Day Will Come

by Matthews, Beryl

  ‘We do – sometimes.’

  ‘What do you mean “sometimes”, Mum?’ Grace demanded.

  ‘It depends how close it is,’ her father explained. ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got an Anderson shelter in the garden now, but we don’t use it unless we have to. It’s rather damp, and we need our wellington boots on if we go down there. There’s too much underground water here.’

  ‘Waste of precious ground, if you ask me,’ her mother said. ‘We could be growing vegetables on that plot.’

  ‘Your safety is more important,’ Grace pointed out.

  ‘You’re right, of course.’ Her mother put a plate of steaming food in front of her. ‘It’s only a veg pie, but it is filling.’

  ‘It smells and looks delicious.’

  ‘Eat up, then,’ her father told her. ‘You’ll need that inside you tonight. Once the worst of the raid is over we go and help the rescue services. Your mother has joined the WVS, and they go out with a tea van.’

  So that was why her mother was dressed like that. They hadn’t mentioned any of this in their letters. ‘You’ve been keeping things from me!’

  ‘Don’t look so shocked, darling.’ Her mother smiled sadly. ‘People need help. The Women’s Voluntary Service is there to give a hot drink to rescuers, firemen and those made homeless or in shock. A cup of strong tea is always a comfort.’

  ‘I see.’ Grace shook her head. ‘I came home intending to persuade you to move out of London, but I’d be wasting my time, wouldn’t I?’

  ‘We’re not leaving. We’ll take our chance, like everyone else. Now, eat up before the sirens go. If the bombs start to fall we’ll dive under the table.’

  Grace stopped with her fork halfway towards her mouth and stared at her mother in disbelief. ‘You’re not serious?’

  Her mother shrugged. ‘It will protect us from flying glass.’

  ‘But not if the bloody house comes down!’

  ‘Language, dear. I hope you haven’t picked up bad habits at that camp?’

  ‘Mum! You’re incredible, do you know that?’

  ‘Yes, dear. Your father has always told me I am.’

  Ted was grinning, and when Grace caught him winking at her, she burst into laughter. ‘All right, I’ll watch my language. So, do you think there will be a raid tonight?’

  ‘They’ve been coming every night. A lot of families sleep down the underground stations, especially if they’ve got young children.’ Her father finished the last of his meal and sat back with a sigh.

  ‘I expect many parents are wishing they’d left their children in the country. It must have been hard to send their youngsters away to live with strangers, though.’

  ‘It was, Grace. Some children settled in the homes they were evacuated to, but others wanted to come back. There didn’t seem to be any danger then.’ Jean shook her head sadly. ‘It was the wrong thing to do, but it’s easy to be wise with hindsight.’

  Suddenly the eerie wailing of the sirens filled the air.

  ‘Here they come!’ Ted said, grimly. ‘Grace, you go to the shelter if you want to.’

  ‘Not without you,’ she told them firmly.

  ‘If I were you, darling, I’d change out of that smart uniform. Slacks would be better.’

  ‘All right, Mum. I’ve got my army slacks with me. They will be more comfortable.’ Grace grabbed her bag and dashed upstairs to change as quickly as she could. The drone of bombers approaching could already be heard.

  It only took a couple of minutes and she was back with her parents. They were sitting at the kitchen table and Ted was shuffling a pack of cards.

  ‘What now?’ she asked, sitting down.

  ‘We wait and play pontoon.’ Ted began to deal the cards. ‘Quite often a plane comes in first and drops markers over the target. I’ve been out and had a look, and it looks like it might be the East End again.’

  ‘Poor devils.’ Jean picked up her cards.

  Grace did the same. There was a feeling of unreality to be sitting here like this as the guns opened fire on the raiders. If the majority of people were showing the same fortitude, then there was no way Hitler was going to force this country into submission.

  She lost track of time as the bombs whistled down, and a couple of times the house shook and they dived under the table. Then they crawled out and continued their game of cards. It was the most frightening and extraordinary experience she had ever encountered.

