by Carl Leckey
On closer examination under a gas lamp I recognise it as a German Luger. Alec is waiting for me when I enter his office he is deep in paper work. “How did you get on?” he enquires. “Alec you will never believe what a day I have had?” I give him a detailed account of the occurrences during the day including my contact with the ship’s Captain and the possibility of using his ship. He approves but sits back in his chair stroking his chin when I tell him about the rotation of passenger. “So you were taking one man out and bringing a totally different one back?” He asks. “Yes that’s right. I thought it was funny but the guy at the barn said it was the usual practice to give the men a break, he seemed genuine to me.”
“Hmm,” Alec responds thoughtfully. “I think you are too trusting. I have an idea you have been kidded Adam my old lad. Good job the Gendarmes were not on the ball or you would be in the hoosegow by now.” “Why what’s up?” I ask alarmed. “You my old mate have been smuggling men in and out of the docks. Remember me telling you about the deserters trying to get back to England? Well I think you have just assisted a number of them to do so.” “But who were the ones coming this way?” “Ha! They would be German prisoners trying to get home. I think we have been used by the local gangsters.” “But they weren’t French Alec they were Cockneys.” Alec snorts with derision. “Adam you have a lot to learn my lad. They will most probably be deserters themselves, the buggers will have seen the opportunity to make fast cash and set the operation up. Were there many ships in the docks?” “Yes it was chocker block.” Then we won’t be able to identify the ship that is doing the smuggling? Never mind, we best mind our own business if we get mixed up in an official enquiry who knows where it will lead? You say they were surprised when you turned up, not the French driver they were expecting?” “Yes I think so. We’ll have to sort him out I suppose?” He answers. “I reckon he was in on the deal. By the way he hasn’t returned with the truck yet. I didn’t even know he had gone to the docks.
Wonder where he has been all day? The other drivers reckon they haven’t seen him since he left the depot. I have a feeling we won’t see him or the truck again after what you have just told me. Bugger! We live and learn, this will eat into our profits I’m afraid. I thought they were paying over the odds for the job but it was too good to turn down. Did you get the payment by the way?” “I did Alec.” I drop the envelopes on his overloaded desk.
“Although I’m afraid I was saving the best bit until last.” I give him an account of the hold up and the attitude of the cockneys at the barn and the docks. We both agree we have been set up and had a near miss. It looks as if we are one truck and a driver down and the operation is hardly off the ground. I decide from now on I will carry the Luger for my own protection. This is a turn up. I have gone through the war unarmed.
Now when we are well into the peace I feel the need to carry a weapon. Life goes on I have to sort my own life out before I am able to concentrate on the business. As the transport company has been running well without my input I arrange with Alec for a couple of days away to pick up Denise from the chateau. Before I leave Alec asks me where I am going to live when I bring Denise back. He has a smile on his face. I believe Oscar has already made him aware of his concerns about us cohabitating before wedlock. “I have plans to eventually move into the coach house in the back garden of the big house. I know it needs cleaning and new bedding it also has a few broken windows etc. I’ll sort it all out when she is here. Did you know Oscar has let the big house go don’t you?” “Yes he told me before he left. I’ve not seen the coach house myself. I might go around have a look at it if you don’t mind? Oscar told me there are two fine old coaches there.” “Yes we haven’t finally made up our minds what we are going to do about them yet. By all means you go and have a look I would value your opinion anyway. Do you have a key to the big house?” Alec nods. “Well, you will find all the other keys for the coach houses are on the board in the hall.”
I pick up my gear from the house ready to move into the billet with the lads. With this in mind I bring Pompey Lill back to the depot to enable me to get an early start in the morning. As I don’t know how long it will take me and where I will sleep overnight I take the kit we used during the war. A primus stove a frying pan along with the oil and mentholated spirits this is an essential part of the survival gear.
I pick a large canvas sheet wide enough to cover the rear of the charabanc.
A supply of water, a kettle, and cup, a bucket for washing, not forgetting as many blankets as I can carry, hoping I have forgotten nothing I load the food and dry stores, fingers crossed I should be able to restock at local markets during the journey.
Trip to the chateau
Alec goes home to his beloved and the lads and I go over to the café for supper and a few drinks. It gives me a chance to have a chat with them and to ascertain if they are truly happy with the arrangements.
To a man they praise the way Alec is running the operation. They have had it explained to them that if we succeed it will also lead to them becoming share holders in the company. After a couple of beers I deliberately drop the subject of business and we have a good time reminiscing about service life. About eleven o’clock we head back to the billet singing the nostalgic wartime songs. I realise what I have been missing since my demob, the company of men especially with wartime service. I am up and about at six o’clock in the morning after a good night’s sleep.
