The Codebreakers

by Alli Sinclair

  ‘The lady doth protest too much.’

  ‘Dinner is ready, girls,’ Mrs Hanley called from the kitchen.

  Ellie stifled a smile, happy she didn’t have to again explain why she and Louis Dutton would never be romantically inclined. No amount of wishing on Kat’s behalf would change the fact that Louis regarded Ellie as a kid sister. When her brother Robert had died in France fighting with the RAAF, Louis had taken it upon himself to regularly check in on her. She didn’t mind, as she found their friendship had a wonderful depth given their shared childhood experiences and fond memories. And Ellie loved that their conversations often led to reminiscing about her brother Robert and the antics they all got up to as kids.

  Ellie wiped away a tear. Two years had passed and the pain of losing her brother still hadn’t subsided. She doubted it ever would.

  In the kitchen, Kat was busy setting the table while Mrs Hanley poured boiling water from a saucepan into the sink. She tipped carrots and peas into a dish and placed it on the table.

  ‘My dear girl, you look exhausted.’ Mrs Hanley sat next to Ellie.

  ‘I’m fine, just a bit on my mind, that’s all.’ Ellie concentrated on spooning boiled vegetables onto her plate.

  ‘You girls work too hard,’ said Mrs Hanley.

  Ellie looked up. ‘We do what’s needed.’

  Mrs Hanley said, ‘I’m sure our boys appreciate the strong women keeping this country running while they’re away.’

  ‘I’d prefer them to be here.’ Kat pushed her food around with her fork. ‘It’s been two months since I’ve heard from Clifford.’

  Ellie tried to sound reassuring. ‘The mail has probably been delayed, like Louis’s letter.’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Mrs Hanley. ‘Just last week Mrs Lowrey next door was complaining about not hearing from her parents then four letters showed up on the same day.’

  ‘Who’s to say you won’t get twenty letters tomorrow?’ said Ellie.

  Kat forced a smile. ‘Thank you for trying.’ Her sigh was long. ‘I’d give anything to have him home safe.’

  ‘If only that were possible for every man in this terrible war.’ Mrs Hanley paused, took a deep breath and said, ‘Come on, let’s not dwell on things we can’t change in this minute. I’ve worked hard in my garden and over a hot stove to give you girls nourishment. Now, eat up!’

  They ate in silence, the grandfather clock ticking in the hallway. When Ellie had first moved into Mrs Hanley’s two years ago, the clock had kept her awake. Now it was a companion in the early hours of the morning when she was overcome with worry and fear for men like Robert and Kat’s fiancé Clifford.

  Ellie concentrated on dinner and savoured every mouthful. Although there was an abundance of vegetables and fruit in Mrs Hanley’s garden, other items were still difficult to come by. Queues at the butchers and grocers had grown longer since the war had begun and ration books were constantly adjusted according to what was available. Australia hadn’t been hit as hard as the United Kingdom with restricted goods, but time would tell.

  ‘We have the community trade again tomorrow,’ said Mrs Hanley. ‘I know it’s late in the season but it would be good if our mango tree gave us just a few more.’

  When Ellie had first moved to Brisbane she’d been delighted to discover the nature strips in her neighbourhood were full of trees, with their fruit available to anyone who wanted to help themselves to Mother Nature’s delights. She often picked a pawpaw or mango and ate it on her way to work.

  After dinner, Ellie cleared the plates and washed while Kat dried, their conversation consisting of lighter topics, like books and film stars.

  Down the hallway the front wire door closed. Ellie glanced at the wall calendar.

  Oh no.

  ‘Back in a minute.’ She wiped her sudsy hands on her apron then poured a glass of water and made her way out onto the verandah. A lone figure sat on a wicker chair in the darkness.

  ‘Mrs Hanley,’ she said quietly.

  Nothing.

  ‘Mrs Hanley.’ A little louder.

  ‘Pardon?’ She turned around, the moonlight shining on her glassy eyes.

  ‘Water?’

  ‘Thank you, dear.’ She took the glass and rested it on the table beside her.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said Ellie.

  ‘For?’

  ‘It’s the anniversary, isn’t it?’

  Mrs Hanley nodded slowly. ‘You’d think it would get easier, but it doesn’t.’

  ‘I wish it did.’

