He opens a formal letter of condolence, looks up through his tears to the see the silent faces of his friends in the barracks. Ashamed to be seen crying, he is unable to stop.
They killed my mother! The English terror-fliers!
Grief, rage, and confusion almost overwhelm her. The scream is welling up inside her and she's can't tell if it's her voice or his. Perhaps it doesn't matter now.
I wanted to kill, maim, make them suffer, bring terror to their nights! Rain death from the skies and leave all their children weeping! O god forgive me! How can I face her, after what I have done?
Rachel feels the turmoil in the mind of a boy forced to become a man too soon. To the very end, he couldn't reconcile what he knew of the war, of his own deeds and those of others like him, with the unselfish love he cherished above his country or his service.
She almost loses her grip on his hand, feels what remains of his flesh falling away, bones grow brittle and give. Rachel clutches him more tightly, tries to pull him close and take what is still a man, in her arms.
“Go to her, Michael! She's not ashamed of you, she knows you were angry, that you did your best and were brave to the end. Go to her in the high place, far above the night-fighters, beyond the bomber's moon! She's waiting for you, Michael!”
The scream grows louder, the silver river twists below, and then she can see nothing but the warehouse hurtling up to punch her body into ground meat.
Rachel comes around to the taste of whiskey. Reverend Black is holding a flask to her mouth while Tony supports her head. She hears a mumbling and makes out Father O'Connor holding up a rosary and praying over her. She coughs up a mouthful of Scotch, raises herself on her elbows.
“Thanks, good to know you've all got my back. Sort of.”
“You went down like the proverbial sack of spanners,” says Tony, concern clear through his attempt at humor.
“Is he gone?” asks Black.
“I sure hope so,” she replies. “I don't wanna go through that again.”
Not for the moment, anyhow, she thinks. But I know I can do it. Duncaster wasn't a one-off. If I can help them, the lost souls, do I have the right to simply pass by?
***
It's a clear autumn evening in London and a full moon is rising. A month after Rachel's intervention, the warehouse in the East End has not caused Father O'Connor any more concern.
Rachel undoes her hair, lets it fall around her shoulders, and puts her arms around Tony.
“How long before you have to be back at headquarters?” she asks.
“A couple of hours, tops,” he replies. “I had to do a lot of groveling to get tomorrow off, so I'd better be good tonight.”
“Not too good I hope, soldier!”
Things are well underway when someone knocks at the door and a cheerful voice says,
“Hey, lovebirds! Untangle yourselves for a minute and let me in before I collapse!”
Rachel tries to suppress giggles as Tony hops across the room, one leg in his pants.
She shouts, “Just a minute Charlotte!”
“I happen to know you can get up to a lot of mischief in a minute,” replies her friend.
“Okay, come in,” Rachel says, opening the door after checking that she and Tony are more or less fully-clothed.
Charlotte enters the small apartment like a tall, blonde force of nature and gives the red-faced Tony a knowing glance before depositing half a dozen parcels on the table.
“There, I think that's the lot,” she says to Rachel.
“I get the feeling I'm witnessing a black market transaction,” Tony says.
“Well, don't look!” replies Charlotte. “In fact, you shouldn't be here at all, everybody knows it's bad luck!”
“We're not superstitious,” says Rachel, unwrapping the biggest parcel.
“Turn your back at least, Tony!” shouts Charlotte, gesturing with her cigarette.
He turns and picks up his jacket from the bed, starts to put it on. Meanwhile, Rachel unfolds a white dress and holds it up to herself.
“Not bad,” says Charlotte, “it's about the right length for you. Tiny.”
“We can't all be Valkyries,” Rachel says, walking to the mirror. In the dim light, the dress looks old-fashioned, austere. Rationing of cloth has taken its toll on fashion.
“No peeking, Tony! You definitely can't see the dress the night before.”
Charlotte positions herself between her friends.
“You do realize that my home is a one-person apartment, strictly speaking?” says Tony.
“Try the veil, try the veil!” says Charlotte, ignoring him.
Rachel puts on the simple veil, then holds up the dress again.
She's right, it isn't bad, she thinks. But am I doing the right thing?
“Tell me when I can turn round, girls, please!” says Tony.
Charlotte takes the dress and veil and packs them up again before grabbing another parcel.
“Right – I've got two pairs of shoes, these, I think, are a bit of a long shot, but give them a go.”
Tony emits a moan of frustration and Charlotte pats him on the shoulder.
“You can watch this bit if you like, I know how fascinated you chaps are by all the subtle gradations of ladies' footwear.”
“Oh god, please make it stop!” he moans.
Rachel goes up to her fiancé, takes his face between her hands.
“Honey, remember this. All the stuff I put on tomorrow morning, you get to take off tomorrow night.”
