their answers. But if it’s been a rough one and the crews are dog tired, sometimes their stories take a lot of unravelling. Still, it’s an interesting and – I think – worthwhile job. Though you’re right, it’s harrowing at times.’
Fearing she had touched on something sensitive, Fleur changed the subject swiftly. ‘So – how do I find this billet we’re sharing?’
Ruth’s expression lightened at once. ‘I’ll take you. I’m not on duty for a couple of hours or so when the first planes start coming back.’
‘There’s a raid on tonight then?’
‘Mmm. Not a very big one, just a gardening run …’ She grinned. ‘Mine-laying, you know, but we still have to go through the routine, of course. Come on. Let’s get your gear. We’re only a few yards down the road on the outskirts of the village. With a widow. She’s a nice old dear. Fusses a bit, but then I think she’s lonely. Her husband died a few years ago and all her chicks have left home. Oh, you’ll get the full family history within the space of ten minutes, believe me.’
As they walked out of the main gate and along the road, following the pencil-thin beam from Ruth’s torch, she chattered. ‘I’m from Lincoln. I live with me mam and dad and two sisters. They’re younger than me and keeping their fingers crossed that the war’s going to last long enough for them to join up.’ She pulled a face. ‘Selfish little devils – fancy anyone wishing such a thing!’ But Fleur heard Ruth’s soft chuckle through the darkness. The girl linked her arm through Fleur’s as she confided, ‘Mind you, it could be my fault. I’m always telling them what a great time we have and how we’re surrounded by all these handsome chaps.’ Then her voice faltered as she added sadly, ‘I can’t bring myself to tell them the truth, see. Of course, we do have fun, but … but it’s no fun, is it, when you wave all the bombers off at night and know what they’re going to face? And then, when they come back, counting them all. One by one. Only they’re never all there, are they? They never all come back, do they?’
Fleur shook her head. ‘Not very often.’
Ruth squeezed her arm and forced jollity back into her tone. ‘Hark at me, getting all serious. As if I need to tell you. You’ve worked on another operational bomber station, haven’t you?’
Fleur nodded. ‘Yes, down south, but I applied to remuster as an R/T operator and hoped I’d get a posting a bit nearer home and here I am.’
‘Me too. I was up north for a while straight after training and I’ve been very lucky to get a posting so near home. What about you? Did you manage it?’
‘What?’
‘To get a posting nearer home?’
‘Oh yes. I live at South Monkford. Do you know it?’
‘Near Newark, isn’t it? Well, you should be able to get home on leave easily enough. Even on a forty-eight-hour pass. You might have to hitch, but we’re really lucky. Some of the girls are hundreds of miles from home. Peggy’s from Newcastle. And Kay’s from London. They can really only get home about once every three months.’
At the mention of Kay, Fleur remembered what had been said at the table. ‘Has … has Kay got a boyfriend here then?’
‘Yes, she has,’ Ruth said with a snort that sounded very much like disapproval. ‘Silly mare!’
‘Why do you say that? Haven’t you got one?’
‘Me? Oh no. Fancy free, me. And I mean to stay that way.’ Again there was a sniff. ‘It doesn’t do.’
Alarmed, Fleur said, ‘What do you mean? Isn’t it allowed?’
‘Well, you have to be careful, but they can’t stop it, even if they’d like to. No, what I mean is, you’re stacking up a load of heartache for yourself if you let yourself get close to anyone.’
Fleur thought she detected a note of real pain in the girl’s tone and she was about to ask gently if she had lost someone close to her, but before she could form the words, Ruth said brightly, ‘Here we are. Rose
Greg Herren
Crystal Cierlak
T. J. Brearton
Thomas A. Timmes
Jackie Ivie
Fran Lee
Alain de Botton
William R. Forstchen
Craig McDonald
Kristina M. Rovison