The Codebreakers

by Alli Sinclair

  You were right. There are no winners in war. We all suffer. Peace is what we need. All I want is to hold you safely in my arms.

  Until next time …

  All my love,

  Harry

  xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

  She read the letter again, her heart heavy. There are no winners in war.

  She’d bitten her tongue for such a long time knowing she and Harry couldn’t agree about war. Now that he was in the thick of it, experiencing the heartache firsthand, his view had changed. What had he seen? It was so easy for people to read the newspaper or hear a radio broadcast and think they knew what war was like. Ellie was guilty of it. She’d often wondered if she was being naive since she’d never had to look the enemy in the eye. Yet Harry had, and his once-concrete opinion on war had changed dramatically.

  This letter only made her miss Harry more. Though he, just like her, had a job to do.

  A soft knock at the door drew her attention away from the letter. She quickly folded it and put it in her handbag.

  Lillian poked her head around the door. ‘Louis is here.’

  ‘Really?’ Ellie left the hut to find Louis standing at the gate talking with Florry. They both looked at her, guilt written over their faces.

  ‘Have you been talking about me?’ Ellie asked.

  ‘No.’ Louis’s lips twitched.

  ‘I know that look, Louis Dutton. What were you saying?’

  ‘We were just saying it would do you good to get out of the barracks.’

  ‘I don’t need babysitting.’ Ellie placed a hand on her hip.

  ‘Ellie,’ Florry said, ‘you get up, go to work then come back here. You don’t go to the pictures or dancing any more. I know you miss Harry but you should go out and have fun.’

  ‘I do have fun.’ Defensiveness lined her tone.

  ‘Doing what?’ asked Louis.

  ‘Doing …’ What did she do? Ugh.

  ‘I’m taking you flying,’ said Louis.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Just like you, I’ve got today off. I’m doing a special run to Charleville for my friend whose regular pilot is ill. We need to deliver some medical supplies among other things and there’s enough room in the plane for you.’

  ‘I can’t,’ she said.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I have washing to do and—’

  ‘Ellie,’ said Florry. ‘I’ll take care of that.’

  ‘But—’

  Florry put up her hand and Ellie closed her mouth.

  ‘What are you waiting for, Sergeant O’Sullivan?’ Florry shooed her. ‘Go!’

  Ellie went to the hut and quickly retouched her lipstick. She’d already dressed for the day in a simple pair of trousers and light shirt. She grabbed her jacket and hat and a few moments later she was at the gate where Florry and Louis waited.

  ‘I’m not sure …’

  ‘Ellie!’ said Florry. ‘Go. Enjoy.’

  Ellie walked out of the barracks and to Louis’s car parked down the road. He opened the door and she got in, while Louis went around to the other side and slipped behind the wheel.

  ‘Are you sure about this?’ she asked.

  ‘Sure as sure.’ He started the engine and they took off for the airfield.

  ‘What about Maude? Shouldn’t you be taking her?’

  ‘Her sister’s just had a baby and she’s gone to Mackay to help. Besides, she thinks flying is dangerous and scary and only fools do it.’

  ‘Are you calling me a fool?’ laughed Ellie, already relaxing. ‘She might like it if she gave it a try.’

  ‘Maude’s feet are firmly planted on the ground, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Then she’s missing out,’ she said.

  ‘I guess you can lead a horse to water …’

  ‘But you can’t make it neigh.’ Ellie laughed with Louis. ‘That never made sense, did it?’

  ‘You know Robert,’ he said, ‘always twisting things.’

  ‘He did, indeed.’

  ‘Have you heard from Harry?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What’s that look for?’ asked Louis.

  ‘I’m worried.’

  ‘Of course you’re worried, it’s only natural and—’

  ‘No, I mean really worried.’

  ‘Why?’

  She pulled the letter from her handbag and read it to him. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I think he’s being honest. Would you prefer he lied and told you everything was rosy?’

