The Codebreakers

by Alli Sinclair

  A knock echoed down the hallway. Kat grabbed Ellie’s arm and let out a small squeal.

  ‘Shh, he’ll hear you!’ Ellie’s heart bashed against her chest and the nervousness she’d tried to suppress surfaced once more.

  She patted down her hair, took one last look in the mirror then walked down the hallway to the front room where Mrs Hanley was already interrogating poor Harry.

  Ellie stood in the doorway and held her breath. Harry Kinsman’s dark hair and cheeky smile were just as captivating as she’d remembered. He spoke easily with Mrs Hanley, who was asking what his favourite movie was, his favourite colour, his favourite meal. Ellie pursed her lips, trying not to grin.

  She felt a presence behind her and turned to find Kat who motioned for Ellie to hold out her hand. A beautiful pearl bracelet fell onto her palm.

  Ellie couldn’t take her eyes off the tiny white pearls and gold clasp. She looked up. ‘I can’t.’

  ‘Yes, you can,’ whispered Kat. ‘I wore it the first time I went out with Clifford and ever since then I’ve thought of it as my lucky-in-love charm. I want you to wear it tonight.’

  Ellie fought back tears. ‘It’s too precious.’

  ‘This bracelet won’t bring Clifford back. I’d rather it be worn than sit in a box under my bed.’ Kat clasped her hands around Ellie’s. ‘Please.’

  Ellie couldn’t find the words to express her gratitude. Even in the midst of her grief, Kat still thought of others and their happiness.

  Mrs Hanley exited the living room with Harry behind. She gave Ellie a wink and a wave of relief swept over her. With her parents living so far away, it was reassuring to have a motherly figure looking out for her.

  ‘Hello, Miss O’Sullivan.’ Harry fiddled with the hat in his hand.

  ‘Good evening, Mr Kinsman.’ She prayed her cheeks didn’t reflect the heat rushing across her skin.

  He opened the door and she went down the stairs to the front gate. She didn’t need to turn to know Kat and Mrs Hanley would be watching, barely containing their delight.

  Harry opened the gate. Why had she let Kat talk her into wearing the navy blue heels? They were beautiful but they already pinched her toes.

  ‘I’m sorry we had to delay this,’ she said.

  ‘Your friend needed you, that’s more important.’ The soft timbre of his voice helped her relax. ‘How is Kat?’

  Ellie gently touched Kat’s pearl bracelet. ‘She’s putting on a brave face but she’s hurting. I just feel so helpless.’

  ‘It’s hard.’

  ‘It is.’

  They passed kids playing cricket in the street while women sat on the porch gossiping and shelling peas.

  ‘I thought you might be interested in seeing The Great Lie,’ said Harry.

  Ellie stopped walking. ‘The Great Lie?’

  ‘With Bette Davis and Mary Astor. It’s about spinning webs of lies that lead to all kinds of trouble.’

  ‘Ah, right.’ Ellie tried not to think of Harry’s choice of movie as a sign of things to come. Even though Florry had reassured Ellie her job entailed keeping secrets without the need to lie, Ellie had already found herself in situations where she’d had to scoot around the truth.

  ‘Did you want to see it?’

  ‘Yes?’ She wished she sounded more confident.

  He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and produced two tickets. ‘I was hoping you’d say that.’

  Ellie laughed and the nervousness that had trailed her since they’d left Mrs Hanley’s dissipated. When they got to The Strand there was a long line that wound around the corner.

  ‘Lucky you planned well,’ she said.

  ‘I don’t like leaving anything to chance. Besides, I didn’t want you to wait in line.’

  ‘I’m fine with standing, really. But thank you for thinking about me.’

  Harry paused then said, ‘I’ve been thinking about you since the first time we met.’

  Ellie liked Harry Kinsman’s self-assuredness and needed to summon her own. ‘And I’ve been thinking about you.’

  Harry’s smile went all the way to his eyes. He showed the doorman the tickets and they went into the theatre. He hesitated, looking around for seats. Ellie knew the unwritten rule: first outing, sit near the front; second outing, sit in the middle rows; third and subsequent outings, sit up the back and barely watch the movie. Although she’d heard some couples went straight to the back row on their first date.

