The Ghost Fields by Griffiths Elly

Author:Griffiths, Elly [Griffiths, Elly]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2015-03-26T00:00:00+00:00

Somehow Paul produces pizzas for lunch. Ruth has no idea how he has found a company that delivers out to the wilds of North Norfolk but the pizzas arrive in bona fide cardboard boxes, still hot and surprisingly good. They eat in the kitchen, Nell, Blake, Chaz and Paul at the table and the rest of the family and crew perched on work surfaces or sitting on the floor. Phil turns up in time for lunch and is busy suggesting to Paul that he might be able to fill in ‘some of the general archaeological background’. Paul seems unconvinced.

Ruth finds herself wedged between Frank and the fridge.

‘This is cosy,’ he says with a grin.

Ruth agrees that it is. She had intended to play it cool today, to be the mysterious, aloof professional. But it’s impossible to be a woman of mystery while eating a slice of pepperoni pizza. Besides, she’s worried about falling off the kitchen cabinet. It’s all right for Frank; his legs are so long that they’re practically touching the floor.

‘It’s nice to see the family so involved,’ says Frank, looking over to where Nell and Blake are showing the crew photographs of their grandchildren.

‘Yes,’ says Ruth. ‘I think it means a lot to Nell, seeing the place where her father was stationed.’

‘Do you know if the family had any idea that he was here at the time?’

‘I don’t think so,’ says Ruth. ‘From something Old George – Fred’s brother – said, I don’t think they knew he was based here until they got the news of his death. Odd that he didn’t get in touch.’

‘There was probably some kind of family rift,’ says Frank. ‘I guess we’ll never really know.’ There’s a pause and then he says, ‘It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? Living here, at Lockwell Heath. Having a drink in the officer’s mess, playing some sport – apparently there were squash courts here too – all the time knowing that you might die any day, that you probably would die before you got much older. Their courage must have been extraordinary.’

‘Yes,’ says Ruth, thinking of the pictures she had seen of the men and their planes. ‘It’s hard to get much sense of what this place would have been like . . . then.’

‘There’s a mural in one of the farm buildings,’ says Frank. ‘Chaz says it was painted by one of the crew of the 444th.’ He calls over to Chaz, ‘Is it OK if I show Ruth the mural?’

‘Be my guest,’ says Chaz. ‘I think Paul’s going to film it later. Isn’t that right?’

‘I sure am,’ says Paul. ‘The viewers will love it.’

In the hall, they pass Clough and Cassie sitting on the stairs. They look extraordinarily comfortable together, thinks Ruth. Clough is leaning back on his elbows and Cassie is whispering something in his ear, her long dark hair falling forward. They don’t appear to notice Ruth and Frank leaving. Ruth is relieved; she doesn’t want Clough reporting back to Nelson. What

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