The Codebreakers

by Alli Sinclair

  She sat back and smiled at the swirly letters. It certainly looked beautiful and so very right.

  Ellie sighed and put the pencils and drawing pad down. Tomorrow Harry would take to the sky, leaving Australia—and Ellie—behind.

  ‘Harry’s here!’ yelled Cassandra on her way to the rec hut.

  Ellie went inside and grabbed her hat and gloves then hurried over to the gate. The cut of Harry’s uniform accentuated his broad shoulders—the perfect poster boy for the all-round Australian airman. No wonder she’d fallen so hard for him.

  She’d expected things to feel a little awkward upon their first meeting after Coolangatta but, thankfully, she was wrong. They chatted easily on the drive to Mrs Hanley’s, although Ellie sensed an undercurrent of … not doom, it was … facing the inevitable. Knowing that things couldn’t be changed. Acceptance …

  Harry parked the car out the front of Mrs Hanley’s and they got out.

  ‘I’m glad we’re doing this lunch today,’ he said.

  ‘Are you ready to tell them?’ she asked as they climbed the steps.

  ‘I’m not ready to say anything just yet,’ he murmured then left a long, sweet kiss on her lips.

  Ellie stepped away. ‘But we agreed to let them know before you fly out. Kat and Mrs Hanley are family and they’ll be so disappointed if they find out we didn’t tell them straight away.’

  Harry put his finger on her lips. ‘I need to give you something first.’ He reached into his pocket and got on his knee. In the palm of his hand was a thin, gold ring with a series of tiny diamond chips in the band. ‘We can’t announce our engagement unless we have something to show for it.’

  ‘Harry,’ she breathed as he put the ring on her finger. It fit beautifully and she stretched out her hand, admiring the craftsmanship. ‘It’s gorgeous.’

  ‘It’s not much.’

  ‘It’s everything.’

  He stood and held her hand as he studied the jewellery. ‘When I return, I’ll buy you something bigger.’

  ‘I don’t need anything bigger. This is perfect.’ Her kiss lingered on his lips. ‘Perfect like you.’

  The door swung open and Mrs Hanley came out. She looked from Ellie to Harry and back to Ellie. She then looked down at Ellie’s finger. ‘Oh, my goodness. Kat! Kat!’

  Mrs Hanley grabbed Ellie’s hand and dragged her down the hall. Ellie looked back to find Harry shaking his head and chuckling as he walked behind her.

  They entered the kitchen and Mrs Hanley thrust Ellie’s left hand forward. ‘Look what our girl has gone and done!’

  Kat got up slowly. Her smile was genuine but the sadness in her eyes hit Ellie’s heart like an arrow.

  ‘Kat …’

  ‘I am so happy for you.’ Her friend gave Ellie’s hand a gentle squeeze. ‘You two are perfect for each other and I know once this war is over, you’ll have a chance to live the life you want.’

  Ellie opened her arms and Kat allowed herself to be lost in the hug. Ellie whispered, ‘Thank you.’

  The front door creaked open and heavy footfalls echoed down the hallway.

  ‘Where’s the woman who put the ball and chain on my mate Harry?’ boomed the voice.

  ‘Louis!’

  He pulled her into a bear hug. ‘Fantastic news, Bug.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She looked over his shoulder. ‘Maude’s not coming?’

  ‘She’s got a cold and is sleeping. She’ll be okay.’

  ‘Please send her my love,’ said Ellie.

  Louis broke into a grin. ‘Your brother would be so happy. I’d say he and Harry would have been very good friends.’

  ‘They would have,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Right, time to celebrate!’ Mrs Hanley fossicked on the top shelf of the kitchen cabinet. She pulled out a selection of jugs and fancy plates, and put them on the kitchen counter. She reached into the darkness, her eyes lighting up.

  ‘Aha!’ Mrs Hanley took out a bottle of sherry. ‘Kat, be a dear and get some glasses from the crystal cabinet in the good room.’

  Kat went down the hall and Ellie followed.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Ellie asked.

  ‘I’m doing great, honest.’ They gathered the small aqua-coloured glasses. ‘I’d give anything for my Clifford to be with us, but I can’t go on wishing for something that will never happen. I owe it to him, and every other soul who’s lost their life fighting for us, to make the most of mine. So, I’ll continue doing my job and helping our boys. And I’ll cling to the happy memories of Clifford to get me through the days when it feels impossible to keep going. It does my heart good to see you and Harry together. I’m truly overjoyed.’