  ‘How about over there?’ Harry pointed to spare seats at the front and next to the aisle. They sat down and Harry produced a box of Jaffas and offered them to her.

  She held out her hand and he shook the packet. A few Jaffas landed on her palm and she picked one up and popped it in her mouth. The hard red shell quickly melted to reveal chocolate-orange flavoured goodness. Why on earth would people roll them down the aisle? She glanced over at the sloped wooden floor. A second later a couple of teenagers stood in the aisle and two Jaffas sped towards the stage and smashed into it.

  ‘Yes!’ yelled a lofty teenager who punched his friend in the arm. ‘I win!’

  Ellie laughed, the young men reminding her of Robert and Louis when they were the same age.

  The picture theatre darkened and Ellie settled in her seat, acutely aware of Harry’s arm resting against hers.

  ‘God Save the King’ played and everyone stood and sang. Shortly after, ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ started and everyone remained standing. A GI across the aisle gave her an appreciative nod.

  After the national anthems the patrons sat and the newsreel sputtered into action, the announcer’s voice blaring through the tinny speakers. A series of shushes echoed through the theatre. The rowdy audience finally quieted, and Ellie tried to keep her eyes glued to the screen but she couldn’t stop glancing at Harry. There was something about his strong jawline, his long lashes and—

  Harry looked over and gave her a smile. Heat rushed across her face and she quickly turned to the screen once more. It flickered as the operator changed the reel and a moment later the theme music for The Great Lie started and Ellie lost herself in the world of the characters, enthralled. By the end, Ellie’s throat ached from holding back sobs.

  Harry rested his hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. She looked over and saw his glassy eyes, a sad smile on his lips.

  ‘I can’t believe she left her baby,’ she whispered.

  The credits rolled across the screen and the audience started leaving. Ellie couldn’t bring herself to get up just yet, emotions roiling through her.

  ‘Did you enjoy it?’ asked Harry.

  She tilted her head to the side. ‘Did you want to see me cry?’

  His eyes widened and he held up his hand. ‘No! Definitely not, I—’

  ‘I’m joking.’ She wiped away the last of the tears.

  ‘Oh … ha! You have a sense of humour like Louis, I see.’

  ‘Yep.’ She looked around at the theatre, empty except for a few staff picking up wrappers and abandoned Jaffas. ‘I guess we should go.’

  Ellie led the way up the aisle, through the crowded foyer and out onto the street.

  Harry stood beside her. ‘Would you like to go for a walk?’

  ‘I’d love to,’ Ellie replied.

  Harry motioned for them to cross the road. Ellie didn’t mind where they were headed—it was just nice to be in the fresh air once more. The streets were dark and her eyes adjusted quickly, using the post boxes on the corners as their guide.

  ‘How’s your work with AWAS? Busy?’

  ‘Yes. Where did you grow up?’

  ‘Straight to the getting-to-know-you questions, huh?’ Harry laughed. ‘I’m from Orange in New South Wales. My family are stone fruit farmers—cherries, peaches, apricots, plums …’

  ‘No oranges?’

  Harry’s laugh wrapped around her like a warm blanket. ‘No, the climate is too cool. Don’t ask me why the town’s called Orange because I have no idea.’

  They go
t to the end of the street and crossed the road. Without speaking, Ellie and Harry seemed to know and agree on which direction to head.

  ‘Why did you become a pilot?’ she asked.

  ‘I was obsessed with the comic character Ginger Meggs. I loved the adventures he went on and dreamed about having my own escapades. Then an uncle I’d never met before came to town and stayed with us. He was a pilot in the Great War and we used to sit on the back doorstep and he’d tell me about all the places he’d flown to and the people he’d met.’

  ‘Didn’t he tell you how dangerous it was? That you could die doing this? That part of your job would be to kill people?’

  Harry stopped walking. He stared into the darkness before turning to her. ‘Killing people is not something I’m proud of.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound like I was accusing you of anything—’

  ‘Don’t tell me you’re a pacifist.’

