Wings of the Morning

by Beryl Matthews

  ‘I didn’t have anything to be bitter about, Rose. You looked after me and shielded me from as much of the squalor as you could.’ Annie smiled at her big sister, remembering those difficult years when the whole family had relied on Rose. What a burden they’d placed on her.

  They walked in silence for some time, and then Annie heard a strange swishing sound. She looked up and gasped in horror. Following them along the road was a doodlebug with its engines cut, and it was gliding down.

  Rose spun her to face the way they had just come. ‘Run!’

  They hurtled back up the road and were thrown to the ground as the bomb exploded.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Rose scrambled to her feet and helped Annie up.

  ‘Yes. I thought those things were supposed to cut their engines and then nose dive.’

  ‘So did I, but evidently they don’t always do that.’ Rose brushed off the dust and swore fluently under her breath as she looked at the devastation at the end of the road.

  The street was suddenly alive with people running to see if they could rescue anyone. Annie watched Rose hesitate and knew that her sister’s instinct would be to pitch in and help, but concern for George was uppermost in her mind, so she spun around and walked away.

  ‘We’ll have to go around that. Let’s try and find that father of mine.’

  When they turned into the street, Annie gave a cry of anguish, but Rose remained silent, not moving. The house wasn’t there. All that remained was a huge pile of rubble.

  Rose’s mouth was set in a grim line and she grabbed a policeman who was hurrying past her. ‘When did this happen?’ she demanded.

  ‘About two nights ago.’

  ‘Anyone killed?’

  ‘I don’t know. You’ll have to enquire at the Town Hall. They’ve set up an information desk there.’

  ‘Not much left, is there.’ Annie’s voice was husky with tears as the two sisters stood looking at the place where a grand house had once stood – a house with so many memories for both of them. ‘If he was in there …’

  ‘He wouldn’t have stood a chance.’ Rose finished Annie’s sentence, then strode away, her face a mask as she headed for the information centre.

  Annie hurried to catch her up, too upset to face the facts. ‘Perhaps he wasn’t there?’

  ‘Of course he was. We’d have heard from him otherwise.’ Rose’s tone was brisk but she couldn’t hide the inner pain she was feeling.

  It didn’t take long to discover the truth. There had been several people killed that night. They were sent to identify the body.

  Annie couldn’t bear to go in but Rose took on the unpleasant task without flinching. ‘At least we can have a funeral,’ Rose told her, after she’d confirmed that one of the dead was Sir George Gresham.

  Rose’s eyes were dry but Annie knew how her sister was suffering. Being so alike, father and daughter had often fought, but they had loved each other. When George had walked into her life for the first time the arguments had been fierce but he’d accepted her as his daughter, and made no secret of how much he loved and admired her. He had become a loved member of the family and his loss would be deeply felt.

  ‘London was his home,’ Rose said, her voice softening, ‘so we’ll bury him here.’

  It was a simple ceremony with only the two sisters present. Rose had chosen the Bible readings herself and Annie felt that George would have approved of the arrangements. His beloved daughter was there and that would have been all he’d have wanted.

  ‘I wish I could come back to Wales with you,’ Annie said to her sister. ‘But I have to report back now.’

  ‘I know, and thanks for being here, Annie. It has helped a lot.’

  ‘Are you going to try and salvage anything from the rubble?’ Annie asked.

  ‘No, Dad moved the most valuable pieces down to Wales, and anyway, I don’t suppose much has survived. It looked as if it took a direct hit.’

  Annie thought about the lovely house. It had been George’s pride and joy, but now it was gone, like so many homes. ‘It was supposed to have been part of James’s inheritance, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Yes.’ Rose gazed into space for a moment. ‘But material things can be replaced; it’s the loss of loved ones that’s hard to take. They are irreplaceable.’

  ‘We’ve got our memories, though, Rose, haven’t we?’ Annie lingered to take a last look at the simple grave before they turned away.

