Friends and Enemies by Beryl Matthews

Author:Beryl Matthews [Beryl Matthews]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780749024161
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2019-06-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

‘What have you got there?’ David asked when they were in the car.

Kathy handed him the drawing and Max leant across to look as well. ‘He has caught your likeness well.’

David pursed his lips. ‘The boy is good.’

Ted was in the front seat and turned round, took the drawing from David, nodded and then handed it back to him. ‘That is superb.’

When David went to put it in his case, she touched his arm. ‘That is mine, sir.’

‘Why do you want a drawing of me? I was thinking my mother would like this.’

‘I expect she would, and perhaps one day I will give it to her, but for now I want to keep it.’

‘Why?’

‘Because it was given to me with gratitude from an enemy,’ she said softly. ‘And in the midst of war that is something special. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

‘Yes, I do.’ He handed the drawing back and smiled. ‘We both find ourselves in a strange situation, don’t we?’

She nodded agreement. That was certainly true, she thought, and looked at Max who was with them on the back seat. He was staring out of the window and appeared to be lost in thought. It was only then Kathy realised they were heading out of London. ‘Where are we going?’

‘We are taking Max to the camp in Kent where his men are. I want to see the camp for myself as well.’

The rest of the journey was made in silence as each person in the car had their own thoughts to deal with.

They pulled up at the entrance of the camp and all got out of the car. She studied the wire perimeter fence and felt a surge of sadness for Max and his crew. They would spend the rest of the war here – freedom denied them. The look of dejection on Max’s face told her he was well aware of that, and she watched him straighten up as some of the men on the other side came to attention when they saw him.

‘Stay here,’ David told her.

‘I hope we shall meet again under pleasanter circumstances,’ Max said to her.

‘I hope so too,’ Kathy replied, not knowing what else to say. Then she watched him walk to the camp entrance, flanked by David and Ted.

They were gone for almost an hour, and when they returned both men looked grim, especially David, who must have found it painful to see his friend put in the camp for the duration of the war.

Conversation was sparse all the way back to Dover, and she knew that not one of them was going to sleep well for a while.

They received news two days later that the hospital had discharged the injured men, and all were now in the camp with their fellow crew members.

Over the next few weeks Kathy began collecting paper and pencils for Erik, not wanting him to run out of drawing materials. David never mentioned the crew or his friend again. It had clearly disturbed him more than he was willing to say.

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