The deal between Baz Taylor and Strut Stowers had been seamlessly sealed over one quick phone call several days previously. Baz had needed no sales pitch at all; Strut had recognised in an instant the profit that was to be made from his own troops and also those of Company A. There was barely a man among the lot of them who wouldn’t be willing to pay top dollar for the sort of heavy-duty hooch that would alleviate their boredom.

‘You can add your own agent’s commission of course,’ Baz had said after naming his price.

And of course Strut had. He’d also added the commission he intended to pay the four corporals who would act on his behalf, two men from each company. They would collect the money from the troops and deliver it to him. One of them would then collect the four crates of liquor that Baz would leave stowed in the stables of the old Parslow property on Friday afternoon.

Strut had been selective in his choice of deputies, opting not only for men with an eye to the main chance, but those who would recognise his gratitude if they kept his involvement to themselves. He didn’t trust them, Strut Stowers trusted no-one, but as a powerful figure who worked the system to his own advantage, there were always those who knew how very useful he could be to them, and alternatively what a threat he could prove to those who crossed him.

‘All the boys know the booze comes from Baz Taylor,’ he’d said with a smile that was a mixture of friendliness and threat so typical of Strut, ‘no need for any further information to get around.’

The transaction had gone very smoothly. Strut was in possession of the money that had been collected, a sizeable amount indeed, half of which would duly be delivered to Baz, and the liquor supply had been picked up by one of the Company C privates, who, under Strut’s own orders had been sent off on a transport-delivery errand. The four crates of hooch were now sitting well out of sight under canvas tarpaulins in the corner of the rank-and-file mess tent.

The knowledge that a supply of hard liquor awaited them that night may have been enough to help some through yet another interminable day, but others were not so easily mollified.