The other lads are still fast asleep and I try not to disturb them. I have a wash in a bucket using hot water from the big iron kettle. For breakfast I have a couple of slices of buttered bread toasted in front of the stove along with a large mug of tea. Just as it is breaking day I am on my way in Pompey Lill to recover my beloved Denise. My route out of town takes me passed where I delivered the potatoes yesterday. Curiosity makes me park the charabanc amongst some trees and make my way on foot up the long driveway to the barn. As I get closer I hear the sound of voices and dodge behind some bushes. I move from clump to clump until I am within sight of the barn door. Parked just inside is our missing truck. There is a great deal of activity around the building accompanied by shouts in French and English. Right I have caught the robbing swine. I head back to Pompey Lill start her up and head back to the depot at speed. I am in the yard within ten minutes all our trucks except one are still parked up. The other one is ticking over ready to leave near the gate. Alec emerges from his office with the driver to greet me. The British fitters and drivers appear from the workshop. They question me why I am back so soon after setting off. Excitedly I explain what I have discovered, immediately the lads arm themselves with all kinds of makeshift weapons and clamber aboard the charabanc. With no plan in mind I set off to retrieve our missing vehicle closely followed by the other truck. At the end of the track I hesitate wondering what to do next. “Go on Adam, let’s sort the Buggers out.” One of the lads urges me on. I race the charabanc towards the building. Screeching to a stop across the doorway we pour out and rush into the barn ready and willing for a good set to. Nothing, there is no one. The only items left in the barn are the loads of seed potatoes. The birds have flown taking our truck with them. Sparse evidence remains that someone had been there. This consists of scattered cigarette ends and a smouldering fire at the rear of the building. We assemble in the barn for a review of the situation.
Alec suggests I set off on my trip and he will notify the Gendarmerie that the truck has been stolen. I in turn warn him that I may be implicated smuggling illegal people in and out of the country.
“Leave it with me Adam. I know someone who will sort it out discretely. Go on get off, we will travel back to the depot on the truck.” “Look Alec I have written the address of the village by the chateau and the address of the farm Oscar was heading for. If you need to contact me send me a letter I shall check the post office every day. I hand him the piece of paper. There being nothing further to do I get on my way to the chateau and Denise. The first thing that strikes me is the French have
not been idle since the cessation of hostilities. I find the once pot holed and ruined road, has been patched and repaired although roughly. It is a pleasure to drive along the road compared to how it was during the war.
Very little traffic is present and these consist mostly of horse drawn carts. This is unlike a couple of months ago when this very road was densely packed with military transport heading to and from the front line. Memories flood back as I travel along. Here is where I collapsed suffering from flu and my mate Billy took over. I pass the spot where Denise revealed her identity on the way back to Le Havre. Further along is where the Sergeant died as a result of an enemy aircraft strafing us. There is very little sign of the traumas that were enacted on this road in those four long years of hostilities. Although there are still burnt out vehicles remaining, these have been removed into the fields close by.
Old Pompey Lill is running like a dream with her new engine Alec and his men have done me proud. After a pleasant run I arrive at the lane leading to the chateau turn in and approach the huge wrought iron gates. All evidence of the military occupation has been erased. The gates are firmly locked with nobody in the gatehouse to permit me to enter. The last occasion when I visited the chateau gates were controlled by military police. I hang around for a while hoping someone will turn up. An hour later when no one appears I give up and head towards the village. I have not visited here before therefore I haven’t any contact I am able to consult. I park Pompey by the village square and sit in the rear thinking of my next move. Within minutes I am surrounded by curious kids. The presence of a charabanc is evidently a novelty to them. I listen to them chattering keeping myself hidden in the rear seat. It is not long before one of the bolder children furtively climbs the step and appears in the aisle. I pop up and shout. “Boo!” He screams and vacates the charabanc at speed. I follow the kid to the door grinning to be confronted by Denise’s elder sister Louse. This is the kind lady some years older than Denise she nursed me through a bout of the killer flu. Louise is very pretty but in a different way than her sister, where Denise is petite she is bigger in stature.
“Adam,” She appears delighted to see me.
“I saw the coach entering the village. I recognised it from the wartime I wondered if you were still the driver? What a wonderful surprise I thought you had returned to England?” I invite her onto the charabanc. “Come aboard please Louise I would like to have a talk with you.” She climbs the step and joins me seated in the passenger area. “You have been to the Chateau, yes?” She enquires? I tell her what I have encountered “The gates are barred I couldn’t get in. I suppose you know I am here for Denise. I wish to take her back to Le Havre we planned to be married there?”
She reaches over and places her hand on my arm. “Many things have changed since Denise came back. The Marquis de Escolier has returned. Things are not happy for the servants at this time.”
“But where is Denise?” I have a feeling of panic as she avoids referring to her sister.
Louise hesitates before answering. “I am afraid Denise will not be allowed to accompany you Adam.” “Why? How do you mean? Why shouldn’t she want to come back with me?” “No, no. It is not that my sister doesn’t want to be with you. On the contrary she pines for you every day. Our Grandfather before he died appointed the Marquis her guardian and protector until she is twenty one years old. Grandfather is of the old fashioned kind, very loyal to the Marquis.” Louise adds with a glum expression on her face. “He could see no wrong in him much to our despair.” He will not allow Denise to leave the chateau unescorted except to attend the church for mass on Sundays; Even then she is accompanied by her sister and one of his stooges. This is the only time I am able to see them myself. Denise, she was in big trouble for leaving here with you originally without his permission. It was a mistake that she returned. I wish she had stayed away. He threatened to return her to the convent again. It was only the last minute intervention of Father Peter and the Doctor that saved her. It is fortunate she is still a virgin Adam or she would have definitely been sent to the convent for the rest of her life I’m afraid. My friend and employer the Doctor testified to her virginity after he examined her on the instructions of the Marquis. If she hadn’t been Virgo intact you would not have been welcomed into the village, do you understand?” Louise divulges the embarrassing fact regarding Denise’s virginity in a purely professional manner. On my part her last revelation makes me very uncomfortable, I know I blush, this is something I haven’t done for quite a while. It is indeed fortunate for me Oscar returned to the room on that night when I was on the point of deflowering Denise. I change the subject to cover my embarrassment and ask her a question. “I don’t understand this Louise, how could she get his permission when he ran away as the war came close, the cowardly swine?”