  Her sister looked grim as they walked out of the churchyard. ‘I’ll get a nice headstone when the war’s over. Though why the silly old fool had to go and get himself killed when we’re nearing the end …’

  For the first time, Rose allowed herself a few tears, and Annie joined in, for the man they had all come to love. It was going to be difficult telling the rest of the family that George was dead, and she didn’t envy her sister the task.

  ‘Any news from Sam?’ Annie asked as soon as she arrived back at Chicksands. The tragic loss of George had pushed Sam from her mind for a while but now the worry was back in full force. Ten days and not a word from him!

  The officer shook his head. ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Where is he, and why didn’t he contact us as soon as he landed?’

  ‘Perhaps his wireless set isn’t working, or he’s lost it.’

  Annie couldn’t accept that. If that were the case then he would have found another way to let them know he was all right. France was swarming with Allied troops and any of them would have relayed a message for him. Her nerves were frayed. What with losing George so unexpectedly, and now Sam disappearing, she was feeling more than a little edgy. ‘He ought to have more consideration! My sister told me his son keeps asking when he’s coming to see him.’

  ‘All we can do is wait.’ The officer walked away.

  Annie jammed the headphones on and gave a weary sigh. She wished she’d gone with Sam. At least she’d know what was going on. It was damned frustrating sitting on the sidelines and waiting …

  31

  ‘Anything?’ Annie asked the same question every time she reported for duty, but she already knew the answer. It was the beginning of September and still no word from Sam. She feared the worst by now and her heart ached for his little son. Jacques had settled in well with Rose and the children, but he was constantly asking for his father. He was in a strange country, speaking a strange language, and he’d lost the one woman he’d clung to – his grandmother. Was it any wonder the boy didn’t know how to smile? Even James and Kate had been unable to coax a laugh out of him.

  Annie sat down, muttering under her breath. When this war was over there would be a lot of adjusting to do, and many families were going to have empty spaces in their lives. There was talk that the war would soon be over, but she had her doubts about that. It was true that Paris had been liberated on August 25th, and this had been the cause of great rejoicing, but now there was a new threat of V2 rockets. These weren’t like the doodlebugs; you couldn’t see or hear them, and there wasn’t any defence against them. The first anyone knew about them was when they exploded, and then it was too late. How she longed for this dreadful war to be over.

  Annie tried to shut off the jumble of disturbing thoughts. She still had work to do but her mind constantly wandered back to Sam. Was he alive or dead? Worry gnawed away at her insides. Was she fated to lose all the men she became fond of – Paul, Jack Graham, George, and now perhaps Sam? Thank heavens Reid was no longer flying.

  She sat up straight and frowned. Where had that thought come from?

  ‘Take a break,’ she was ordered by the officer-in-charge.

  Annie glanced at the clock and was surprised to see that she had been at her post for nearly four hours. She stood up, stretched and headed for the door.

  The mess was busy but she managed to find a corner table on her own. She didn’t feel like talking at the moment. How she missed Dora’s cheerful company.

  After eating, she cradled her cup of tea in her hands and bowed her head. She was so
weary. ‘Where the hell are you, Sam,’ she muttered fiercely under her breath.

  The tap on her shoulder made her jump and the tea slopped over the side of the cup.

  ‘You’re needed,’ Jean told her.

  ‘Right.’ Annie drank what was left of the tea, and hurried back.

  ‘We’ve had a message from Sam,’ Wing Commander Felshaw said and handed her a sheet of paper.

  Annie read it and gave a sigh of relief. It said: ‘Returning immediately. Await my call.’

  For some strange reason an uneasy feeling grew. ‘Is this all he said?’

  ‘Yes,’ was the brisk reply.

  What did he mean by – await my call? And when would he call? Why was the message so short? There wasn’t any need for that restriction now. She stared at the paper in the forlorn hope that it might reveal some answers, but of course it didn’t.

  ‘I’m afraid we’ll have to be patient.’

  Annie studied the officer. ‘What’s going on, sir?’

  ‘Nothing that need concern you at the moment.’ His tone was dismissive.

  Annie wasn’t going to be so easily put off. ‘I think it is, sir. My sister is looking after his son, and if something has happened to Sam then I have a right to know.’

