“I can’t see out!”
Harry shouted as he lost control and ended up grinding the car against a granite horse trough by the side of the road. The men scrambled out and ran towards the house.
“There’s the Scammell, they’re already here!” Andrew shouted. As they neared the building the farm owner appeared at the door and beckoned them in.
“Your friends told us you were coming, quickly down here!”
They ran into the house and followed the man down into the shelter of a cellar. There they found Tommy and Steve together with the farmer’s family, his wife and two small babies.
“What the hells going on out there?”
Harry shouted to the farmer above the noise of the concussions still exploding nearby.
“It’s Tayinloan.”
“Tayinloan, is that a military base?” Harry asked.
“It’s a decoy airfield that was built here a couple of years ago.”
The noise outside subsided.
“Why here?” Steve asked.
“We are the same latitude as Prestwick airfield just south of Glasgow. In actual flying time Tayinloan is only minutes away from Prestwick .”
“So when the Germans go for Prestwick…”
The farmer continued,
“We have a small R.A.F. task force that’s alerted if enemy aircraft seem to be heading to the south of Glasgow. They sound the local siren here so we know when to shelter. Then they switch on some lights to imitate the look of Prestwick from the air. There’s also a couple of anti-aircraft guns that fire up just to make it look and sound a bit more authentic.”
“Why is Prestwick so important then?” Harry asked.
“Well they’re flying in loads of new aircraft direct from Canada now. That’s the reason; they want to keep Prestwick crater free if possible. Once landed the planes refuel and head off to various R.A.F. bases around the country.”
His wife then turned towards the group,
“This is the third time recently we’ve had the bloody bombers. Who would have thought this deserted place would be a target?”
“It’s OK love; at least we do get warned in advance. When we were told about this decoy system the local council came in to reinforce this cellar for us.”
“Do they ever come in daylight?” Harry asked.
“No, thank goodness, I wouldn’t want to be caught out of doors in a raid.” She said.
“Can I offer you some drink?” The farmer asked.
“And I’ve bread and cheese if you like.” The woman said.
“That’s kind of you, thanks.” Darlath said,
“Unfortunately our car was damaged by that last blast.”
Further distant explosions echoed around the valley.
“We’ll have to take a look at it when it’s safe to go outside again.” Harry said.
“You’re welcome to spend the rest of the night here; we can take a look at your car in daylight. Can I ask where you have come from today?”
Tommy responded by providing the ‘story’ agreed on their first mission to Kintyre.
“Well we’re looking for possible temporary sites for refugees in the area as well as rest bases for American troops…” Steve and Andrew joined Tommy in ‘embroidering’ the story further. The farmer’s family accepted the explanation as bona fide and the subject was not discussed again. The men thanked the couple for their hospitality and agreed to wait until morning as had been suggested. The group were all totally exhausted and quickly fell asleep once the farmer’s family went to their own bedrooms for what was left of the night.
In the morning they inspected the Standard. The nearside panels had been dented but, more worryingly, both nearside tyres and wheel rims had been destroyed by the impact.
“There’s a garage at Tarbet that I use but the ‘phone lines are down at the moment, probably caused by last night’s raid.”
Andrew suggested a solution to Tommy,
“Look why don’t you and Steve go on in the lorry and call in at the garage in Tarbet on the way. You can explain exactly what’s wrong and describe the model type and size of wheel. The garage can then either come and collect us or better still arrange to bring down a reconditioned wheel and tyre that we can fit with the spare one?”
“That sounds reasonable, OK with you Steve?”
“Yes, no problem, the sooner we get back to Glasgow the better.”
Harry then added,
“I’m just ‘painting a picture’ here Andrew, but wouldn’t it also make sense if I travelled back today with them and continued with your collections for this week. Then I can contact Eileen. I know she’ll be worried that we haven’t rung her yet?”
“That’s exactly right,” Darlath said,
“Andrew and I can sort this car out once you’ve talked to the garage, then we’ll follow you over. Happy with that Andrew?”
“No problem at all, and thanks Harry that’s a good idea about the rent.”
“What about the notes, should we take them in the lorry?” Harry asked.
‘Nah’, Tommy answered, “They’re better left with the car. A lorry is more likely to be stopped and searched. Stolen liquor is one thing, but possessing counterfeit notes is quite a different kettle of fish.”
“Leave it with us then,” Darlath said,
“- and Harry, could you also let Dad know what’s happening, and Wemyss of course?”
Shortly afterwards Tommy, Steve and Harry set off in the lorry. As they past by Tayinloan airfield they saw numerous bomb depressions and wrecked fences. Smoke was still drifting eastwards from some Nissen huts that had been destroyed. In the far distance across the ‘runway’ the task force were re-siting oil drums and repairing light fittings. Apart from negotiating some large craters and rubble on the road, blown across by the enemy raid, their journey back to Glasgow was uneventful.
