My Friend the Enemy

by Dan Smith

  ‘And Kim’s brother,’ I said.

  ‘Aye, and Kim’s brother . . . Brave men like them are keeping us safe. So that’s enough of that talk for now.’

  ‘All right.’ I was putting the plate in the sink when there was a knock at the door.

  ‘Someone’s early,’ Mam said, looking at the clock, then at me. She furrowed her brow as if thinking, then her face fell and her mouth hung open, her lips making a shape like an O, her eyes widening.

  I knew what was wrong. As soon as I saw her reaction, I understood what she was afraid of. She was afraid of the telegram boy, the one who came early to give wives and children the message that their husbands and fathers were dead.

  ‘Go into the scullery,’ she said.

  I didn’t argue. I just nodded and felt something cold squeeze my insides as I left the room, moving like I was floating, a million terrible thoughts in my head. But one of those thoughts was louder than all the rest. Something had happened to Dad. He was hurt or lost or . . . or worse. Except that couldn’t be. I’d helped the German. I’d hidden him and helped him, and that meant Dad would be all right, didn’t it? That was what Kim had said; that was what we’d decided.

  I stood in the middle of the room and listened as Mam went to the door. There was a moment of quiet, then she laughed and came into the scullery with a relieved smile on her face, and I knew I was right. Nothing had happened to Dad. He was fine. And maybe, just maybe, we’d had something to do with that.

  ‘It’s for you,’ she said. ‘Your new friend.’

  Kim stepped out from behind her, raising a hand. ‘Morning.’ She was dressed in the same shorts and shirt as yesterday, and had her satchel slung across her.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked me as Mam went back to the kitchen. ‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’

  ‘No one ever comes this early,’ I said. ‘We thought you were the telegram boy.’

  Kim drew in a sharp breath and put a fist to her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry.’

  I nodded and we went back into the kitchen where Mam poured us both a small glass of milk.

  When I sat down, Mam put her hand on mine and squeezed it. ‘Dad’s fine,’ she said quietly. ‘I know it.’

  I smiled at her.

  ‘So you’re from Newcastle?’ Mam said, looking up at Kim. ‘Here to keep safe?’

  Kim nodded and wiped her mouth on her forearm. ‘Well, let’s hope we don’t get too many more planes comin’ down on our heads, then, eh?’ Mam said.

  ‘At least there’s no bombs,’ Kim replied.

  ‘Oh, we get our fair share of those,’ Mam said. ‘Still, I s’pose it’s worse in the town . . .’ She stopped herself and looked at us, putting her hands on her hips. ‘Listen to me gabbing on when I’ve got things to do,’ she said. ‘Go on, you two, get yourselves out. But don’t go too far. I don’t want you back in those woods again.’

  ‘But Mam—’

  ‘No buts, Peter. I don’t even want to think about what almost happened yesterday.’

  ‘But it’s morning, Mam, the Germans won’t come now.’

  ‘They came yesterday when it was light. And anyway, there was a parachute, wasn’t there? There might be one of them Germans outside our house right now.’ Mam turned to look at the door as if, for a moment, she really thought there was a German outside. And when I saw that look on her face, seeing her suddenly realise that there might be an enemy on the loose near our village, I had to think quick or she wouldn’t let me go out.

  ‘He’ll be long gone,’ I said. ‘I know I would be if it was me. An’ if he isn’t then he’s prob’ly dead.’

  Mam shuddered, and I wondered if I’d made things worse, but Kim stepped forward and put her hand on my shoulder. ‘It’s all right, Mrs Dixon, I’ll make sure we don’t go too far. And if there’s any sign of trouble we’ll come right back. I promise.’

  Mam stopped with her mouth half open, and she looked at Kim. When she closed her mouth, there was a faint smile on her lips. ‘Well, that’s very refreshin’.’ Then she narrowed her eyes. ‘All right. Just stay out of trouble, the pair of you. An’ I want you straight back if there’s any sign of trouble.’

  Mam collected our glasses, taking them to the sink, and while she had her back to us, Kim took the chance to lean over and whisper in my ear. ‘Did you get a blanket?’

  I shook my head. In all the confusion of stealing food, I’d completely forgotten about trying to get hold of a blanket.

  Kim pulled a face to show her annoyance.