  ‘As far as we are aware he is OK.’

  ‘I can hear a “but” in your voice.’ Then something became clear. ‘This isn’t the first message you’ve had from him, is it?’

  ‘No, we received one at three this morning.’

  ‘What did it say?’ she demanded, stung that the news should have been kept from her.

  ‘All I can tell you is that he has been in trouble, but he’s out now and coming back on the first available boat. The rest of the information is confidential.’ He walked away, effectively putting an end to her questions.

  Annie sat at her desk with a stubborn expression on her face. How the hell had he got into trouble? If he’d been behind the German lines she’d kill him herself! He ought to be thinking about Jacques, and trying to stay alive for his son, not chasing off on some mission of his own. She decided she wasn’t moving from this spot until Sam’s call came through.

  It was sixteen hundred hours when she was summoned to the officer’s room. ‘Sam, he wants to talk to you.’

  She reached out eagerly but he held on to the phone. ‘Whatever help he needs, you are to give it. You can take all the time off necessary.’ Then he released the phone to her and strode out of the room.

  Annie’s heart was thudding. Something was wrong. ‘Sam, are you all right? Where are you?’

  ‘I’m in Dover.’ He spoke quickly, as if in a hurry. ‘I need to get to Wales. Will you see if Reid can fly us there?’

  ‘I don’t know if that – ’

  Annie!’ He almost shouted at her this time. ‘I’ve got to get there. I’ve brought someone back with me and they can’t travel by road or train. I need Reid’s help.’

  ‘Please don’t upset yourself.’ There was a note of desperation in Sam’s voice and she didn’t like it. ‘Is he ill?’

  ‘Yes, and Wales is the only answer. I’ve already contacted Rose and she has agreed we can go there.’

  ‘I’ll see what I can do. If Reid can’t help then I’ll find someone who can.’ Though it was difficult to know how she was going to do that. This request was unusual and highly irregular. Still she had been told to give him all the help he needed …

  ‘We can’t travel today; the journey has already taken its toll. Sometime tomorrow, if possible.’

  ‘All right, Sam, where can I get in touch with you?’

  ‘We’re in a hotel.’ He gave her the address, and a ragged sigh echoed down the line. ‘I thank God for the day I met you and your wonderful family.’

  Reid was on his way out the door on seven days’ leave when he was called back.

  ‘Urgent phone call for you, sir.’

  ‘Yes,’ he snapped into the receiver.

  There was silence at the other end, and he tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk. He was looking forward to this leave and was eager to be on his way.

  ‘Is this a bad time?’ Annie asked hesitantly.

  ‘No, no,’ Reid assured her, regretting his sharp tone again. ‘It’s good to hear from you. I hope there isn’t anything wrong?’

  His brow creased into a deep frown as he listened. ‘Give me the address,’ he said when she’d finished talking. He scribbled it down.

  ‘Sam said he needs you, Reid, but I’m sure he’ll understand if you can’t do this. It might be impossible to arrange, but he sounded desperate.’

  ‘It’s all right, Annie,’ he soothed. She sounded sick with worry. ‘As of this moment I’m on leave, and we must move Sam and this other man from Dover. You never know where these V2 rockets are going to land. How bad is this other person?’ he asked.

  ‘Pretty bad, I think. Sam said they couldn’t travel today because the journey has taken its toll.’

  ‘You go on down there and I’ll come as soon as I can.’ He picked up the slip of paper with the address on it and shoved it into his pocket. ‘You tell Sam I’ll be there sometime tomorrow.’ Reid put the phone down, his mind already working out the details. He could take his own plane, of course, but by the sound of it they needed something larger for this trip. However, it wasn’t going to be easy to arrange. If Sam was taking someone to Wales then this was a private matter. Still, he would see what he could fix up.

  After three phone calls he was intrigued. Everyone was falling over themselves to give him anything he asked for. Who the hell was Sam, and who was his injured passenger?

  He strode out to one of the hangars, intent on getting all the arrangements in place. Charlie was working on the very plane he wanted – a DC3. ‘What’s wrong with her?’ he asked briskly.