  ‘Thank you. You are such an inspiration.’

  ‘Far from it but I love that you think I am.’ Kat smiled.

  Kat and Ellie returned to the kitchen and put the glasses on the table. Mrs Hanley poured the drinks and everyone raised their glasses.

  ‘To our favourite couple.’ Kat said and took a sip.

  ‘Our favourite couple,’ said Mrs Hanley.

  Ellie sipped the sherry. Although it was supposed to be sweet, it tasted like vinegar. How long had it been at the back of the cupboard? Ellie coughed.

  Mrs Hanley laughed and patted Ellie on the back. ‘I’ve been waiting for a happy moment to drink this. I’m glad we’ve finally found one.’

  Ellie stood at the side of the tarmac at RAAF Station Archerfield observing the airmen load the planes. A small cluster of women and children were in the designated waiting area with Ellie, who was grateful she had access now she was officially Harry’s fiancée.

  A boy around seven years old dropped his toy black cat onto the ground. His mother didn’t notice as she dabbed her eyes with a shaky hand.

  Ellie knelt down and picked up the cat. She dusted it off then handed it to the little boy. ‘Here you go, young man.’

  He looked up with large brown eyes. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘You are more than welcome.’

  He pointed to a beefy man with a clipboard who was instructing people what to do with each load. ‘He’s my father.’

  ‘Your father looks like he has a very important job to do.’

  The boy nodded. ‘Where’s your father?’

  ‘He’s not here.’ She pointed at Harry who was checking under one of the wings. ‘I’m here for my fiancé.’

  ‘Fiancé?’ He tried to get his mouth around the word.

  ‘It means we have made a promise to marry each other one day.’

  ‘Why one day?’ he asked. ‘Why not now?’

  ‘Hush, Jeremy. Don’t ask so many questions,’ said his mother.

  Ellie straightened. ‘It’s fine. I don’t mind.’ She looked at Jeremy. ‘My fiancé only asked me to marry him this week. We haven’t had time to get married.’

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ Jeremy’s mother said.

  ‘It’s all right.’ The words sounded strained and she realised that it was far from all right. She wanted Harry here, with her, not over in Britain where bombs fell like rain. ‘We’ll get our chance to marry when he returns.’

  Jeremy’s mother looked at her with earnest eyes. ‘I hope and pray that you do.’

  The woman’s sentiments sent a ripple of unease through Ellie.

  Harry made his way across the tarmac. His long strides delivered him to her and the second his hand met hers, tears welled up and her vision blurred.

  ‘My beautiful Ellie.’

  Harry glanced at the men already saying goodbye to their families.

  ‘No.’ She shook her head vehemently. ‘Please, can’t you stay?’

  He held her in his arms, her head resting against his chest. She closed her eyes and listened to his steady heartbeat. How long would it be until she was in his arms once more?

  He stepped back. ‘Ellie, listen to me. This is not goodbye. It is farewell—for now. I promise I will write to you every moment I get and before you know it, I’ll be back and whisking you to the nearest registry to make
you my wife.’

  ‘But Kat and Clifford—’

  ‘Faith will get us through this. I promise.’ Harry left a trail of kisses from her neck to her mouth. ‘You will be my wife.’

  His last kiss was long and sweet. She savoured the moment, praying it would never end.

  Harry moved away, his smile sad. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can—safe and sound.’

  Ellie’s heart grew heavy as she watched the only man she’d every truly loved walk away.

  Harry climbed into the plane and disappeared for a moment before surfacing in the cockpit. He waved and smiled. Even from this distance she could see the sadness in his eyes.

  The propellers started and the men on the tarmac moved the blocks as the plane started its journey towards the runway. The others followed. Ellie didn’t take her eyes off Harry’s plane as it got into position, ready for take-off. The plane gathered speed and when the wheels finally left the runway, Ellie sent a silent, heartfelt prayer for the safe and quick return of Flight Lieutenant Harry Kinsman.

