Simon Called Peter eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 447 pages of information about Simon Called Peter.

Simon Called Peter eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 447 pages of information about Simon Called Peter.

There came a knock at the door, and the tea came in.  With it was a folded note.  “Came last night, sir, but you was out,” said the man.  He collected his master’s tunic and boots, and departed.

Peter opened the note and swore definitely and unclerically when he had read it.  It was from some unknown person, who signed himself as Acting Assistant Chaplain-General, to the effect that he was to be moved to another base, and that as the A.C.G. was temporarily on leave, he had better apply to the Colonel of his own group for the necessary movement order.  On the whole this was unintelligible to Peter, but he was already learning that there was no need to worry about that, for somebody would be able to read the riddle.  What annoyed him was the fact that he had got to move just as he was settling down.  It was certainly a matter for another cigarette, and as he lit it he perceived one gleam of sunshine:  he need worry no more about the fish.

Peter waited till Harold had finished his breakfast before he imparted the news to the world a couple of hours or so later.  “I say, skipper,” he said, “I’ve got to quit.”

“What, padre?  Oh, hang it all, no, man!  You’ve only just taken on the mess secretary’s job, and you aren’t doing it any too badly either.  You can’t go, old dear.”

“I must.  Some blighter’s written from the A.C.G.’s office, and I’ve got to get a movement order from the Colonel of the group, whatever that means.  But I suppose you can put me straight about that, anyway.”

“Sure thing.  Come up to the orderly-room ’bout eleven, and you can fill up the chit and I’ll fire it in for you.  It’s only a matter of form.  It goes through to Colonel Lear at La Croisset.  Where to?”

Peter told him moodily.

“Eh?” said Harold.  “Well, you can cheer up about that.  Havre’s not at all a bad place.  There are some decent shows about there and some very decent people.  What you got to do?”

“I don’t know; I suppose I shall find out when I get there.  But I don’t care what it’s like.  It’s vile having to leave just now, when I’m getting straight.  And what’ll you do for a four at bridge?”

Harold got up and fumbled in his pockets.  As usual, there was nothing there.  “Why that damned batman of mine won’t put my case in my pocket I can’t think,” he said.  “I’ll have to fire the blighter, though he is T.T. and used to be a P. and O. steward.  Give me a fag, somebody.  Thanks.  Well, padre, it’s no use grousing.  It’s a beastly old war, and you’re in the blinkin’ British Army, me lad.  Drop in at eleven, then.  Cheerio till then.”

At eleven Peter found Harold signing papers.  He glanced up.  “Oh, sergeant,” he said, “give Captain Graham a Movement Order Application Form, will you?  Sit down, padre; there’s a pen there.”

Peter wrestled with the form, which looked quite pretty when it was done.  Harold endorsed it.  “Fire this through to the orderly-room, 10th Group, sergeant,” he said, and rose wearily.  “Come along, padre,” he said:  “I’ve got to go round the camp, and you can come too, if you’ve nothing better to do.”

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Simon Called Peter from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.