The Uncertain Years (20 page)

‘You do like to get yourself into dangerous situations, don’t you?’

Will’s eyes shot open, a slow smile crossing his face as he took the bottle being held out to him. ‘That’s rich coming from you. How are you, Colonel?’

‘Tired, like everyone else.’ He held out his hand to pull Will to his feet. ‘I’ll find you somewhere more comfortable to rest.’

‘You haven’t by any chance got a nice communications centre set up yet, have you? My portable has packed up.’ Will gathered up his equipment, and began walking beside Colonel Hammond.

David studied the boy beside him and was impressed. ‘Have you carried that lot all the way?’

‘I needed it.’

‘I know the armoured division offered you a lift, so why didn’t you take it?’

‘I wanted to be with the foot soldiers,’ he said simply.

‘Hmm, I can see where your sister gets her determination from. I saw her briefly before I left.’

‘Did you? How was she?’

‘Too sensible for my good,’ David said wryly.

Will gave him a puzzled glance. ‘Don’t you mean too sensible for her own good?’

‘I know what I mean. Here you are, this is the communications centre you asked for. When you’ve finished what you have to do come to that house across the road and I’ll find you somewhere to sleep.’

‘Thanks, Colonel.’ Will watched the tall man walk away, still trying to work out what he’d meant. It sounded
as if he was having trouble with Becky, and that didn’t surprise him too much. Once she made up her mind about something it was hard work making her change it. He’d love to know what was going on between them though.

An hour later Will stepped out of the communications post and saw Jim striding towards him.

‘Ah, I thought I’d find you here. If you’ve finished all your business I think it’s time for a couple of drinks.’

‘Good idea. I’m as dry as a bone. I’ve been offered a place to sleep over there, so let me dump my gear and you can lead me to the beer.’

Churchill had ordered the church bells to be rung in London to celebrate the victory at El Alamein. Fortunately Becky had been in town that day, and to hear the chimes that had remained silent since the start of the war brought a smile to her face. Rommel had been defeated in North Africa and was in full retreat.

She sang happily to herself as she packed her bag for seven days’ leave. Although the triumph at El Alamein had been two weeks ago, they would still celebrate because her brother had just arrived home. She knew from the news reports that he had been there, and she could not wait to hear all about it from him, first-hand. He would be able to tell them things that he couldn’t put in the official reports.

‘You off then?’ Alice looked in the door. ‘Have you got a lift?’

‘No, I’m going by train. I’m sorry you can’t come as well. Will would love to have seen you.’

‘You tell him well done from me, and we’ll try to meet up sometime soon.’

‘I will.’ Becky glanced at her watch, grabbed her bag and headed for the door. ‘I’ll have to hurry or I’ll miss the train. See you when I get back.’

‘Bye then, have a good time!’

The station had been packed with service men and women, and when they all crammed into the train, it had been a job to shut the doors. Becky had had to stand all the way, but that wasn’t unusual. The trains could be few and far between, so when one came along you had to get on it no matter how crowded, in case there was a long wait for another one.

As she walked up her road she saw two soldiers studying a map. They kept looking at her house and talking animatedly.

‘Can I help you?’ she asked when she reached them. ‘Are you lost?’

They spun round to face her. ‘Ah, no, we think we’re in the right place.’ One of them held out a piece of paper for her to see. ‘Is this the right address?’

She recognised Bob’s writing and smiled at the two Americans. ‘Are you Greg and Hal by any chance?’

‘We sure are.’ They stared at her for a moment, then Hal exclaimed, ‘Gee, you must be Becky, Will’s sister. You look just like him.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you.’

Greg beamed in delight. ‘Bob told us we could call on your folks, but we ain’t sure about going in. Is it all right?’

‘Of course it is, and you’re in luck because my brother’s at home right now.’

‘Oh, wow, we sure picked the right day.’ Hal relieved her of her kitbag, and they started to walk up the path just as the front door swung open.

‘Hey, Will!’ The two Americans rushed to greet him, talking excitedly.

‘Come in! Mum’s got the kettle on already.’

Becky followed, and as soon as she could get near her brother she hugged him. He looked thinner, but tanned and clearly healthy. ‘Alice is sorry she couldn’t come as well, but she said to tell you well done, and that goes for me as well. I’m so proud to have a famous brother.’

He kissed her cheek, laughing. ‘You do exaggerate at times, Becky. I’m only one of many war correspondents.’

‘I know, but you’re the one I notice.’

With his arm around her shoulder they walked into the kitchen where the Americans were already sitting at the table with her parents and Bob’s. They were looking a bit doubtful about the steaming cups of tea in front of them.

‘Haven’t you got used to our national drink yet?’ Will asked.

‘It’s taking time.’ Greg reached for the sugar, but Becky stopped him. ‘Try drinking it without sugar and see if you like it better.’