  ‘Of course not,’ she said. ‘I’m just concerned about the mental toll this will take on him and all the men over there. Remember what happened with Mrs Hanley’s husband after the Great War—’

  ‘Ellie. No.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘But nothing. You can’t fret about things that haven’t happened. That won’t happen. Yes, war takes a toll on everyone. Harry is going through a very hard time right now. Come on,’ he said, ‘find that silver lining you’re so fond of doing.’

  ‘It’s just harder than I thought it would be to have him so far away.’

  ‘You can’t change things in this moment, so how about you enjoy today? Harry would want that, wouldn’t he?’

  ‘Yes.’ She crossed her arms. ‘When did you get so smart?’

  ‘Shh …’ He grinned. ‘It’s catching.’

  When they arrived at the airport, Louis set about preparing the paperwork and checking the flight plan while Ellie went through the cargo list inside the cabin.

  She’d just finished when Louis poked his head inside. ‘Do you want to do the walk around with me?’

  ‘Sure.’ She got out and followed Louis, doing the checks. They finished and she said, ‘I miss doing that.’

  He paused for a moment, his blue eyes studying her intently. ‘Why did you give up your work at Qantas to work in an office?’

  ‘I had to go where I was needed most.’

  ‘There are plenty of people who can push paper around a desk, yet there are very few women qualified to do what you did with QEA. Don’t you get bored with AWAS?’

  ‘We’re all doing our bit for the war, right?’ She hated being evasive. And, in a small way, her ego wanted to tell him exactly what she did because he’d be impressed. Ellie remained silent, though, reminding herself personal wishes were nothing compared to the needs of her country.

  Louis looked at his watch. ‘We better go.’

  They climbed into the plane and Louis checked the equipment inside the cockpit. Ellie donned her headset, as did Louis, who radioed the tower. Within minutes they were taxiing to the runway, waiting for permission to take off. The plane rolled down the tarmac, gathering speed, the propeller on the nose spinning. The engine revved and a moment later they were airborne, the land slipping away beneath them.

  Ellie took in the waterways snaking through Brisbane. What a marvel to be up so high, getting a bird’s-eye view of the city. To her left was where American troops lived in tents at Doomben and Ascot racecourses, the baseball diamond in the middle of the course standing out dramatically.

  ‘Look.’ Louis’s voice crackled over her headphones and she looked to where he was pointing at a cloud in the shape of a bird.

  ‘Beautiful,’ she said into the microphone. Her headset sat too tight on her ears and she adjusted the padding so it was kinder.

  Louis turned to her and grinned. ‘Are you enjoying this?’

  ‘Yes.’ Gazing out the window once more, she took in the vast expanse of green below them. The muscles in her neck and shoulders spasmed then relaxed, letting go of tension she hadn’t realised she’d been holding.

  As they climbed through the low-lying clouds the plane vibrated. Had she not flown with her father when she was young, the idea of a shuddering tin can in the skies would likely frighten the heck out of her. Instead, it reminded Ellie of happy moments when she and Robert would climb into the back of the cabin piled high with boxes to be delivered by the pilot and her father.

  The town of Charlevill
e appeared in the dusty distance, the buildings like matchboxes. Louis radioed in his arrival and prepared for landing, deftly flicking switches and checking gauges, his concentration intense.

  The plane descended and a small wave of disappointment rippled through her. She wasn’t ready to come back down to earth.

  Louis guided the plane onto the dirt field, the wheels gently kissing the runway.

  ‘Hey, Mr Smooth,’ she joked.

  ‘You know me.’ He glanced at her with a wry smile.

  They taxied over to a small tin shed. A mechanic in overalls came out and directed Louis to the apron. He parked the plane and jumped out with Ellie following.

  ‘I was going to open the door for madam,’ he said.

  ‘No madams here, thank you very much.’

  ‘Very true.’ His wink made her laugh. It felt good.

  Louis chatted with the mechanic while Ellie ventured over to a cluster of trees. The shade brought relief and she hadn’t realised how warm it had been in the cabin until now. How on earth did Louis put up with it? Then again, the planes he normally flew for Qantas were bigger and had cooling.

