The Hunt is Away
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
A light breeze made the mist, rising from the
ground, eddy and swirl, pushing cold damp fingers through the leaves and
branches of the trees and bushes. The sickle moon shone watery, intermittently
covered by black ribboned clouds. An owl hooted from a woods on the other side
of the estate then floated on silent wings to another copse of trees.
Two men crouched at the edge of the woods near a
high brick wall staring over well cut lawns to the big house. "You sure we
got the right 'ouse Len?"
"Sure I'm sure. The Guv said it was two miles
east of Ponds End on the old Post road an' this is the only place for miles
around. Now shut up an' let me concentrate."
Sid glanced at his companion shivering, "Cor,
it ain't 'arf cold an' me coats not warm enough."
"Um," Len only half listened. He was
intent on scanning the scene before him.
"Me old lady'll be arfter me if I catch me
death. Can't we go now?" Sid complained trying to stamp his feet quietly
and tucking his hands under his armpits.
"Stop rabbitin'. No we can't and we ain't. You
know wot the Guv is like. 'E'll 'ave our 'eads if we don't bring back the info
'e wants." Len rose to his feet. "Come on, Sid, a quick look-see at
the doors and winders then we'll push off."
They dashed across the lawn using the topiarys as
cover until they reached the house. Slowly they checked the doors and windows
looking for an easy way in. Glimmers of light showed on one side of the house
but the heavy draperies prevented them from seeing anything inside.
It was Sid who broke the silence after they returned
to their lorry parked in a field by the high brick wall. "Easy, Len. There
ain't nothin' t'it," he crowed.
Before he answered, Len turned the engine over,
concentrating on reaching the tarmac road. "Yeah. Easy t'get in, but wot
'bout owet. Remember we'll be luggin' a flamin' body, an' from wot I 'ear 'e
ain't no lightweight."
"We'll pick a dark night...late...when all them
servants'll be in bed an' asleep. That new gas'll keep 'im quiet enough. No
one'll be the wiser an' we'll be long scarppered before they know 'es
missin'."
"Um. I'd be a lot 'appier if I knew which room
'e slept in. Creepy places these old 'ouses."
"You ain't afraid o' a few ghosts are
you?" Sid grinned showing broken yellow teeth.
"It ain't ghosts I'm afraid of, it's runnin'
inta somebody wot ain't supposed to be there."
"No burglar alarm...nothin'. I tell you't be
easy, like pinchin' be'inds on a crowded street." Sid leaned back making
himself more comfortable. "Pull over at the next pub...I need a pint."
"Not bloody likely. You may be me best mate but
we ain't stoppin' 'til we get back to London. Country people notice and
remember strangers an' the Guv said to make ourselves invisible." To
emphasize his words he put his foot on the accelerator as they passed a pub at
the edge of the village.
(2)
The Elizabethan house in Buckinghamshire, set back
out of sight in its own extensive grounds was deserted except for two men
sitting in an island of light in one of the large rooms.
Porter, Chief of American Intelligence in Europe,
again studied the intercepted decoded messages from Vienna to London, placed on
his desk in chronological order. He read them to his colleague as he mused.
25/3/47 -MUST LOCATE HENRI BOLKONSKY. 6 FT 3 IN.,
BLACK HAIR, BLUE EYES, WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 150 LBS. THOUGHT TO BE STILL ALIVE.
CHECK HOSPITALS LONDON AREA. REPLY IMMEDIATELY. SONNETTE I.
28/3/47 - CANNOT LOCATE HENRI BOLKONSKY HOSPITALS
LONDON. NOT LISTED IN TELEPHONE BOOK. AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. SONNETTE IV.
28/3/47 - FAMILY HOME NEAR LONDON - KENT, BERKSHIRE,
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. PAUL BOLKONSKY MARRIED TO LADY ALICIA GRAFTON. CHECK FURTHER.
SONNETTE I
5/4/47 - A PRINCE BOLKONSKY AT KNOLLTREE HOUSE,
PONDS END, BERKSHIRE. AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. SONNETTE IV.
7/4/47 - SEND PLANS OF HOUSE, GARDENS, GUARDS,
ALARMS, NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HOUSE, MOVEMENTS AND/OR ROUTINE HENRI BOLKONSKY.
SONNETTE I.
"Hum! Don't like the smell of this, Bob. Who
the devil is this Bolkonsky?" Porter leaned his trim athletic body against
the back of his chair, tipping it slightly. Thick white hair framed a tanned
angular face. He spoke softly in a deep bass voice, one which he could control
to soothe or terrify.
Captain Robert Herring grinned. "The Devil himself when he wants to be. He was originally a Resistance fighte
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Book Details
About the Book
The Hunt is Away is set in England, France, Germany and
Austria, in the Spring of 1947/48.
Henri, a young former resistance leader, trained SOE and MI6 agent, is
caught in a political takeover of the Austrian government. Henri must try to evade a Communist faction
who are hunting him down headed by and old and trusted friend from his
resistance days. The faction has
kidnapped his young sister and his aunt.
The story revolves around the aunt’s rescue and the family’s search for
his sister. After years of independence
and command, Henri must resolve the conflicts arising between himself and his
uncle, the patriarch of the family; his inner conflicts between past and
present; family traditions and his own individualism. The story ends in divided Vienna with a confrontation between
Henri and his friend.
About the Author
D. Forrester Newhall was born and raised in San
Francisco. After graduating from Sarah
Dix Hamlin School, she went to San Mateo College majoring in English and
History. She lived in Europe for
fourteen years and traveled extensively throughout Europe as well as Greece,
Egypt, India, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. While living in England she wrote a number
of articles on Sighthounds, Coursing and Lure-coursing, which were published in
various English dog magazines. She
belonged to the Penman Club and the London Writer’s Circle in England