October 3

11C, cloudy. Rained during the night.
Will go into Victoria and Colwood later today. Shopping for travel insurance - it is difficult to find at a good rate but no one should travel without it.

As I wind down the last few days of the Pearce family I reiterate that what has developed in this story is fiction, I think it may be interesting to perhaps explore a different parallel universe for them - a different path and outcome. I'll have to give some thought to that.

Once again I apologize for my actions.

 Yours Sincerely

John Pearce.

  The Colonel turned on his stool and surreptitiously wiped at his eyes. “Damn young fool, damn young fool, he muttered again.

Half an hour later the small convoy headed back down the track to the coast.

EPILOGUE

   Colonel Bromely stepped out of the army sedan and said to the driver, “You can go get yourself a tea, Corporal, but be back in hour.”

  The driver saluted, “Yes sir one hour sir.” He got back into the sedan and pulled out from the curb.

  The Colonel turned and entered the gate behind him and walked up the three stairs and rang the door buzzer. A moment later Jean Pearce threw open the door and cried, “Oh Colonel Bromely, I knew you’d come! Please do come in.”

  The Colonel removed his hat and stepped through the door, “You are looking very well my dear. Of course I have come and I am looking forward to meeting your young man.”

  She led him through into a sitting room, “Take a seat please, I’ll go and fetch us a cup of tea.”

  She turned quickly and went down the hall to where he knew the kitchen was located.  He had been coming here for three years now. In the beginning only a couple of times the first year, but since being reassigned to Aldershot the visits had become quite frequent and although the subject had never been broached, Jean had become the child he never had.

  In a few moments Jean returned with a tray with not only their tea but some squares that he knew from experience she had made herself.

  As she set down the tray she said over her shoulder, “Has there been anything any word?”

  This was the same question she asked every time in the first few minutes of every visit he had made in the last three years. His usual answer was “No sorry my girl nothing but those early raids.” This time he hesitated and when she looked up and stared straight into his eyes, he harrumphed, hesitated then said, “Well we have had some intelligence that there is a band of men who are showing up after many of the raids on villages and then sometime later there appears to be retaliation meted out. These instances are not confined to Somalia but have been in Kenya and lately as far away as the Congo.” He paused.

  “Yes go on, what has that to do with John?”

  “Well this band is made up of men from several of the territories which is quite unusual and, there is a rumour they are led by a white man.”