Before she was asleep, the music stopped abruptly for a special announcement. There was a sudden change of mood, and she sat up in bed to listen.
‘This is the BBC Home Service. The Prime Minister Mr Neville Chamberlain landed at Heston Aerodrome earlier this evening, 30th September, after his meeting with the German Chancellor, Herr Adolf Hitler. The Prime Minister is preparing to address the crowds there. We go over now to hear what he has to say.’
She sat up and clasped her bent knees, wondering how the Prime Minister had coped with Herr Hitler.
‘The settlement of the Czechoslovakian problem, which has now been achieved, is, in my view, only the prelude to a larger settlement in which all Europe may find peace. This morning I had another talk with the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, and here is the paper, which bears his name upon it as well as mine. Some of you, perhaps, have already heard what it contains but I would just like to read it to you: We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again.’
‘That recording was made two hours previously, and now we go to the steps of 10 Downing Street where Mr Chamberlain has a formal statement to give to the nation,’ said the BBC announcer.
‘My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. Go home and get a nice quiet sleep.’
And in a timely response from President Franklin Roosevelt upon hearing of the Munich Settlement and the avoidance of a new world war, the nation heard his two-word telegram to the Prime Minister: It was plain and simple. “Good man”.
Hilda gave a sighed of relief and ran her fingers through her hair. There would be no war after all; she could relax and enjoy her visit home. What was more, Otto could concentrate on his medical studies at last; the thought made her smile contentedly, despite the occasional queasiness caused by the ship’s motion. She located the cardboard bowl, in case the need arose during the night.
The following morning, dressed warmly in a sea-green pullover, she went outside on deck. The air was fresh, clean and salty, and there was no land in sight. Mesmerising white-flecked waves danced before her eyes, and seabirds took advantage of a free trip, perched on the taut wires from the mast to the bridge. The breeze blew her chestnut hair out behind her. It felt good to be alive again on the dawn of a new understanding between former hostile nations. A new month, a new start, and the anticipation of peace.
Able Seaman Tait passed by. He flicked his cigarette stub into the froth of the North Sea. ‘Good morning, ma’am. Heard the news?’
‘Yes, isn’t it wonderful? I heard Mr Chamberlain on the radio last night. It looks so promising. No war after all,’ she replied, beaming.
‘That was yesterday’s news, ma’am. You hav’nae heard? Today Germany invaded Sudetenland.’
Chapter 5
Confrontation
‘Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech haolam…’ David ended the grace prematurely. He had noticed Hilda approach and he stood up from the table and pulled a seat out for her.
‘I’m sorry, I interrupted you,’ she smiled.
‘God knows we give thanks for our daily bread each day. He also expects us to show humility and service. Moreover, he lives and travels with us when we ask. No, you did not interrupt.’
She nodded and sat down. ‘You have heard the news about Sudetenland?’ she asked after a pause.
‘Yes, it was no surprise. What will stop Hitler now?’ asked Anna.
The news cast a sombre shadow as they resumed their breakfast places.
‘I could never trust Hitler, and I feel for all my brothers and sisters in the Sudetenland. The man must be mad. He is leading us into Armageddon,’ said David.
Hilda’s lips tightened. ‘You’re right, of course. Fortunately, like many others, you are escaping from the madness,’ she said, lifting her coffee cup from its saucer.
‘Yes, we are the fortunate ones. We leave so many behind: German Jews who have no other nationality and fear for their lives from their fellow countrymen.’
‘Yes, sadly true, David. I distrust Hitler more than ever now. He has lied to the Prime Minister and the British people as well.’
After breakfast, Hilda retired to her cabin and began to think about Scotland again. Perhaps a day walking in the heather hills with old friends, a picnic by a quiet deep loch, back to a good traditional supper of peas brose, mealy and black puddings. Buchannan the butcher’s steak pies and Mother’s cooking. There was still time in early October to sit in the hotel garden with her parents, enjoying the sunshine until late afternoon, and seeing the chrysanthemums, dahlias, sprouts and kale that her parents planted each spring come into season. Apples and pears too should be in abundance. That meant stewed fruit and crumbles… oh… how Hilda loved a Scottish autumn.
She let her thoughts slip back for a moment to the sadness and awfulness of the news from Germany. What would be Europe’s future? Life was a tapestry, woven from moments of pure tranquillity, time to appreciate good fortune and then solemn days of sadness. Above all, she reminded herself that we are only a blink of nature’s eye on the planet.
During her afternoon stroll on deck, she espied a grey-blue ship in the distance, and then another and another flanking the first. Puffs of steam rose from their funnels: not pure virginal white clouds, more a dirty grey billowing trail from each ship. Behind the ships was an even larger ship, a battleship most surely, like the ones she had seen offshore at Cuxhaven. They eventually passed by, stately, soundless and with a sinister grace, trailing menace in their wake, despite the red ensign displayed at their sterns.
On the other side of the ship, she could never remember which side was ‘port’ and which side was ‘starboard’, she strained her eyes to detect land on the horizon. She desperately willed it to appear, just some ribbon to relieve the grey monotony of the North Sea. When it did appear, she was unsure whether to believe her eyes and puzzled over the distance between Scotland and Germany. She rubbed her eyes and refocused; land indeed it was. They were due to dock in two and a half hours, so they must have been somewhere off the east coast of Scotland; maybe Arbroath or Montrose; that meant Aberdeen would soon appear. She returned to her cabin to pack. It did not take long, and she returned to the deck, excited to see her beloved land and the Granite City grow bigger.
When Aberdeen became unmistakable, it shone like a palace of diamonds. The familiar spires of Marshall College, her alma mater, seemed to recognise her return too. She felt at home already, and the train journey to Forres in the afternoon would bring her to her parents’ home and back to the centre of her loving family.
The Grampian Empress docked and the gangways lowered. She shook the hands of the Hortowski family and wished them good luck. They were clearly pleased to arrive on a welcoming shore and gathered their luggage wreathed in smiles.
Hilda spotted the livery of the transport company that would deliver her larger trunks to the hotel, and made her final farewells to the Hortowski family, encouraging Lilli to play her clarinet every day and to be happy in her new life.
Guided by crew members, Hilda found her way from the ship to the customs hall, smiling when she heard a familiar cry from the street outside.