Red Hawk Rising

by Peter William Hall

  “Okay,” said Jamie with a laugh.

  A customer came in and Yvonne got up to serve her. “Don’t go until I’ve served the customer, please,” she said. Jamie nodded.

  The customer ordered fresh fish. “That fish you cooked for me was ever so nice,” she said, “so I decided that I’d better take some home.” While Yvonne served the customer, Jamie noticed that people were starting to leave the harbour. The autumn afternoon was starting to get cooler and the best part of the day was over.

  The customer left with a thank you and Yvonne disappeared into the back room. She came out a minute later with a parcel and walked over and gave it to Jamie. “That’s a crayfish for your supper. It’s on me,” said Yvonne and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

  He squeezed her arm in thanks, flashed her a big smile and then left the shop. “Some woman,” he thought. “It looks as though she wants to set the pace.” Jamie walked up to where he had parked the van, climbed in and started the motor. He drove down to the small garage and filled up with petrol before heading back to West Sanby village.

  ***

  At the RAF base, Andy Hill finished writing letters to Alice, his parents and to Lutterworth. He knew that there would be a bus into Grimsby about 5.30 p.m. but he would have to wait until after 10.00 p.m. to get a bus back. He wondered what Lance was doing. Knocking on Lance’s bunk door, he got a sleepy response. Andy put his head around the door to see Lance swinging his legs off the bed and sitting up. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?’ Andy asked him.

  Lance looked up. “Hadn’t really thought about it. What have you in mind?” he asked Andy.

  “I’ve got to get some letters in to the weekend mail collection but don’t want to spend the whole evening in Grimsby to do it. Interested in going in and I’ll buy you a Chinese meal instead of us eating in the mess,” replied Andy.

  “How about we ask Dan to come? Then we could have a couple of beers before driving back,” said Lance.

  “Fine by me,” Andy responded. “I’ll look for him. What time shall we go?”

  Lance then said, “In about thirty minutes. We can have a look around the town while it’s still daylight.”

  Andy nodded a response and went to look for Dan. He found him in the laundry room washing some clothes and told him about the suggested plans. “I’ll be in for that. Give me fifteen minutes to finish here and I’ll get ready,” Dan responded.

  Andy smiled and headed back to let Lance know and then get changed into civvies. Thirty minutes later the three friends were heading out of the base. They drove through the village and then turned north on the road to Humberston, passing through North Coates and Tetney villages on the way. There was a Bloodhound SAM squadron based at RAF North Coates and Andy wondered about trying to visit it. From Humberston they drove to Old Clee on the outskirts of Grimsby and then drove down Freeman Street towards the docks. “The squadron boys say there are sixteen pubs in Freeman Street,” said Dan, “and the game is to try and have a drink in every one of them. Apparently no-one’s done it yet.”

  “Yes,” responded Lance. “I’m told that when the fishing fleet’s in port it’s best to avoid Freeman Street if you want to have a drink.” Andy added his comment to the effect that the street seemed pretty quiet so maybe the fleet is still out. At the end of the street, Lance turned left onto the road that led to the centre of Grimsby. The level crossing gates were closed and they waited while a train went through on its way to Cleethorpes. Smoke and ash belched from the locomotive as it picked up speed after leaving Grimsby station. The train passed through and the gates swung open. Traffic was able to move again. They passed Hewitt’s Brewery and the Transport Department and then into the main street. Seeing the post office, Lance found a parking spot and Andy got out of the car and posted his letters. He noted with satisfaction that there was a collection at 1.00 p.m. on the Sunday. Getting back in the car, they cruised up one street and then down another. It was quiet and there seemed to be only one cafe open so they decided to head for Cleethorpes. They passed the turn-off for the docks but it was now late afternoon and they kept on the road to Cleethorpes. As they drove down the promenade, the place was quiet. A few couples were walking along the front. Kiosks were boarded up for the oncoming winter months. They saw a Chinese restaurant and looked for a parking spot, parked and walked back to the restaurant. A cool breeze was picking up and there were white caps forming on the waves of the receding tide.