  ‘I believe that human life is precious and killing someone should be an absolute last resort,’ she said.

  ‘You really believe this?’ Harry sounded incredulous. ‘When our shores are being bombed and our men are being shot in the back at close range by the enemy?’

  She wished she hadn’t broached the subject but it was too late. ‘I despise this war and the death it brings. I despise that people are being killed every minute of every day. I despise that there are families all over Australia—and the world—who are mourning their children, husbands, uncles, or cousins.’

  ‘So, you are a pacifist.’

  Ellie straightened her spine. ‘I want to murder whoever killed my brother but what good would that do? It won’t bring him back and then I’d be responsible for another family’s suffering.’

  ‘How can you say that? What if the Japanese came around this corner right now? What if they got out of their car and held a gun at your head? What if they dragged you away and tortured you until every part of you bled and you suffered so much you begged them to kill you? Wouldn’t you want someone to shoot them dead?’

  ‘I …’ How could she ever know what men like her brother had gone through? Was she naive to hope that the world could find peace?

  ‘Perhaps I should get you home.’ Harry sounded matter of fact.

  ‘It might be better if I go alone,’ she said.

  ‘I’d rather make sure you get to the barracks safe.’

  ‘I’m a big girl. I can find my way at night.’ Their conversation had left her exhausted.

  Harry didn’t argue. He held out her hand and shook it. ‘Thank you for coming to the pictures with me.’

  His handshake felt final. Relief swept over her. Harry Kinsman was not, and never would be, a good match.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Ellie sat in the small courtyard opposite the garage at Nyrambla, enjoying a few moments in the fresh air. It had been a few days since she’d gone to the pictures with Harry and, so far, there’d been no word from him. At times she wondered if she’d been too judgemental. After all, she’d never set foot in a trench. She’d never held a gun to the enemy, knowing only one of them would get out alive. She’d never seen one of her countrymen fall at her feet, riddled with bullet holes.

  ‘Have communications stopped?’

  Ellie looked up and shaded her eyes from the sun. She made out the shape of a man in uniform but couldn’t quite distinguish the face. The voice sounded familiar, though. She stood and moved into the shade.

  Commanding Officer Buckley.

  ‘I’m … uh … I got through all my work so I’m taking a quick break before I help the others.’

  ‘How is everything coming along?’

  ‘Really good. Thank you.’

  ‘The garage isn’t the most comfortable place to work, I know. Although it has been of great service to other signals intelligence units in the past.’

  ‘It has?’

  ‘Indeed. Right, I best get back to the coalface.’ He took a few steps then turned to her again. ‘Oh, and Sergeant O’Sullivan?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Excellent work by you and the rest of the cipher office.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Keep it up.’ He sauntered away, hands clasped behind his back.

  Ellie went back to the garage.

  ‘You’re late from your break,’ said Lieutenant Andrews.

  ‘I’m sorry. I was just talking to Commanding Officer Buckley.’

  Lieutenant Andrews exchanged a glance with Florry.

  ‘Is there something I should know?’ asked Ellie.

  Lieutenant Andrews tucked a pencil behind his ear.

  ‘He rarely talks to anyone,’ said Florry. ‘You’re on his radar now.’

  ‘Is that a good thing?’

  ‘Not always,’ she said. ‘Now come on, Cassandra needs your help.’

  The shift finished uneventfully, and once Ellie and the rest of the women had swept the floors and Florry had burned the papers, they climbed onto the waiting truck ready to leave for camp—all except Lillian, who was talking quietly with Sam in the courtyard.

  ‘Come on!’ yelled Joy. ‘We’re hungry and tired!’

  Lillian frowned at her colleagues peering from the back of the truck. She waved goodbye to her beau then he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, giving her a longer-than-usual kiss on the cheek.

  A collective ‘ooh!’ came from the women and Ellie laughed, loving how the Garage Girls were very much like sisters.

  Lillian climbed into the truck. She grinned from ear to ear.

  Ellie leaned towards Florry and whispered, ‘What was in the garage before us?’

