by Carl Leckey
Another half hour passes still they don’t make an appearance. I decide to wait no longer. Leaving Denise with her sister I take the Rolls and drive to Alec’s house. His Renault is parked outside. I knock on the door it is opened by Marguerite. I note she is dressed in her finery ready to party. “Where is he?” I enquire she points towards the front parlour. When I enter he is sitting in his favourite arm chair head slumped down a glass in his hand and a bottle on the table alongside him. “He looks up and recognises me. “Before you say anything Adam I am not coming. I can’t face the lads tonight I didn’t get the bloody hotel I bet some rich bastard has got it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t make it into a knocking shop.” He adds with disgust. “How do you know you haven’t got it?” I ask. “Cos I haven’t had a letter confirming it in fact I haven’t even heard from the bank.” “Oh come on you daft bugger.” I urge him. “Remember what we used to say in the army days. No news is good news. Get your coat on and stop feeling sorry for yourself. Marguerite is dressed up like a May horse already to party. If only for her sake lets go. I’ll run you in the Roll’s and you can get pissed. Reluctantly he puts down the glass and slips his coat on. When we get to the café the lads give him a cheer as he enters. Alec looks baffled as he takes a seat reserved for him in the place of honour at the head of the table. Champagne all round then an excellent meal followed by the announcement of the pay rise and share scheme Alec cheers up as the booze goes down he states cynically. “At least I will have more money to spend with the pay rise.” The big moment arrives slightly nervous I stand and bang the table for silence. “Lads I am glad to see you all here tonight I know you think you attended to hear about the pay rise and other things but the real reason we arranged this meeting was to thank our mate Alec for all the loyal service he has given to this company. Without his efforts this company would not exist and we would all be unemployed. On behalf of the OSCADA company
I would like to present him and his lovely wife Marguerite with this little token of our esteem. And of course wish them well for the future.” With those words I hand him the disguised package prepared by Denise.
The intake of booze combined with my speech has Alec baffled he sits looking at the parcel trying to guess the contents. One of the lads shouts. “Come on Alec don’t keep us in suspense open the bloody thing it might be one of those blow up tyres you are always on about.” The lads roar with laughter at this in house joke. Marguerite takes it from him. “Here for goodness sake give it to me.” She rips off the outer cover to discover another wrapper, to discover, yet another wrapper, to discover, yet another wrapper. Finally after five wrappings she gets to the crux of the parcel and hands it to her husband. Alec peers at the papers with uncomprehending eyes takes his glasses from his pocket and looks again. When he recognises the papers he gasps. “Bloody. Hell!” His eyes fill with tears he turns hugs me and says. “You Bugger I could kill you but I love you Adam you scheming bloody soft hearted sod.” He hands the papers to his wife she fills up as well. Now we have two of them in tears.
Harry begins to sing. “For he’s a jolly good fellow.”
He is joined by the rest of the company some singing in English others in French. What a racket but it breaks the mood. Alec’s tears changes to laughter I whisper to Denise. “Thank goodness I don’t think he’s upset.” She squeezes my hand and answers. “Alec is all right. You are a soft hearted bugger Adam.” “Denise! Language.” I rebuke her with a laugh.
The next day I detect a new mood abroad in the depot since the announcement of the pay rise and share scheme. If I am asked one question I asked a hundred as I meet our drivers on the docks. The news of our pay rates etc has evidently reached the ears of drivers from our rival companies. I am approached by two men seeking employment with us.
When I drive into the depot at the end of the day Harry informs me he has twenty applicants for the posts he advertised all from experienced drivers and fitters I advise him to stick to the formula we have adopted. Only employ ex army men recommended by the existing staff. Within the driving fraternity all the local drivers have knowledge of each other I value the opinion of my drivers after all they will be ones working with the new recruits. The day of the Paris trip arrives we haven’t had much sleep Denise is so excited about the trip but at the same time regrets not having her weekend with Daisy. Jean has volunteered to drive us to the station for the ten o’clock train. At Nine thirty he calls for us and asks for our baggage. “There is no luggage Jean. My husband is taking me shopping in Paris.” Denise informs him proudly.
