The Raiders and the Cross: An action-packed fight in the skies (Jox McNabb Aviation Thrillers Book 2) by Patrick Larsimont

Author:Patrick Larsimont [Larsimont, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2023-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Stephanie was late meeting Alice outside the cinema and if she didn’t get a move on, they’d miss the news reels before the main feature. Tonight’s picture was the latest Tyrone Power film, The Mark of Zorro. Stephanie had said it was all the rage and had assured Alice that Tyrone was quite the dish.

Standing outside the picture house on her own, Alice attracted the attention of some Polish soldiers larking about on the pavement. One of them had a camera and asked that she take their picture. She reluctantly obliged but didn’t really want to encourage them, so she hastily returned it. The photographer sneaked a quick shot of her, making her frown, as she didn’t really like the idea of becoming some kind of barrack room pin-up. They were a fine-looking bunch of men, smart and well turned-out, but boisterous like men can be when moving in a pack.

Alice decided to go in. She bought her ticket and entered the auditorium without waiting any longer for Stephanie. The Pathé News reels were just starting, and she was keen to see if the news released to the public differed greatly from what she heard first-hand at work.

The first report was on the Clydebank Blitz, which she knew Jox had been involved in. The footage was desperate, but in truth no worse than when London was hit over Christmas. Perhaps the difference was that Londoners were familiar with what was coming but the Clydesiders had no real experience of any raids.

The next story was about the American President Roosevelt giving a speech to White House Correspondents, promising aid to Britain ‘until total victory has been won’. The final report was about the big band leader, Glen Miller and his orchestra, reaching the number one spot with ‘The Song of the Volga Boatmen’. The catchy number was playing when outside the air-raid sirens began to wail. The film flickered and the lights went up. A nervous commissionaire stepped up to inform the audience of an imminent raid. Patrons were advised to evacuate immediately and to seek refuge at one of the two nearest underground shelters. He provided directions and the audience began to file out in an orderly manner. Alice reached the exit at the same time as the now more subdued Poles.

Outside, it was nearing dusk, and the raids were starting early tonight. In the distance, Alice could already hear the rumble of detonations. The streets were a cacophony of noise, with the haunting wail of the sirens and booming reports from a battery of heavy QF 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns in the nearby park. Firing big 28 lb shells to a ceiling of 35,000 feet, they were fairly inaccurate but provided some reassurance to Londoners that the city was fighting back.

Alice found the volume disorienting. The photographer from earlier grabbed her shoulder. ‘Please, miss, come this way to safety.’ He and his companions were headed down an alleyway alongside the cinema. It was a dead-end.

‘No, this way,’ she indicated, gesticulating towards the nearest shelter.

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