Brave Faces by Mary Arden

Author:Mary Arden
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781784629809
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
Published: 2015-07-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

1943-44

I didn’t know where Duncan’s squadron had been sent, although I suspected that it was probably somewhere in the Mediterranean, but I did know that wherever he was he would be in constant danger, so I decided to ride my bicycle to the church in Arbroath to pray for his safety.

I checked with Fiona that we had no re-tests that morning, and then went to collect my bike. To my dismay, I discovered that my front tyre was completely flat so I wheeled it round to the transport sheds to ask one of the mechanics if he’d mend it for me.

‘It’s a damn nuisance,’ I complained, ‘as I really want to go to Arbroath this morning.’

The mechanic looked at his watch and told me sympathetically that I’d just missed the bus, but suggested that I could walk there and get the bus back, assuring me that he’d have my tyre mended by the time I returned. That seemed like a good idea, so I set off at a brisk pace.

I had only been walking for about ten minutes or so, when I heard a car horn honking behind me. Thinking that it was probably just one of the junior officers trying to get my attention, I ignored it, but the honking continued. My curiosity eventually got the better of me and when I turned around, I saw a large family car driving slowly towards me. I couldn’t see who was inside the car, but as I didn’t want to acknowledge the vulgar man who had been honking at me, I tossed my head indignantly and looked the other way.

As the car drove past me the driver honked again, letting out a ‘dot-dot-dash’ on his horn as loudly as he could, which made me jump sky-high. The car then suddenly stopped and the driver got out. I could see that he was roaring with laughter, so I gave him a filthy look. I was just about to shake my fist at him, when I noticed that he had a thick band of gold braid on his sleeve. Hells bells, I thought, now I’m in for it.

As he came towards me I realised that it was the Commander Flying from HMS Condor.

‘I suppose your mother told you not to accept lifts from strangers?’ he said smiling.

‘Exactly, Sir,’ I replied.

‘I am sorry if I made you jump, but the thing is that I was trying to attract your attention to see if you would like a lift into Arbroath. It is quite a long walk, you know. I’m not trying to pick you up, young lady, not in that sense I mean. I’m sorry, I should explain myself: I believe you know my wife, Barbara, she sold you a dress at the bazaar about a week ago.’

‘Oh, yes,’ I said, as the penny finally dropped. I was no longer cross now, and felt a bit of a fool that I had thought he was trying to pick me up. ‘I’m terribly sorry, Sir, but I misunderstood and thought you were a junior officer trying to make a pass at me.

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