  ‘Oh, of course, my darling girl. You must miss your brother immensely.’ She patted the chair next to her. ‘Keep me company.’

  It was always hard to know what to say to someone in the midst of grief. Ellie coped by sketching nature. She found solace in being surrounded by trees and plants, birds and native animals. The living creatures and flora reminded her nature couldn’t be controlled, that life and death were inevitable, that it was important to enjoy the special moments.

  All Ellie could offer Mrs Hanley was support and understanding as she’d learned that everyone dealt with grief in their own way.

  ‘Peter would have been twenty-eight next month,’ Mrs Hanley said.

  ‘The same age Robert was when he died.’

  ‘Too many, too young.’ A sad smile formed on Mrs Hanley’s lips. ‘You would have liked him, Ellie. Such the clown. He drove me crazy when he was little and it got him the strap at school so many times I lost count, but his love for life and big heart won over everyone. Ken was just as loveable but the complete opposite to his brother.’ She fell silent for a moment then said, ‘I wonder if they’re with Charles in heaven.’

  ‘I’m sure they are,’ said Ellie.

  ‘And Charles is probably telling them off for being larrikins.’

  It was nice to hear Mrs Hanley’s laugh. Although she rarely spoke about her husband Charles, Ellie had learned that he’d been a troubled man when he’d returned from the Great War. He couldn’t work so Mrs Hanley had rented out rooms to pay the bills. When news broke about Australia being involved in this new war, Charles had taken his life.

  Mrs Hanley patted Ellie’s hand. ‘We shouldn’t spend our valuable time on this earth worrying about things we can’t change.’

  Mrs Hanley went inside the house. A moment later her bedroom door closed, signalling she was about to start her routine of reading for most of the night. Ellie often wondered if dreams about her husband and sons made Mrs Hanley too afraid to sleep.

  Ellie gazed at the inky sky above. How many nights had she and Robert and Louis laid on the grass in Longreach, studying the constellations and making up names for stars? Life had been so much simpler when she was a kid. Everyone in her family had still been under the same roof. Everyone had still been alive.

  Ellie entered the house that was now blanketed in darkness. She brushed her teeth, tiptoed into her room, got changed into her nightgown then climbed into bed. Kat was already sleeping soundly.

  Ellie smiled, happy she’d found her family in Brisbane. Although the lie she’d told Kat disconcerted her. However, if the job was as important as Mrs McGinnis and Lieutenant Andrews had told her, then it was her duty to help in any way she could.

  Ellie turned onto her side, unable to get comfortable.

  If she’d done well on the test, would she have the option of saying no?

  She closed her eyes and concentrated on slowing her breathing to match the rhythm of the grandfather clock’s ticking.

  Perhaps tomorrow would bring some answers.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Ellie placed the dipstick back in the tank of the Lockheed Lodestar then wiped her hands on the rag. It had been a week since she’d sat the test and even though she’d tried to forget it, she found herself wondering when Lieutenant Andrews would grace the tarmac once more.

  ‘Tea break?’ asked Kat.

  ‘Sure.’

  A woman in her mid-thirties walked into the hangar, her dark wavy hair framing a friendl
y face. She stopped in front of Ellie and Kat.

  ‘I’m Sarah Jackson.’ She reached out and shook Ellie’s hand, then Kat’s. ‘I’m your new boss.’

  ‘You are?’ Kat’s eyes widened.

  Sarah laughed. ‘Yes.’

  ‘That’s … great.’ Kat didn’t do a good job of hiding her shock.

  ‘Please excuse my friend.’ Ellie nudged Kat with her elbow. ‘But we assumed a man would replace our old boss. I’m glad we got it wrong.’

  ‘I’m glad you’re glad.’ Sarah’s smile was contagious.

  Ellie said, ‘We’re just about to have a break but we can show you around if you’d like.’

  ‘No, it’s fine. I’ve already got the lay of the land. I wouldn’t mind some water, though.’

  Ellie led the way to the kitchen with Sarah and Kat following close behind. Ned Alward stood at the head of the table, deep in a heated debate with the other men. They all turned and faced the women.

  Ellie cleared her throat. ‘Everyone, I’d like you to meet—’

  ‘We know who she is.’ Ned’s words were laced with venom.