As we drive along Jean says. “I have some news. I am doing my first wedding on this Saturday Marguerite fixed it up for me. She and Yvette have made the dresses. I am a bit nervous I wish I had the big coach ready they wanted the two of them.” “How are you managing with the driving Jean, are you enjoying it? I enquire. “Yes it works out well.” He enthuses. “I love driving the trucks the lads are great fun. If I drive the trucks through the week and do weddings on Saturdays I’ll soon have enough money to marry Yvette.” “Oh, so that’s your plan eh? You are saving up to get married. What do you think Denise? We have a wedding coming up. I wonder when our Louise will be tying the knot? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a double wedding?” Denise remarks with a dreamy look in her eyes. “What about a triple wedding?” I query. “You mean Hazel and Harry? I didn’t know they were planning to get married yet?” I take her hand. “Not Harry and Hazel you soft thing, I mean us. Will you marry me? Again!” We kiss and she whispers with tears in her eyes. “You would do that for me? Of course I will marry you again my darling. When one of my sisters or the two of them gets married we will as well. What a lovely idea I love you my Cheri.” We arrive at the station we are about to get out of the car when Jean remarks. “Do you realise you have just proposed in this car it has to be a lucky automobile.”
I reply “Yes Jean. I believe it is a lucky car. It survived the war it helped rescue Denise and Yvette and I have just proposed in it. I heard what you said about the need for two coaches. Why not use the Rolls until the other coach is ready?” Thoughtfully he replies. “Thanks Adam that is very generous of you. But how would I manage with the coach and the car?” “Ask one of the drivers from the depot Jean. I’m sure they would be glad of an extra few bob, they don’t work Saturdays.
Anyway you should teach Yvette to drive. If you are going to run a business together you will need at least two drivers. I am not interfering in your business you understand?” He laughs and replies.
“A few Bob I have not heard that expression before, surely you mean a few francs? Come on Adam we are talking about my Yvette here. I know she won’t drive a car, she has already told me so but! She might drive the small coach. I’ll ask her as soon as I get back to Marguerites.” He replies enthusiastically.
“Right Jean I’ll leave it with you. See you in a week’s time.” Bidding him goodbye Denise and I are off to Paris, First class of course.
The honeymoon
Luxury this is the way to travel? No more third class for my wife and me if I can help it. The journey appears to take no time at all as we race through the countryside until we arrive at the suburbs of Paris. When we arrive at the station and approach the ticket barrier a livery attired man holding a card with OSCADA scrawled across greets us. “May I introduce myself I am to be your driver during your stay in Paris my name is Francis. No baggage sir?” He enquires. “Hello Francis. No there isn’t any baggage to collect we are planning to shop while we are here in the city.” The driver enquires. “Would you like to go shopping before I take you to the hotel Sir?” I reply. “Francis as you are to be our driver and companion for a week. Would you be so kind as to call us by our names? My name is Adam my wife is Denise.” He replies. “It is unusual sir, but if that is your wish?” “Well that’s how I would like it thank you, now where should we do this shopping we are in your hands?” Frances does us proud we are fully rigged with new stylish outfits and handsome luggage by the time we
reach the hotel, although my bank balance is a great deal lighter. The hotel is located in the best part of the city. I dismiss Frances for the rest of the day after arranging for him to pick us up at ten in the morning for a sightseeing trip. What a meal we enjoy fine wine and treated by the hotel staff as royalty. We retire to our fabulous honeymoon suite where the deep double bath is prepared for our pleasure. This is the second time I have had the opportunity to test out the merits of the electric light. I decide we must have them as soon as possible. During the entire day we have been building up to the great seduction scene living out Denise’s fantasy.
We play our rolls to perfection Denise pretends she is the shy virgin as I make the lecherous proposals. She insists on undressing while my back is turned. I hear the slight splash as she enters the huge tub. Casting aside my dressing gown I advance towards her threateningly with my erect weapon thrusting ahead. She covers her eyes in mock horror but I notice her fingers are slightly apart. I also detect a gasp from behind those tiny hands. Is that a sign of fear or anticipation, only a cad would know? Jolly Roger is up and ready for action but according to the plot not quite yet. I slip into the tub alongside her she covers her bare bosom with her hands and squeals. “No Sir Jasper. Please don’t look on my nakedness I am but a shy maiden. What is it you desire from me?” “Sir Jasper?” I enquire. “I am sure he wasn’t in the plot?”
She replies with a giggle. “No he wasn’t but I remember the Tommie’s singing about a certain Sir Jasper in the chateau, he was a cad as well.” Good God Denise! If I do recall the words to the song correctly, Sir Jasper did have his wicked way with the fair maiden in the end. Right I will carry on in the roll of Sir Jasper. “It is your body my dear. It’s your beautiful body I am after.” I reply in a gruff voice. “What will you do with it if I give it to you kind Sir Jasper?” She replies with a tremor in her voice.
