Dark Tales From the Secret War by John Houlihan

Author:John Houlihan [Houlihan, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Action & Adventure, War & Military, Genre Fiction, Horror
Amazon: B019CCX8R8
Publisher: Modiphius
Published: 2015-12-13T07:00:00+00:00

Danger Nazi U.X.O.

By Will Salmon

OLD NED

Dawn rose on the city. A legion of bleary-eyed Londoners made their way out of the shelters, bent-backed and exhausted. Another day began.

Mothers led their children home, hoping with quiet desperation and muttered prayers that their homes had been spared. Men scrabbled amongst the rubble and detritus of fallen buildings, singing songs and telling jokes, despite the grizzly sights that awaited them.

There were the bodies, of course — and parts of bodies. The unfortunates who had somehow missed the shelters, or those who had remained in their homes despite everything. That was the grimmest, most painful part of life now, thought Ned as he hobbled slowly through the streets, his thoughts hazy from another sleepless night. Not the brave boys putting their lives on the line overseas, but the grim reality of the war striking at the heart of the nation. The city of his father and his father’s father — East End boys all — reduced to an abattoir. No matter what happened now, even if the war ended tomorrow, he’d never be able to look at London the same way again.

“Now then Ned,” Mrs Ashton nodded, hurrying by with little Jenny at her side. He nodded sadly, but didn’t say anything. He’d already passed Kingsland Road where they lived. He knew that they were heading home to nothing. They would not be the only ones.

There was a commotion at the end of the street. Three men in uniform were pushing through the crowd, running towards him. “Look out, granddad!” the youngest shouted, flashing him a grin — all teeth and youthful arrogance. The bloody cheek of it!

“Oi, what’s the rush?” he yelled after them, in truth more intrigued than angry.

“Unexploded rocket!” They turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

Ned sighed and carried on home. The street was still standing, then. He supposed he ought to feel grateful. Instead, he opened the door to his house and plonked himself down painfully in his chair. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Frank couldn’t get Lily out of his mind. He’d had his eye on The Hare & Hounds’ youngest barmaid for months now and, last night, they’d finally kissed. It had been brief but intense, a gentle, comforting embrace that had turned into something more as she pressed herself into his arms. Now he just had to get through the day and he could see her again…

They turned the corner onto Mulberry Road and there it was — the Nazi rocket, it’s enormous fin emerging from the ruins of the house it had levelled on impact. “It’s bloody huge!” Neville gasped beside him.

He was right. It was much bigger than any rocket Frank had encountered before. He’d seen unexploded Doodlebugs and the newer V-2s, but this was something else entirely. They’d have to let HQ know and take their time disarming it.

It wasn’t just the size of the thing that was strange — it had a peculiar bulbous shape, too. A circular silver hatch studded its otherwise smooth fuselage.

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