The Round Loaf

by David Hockey

  “Yes,” said Bob. “They probably will. Well, we must get on. Goodbye Mrs. Sylvester.”

  “There’s quite a few blackberry bushes behind the Peansbury’s house,” she said. “Goodbye for now. I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

  They slowly walked away, looking from left to right, thinking about what they’d heard but not saying anything.

  They nearly filled their baskets behind the Peansbury’s house and fastened them carefully to their bikes before setting off. They stopped at the crossroads where Tuft’s Lane joined the main road to Mansworth and talked.

  “I don’t know,” said Nigel. “She didn’t seem like a spy. She was very nice.”

  “Yes, I think the same. But we can’t be sure. I bet they’re trained to be nice otherwise they’d be more easily caught.”

  “I suppose so. I want to sketch the area. There’s a seat just along here, we passed it when we came.”

  That afternoon Nigel copied the sketch and drew a large diagram of the houses and surroundings. It was lying on his grandparent’s dining room table when Gerry returned with everyone else Wednesday evening. As they were getting settled around the table Felicity placed a big pot of coffee, a full teapot, a pitcher of lemonade and a large plate of assorted biscuits on the sideboard with a tray of mugs, some cream and milk. “Help yourself, it might be a long evening. Do you want to stay and listen Mary?”

  “Yes, I do. I want to know what everyone’s planning to do. I hope it’s not dangerous.”

  “No. Mary,” said Gerry. “All we want to do now is find out which house the signal’s coming from. We’re not going to do anything else.”

  “Bob and I will tell you what we saw this morning,” said Nigel. “This is where the houses are, Mrs. Jones,” and he pointed to the end of Tuft’s Lane. “Here.”

  “We left our bikes in the parking lot by the Coastal Trail,” continued Bob, “and walked into the brush, behind Dr. Ladner’s home, which is this one on the east side of Tuft’s Lane.”

  They continued describing their berry-picking journey around the back of the houses and Nigel drew their attention to spots where they could hide.

  “There are lots of places but I think these would be best. One on the coast side just behind the police inspector’s house.”

  “Mr. Knowleton,” interjected Gerry.

  “Yes,” said Nigel. “The next place is between Mr. Watsonby’s house and the lane, and the last here,” and he pointed to a spot in between the teachers’ houses. “If we were in these places and heard the signal then we’d know exactly which house it was coming from. There’d be no doubt at all.”

  “That last place is very close to the teachers’ houses,” said Mary. “Didn’t you say they were the main suspects? Is it safe to hide there? Are you sure you wouldn’t be seen?”

  “Bob and I talked about that when we drew the first sketch, Mrs. Jones. There is a big patch of old blackberry bushes there and they’re taller than us. No one would see anybody behind them.”

  “Who’d hide there?” she asked.

  “We could,” said Gerry. “Nigel and I.”

  “I’d prefer to be behind the inspector’s house,” said his father. “I don’t want to walk too far in the dark. I’d be there with Jack.”

  “Then Bob and I will hide behind Ray Watsonby’s place,” said Mr. Forester. “Too bad I couldn’t just call in and say hello. We’ve known each other since I was a kid.”

  “Maybe another time, dad, when this is all over. There’ll be a lot to talk about then.”

  “Aye, there will.”

  They next planned how and when they’d take up positions. Since the signals had always been at midnight Harry Thorne thought there was no point in arriving much before eleven forty-five, “I don’t want a long stand in the cold.”

  “I don’t think it’ll be too cold dad,” said Gerry. “Wrap up warmly and carry a cushion to sit on. I think we should be in place by eleven thirty. Don’t forget, we need time to find a good spot on the crystals and make sure the wirelesses are working. And the loop aerials have to be set up too.”

  “Oh, all right. I hadn’t thought about all that.”

  “I’ll collect Jack, Bob and you, Len, at eleven. No, let’s make it ten thirty, in case anything goes wrong. We’ll meet here, dad. I’ll bring you here, Nigel, before I collect the others.”