I have to think before replying as I feel laughter welling up inside me. “I shall eat it, or a small part of it.” I reply. This is when the fiasco collapses into hoots of laughter
The romp on the bed is I believe a pretty good repetition of our first love making, anyway I like to think Denise believes it to be so.
As we lay together well sated she unexpectedly says. “Adam?”
I know when she says my name in such a manner a complicated question is about to be asked.
“Yes Denise my beautiful fair maiden what is it?” “Do you know when you were down er playing with my wow, wow with er your tongue?”
“Yes Denise?” Oh! Oh! I just know I am going to regret remaining awake.
Her next sentence comes out in a rush. “Did you see the Devil in my wow, wow?”
“See the Devil in your wow, wow?” I repeat. “What a question? Why would you ask me that? What kind of nonsense, is it a joke my love?” I enquire lifting up on my elbow and looking directly into her eyes.
“It is not nonsense Adam. She replies in a petulant manner. “When I was in the convent one of the older nuns told me all about it. It was her duty to tell all the novice nuns the same thing. She was the Devil seeker you see and she had the power to summon an Angel?
She came to my cell at night and looked for the Devil in my wow, wow.”
This intrigued me it sounded very much the same deception they practised in the orphanage where I was incarcerated. It all boiled down to the abuse of the innocents by deviants masquerading as good people. “Tell me more Denise what happened then.” I enquire feeling anger welling up inside me.
Denise continues innocently describing her abuse. “I had to keep my eyes tight shut. You mustn’t look on the Devil you know? If you do you would turn to stone. Sister Chastity found the Devil here.”
Denise exposes her tiny clitoris. “She rubbed me until an Angel came and chased the Devil away. I didn’t like it at first but it was quite nice when the Angel came. A bit like the thrill we have together when we make love.” “Then what happened?” I enquire between gritted teeth.
“Oh I had to seek out her Devil and help to banish it. I must admit I peeped but I didn’t see a Devil or an Angel but the Sister said I had done a good deed. And she told the Virgin Mary in the chapel how helpful I was.
We all had to swear not to tell anyone or the devil will come back into our wow, wow’s.” “I can’t believe this?” I declare. I am appalled at the evil deception being used by the depraved nun to frighten and abuse poor innocent girls.
She continues. “No, no, it’s true.” Her voice drops to a whisper she visibly shudders as she recalls. “I have to confess all of the novices told each other how Sister Charity had helped them banish the evil one. The good nun was right the devil did come back to many of the girls wow, wow’s because they told each other. They all had to have the Devil banished by Sister Chastity again. Denise adds thoughtfully. “There is something I didn’t understand I must admit. There were a few nuns that had been married. They had been sent to the convent because they had mortally sinned and the Angels could not help them. For some reason Sister Charity would not allow us to talk to them, and another strange thing was she never visited their cells. You would think that they would have need of her help more than the novices wouldn’t you?” What can I say except to listen with disgust to my wife’s description of her time in the convent, the most appalling thing about the entire awful episode, Denise had been banished there by her Grandfather to remove her from my evil influence that’s so sad. She adds another snippet,
“Do you know? Sister Charity told us sometimes the Devil came back if you looked on or even thought of a man. You know like I would think of you er kissing me that time in the snow. Well I can tell you now. I thought of you lots of times. Then, I had to confess my evil thoughts to her and Sister Chastity had to do the whole Devil seeking thing again.” I assume she has finished telling her story when suddenly she says.
“If you couldn’t see the devil in my wow, wow I think Jolly Roger helps the Angels to chase the evil one away don’t you?” “I take her in my arms and hug her with tears of rage in my eyes. What can I say except, “You poor innocent child, how that evil woman used you.”
The sightseeing trip.