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘Commanding Officer Buckley said before us there were others who worked for signals intelligence.’

  ‘Did he tell you which unit?’

  ‘No. And I wasn’t game to ask.’

  ‘How about some more Andrews Sisters?’ shouted Lillian.

  There was a collective groan.

  ‘No more Andrews Sisters!’ cried Joy.

  ‘Spoilsports,’ said Lillian. ‘How about Bing Crosby? “Moonlight Becomes You”?’

  ‘You are so starry-eyed!’ Joy said.

  ‘No, I’m not.’

  ‘You are too!’

  Lillian started singing and before long the back of the truck was full of voices in perfect harmony. After another long day, this was music to Ellie’s ears.

  Ellie held out her ticket to the officer in charge of the orderly room at the barracks and was given an armful of army-issued goods that would keep her going for a month. One of the small perks of being enlisted was receiving precious supplies like tea. She passed the others chatting in the line and stopped at Cassandra, who shifted from foot to foot.

  ‘Here you go.’ Ellie picked up the pack of cigarettes from her pile. She looked at the front of the line. ‘Don’t let them see you’ve already got some.’

  ‘You’re the best.’ Cassandra grinned and shoved the cigarettes in her pocket. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Same time next month?’

  ‘You’ve got it!’ Ellie turned to walk across the dirt towards her hut but Vivian stepped forward and blocked her path. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘Why were you talking to CO Buckley at Henry Street?’

  Ellie moved the parcel to the other arm. ‘He approached me.’

  ‘Why?’

  Ellie drew herself to full height but was still a head shorter than Vivian. ‘He was just asking how things were going in the garage and he acknowledged that the conditions weren’t ideal.’

  ‘Why you?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ She was too tired to hold back her exasperation. ‘Why do you care?’

  Vivian took a step forward and Ellie held her ground. ‘I’m watching you.’

  ‘For what? We’re in this together, Viv. Whatever it is you’re thinking, you’re wrong. It was an innocent conversation.’ Ellie sidestepped Vivian and headed towards the hut.

  ‘Next time I’ll have those smokes!’
Vivian yelled.

  Ellie went into her hut. She deposited the goods in her suitcase then flopped onto her bed. Viv’s behaviour had been odd. Was she feeling the stress of the job too?

  Needing a distraction, Ellie rolled on her side and reached for the book that had been gathering dust.

  The door flung open and Joy appeared. ‘Ellie!’

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘You have a visitor.’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘I didn’t ask. Whoever he is, if you don’t want him, I’ll volunteer to take him off your hands,’ said Joy.

  Puzzled, Ellie made her way to the front gate. The man had his back to her, gazing at the bushland surrounding them. She knew those shoulders anywhere.

  Ellie cleared her throat.

  Harry turned to face her, his expression one of trepidation. He clutched a bunch of daisies.

  ‘Hello, Mr Kinsman.’

  ‘Good evening, Miss O’Sullivan.’ He tipped his hat, his brown eyes expectant. ‘May I speak with you?’

  She opened the gate and walked over to him.

  ‘I’d like to take you to the pictures tomorrow night.’

  ‘We tried that. It didn’t work.’

  ‘I’d like to try again.’

  ‘Why?’ she asked. ‘Clearly we have different views on important topics.’

  ‘We do, but I’ve thought long and hard about what you said.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And although I don’t agree, I understand your sentiment. Maybe we can learn something from each other.’ He held out the flowers and she accepted them.

  Ellie stared at the daisies with their white petals and beautiful sunny middle. Her gaze returned to him. ‘You really think we should try again?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘But we’re too different. You grew up among lush trees and ripe fruit and I had red dust and endless blue sky.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘I don’t like green and it’s your favourite colour.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘I’m a sweet tooth and you love savoury.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘When I sing, dogs howl but you croon like Bing Crosby.’

  ‘Ellie,’ he smiled, ‘it doesn’t matter.’ He offered his hand. She hesitated, but only for a moment. When their skin touched, something shifted within her. ‘I don’t want to miss out on spending time with you just because we have different points of view.’