Skinner's festival

74

The corporal looked puzzled as he handed Skinner the whistle.

Skinner took it from him with a curt nod.

'Right, you all know me?'

'Sir!' said the corporal, speaking for all six men.; 'Major Ancram will have told you that you are rtow under my, command. What I want you to do is this: throw a guard around the Crown Square – that's the Great Hall, the Queen Anne Barracks, the War Memorial, and the Royal Palace. All the areas below will be empty by now, but there's nothing there that anyone would be after. What you must guard against is anyone or anything that shouldn't be there. The chances are that nothing unusual will happen, but if it does…'

He paused to let his words sink in, then went on. 'If any of you sees anything, and you don't know for sure it's friendly, don't ask I for its name, shoot it. If it turns out to be the regimental mascot, f or the RSM's tart, well, that'll be too bad, but they can both be replaced. Right, Corporal, get your men spread out.' He held up the whistle. 'I know it's old-fashioned, but if I need you, I'll blow this thing. If you hear it, regroup here, by the One O'clock Gun. If any of you need me, chances are I'll have heard you shoot!'