At the farm meanwhile Darlath and Andrew paid the woman for their food and drink and waited for the garage to send down assistance. They took out the spare wheel and tyre from the boot and left it by the side of the vehicle. The money cases were then carefully locked away again out of sight. For hours the two stayed in the car and waited. Now and again the farmer would wave across to them and they would simply acknowledge him and smile. His wife brought some sandwiches and tea across,
“Just to keep you going until you’re rescued.”
The two were content to remain sitting and chatting.
“Andrew, you know all the problems I had recently with Dad and with Steve?”
“Yes.”
“Well I’ve had an idea.”
Andrew sat up to listen more intently,
“It’s a preposterous concept really, almost heresy, do you want to hear more?”
“Go on, shock me.”
“I’ve been thinking. We now have all the money in the world we need right here in this car.”
“Yes?” Andrew laughed.
“And we’ve often talked about escaping to our own little place and living together sometime after the war is over.”
“Yes, go on.”
“Well why don’t we end our little war now with my Dad and Steve and all the jibes and innuendos that they’ve created and go and do it now?”
Andrew looked at Darlath realising that he was deadly serious.
“You mean...now?”
“Today, tomorrow, but not in months or years. The cash is here let’s use it?”
“But what about your job; your career?”
“I loathe it really. Ireland’s moving too slowly for me. I’m sick of all this travelling backwards and forwards as well.”
“You’ve never said this before, are you so disillusioned with work at the Dail?”
“I am, to put it bluntly. I started off a few years ago and everything seemed brigh
t; great opportunities to change Ireland as the Irish wanted it, you know, not being controlled by the British. But now the reality is a free state that’s making all the wrong decisions as to how it should move forward.”
“This all seems a bit heavy to me Darlath. Have you really thought about your future in this way?”
“Not just my future, but our future.”
“Go on then, explain a bit more. I thought you were fully committed to what Ireland is developing into? I’m interested.”
“We know that we need to build the Free States wealth by introducing more manufacturing to bring in welfare services and proper education but nothing yet has been set out as a plan. Hospitals and schools are still run and controlled by the Church. This means that standards vary all over the country. The system’s creaking through lack of investment or central control. The only major change has been the attempt to introduce Gaelic as an official language. It’s now compulsory in schools, yet the majority of teachers, priests or Convent School Nuns teaching the subject have very little experience or knowledge of the language. Gaelic has become the priority, but most Politicians know it’ll never work. I know it won’t work, the whole thing is frustrating. So now, if ever there was, is the time for me to move on.”
“Have you felt like this for a long time?”
“Its not just me there’s a lot of the civil service and ministers who are convinced that we have now started down the wrong path.”
“How do you mean?”
“Basically the state is suggesting that the Irish should be happy with the old style of living, that they shouldn’t value material wealth. They should be a God-fearing community living in humble dwellings. Life in Ireland remains dreary. I want it to change - to become vibrant and bright. The population is still dispersing around the world. We need to stop that happening. We should make plans now so that when the emergency is over we can implement changes to secure its future. Shall I go on?”
Darlath turned in his seat to face Andrew and smiled.
“You’ll make a good politician one day.”
“But I can’t wait, its time for me to leave, I’ve great respect for De Valera, what he did to fight for the state and set it up, but this way forward is not fast enough in my opinion. And remember, just try telling a few drunks down Temple Bar that they’ve to speak in Gaelic only from now on!” They both laughed.
“I didn’t realise that you felt so strongly. But beyond that I sense that you’re serious about this plan of your’s Darlath, aren’t you? Do you really think we can do this together?”
“We can give it a try, what’s to lose?”
“Where would we go?”
“Well, we could find a small place in Wales or some isolated cottage in Ireland. That is until the wars over and then we could escape to Canada or the States. What do you think?”
“This is too good. I can’t believe this is possible. But, alright, yes, - but what about the sale from this project. The others aren’t going to be best pleased with us if we disappear with half their haul are they?”
“Look, I’m the one that’s set these shadow projects up; I’ve taken the risks in Ireland. They’ve done very well from them in the past and remember they’ve still got all the liquor and stuff to sell on now. There’s enough value there to keep them sweet and enough to repay Wemyss. The only thing you need to consider is your letting business, how will you cope with that?”
“I’m staggered by all that you’re proposing. But if you’re genuine then why not pool our resources. As to the business, well two possibilities come immediately to mind, one I instruct my solicitor to sell the properties, having given notice to the tenants. He holds the property deeds anyway. Or two, I find another agency to take over my business and I retain the properties to sell after the war. What about Dermot, how will you handle him?”
“Unfortunately we’ve fallen out just recently, he just doesn’t understand me. Regrettably the prognosis for his illness isn’t good, it’s an aggressive type of cancer. I don’t think he’s long for this world. I’ve tried to get things back to normal but he’s proving to be a bit too stubborn.”
