The Air Raid Book Club by Annie Lyons

Author:Annie Lyons [Lyons, Annie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

1941

Sweet are the uses of adversity,

Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,

Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.

—William Shakespeare, As You Like It

Appointment with Death. Gertie had to squint to make out the book’s title from the scorched scrap of cover as she and Hedy cast around the empty charcoal shell, desperate for some grain of hope.

Gertie had seen photographs of a badly damaged bookshop not long ago with a boy sitting in the midst of the chaos reading. There was no front or back to the premises, but all the books remained intact. The thought of this photograph had persuaded Gertie to come today. Perhaps their stock would be salvageable. They could sweep up the glass, repair the damage, and carry on as before. However, she had not fully comprehended the destructive power of an incendiary, nor its impact on a room lined with kindling in book form. The fire service had been overstretched to its breaking point that night. It arrived too late to preserve the books, and any that remained were then ruined by the jets of water that eventually quelled the fire.

“At least the sign isn’t too damaged,” said Hedy from outside the shop, gazing up at its singed edges and peeled gold lettering. “A little charred, but you can still read the words.”

The gilt letters spelling “Bingham Books” no longer shone down at Gertie. They were as battered and bruised as she felt. The red background, which once seemed so warm and welcoming, was blackened as if the darkness of war had finally arrived in Beechwood. Gertie’s eyes brimmed with tears as she cast her gaze up and down the high street. The clock that once hung proudly outside Robinson the Cobbler’s had been blown clean from its fittings and smashed through the windows of Perkins’s Confectioners. It was a blessing that the timing of the raid meant that no one was killed. The street was a mangled wreck of broken glass and scattered detritus. The shopkeepers were doing their best to clean up, sweeping and clearing, but it was a mammoth task. Only the Beechwood town sign remained untouched, its white horse galloping onward. Normally, Gertie would have found some crumb of hope in this, but today felt different. There was an air of resignation as young Mr. Piddock gave her a weary wave before returning to his sweeping. No one could offer comfort or optimism today. “I can’t do this,” she whispered.

Hedy clutched her arm. “You can, Gertie. You’re strong.”

Gertie shook her head. “No. I’m not strong. Not really. I have kept going all these years because I had to, but I don’t want to keep going anymore.”

Hedy squeezed her hand. “You’re tired. We shouldn’t have come here today. It was too much for you seeing the shop like this. Come on. Let’s go home.”

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