‘Can you do that?’ When Becky nodded Greg took a doubtful sip, then another. ‘Hey, that’s better. You try it, Hal.’

Becky and her family watched with amusement as the Americans tried to decide if tea tasted better with or without
sugar. Finally, it was decided that Greg preferred it without, but Hal needed the sweetness to make it palatable. It was obvious they still didn’t like it much, but were too polite to refuse. After giving their heartfelt thanks to everyone for allowing them to visit, they turned their attention to Will.

‘How’s Bob, Will? I’ve had a couple of letters from him, and would sure like to see him again.’ Greg took another sip of tea and managed not to grimace.

‘He’s fine, as far as I know. When I went out to North Africa we had an escort, and I wondered if it was Bob’s ship, but I didn’t know the name of the one he’s on now, and they were gone as soon as we arrived.’

‘We’ve been following the desert action,’ Hal told him, concern written all over his face. ‘And you were in the thick of it. Man, you do like to frighten everyone, don’t you?’

‘I was all right, Hal.’ Will smiled. ‘And it was the only way to get the story I wanted.’

‘Well, we hope you’re going to be with us when we go into Germany, because you’ve got a charmed life, pal.’

‘I’ll have to go where they send me, but I’ll keep an eye open for you both. How are you settling down in this country?’

‘We’re OK. The people in the village were wary of us at first, but they’re friendly when you get to know them.’ Greg pulled a face. ‘Some of the guys can get a bit loud at times, but they don’t mean no harm. Me and Hal get on fine though, and some of the local kids are teaching us how to play your football.’

Hal laughed. ‘When I picked up the ball and ran with it they said I was playing rugby. We’ve thrown a couple
of parties for them, and you ought to see their little faces when they see so much food. It’s good to give them a treat.’

‘That’s kind of you.’ Becky’s mother refilled their cups. ‘I’m sorry we haven’t got coffee for you, but have a biscuit with that, it might help – and you must stay for lunch. I’m sure you’d like to have a long chat with Will.’

‘Oh, thanks, ma’am, but we can’t eat your food. You don’t have enough for yourselves.’ Greg reached for a bag he’d put on the floor and tipped it out on the table. ‘We brought you this.’

Hal began riffling through his many pockets and brought out several packets, putting them on the now large heap in the middle of the table.

‘My goodness!’ Bob’s mother exclaimed. ‘We can’t take all that. It’s far too much.’

‘Sure you can, ma’am.’ Greg looked around at everyone. ‘Some of us were real scared about coming over here. We’d heard such tales about the war. We expected to find a country in ruins with the people demoralised, and it was only when we met Will and Bob on the
Queen Mary
we realised we were wrong. Sure, London and other cities have taken a terrible pounding, but everyone still knows how to smile. And we don’t know how you manage on the small rations you’re given, but you do. When we write home we tell them exactly what it’s like here, and how nothing is wasted because it costs lives to get the shipments through. We also tell them about the funny things that happen to us, and what a beautiful country this is.’

‘That’s right.’ Hal nodded in agreement. ‘I told my folks that when this war’s over they’ve got to come and see
England for themselves, and meet some of the fine people we’ve come to know. Bob and Will were real good to us. They took the time to talk and explain how things really were. But do you know what impressed us the most?’

They all shook their heads, fascinated by the American accent.

‘Bob and his pals had been torpedoed, left adrift in an open boat for a long time, but they couldn’t wait to get their hands on the bastards – pardon the language,’ he apologised. ‘They were on a boat again, and they weren’t afraid! That sure as hell made us think.’

‘Yeah,’ Greg said. ‘We really appreciated them taking the trouble to put us at ease. And to you for welcoming us into your home, so you take the food, OK? We don’t expect you to feed two hungry Americans without a contribution from us.’

‘Well, thank you.’ Becky’s father smiled. ‘And we’re delighted to meet you at last. You’re welcome to come here any time you feel like it.’

‘Thanks, sir. We’d like to visit when we can.’ Greg watched the women begin to gather up the food and gave a satisfied nod, then he turned his attention to Will. ‘So what was it like in the desert?’

‘Hot.’ Will grinned at his sister. ‘I met Jim out there.’

‘Oh, how is he?’ Becky spoke for the first time after letting the Americans talk as much as they wanted to. They were obviously so happy to see her brother again that she had resisted the urge to interrupt.

‘He’s fine, but you ought to see the group he’s with. They have a fierce reputation.’ Will had them all roaring with
laughter as he told them what the sergeant had said about approaching them with caution. ‘He was exaggerating, of course, but try as I might, I couldn’t get Jim or any of the others to talk. After El Alamein had been taken, Jim and his mates invited me to join them for a drink, and what a night that was. Then when your colonel came in with the Special Forces commander, the drink really began to flow.’

