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Chapter 38
The Shorb
Until today, Major Hastings had never met MaxChaos. However, the docker’s legendary reputation has preceded him. The stories of the long haired hippy with the flaming arrows, the explosives hobby, and some wolf trading skills mean that the civilian MaxChaos is now an occasional topic of conversation in the Garrison. Major Hastings is shocked to see that the untidy hair and the straggly beard match the stories. Aside from the fact that he’s big and strong, the Major can’t work out why his boss would have suggested giving MaxChaos a few days work under the auspices of the Garrison. Especially as he’s a school drop out!
Major Hastings is the quintessential commissioned officer, a forty something man forged in the crucible of the infantry and tempered by an uncompromising devotion to the trinity of discipline, physical vigour, and absolute obedience. To the raw recruits in Lancaster, he’s the formidable arbiter of their endurance, the officer in charge of Physical Training whose shadow alone seems to stiffen spines and silence dissent.
Yet, there exists a curious duality in the Major’s constitution. When the sun dips low over the pitch, he assumes his mantle as President of Lancaster Cricket Club. The iron jawed disciplinarian can give way to a figure of unexpected gentility. In a sporting arena, the brutal pragmatism of the parade ground or the rugged chaos of battle find no purchase. Instead, he governs with a quiet, fastidious grace, conducting all affairs by the exacting ethics and the venerable laws of the game, ensuring that in peacetime, everything is done strictly in accordance with the rules of cricket.
However, to MaxChaos Major Hastings looks and sounds like a school teacher, like Mr Rigby, his old PE teacher, only ten times worse!
“Stay out of my hair!” says the Major, “I’ve found you these two civilians to work with, OverGroan and Vortex are
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