Spot. Me in the War - Part 6, The End?

Johnny was in a good mood. “Things going well, Del Boy” he said. I didn’t answer. I was still grieving over my dog Spot.

Daylight was fading fast as we came upon the village that had given Ginger refuge. Stumbling into the clearing we headed for the chiefs hut.

The Chief greeted us with the traditional hands together as though in prayer “Welcome to my humble Villager”. To my utter astonishment, when we entered the hut, there, as bold as brass, was Ginger.

“Hello, mate” I said “I thought you would have died”.

He smiled, “Not with this lot to look after me. What a people!” he said. “The Japanese came here yesterday looking for us. They hid me in the jungle whilst they talked to them. Do you know the so-and-sos tortured two of their old men to death and still they would not give me away.” He do you understand such people. I turned and looked at the Chief and he just smiled.

“You want some food, soldier man?” he said.

“No.” I replied “We have already taken enough from you”.

”No, no” he said “My people have a saying - the jungle is my friend and gives us everything we need, anything surplus has to be given back. You are now part of that jungle so we give it back to you.”

I smiled “That’s a good saying Chief. I thank you. We are humbled by your generosity”.

The twins surprised us by making boats from leaves for the Indian children to play with and you could hear their laughter from a way off. It was wonderful.

We stayed the night and left early the next morning complete with Ginger. “What a people” was all Ginger would say. I thought it was nice to meet half-decent human beings, despite the horrors of war. We made good progress all day and did not come up against any problems. One more day and we would be back.

And so it was the last day and fifteen miles from base. I was out in front as usual and the rest were about forty yards behind me. I felt good for the first time knowing that we only had a few miles to go. We charged through a particularly thick bit of foliage when, to our amazement, there before us were about a hundred Japs, all around a campsite and were appearing to upstakes and go looking for us. We hid back behind the thick covering leaves.

“We’re not going to make it now” I said.

“Why not” said Ginger “they don’t know we’re here. We can outrun them.”

“What, with him” I shouted. “Look at him!” The General was out on his feet. There was no way he was going to make it.

”I’ll stay and hold them back until you return with more men” said a voice behind me. It was Jinga.

“No” I said. “Out of the question.”

“look, you are not going to make it with him” he said, gesturing towards the General. “Give me those Tommy-guns the twins have and I can give you some time.”

“No.” I said

“There’s no other way” said Ginger. So that’s how it was, Jinga the Gurkha stayed behind. A braver man I have never met.

It was about an hour later when the firing started and lasted about an hour before it all went quiet. I just hope they didn’t take him alive, I thought.

Jinga’s brave act had given us the precious time we needed to get away. The day was drawing to a close and I was about to give the order to stop for the night, when from the jungle in front of me came a deep growl. “Christ” I thought. This is all I need, a big cat or something”. It could be a Jaguar or Leopard. I went to get a close look to find out when they growling got even louder. There was something familiar about the sound of the growl.

“Spot” I said “Is that you?”

I at once told myself to get a grip. “You’re losing it” I told myself. Spot is dead! I took one more step. This time the growling got even louder and sounded so close. A cold shiver went down my spine.

”Spot, Spot”.

The growling continued without ceasing. I was riveted to the spot. I didn’t know what to do. It was at that moment, something made me look down at my feet. There, touching the toe of my right boot was a trip wire, attached to a land mine - booby traps. I gently pulled my food back and the growling stopped, as if by magic.

Now I know what you are thinking. It was an animal that was in the jungle growling, but I think it was Spot. He had come back to save me. That’s the sort of dog he was.

And so my story ends. The next morning we made our way back to camp.

Captain Wilson walked passed me and said “You took your time Everard”. That was the only comment he made.

“Sir” was the only comment I made.

If you are ever in Winchester, Hampshire (England), go along to the Gurkha Museum. You will see a man called Jinga Mendhasa who was awarded the Burmese Cross for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. Also, somewhere in the Malayan jungle there lies a small mound of earth with a dog collar on it.

This story is dedicated to that soldier - SPOT.

Written By: Gamestar
Edited By: mageman
Coded By: Gamestar