The Bright Blue Sky
Page 27
“Could he have known, Willie?”
Hatto was a long time replying. “It’s strong meat, old fruit,” he said at last. “But I see your point. I suppose we’ll never know the truth.”
“Perhaps it’s as well.”
“Perhaps it is. Either way, you came out of it alive and, apart from a little wear and tear, in reasonable shape. They say you were arsing about with Udet and his boys and think you deserve another medal for your cheek.”
“Can’t see the point now the war’s nearly over.”
Hatto chuckled. “Don’t delude yourself, old son. The more the merrier. Anybody with a few gongs and a good record’ll do very well for themselves. I’ve got a modest one or two and you’ve got a modest two or three. They’ll count. Reinforcements against the Parasol Percies of the world.”
Dicken shook his head. “Air fighting’s sheer luck,” he said. “There must be dozens who could have done just as well if they’d been given a Camel instead of one of those bloody awful BEs.”
There was a pause, then Hatto touched his hand. “Last I’ll be seeing of you for a bit, old fruit,” he said. “They say if I don’t go home I’ll be court-martialled. Look me up when you arrive.”
“Give my love to the Hon. Caroline, Willie. Are you going to marry her? She’s been writing to you since 1915.”
“Might at that. She seems to want to and you should never stand in the way of an express train or a determined woman.”
There was a moment’s silence, then Hatto put a couple of letters in Dicken’s hand. “Picked ’em up for you,” he said. “Female handwriting. Want me to read ’em to you or are they too private?”
Dicken shook his head. “They won’t be important. One from Nicola to say ‘Come home. All is forgiven.’ And one from Zoë to say she’s going to Canada with that chap Harmer.”
The following day, they took the bandages from his eyes and the doctor examined him carefully, before announcing he wouldn’t be losing the sight of his right eye.
One of the nurses brought a mirror and held it up. The face that stared out at him was a mixture of red, blue, yellow and green. His nose was swollen and listed slightly to the left, his forehead was all the colours of the rainbow, his cheeks seemed unable to make up their mind whether to be burned or bruised, and the yellow stains of picric made him look even more battered than he was.
“Can I read?” he asked. “Just a couple of letters.”
The nurse opened the letters and held them up. She looked a little like Nicola and, in her starched apron and cap, seemed so clean, so decent, so honest, so pure, he almost wept. The letters startled him because they were not at all what he’d expected. Nicola’s letter was from Madras.
“Father’s been posted to Delhi,” she wrote. “We had to leave almost immediately. It’s sad we haven’t seen each other to say goodbye but I don’t think now that we ever shall again. My parents send their affection and so do the smaller children, particularly Marie-Gabrielle, who always seemed to have a warm feeling for you.”
Particularly Marie-Gabrielle, who always had a warm feeling for you. No mention about Nicola’s warm feeling. No reference to the fact that she’d talked of marriage.
He drew a deep breath like a sigh and looked up at the nurse. “Now the other one, please.”
Once more he was startled by the contents. “Casey’s gone back to Canada,” Zoë wrote. “I think he’s let me down, because he said he’d find me a job in his business. At least, though, he taught me to fly so I can always get a job in aviation. In the meantime, you’d better come home and make an honest woman of me…”
As he finished reading, the nurse put the letter back in the envelope.
“Good news, I hope?”
“Bit of both. I can cope with it.”
He decided he could. He’d almost forgotten what Zoë’ looked like. All he could remember was her bounding energy. Then he remembered Nicola’s gentleness and decided it would never have worked. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps Zoë was right, too. He’d have to wait and see.