  ‘How did it feel?’

  Ellie spun to find Louis beside her. ‘Jeez! You scared me!’

  ‘You’re jumpy,’ he said. ‘I thought the flight might have calmed you down.’

  Ellie placed a hand over her eyes to shade them. ‘I was very calm in the air.’

  ‘Then we need to get you back up there again.’

  ‘I can’t spend all my time flying just to feel good.’

  ‘I do.’

  Ellie tilted her head to the side. ‘What is it about flying that makes you happy?’

  Louis rested against the tree trunk. ‘Stopping time.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘I like the way time feels suspended, that the world stops spinning and there’s nothing but me, the earth below and the sky above. There’s endless—’

  ‘Possibilities.’

  ‘Exactly.’ Louis looked over her shoulder and said, ‘We’ve got to do a drop in town and Dave the mechanic has given us his ute. Are you hungry?’

  ‘Ravenous.’

  The ride into Charleville had been short with Louis driving like a madman, taking each turn and side road like he’d lived here all his life.

  ‘How do you know the roads so well?’

  ‘I used to come here on my training runs before I joined Qantas. Sometimes I’d stay overnight.’

  ‘I had no idea.’

  ‘It’s weird, isn’t it?’ said Louis.

  ‘What?’

  ‘We’ve known each other almost our entire lives yet there are still things we’re finding out.’

  ‘I’m sure there are things you don’t want to know about me.’ She bit her lip. Of course, there were things he didn’t—couldn’t—know about her.

  Louis turned onto what looked like the main street, which was deserted even though it was early afternoon. He pulled up out the front of the doctor’s surgery and they got out.

  ‘Do you want some help?’ She nodded at the pile of boxes in Louis’s hands.

  ‘Nope. All good. Back in a mo.’

  Louis went inside while Ellie stood under the bullnose verandah. Although quiet, the town had a lovely character. The buildings were beautifully maintained, the street immaculately clean, and the few people she did see walked at a leisurely pace. Did they have bomb shelters here? Did the townsfolk ever worry about being invaded?

  Even though Ellie had learned to live with the threat of bombs potentially being dropped on her city, it had eased her mind that her parents weren’t a target in their small country town. It also helped that she monitored the movements of the Japanese on a daily basis. Although there was always the fear she’d miss the tiniest thing, something crucial that would cost lives.

  ‘Mission accomplished.’ Louis stepped out of the surgery. ‘Let’s have afternoon tea.’

  They walked a block to the milk bar. A bell above the door announced their arrival and it took Ellie a moment before her eyes adjusted to the dim interior. In the far corner were bright yellow chairs and a couple of tables draped with floral cloths. Ellie took a seat while Louis went over and chatted with the woman behind the counter. He then joined Ellie.

  ‘Do you know her?’ she asked.

  ‘No. Just good old country hospitality.’ He rested his palms on the table.

  The woman behind the counter kept glancing at Louis. She hastily averted her gaze when she noticed Ellie watching.

  ‘Hmm,’ she said.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Wherever you go women can’t take their eyes off you. It’s a wonder Maude doesn’t blow her stack with jealousy.’

  ‘Maude knows I wouldn’t dare look at another woman.’

  Ellie nodded, not sure whether to broach the subject. But she was his friend and friends asked uncomfortable questions because they cared. ‘So are things better between you two?’

  The shopkeeper brought a tray of pound cake, teacups and a teapot and milk.

  ‘Lucky save,’ Ellie said quietly to Louis.

  ‘Indeed.’ He only offered a half-smile.

  The shopkeeper glanced at Louis, her face a deep shade of red as she set out the afternoon tea.

  ‘Thank you,’ Louis said.

  ‘It’s a pleasure.’ She had yet to look him in the eyes. ‘It’s nice to have visitors. We rarely get anyone passing through, what with us being so remote.’

