon. They wept with joy. They had a terrible story to tell of anxiety and torture. They had not been subjected to beating or any bodily torture, but they had been driven almost mad by Silvo, who kept telling them what he intended to do to them if the boys attempted a rescue. The German soldiers, they said, were quite nice to them, and Sepp had even tried to restrain Silvo from inflicting terror on them. They were very sad when they heard that Sepp was dead, but when they were told of Fritz's death they wept passionately.
There were five Germans left. The question was what to do with them and Silvo.
"He ought to be court-martialled and shot", said Betty with heat. Then she looked at Robert. "No", she said, "you are my brother, and it is your duty to fight a duel with him to redeem my honour."
"Didn't know you had any", said Robert sourly. "This is a communal affair. I'm all for a court-martial."
"I agree with Betty", said Neill. "Betty has suffered, and there is an unwritten law that, when a damsel suffers, her lover, or, failing a lover, her brother, should challenge the offender."
"You are her headmaster," said Robert; " it's your duty to protect her. You are in - in - what's the Dutch phrase ?"
"In loco parentis", said Neill, "and it isn't Dutch; it's Greek. Well, what about it, Robert? Of course if you are afraid I'll have to do it myself."
"Who said I was afraid?" demanded Robert.
"Beg pardon," said Neill with a bow, "but I knew you would act the gentleman."
So when Silvo recovered from his stunning, Robert went up to him and hit him in the face with a glove, which of course is the correct way to invite a man to fight a duel
. Silvo rose unsteadily.
"My second will call on you when you are ready."
"In a second", said Robert, and he indicated to one of the Germans that he should be Silvo's second. So the German presented Silvo's card to Robert, and Robert didn't know what to do with it; but then he had a bright idea, and, taking out a pair of pliers, he punched the card, and they all laughed, except Silvo, who glared.
"Give me as many insults as you like," he said. "I shall avenge them. Since you have challenged me I have the choice of weapons." He paused to let this sink in. "I was the best swordsman in the Italian army," he added, and again paused to let this one sink in. It sank in all right, and Robert's heart sank still deeper, for he had never fenced in his life. Silvo looked at him and laughed harshly. "I see you go pale", he said.
"Not through this whitewash, on your life" came back Robert as quick as lightning. Then he turned on his heel. "We meet at sun-rise", he said stiffly, and, falling over the mat, he left the room.
The Germans were concerned about Robert. They had had no love for Silvo, and had only obeyed him through fear. One of them spoke to Neill.
"It is madness to let the boy fight Silvo", he said earnestly. "I have seen Silvo fence, and he is really wonderful. He has killed many men in duels. I think you would be justified in taking the boy's place, sir."
Some of the others thought so too, but Neill waived their objections aside.
"You are asking me," he said indignantly, "to - to step in and deprive Robert of the greatest adventure of his life. Do you want me to make him a coward for ever? Would Robert ever forgive me for spoiling his fight ?"
"Oh", said Robert, "I guess I could forgive you all right."
"Always generous", said Neill quickly, "but of course he would never let me deputise for him."
"Of course", said Robert, "if you really want to have a go at the blighter, Neill, I'm quite willing to stand aside this time."
"Robert," said Neill solemnly, "your self-sacrifice is great, but, well, another time. This is your funer - I mean your hour."
Robert looked troubled.
"But I can't use a sword. He'll run me through first go off, unless - "
"Unless what ?"
"Would it be playing the game to put on a chain armour under my jumper?" asked Robert.
"Robert", said Neill, "you are not yourself. If you were, you would blush to suggest so vile a method of saving your skin."
"I was only asking", said Robert with irritation. "Oh, if only the blighter would have rheumatism or something!"
"Ah !" said his sister, and she rose hurriedly and left the room.
Robert spent most of the night trying to hit a sack with a cavalry sword. When dawn came he was wild-eyed and nervous. Pyecraft rang the barracks bell, and they went out to the parade ground. Silvo was in his shirt sleeves, and Robert took off his coat too. Pyecraft held out two swords, and they each took one. Silvo smiled with contempt and made a lunge at Robert. Robert side-stepped and gave the other's sword a wallop. Silvo said Ugh! and squirmed.
"Don't see much of his famous swordsmanship", whispered David to Betty.
Betty smiled brightly. "Robert's going to win.”
Robert Fights Fascism; by F K Waechter
How do you know ?"
"'Cos I put clean sheets on Silvo's bed last night."
"But what have clean sheets to do with a duel ?"
"They were damp," said Betty with a giggle. "Didn't you see him squirm when Robert hit his sword? Rheumatism."
"Seems a bit low down", said David.
"Don't see it", said Betty. "People have handicaps at golf and tennis, so why shouldn't a plus-four bloke like Silvo have a five over bogey handicap when playing a beginner like Robert ?"
Silvo had tried to use his left hand, but the rheumatism had gripped him there too. He cursed and changed over to his right again. This gave Robert an idea. He had once read a story of Napoleon's march to Moscow, when a French soldier was fighting a Russian. The Frenchman did a trick by suddenly changing his sword from one hand to the other, and sending his opponent's blade whizzing through the air. Silvo lunged at him, and Robert changed hands, and ... there was a gasp as Silvo's sword flew through the air.