  ‘Ned.’ Ellie spoke slowly, trying to conceal her annoyance. ‘Please be polite to Miss Jackson.’

  Ned slammed his fist on the table. ‘I’ll be damned if I’m working for a woman.’

  ‘You’ve worked with us and haven’t complained,’ said Ellie.

  ‘That’s because you’re not telling me what to do. If I wanted to be bossed around, I’d be home with the wife.’

  The men laughed. Ellie clenched her fists.

  Sarah stepped forward, her chin held high. ‘I am a qualified private pilot. I completed a four-month trial as an aircraft engineer at the Royal Queensland Aero Club and my mentors have nothing but praise for my work. In fact, they chose to pay me the same rate as men in the same position.’

  ‘So why aren’t you still there?’ asked Walter, one of Ned’s cronies.

  Sarah didn’t flinch. ‘RQAC lost their contract with the RAAF and the engineering section was closed.’

  ‘Are you the reason they lost the contract?’ Ned laid down the challenge.

  ‘You can’t grill Miss Jackson like this,’ Ellie said.

  Sarah turned to Ellie and said quietly, ‘It’s all right. I’m used to it.’ She leaned forward and placed her hands on the table. ‘I am also a qualified ground engineer so I am more than capable of doing this job.’

  Kat smiled at Ellie. Sarah Jackson continued to impress. It would take Ellie and Kat years to gain Sarah’s experience and qualifications.

  ‘A woman boss. Flamin’ ridiculous.’ Ned stormed out of the room and the rest of the men followed, the door slamming behind the last one.

  ‘I’m so sorry for their behaviour,’ said Ellie.

  Sarah shrugged. ‘Nothing I can’t handle. Now,’ she looked around the kitchen, ‘where do they hide the biscuits?’

  It had been a couple of days since Sarah Jackson had arrived at QEA. Ellie loved having a boss who was not only passionate and knowledgeable about aviation, but also treated everybody as equals. Although not everyone was on board with this way of thinking.

  Ellie glanced at her watch, closed her book and left the hangar kitchen. She entered the change room and fixed her headscarf, tucking in a chunk of hair that had escaped.

  Kat walked in. ‘You taking a short lunch?’

  ‘Yep. My list isn’t going to complete itself.’

  ‘True.’ Kat reached into her locker for a banana.

  ‘She’s pretty amazing,’ Ellie said.

  ‘Sarah?’

  ‘Who else?’ she laughed. ‘I heard she’s got four musical degrees from Trinity College in London and used to race cars in her spare time and she teaches ballet and ballroom dancing.’

  ‘When does she sleep?’

  ‘No idea,’ said Ellie. ‘Anyone who can walk into a room full of men and stand up to them like she did is incredible.’

  ‘I’ve seen you do it.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘You don’t remember when Ned had a go at you for getting through the work faster than the men?’

  Ellie laughed. ‘And I told him I couldn’t help it if they were slow.’

  ‘Exactly. He hasn’t given you grief since, has he?’

  ‘No, he hasn’t.’ Ellie sighed. ‘He’s not the most pleasant man I’ve worked with.’

  ‘Speaking of men … why haven’t I seen your suitor-in-a-suit recently? Did you scare him off?’

  ‘He’s not a suitor!’ Ellie threw a spare scarf at her friend.

  The door swished open and banged against the wall. Sarah stood in the doorway, her face flushed. ‘There’s a walk out.’

  ‘What?’ Ellie and Kat followed Sarah into the hangar. On the other side a group of men stood in a tight cluster, Ned Alward at the centre talking with works superintendent Kelvin Baker.

  Sarah stood next to Ellie. ‘They’re refusing to go back to work until I’m fired and Ned takes my place.’

  ‘Idiots,’ muttered Kat.

  ‘What did Kelvin say?’ Ellie asked.

  Sarah smiled. ‘He said they were idiots.’

  ‘Ha!’ Kat grinned. ‘Told you!’

  Ned climbed a ladder and waved his fist in the air. ‘It is against the natural order of things to put a woman in charge!’

  Ned’s accomplices cheered and whistled.

  Kat’s smile faded. Sarah’s shoulders dropped.

  Ellie walked over to Kelvin. ‘I know I probably can’t help but …’

  Kelvin’s gaze didn’t leave the rowdy mob. ‘Unless you can come up with a cure for imbeciles, there’s nothing you can do.’ He shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘We could lose days of productivity.’