  The restaurant was called the Wu Sen. Inside the restaurant it was warmer and they found a table away from the door. There were several couples and a family already eating or waiting for their meals. A pretty young Chinese woman came to take their orders. Fried rice, satay chicken, black bean beef and stir fried vegetables were ordered. Andy asked for a pot of jasmine tea and the young waitress nodded her appreciation. He also asked that they have chopsticks and a dish of fresh chilli sauce. The waitress set the table as she would for Chinese customers, again smiling her appreciation. The fried rice came in a tureen to keep it hot and the other meals in dishes so that the men could take from each dish. Other customers looked on with surprise and interest as the three men used the chopsticks and drank the tea in the Chinese manner. The waitress came and complimented them on their skill with the chopsticks and not being Chinese. Lance said, “We’ve travelled and learned,” and left it at that.

  Partway through the meal, three young men entered the restaurant. They appeared to have been drinking heavily even though it was early evening. The young Chinese waitress approached them to show them to a table. One of the men tried to put his arm around her and she tried to move away. He grabbed her arm and she cried out in pain. Lance and Andy rose from their seats and moved towards the men. A Chinese man came from the kitchen and told them to let her go. The drunk pulled her closer. His two mates were laughing at the situation. “I go call the police,” said the Chinese man but the three just laughed at him.

  Andy and Lance moved forward, Lance to watch Andy’s back. Dan stood up from the table but waited to see what would happen. “Why don’t you guys respect the lady’s wishes and let her go,” said Andy.

  “What if I don’t?” asked the one holding the lady. “What are you going to do about it?”

  “Yeah,” said one of his mates, “you want to take us all on?”

  “I’d prefer not to,” said Andy, “but you do need to let the lady go and behave yourselves in here.” Andy moved from between the tables to confront the three men. Lance went around to the side and Dan moved towards the situation. One of the men threw a punch at Andy’s head. He sidestepped it so that the fist slid over his shoulder. Andy jabbed him in the solar plexus with his right hand and as the man gasped and bent forward, Andy chopped him in the back of the neck with his left hand. The man crumpled up and fell to the floor. The one holding the Chinese lady let her go and moved in to tackle Andy. Before he could, the Chinese man appeared and, spinning on the balls of his feet, did a high kick that connected with the man’s chest and sent him flying backwards. He crashed into the third man and they both fell to the ground. Andy nodded his thanks, then he, Lance and Dan stood around the three men as they struggled to their feet.

  “Police coming,” said the Chinese man.

  The man who had started the fuss said, “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  The three RAF men looked to the Chinese man and he said, “Let them go. Police will pick them up in the street.” Andy and his mates stood to one side to let the men leave. As they were leaving, a police vehicle pulled up and one of the policemen came into the restaurant. The Chinese proprietor said, “Those three leaving cause problem. They drunk.” The policeman left the restaurant and stopped the men.

  His partner came into the restaurant and asked for a statement. When he was told the story he asked if the lady wanted to press charges. She shook her head and said, “No.”

  The policeman left and said to his partner, “Let’s give them a caution and take them in to sober
up.” The men were loaded into the back of the police vehicle and it drove off. The three friends went back to their table to finish their meal. The proprietor insisted on taking away the cold meals and bringing fresh meals out, thanking them for their help.

  When they had finished their meal and were getting up to leave, the proprietor came to their table and spoke to Andy. “What martial art you do?” he asked.

  Andy shrugged and said, “Jiu-jitsu and judo.”

  “You come to our club and train. We give you good discount. Keep you fit,” he said. “We do Shaolin. Very old, very good, very effective.” Andy gave a short bow and said that he would try to visit the club. The proprietor smiled and nodded and gave Andy a card. It had the club details on and when it met. “Call me Mr Lee. It easier than full name,” he said. He spoke to the waitress in Chinese and went back to the kitchen. When they paid, she said that they get twenty-five percent discount for helping her. They thanked her and said that they would come again.