  When at last the all-clear sounded, they went outside and Grace gasped in horror. The sky was red, like a sunrise. London was burning.

  ‘I’ve got to go, Grace,’ Ted told her, already moving towards the door. ‘The rescue services are going to need all the help they can get.’

  ‘I’m coming with you.’ She fell into step with her father as he collected his tin hat and hurried out of the front door. ‘What’s Mum going to do?’

  ‘She’ll be with the WVS on the tea van.’

  ‘You didn’t tell me any of this in your letters,’ she complained.

  ‘What would you have done if we had told you?’

  ‘Worry!’

  ‘Exactly. That’s why we didn’t say anything. We can’t sit back and do nothing, any more than you can.’

  ‘No, of course you can’t,’ she admitted, as they reached a group of men at the end of the road. Many were in uniforms of the various rescue services, some were neighbours she knew well, including Helen’s father, and there were men obviously on leave like herself. It was a mixture, but one thing was clear; they all wanted to help.

  An old bus trundled up and they all managed to squeeze in, and it wasn’t long before they reached a roadblock. They walked the rest of the way, clambering over and round smouldering debris. The next two hours were spent searching for anyone who might be buried under the rubble.

  It was light when Grace’s father tapped her on the shoulder. ‘That’s all we can do here. Time to call it a night.’

  She straightened up, numb with fatigue. ‘Did you find anyone?’

  ‘Two. Dead, I’m afraid.’ He took her arm. ‘Come on, the bus is waiting.’

  ‘I haven’t seen Mum.’

  ‘She’ll be down at the docks, I expect.’

  That first night set the pattern of the rest of Grace’s leave – air raids at night, and sleeping when they could. She worried about leaving her parents to that hell, but knew that no amount of pleading would make them leave London. It hadn’t been a restful leave, but at least she knew what the Blitz was really like, and how involved her parents were. It was worrying, but she was proud of them, and everyone was labouring to keep everything going. No one was getting much sleep, but after each raid, the people were making their way to work, determined to get there any way they could, despite the destruction. Life went on a day at a time.

  Grace finished packing her bag and sat on the bed, running her hands over the cover. She hadn’t spent much time in this room, which was just as well. She was moving on, as Brian would have wanted, but she missed him so much. They had been childhood sweethearts, and there had never been anyone else for Grace. Would the pain ever go?

  She wiped away a single tear, and stood up. The things she had seen and done over the last week had made her emotional – and that would not do.

  Dawn was lighting the sky. Her next day was here, and she had orders to follow.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Grace hadn’t given a thought to what awaited her at Aldershot, but she would soon find out, she thought, as she was escorted to a waiting room. There were three others waiting to be interviewed, and Grace was the only woman. Whatever this was about, she didn’t think her chances were good. The men waiting didn’t look like secretaries. They were all late twenties to early thirties with upper-class accents, and not a private among them.

  Each interview lasted at least half an hour, and she studied the faces as they returned and sat down again. They all looked confident.

  It had been a long wait as she was the last to be called. The m
ajor general was a distinguished man, around six feet, greying slightly at the temples, with piercing blue eyes. She felt his scrutiny, and knew he would remember every detail about her.

  ‘In the next room, Private Lincoln, there is a German pilot who was shot down over London. I want you to talk to him and see if you can get any useful information out of him. He doesn’t speak English.’ He handed her a pen and pad. ‘Make a note of everything he tells you.’

  This was the last thing she had expected, and for a moment the shock paralysed her. A mental picture of the destruction and suffering she had just seen filled her thoughts.

  The major general was still studying her. ‘Say if you are not up to it.’

  He had spoken sharply, and that snapped her back. With a touch of anger in her voice, she said, ‘I relish the chance to meet him, sir.’

  She opened the door, stepped inside and closed it softly behind her. First she took in the room, noting where everything was, and then turned her attention to the man sitting at the table. He was handsome, with fine, chiselled features, sandy-coloured hair and hazel eyes.

