The Lost Years

by E. V. Thompson

  ‘We’d better stop this before Pa finishes what he’s doing and comes out into the yard. If he saw us like this I’d be in trouble. Besides, I’ve got work in the house to finish before Ma gets home.’

  Perys’s heart was thumping so violently he was surprised Annie could not hear it. He stood up and Annie did the same, brushing grass and a few leaves from her dress.

  ‘You . . . you won’t mind if I call to see you again?’

  ‘I’ll be very upset if you don’t, Perys Tremayne.’ Smiling at his genuine relief, she said, ‘But if you want me to ride on that machine again you’d better bring a cushion with you. That pillion is very uncomfortable.’ Reaching out a hand, she touched his arm in a gesture of affection. ‘Perhaps you should get in a little more practice before you take anyone else for a ride. I wouldn’t like to think of someone else falling off the motor-bike with you.’

  Chapter 16

  The driveway to Heligan was much smoother than the rough track which led to Tregassick Farm. Turning into it, Perys was about to open up the motor-cycle throttle when a young woman stepped out from behind some bushes, causing him to brake sharply and stall the engine once again.

  As the woman approached him, Perys said, angrily, ‘That was a stupid thing to do. You might have got us both killed. Who are you, anyway?’

  ‘Eliza Dunn,’ the girl replied, with no hint of contrition, ‘and there’s no need to talk to me like that. You wouldn’t speak to Annie Bray in the same way, I’m sure. I stepped out to stop you because I need to talk to you.’

  Perys could think of nothing Eliza might need to discuss with him and he said so, adding, as an afterthought, ‘Unless, of course, it’s something to do with your father?’

  ‘It’s nothing to do with him, he’s coming along fine. He doesn’t know I’m at Heligan and it’s better that it stays that way . . . but we can’t talk here. There’s an old shed a little way off the drive, a bit farther on. Unless you’d like to take me somewhere else on your motor-bike?’

  There was a boldness about Eliza that perturbed Perys, even while it stirred a certain reckless excitement within him. However, he settled for discretion.

  ‘I think it might be better if we stay here and talk.’

  Fingering the metal pillion of the machine he was still straddling, Eliza asked, ‘Have you given Annie a ride on your motor-bike yet?’

  Perys was startled and he wondered whether there was any hidden meaning behind Eliza’s question. He dismissed his concern immediately. She could not possibly have seen him and Annie on the motor-cycle and managed to reach the Heligan driveway before him.

  Eliza was not expecting a reply. ‘I heard the sound of a motor-bike and could tell it was on the Tregassick Farm track. I thought it might be Edward. He has a motor-bike, you know? He gave me a ride on it more than once.’

  ‘I believe he had an accident and damaged it before I came to Heligan.’ Even as he replied, Perys wondered why Edward would choose to take Eliza riding on his motor-cycle. The fact that she had used Edward’s Christian name in such a familiar fashion had not escaped him.

  He doubted very much whether such familiarity from a village girl would meet with the approval of his arrogant distant cousin.

  But Eliza was talking once more. ‘. . . I was hoping it was Edward. I need to speak to him.’

  ‘Edward is not at Heligan. He hasn’t been here for some time, as I am quite sure you know.’

  Perys felt uncomfortable talking about Edward, especially with Eliza. He was aware of the gossip linking them and the possible implication of her need to speak with him.

  ‘I knew he’d gone away from Heligan, but when I heard a motor-bike up this way I thought he might have come back.’

  ‘I’m afraid he hasn’t, so if there’s nothing else you want to say . . .’

  At that moment Perys heard the sound of hooves on the lane. A moment later a number of horses turned into the Heligan driveway. Riding the lead horse was Martin, with others tied in a line behind him. He was returning from having them shod in the smithy at the nearby village of Pentewan.

  When Martin saw Perys with Eliza, he appeared startled. Passing them by, he gave Perys a perfunctory wave, but his expression was one of disapproval.

  Remembering his earlier conversations with Annie, Perys would have been much happier had her brother not seen him talking to Eliza. But there was nothing he could do about it now.

