been told to take our boats there. The navy wants them for some reason.’
‘Can I come with you? I’m a reporter.’
The boat eased over to the bank, and Will pushed Charlie. ‘Run back and tell the chief I’m going with oneof the boats. I’ll report back as soon as I can.’
Charlie took off as fast as his legs would carry him, and Will leapt on to the boat. ‘Thanks. My name’s Will Adams.’
‘Doug Wilkins.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Doug. Will you tell me what happened?’
‘First thing I knew was the navy blokes banging on my door saying they wanted my boat. It was chaos where I moored her. They gave us petrol and asked if we’d take our own boats to the coast at once.’
‘And that’s all they said?’
‘Only that it was vital they had everything that could float.’
‘What on earth can they want such an ill-assorted collection of boats for?’ Will gazed around, unable to believe his eyes. There were navy personnel on some of the boats.
‘I don’t know what’s happened, but I’ve got a nasty feeling we must be in terrible trouble.’ Doug’s mouth was set in a grim line. ‘This operation looks like an act of desperation to me.’
Will had to agree with that. ‘Do you think they’ll tell us at the dockyard?’ he asked, as he took several photos.
‘They’ll have to if they want to use my boat. I’ll want to know where she’s going before I hand her over.’
Will put the camera back in the case. It would be easy to snap away, but he must keep plenty of film for later.
‘Going in the forces yourself, are you?’
‘Afraid not. I tried, but they wouldn’t take me.’
‘Why not? You look a fit young man.’
Will stretched out his arms. ‘Because of this.’
‘Ah.’ Doug nodded. ‘I never noticed that. Never mind, lad, you stick with me and we’ll find out what they want with us. Whatever it is, I want to stay with my boat if I can.’
Will’s eyes shone with excitement. ‘Would you say I’m part of your crew so I can come with you?’
‘Sure.’ Doug grinned. ‘Glad to have you aboard, Will. Want to have a go at steering?’
‘Yes please!’
For the rest of the journey Doug taught Will how to handle the boat, and anything else he might need to know about the vessel.
Doug took over again when they reached their destination, and Will gazed around in wonder at the sight that met them.
‘My God!’ Doug gasped as he edged the boat to the dock.
Everywhere was crowded with boats, and more were steaming in all the time, passing others already heading out to sea. The navy was clearly in charge, and as they tied up, a sailor ordered them over to a hut.
Will caught two men who had already reported in. ‘Do you know what this is all about?’ he asked.
‘Our army’s trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk, and they want anything that will float to go over and rescue them. The navy tried to give us train tickets home, but we ain’t having that. Where our boat goes, we go as well. Just about all the others feel the same, and to be honest, I think they’re only too relieved to have the help.’ The man looked at Doug. ‘What about you?’
‘I’m the only one who is going to take the wheel of my boat.’ Doug clapped Will on the shoulder. ‘You don’t have to come any further, lad. Take your pictures and write the story.’
Will’s face dropped with disappointment. ‘Let me come with you. Please! You’re going to need someone else on board. This trip will be too much for one man.’
‘It’s going to be dangerous.’
‘I know that, but I can do a much better story if I’m actually there.’
Seeing the eagerness on his face, Doug gave a reluctant nod. ‘Phone your editor and let him know what you’re doing.’
As soon as they’d reported to the sailors taking names, Will managed to find a telephone, and got through to his editor.
The chief listened carefully to what Will was able to tell him, then said, ‘This sounds dangerous. Are you sure you want to
‘Can I come with you? I’m a reporter.’
The boat eased over to the bank, and Will pushed Charlie. ‘Run back and tell the chief I’m going with oneof the boats. I’ll report back as soon as I can.’
Charlie took off as fast as his legs would carry him, and Will leapt on to the boat. ‘Thanks. My name’s Will Adams.’
‘Doug Wilkins.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Doug. Will you tell me what happened?’
‘First thing I knew was the navy blokes banging on my door saying they wanted my boat. It was chaos where I moored her. They gave us petrol and asked if we’d take our own boats to the coast at once.’
‘And that’s all they said?’
‘Only that it was vital they had everything that could float.’
‘What on earth can they want such an ill-assorted collection of boats for?’ Will gazed around, unable to believe his eyes. There were navy personnel on some of the boats.
‘I don’t know what’s happened, but I’ve got a nasty feeling we must be in terrible trouble.’ Doug’s mouth was set in a grim line. ‘This operation looks like an act of desperation to me.’
Will had to agree with that. ‘Do you think they’ll tell us at the dockyard?’ he asked, as he took several photos.
‘They’ll have to if they want to use my boat. I’ll want to know where she’s going before I hand her over.’
Will put the camera back in the case. It would be easy to snap away, but he must keep plenty of film for later.
‘Going in the forces yourself, are you?’
‘Afraid not. I tried, but they wouldn’t take me.’
‘Why not? You look a fit young man.’
Will stretched out his arms. ‘Because of this.’
‘Ah.’ Doug nodded. ‘I never noticed that. Never mind, lad, you stick with me and we’ll find out what they want with us. Whatever it is, I want to stay with my boat if I can.’
Will’s eyes shone with excitement. ‘Would you say I’m part of your crew so I can come with you?’
‘Sure.’ Doug grinned. ‘Glad to have you aboard, Will. Want to have a go at steering?’
‘Yes please!’
For the rest of the journey Doug taught Will how to handle the boat, and anything else he might need to know about the vessel.
Doug took over again when they reached their destination, and Will gazed around in wonder at the sight that met them.
‘My God!’ Doug gasped as he edged the boat to the dock.
Everywhere was crowded with boats, and more were steaming in all the time, passing others already heading out to sea. The navy was clearly in charge, and as they tied up, a sailor ordered them over to a hut.
Will caught two men who had already reported in. ‘Do you know what this is all about?’ he asked.
‘Our army’s trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk, and they want anything that will float to go over and rescue them. The navy tried to give us train tickets home, but we ain’t having that. Where our boat goes, we go as well. Just about all the others feel the same, and to be honest, I think they’re only too relieved to have the help.’ The man looked at Doug. ‘What about you?’
‘I’m the only one who is going to take the wheel of my boat.’ Doug clapped Will on the shoulder. ‘You don’t have to come any further, lad. Take your pictures and write the story.’
Will’s face dropped with disappointment. ‘Let me come with you. Please! You’re going to need someone else on board. This trip will be too much for one man.’
‘It’s going to be dangerous.’
‘I know that, but I can do a much better story if I’m actually there.’
Seeing the eagerness on his face, Doug gave a reluctant nod. ‘Phone your editor and let him know what you’re doing.’
As soon as they’d reported to the sailors taking names, Will managed to find a telephone, and got through to his editor.
The chief listened carefully to what Will was able to tell him, then said, ‘This sounds dangerous. Are you sure you want to
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