Lazarus Rising Chapter 10 Part 4

Robert gently lay the officer back to the ground.
"Pardon me Lieutenant, be with you in a moment."
He turned back to the French and waved his rifle with the bayonet pointed towards them.
"A bayonet is a good weapon for close combat, but against two swords, maybe not that good." His tone changed to one that was more menacing. "I'm going to kill one of you" he told them, "before the other kills me. So who feels lucky?"
The soldiers looked at him blankly and while they were still trying to work out what he had said, he attacked.
He swung his rifle like a cricket bat and smashed it into the face on the soldier on his left, unseen by the other he had pulled the bayonet from the end of his rifle and with his left hand gripping the blade he spun round and plunged it deep into the throat of the soldier. A strange gurgling sound came from the Frenchman and blood burst from his mouth in a frothy foam.
The soldier who had been hit in the face recovered and swung his sword at Robert catching him on the side of the face. Luckily it was a glancing blow but the pain was extreme and Robert went down onto his knees. He looked up at the Frenchman who had lifted his sword again to deliver the killing blow and made a short, silent prayer.
The sword did not fall though because another sword had been pushed through the man from behind so that  the point was sticking from the mans chest. The French soldier collapsed to reveal the Lieutenant who had grabbed the other soldiers sword and saved his life.
'Thank you Sir, now can we go?"
"With pleasure corporal."
Picking up the officer again he surveyed the scene.
All the French were dead. Two of his men, Alf and young Brian were also dead. Alex was standing with the others.
"Lets go guys" Robert said.
"You OK, Robbie?' Alex asked
"Yes, you?"
"No, it's all my fault, I disobeyed the Lieutenants orders, lost all my men."
"Never ind that now, lets get off this bloody mountain. Paddy, help me with the Lieutenant."
The small band made their way down the mountain and in a few hours were back at their camp. A few hours later the British had their victory and the French had turned and ran. The Lieutenant survived but was sent home. He made two recommendations to the Colonel. That Alex should be demoted and punished for his lack of discipline that nearly cost them the battle and that Robert be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant immediately.
These two decisions would change both their lives forever. Alex was flogged and had his green jacket removed and put on punishment duty with the pretty red coat of an infantryman, Robert got his commission and replaced the man he had saved as the head of the unit.