  Grace smiled and sat opposite him, not saying a word. Something was nagging at her, but she couldn’t see what it was. She made a few notes in shorthand on the pad, and then looked up, smiling again. For about ten minutes she talked to him, making detailed notes of their conversation.

  And then it hit her. She was furious with herself for not spotting it sooner. ‘You have had a long day,’ she said sweetly. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

  When he nodded, she stood up. ‘I’ll have one sent in to you.’ With her hand on the door she switched to English. ‘Don’t ever take up acting as a profession. You would starve.’

  The astonished look on his face made her day worthwhile.

  ‘How did you get on?’ the officer asked.

  ‘It’s all here.’ Grace handed him the pad and watched him frown. ‘Don’t worry if you can’t read shorthand, sir. Apart from my assessment of the situation there isn’t anything there you don’t already know. The officer in there would like a cup of tea. He’s had a tiring few hours, and I’m sure he would like to change into his own uniform. Oh, and it would be wise to remove that wristwatch before doing this again. It’s English.’

  The frown disappeared and was replaced by surprise. ‘Did that give him away?’

  ‘It was a series of small things. I was suspicious straight away by the absence of a guard in the room. I hardly think you would send a woman in with a prisoner without some protection. In my work for a lawyer I met all types – guilty, innocent, liars, violent men and even killers. Your German fooled me for a while, but not for long. Do I have your permission to leave now, sir?’

  ‘No, you do not! Go and wait outside.’

  The three men smiled rather smugly when Grace stormed out, clearly annoyed.

  ‘It looks as if that didn’t go well,’ one remarked.

  ‘Oh, it went very well. I just don’t like being taken for a fool. That charade was unnecessary!’

  They all looked puzzled, but didn’t pursue the subject.

  ‘Where’s that tea I was promised?’

  ‘I’m not so sure you deserve one. What the hell happened in there, Bill?’

  The man leaning casually against the open door gave an amused chuckle. ‘I put on my best performance for her, but she saw through my deception. She even had the cheek to tell me not to take up acting as a profession. You’d think having spent some of my childhood in Germany I’d be able to convince her I was really a German pilot. And don’t be fooled, behind that lovely face there is a sharp analytical mind. And her German is good, by the way.’

  Stan nodded. ‘She worked with Dan Chester for a while, and I suspect he’s been coaching her. He speaks it like a native.’

  ‘She’s the only one who realised I wasn’t German. What are you going to do?’ Bill asked, walking over to the desk and picking up the notebook. As he read he began to laugh.

  ‘I’d forgotten you can read shorthand. What does it say?’

  ‘Believe me, Stan, you don’t want to know. She does not have a very high opinion of our method of interviewing a prospective secretary. I like her, and would say she is the right person for intelligence work.’

  ‘I know, damn it!’ Stan gazed out of the window for long moments. ‘It’s going to cause complication if we take her. There will be some situations we can’t send her into.’

  ‘Agreed, but she could still be more useful than the other candidates we saw. She can be my secretary while we see what she is capable of.’

  ‘No, she bloody well can’t! You can forget that idea, Captain Reid.’

  Bill tried to look hurt. ‘Anyone would think you don’t trust me.’

  ‘I don’t. If she was a plain, unattractive woman, it would be different – but she isn’t.’

  ‘Take one of the men, then.’

  Stan shook his head. ‘Not one of them spotted the deception, so that leaves us with the most suitable candidate – a woman. And get out of that blasted uniform. If you wander around in that you’ll get arrested or shot.’

  ‘Don’t take your bad mood out on me, Major General. This exercise was your idea. If you are dead against working with a woman, why did you agree to see her?’

  ‘I was curious. Here, read this letter from Chester.’

  There was silence while Bill read through the letter, and then he lifted his head. ‘Is this the Major Chester you keep trying to have transferred to us?’

