Austerlitz

Prologue-Part Four

Part four

Alain arrived back at his tent just as the sun began to meet the horizon; he ducked his head under the flap and quickly headed over to his bunk, only a few of the fusiliers were in at that time and none paid the young soldier any attention. Carefully Alain began to fold his uniform and put it into his equipment bag along with his other belongings; he hadn’t brought much with him after his uncle had explained the thievery that went on in the army so he was soon finished packing.

The only thing he had left on his bed was his thick leather riding coat as the weather had suddenly taken a turn for the worst and he could hear the harsh rain beating down on the canvas roof just inches from his head. He scanned around the tent for Valentin but the man was nowhere to be seen, he quickly asked one of the men reclining in their bunks but just received a murmured ‘no idea’ as the man scowled and went back to his sulking. Alain sighed and sat down on his bunk his, boots scraping the floor; he’d just have to wait for his friend here. Time passed ever so slowly and Alain was struggling to find a way to entertain himself, he slipped his hand into his bag to try and find a pack of cards making a deal of noise in the process another glare from the soldier across from him stopped him in his tracks so he hastily retrieved his hand and went back to being bored.

It wasn’t long before he could stand it no more, but luckily the tent flap was thrown open and Valentin came through his face red with excitement, Alain quickly stood up to talk to him.

“Valentin we need to talk, I have something impor...” he was cut short as the big man exploded into a flurry of animated words.

“Wait I have something better, I was called over to command headquarters just now and I received orders that I am to be transferred to a Grenadier battalion, apparently some of the Drill Sergeants put in a good word about me and I’m heading over there tomorrow to start training!”

“I’m sorry what?” Alain said as his brain worked overtime to process this sudden outburst.

“I’m a Grenadier from now onwards!” The man boomed.

“Fantastic...amazing, I’m very happy for you!” Alain replied ecstatic to see his friend so elated.

“Now what were you going to tell me?”

“Ah yes...I’ve been accepted into one of the Voltigeur battalions!” His voice now just as excited as Valentin’s.

“This is great news, we both have the postings we wanted, we won’t be fighting alongside each other on the battlefield but at least our units should be supporting each other”

The tent flap fluttered and Alain caught sight of the sun just beginning to disappear over the horizon and panic filled him, he was late, to his first posting, he’d completely forgot. He cursed under his breath before heaving his bag onto his shoulder.

“Where are you off to?”Valentin said his face a look of confusion.

“I’m late, the Drill Sergeant is going to have my guts for garters” He grinned at his friend who immediately broke into laughter.

“Well you best be off...Voltigeur Private Dubois or you’re not going to be one for very long!” Valentin roared before pushing his friend out of the tent “Run if you know what’s good for you...run for God’s sake man!”

Alain gave his friend a gentle punch before sprinting off into the rain, his riding cap fluttering about him in the wind, although he was about to receive a severe telling off, he didn’t care, both of them had achieved what they had set out to achieve. The soft ground squelched under his heavy boots as he began to near the West side of the camp, before he quite made it a strong hand grabbed his collar and Alain began to choke from both the pressure on his neck and the shock.

“Now sonny, did you think it would be a good idea to play a joke on your Drill Sergeant or are you that incompetent that you managed to get lost on the way here! I’ve been stood in this freezing cold for well over an hour waiting for you, a pathetic excuse for a soldier! Now which one is it disobedience or incompetence!? The man demanded his eyes a blaze with fury.

“I...I...I’m very sorry sir I was sidetracked I di...” Alain sputtered through the man’s firm hold on his neck.

“Sidetracked were we? Well what could have been more important than getting to your new posting boy?”   The Sergeant yelled as he roughly shook Alain, he couldn’t help but smile slightly as the boy’s head flopped around under the force.

“N...Nothing sir it doesn’t matter anymore”

“Good and let’s have none of this business again shall we or I swear I will have you on a charge! Now get to tent 6C at the double!”

The Drill Sergeant broke down into hysterics as the boy hurried off into the maze of tents, the fear on recruits’ faces never ceased to amuse him and the sheer terror on this one’s was just too much for him to bear. One always turned up late and he’d perfected his methods of intimidation over years of practise, other than his amusement one other thing also always came from it, the boy would never be late again.

“Stop terrorising recruits Guillaume and get in here it’s your turn to deal and we’re tired of waiting”

The Drill Sergeant wiped away a tear of laughter and stretched his back before heading back into the warmth of the officer’s mess hall with a smile still dancing on his lips.