  Returning his attention to Eliza, he said, ‘Now I’ve told you Edward is not at Heligan, I’ll be getting back there. I suggest you don’t make a habit of jumping out in front of motor-vehicles or you’ll get yourself killed.’

  ‘I doubt if that would upset any of the Tremayne family - not even Edward,’ Eliza retorted, bitterly.

  She had momentarily allowed her feelings to over-ride prudence and Perys could not help feeling sorry for her. If she was in the sort of trouble he suspected, Perys doubted very much whether Edward would face up to his responsibilities and take care of this young Mevagissey girl.

  Looking at her now, memories came flooding back to him of what it felt like to be deeply unhappy about something and being unable to confide in anyone.

  ‘Look, Eliza, if you’re in trouble you can tell me. If I can help, I will.’

  For a few moments Perys thought she might be about to disclose what was worrying her. Instead, she shook her head. ‘Why should you want to help me? From what I’ve heard said, it was your fault he went away in the first place. If you hadn’t been so ready with your fists he’d still be here and I wouldn’t need to be looking for him.’

  She was angry, but Perys realised there was no sense becoming involved in an argument with her.

  ‘Then there’s no more to be said. I’ll be getting back to Heligan.’

  Adjusting the controls on the handlebars of the motor-cycle, he was about to kick-start the engine when Eliza said, ‘Wait a minute . . . please!’

  Looking up at her, Perys once again felt great sympathy for the girl. For just a moment he had seen an expression of desperation on her face.

  ‘If you really want to help, could you give me Edward’s address? I’ll write to him.’

  ‘All I know is that he lives somewhere in Devon,’ Perys explained. ‘That isn’t a great deal of help, I know, but I’ll find out what it is and give it to you. Where will I be able to find you? You won’t want me calling at your house with it.’

  She shook her head emphatically. ‘I work in a house at Heligan Mill every morning and finish at twelve o’clock. Soon after that I’m at the edge of the village, where the path from the mill comes out on the road. If you get the address you can give it to me there. When do you think you’ll have it for me?’

  ‘Give me a day or two. I can’t ask for it outright but I will get it for you,’ Perys promised.

  He knew he would probably not be helping Eliza a great deal - and doing his distant cousin no favour at all. However, he owed Edward nothing.

  Moving closer to the motor-cycle once more, Eliza gave him another of her bold looks. ‘I suppose you wouldn’t like to give me a ride to the edge of the village? There’s a path through the woods that Edward used to take with me . . .’

  Kicking the engine into life, Perys gave her an incredulous smile and shook his head. ‘I’m off to Heligan, Eliza. I’ll have the address for you as soon as possible.’

  Chapter 17

  A few days later, with a piece of paper on which was written Edward’s address tucked in a pocket, Perys was about to set off to pay a visit to Tregassick Farm before meeting with Eliza. He was almost at the door when the telephone in the high-ceilinged hall began ringing. He reached it just ahead of the maid who came hurrying from the rear of the house.

  It was Rupert and he was jubilant. ‘Perys, I have some news for you. The German ship we saw, the Dortmund - our warships caught up with it and sank it!’

  It seemed the action had taken place the day after the ship had been sighted, but the Royal Navy had kept it quiet b
ecause they wanted the Germans to believe their raider was still at large.

  From survivors, information had been gleaned that it was intended the Dortmund would mount a fast and unexpected attack on the British ships guarding the narrowest section of the English Channel. It was hoped that such an action would draw off the naval vessels blockading the German ports in the North Sea and so allow the German battle fleet to put to sea.

  ‘Your keen eyesight has saved a great many British lives, Perys. What’s more, I have been recommended for an award - the DSO!’

  ‘That’s wonderful news!’ said a delighted Perys. ‘But you deserve it. Flying backwards and forwards alongside the Dortmund when it was shooting at us required both skill and courage!