  ‘Back in a mo’,’ I said, thinking I’d run upstairs and get a blanket. I needed to get my satchel, too, with its cargo of tripe and egg.

  ‘What is it now?’ Mam asked.

  I looked at her and then at Kim, an awkward moment. ‘Err . . . my penknife.’

  ‘Do you really need it?’ Mam asked.

  ‘Course I do,’ I said.

  ‘Lads.’ She looked at Kim for understanding but received none. ‘Go on, then, go and get it.’

  I rushed upstairs, wondering how I was going to smuggle a blanket out of the house. We had a few spare in the cupboard and I hoped Mam wouldn’t miss one, but I didn’t know how I was going to get it past her.

  I could hear them talking downstairs as I opened the cupboard and grabbed a heavy pink blanket from the pile. I stuffed it up my shirt, but that was no good. It looked like I’d eaten a whole cow, and the corners were sticking out, so I went to my bedroom and thought about putting on a coat, but Mam would think it strange – I never wanted to wear a coat.

  Then I had an idea.

  I opened my bedroom window, which was at the back of the cottage, and threw it down into the garden. If I ran straight out, I could collect it before we headed over to the woods. I grabbed my satchel and left my room.

  On the way downstairs, I remembered the pistol under my bed. I stopped and stood for a moment, deciding we’d need protection if we were going to see the airman, so I went back to my bedroom, took the pistol out of the box and stuck it in my satchel.

  ‘Ready?’ Mam asked when I came into the kitchen. ‘Got the all-important penknife?’

  I patted my pocket.

  ‘And your satchel, I see. What d’you need that for?’

  ‘Just ’cause.’ I put one arm across it as if to stop her from taking it.

  ‘You got something in there?’

  ‘No. Nowt.’

  ‘A lot of nowt goin’ on this mornin’,’ Mam said. ‘Are you two up to somethin’?’

  ‘No,’ I protested. ‘It’s just for . . . stuff. Souvenirs.’ As soon as the word escaped my lips, I knew I shouldn’t have said it.

  ‘Souvenirs?’ Mam said. ‘You’ll not be going near that crashed plane. If I find out you’ve been anywhere near there, I’ll tan your backside so hard that—’

  ‘We won’t go anywhere near it, Mrs Dixon,’ Kim stepped in again. ‘I promise.’

  ‘And you?’ Mam looked at me. ‘You promise, too?’

  ‘I promise,’ I said, glad she hadn’t made me promise not to go to the woods. She said I wasn’t allowed, but that wasn’t the same as making me promise.

  ‘And try not to get all clarty,’ she said, coming closer, taking the sleeve of my shirt between her finger and her thumb. ‘Marks like this aren’t easy to get out.’

  I glanced down at the dirty brown stain on my sleeve, knowing straight away that it wasn’t mud from the field. It was blood. German blood.

  ‘Off you go, then,’ she sighed.

  But before I could open the door, there was another knock.

  I glanced over at Mam again and, once more, she had that look of worry in her expression, as if she were expecting bad news. Only this time she didn’t tell me to go into the scullery. Instead, she brushed down the front of her dress and put a stern look on her face, then she strode to the door and pulled it open.

  When I saw Mr Bennett standing on the step, I let out my breath. I hadn’t even realised I’d been holding it.

  Besi
de Mr Bennett was the man who’d been giving the orders at the crash site yesterday. The lieutenant had his feet together as if he was standing to attention. His hands were behind his back and his chin was jutting out, pointing straight at the door. Behind him were Sergeant Wilkes and another two soldiers, with their rifles over their shoulders.

  Mam reached out to put her hand on the door frame and I thought I saw her legs give way slightly at the knees. She steadied herself, swallowed hard and forced a smile. ‘Gentlemen.’

  Mr Bennett cleared his throat. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you so early, Mrs Dixon . . .’ And then he saw it, too. He noticed the way Mam was standing, supporting herself on the door frame, and he suddenly looked concerned. ‘Oh, no, Mrs Dixon, really, it’s nothing to worry about. Everything’s all right. Lieutenant Rogers just wanted to ask you a few questions.’

  My mother took a sharp breath. ‘Oh. Oh.’ she looked back at me. ‘I thought . . . Oh.’ She came back into the kitchen and sat down on the chair where Kim had been sitting. ‘Oh, thank goodness for that.’