  “You don’t have to collect Bob and me, Gerry,” said Len. “I’ll use the van. You could squeeze into it too, Jack.”

  “What about me?” asked Mary. “I don’t want to be left at home, worrying.”

  “Then I’ll pick you and Jack up at ten thirty,” said Gerry. “How does that sound?”

  “I’ll have some sandwiches for you,” said Felicity. “How about taking a break now? As you can see there’s plenty of biscuits and drinks waiting for you.”

  They chatted, talked about what routes to take to get into place without being seen and how to use the loop aerials. After a while Nigel said he’d like Jack and Bob to practice using the loops and took them to his bedroom. The other’s moved into the lounge where Harry pointed to the cabinet where he kept some drinks. “Anyone interested?”

  “I’ll have a scotch, dad. Do you have any Grant’s?”

  “Yes, I do. How about you, Mary? A sherry, port, gin and tonic?”

  “A port, please, Harry.”

  “Len?”

  “Grant’s would be fine. Haven’t had one of those for a long time.”

  “And another port for you, Felicity?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Chapter Eighteen. Saturday, August 31st

  Thursday and Friday were Jack’s last two days working at the farm as school began next Tuesday. He wished he could talk to Mr. Lindsey about their search for a spy for it filled his mind and was so exciting. He stopped at Bob’s place on his way home Thursday, just to say hello and talked mostly about their new school, there wasn’t much to say about Saturday.

  Friday, Mr. Lindsey added a ten shilling note to Jack’s wages.

  “I’m sorry you’re leaving Jack. When Bert, my helper, left to join the army I thought I would never be able to get everything done this summer. You have made all the difference. Can you come back next summer?”

  “I’d like to, Mr. Lindsey. We need the money and I enjoy the work, all except hoeing, that is,” he said with a laugh.

  “Well, maybe the war will be over by then and Bert will come back and do the hoeing but I’d still like you to help.”

  “Thanks, and goodbye Mrs. Lindsey. Thanks for all the lunches and drinks. They were very nice.”

  “Goodbye Jack. And good luck at school. I hope you enjoy it.”

  When Jack arrived home his mother had a surprise. “We’re not having fish and chips tonight, Jack. Gerry’s invited us to his house for dinner. He’ll pick us up at six. Have a bath and put on a clean shirt.”

  “Why, that’s nice mom. Will it just be him and Nigel or is anyone else coming?”

  “No, just the four of us, Jack.”

  “Okay.”

  They had fish that night after all, cod, which Gerry had baked with a sauce in the oven. There were no chips, but mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.

  “You’re a great cook, Gerry,” said Mary. “It was delicious.”

  “Thanks. I had to learn after Tina died. I wasn’t very good at first, was I Nigel?”

  “It was all right, dad. What’s for dessert?”

  “Blackberries and custard, I thought we should eat some of the ones you picked. There are too many for us to use, can I give the others to Mary and Jack?”

  “Of course. Oh, after supper I’d like you to practice using the wireless, Jack. You haven’t used it for two weeks.”

  “Okay.”

  Gerry drove them home about nine o’clock. He kissed Mary when they said good bye. She was rather quiet when they went in and went to bed at the same time as Jack.

  Saturday afternoon Jack worked for two hours collecting and delivering for
Mr. Stevens spending much of the time thinking about the evening’s activities.

  They had a quiet supper, each thinking and hoping nothing would go wrong. They watched the news and Childrens’ Hour and a documentary about workers in a factory but didn’t pay much attention to it.

  Gerry collected them at ten thirty and drove to Harry’s home. Bob and his father arrived shortly afterwards and they sat in the kitchen eating a few sandwiches until eleven when the boys collected the wireless sets and aerials.

  “We’ll park on the main road and walk on the foot path to the Coastal Trail,” said Gerry. “That way nobody will see us. Then we’ll walk along the trail to the parking lot and move to our hiding spots.”

  “Here’s your cushion, Harry,” said Felicity. “Does anyone want a thermos of coffee or hot chocolate.”

  “No, mum, thanks,” said Gerry. “We won’t be long. We’ll be back by twelve thirty, if everything goes okay. We’ll probably like some then.”