  Outside, the weather was turning windy and blustery and they headed for Lance’s car. He said, “Let’s go back to our local pub in West Sanby. It should be friendlier than this place.” The others agreed. Lance drove through to Old Clee and turned off for Humberston and then south through Tetley Lock. At West Sanby, Lance parked the car outside the pub and they headed into the bar. A fire was blazing in the hearth and the atmosphere was warm. They headed up to the bar and ordered drinks. Apart from locals, they saw people from their unit and the squadron. There was a lively game of darts in progress and at one of the tables a game of dominos. Interested spectators were at each. The barman was the casual that had been on when Andy first arrived.

  “Where’s Jamie tonight?” Andy asked him.

  “He’s serving in the lounge bar,” was the reply. Andy nodded his thanks and moved across with the drinks to join the others. They joined others watching the dominoes game unfold. After a few minutes, Andy told Dan he was going to see Jamie in the lounge. Dan nodded and Andy headed out of the bar and across the hallway into the lounge bar.

  The lounge was quieter than the bar but still busy, with mainly couples at the tables and some having meals. Seated on a high stool at the bar was a brunette in her late twenties conversing with Jamie. Andy was surprised. She looked tall and the way she held herself suggested strength. The flared skirt showed off shapely legs and the clingy polo-neck top showed off a well-built torso. Andy paused and wondered whether to interrupt but Jamie saw him and waved him over to the bar. When Andy reached it, the brunette turned to face him, appraising him with clear blue eyes that held his own. A ‘no nonsense woman’ thought Andy.

  “Yvonne, meet Andy Hill. He’s an old mountaineering compatriot from way back,” said Jamie by way of introduction.

  Yvonne put out her hand and Andy took it in a handshake. “You didn’t tell me about this friend of yours, Jamie,” said Yvonne. To Andy she said, “Nice to meet you. Are you RAF?”

  “Yes, I am,” replied Andy. “I didn’t realise it was so obvious.”

  “Yvonne is from Parfleet St Peter,” said Jamie.

  “And we are having a dance there in two weeks’ time. Make sure you come and bring your friends. It’s for a special cause,” chimed in Yvonne.

  “If we are not on duty, I’d be delighted to come,” replied Andy. He went on to say, “I’m here with a couple of friends. I’ll catch up with you later, Jamie. Very nice to meet you, Yvonne.”

  As Andy turned to leave, Jamie said, “Call me in the morning and we’ll arrange to catch up.” Andy waved in acknowledgement and went back to the bar. He wondered what Jamie wanted to tell him. It also reminded him that he had promised to ‘phone Alice in the morning at 9.00 a.m. At 9.30 a.m. she would be at church with her family.

  Back in the lounge bar, Yvonne was talking to Jamie in between his serving of customers. “There’s quite a build-up of RAF personnel, I hear. New equipment being installed on the airfield, according to some of our locals who walk along the sea wall.”

  “Yes, we’ve noticed an increase here, too,” Jamie replied.

  “What do you think is going on?” Yvonne asked.

  Jamie knew but couldn’t say anything to her. He just said, “I don’t know. The RAF lads don’t say anything. Maybe just an up-grade of existing equipment.”

  Yvonne wasn’t satisfied with the answer but just let it go. “Jamie, if our two village pubs shared the bar at the dance, you could work on the bar part-time. What do you think?”

  He looked at her, “Well, I’d prefer to have the evening off but that would be better than nothing.” To himself, Jamie thought it would be a good idea, particularly if Andy Hill was there too. They might be able to find out more information from the locals.

  Bob, the publican, came through to the lounge bar to see how things were going. He saw Yvonne sitting at the bar talking to Jamie and decided to say something. “He walked up and said, “Hello Yvonne, nice to see you visiting our village instead of going to your local. I understand we have a new attraction.”

  Yvonne turned to see Bob with a big smile on his face. “M-m!” said Yvonne, “it’s certainly a big improvement on the old faces. By the way, Bob, are you interested in sharing the bar at our dance in two weeks’ time?”