  ‘It would all have been in vain had you not made such an excellent sketch of the ship.’ Rupert pointed out. ‘Had Admiral Trispen not recognised it immediately, no one would have believed us. I did suggest you should receive an award too, but it would appear there is no appropriate medal for a civilian who shows conspicuous courage when caught up in a war situation. Indeed, I have been told I am fortunate not to be court-martialled for having an unauthorised passenger in the aeroplane in the first place!’

  ‘You won’t get into trouble?’ Perys asked, anxiously. ‘It’s not likely to jeopardise your DSO?’

  ‘No. I told the commanding officer at Upavon that not only were you intending to join the RFC, but that I needed you in the aeroplane with me to look for a likely airfield, because of your detailed knowledge of the Cornish countryside.’

  ‘But ... I know nothing of Cornwall beyond the Heligan area,’ Perys said.

  Rupert chuckled. ‘I know that, and so do you but the War Office does not, and we won’t enlighten them. Besides, by the time anyone gets around to seriously querying your right to be in the aeroplane you’ll be in the RFC too.’

  ‘Have you heard something?’ It was the turn of Perys to be excited.

  ‘As a matter of fact I have. You are to report to Nick Malloch at Brooklands at nine o’clock on the fifth of October to begin your flying course.’

  Startled, Perys said, ‘But that’s next Monday!’ It was now Thursday.

  ‘That’s right,’ Rupert said, cheerfully. ‘And Aunt Maude is expecting you on Saturday. I have also managed to pull a few strings in order to have you examined and issued with your flying licence as soon as possible after your course. If all goes well you have an interview with the RFC appointments officer at the War Office on November the sixth. I have said you will have your licence by then.’

  ‘Do you really think I will qualify for my licence at the first attempt?’

  Rupert could detect the excitement in Perys’s voice, but he had another surprise for him. Abruptly changing the subject, he asked, ‘How are you getting on with the motor-cycle?’

  ‘It’s great fun. I’ve learned where the brakes are and haven’t fallen off since yesterday!’

  ‘Then I have no doubt you will make an excellent pilot.’ Rupert sounded amused. ‘As you know, Perys, the machine was bought for me by my father. I spoke to him last night. He is so delighted that my name has been put forward for a DSO that he has said I can have his motor-car. It’s a Rolls-Royce and absolutely superb. And in view of the very important part you played in identifying the Dortmund, without any official recognition, I said I would like you to have the motor-cycle. He thinks it a splendid idea.’

  ‘You mean ... I can keep it as my own?’

  ‘Yes - if you want it, of course.’

  ‘If I want it! Rupert, how can I thank you? You’ve been so very generous.’

  Perys was choked with emotion and dared say no more. He had experienced very little kindness in his life. It was all too much for him.

  ‘Well, if you feel so disposed, perhaps you will put in a good word for me with Morwenna while you are in London. I’ve not seen her since leaving Heligan. I was hoping to get to London to see her this weekend, but I have orders to rejoin my squadron in France. I set off in the morning. Before I go I will put what I have said to you in writing and send it to Maude, just in case you forget where you have to go and when.’

  Perys knew he was not likely to forget a single word. Rupert’s instructions were so important to him that they were already burned indelibly in his brain. After stammering out his thanks he wished Rupert ‘Good Luck in France,’ then hurried outside the house to find his motorcycle. He wanted to share his incredible good fortune with Annie.

  Chapter 18

  Although Perys had tried to keep himself busy at Heligan in recent days, he had thought a great deal about Annie and of what had occurred between them when they had fallen off the motor-cycle together. Although it had not been planned, he was aware it had not been mere spur-of-the-moment opportunism on his part either. There had been a feeling of inevitability about it that he recognised. Had they not fallen off the motor-cycle, they would have kissed at some other time and place.

  Perys had spent very little time with girls during his school days, but he had met enough of them to realise his feelings for Annie went deeper than friendship. He hoped she might feel the same about him, but did not know how he should go about finding out. He could not contemplate simply asking her directly.

  Today, he cut the engine of the motor-cycle before reaching the Bray farm, in order not to frighten the livestock as he had on his previous visit. Propping the motor-cycle against the bank alongside the track, he walked the remainder of the way to the farmhouse.