“My sentiments exactly,” says Charlotte. “Check the other shoes!”
“Right you are, Miss Marsh,” says Rachel. “Will we definitely see you at the registry office tomorrow? Nine-thirty sharp?”
“I wouldn't miss this for world, darling!” replies Charlotte. “But, why you have to get hitched at such an uncivilized hour, beats me.”
“We'll adjourn to the pub as soon as possible,” promises Rachel, trying on shoes. “These make me look like my crazy aunt Freda. She has about twelve cats.”
“Okay, the first pair it is then! Feeling nervous, Tony?” she asks. “Got those night before jitters?”
“Not until you mentioned them,” he replies. “Thanks!”
“Ah, the things we do for love!” says Charlotte, pinching his cheek before starting to parcel up the unwanted shoes. “Sometimes I think the world would be better off without it.”
“Maybe,” says Rachel. “But I guess we're stuck with it, for now.”
After Charlotte leaves, they look out at the street, wave at their friend, watch her hail a cab and disappear into the great warren of London's streets. There are plenty of people on the sidewalk, and they play an old game, giving silly back stories to individuals that strike them as interesting. Rachel points to a young woman crossing the street towards Tony's building and starts to make up a life for her, then realizes that Tony can't see her. The young woman looks up at Rachel, who sighs.
“I've just got to go out for a minute, honey. I'll be back soon, promise.”
* * *
Rachel Rubin will be back in another adventure in July 2016: The Haunter!
FREE Bonus Novel!
Thank you once again for downloading this book. I’d really appreciate it if you took a minute to leave a review, it helps tremendously!
Don’t forget to download your FREE full length novel: Sherman’s Library Trilogy by Ron Ripley. Let us know where to send it by signing up for our mailing list below. You’ll also learn about upcoming releases, future discounts and giveaways: www.ScareStreet.com/DavidLonghorn
FREE books (30 - 60 pages):
Ron Ripley (Ghost Stories)
Ghost Stories (Short Story Collection)
The Boylan House (Novella sized preview of Trilogy)
The Blood Contract (Novella sized preview of Trilogy)
The Enfield Horror (Novella sized preview of Trilogy)
Victor Dark (Supernatural Suspense)
Uninvited Guests (Novel
la sized preview of Trilogy)
Listen To Me Speak (Novella sized preview of Trilogy)
A.I. Nasser (Supernatural Suspense)
Polly’s Haven (Short Story)
This is Gonna Hurt (Short Story)
Multi-Author Scare Street Collaboration
Horror Stories: A Short Story Collection
And experience the complete novels (150 - 200 pages):
Ron Ripley (Ghost Stories)
Sherman’s Library Trilogy (FREE via mailing list signup)
The Boylan House Trilogy
The Blood Contract Trilogy
The Enfield Horror Trilogy
Moving In Series Box Set Books 1 - 3 (22% off)
Moving In (Moving In Series Book 1)
The Dunewalkers (Moving In Series Book 2)
Middlebury Sanitarium (Moving In Series Book 3)
Moving In Series Box Set Books 4 - 6 (25% off)
The First Church (Moving In Series Book 4)
The Paupers' Crypt (Moving In Series Book 5)
The Academy (Moving In Series Book 6)
Berkley Street (Berkley Street Series Book 1)
The Lighthouse (Berkley Street Series Book 2)
The Town of Griswold (Berkley Street Series Book 3)
Sanford Hospital (Berkley Street Series Book 4)
Victor Dark (Supernatural Suspense)
Uninvited Guests Trilogy
Listen To Me Speak Trilogy
A.I. Nasser (Supernatural Suspense)
Children To The Slaughter (Slaughter Series Book 1)
Shadow’s Embrace (Slaughter Series Book 2)
Copper’s Keeper (Slaughter Series Book 3)
Kurtain Motel (The Sin Series Book 1)
Refuge (The Sin Series Book 2)
Purgatory (The Sin Series Book 3)
David Longhorn (Supernatural Suspense)
Sentinels (The Sentinels Series Book 1)
The Haunter (The Sentinels Series Book 2)
The Smog (The Sentinels Series Book 3)
Eric Whittle (Psychological Horror)
Catharsis (Catharsis Series Book 1)
Mania (Catharsis Series Book 2)
Coffer (Catharsis Series Book 3)
Sara Clancy (Supernatural Suspense)
Black Bayou (Dark Legacy Series Book 1)
Haunted Waterways (Dark Legacy Series Book 2)
Keeping it spooky,
Team Scare Street
Table of Contents
Prologue: 540 AD
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue: London, August 1940
Bonus Scene: Bombers Moon
FREE Bonus Novel!
Sentinels (The Sentinels Series Book 1) Page 15