"Cut him down !" yelled the boys, and Robert pointed his blade at the Italian's throat.
"Stop!" cried Betty. "Don't give him a sudden death. I have a better plan."
"What plan ?" said Robert.
"Let him live with rheumatism", said Betty. "Let him hobble about on crutches till he dies."
All eyes were turned on Betty. Silvo, with a rapid movement, whisked Bunny's revolver out of his belt, and, putting it to his own head, he blew his brains out.
There is not much more to tell about this Spanish episode. The Germans said that they wanted to go home, and they set off after a friendly good-bye. Poor fellows, they were eaten by wolves on their way through France. The English party found a motor-yacht in Bilbao, and a week later were safely back in Summerhill.
TO BE CONTINUED…
- Discussion of Chapter 9
"That was a really lousy chapter", said Betty with indignation. "Why should the boys do all the brave things? Rescuing us... as if we would ever need rescuing, humph!"
"I think so too", said Jean. "Makes women inferior all the time, and we are as good as the boys."
"Shut up", said Robert testily. "All the same, you shouldn't have made me run Silvo through the gullet. And it wasn't fair to make Betty give him rheumatics. Unsporting thing to do anyway."
"Also", said Michael, "very unscientific. Chap couldn't get rheumatism by sleeping one night in damp sheets. Another thing, that German chap Sepp we shoved the sack over; if he was running away would he sit down and light a fag?"
"Of course not", said David. "Pity Fritz was killed, wasn't it?"
"I didn't mind", said Evelyn. "He never seemed to live in the story. Now, Spike did, didn't he? I was sorry when he died, but Fritz was so dull. You must admit he was rather dull, Neill, wasn't he?"
"Rather dull", I said. "It was time he was dead."
"Why not let us all live?" said Michael.
"Because", I said, "because the title of the story is The Last Man Alive."
"You mean that everybody will be killed except one of us?"
"You shouldn't spoil the story by giving away the end like that", said Betty. "Who is to be the last one alive?"
"That", I said, "I don't yet know. It depends a good deal on what happens during the next few weeks. If you girls keep me awake by chattering, as you did last night, I promise you a very bloody death, and if some of you lads don't return those spanners I lent you yesterday... well, I've given you fair warning."
"I think", said Jean, "that in the next chapter the girls should be the brave ones. What do you say, Betty?"
"No good asking that", said Betty sadly. "Neill always thinks that his sex is the only one with guts, but he never does very brave things in the story himself."
"I may have to rescue you all next time", I remarked. "I think it is time to show what I can do myself.”
Chapter 10
Summerhill was looking more dilapidated than ever. Tiles had fallen off the roof, and windows had got broken, how the children could not guess.
"Seems to me", said Betty, "that someone broke these windows. For all we know we aren't the only people left alive in England."
"Suppose we aren't", said Robert, "what would be the point of the others making a special excursion to Leiston just to have a few shies at our windows? Be your age, Betty."
"I think they were broken by falling tiles and by branches broken off by storms", said Pyecraft.
"Maybe rats", ventured Bunny.
"Rats!" said Neill.
"Anyway" said Michael, "I wish we hadn't come home from warm climates. Summerhill in a cold November with no windows and no coal isn't my idea of comfort, when we have the whole world to live in. I don't know why we keep coming back to the beastly place."
"The homing
instinct", said Neill. "The dog returns to its . . . hullo, look at Chad! He's got in the rough all right", and indeed he had. Weeds were up to his waist, and bindweed had commandeered his kilt. Pyecraft and Neill, the two golfers, said that it was disgraceful that the royal and ancient game should have degenerated into a means of sending Michael into vulgar hysterical cackling, and they cut the weeds, and gave Chad a pair of plus fours instead of his kilt. They found a caddy with clubs over at the golf-course, and they brought him over and placed him behind Chad.
"That's much better", said Neill. "Gives Chad a distinction that he never had in life. I really think we ought to bring a few Colonel Blimps over from Aldeburgh golf-course to stand around as if Chad were playing a foursome with them." But Michael, the Communist, objected strongly, for Chad had also been a Communist.
"Queer", said Pyecraft, "that he was a Communist and played a bourgeois game like golf."
"Chad never played golf", said Neill hastily. "Why, man, look at his stance !"
The Colonel Blimp additions were voted out, but they allowed the two golfers to make a bunker at Chad's feet, and Pyecraft broke four niblicks and threw them into the bunker to make it more realistic.
Food had not worried them in their excursions abroad. In Kenya and Spain they had found all the fresh food they required, but back in Leiston they had to turn their attention to the garden again. But, since it was November, nothing was growing, and while they dug for the spring they had to live on what plants they could find growing wild. The wild animals had eaten up all the domestic animals in the county, and had moved inland in search of fresh kills, and if the Summerhillians complained that they had no meat to eat, they at least realised that the countryside was safe from tigers and lions. The girls tried their hardest to make what food there was appetising, but, as Evelyn said, it was not easy to serve up a tasty dish with a menu like the one she was preparing for the Sunday dinner.
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