The next day we are taken on a sightseeing tour of the city. Today Frances advises us to sit back and enjoy the sights without visiting them. The rest of the week we would do the real visiting to the places we select. When I ask Frances where the British Embassy is located he drives us to the splendid building. I instruct him to wait outside the embassy leaving Denise in the vehicle I enter the building alone. At the reception I arrange an appointment for the next day to sort out our passports a clerk takes all my details. When we return to our hotel I check at the desk for messages. The receptionist informs me a Mr and Mrs Gunter Cogan have arrived. They have gone out again but they will meet us in the hotel bar for pre dinner drinks. He hands me an envelope addressed to me along with the key to our room. While Denise fills our bath I tear open the envelope to reveal a note from Gunter and another envelope. Gunter explains the letter inside is the last one Oscar wrote before his untimely death. He is aware of some of the contents but it might be beneficial if I read it before we meet this evening for dinner. Oscar’s envelope contains seven pages of rambling tightly packed script. To me it indicates Oscar is a distraught man let down by his friends. He has been cheated and defrauded by one of his relatives and a lawyer he once considered a reliable confidant. When he visited the farm where the dressing station was located Oscar was totally rejected by the woman he assumed one day would be his wife. Her family refused to communicate with him simply because he had been a member of the enemy armed forces. Even the villagers and former pupils rejected his approaches when he appealed to them. He was virtually driven out of the district on the orders of the mayor the man who before the war had been a good friend of his. Then his conscience began to plague him. The fact that he had deserted and left his army mates to fight on. That is the reason that prompted him to confess. He drove to the German border and surrendered himself.
Poor Oscar believed in justice and the mercy of the courts. He was convinced if he explained why he chose to desert rather than violate his Christian principles it would be acceptable. As the war had ended he honestly believed he will be forgiven. How wrong he was? He confessed in his letter he had taken two escaped German prisoners from the port to somewhere near the border hidden in the truck. He agreed to do this when he obtained his identity card from someone he does not name in Le Havre. He rambled on about me and Denise saying he considered us to be the only close and loving family he craved.
He informed Gunter he had decided to make us the heirs to his estate and wealth with a specified amount to be left to the peace movement. Gunter was appointed to be his trustee and had drawn up the will on his behalf. Two men had witnessed his signature. One was the officer in charge of the military prison he was then incarcerated in at the time; the other was the prison padre. I feel reading between the lines he had a premonition of his imminent demise. Below his scrawled signature is a PS informing me his good friend Gunter Cogan is arranging his appeal.
One of Gunter’s colleagues is investigating his former lawyer and the crooked relative. When Denise returns from the bathroom and informs me the bath is ready she finds me staring blankly at the sheets of paper. Denise enquires as she sits on the bed alongside me. “What is wrong Adam my love you look upset, is it the letter?” I hand it to her. “It’s from Oscar.” I reply. “His letter has really got to me Denise. He wrote it just before he was murdered by that lunatic in the prison. What a waste? I still can’t believe he is dead, after what he went through during the war to finish up like that?” She replies sympathetically after reading the letter. “There is no justice in the world. I only knew Oscar for a short while but I grew to love that man as if he was my own Father.” I pose a question. “What do you think about him making us his heirs? As if he hasn’t given us enough? Just his friendship was enough for me.” Denise answers thoughtfully. “I suppose he had no other relatives. That’s why he chose us? You know Adam, Oscar and I had long talks when you were away from the house. He appreciated what you risked in helping him to escape from the prison camp. He told me why he escaped and why he broke his parole it upset him a great deal you know? I don’t believe he ever got over doing that, it was totally against all the principles he believed in. What a lovely man he was. But that was Oscar, always unpredictable we were very fortunate to have known him? To think a short while ago I would have considered him to be my mortal enemy?” I fold the letter up and slip it back into the envelope. “Ah well that’s another chapter in my life closed, another friend dead because of the bloody war. There appears to be no end to the grief it caused and still causes. I suppose we will have to get poshed up for this meeting with Gunter and his wife. To be honest I don’t feel like facing them tonight. I wonder what they are like, will we get on together?” Denise points out. “It’s obvious our friend Oscar thought a lot of them, that’s good enough for us I should think.” “Did you notice the reference in his letter that he wants Gunter to invest some of the money he left in OSCADA?” Denise replies. “Yes I did notice that, it’s on behalf of the peace movement? We should be all for that sweetheart. Maybe we should become more involved in the peace movement ourselves if only with the financial aspect to give them funds to carry on their good work?” I reply thoughtfully. “I don’t know much about it to be honest. I wish I had discussed it in