Escape from Chakdara

Sgt. Crood failed to mention one important member of the Chakdara garrison: the detachment's Bhisti, Dirka Grim...

After the fall of Chakdara Outpost, Dirka Grim joined Sgt. Crood and his 4 surviving men on a desperate bid to make it back to British lines, following the road along the Swat River...

They did their best to stay out of sight whenever any locals were about, but failed once and were spotted by some children at play across the river...

Where the river turns West, the party took the fork in the road to head South towards the Malakand Pass...

Dirka Grim took care to refill his water supply before his path parted ways with the river...

To reach their destination they had no choice but to move through the small town of Kabal...

They waited until dusk, then silently slipped down the one deserted street, Sgt. Crood sending Dirka to scout ahead, seeing how his appearance -- though slightly out of place -- would attract far less attention than the rest of them...

They made it through Kabal safe and sound, then struck into the mountains proper, keeping to the shadows and mostly moving after dark to remain hidden from any prying eyes...

The next morning they came to the last stretch of Rocky Mountain before the Malakand Pass itself, at which time Sgt. Crood once again called on Dirka Grim to do a bit of reconnoiterin'...

Oddly enough, despite his one step above Untouchable status, deep down inside Dirka Grim had always fancied himself a soldier, so he did not hesitate to scout top the mountainside and ascertain if the coast was clear...

Which as it turned out it was not.

There was a Tribal loiterer of undetermined attitude athwart the path...

This Johnny Pathan fellow turned 'round...

To confront Dirka Grim...

Accused him of being an idol-worshipping Infidel...

INFIDEL!!!

And signaled an attack...

In keeping with the hallowed ways of the ONE TRUE TEXT -- AKA: The Sword And The Flame -- a MOVEMENT CARD was flipped...

RED = British, which in this case was Dirka Grim. 

Dirka Grim had been secretly hoping and praying for this moment to come for the past decade at least, since he first began earning his salt from the Great White Queen...

But Johnny Pathan was a skilled combat veteran, so...

It was deemed an equal fight, MELEE DIE vs. MELEE DIE...

(Keep It Simple Sahib)

High rolls wins, low roll determines combat result for the loser...

Dirka Grimm was victorious.

Barely so, but sweet victory nonetheless.

With his losing result of "1" Johnny Pathan was dead.

And May Allah Have Mercy on His Soul.

Dirka Grim climbed the last stretch of mountain...

To see what he could see..

You're a better than I am, Dirka Grim...

You was spotted by Trevelyan of the 9th Gurkhas 

When he'd just crowned the heights of Malakand Pass

Johnny Pathan for sure is who he thought you

'Til you whipped out your bugle and blew it fast.

Royal Engineers Bugler plays "Tattoo"

* * * * *

After hearing Dirka Grim's bugle call, Col. Trevelyan ordered his Gurkhas at the top of the pass to advance & provide force protection for the men he now expected to be returning to their "barracks" or lines... and right he was as Dirka Grim retraced his steps to the spot where he'd left Sgt. Crood and Co., joined them, and together they made for the Pass...

To Be Continued