8C, overcast. Mostly rain yesterday.
Some getting ready stuff yesterday then into Victoria for a couple hours. Cloud burst on the way home..
The new car top carrier doesn't howl now; the strips of rubber fixed that.

When John crawled into his tent, he opened his duffle and took out a small flashlight and a note book then sorted out what he thought he would definitely need and repacked the bag. The holstered revolver he belted to his waist. Then by the light of the flash he wrote two letters and tied them to one of the strings of the tent flap. He then lay back fully clothed and watched the moonlight slowly spread across the tent roof.

  He lay there for almost a half hour, his mind churning with everything that had happened. Then suddenly, almost as if a switch had been clicked, his eyes closed and he slept.  He awoke with a start, he had no idea how long he had slept but as his mind cleared he realized there was only a faint glow of moonlight towards the river. He rose to his knees and peered out through the tent flap, about fifty yards away he could just make out the form of the sentry hunched under a small tree. As he watched the man stood up, stretched, took a couple of paces one way then the other then crouched down again.

  The only noise was the droning of insects and the hunting cry of a night bird somewhere in the distance. John sank back in a sitting position on the two blankets, then turning he opened his duffle bag and crammed in one of the blankets. He sat back once more.

  As the last of the moonlight faded he heard a light scratching at the end of the tent opposite to the flap. He whispered “Machrus?”

  A whispered reply came back, “Yes Jin, come now.”

  John lifted the back of the tent and dragging his duffle-bag, slithered out to where Machrus was squatting.

  The two crawled in the grass keeping the tent between themselves and the sentry. When they got down below the brow of the small hill, they rose to a crouching position and moved slowly on into the destroyed village and then out into the jungle beyond.

Chapter 11.

 Colonel Bromely quickly read the note that was brought to him, his face flushed and he muttered angrily; “Damn young fool, he will become the fifth one.” As he read on he shook his head in exasperation. “Not only does he run off but he wants me to be responsible for his sister as well.” He looked around at his men, “Sergeant! I presume there is no trace of them?”

  “Not really sir, a few marks in the grass where he crawled from the tent, then nothing.”

  The Colonel strode back and forth for a few seconds, “Very well men, eat, load up and we’ll be on our way. There is no point in looking if he’s with that black boy of his. Private Sanders, kindly bring me a cup of tea and a biscuit.” He turned, took a seat on a folding stool and took out the note again. Slowly he reread the note, taking the time to digest the words as he read.

  Dear Colonel Bromely: I have left with my friend Machrus, it is our objective to track down those who perpetrated the murder of my family, when we find them we shall mete out justice in a like manner. I sincerely apologize for the manner of my departure but I know you would have tried to prevent me from taking this action and that would have been awkward indeed.

I do have a favour to ask and I trust that you will put your undoubted anger aside and do your best to grant me this – I surmise sir that you are about the same age my father was, I understand that you have no wife and therefore unfamiliar with a parental role but I ask that if you could look in on my sister, Jean from time to time and see that she is coping and has not fallen victim to despair. We do have a maiden aunt who will provide needed comfort, but I would feel more comfortable if she could have some masculine guidance. I have included a separate paper which bequeaths to her any of my share of whatever estate there is of my parents (I am fully aware that I probably won’t survive this mission that I have undertaken). Curious isn’t it, my parents were on a mission also. As you may remember my sister is enrolled in a nursing program and it would be my wish that she switch to becoming a physician in memory of our father. She is a very intelligent person and would be fully capable of such a goal. I have also attached a private letter to Jean, I would be indebted to you to see to its delivery even if you cannot see your way clear to accept this burden I ask. I have printed out the addresses of both my Aunt and Jean on the reverse of this note.

Once again I apologize for my actions.

 Yours Sincerely

John Pearce.