  Stan nodded. ‘As I’ve said, she worked for him while he was at the War Office.’

  Bill whistled through his teeth. ‘She speaks fluent French, as well, and is a qualified driver. Take her, Stan. If she doesn’t work out you can always have her transferred. I don’t think you have a choice.’

  ‘You’re right.’ Stan called the duty corporal in. ‘Tell the three men they can go, and bring the woman in here.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  This was taking a long time. If they didn’t dismiss her soon she wouldn’t be able to get back to Northamptonshire today. Perhaps they would let her stay here overnight. It was a shame because Aldershot wasn’t too far from London, and she might have been able to get home more often. Any hope of a posting here had gone the moment she had seen through their bit of theatre. She had been cross, and had shown it, unfortunately. If they had wanted to find out how good her German was, all they’d needed to do was give her a proper test. And why was that so important? What section of the army was this? The uniform badges were unfamiliar to her.

  The duty corporal came over and told them they could go, and Grace stood up, intent on leaving.

  ‘You are not dismissed,’ the soldier told her. ‘You are to come with me.’

  She was escorted back to the office. When she walked in, the pretend German stepped forward and bowed gracefully. ‘Captain William Reid at your service, Private Lincoln.’

  There was such an air of devilment about him, and her irritation instantly disappeared. Captain Reid didn’t look as if he took anything seriously, though that was probably an act, she suspected. She couldn’t help laughing and joining in his game. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet the real you, sir.’

  ‘The pleasure is all mine.’ He grinned, showing a row of perfect white teeth. ‘Now, if you will excuse me. I have to change out of this uniform. The major general thinks I will get shot if seen wandering around in it. Though I suspect he would like to shoot me himself for failing to convince you that I was a German.’

  ‘If you don’t get out of here now, that is a distinct possibility, Captain!’

  ‘Yes, sir!’ Bill opened the door, turned and winked at Grace, then disappeared.

  When she turned back to the major general there was a smile on his face. Ah, she thought, he has a sense of humour. Thank goodness.

  ‘That is the first time anyone has caught him out.’

  ‘You do this often, then, do you, sir?’

  ‘We’ve found it the most effective way t
o find out, quickly, if a person is suitable for this kind of work.’

  ‘And what work is that, sir?’ Grace was sure she was going to be reprimanded and sent away, so she wanted to know why she was here. There would be a black mark on her record after this, anyway.

  He didn’t answer the question, instead he asked, ‘Did you like working for Major Chester?’

  ‘It was interesting, sir.’

  His mouth twitched at the corners. ‘No doubt.’

  There was a rap on the door and the corporal came in carrying a tray of tea.

  ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ he asked when the soldier had left.

  ‘No, thank you, sir. I can get one on the train.’ Now she was puzzled. Why was this officer offering her tea?

  He looked up sharply. ‘Where do you think you are going?’

  ‘I’ve been told to report back to Northamptonshire for another posting.’

  ‘Why do you need another posting?’

  ‘Because I’ve messed this one up,’ she told him bluntly.

  ‘What makes you think that?’

  ‘I didn’t do what I was supposed to, and I spoke my mind when I discovered the German was a fake, sir.’

  ‘I admit that in most units that would have immediately disqualified you, but not in this case. We are looking for different qualities. Pour the tea for us and sit down. Whether you like the way we do things, or not, you have your posting. A decision I could live to regret, and if you mess up you’ll be out of here very quickly.’

  Grace, stunned by this announcement, set about pouring the tea without commenting. What could she say? He obviously didn’t want her, so what on earth was going on here?

  The captain swept in. ‘Ah, the tea I was promised. Any biscuits?’

  He sounded just like Dan and she smiled at the captain. ‘Digestive or custard creams, sir?’

  ‘Both please. I see he has you working already.’

  ‘Private Lincoln was under the impression she had failed our little test, Bill.’

  The smile was there when he took the tea from her. ‘Not a chance!’