  ‘It’s the remoteness that adds to the beauty,’ said Ellie.

  ‘Yes, that’s true.’ The shopkeeper seemed to have composed herself now. She nodded towards the cake. ‘This is my great-aunt’s recipe.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Ellie. ‘I’m sure it’s delicious.’

  The woman patted her ample hips. ‘No more cake for me these days, I’m afraid. Though it does win first place at the regional show every year.’

  She wandered back into the kitchen.

  ‘Milk and one?’ asked Louis as he set about pouring the tea.

  ‘Yes, thanks. Interesting there’s tea out here.’

  ‘Because it’s rationed?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Maybe she has connections, like your Joy. She tried to sell me stockings for Maude when I came to pick you up today.’

  Ellie laughed and broke off a piece of cake. ‘Mmm … I’m not watching my hips.’

  ‘You’ve always eaten like a horse.’

  She shoved a bigger piece in her mouth. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  Louis laughed and threw the serviette at her. ‘You are ridiculous.’

  ‘Not as ridiculous as you when you try to sing.’ She threw the serviette back at him.

  ‘I happen to be a very good singer, thank you.’

  ‘Say the howling dogs in the neighbourhood.’

  Louis heaped three sugars into his tea and stirred. ‘I could have been a professional singer, you know.’

  ‘Sure, sure.’

  ‘All right, fine. Singing is not my finest talent.’

  ‘Definitely not but kindness is a lovely attribute of yours,’ she said.

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘You had a rare day off work and you’re spending it delivering supplies for a friend. You didn’t have to.’

  ‘I didn’t have to but I wanted to.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘This doctor friend is part of the Flying Doctor Service and often goes out to remote communities to attend patients.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘No wonder you were so keen to help.’

  ‘It’s a fantastic organisation and I’d like to get more involved one day.’

  ‘You’d fly planes for them?’

  ‘Maybe,’ said Louis. ‘Though I’m not quite ready to give up my big birds. Perhaps after the war I might settle in the outback once more. Although I’d have to convince city-girl Maude.’ A long sigh left his lips. ‘I really do miss the dirt.’

  ‘Regret for missed opportunities can destroy
the soul.’

  ‘That’s rather deep.’

  She stirred her tea even though there was only an inch left in the cup. ‘I love the city but there’s something special about the vastness of being out here.’

  ‘It’s in our blood.’

  ‘Sure is.’ She looked up. ‘Did you know that in 1922 Charleville to Cloncurry was the first scheduled route that Qantas ever flew?’

  ‘Yes, I’d heard.’

  ‘And the first air hostesses in Australia were nurses because their passengers got air sick? That wasn’t QEA, though. That was Holyman Airways that started in Tasmania.’

  ‘You’re an aviation encyclopedia.’

  She laughed. ‘I tend to get carried away.’

  ‘It’s your passion, which is why I don’t understand why you don’t—’

  ‘We should be heading back.’ She pointed at the clock on the wall.

  Louis downed the rest of his tea and went over to the counter to pay while Ellie waited at the door. The woman behind the counter handed him a small package and her tinkly laugh filled the shop. He accepted it with a smile.

  They went outside and got in the ute.

  Ellie nodded at the brown paper bag. ‘What’s in there?’

  ‘More pound cake. Kate thought we might get hungry on the flight to Brisbane.’

  ‘Kate, eh?’

  ‘Yes, Kate.’

  ‘Another one for your collection of Louis admirers?’ She laughed.

  ‘Stop it,’ he said. ‘Don’t be causing trouble when there’s none.’

  ‘I’m only stirring.’ They did this all the time. What had put him on edge?

  ‘It’s not funny,’ he grumbled.

  ‘Sorry.’

  Louis sighed. ‘I apologise for being like a bear with a sore head. I’ve just been feeling unsettled lately.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Everything’s going well with Maude.’

  ‘Then why does that make you grumpy? Shouldn’t you be ecstatic?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘So, I guess it’s not Maude. Maybe it’s the stress from work.’