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London! John was shocked when he first learned that his volunteer group was going to be sent back to the capital to receive additional training in tactics and survival. Yet, three weeks to the day after the announcement, Bates had found himself standing on British soil. The original timetable had been tossed aside as the high command realized that if they were going to be successful in infiltrating the enemy's ranks, it was necessary to give their men thorough training in the ways and culture of the Afrikaners. The speed at which the decision was made to move the training operation back to Britain and the men boarding the ships taking them home, left no time for John to write Vera and let her know of his new station. Though unsure how much leave he'd be getting when he'd arrived there, he hoped that once she knew he would be just a few miles of their home, she'd be willing to come visit him.

He'd written her upon his arrival in London, but had been transferred the next day to Sandhurst where tactics and additional study in language and culture were to be drilled into the volunteers until it was all automatic reactions for them to any situation. They would know what to do no matter what kind of danger they found themselves in. The goal was to make their responses second nature… no necessity to ponder what to do, which escape plan to use… automatic, that was the plan… when seconds could mean the difference between life and death, there was no room for doubt and less than a second to react.

It was late in the morning , the 4th week of their London schooling. The room was hot and stuffy and the officer in charge was droning on and on about the history of the First Boer War. John could feel his mind drifting to other things. He'd done his homework, already knew the history parts… As usual, when his mind started to wander his thoughts turned to his wife…

They'd been apart for so long. Bates tried unsuccessfully to fight off the physical reaction he had whenever the thought of Vera crossed his mind. He could picture her dark, raven colored tresses cascading down to the middle of her back. She wore it down at night. She knew how he loved to run his fingers through her hair, lightly tug on it when in the throes of making love… He loved the texture, the smell, the shine…the feel.

John jumped slightly, when he heard the screech of chalk upon the board. He suddenly recalled where he was… He felt his cheeks flush, and hoped none of the other men in the class had noticed. He felt a real kinship with these men. Being an only child, he often felt out of place when it came to the roughhousing and teasing that he's witnessed between other males while growing up. Joining the Army certainly helped rid him of his initial awkwardness. But these men were much more than mere comrades in arms. No they were like his brothers… and he'd die for them, just as he knew they would do the same for him.

Later that afternoon, he found himself outside on the parade grounds, the summer heat beating down on his body. He wished he could take off his shirt and use it to fan himself. The training had been hard, harder than the former batman had imagined. John stood in the middle of the training yard bent over at the waist, hands resting on his knees feeling the sweat pour down his face, forming a muddy puddle upon the sandy surface below him. He looked at the other eleven volunteers who had managed, like John, to gut their way through the brutal physical and mentally punishing selection process. Designed to root out those who lacked the crucial combination of brains and brawn needed to pull off their mission, at this moment the remaining dozen looked more likely to cough up a lung than stage a battlefield coup for the Queen and dear old England.

"All right men", training sergeant Fisk bellowed. "Form two lines over here. The Major wants to have a word with you all. The sooner you line up, the sooner the talk will be over and you'll be able to return to the barracks and cool off."

The two rows formed quickly and John found himself at the end of the back row. Looking down the line he observed he was the tallest of the lot and based on the physical trials they'd all been put through, the fittest. In hand to hand combat he'd easily defeated all of the men in this select group, and was also the best shot. It was widely believed by this special squad that Sgt. Bates would be one of the first men to be deployed into the Transvaal and embed himself within the Boer militia.

John spotted Major Dornan standing behind Fisk. Dornan was a highly decorated officer and John recalled him accompanying the General that had spoken at the front when they were initially looking for volunteers. He stepped gingerly around the training sergeant, looked up and down both lines then began to speak.

"First, I'd like to commend you all for volunteering for this dangerous mission. You dozen represent the finest, fittest and most thoroughly trained group of fighting soldiers in Her Majesty's Army. The Queen has asked me to impart to you all her heartfelt appreciation for your commitment to your country and wishes you all a safe return to your homes upon the successful completion of your mission. When I announce your names please step out of line, come forward and stand behind Sgt. Fisk. Smythe…..Doogan….Culver….…and….. Bates. The rest of you men can fallout and return to your barracks."

John was relieved that his name had been called to stand apart from the main group. He knew both Smythe and Doogan were exceptional soldiers and had both received sharpshooter status while training. Culver was more a middle of the pack fellow when it came to the physical training, but he was probably the smartest in the bunch, and possessed flawless language skills. The young private had been born in the Free Orange State, the son of British missionaries. John had sought him out as he worked to refine his Afrikaner accent and vocabulary and came to admire the fine mind and quick wit of Private Simon Culver.

As it was mid afternoon, the hottest time of the day, John found himself shifting his weight from one foot to the other anxious to hear why the four of them had been pulled aside from the others. He could feel the sweat trickle down his back, and found it distracting like a watery tickle. Hearing Major Dornan clear his throat, Bates focus switched to the officer and what his next order would be.

"You four represent the top third of our team and as such will be the first to deploy. Originally we had hoped for you to be in place by the end of the month, but there's been a decision from high command that we hold off until the entire group is mission ready."

A low grumble was heard coming from the men. They were trained and ready to go and resented having to wait for the rest of the command to catch up and be declared ready to infiltrate the enemy militia.

Dornan continued once the group settled down. "It has been decided that you men should have some reward for your dedication to duty and willingness to undergo the physical and mental demands this scheme has placed upon you. You've born the discomforts nobly and so Her Majesty has deemed to give you each a week's leave in London. It will go into effect at 06:00 tomorrow morning and you will be expected back in the barracks next Friday by 21:00. You are dismissed."

Bates couldn't believe his ears… leave…London…a whole week to spend with his wife! He smiled and joined in the celebration as his brothers whooped and hollered in appreciation of Her Majesty's gift to them all. John could feel the smile spread across his face, he couldn't control it. He decided right then not to tell Vera… He was going to surprise her. He imagined her reaction… She might even give a little scream when she saw him walk through the door, then run to his arms, pressing herself against him hard… her lips desperately searching for his…