'Orders。
'Information。 The battalion is now in transit between location A and location B。 This is a major L of C and is liable to bombing and gas attack from the enemy。
'Intention。 I intend to arrive at location B。
'Method。 Train will arrive at destination at approximately 2315 hours 。 。 。' and so on。
The sting came at the end under the heading； 'Administration'。 'C' pany； less one platoon； was to unload the train on arrival at the siding where three three…tonners would be available for moving all stores to a battalion dump in the new camp； work to continue until pleted； the remaining platoon was to find a guard on the dump and perimeter sentries for the camp area。
'Any questions？'
'Can we have an issue of cocoa for the working party？'
'No。 Any more questions？'
When I told the sergeant…major of these orders he said： 'Poor old 〃C〃 pany struck unlucky again'； and I knew this to be a reproach for my having antagonized the manding officer。
I told the platoon manders。
'I say；' said Hooper； 'it makes it awfully awkward with the chaps。 They'll be fairly browned off。 He always seems to pick on us for the dirty work。'
'You'll do guard。'
'Okeydoke。 But I say； how am I to find the perimeter in the dark？'
Shortly after blackout we were disturbed by an orderly making his way lugubriously down the length of the train with a rattle。 One of the more sophisticated sergeants called out 'Deuxieme service。'
'We are being sprayed with liquid mustard…gas；' I said。 'See that the windows are shut。' I then wrote a neat little situation report to say that there were no casualties and nothing had been contaminated； that men had been detailed to decontaminate the outside of the coach before detraining。 This seemed to satisfy the manding officer； for we heard no more from him。 After dark we all slept。
At last； very late； we came to our siding。 It was part of our training in security and active service conditions that we should eschew stations and platforms。 The drop from the running board to the cinder track made for disorder and breakages in the darkness。
'Fall in on the road below the embankment。 〃C〃 pany seems to be taking their time as usual； Captain Ryder。'
'Yes； sir。 We're having a little； difficulty。 with the bleach。'
'Bleach？'
'For decontaminating the outside of the coaches； sir。'
'Oh very conscientious； I'm sure。 Skip it and get a move on。'
By now my half…awake and sulky men were clattering into shape on the road。 Soon Hooper's platoon had marched off into the darkness； I found the lorries organized lines of men to ass the stores from hand to hand down the steep bank； and； presently； as they found themselves doing something with an apparent purpose in it； they got more cheerful。 I handled stores with them for the first half hour； then broke off to meet the pany second…in…mand who came down with the first returning truck。
'It's not a bad camp；' he reported； 'big private house with two or three lakes。 Looks as if we might get some duck if we're lucky。 Village with one pub and a post office。 No town within miles。 I've managed to get a hut between the two of us。'
By four in the morning the work was done。 I drove in the last lorry； through tortuous lanes where the overhanging boughs whipped the windscreen； somewhere we left the lane and turned into a drive； somewhere we reached an open space where two drives converged and a ring of storm lanterns marked the heap of stores。 Here we unloaded the truck and； at long last； followed the guides to our quarters； under a starless sky； with a fine drizzle of rain beginning now to fall。
I slept until my servant called me； rose wearily； dressed and shaved in silence。 It was not till I reached the door that I asked the second…in…mand； 'What's this place called？'
He told me and； on the instant； it was as though someone had switched off the wireless； and a voice that had been bawling in my ears； incessantly； fatuously； for days beyond number； had been suddenly cut short； an immense silence followed； empty at first； but gradually； as my outraged sense regained authority； full of a multitude of sweet and natural and long forgotten sounds： for he had spoken a name that was so familiar to me； a conjuror's name of such ancient power； that； at its mere sound； the phantoms of those haunted late years began to take flight。
Outside the hut I stood bemused。 The rain had ceased but the clouds hung low and heavy overhead。 It was a still morning and the smoke from the cookhouse rose straight to the leaden sky。 A cart…track； once metalled； then overgrown； now rutted and churned to mud； followed the contour of the hillside and dipped out of sight below； a knoll； and on either side of it lay the haphazard litter of corrugated iron； from which rose the rattle and chatter and whistling and catcalls； all the zoo…noises of the battalion beginning a new day。 Beyond and about us； more familiar still； lay an exquisite man…made landscape。 It was a sequestered place； enclosed and embraced in a single； winding valley。 Our camp lay along one gentle slope； opposite us the ground led； still unravished； to the neighbourly horizon； and between us flowed a stream … it was named the Bride and rose not two miles away at a farm called Bridesprings； where we used sometimes to walk to tea； it became a considerable river lower down before it joined the Avon … which had been dammed here to form three lakes； one no more than a wet slate among the reeds； but the others more spacious； reflecting the clouds and the mighty beeches at their margin。 The woods were all of oak and beech； the oak grey and bare； the beech faintly dusted with green by the breaking buds； they made a simple； carefully designed pattern with the green glades and the wide green spaces … Did the fallow deer graze here still？ … and； lest the eye wander aimlessly； a Doric temple stood by the water's edge； and an ivy…grown arch spanned the lowest of the connecting weirs。 All this had been planned and planted a century and a half ago so that； at about this date； it might be seen in its maturity； From where I stood the house was hidden by a green spur； but I knew well how and where it lay； couched among the lime trees like a hind in the bracken。
Hooper； came sidling up and greeted me with his much imitated but inimitable salute。 His face was grey from his night's vigil and he had not yet shaved。
'〃B〃 pany relieved us。 I've sent the chaps off to get cleaned up。'
'Good。'
'The house is up there； round the corner。'
〃Yes。' I said。
'Brigade Headquarters are ing there next week。 Great barrack of a place。 I've just had a snoop round。 Very ornate； I'd call it。 And a queer thing； there's a sort of R。C。 Church attached。 I looked in and there was a kind of service going on … just a padre and one old man。 I felt very awkward。 More in your line than mine。' Perhaps I seemed not to hear； in a final effort to excite my interest he said： 'There's a frightful great fountain； too； in front of the steps； all rocks and sort of carved animals。 You never saw such a thing。'
'Yes； Hooper； I did。 I've been here before。'
The words seemed to ring back to me enriched from the vaults of my dungeon。
'Oh well； you know all about it。 I'll go and get cleaned up。'
'I had been there before； I knew all about it。
BOOK ONE
ET IN ACARDIA EGO
＇1＇
'I HAVE been here before；' I said； I had been there before； first with Sebastian more than twenty years ago on a cloudless day in June； when the ditches were creamy with meadowsweet and the air heavy with all the scents of summer； it was a day of peculiar splendour； and though I had been there so often； in so many moods； it was to that first visit that my heart returned on this； my latest。
That day； too； I had e not knowing my destination。 It was Eights Week。 Oxford … submerged now and obliterated； irrecoverable as Lyonnesse； so quickly have the waters e flooding …in … Oxford； in those days； was still a city of aquatint。 In her spacious and quiet streets men walked and spoke as they had done in Newman's day； her autumnal mists； her grey springtime； and the rare glory of her summer days … such as that