so long, he thought. After so much. Don’t lose it all now …
The door on the driver’s side of the truck slammed shut, then the engine coughed into life and the vehicle rattled across the hilly terrain, bumped over what Martin judged to be the rough edge of the field, then moved straight ahead along a proper road. Still in despair, though knowing he hadn’t lost all yet, he took deep, even breaths, forcing his racing heart to settle down.
When someone’s body rolled into his and he heard a nervous coughing, he realized with a shameful feeling of relief that he wasn’t the only one they had caught.
‘Shit!’ he whispered.
‘What was that, boyo?’ one of his captors asked in a mocking manner. ‘Did I hear filthy language from down there?’
‘Take off this bloody blindfold,’ Martin said. ‘You don’t really need that.’
‘Feeling a bit uncomfortable, are you? A bit disorientated? Well, you better get used to it, you stupid prat, because that blindfold stays on. Now shut your mouth and don’t speak until you’re spoken to.’
The other tethered man rolled away from Martin, coughing uncomfortably. ‘We don’t have to…’ he began.
‘Put a sock in it,’ the same captor said, leaning down to roll the man over and somehow silence him. Even as Martin was wondering what the man was doing, a cloth was wrapped tightly around his mouth and tied in a knot at the back of his head. ‘Now you’re dumb as well as blind,’ the man said. ‘That should teach you not to open your trap when it’s not called for.’
‘Have you pissed your pants yet?’ another voice asked. ‘It’s hard to tell, you’re both so wet all over. Hope you’re not feeling cold, lads.’
Some of the men laughed. ‘Fucking SAS,’ another man said contemptuously. ‘Supposed to be impossible to find and these pricks lie there waiting to be picked up. If this is the best they can manage, they must be fit for the Girl Guides.’
The last remark raised a few more laughs and made Martin feel even worse, adding humiliation to his despair and increasing his fear of what might be to come.
You haven’t lost it all yet, he told himself. Just try to stay calm, in control. Don’t let them get to you. Don’t let fear defeat you.
It was easier to contemplate than it was to put into practice. Indeed, as the truck growled and shook beneath him, its hard boards seeming to hammer him, he became increasingly aware of his blindfold and gag, which in turn made him feel claustrophobic and unbearably helpless. As the blindfold was also covering his ears, he was practically deaf, dumb and blind. That forced him deeper into himself and made him strain to break out. This feeling was not eased by the cruel mockery of his captors as the truck growled and rattled along the road.
‘A big, brave British soldier?’ one of his captors said, prodding him in the ribs with his boot. ‘Found hiding face down in the mud. Not so big and brave now, boys.’
‘Might be big in unseen places. Might be brave with what’s hidden.’
‘That’ll be the day. A pair of English nancy boys. A pair of uniformed British poofters tryin’ to keep real men down. Well, when we get where we’re goin’, we’ll find out what they’re made of. I’m lookin’ forward to that.’
It’s not real, Martin thought, trying to stop himself from shivering, his soaked clothing starting to freeze and his exhaustion now compounded by despair at being caught. Bear in mind that nothing is real, that nothing can break you. Just don’t make a mistake.
After what seemed like an eternity, the truck came to a halt, the back was dropped down, and Martin was roughly hauled to his feet and dragged down to the ground, where they deliberately rolled him in the mud a few times, then stood him up in the wind and rain. Someone punched him lightly on the back of his neck, urging him forward. But as his ankles were still tethered together, allowing only minimal movement, they lost patience and two of them dragged him by the armpits across what seemed to be an open space – the wind was howling across it, lashing the rain into his face – then up steps, onto a porch. He heard doors squeaking open, felt warmer air reach his face, then was dragged in to where there was no wind or rain and the warmth was a blessing. His boots scraped over what seemed like linoleum, then they dragged him around a corner, along another straight stretch, then through another door – again he heard it squeaking as it opened – and at last pushed him down into a chair.
Stay calm, he thought desperately. Don’t make any mistakes. It all depends on what you say or don’t say, so don’t let them trick you. Don’t panic. Don’t break.
‘What a filthy specimen,’ someone said contemptuously. ‘He looks like he’s been taking a swim in his own piss and shit.’
‘Just mud and rain, sir,’ another man said. ‘Not the gentleman’s fault, his appearance. The natural elements, is all.’
‘Where did you find him?’
‘Belly down in the mud. Trying to blend in with the earth in the hope that we’d miss him. Fat chance of that, sir.’
‘The dumb British shit. He must think we’re all halfwits. Do we talk to him now or let him dry out?’
‘He won’t smell so bad when he dries out.’
‘That’s true enough. Hood him.’
The cloth was removed from Martin’s mouth, letting him breathe more easily. No sooner had he begun to do so than a hood was slipped over his head and tightened around his neck with a cord, making him feel even more claustrophobic. A spasm of terror whipped through him, then passed away again.
Breathe deeply and evenly, he thought. You’re not going to choke. They’re just trying to panic you.
‘My name is Martin Renshaw,’ he said, just to hear the sound of his own voice. ‘My rank is…’
A hand pressed over his mouth and pushed his head back until the hard chair cut painfully into his neck.
‘When we want your name, rank, serial number and date of birth we’ll ask for it,’ the colder voice said. ‘Don’t speak again unless spoken to. We’ll now leave you to dry out. Understood?’
Martin nodded.
‘That’s a good start. Now be a good boy.’
Their footsteps marched away, the door opened and slammed shut, then there was only the silence and his own laboured breathing. Soon he thought he could hear his heart beating, ticking off every second, every terrible minute.
As the hours passed he dried out, and his clothing became sticky, though it could have been sweat. Not knowing if it was one or the other only made him feel worse. His exhaustion, already considerable before his capture, was now attacking his mind. His thoughts slipped like faulty gears, his fear alternated with defiance, and when he started drifting in and out of consciousness it was only the cramp in his tightly bound arms that kept him awake.
He was slipping gratefully into oblivion when someone kicked his chair over. The shock was appalling, jolting him awake, screaming, though he didn’t hit the floor. Instead, someone laughed and grabbed the back of the chair to tip him upright again. The blood
