Maggie's Girl by Sally Wragg Page B

her feet.
    â€˜Oh, girls, I didn’t know you cared.’ The soldier grinned weakly, but was overtaken by a fit of coughing.
    â€˜You needn’t flatter yourself, young Hodges.’ Diana tried to sound severe, but grinned right back as she began to brush herself down.
    It was no wonder everyone loved Diana. She always came up smiling.
    â€˜I’ll go and hurry the driver.’ Maggie got to her feet, desperate suddenly to be outside. The lights had gone out. Rays of daylight shone through the windows, which had been blown in. Remarkably pretty stained glass, she remembered, and was sorry for it.
    The house across the road was gone, a place where people had once lived their lives as sane and normal folk. She hoped no one had been inside. You got hardened to this.
    There was a strong smell of burning, and flames licked out of the road where a gas main had burst. She looked up into the sky, relieved to see only cloud, with here and there a snatch of blue, even, miraculously, the odd gleam of sunshine.
    God was still in His heaven. They’d survived again.
    The ambulance driver and his mate vaulted over the low wall of the house next door, where they’d taken cover, and picked their way towards her.
    â€˜That were close!’ one said, in a strong and sensible Yorkshire accent that it did her good to hear.
    They went inside, lifted Private Hodges’ stretcher and manoeuvred it out again into the waiting ambulance, which seemed to be driveable. The two women followed them out and waved to the boy.
    â€˜You’d better get yourselves out of this.’ The driver swung hisdoor shut. ‘Jerry’s already at Boulogne. Word’s round we’re cut off, ordered back. You, too, I expect.’
    â€˜But no one’s told us anything!’ Maggie protested.
    â€˜Back?’ Diana echoed. ‘Where to?’
    â€˜Don’t ask me,’ he said. ‘Dunkirk, I should think – nearest port, innit. I’m only telling you what I’ve heard.’
    â€˜Well!’ Diana said, watching the ambulance edge back down the road. ‘At least Hodges is all right.’
    From the far distance came the whine of another shell falling, followed immediately by the blast, and they stared at each other.
    â€˜What are we going to do?’ Diana asked, and Maggie shook her head.
    â€˜They’re all around us, Diana. Whichever way we head, they’d be able to find us. We seem to be trapped.’ 

Chapter Four
Castle Maine.
May, 1940.
    D r Andrew Hardaker dropped his stethoscope into his bag and bent down to help William Oakes back on with his shirt.
    â€˜You’ve heard the news, I expect?’ The doctor nodded towards the day’s paper, spread out on the table where Daisy had been reading it before work. News of the evacuation from Dunkirk was beginning to filter through. Many of his patients had men out there; no wonder his surgery had been so full.
    â€˜We’re worried about Maggie.’ William’s hands fluttered helplessly in his lap. ‘Daisy’s nearly out of her mind.’
    Andrew frowned. He was worried about Maggie, too.
    â€˜It’s not good for you to get upset, William. It’s the last thing Maggie would want! She’s a sensible enough head on those shoulders.’
    â€˜We haven’t heard a thing, Doctor! We’ve no idea where she is. She’d no business leaving those bairns. She’s too headstrong!’
    Anxiety over Maggie made William lucid for once. He’d like enough been sitting here worrying his head over it all the morning. Andrew smiled reassuringly.
    â€˜The son of one of my patients came back aboard a paddle steamer last night. It disembarked its passengers, then turnedstraight around and went off again. Any boat so long as it’s sea worthy!
    â€˜He’s only just got through to tell his mum he’s safe. They’ll get everyone back eventually, William.’
    Andrew wished from the