MALVERN HILLS, ENGLAND APRIL 1878
“Jack! Jack!”
The shouted words barely penetrated the chaos. Jack saw only a confusing swirl of faces, British and Indian. He heard the crackle of flames and the snarl of fighting men, while a female voice screamed in the background. A man reared at him, teeth bared, eyes wide and a b****y tulwar in his hand. Jack scrabbled for his revolver, as the fear rose to choke him.
“You"ll not kill her, you bastard!” Jack felt he was moving in slow motion, as though the revolver was ten times its correct weight, while his attacker moved with the speed of a pouncing panther.
“Jack!” The voice was frantic now, and somebody was gripping his shoulder.
Jack lifted his revolver, aimed between the staring eyes, and pressed the trigger. Nothing happened. The revolver m