  Len and Bob drove off first. Gerry, Harry, Nigel and Jack followed closely behind. They didn’t hurry and saw no one on their way. Three torches showed them the way along the footpath. There was a half moon, and, although clouds often covered it, it gave enough light so they didn’t have to use their torches along the trail to the parking lot. They split up there and walked as quietly as they could to their places behind the houses.

  It was several minutes before everyone had found a good spot for the cat’s whisker on the crystal. The boys wore the headphones and the adults held the aerials, turning them one way or the other as various signals were heard. No one used their torches, the boys and Harry sat, Gerry and Len stood.

  At twelve o’clock the signal came, sharp and loud. It was clearly coming from one of the houses. It lasted enough time for the house it came from to be distinguished. Everyone was shocked when the boys pointed to it. It was Mr. Knowleton’s, the police inspector’s, house!

  Without saying a word everyone packed up and crept quietly away, back to the parking lot, along the trail and footpath to where they had parked the car and van. There they huddled together.

  “I don’t believe it,” said Gerry. “It can’t be him.”

  “It is, dad,” said Nigel. “My aerial pointed directly to his house.”

  “So did mine,” said Jack.

  “And mine,” said Bob. “Who’d have thought it would be him.”

  “Let’s go,” said Harry. “We’ll talk about it when we get to my place. Don’t want anyone to see us here.”

  They sat in the kitchen once they arrived, telling Felicity and Mary what they had found.

  “Unbelievable,” said Felicity. “Are you positive it’s him?”

  “Yes,” said Nigel. “There’s no doubt.”

  “What do we do now?” asked Mary. “We can’t go to the police if he’s the spy.”

  “No, we can’t,” said Gerry.

  “Maybe we can,” said Harry. “I know one or two people in London I could talk to about what we’ve discovered.”

  “Can you trust them?” asked Jack, shocked that the police force was involved.

  “I think so. I’ve known them since we were at school together and they’re quite high in the system. I can’t phone them now, it’s much too late. I’ll phone tomorrow if I can find their home telephone numbers.”

  “Today, you mean, Harry. It’s Sunday now,” said Felicity. “And drink up your hot chocolate. I don’t want you to catch a cold.”

  “Call me when you’ve talked to someone and we’ll meet again,” said Gerry.

  “All right. Meanwhile, no one talks to anyone about this. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Right,” said Mary.

  Chapter Nineteen. Sunday, September 1st

  Sunday morning Nigel began packing his trunk, filling it with shoes and clothes for rugby and squash, a spare uniform, books he had been told to read during the summer, clothes for the weekends, all the things he’d need until Christmas. A squash racket was strapped in its holder to the outside and he and Gerry manhandled it down the stairs and into the back of the car. Outdoor clothes and a suitcase would be added before they left after lunch.

  “I’ll tell the headmaster that I’ll be collecting you for a weekend at home soon. As soon as we know more about what they’re going to do with the spy I’ll come and fetch you. We might know by next weekend.”

  “Good. I want to know what happens. Are we having lunch with Grandpa and Grandma before we go?”

  “Yes. At twelve thirty. Are you looking forward to school?”

  “Yes. Be good to see my friends again and catch up on what they did this summer.”

  “You won’t tell anybody about what we’ve been doing will you Nigel.”

  “No, not until it’s public knowledge. I bet they’ll be surprised when they find out.”

  Two men arrived at Harry’s house at ten o’clock on Tuesday morning. Harry learned, several years later, that they were from M15. They listened to what he told them, looked at, then borrowed, the sketch that Nigel had drawn of the five houses and the directions the signals had been coming from, saw his crystal set and the loop aerial and borrowed them as well. They left at twelve, telling Mr. Thorne to talk to nobody about their visit.