‘Kelly Maguire’ Titles
(in order of first publication)
These titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
1. The Lion at Sea 1977
2. The Dangerous Years 1978
3. Back to Battle 1979
‘Goff Family’ Titles
(in order of first publication)
These titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
1. Soldier of the Queen 1980
2. Blunted Lance 1981
3. The Iron Stallions 1982
RAF Trilogy
(in order of first publication)
These titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels
1. The Bright Blue Sky 1982
2. The Challenging Heights 1983
3. Once More the Hawks 1984
Synopses of Hennessy Titles
Published by House of Stratus
Back to Battle
The third title in the exciting naval trilogy featuring the courageous Kelly Maguire. Commander Kelly Maguire, leader of men in the British Navy, finds himself plunged into blistering attacks at the battle of Dunkirk. From bitter fighting in the Mediterranean, to the landings at Normandy, this action-packed saga takes Maguire through trial to triumph. Against a background of personal tragedy, this is a compelling story of love and adventure.
The Blunted Lance
The second novel in the Goff family trilogy. The Goffs, a family devoted to The Regiment - the Nineteenth Lancers - find themselves charting a history of the world from the Sudan to South Africa, Flanders to Palestine. Charging and retreating on the wide plains of a failing British Empire, Coby Goff rises to the rank of Field Marshal and Dabney is honoured as a hero. But they witness the decline of the beloved cavalry, defeated in the face of pounding artillery, the tank and machine gun.
The Bright Blue Sky
The first in Hennessy’s breathtaking RAF trilogy. The reckless days of early aviation are brought to life in a tale of daring, dashing young pilots waging war, and of the raging struggle between the hearts of two brave men for the heart of a beautiful woman. This is the first story in the trilogy involving Corporal Quinney, an air ace in the RAF; a hero blazing through the skies to dogfight high above the Italian front, confronting deadly foes and challenging a treacherous rival in love and war.
The Challenging Heights
The second in Hennessy’s breathtaking RAF trilogy. Dicken Quinney, a brilliant, heroic character, comes to life in this turbulent action novel. Quinney finds himself flying in the Baltic in a fight against the Bolsheviks. But tragedy mixes with adventure as Quinney loses his lover, Zoe.
The Dangerous Years
The second title in the exciting naval trilogy featuring the courageous Kelly Maguire. There is talk of peace across Europe as the First World War draws to its bloody conclusion and the German naval fleet limps into Scapa Flow for a humiliating surrender. But for Lieutenant Kelly Maguire, new conflicts arise in Russia, the Mediterranean and the Far East. Maguire faces brutal choices and violent action. Rising through the ranks of the Royal Navy he is sent on a mission to the killing-ground of China. For Maguire, dangerous years are ahead.
The Iron Stallions
The third novel in the Goff family trilogy. The Goff family have lived and died for the Nineteenth Lancers for generations but when Josh Goff runs away from school to enlist in the ranks of the cavalry under a false name, he winds up on the beaches of France. It is D-Day and heavy artillery pummels the landscape around him. As he fights, Goff learns that the cavalry is still expected to save the day, or die bravely in the attempt.
The Lion at Sea
The first title in the exciting naval trilogy featuring the courageous Kelly Maguire. Midshipman Kelly Maguire has always had a love affair with the sea. And when war clouds gather over Eu
rope, Maguire is put to the test along with the marine might of the Royal Navy. From the Hellish battles of Gallipoli to the barbarous action at Antwerp, Maguire begins to learn the lessons a sailor must face. Glory and danger abound in this sizzling saga of adventure, blood and guts.
Once More the Hawks
Last in the RAF trilogy, this story charts the exploits of world-class fighter pilot Dicken Quinney. It is the summer of 1939 and when war breaks out, Quinney finds himself flying through the skies of France, shot down over a cemetery and forced to make a breath-taking escape across Nazi Europe, into the hands of his nemesis, General Lee Tse Liu.
Soldier of the Queen
The first novel in the Goff family trilogy. Charting the heroism of a young and talented cavalry officer, Colby Goff, this story takes the reader from Balaclava to the Zulu War. Colby progresses from a raw, wilful soldier to a laudable officer, fighting from continent to continent, engaging in the Franco-Prussian and American civil war and proving himself to be a man of passion and of steel.
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