more detail with Oscar while I had the opportunity. You have certainly given me food for thought Denise?” She takes my hand. “Come on my love, we promised ourselves no business while we are on our honeymoon. Let’s have our bath together. Maybe little wow; wow can make you feel a bit better. Well maybe Jolly Roger will?” She giggles and makes a run for the bathroom with me in hot pursuit. Gunter and Estelle Cogan are the only ones in the bar when we enter. I don’t know how I recognised them but somehow they fitted Oscar’s description. Gunter is tall and heavily built with a very black beard. Estelle dressed immaculately on the other hand is very blond and extremely slender. We shake hands greet each other and take a seat. Gunter orders drinks from the hovering waiter. “Gunter opens the conversation in English his voice has no trace of an accent. “Do you prefer to communicate in English or French? Oscar informed me you are both competent in the two languages.” I laugh at his praise. “I don’t know about me being competent in French? My wife is the linguist in our family. English would be safer for me please, on occasions I am inclined to misunderstand. It has sometimes caused confusion believe me?” Estelle asks my wife. “So Denise what do you think of Paris? Have you been shopping yet?” The chit chat continues through drinks and then the meal. It is after dinner when we are having Cognac and cigars that Gunter gets down to the real business of the meeting in Paris. “I take it you have read Oscars last letter Adam?” “Yes!” I reply. “I have read the letter. It is hard to believe Oscar wrote it, it’s so unlike his style he is usually so methodical this letter is rambling. In some places it is totally incoherent. The sentiments really upset me. My friend dying in such a manner I can only say I am grateful for the time when we were together.” Gunter continues. “He was under a great deal of strain when he wrote it. Frankly he couldn’t believe what his beloved Germany was doing to him. He still believed in the fairness of the justice system you know despite what he was suffering? I have known Oscar since childhood he was already a teacher then. He was a gifted linguist and spoke and communicated in many languages. Did you know his Grandfather was part of very rich noble family Oscar was entitled to a hereditary title? Typical of Oscar he refused to adopt the title and the privileges that went with it and chose teaching. Entirely due to his own efforts he became a Professor holding a seat in a prestigious university in Leipzig. That is when his enemies struck. He publicly voiced his opposition to the increased militarization of Germany the powers that be were afraid of his influence especially with the student body. He left his post and toured the world as a founding member of the peace movement. He decided not to return to Germany. It would have meant him facing orchestrated humiliation. This action would have led I believe to certain death. He dropped out of sight and became a teacher in a small school in France. We always stayed in touch no matter where he was, at times infrequently but nevertheless I kept an eye on him. That is where he fell in love with the daughter of the farmer where he lodged. I have an idea you know the rest from his letter. I still don’t really know why he risked returning to Germany? I had advised him against it so soon after the war, maybe in a few years he would have been safer?” I declare. “I had no idea when he left Le Havre he intended to go to Germany. Poor Oscar must have been in despair when he was rejected he had such plans to help rebuild the farm. You know Gunter. I can’t believe the German nation would waste such talent. Oscar was just a private soldier, why wasn’t he an officer for goodness sake?” Gunter explains. “That was his own choice he was over the age for enlistment but insisted he enrolled to help out in education. He was very popular with the men and was responsible for enriching many lives.” I retort. “I know that Gunter, he did the same for me. Oscar told me when he was a prisoner at the dressing station all ranks regardless of what department they were in had been ordered to serve some time at the front line. That’s when he deserted rather than kill a fellow human being. That doesn’t happen in the British Army I can tell you.” His reply shocks me. “I have to tell you Adam that doesn’t apply in the German Army either. That was his enemies doing. They engineered his posting to the front line. He could have objected but didn’t. I don’t know why.” Gunter ceases talking for a minute as if considering his friends action he then informs me, “Did you know he made arrangements to meet me here in Paris some time ago but he failed to keep the appointment?” I intercede and explain. “I know why he didn’t come to keep the appointment he had no identity card at the time. I know he planned to meet someone in Paris but I didn’t know who.” He nods and continues. “That could be the reason? Oscar would not risk travelling to the capital without one; of course he
had no passport either. Unfortunately I was not aware of his arrest and trial until he was already sentenced. You Adam and your wife Denise are to be the beneficiaries of his last will and testament. Oscar insisted on my drawing it up for him when I visited him in prison. I am convinced I would have won the appeal but fate interceded. I have retrieved the property and much of the cash that was fraudulently acquired by his relative. That is not finalised yet but will be shortly I can assure you I will inform you as soon as possible when it is finalised. Now you will have two choices as I see it. You may hold on to the land and property in Germany however I must advise you that could be a problem.