  He responded, “Well, now, we haven’t been invited in the past. Whose idea is this?”

  “It’s mine,” replied Yvonne, “but since I’m on the dance committee I’m sure we could make it happen. Besides, I think our two villages should do more of these events together.”

  “I’ll think about it,” said Bob, “but you’d better have a talk with Alf over at your pub and see what he thinks of the idea.” Yvonne nodded in reply. “Nice to see you, Yvonne, but don’t distract Jamie too much,” Bob said as he turned and left.

  Turning to Jamie, she said with a meaningful smile, “But that’s the point — I do want to distract you.” Jamie just smiled at her and turned to serve a customer.

  ***

  Out at sea, the Penny Jane had her nets out and was slowly moving against the tide, trapping fish that were swimming with the tide. Each man was busy with his own thoughts. Walmar was thinking of his wife and children and the good life he had found here in England. The strong socialist views that had kept him linked to the Communist Party had been tempered by the strong sense of community he had found in Parfleet St Peter. He had come to realise that, here in England, the community counted for far more than political parties. At Parfleet St Peter the community looked after its members and in fact was closer to the communist ideal than Communism. He wondered how he could break free from the Communist hold on him. Could he go to the authorities and confess? Would that mean prison in England or death at the hands of the KGB? He wondered. What about his friends in the community; would they turn against him? How would his wife, Penny, react? He loved her dearly and didn’t want to lose her.

  Berin was having different thoughts. Like Walmar, he was thinking of home and family. He didn’t have a wife and children but he wondered whether it was time to ask for a different position that would enable him to get married and have children. Berin had noticed the strength and warmth of the family relationship that Walmar had and had begun to envy him. He thought it would be good to be able to go home to a family that would give him the same sort of love that Walmar received. The life he was living wouldn’t do that. Would the party agree to him having a different role to the one he played now? He shook his head and headed for the wheelhouse. These thoughts were no good. He had orders to follow that didn’t allow for such feelings. Opening the door of the wheelhouse he asked Walmar if there was still some soup left. Walmar nodded and inclined his head toward the basket at the back of the wheelhouse. Berin opened the flask and picked out two cups, pointing one towards Walmar with a questioning look. Walmar nodded and Berin poured soup into the two cups and handed Walmar one of them. “Five minutes and we’ll start reeling the net in,” said Walmar.

  “Good,” replied Berin, “then we should be able to
tune in to see if there any new instructions and also allow me to send a message to Moscow.” The wavelength they transmitted on was different to the one they listened in to for instructions. They were unaware that the British intelligence services had identified the wavelengths and listened in. Messages were coded and the code was changed regularly. So far, they had not been cracked by British Intelligence because of the frequency of change.

  They finished drinking the soup and Walmar said, “Okay, let’s get the net in.” He locked the rudder and they both went out to bring the net in and sort the fish into boxes and put them in the hold. An hour later they went back into the wheelhouse and tuned in to the radio frequency to check for instructions. There were none and Berin then changed frequency and started sending his message. It was a pre-prepared message in Morse code and it was able to be run through at a faster rate than Morse could be tapped out or a voice message given. It meant a shorter period of time for transmission and therefore harder for listening stations to pick up. However, knowing the approximate time of previous transmissions, two British listening posts were tuned in. Once again, the RDF (radio direction finder) located the transmission to be somewhere off the North Lincolnshire coast but within the three-mile limit. They needed a third bearing but there was not a set pattern of nights to be able to have a vessel out in the North Sea to take that bearing. Walmar shut down the radio and set a course for where he had dropped his cray pots. They travelled at a slow speed and, to keep occupied, they started gutting some of the catch. They reached the location of the pots and Walmar switched on the spotlight to pick up the floats. Berin went forward with the boathook and hooked each one aboard as it was caught in the beam of light. They had some good crayfish and Walmar thought they would bring a good price in Louth from his hotel customers. With the tide running in strongly they decided to head for home.