  Jack and Bob dressed in their new school uniforms and cycled to the grammar school Wednesday morning, parking their bicycles amongst fifty or more others in the school’s racks and were sent to join Form One. At nine o’clock their home teacher arrived, a Mr. Burnes, who took attendance then lead the way to join some four hundred other boys in the main hall. Prayers, a welcome speech directed to all the boys, new and old, was given by the headmaster who then read out the names of past members of Mansworth Grammar School who had been killed in the war. They returned to their seats in the classroom and their weekly timetable was copied from the blackboard. They were told to choose a locker from the row along the wall outside their classroom and put their unneeded books there.

  A milk-and-buns, fifteen-minute break was followed by a mathematics class, whose teacher arrived two minutes late, stuffing a pipe in his jacket pocket. French followed by lunch, eaten from tables and benches placed in the hall by those who had just finished gym. Stew, boiled potatoes, over-cooked cabbage, steamed pudding and custard, not unpleasant, was welcomed by Jack although Bob left most of his cabbage.

  They walked along the school corridors during the rest of the lunch break, discovering the three science laboratories, the art room and a woodworking shop, meeting four other boys from their school who had also passed the eleven plus and entered the grammar school.

  Biology, in one of the laboratories, geography and a history class filled the afternoon and they cycled home at four thirty, to be quizzed by their parents on how the day had been. There was no news from either of the Mr. Thornes.

  The rest of the week followed the same routine. Homework was set and completed, gym and football practice were very enjoyable. Jack and Bob enjoyed climbing the ropes and parallel bars as much as kicking the football. Luke warm showers afterwards followed sports and gym.

  Classes continued Saturday morning and Jack arrived half-an-hour late at Mr. Stevens’ shop, explaining that he’d been at school that morning.

  “I’d forgotten you were going to the grammar school, Jack. How was your week?”

  “Very interesting, Mr. Stevens. I think I’m going to enjoy all of it. Except Latin, I don’t like that. French is okay but Latin? I don’t see the point of learning that.”

  “I’m told it’ll help you learn other languages and improved your English. Err, do you still want to work on Saturday afternoons? You must need a break.”

  “I’d like one but we need the money. I’ll continue, if you don’t mind.”

  “Oh, I’m glad, Jack. Well, here’s the lists and I’ll have the groceries ready for you when you return.”

  Chapter Twenty. Sunday, September 8th

  Sunday afternoon around two o’clock Gerry arrived at the Jones’ house. Mary answered th
e door for Jack was in his bedroom working on his homework.

  “Come in, Gerry. Would you like a cup of tea?”

  “Yes please. I’ve a bit of news, the police inspector and his wife have been arrested. Dad told me, his London connection phoned him.”

  “So what you and the boys found out was correct, he was sending signals.”

  “Apparently so. Is Jack here? He should know about this.”

  “He’s upstairs, doing his homework. Jack,” she shouted. “Can you come here for a moment?”

  “Oh, hello Mr. Thorne. I heard you drive up.”

  “Hi Jack. I’ve a bit of news. The police inspector and his wife have been arrested. Some men came from London last night with a special wireless receiver and heard his signals. I don’t know anything more. Dad says he’ll find out and let us know.”

  “Can I tell my friends at school about this now?”

  “No, I don’t think so. There’ll be more investigations to make and I don’t expect they’ll want the journalists doing their own investigations while they’re doing theirs, though we should tell Bob. Mary, it’s such a nice day, would you like to walk along to their place with me? We’ll leave Jack to do his homework unless you’d like to come?”

  “No, you two go. I’ve a lot to do and, if that’s all you have to tell him, there’s no need for me to come.”

  Gerry and Mary didn’t return until five thirty, having walked along the trail once they’d left the Foresters to have a drink in the pub in the neighbouring village.

  “Gerry’s staying for supper Jack,” Mary called up the stairs as soon as she came in. “Do you need much more time?”

  “Half-an-hour should be enough, mom.”

  Toast and marmite with a tiny bit of butter was all they ate but there was plenty of it; food rationing, of course, limited what anyone could provide for a meal.

  “I hope we hear more soon,” said Jack, as he and Bob cycled to school Monday morning, “Mr. Thorne said his dad would try to find out what they’d discovered. We’re still not to talk about it to anyone, I suppose.”