‘David was there?’ Becky rounded on her brother. ‘Why didn’t you tell me that before?’

‘I was saving that piece of information.’ A wide grin spread across Will’s face. ‘Boy, can he hold his drink, and that man is just as tough as Jim and his group.’

Becky slumped in the chair. ‘Well it sounds as if he’s all right then. You must write to his parents and let them know you saw him out there. It will make Sara happy to know her father’s all right.’

‘I’ve already written a letter, but I only posted it yesterday.’

‘Thanks, Will. I’ll go and see them as soon as I can.’

Bill Adams glanced at the clock. ‘The pub’s open now, so why don’t we go and have a drink while the women see about lunch?’

The men all began to stand up, nodding in agreement, and Becky was about to do the same when her mother touched her arm, shaking her head.

‘Let them go on their own,’ her mother said softly.

‘Oh, of course.’ Becky sat down again quickly. ‘I’m so used to going everywhere with the boys that I forget I’m a girl sometimes.’

‘We’ll be back in a couple of hours,’ Bill told his wife.

They all filed out of the room with the Americans smiling, delighted to be going with the men to the local pub.

When they’d gone, Becky’s mother said, ‘It isn’t that they wouldn’t want you with them, dear, but with all men together they can talk freely.’

‘I understand, Mum. What do you think of the Americans?’

‘They’re nice boys, and so polite. It must be hard for them so far away from home.’

‘They’re bound to miss their families, just as we miss our boys. Perhaps we could ask them to join us for Christmas. They might enjoy being with a family,’ Bob’s mother suggested.

‘That’s a good idea, Sal. Now, let’s get on with the meal. They’ll be starving when they get back.’

Greg and Hal stayed until early evening, reluctant to leave the family atmosphere. Just before they left, Becky’s mother invited them for Christmas if they could make it. They accepted with enthusiasm, shaking hands with everyone and thanking them all for a lovely day.

The men went with them to make sure they caught the right train, and Becky was able to relax with a nice cup of tea as she waited for her brother. She had so many questions to ask him about Jim and David.

‘Those boys seem to really like Will and Bob, don’t they?’ Bob’s mother said as she sat down with a sigh of relief after a busy day.

‘I expect it’s because our boys took the trouble to be friendly when they were coming over. They must have
wondered what on earth they were going to find when they arrived.’ Mavis Adams sat down with them, her eyes showing sadness. ‘When I watched the youngsters laughing and joking today I couldn’t help wondering what horrors they were going to face when the push to defeat Germany begins.’

‘I don’t think it will be for a while yet,’ Becky said. ‘We’re nowhere near ready.’

The men walked in as they were talking and Will immediately picked up on the conversation. ‘Becky’s right. A move won’t be made until they’re sure of success. It will have to be decisive because they won’t want another Dunkirk.’

‘And it will be a long and bloody battle,’ Bob’s father said grimly. ‘When it does begin I’ll be quite relieved that Bob’s at sea and not fighting over land. Hitler won’t give in easily, and the Allies want total surrender.’

Becky waited patiently as they all discussed the war, and when everyone except Will had retired for the night, she turned eagerly to him. ‘Now you can tell me all about North Africa – and Jim and David.’

For the next hour she listened, entranced, to Will’s detailed account of the attack for El Alamein, and his meeting with their friend and the colonel, as he always called him.

It had been a lovely week, and twice Will and Becky had persuaded the parents to come dancing. It had been wonderful to dance with her father again, and she was the teacher this time as she showed him how to jive. He quickly
picked it up, and soon Bob’s parents were also having a go. They laughed until their sides ached, and they decided to bring Greg and Hal if they managed to visit for Christmas.

Becky left early on her last day because she wanted to call in on the Hammonds before reporting back after her leave.

Sara and the dog came running out to meet her before she had even reached the top of the driveway. The little girl was growing fast and attending a junior school now. She braced herself for the enthusiastic welcome she knew was coming.

‘Rebecca!’ The girl threw herself at Becky, and the dog wasn’t going to be left out. ‘We’ve had a letter from your brother. There was a note inside just for me, and I could read it without any help.’

‘Well done. He told me he’d written to you.’ She finally freed herself, laughing at the dog’s determination to play with her. There was a pang of sadness as she took hold of Sara’s hand. She loved the little girl, but it would be wrong to enter into a marriage just because of that. In fact it could turn out to be disastrous. A one-sided love was not a strong enough foundation, and without love on both sides the marriage would eventually crumble.

Mr Hammond was waiting at the door for them. He called off the dog, and smiled. ‘How lovely to see you, Rebecca. Come in and join us; we’re about to have lunch.’

‘We’ve had a letter from Will,’ Mrs Hammond told her after kissing her cheek.