Voices on the Wind by Evelyn Anthony Page A

something the matter with her, Kate decided. Maybe it’s this little horror, Finch. I’ll ask her later. ‘I suppose it was a silly thing to do,’ she admitted, ‘but I’ve had enough of him picking on me for everything. Do you realize he’s never said a single word of encouragement from the moment I got here? All he’s done is snipe at me, made me feel a perfect fool whenever possible, and try to undermine my confidence. I’m going to ask him why.’
    Judy said slowly, ‘He never gives explanations. He has picked on you, Kate, it’s been very noticeable. But he doesn’t exactly like me either. Trouble is, he can’t flunk me, because I’m only on a refresher course. But he’d like to. I think the whole thing has got on top of him. Ever noticed his hands? He shakes like a leaf. My God, it’s nearly six – you’ll be late.’
    â€˜Oh no, I won’t,’ Kate promised her. ‘I’m going to be outside that damned door at exactly 1800 hours! Wish me luck. The way I feel I may get thrown out on my ear.’
    â€˜Come in.’ Michaelson was sitting at his desk. There were a lot of stubs in the ashtray in front of him. He scowled at her. Kate walked over to the desk and said, ‘I won’t keep you long, Captain.’
    â€˜You won’t indeed,’ he said. ‘I’m very busy.’
    â€˜And very rude.’
    He jerked upright, stared at her, and was about to say something. Kate didn’t flinch or look away. Suddenly he made a gesture; it was almost despairing.
    â€˜I’m sorry. It’s a waste of time your coming here, but you might as well say your piece and get it over.’
    â€˜It’s not a very long piece,’ she said quietly. ‘Just one question really. What have you got against me?’
    â€˜Against you? You in particular? You must be a very conceited young woman to ask a question like that.’
    â€˜If I’m conceited,’ Kate answered, ‘it’s no thanks to you. I’ve never done anything right, so far as you’re concerned. So why haven’t you chucked me out?’
    He leaned back in his chair, tipping it slightly. He made his expression as unpleasant as possible. ‘You’ll know that at the end of the course.’
    â€˜I want to know the reason; I’ll take my chance on the result. You’ve taken a personal dislike to me, Captain Michaelson, and you’ve done your best to make my life hell since I came here. Either you stop it and give me a fair chance with the rest of the group, or …’
    â€˜Or you walk out,’ he finished for her. ‘I don’t know how we’ll win the war without you!’ He lit a cigarette; she saw that he could hardly hold the lighter steady long enough to light it.
    â€˜I’m not walking out,’ she said quietly. ‘I wasn’t going to say that. That was wishful thinking on your part. I’m going to get through and go to Europe and unless I make a mess of it, you’re not going to bully me out of the chance.’
    â€˜Bully you?’ The chair came back on its feet with a bump. He pushed it away and got up. He walked a few paces and then turned round to face her. ‘Bully? My God, you bloody silly little idiot, you don’t know what bullying means.’
    Kate didn’t answer. The sight of those trembling hands kept her quiet. There were lines of deep strain on a face that should have been young.
    â€˜Sit down,’ he said. ‘You smoke, don’t you – here, have a cigarette, help yourself.’ He tossed the lighter to her. ‘You say I’ve given you hell. Well, that’s my job. To make life tough and difficult so we can weed out the people who won’t last the pace when they go overseas. But not tough and difficult enough! They send in girls like you, puffed up with a lot of nonsense about damaging the Germans in Europe and helping