  ‘May we come in?’ Mr Bennett asked.

  ‘Aye. Aye, of course,’ Mam said. ‘Please.’

  Mr Bennett stepped in and the officer came with him, removing his cap. Sergeant Wilkes and the other two soldiers remained outside when the officer closed the door behind him.

  ‘I’m so sorry to have worried you,’ Mr Bennett said coming over to Mam, reaching out for her shoulder, but stopping short of actually touching her. ‘I should have said something straight away. I’ll remember next time.’ He glanced back at the officer. ‘I should’ve thought that when you saw the soldiers you’d think . . .’ He shook his head and looked at me. ‘Hello, Peter. How are you?’

  ‘Fine.’

  Mam waved a hand at me. ‘It’s all right, you two go and play.’

  The lieutenant stepped forward, putting his cap under his arm. ‘Actually, it might be better if they stay.’

  LIEUTENANT WHATSHISNAME

  The lieutenant wouldn’t sit down. Mam asked him to, but he just stood there with his shiny boots on our clean floor, his heels together. Mr Bennett looked uncomfortable, as if he wanted to sit down but wasn’t sure what to do because the soldier was still on his feet. Mam stayed on the chair anyway, and Kim and I went to the other side of the table and sat down.

  Mr Bennett was wearing a checked shirt and a tie. He put his hand on the back of his head and rubbed it, smiling at Mam, telling her again that he was sorry.

  The lieutenant had taken off his cap when he came into the cottage, and now it was tucked under his arm. ‘As I’m sure you know, a German plane crashed close to your home yesterday afternoon.’

  ‘A Heinkel,’ Kim said.

  ‘Yes, quite.’ The lieutenant eyed her closely. ‘As you say; a Heinkel.’

  ‘Are you sure you won’t sit down?’ Mam said. ‘I could make you a cup of tea. It’ll be weak, but we have a little milk.’ She was still shaky, I could hear the tremble in her voice.

  ‘No. Thank you, madam. I shan’t be long.’ He stood up even straighter, if that were possible. He was so stiff and straight it was a wonder he didn’t crush the cap under his armpit.

  ‘As I was saying,’ he cleared his throat. ‘There were no survivors at the crash site and my men are guarding it now. However, a parachute was seen in the vicinity of the village.’

  ‘Yes, Peter told me about that,’ Mam said.

  ‘Peter?’ the lieutenant asked.

  ‘Me son.’

  ‘Ah. I see. Well. Some of my soldiers discovered the parachute late yesterday evening; at least, they found what was left of it. Some children found it a couple of miles away, tangled on a fence, and by the time we got to it, most of it had been cut up and taken away.’

  ‘There’ll be a few of the ladies wearin’ silk underwear very soon, then,’ Mam said.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘The silk from the parachute,’ she explained. ‘The ladies use the silk to make underwear.’

  ‘Hm. Quite. Well, putting that aside, it was unfortunate there was no sign of the person who may have used the parachute.’

  ‘He got away, you mean?’

  ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. But not to worry, madam,’ said the lieutenant. ‘He looks to have come down in some trees, so he may well be wounded or dead, but my sergeant has a nose like a bloodhound and we’ll have the Jerry’ – he cleared his throat again – ‘We will have the German before the day is out. You can bet on that.’

  ‘I’m not a bettin’ person, lieutenant.’ Mam seemed to have overcome the shock of seeing the soldiers at the door, and her mood had darkened. She was annoyed at them for frightening her.

  ‘Of course not, madam.’

  ‘The lieutenant would like his men to have a look around, Irene, that’s why we’re here,’ said Mr Bennett. ‘He wants to check all the buildings on the estate. It’s nothing to worry about, just a precaution really. I’m sure the German is long gone by now. Probably broke free of his parachute and is strung up dead in a tree somewhere.’

  ‘Oh that’s horrible,’ Mam said.

  ‘Sorry. What I mean to say is that Lieutenant Rogers’ men will find him if he’s here.’

  ‘Precisely,’ said the lieutenant.

  ‘So would it be all right to have a look around the garden, check the cellar, that sort of thing?’

  ‘I s’pose so,’ Mam said. ‘If it’ll help.’

  ‘And I see you have a shelter in the back garden, madam. I’d like to—’

  ‘Help yoursel’,’ Mam stood up.

