"It sounds like the screenplay of one of those American war films."

"It's all perfectly true Sir. Cross my heart and hope to die."

"I believe you. I will speak to Private Larder next," Rushton got up. Alf sprang to his feet and stood to attention, "In the meantime if you would be good enough to draw the details of the P.O.W. camp, the hospital, any relevant details you can think of, numbers of men held, enemy numbers, anything at all. It would be very much appreciated."

"Do I consider it an order Sir?"

"No. No," Rushton said "Let's call it a favour. Sergeant Doyle you may step down."

Alf heard the words and understood them. He and Johnny were safe. He brought his right hand up and saluted. Rushton saluted back.

"Thank you sergeant that will be all for now. I will send for you later."

Alf was sitting in the mild afternoon sun sketching on paper details of the hospital and camp. He pencilled in the tents , guard house, latrines, boundaries, guard posts, enemy numbers and of those they guarded. He finished and checked over his work. Then satisfied he took a clean sheet of paper and began sketching details of the desert as he could remember it. Johnny approached from the side. Alf saw him coming out of the corner of his eye. He looked up and smiled.

"The Major said it was all right for us to talk."

"How long did he interrogate you?"

"A lot less than you. He asked me very direct questions, ideas that he could only have got from you. He seemed very happy with my answers. At one point he asked me if I was all right. I told him my head hurts which it does most days, in fact."

Alf studied the scars that had disfigured Johnny's face.

"They are looking much better."

"Their Doctor, Downing, said he'd seen worse. He thinks they'll fade over time."

"I hope so Johnny."

"Me too."

Johnny studied Alf's sketches. Then he grabbed a pencil.

"Here I think the mountains were biggera. More like this."

"You know I think you're right. You do some for a while."

Johnny began sketching as he remembered it.

"I saw more because I was looking out of the window. You were too busy flying the plane. It's a shame Kleber was killed. He wasn't a bad bloke."

"He was all right."

"I wonder where he came from. What his home was like. His wife, his family."

"Pretty much like everyone else's I expect. He was probably just keeping himself out of trouble as best he could. Spending his days flying his plane. No where near the front. Safe behind his side's lines dropping the General off. Never near danger. Always heavily escorted. He probably thought he'd never see any action or signs of danger. His wife was probably more at risk than he was."

"They buried him by his plane Alf, I saw them. They got spades and began digging him a hole."

"Poor sod. Stuck out here a thousand miles from home."

Johnny shuddered at the thought.

"Not me Alf. I want to be buried where I was born."

Alf watched Johnny as he sketched the desert.

"You're very good at drawing."

"I loved art as school. I wanted to be an artist but my parents owned a farm and I spent all of my time helping them."

"I know Johnny. You've told me many times before," Alf said not minding that he'd heard it all before.

"Do you think Margaret will still love me?" Johnny had tears in his eyes.

Alf was surprised to see his friend like this.

"Yes of course she will."

Johnny wiped away the tears.

"I mean when she sees my face," he lightly touched the scars.

"Yes of course she will."

Alf put his arm around Johnny and hugged him man to man.

The scars are getting better Johnny. You're still the man Margaret fell in love with."

Johnny dabbed at the tears with his fingertips. He started to laugh out of embarrassment.

"Look at me. The big, tough, war hero, crying."

Two days later a Jeep drove into the camp. It did a large turning circle and pulled up outside Rushton's tent. The Major came rushing out to greet the new officer. Colonel Thomas Higginbotham stood a head taller than the Major. At six feet six inches and well over two hundred pounds he was an imposing figure. He was also in a hurry. He always did everything as quickly as he could.

"Good morning Colonel," Rushton saluted.

"John how are things going?" Higginbotham asked as they shook hands.

"Very well Tom."

"Are the two engineers around? I will speak to them straight away."

"Of course sir. Doyle fetch Sergeant Dennis and Private Larder."

Two minutes later Alf and Johnny were standing before Colonel Tom Higginbotham. Rushton sat to the right. Doyle stood behind the engineers. Higginbotham looked the two of them up and down. Rather than tell the two of them to come back looking neater and smarter, he just glared at them and listened without interrupting as they once again told their story. He waited until Alf finished witha.

"a.And that's exactly what happened sir."

Higginbotham ran bits of what he'd heard through his mind, finally he turned to Rushton.

"John."

"It's an incredible story Sir."

"Yes. Outstanding soldiering gentlemen! I've come from H.Q. General Bernard Montgomery has heard of your story and has read Major Rushton's report."

Both Alf and Johnny stiffened to attention at the mention of Monty's name.

"Sergeant Dennis, yourself and Private Larder are to remain with the Long Range Desert Group until your unit can be re-located. Their exact whereabouts is not known at this time, but no matter, you will both be seconded to Major John Rushton here. Major Rushton will provide some tasks for you both. You will assist him in every way possible. Is that understood?"

"Yes Sir."

"Yes Sir."

'That's not so bad' Alf was thinking 'Could be weeks maybe even months. Working behind both friendly and enemy lines, new challenges, anything different to repairing roads, digging out abandoned vehicles or the very dangerous mines.

What Higginbotham said next brought Alf back.

"I beg your pardon Sir," Alf wasn't sure he'd heard right.

"You are promoted to Lieutenant. Did I not say it clearly enough?"

"Yes Sir. I'm justa.well I'm very surprised Sir that's all."

"The General wouldn't give you a commission if he didn't feel that it wasn't warranted. It's important to remember that. Your commission will start once you're back with your unit. For now here though you will carry the rank and privileges awarded you."

"Yes Sir. Thank you Sir."

Johnny wanted to shout with joy. His friend now an officer.

*Alf you deserve it'

"Private Larder."

"Yes Sir."

"Your unit is now missing a Sergeant."

Johnny hardly dared to breathe.

*Could it be, just could it be?'

"Are you ready to step up to the challenge Sergeant Larder?"

Johnny's face broke into a broad grin.

"Yes Sir."

"It's a big responsibility for a man your age. Are you quite sure you can handle it?"

"Yes Sir. I believe I'm the man you are looking for," Johnny's smile continued. All he could think of right now was about Margaret. Her fiance now a Sergeant. How proud she'd be on his arm when they walked into the pub.

"All relevant papers will arrive in due course. Your commission, yours too Sergeant."

Johnny could still hardly believe it. It was like he was in a dream. Soon he would wake up and be disappointed it wasn't real.

Higginbotham pushed his chair back and stood.

"Congratulations gentlemen and very well deserved."

"Thank you Sir."

They both saluted smartly.

"Now Major Rushton has something for you."

They waited patiently while Higginbotham left the tent.

"I'll need you both ready at dawn. We are to map an area to the North West around the town of Gabes. A total round trip of nearly two thousand miles. As for the rest of today," he tapped a crate with eight bottles of beer in it. Relax, enjoy the day, sorry they're not cold."

"Thank you Sir," they replied.

"I beg your pardon Sir," Alf wasn't sure he'd heard right.

"You are promoted to Lieutenant. Did I not say it clearly enough?"

"Yes Sir. I'm justa.well I'm very surprised Sir that's all."

"The General wouldn't give you a commission if he didn't feel that it wasn't warranted. It's important to remember that. Your commission will start once you're back with your unit. For now here though you will carry the rank and privileges awarded you."

"Yes Sir. Thank you Sir."

Johnny wanted to shout with joy. His friend now an officer.

*Alf you deserve it'

"Private Larder."

"Yes Sir."

"Your unit is now missing a Sergeant."

Johnny hardly dared to breathe.

*Could it be, just could it be?'

"Are you ready to step up to the challenge Sergeant Larder?"