The morning hours of weak sunshine drifted into a black cloudy afternoon as they still waited to be rescued. Throughout this time they continued talking and making their future plans.
“I need to travel across to Edinburgh,” Darlath said, “on Thursday afternoon for Friday morning; it’s a long standing conference with a representative from the Home Office. He’s been working very hard for us; I don’t feel I should let him down. After that I can meet up with you and escape!”
“Will you need to go back to Dublin?”
“No, it’s not necessary. I can forward all my papers and resign by letter and then we disappear. The flat over there belongs to Dad so he can dispose of it later. I’ve nothing there of any importance, a few clothes some books. We can afford to buy what we need can’t we?”
“I still can’t believe this is happening Darlath. But I agree, I think we can do it, but let’s think through the sequence of the plan. If I drop you at the station you can catch the Edinburgh train. Whilst you’re at your meeting I’ll take the money to my Dad’s cottage near Peebles and hide it there. You can meet me there on Friday or Saturday evening. No one else knows where it is so we can’t be traced.”
“Give me the address and a map Andrew. I’ll meet you there Friday evening about eight. I can get a train and taxi across to it.”
“Once I’ve hidden the money I’ll return to my flat pack a few bits and retrieve my business documents.”
“Where’s the hiding place in this cottage?”
“Of course. Under the stairs there’s a cupboard with a false wall which, when removed, opens a space that’s large enough to hide the cases. Originally it was a coal hole that was filled from the outside; but my Dad blocked it all in many years ago.”
“Andrew are you sure about all this, are you certain you want to go through with it?”
“I’m absolutely certain. Let’s get on with our lives. It would be easy to find reasons why we shouldn’t do it now, but in reality why wait any longer?”
The sound of the garage pick-up lorry changing gear distracted their discussions.
“Thank God, we’re being rescued at last!”
The fitter unloaded a replacement wheel and tyre and immediately started work removing the damaged ones and substituting them. After about an hour the job was completed and the Standard was roadworthy again. After saying farewell to the farmer and paying the garage fitter the two were on their way back to Glasgow.
Chapter 26
Harry went to see Eileen at the Royal Stuart as soon as he arrived back in Glasgow.
“How did it go?” a relieved Eileen enquired.
“Very well except that we damaged the car. There was an air raid that delayed us. Andrew and Darlath waited for a repair, but they should be on their way back by now.”
“Harry, I’m due to finish my shift in about an hour. Do you want to go and take a bath here? I can find you a room, then we can make the most of the rest of the day and you can tell me all about your adventures?”
“Do I smell that bad?”
“I think over-ripe fits the description!”
“Enough said, where’s the bathroom?”
Darlath collected his suitcase and was dropped off at the station in time to catch the Edinburgh train.
“Andrew take care and drive carefully. Once my meetings over I’ll leave and meet you Friday evening as arranged at Innerleithen.”
“This is really happening isn’t it – I can’t wait. Mind how you go.”
“See you Friday.”
Darlath pulled his suitcase from the back seat, slammed the car door and walked quickly onto the concourse without looking back.
Andrew’s thoughts now turned to Innerleithen. Because of the car p
roblems the others wouldn’t know when to expect them back. So he’d be able to stash the money in the cottage before going to his flat to collect what he needed.
On the outskirts of the city he stopped to fill the petrol tank from the reserve can in the boot and then set off through the night towards Peebles. The earlier sleet had now turned to rain making visibility difficult.
Eventually he arrived at the cottage. No one was about, the street seemed eerily quiet and dark. The only sounds heard were the swirling eddies of water from the river below the bridge nearby and the occasional whistle from a distant train. Andrew unloaded the trunks and carried them up the steps and around the cottage to the back garden. He unlocked the door to the kitchen and found some matches to light a candle. Using this dim light he concealed the boxes in the under stairs cupboard and then resealed the false door. Within ten minutes he was back in the car beginning his return journey to Glasgow.
Steve and Tommy locked the Scammell in the inner compound of their garage before returning to their homes for the night.
“I’ll go and see Dermot tomorrow,” Steve said, “just to update him.”
“OK and I’ll contact Andrew to see that they’ve arrived back safely and I’ll call on Wemyss.”
“Tommy, can you get him to call a meeting to examine everything we’ve brought in and decide how best to sell it?”
“I’m sure Wemyss can help with the liquor, as before.” Tommy said.
Steve yawned loudly, “I’m sure he will. We can share the money out then as well.”
“Darlath’s done well for us again.”
“I suppose so,” Steve reluctantly agreed.
Harry waited for Eileen to finish work, “To the Dugout Madam?”
“Why not. Now tell me all about this air raid.”
Harry explained the details of the latest project and what had occurred at Tayinloan. At the Dugout Wemyss greeted them and showed them through to the lower area of the dance floor. He beckoned the waiter to bring some drinks down to them,
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