The Brigadier nodded.
“I agree, Matthew. But how?”
“By doing nothing. We lose any reports that have already been made, and we appoint watchers to keep an eye on her. Young Miss Amber is about to become our most secret weapon.”
“Do we approach her or her mother?”
“I believe that isn’t necessary. She knows we know about her, so that should be sufficient. If she wants us, then I believe she’ll call.”
“This is all a bit Orwellian for me. How can you be sure, Matthew?”
Matthew was staring vacantly out of the window.
“Matthew, I said how can you be sure?” the Brigadier asked, losing a little patience.
Matthew turned back to the Brigadier. His face was pale and he had some beads of sweat on his brow. His voice shook slightly as he spoke.
“Sir, I am sure. You see, she’s actually spoken to me, just now.”
“What?”
“I know this is mad, for she’s somewhere in Dorset and we’re here in London, yet she’s managed to communicate with me.”
“What did she say?”
Matthew smiled.
“She said, ‘Oh, I’ll call all right!’.”
The Brigadier paled a little.
“Matthew, get Beecham and Haddow! I don’t care how; just get them. No one is to know about this, am I clear?”
“Perfectly sir,” Matthew said as he took his leave. The Brigadier stared out of his window.
Suddenly he was to prove the mandarins wrong. The British would be successful, but the Brigadier wanted to be very careful how this was handled.
CHAPTER NINE
AMBER’S DIARY
1964
(Note by Amber: The last 3 years were quite dull. Once I alerted the powers-that-be to my existence, I was very good (mostly), and so edited some of the highlights into this section, just for continuity’s sake. I knew it was only a matter of time before they came looking for me. It stood to reason that if they were trying to make people special during the war, they’d still be trying now. If my real parents had been part of that, then I had to find someone who was interested in the same sort of thing. I didn’t know where to start, so I thought London would be the best place. Without telling Mummy, I let my mind seek out anyone who might be interested in what I had done. It didn’t take as long as I expected, as the Major was actively seeking anyone with powers like mine. His mind was like a beacon in the night. I simply found out all about him and made the policeman call him. The rest was easy.)
March 5th.
I hate having birthdays on school days. Why couldn’t I have been born in August? Then I could have a party in the garden in the sunshine. On this one, it snowed, covering the spring flowers with a small blanket of snow for a short time. Luckily the snow didn’t stay, melting rapidly as the day progressed.
I’m twelve now.
Mummy says I look fourteen, yet all the adults I know say that girls seem to be growing up earlier than they used to in the old days. That’s seems pretty daft to me, as in the real old days, girls of twelve were being married off, as they were of child bearing age, so by forty they were considered old, which, after having around twelve children, I’d admit would age anyone. All I know is that, for me, growing up changed three days before my last (11th) birthday.
My first period hit me when I was in the showers after a hockey game at school. I had been feeling grotty for a day or so, and Mummy told me that I was probably about to have the curse. She sat me down and told me what to expect.
I didn’t expect Kathryn Cooper to start screaming and Alice Weedon to faint!
Mummy was pleased that I got the curse. I don’t think she really believed that I could make the change complete. I knew I had, so it came as no surprise to me. I still can’t say I enjoyed the experience. Because I was in the year group above my age, I wasn’t the first to experience this particular joy. I wasn’t the last, either, so I felt as if I belonged in a sense.
Anyway, that was last year. I think that I’ve grown up since then. A lot has changed since Daddy and Mummy got married. Charlie and I still get on really well, and now we have a baby brother called Stephen. He was born just ten months after the wedding.
That was fortunate!
The wedding was not a huge event, but great fun. Lots of Daddy’s friends from the Air Force came, so Charlie and I had fun flirting with them. Charlie drank four glasses of champagne, so got all squiffy!
Daddy and Mummy went to Germany for their Honeymoon. The Squadron Leader wangled a flight to an RAF Base in West Germany, and they ‘borrowed’ a chalet in the country. Charlie and I stayed with her gran. It wasn’t scintillating, but we were all pleased that Daddy and Mummy were finally together officially.
Typically, it is now raining, so although the snow is going away, any games outside are not likely this birthday. We came home from school as usual, and after homework, some friends arrived for a special tea. Mummy promised that next year, when I’m thirteen, I can have a proper party, with boys!
Charlie is older than me by nearly a year. I’m taller and everyone thinks I’m older than she is. She gets so fed up when that happens. I have bigger boobs and everything! I don’t even need to change myself in any way. Sometimes, when I’m alone, I grow my boobs to silly sizes to see what they look like. I don’t think I’d like enormous ones, as they are hardly practical.
Charlie is really into her riding. She spends more time with Fancypants than with anyone else, except perhaps me. I ride as well, but I am not as bonkers about it as she is.
Presents:
Mummy bought me a new dress. It is a very nice long evening dress. It is my first ‘grown-up’ dress, and she bought me pretty shoes with two-inch heels to go with it.
Daddy bought me a new watch. I think he found someone selling stolen watches in Berlin, as it is an expensive Swiss watch and keeps super time.
Charlie gave me a make-up box and a pair of stud earrings. I think Daddy gave them to her to give to me from her real mother’s jewellery box.
I had my ears pierced at Christmas, as Mummy gave me some earrings then.
Eight of our friends came and we played some indoor games. I sensed that Mummy was feeling sad that I wasn’t a little girl any more. I am nearly as tall as she, and am still growing.
The party was nearly over, as parents had started to arrive to collect their daughters. There was just a couple left when the doorbell rang. Thinking it was another parent I opened the door.
It came as a shock, as I had not been using my powers much over the last few months, but as I opened the door, I immediately knew who it was.
Major Matthew Rider.
He wasn’t wearing his uniform, but he was very tall and very straight in his pinstripe suit, tan raincoat and hat. It was the first time we’d been face to face. I’d seen him back in Dorset when he came searching for me, and I’d let him see me on the beach and at the hotel. I’d deliberately shown him that I was a girl, just so he wouldn’t connect me with Andrew. It hadn’t worked, so I gave him the idea that I could change at will.
“Hello, Major Rider,” I said.
He just smiled at me, shaking his head slightly.
“Hello Amber. Isn’t it disappointing never to get a surprise?”
“Not really, the pleasure with surprises is usually to the giver, so I can still pretend so they get their pleasure.”
“Happy birthday,” he said, handing me a small parcel.
I was genuinely surprised, and must have shown it. He laughed again. He had a nice laugh.
“I doubt I’ll ever manage that again,” he said.
I frowned, reaching out with my mind. Once more, I was surprised, for I found he was very slightly gifted. Nothing very special, he just had an increased empathy for what people were feeling.