  For the following fortnight Ellie existed in a haze of uncertainty. She sat in the rec hall but barely touched her food, then she’d retire to her hut and toss and turn until sleep finally pulled her under. Thankfully, the Garage Girls had given her space to grieve Harry’s departure.

  Ellie lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She rolled over and looked at the pencils and sketchpad on the table. She couldn’t summon the energy to open the book, let alone sketch.

  She rolled onto her back once more and a long sigh left her lips.

  A gentle knock on the door encouraged her to sit up. ‘Yes?’

  Florry entered the room, a large smile on her face. ‘This came for you a few minutes ago. The first one of many more, I’m sure.’

  With newfound energy she quickly opened the envelope. Florry discreetly left the room.

  My dearest Ellie,

  Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve done. This war is bigger than us, and no amount of wishing things were different changes the fact that I have a duty to fulfil and must honour my countrymen and king.

  I can’t tell you exactly where I am or what I am doing, but just know that my first and last thought every day is about how much I miss your smile, your laugh, your beautiful heart. It pains me not to be with you right now. Just know that I will see you as soon as humanly possible and we can start the future we’ve always dreamed of.

  Until then … all my love, Harry

  xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

  Ellie read the letter again and again until the tears blurring her vision became too much. By the time she got ready for work, she was the last one on the truck.

  ‘Everything all right?’ asked Florry.

  ‘As all right as it can be.’

  ‘I vote for Bing Crosby today!’ said Lillian.

  The truck roared into action and Lillian conducted the singalong. The Garage Girls waved at soldiers and young children walking along the street with their mothers. Normally Ellie joined in, but her chest felt hollow. She clutched her handbag that contained the letter.

  The shift turned out to be uneventful, and on her break she snuck off to sit under a tree and re-read Harry’s letter. Ellie loved the curve of the letters, the unusual slant of the s and the abundant x’s and o’s he signed off with. She imagined him sitting in a tent, finding a rare moment to write this heartfelt missive. Was he surrounded by other men doing the same? Or did he have to write snippets between shifts?

  ‘Has it changed?’

  Ellie looked up. Florry stood above her, blocking out the sun. She sat next to Ellie and leaned against the tree.

  ‘Has what changed?’ Ellie folded the letter and put it in her handbag.

  ‘The letter, from the last fifty times you read it.’ Florry gently nudged her.

  ‘Very funny.’ She stared at the yellow flowers of the tower tree nearby. ‘Am I crazy to think this will last?’

  ‘You and Harry?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You’re crazy to think it won’t last,’ said Florry. ‘You’re a great pair.’

  ‘But time twists everything. And distance.’

  Florry held Ellie’s hand tightly. ‘If any couple can make it through this war and come out the other side smelling like roses, it’s you two. Now, where are those scones Mrs Hanley promised me?’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The hut door opened, and Lillian stumbled in, her eyes red, her face blotchy. She collapsed on her bed face first and buried her head in the pillow, her anguished sobs filling the hut.

  Ellie lifted the mosquito net and sat on Lillian’s bed, gently stroking her friend’s hair until she’d calmed and the tears had dried.

  Lillian said, between gulps of air, ‘It’s Sam.’

  ‘What about Sam? Is he hurt?’

  Lillian sat and ran her hand under her nose. ‘They’re sending him away to Hollandia in New Guinea.’ Lillian collapsed in Ellie’s arms, her thin frame shaking. ‘I feel selfish for being so upset. At least Sam is alive and won’t be on the front line. I should be grateful for that. But the further north he goes the higher chance there is that he may—’

  ‘Sweetie, we don’t know that.’ Ellie tried to sound positive yet inside a ball of worry grew. ‘How many are going?’

  ‘The Allied headquarters in Port Moresby—Advanced Echelon—are moving to Hollandia and so is Sam’s unit.’

  ‘It would make sense,’ said Ellie. ‘Being so close to Japan the Allies would get better signals intelligence to help us push further north.’

  ‘Sam says MacArthur wants to move all of Central Bureau over there.’ Hope hung on Lillian’s words. ‘Although …’

  ‘Although?’

  ‘Although, even if General MacArthur wants us to go, the government won’t let us. It’s a stupid rule. Fancy only allowing a total of five hundred women overseas to help win this war and, even then, not allowing us to travel further than New Guinea. We’re just as capable as the men.’ Lillian slapped her hand over her mouth. ‘We could lose our jobs.’