  His arrival took Annie by surprise. She was cleaning out the pig-sties and was dismayed that he should see her in such a dishevelled and grubby state. However, this was not the reason why she made no attempt to greet him and did not reply when he called out to her.

  Puzzled and not a little hurt, Perys made his way to the sty where she was working. Ignoring him, she continued her work. Perys began to feel ill-at-ease. Eventually, he asked, ‘Are you having second thoughts about what happened when you had a ride on the motor-bike, Annie, or is it just that I’ve come visiting at a busy time for you?’

  ‘I have work to do, if that’s what you mean,’ she replied, ignoring the first part of his question.

  ‘Can I help?’

  ‘There’s not room for pigs and two people in a sty.’

  ‘Well, perhaps I can clean out one of the other sties,’ Perys said, patiently. ‘If the work is finished early, perhaps we can go for another ride?’

  ‘Do you go about the countryside offering rides on your motor-bike to every girl you meet? Or is it just me and Eliza Dunn? Did you manage to fall off with her as well?’

  As she was speaking, Annie jabbed so hard with the large five-pronged farm fork she was using that it struck sparks from the stone floor.

  Perys had suspected that Annie’s off-hand attitude might have had something to do with the fact that Martin had seen him talking to Eliza. Now he was left in no doubt.

  ‘Eliza has never had a ride on the motor-bike - not on mine, anyway.’

  ‘You’re not denying you were with her after you left me that day?’

  ‘It would be foolish of me to deny it when Martin saw me talking to her - but talking is all I did, and it wasn’t of my making.’

  Perys was uncomfortably aware that he had Edward’s address in his pocket ready to give to Eliza when he left Annie today, but he could not tell her about their conversation.

  ‘As a matter of fact I was very angry with her. She stepped in front of me and might easily have caused me to have an accident.’

  ‘I’ve no doubt she was eager to show you how sorry she was,’ Annie said, acidly.

  ‘On the contrary, she was indignant that I should have complained about her stupidity.’

  Only slightly mollified, Annie asked, ‘What was she doing up at Heligan anyway?’

  Perys did not like lying to Annie, but he felt that telling her the truth could be very embarrassing for the unfortunate Mevagissey

  ‘I think she’d gone up there to meet someone,
probably one of the Heligan servants.’

  ‘Eliza would only walk that far from home to meet a man, and her sights are set higher than house-servants,’ Annie said, meaningfully, but Perys felt her anger with him had dissipated somewhat. He repeated his offer to help her clean out the pig-sties.

  ‘Even if they are cleaned out quickly there’s no chance of my coming for a ride with you,’ said Annie. ‘Ma wouldn’t allow it. She has lots of jobs waiting for me in the house.’

  ‘Never mind.’ Perys managed to hide his disappointment. ‘At least if I’m working with you we can talk - and I have a lot to tell you.’

  In spite of what Annie had said earlier, there was room for two in a pig-sty, and as they worked Perys told her of Rupert’s telephone call.

  ‘This award that’s being given to Rupert . . . it’s for bravery, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then you must have been in danger too.’

  ‘The Germans were firing at us, yes, but they weren’t very good shots.’

  ‘You didn’t say anything about that at the time.’

  Perys shrugged. ‘There was really no reason why I should. They missed us.’

  ‘And this is the sort of thing that will be happening to you every day once you become a pilot and join the Royal Flying Corps?’

  ‘I don’t suppose I’ll meet up with many German ships in France.’

  ‘You know very well what I mean, Perys. When you’re up in your aeroplane there will be people shooting at you.’

  ‘I suppose so - after all, there’s a war going on. But I would rather be in the air, where my survival depends to a great extent on my own skill, than fighting on the ground.’

  ‘I wish you didn’t need to go and fight at all,’ Annie said, unhappily. ‘I wish no one needed to go. Martin has been talking again about leaving Heligan and joining the army.’

  ‘A lot of the men at Heligan are doing the same,’ Perys pointed out. ‘Two of the gardeners and one of the grooms left this week.’