Читать книгу Unconditional Surrender онлайн

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So Guy moved to Jumbo's little place--Little Hall? Lesser House?--Number 6 Transit Camp, London District, and for a few days looked into the depths of the military underworld. There was a waiting-room in an outlying dependency of the War Office where daily congregated officers of all ages whose regiments and corps had no use for them.

There had been a "Man-power Directive" from the highest source which enjoined that everyone in the country should be immediately employed in the "war effort." Guy was interviewed by a legless major who said: "You seem to have done all right. I don't know why they've sent you to this outfit. First Halberdier I've had through my hands. What have you been up to?"

He studied the file in which was recorded all Guy's official biography of the last four years.

"Age," said Guy.

"Thirty-nine, just rising forty. Yes, that's old for your rank. You're back to captain now of course. Well all I can offer at the moment is a security job at Aden and almoner at a civilian hospital. I don't suppose either particularly appeals to you?"