  ‘That’s ridiculous,’ said Ellie. ‘We’re a well-oiled unit and what we do is important. We’re needed.’

  ‘Yes, we are.’

  ‘It’s unfair but our hands are tied. Hey’—Ellie stroked Lillian’s hair again—‘perhaps things will change. Maybe we’ll all go.’

  ‘In the meantime I’m stuck here worrying about Sam and he’ll be there worrying about me.’

  Ellie held her friend close. ‘I’m here—whatever you need. We’ll get through this. I promise.’

  ‘How do you do it?’

  ‘Cope with Harry being away?’ asked Ellie. ‘I dream—a lot. I think about our future and all the happy possibilities, especially peace.’

  ‘The way this world is going peace is only ever going to be a dream.’

  ‘Perhaps, but if we give in to every negative thought then we’d drown in despair. Lillian,’ Ellie said firmly but with love. ‘Sam, Harry and every other Allied serviceman need us to do everything in our power to help them return quickly and safely. Yes?’

  ‘Yes.’ She wiped a stray tear. ‘It’s going to be hard.’

  ‘Of course it will. Nothing in war is easy.’

  It had been a few weeks since Sam and half the Central Bureau staff had relocated. Prior to them leaving, the cipher office and the other teams worked longer hours to duplicate code solutions, call signs and traffic analysis documents in case the originals got damaged or lost in transit. It had proved a wise decision as the men’s journey to Hollandia was delayed when their ship, the Van Swoll, needed to shelter for a week in the Whitsundays when a cyclone ripped through the region. Then, when they were close to the eastern tip of New Guinea, they’d had to anchor near a small island to avoid being attacked by an enemy submarine.

  Since Sam’s departure, Lillian had walked around in a daze. When she was in the garage, she gave it her all, but at the barracks, she preferred not to socialise and stayed in her hut, only leaving
to go to work.

  The day had been a particularly steamy one for late October and Ellie was looking forward to getting out of the garage and stretching her legs. She picked up the last message for her shift. It was from New Guinea and she set about figuring out the key and started decoding. She was about to strip the filler so she could pass on the actual message, but she paused and read it all again.

  L – I am safe QQQQQ Hollandia fully operational. Comprehensive report being sent by end of week. QQQQQ Miss you – S

  ‘Lillian!’

  Ellie showed her the message. Lillian didn’t bother stifling a squeal.

  ‘See? I told you everything would be fine,’ Ellie said.

  Lillian stared at the paper in her hand. ‘Isn’t it risky sending these?’

  ‘I can’t see why. No one aside from us sees the filler text.’

  Lillian looked around the garage. ‘Who’s got a message to go to Hollandia?’

  ‘I have.’ Florry came over to Ellie’s desk. ‘Why?’

  ‘Sam sent a message. Can we send one back? Please?’ Lillian’s wide eyes begged Florry.

  ‘He what?’ Florry grabbed the paper and read it. Her lips twitched. ‘This isn’t in the regulations.’

  ‘There’s nothing to say we can’t do it,’ said Ellie.

  ‘I don’t know.’ Florry drew it out.

  ‘Please?’ Ellie and Lillian said together.

  Florry shoved a pencil behind her ear. ‘If I don’t see a reply then how would I know about it?’

  She walked back to her desk and made a show of concentrating on the stack of papers in front of her.

  Two weeks later Ellie found herself sitting on the bed in the hut, ecstatic to be have received yet another letter from her precious Harry.

  1 October, 1944

  My darling Ellie,

  Although my days are hectic, whenever I have a moment my thoughts turn to you. I miss your smile, your laugh, the way your eyes sparkle when you’re telling a story. I miss your lips. I miss everything about you.

  Each day I wake in hope that the war will have ended, that I can return and hold you in my arms once more. It is the only thing that keeps me going through the long days and nights.

  It’s so difficult here, Ellie. I wanted to write about things that would bring you sunshine in these dark times, but it doesn’t feel right not to acknowledge what’s going on around me. It’s devastating. No matter where I turn there is heartbreak and pain. Everywhere lives have been cut short, death is on the streets. I worry there’s no finish to this war, that we’ll all kill each other and there will be nothing—and no one—left.