  Charlie scrambled down. ‘We’re changing an engine. It won’t take more than another hour.’

  Reid nodded. ‘Good, I’m taking her tomorrow. Make sure there’s a bunk for a sick passenger. I’ve just had a call from your sister Annie to say that Sam is back from France and has a sick man to take down to Wales.’ Then Reid turned on his heel and hurried away, not giving Charlie a chance to ask questions. His mind was set on the task he’d been assigned. There were a lot of arrangements to make. His first stop was the mess where he found the man he was looking for.

  ‘Hi, Reid.’ Bouncer said grinning. ‘Thought you were on leave. Can’t you bear to leave the place?’

  ‘Something’s come up and I need a co-pilot. We’ll be leaving at eight tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Where are we going?’ his friend asked.

  ‘Hawkinge first, then pick up some passengers in Dover, and then on to Wales.’

  ‘Great.’ Bouncer’s face broke into a wide grin. ‘What’s this all about?’

  ‘I really don’t know much.’ He told Bouncer about the call. ‘We’ll have to see when we get there, but Annie sounded out of her mind with worry.’

  ‘I expect she is.’ Bouncer shook his head in concern. ‘But can we do this? We can’t just take the DC3 without permission.’

  Reid picked up Bouncer’s mug of tea and drank it in a distracted way. ‘I had grave doubts so I made a few calls, and it looks as if someone has been oiling the wheels. Anything Group Captain André Riniou wants is to be granted.’

  ‘That’s interesting.’ Bouncer picked up his mug, looked inside, then put it down again. ‘His passenger must be important, but why take him to Wales?’

  ‘Damned if I know. Rose and her family have taken in enough waifs and strays as it is. That house is aptly named The Haven; it’s always packed.’

  Bouncer smiled. ‘Yes, they are a remarkable family. So, how ill is this person?’

  ‘No idea, but I’m trying to get a military nurse to come with us just in case of an emergency.’ Reid stood up. ‘See you in the morning.’

  ‘Reid!’ Bouncer called him back. ‘How long can we stay?’

  He shrugged. ‘As long as it take
s, and as my co-pilot you’ll have to wait until I’m ready to return. Could take a while and I do have seven days’ leave to use up.’

  ‘Right.’ Bouncer rubbed his hands together with pleasure. ‘A few days in the country will be just the ticket.’

  They reached the Bartlett Hotel in Dover at ten o’clock the next morning, and the manager told them which room Sam was in. Reid gave a gentle rap on the door and Sam opened it at once. The first sight of him was a shock and he heard Bouncer suck in his breath. The man was gaunt with exhaustion.

  ‘Reid.’ Sam grasped his hand. ‘Thank you for coming.’

  ‘I’ve brought a nurse with me in case she’s needed.’

  The woman stepped forward. ‘My name’s Gloria Stevens, Group Captain Riniou, and I can stay with your patient as long as I’m needed.’

  Sam stepped aside for them to enter the small room. ‘I’m grateful. You are needed.’

  For a moment, Reid thought Sam was going to collapse so he caught hold of his arm to steady him. ‘You’ve had a rough time by the look of you.’

  Sam glanced anxiously towards the bed. ‘Not as rough as her.’

  Her? It was only then that Reid noticed the other occupants of the room. Annie was sitting beside the bed, holding the patient’s hand and talking gently in French. In the bed was a girl.

  Annie stepped away from the bed to make room for the nurse to examine the patient. As the nurse pulled the sheet back Reid just managed to cut off a gasp of horror. He had never seen anyone so emaciated before.

  ‘Oh my God!’ Bouncer breathed, his words hardly audible.

  ‘You can see why I need help,’ Sam told them.

  ‘I’ve come with a plane equipped with a bunk and medical supplies.’ Reid was so relieved that he’d had the sense to arrange this.

  Sam gave a ragged sigh. ‘That will make the journey easier.’

  ‘We thought the patient was a man,’ Bouncer said.

  ‘That was my fault.’ Annie spoke for the first time. ‘I assumed it was.’

  ‘Who is she?’ Reid asked.