  The lieutenant removed his cap from under his arm and started to head back to the door.

  ‘What will you do if you find ’im?’ I asked. ‘If he’s alive, I mean.’

  He stopped and turned to look at me. ‘Well, that’s to be seen, young man. But don’t you worry yourself about it; it’s all in hand.’

  ‘Will he be shot?’

  ‘Don’t you worry, Peter,’ said Mr Bennett. ‘The soldiers will hunt him down.’

  ‘And shoot ’im?’

  ‘Nothing for you to be concerned about,’ said the lieutenant. ‘I imagine it’s all a bit of a game to you.’

  ‘I’ll have you know my lad understands exactly how serious this is,’ Mam told him. ‘My husband is away fightin’ and my son knows exactly what his father is fightin’ for. I’ve made sure of that and we’re both very proud. We might not be soldiers, but that doesn’t make us simpletons, you know.’

  ‘I apologise.’ The lieutenant flushed and I couldn’t help exchanging a look with Kim.

  ‘Well, I think you’d better go and carry out your search, then,’ Mam said, going to the door and pulling it open. A lovely smell of fresh fields came in on the warm breeze and I could see the sergeant and the other two soldiers standing there, slouching against the fence. They snapped to attention as soon as the door opened.

  ‘And if there’s anywhere else you can think of, madam. Anywhere a fugitive might be hiding.’

  Mam took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. I imagined her trying to think of all the places a man could hide and I hoped she wouldn’t remember Dad’s shed in the woods.

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘I can’t think of anywhere.’

  ‘And you two should keep close to home,’ the lieutenant said to Kim and me. ‘We don’t know where this man might be …’

  ‘Prob’ly dead,’ I said, looking over at Kim and then back at the lieutenant. ‘You’re prob’ly wastin’ your time gettin’ all them soldiers to look for ’im.’

  The lieutenant eyed me closely. ‘Hmm. Well, if you see anything – anything at all – I want you to tell your mother and she’ll come straight to me.’

  We both nodded without saying a word.

  Mr Bennett followed Lieutenant Rogers outside and gave Mam a smile before she closed the door on them.

  ‘Stuffy old so-and-so,’ she said under her breath.

  ‘Mr Bennett?’ I asked.

  ‘No. Tha
t Lieutenant Whatshisname. Telling me you think this is all some sort o’ game. Cheeky beggar.’ She shook her head. ‘Still, I s’pose he’s just doin’ his job, tryin’ to keep us all safe.’

  ‘Come on, then.’ Kim grabbed my hand. ‘Let’s go out.’ She pulled open the door and we hurried out.

  ‘Don’t go too far, remember,’ Mam called, but we had already closed the door and were heading round the back of the house.

  Mr Bennett was gone, I could see him walking along the path towards the village, but the soldiers’ vehicle was still parked on the lane and one of the men was standing by our Anderson shelter, while the other had gone down to poke about inside. I wasn’t sure why they were bothering – I could see from where I was standing that no one was hiding in there.

  The sergeant was close to the wall beneath my bedroom window, looking up, holding a blanket.

  Kim ran over to him and snatched it from his hands. ‘I’ve been looking for that,’ she said, running back to me.

  The sergeant whipped his head around to watch us. ‘What are you up to?’ He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

  ‘Nothing.’ Kim pulled my shirt to make me follow her.

  ‘And where are your masks?’ he called after us as we ran through the gate and over the path. ‘You’re supposed to be carrying your gas masks.’

  ‘Can’t hear you!’ Kim shouted and looked at me with a mischievous smile.

  ‘Don’t,’ I said.

  ‘I’m not scared of him.’

  ‘Well, I am. And we’ll have to go round,’ I said. ‘Can’t have him watching where we go.’

  *

  ‘Did you see that Lieutenant Whatshisname’s face when your mum told him off?’ Kim asked as we climbed the hill. ‘He was standing as straight as a board with his shiny boots and his gun on his belt and your mum made him blush.’

  ‘I don’t think she liked him.’

  ‘I’m not surprised,’ Kim said. ‘That other man liked her, though, I could tell.’

  ‘Mr Bennett?’

  ‘Yeah. He seemed nice.’

  ‘He’s all right, I s’pose.’

  Kim looked at me. ‘You don’t like him much?’