  ‘The troops are counting on us.’

  ‘Exactly.’

  As Ellie studied the men, annoyance surged through her. How dare they hold up work when so many lives were at stake. She placed her fingers on her lips and whistled loudly, just like Louis had taught her when they were kids. The men stopped yabbering and turned to stare.

  Kelvin looked at her with wide eyes.

  ‘Are you all right with this?’ she asked quietly. Had she overstepped the mark?

  ‘Hey, if you can get them back to work, be my guest.’

  Ned jumped off the ladder and cut his way through the crowd. He pulled up in front of her.

  She deliberately ignored him and peered over his shoulder, her gaze travelling from one man to the other, stopping long enough to make sure she had their attention. ‘I would like to know who among you are qualified ground engineers with a licence to certify the airworthiness of planes.’

  A few men coughed and looked away.

  ‘No one?’ She turned to Sarah. ‘Miss Jackson, are you a qualified ground engineer?’

  ‘Why yes, Miss O’Sullivan, I am.’

  ‘And does your qualification mean that you can sign off on work that people like Mr Alward do?’

  Ned shifted from foot to foot, his head bowed.

  ‘Yes, yes, it does, Miss O’Sullivan,’ said Sarah.

  ‘So, is it safe to say,’ Ellie said, ‘that you are the only qualified person here who can ensure that the wonderful productivity we are all proud of does not come to a grinding halt?’

  ‘Once again, my answer is affirmative.’ Sarah smiled.

  ‘And it would be a tragedy if the servicing of these planes stopped because people choose to have a bee in their bonnet about a woman being in charge. What do you think the men who risk their lives flying our planes into enemy territory for rescue missions would say? What do you think the soldiers on the ground in New Guinea would think if important medical equipment and food is not delivered?’

  ‘Don’t listen to her.’ Ned faced the workers. ‘Women should be in the flamin’ kitchen. That’s all they’re good for. Though I doubt these three can boil water.’

  Most of the men laughed. Ned’s son Barry studied his boots.

  ‘Come on.’ Ned waved his hand and mar
ched off towards the kitchen, the male workers in tow. The door slammed and Ellie could see them through the glass, huddled around the table.

  ‘Does he realise he’s just said women should be in the kitchen yet he’s just led his men into one?’ Ellie could barely contain her smile.

  ‘Like I said before, they are idiots.’ Kat frowned. ‘What are we going to do?’

  ‘We need to find Ned’s Achilles heel,’ said Ellie.

  ‘Which is?’ asked Sarah.

  Ellie rubbed her chin. ‘He has an ego as big as Queensland.’

  ‘Australia,’ said Sarah. Kat chuckled. Kelvin’s smile broke free.

  ‘He’s a bully,’ Ellie said, ‘though not when it comes to his wife. She wears the pants in the family.’

  ‘Are you going to call her?’ asked Kat.

  ‘No, that would only rile him up further. We just need someone …’ Ellie studied the workers through the window and her eyes rested on a lone figure sitting in the corner away from the others. ‘Barry.’

  ‘What about him?’ Kat’s eyes widened. ‘Oh … Good thinking, Miss O’Sullivan.’

  ‘I don’t get it,’ said Sarah.

  ‘Ned is a deeply committed family man.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And if we get Barry on side then …’ She let the silence fill the gap.

  ‘Brilliant!’ said Sarah. ‘I like your thinking. Will he do it, though?’

  ‘He loves his dad but Barry has a good head on his shoulders. Surely, he’ll see sense. It’s worth a try but the timing needs to be right.’

  ‘We should go about our work as normal,’ Sarah said.

  Kat nodded. ‘That might guilt a few of them into picking up tools again.’

  Ellie, Sarah and Kat went back to their stations and Kelvin went to his office to make a call. It didn’t sit well with Ellie that there were people who were willing to put their personal feelings ahead of helping out the war effort. What happened to Australia working as one for the common good?

  She attacked the nuts and bolts while subtly observing the men inside the kitchen. A few appeared to be in a very heated discussion. Barry stood and entered the hangar.

  Placing the spanner back in the toolbox, Ellie hurried over to him.

  ‘Barry.’