“Ha!” she exclaims. “That does not matter Adam, he does not have to justify his behaviour to anyone. He is a Marquis after all. He is in a very powerful position with many influential friends in high places.
I will not work there anymore. Fortunately for me, I am old enough to make my own way in life. I only remain in the locality because of my sisters. I was trained as a nurse in the hospital and now assist the Doctor in his work. Is does not pay much but it keeps me out of service for the Marquis. Do you know the village girls are virtual slaves in that place.”
Here we go again class distinction and privilege rearing its ugly head. I was hoping the war would have helped to alleviate the likes of the Marquis’s way of life. It appears the rich and powerful have not been affected.
“Well Louse I am not allowing this to happen I can tell you. I shall find a way of freeing her from his clutches.” “Adam even if you do get her away from here, you will have no peace. He has the ability to hunt you down wherever you hide in France. But if you intend to free my sister I will assist you in any way I am able. What do you intend doing in the meanwhile, have you anywhere to stay?” “I have not made any plans. To be honest I have not given it a thought I assumed I would collect Denise without any problems and we would return to Le Havre. I shall sleep in this vehicle until I figure out what to do next. I have done so on many occasions before and can do it again.” Louise will not consider me doing so, No! I will not permit that. I live with an old Aunt and Uncle on a small farm just outside the village. You will be most welcome to stay with us. I have an idea how we can help Denise but it will have to be carefully planned and may take a little while to organise.” I gratefully accept her invitation and drive us to the farm at her direction. The farm house is a large rambling structure and has seen better days. Louse explains the farm had been a great deal larger in the past with many employees, but her Uncle had been forced to rent off much of the land to survive. There is only enough stock to feed themselves. Pigs, hens, goats and a few milking cows wander about close to the house. A neat fenced vegetable patch adjoins the barn. The old couple Great Aunt Edith and Great Uncle Marcel do indeed make me welcome when Louise introduces me. I am referred to as Denise’s fiancée here to rescue her from the Marquis’s clutches. They don’t appear to have much love for him either by their expressions when he is mentioned. Unfortunately neither of them speaks English, making communication difficult. I retrieve my kit from the charabanc and Louise shows me to a room and the facilities. By the time I have had a wash and brush up the old lady Madam Saunier has prepared a meal which she serves in the large homely kitchen. While we eat Louise asks me a question. “Adam do you intend marrying Denise?” She translates her question for the old couples benefit.
They listen intently for my reply. “But of course.” I reply slightly embarrassed that she feels the need to ask the question. Louise says quickly in English. Be careful how you answer these questions, and your answers are for the benefit of the entire family, do you understand?” I nod, she continues. “We wonder? That is the family wonder why you didn’t marry her when you were living together in Le Havre?” I reply defensively. “We had planned to be married as soon as I was releas
ed from the army, but I had to go back to England for demob. I didn’t want Denise to be left alone in a strange town. I am sorry she came back here, I feel responsible because I insisted she did so.” I know I am telling a white lie here as I take responsibility for sending her home, but needs must on occasions.
I think it is prudent not to mention my concern over the spooks in the house another reason for sending Denise back to stay with her family. Louise translates our conversation to her elderly relatives. They nod approvingly it appears I am giving the correct answers to her questions. I find I am able to understand more and more French as Louise translates our conversation. The old man says something too rapidly for me to follow and Louise nods her consent and addresses me. “Ah well in that case we see a solution to the problem. We have a very nice Priest here in the village he will be sympathetic to your situation. He has no love for the Marquis either. As a matter of fact he is a relative of my Uncle our family is very extensive in this area.” She smiles as she divulges this information. “If it can be arranged will you be willing to marry Denise?” “Of course I will marry her.” I reply eagerly. “Today, in fact this very minute if it is possible. I love her dearly and miss her so much.” “Right Adam, tomorrow after work I will see the Father and get his advice, in the meantime please make yourself comfortable, the old folks will enjoy having your company. I have to go to my employment during the day.” A little embarrassed I make an offer. “Louise I can see they are not rich I must make a contribution for my keep. Do you realise I might be here for a while, I have cash.” She replies hastily. “Oh! No. You mustn’t do that they will be most offended if you do so. You are very nearly a family member after all?” She smiles and adds. “You don’t have to, but if you care to I know they will appreciate you doing some jobs about the place. Uncle suffers a great deal with arthritis.”
