The two gangs of men had been instructed to take a substantial meal then rejoin him at the hutments. When they did, those among them who were domaciled (‘quartered’ imparted a whiff of impermanence) in the storied bothies poignantly carried a single suitcase into the largest hut used for storage.
They would lose much of what possessions they had. Longest serving were Roland and Guy. They were settled in Polloch and would lose all but the content of their suitcases. Those later arrivals, such as Ruairidh, Blue and George had travelled light when they came to the cantonment. Like most newcomers, they had left behind anything they considered to be non-essential, and been adding to their available stock as experience demanded or sentiment urged. They would lose least.
A thickening pall of smoke hung ever closer and began to dull the sun. The pungent odour of wood smoke stung at nostrils and reddened eyes. The men had breakfasted. Excepting those still setting up a pump at the storage tank, they uneasily waited in little fidgeting knots around their vehicles.
Mackinnon walked up to the groups. “Might as well distribute the beaters among you, they’re piled in that lorry over there,” and he nodded towards a Commission wagon.
Robbie’s crew went back to search out and remove calor gas canisters at the bothies and observed deer emerging from stands of pine close to No1 and skittishly edging along the fringe of trees.
Blue put down an empty cylinder he was carrying from No4 and rubbed at his beard. “The bloody animals have more sense than we do. They’re getting out of here.”
Mackinnon, also unable to settle down to wait, walked into the principal storeroom. He noted that twenty or so suitcases were stacked neatly, and rehearsed in his mind the firefighting measures he had preplanned. They had considered the proximity of Polloch to the forest in the event of fire. What had been omitted? You never thought of every eventuality. Seeking new inspiration he glanced around and behind his eyes felt a dull shock as he read the white label on the side of an opened cardboard box:
25KG
MECH. GALV.
ROUND WIRE NAILS
125 X 5.00
BS1202 Part 1