He stared at her, still fearful it would suddenly end. ‘We’ve had no mail except local letters.’
‘And you thought I was in Canada!’ She laughed, her eyes shining with sudden tears. ‘There was a last minute mix-up. My medical report got confused with another Wren’s, and by the time it was sorted out the convoy had sailed without me. So they sent me here instead. I’ll bet they’re laughing like hell about it in Canada.’
She reached up to touch his face. ‘You’re like ice! Tell me, what happened?’
‘The convoy.’ He could feel his body trembling violently. ‘Itwas attacked. The ship with the Wrens aboard was destroyed. I was there. I saw it.’ He felt her hair with his fingers. ‘Burning. I tried to find you.’ He broke down and whispered, ‘To bring you back.’
A policeman shouted, ‘What’s going on here?’
The other Wren replied just as loudly, ‘Get a taxi and don’t be a bloody fool!’
Lindsay heard all of it but was conscious only of the girl pressed against his body. He had to hold on to her. Otherwise…
She asked, ‘Is the taxi coming, Marion? We must get him to his ship quickly. He’s ill.’ She touched his face again, her hand very gentle. ‘It’ll be all right now. My poor darling, I’m so sorry!’
‘Here’s the taxi!’
Lindsay remembered very little of the journey. There was some sort of argument at the dockyard gates, a pause while the other Wren hurried away to make a telephone call.
Then she said, ‘We can’t come any further. Regulations. We’ve been on four days leave: Should have been back hours ago.’ She pulled his head down on to her shoulder, speaking very softly. ‘Or else I would have knownyou were here. Would have seen your ship come in.’
The other girl came back and peered. into the taxi. She said vehemently, ‘I spoke to the Third Officer and explained. Silly cow!’
Eve whispered, ‘You’d never believe her father was a lord, would you?’ She was half laughing, half crying,
The other Wren added, ‘Then I got the sentry to put me through to the ship. Just as you said. I wouldn’t speak fo anyone else but him.’
Feet scraped in the darkness and Jupp loomed above the girl’s shoulder.
‘Ah, there you are, sir!’ He saw the girl and nodded gravely. ‘I’m so glad for you, Miss. For you both.’
She said, ‘Take good care of him.’ As Lindsay tried to keep hold of her arm she added, ‘It will be all right, darling. I shall see you tomorrow. I promise.’
‘Come along, sir.’
Jupp helped him from the taxi, the driver of which was watching with fixed fascination until the Wren whose father was a lord snapped, ‘Our quarters, and double quick!’
Lindsay realised they had reached the brow. At the far end of it he could see the same quartermaster. The same blue light.
Jupp said evenly, ‘Just a few more paces.’ He moved back. ‘On your own, sir.’ He followed Lindsay, his eyes fixed on his shoulders, willing him up the endless length of brow.
The quartermaster had been joined by the O.O: D. It was Stannard. He saw Lindsay and Jupp’s set face behind him and snapped,‘The captain’s coming aboard!’ Then he
stepped between the quartermaster and the entry portand said quietly, ‘Welcome back, sir.’
Jupp smiled but kept his eyes on Lindsay.
‘I think some ‘ot soup might do the trick, sir.’ Stannard watched them fade into the shadows. Paget had been O.O.D., but when Jupp had come to him to ask for his help he had sent the lieutenant away, although hecould not recall what for. He had been in his cabin drink ing ing with Dancy at the time: Not talking, just drinking in companionable silence.
He was touched in some strange way that Jupp had chosen him. Had trusted him to share his secret.
Paget came back breathing fast. ‘I couldn’t find it, Pilot.’ ‘What?’
‘What you sent me for.’ Paget stared at the gangway log.
‘The captain’s aboard then?’
‘Yeh.’
‘And I missed him.’ Paget sounded cheated.
‘Shame, isn’t it?’ Stannard walked towards his own quarters whistling quietly to himself.
Jupp had succeeded in getting Lindsay to his cabin without meeting anyone else.
He waited until he had dropped on to his bunk and then said, ‘I’ll fetch the soup, sir.’
Lindsay’s eyes were closed. ‘Don’t bother. I’m all right.’ ‘I ‘ad it ready. It’s no bother.’ He saw the readinglamp shining directly across Lindsay’s face. ‘I’ll switch it off.’
‘No. Leave it.’ He opened his eyes. ‘You saw her, didn’t you?’
‘Course I did, sir!’ He grinned broadly. ‘Don’t you worry, light or no light, she’ll see you tomorrow, if I’ave to fetch ‘er meself, an’ that’s a fact!’
Lindsay’s eyes closed again. ‘There was this Turk. He made me stay there. Said it wasn’t time. Something about fate. I wanted to go and yet I couldn’t move. Kept on about the time and the Dardanelles.’
Jupp waited as Lindsay’s words grew quieter and his features became more relaxed.
‘Was trying to find some matches. And then I heard her call my name.’ His voice trailed away.
‘That’s right, sir.’ Jupp watched- him sadly. ‘I don’t understand a word of it but I’m sure you’re right.’ He snapped off the light and padded from the cabin.
In his pantry he sat down on a stool and stared at the soup which was simmering on a small heater. He’ll not be wanting it now. He cocked his head to listen but heard nothing. Just the creak of steel, the muffled sounds of a sentry’s regular footsteps.
Then he groped into a locker and took out a bottle of Drambuie. It was his one weakness for special occasions. He wiped a clean, glass and held it to the light before pouring himself a generous measure.
For to Jupp it was a very special occasion indeed.
17
The house by the sea
Petty Officer Ritchie waited until he heard Lindsay’s voice and then stepped into the cabin.
‘Good mornin’, sir.’ He placed his signal pad on the desk and then handed him a sealed envelope. ‘Just arrived from H.Q., sir.’
As Lindsay slit open the envelope Ritchie darted a quick glance at Jupp. He had already heard about Lindsay’s return on board. Jupp had awakened him just before dawn to tell him. He saw the untouched breakfast on the cabin table and Jupp’s obvious anxiety.
Lindsay said, ‘Orders. You’d better ask Number One to come and see me as soon’ as he’s finished with Morning Colours.’. He stared at the carefully worded instructions. Four days time. It was not long.
The bulkhead telephone buzzed, and he made himself sit very still until Jupp announced, ‘Just the O.O.D. About requestmen an’ defaulters.’
‘I see.’
He tried to hide the disappointment and to concentrate on his written orders. Work, was to be completed before sailing time but leave for the ship’s’ company could continue at the captain’s discretion. Further information would be forthcoming etc. etc. etc.
Beyond the cabin a bugle blared the ‘Alert’ and on the tannoy system a voice bellowed, ‘Attention on the upper deck. Face aft and salute!’
Lindsay stood up and walked slowly to an open scuttle, feeling the morning sunlight on his face. As he listened to one of de Chair’s marine buglers he could picture the ensign rising at the taffrail, while the Jack was hoisted in the bows. Once at sea the ensign would be replaced by one of the well-worn ones, tattered and stained, which Ritchie retained for harder use.
He had awakened in his bunk with Jupp touching his shoulder, a cup of black coffee poised and ready. For just a few seconds he had been gripped with something like terror until Jupp had grinned at him.