Wings of the Morning

by Beryl Matthews

  While the photographs were being taken Annie noticed that Rose was relaxed and clearly enjoying herself. Her sister might have been difficult in her youth, but time, Bill, and children of her own had certainly mellowed her.

  ‘That was a very nice wedding,’ Marj said, blowing her nose. ‘I thought that son of mine was never going to marry, but he’s found a fine girl in Dora. And I might get some more grandchildren now.’

  Annie laughed. ‘After having nine children I would have thought you’d had enough of babies.’

  ‘Grandchildren are different. You can always hand them back to their mother when they get too much trouble.’ Her eyes clouded for a moment. ‘All except Bob’s children, of course, I don’t suppose I’ll ever see them.’

  Annie squeezed her mother’s arm, knowing this was a source of sadness to her. ‘I expect you’ll have plenty of others.’

  After the photos were taken, the boisterous wedding party made their way to Rose’s place.

  In spite of rationing, Rose and Marj, with help from Dora, had managed to put on quite a spread. The wedding cake looked splendid, until the cardboard replica was removed to reveal a simple sponge. This caused a lot of laughter, but the war had been going on for over three years now, and shortages were accepted without comment. Everyone just did the best they could.

  ‘Annie!’ Dora called over. ‘Gran wants to have a chat with Rose but she won’t stay in one place long enough for Gran to catch her.’

  ‘Come with me.’ Annie took hold of the elderly woman’s hand and gently walked her over to Rose. ‘Sit down for a while, Rose. Dora’s grandmother wants to talk to you.’

  Annie pushed her sister into a chair and pulled up another one for the old lady.

  ‘My name’s Maude,’ she told Rose, ‘and I’ve been itching to meet you. I saw you in action once and I’ve never forgotten it. You were standing for election to the local council, and at one of your public meetings you jumped off the stage, rolled up your sleeves and threatened to flatten one heckler.’ Maude slapped her leg in glee. ‘I’ve never seen a man so terrified. Hadn’t laughed so much in years. You got my vote all right.’

  ‘I remember the incident.’ Rose looked highly amused. ‘He couldn’t have been much more than five feet.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Maude chortled. ‘You towered over him, and could easily have carried out your threat.’

  They both roared with laughter, and Annie, seeing they were getting along well, left them to it.

  When Annie returned to camp the next day there was a spring in her step. It had been a long time since she’d felt so light-hearted. It had been wonderful to see Will married to such a lovely girl as Dora. The traditional honeymoon was out of the question, but they had managed to grab a couple of days in a hotel by the sea. Annie smiled to herself. They hadn’t said where they were going but the happy couple had disappeared as soon as was polite. The future looked much more hopeful now, because after a fierce battle by the Russians the Germans had just surrendered at Stalingrad. The Germans didn’t seem so invincible now and morale was high.

  ‘I’m back, Sam,’ she called, as she walked past his open door. A few steps further on she stopped. There hadn’t been any response and she knew he was there; she’d caught a glimpse of him sitting at his desk.

  Retracing her steps, she went and stood in front of him. She had never seen such a strange expression on his face and it was difficult to decide what kind of mood he was in.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked him.

  ‘Hmm?’ He appeared preoccupied. ‘Did the wedding go well?’

  ‘Yes, it was lovely and we were all sorry you couldn’t come. What’s happened, Sam?’ she asked again.

  ‘I’ve just finished debriefing one of our operatives who’s returned from France.’ When he looked up, pain was visible in his eyes. ‘He might have come across my sister and she’s working for the Resistance.’

  ‘Oh, that’s wonderful,’ Annie said, knowing just how worried Sam had been about the only remaining member of his family.

  He looked ready to explode. ‘I’ve got to find out if it really is her. We were sending someone in tonight, but I’ve managed to get permission to take his place. Once I’ve gathered the information we need then I’m going to try and find her.’

  ‘You know you can’t do that, Sam. Send someone else.’ The expression on his face was making shivers run through her. This was dangerous.

  ‘No. This is something I must do myself.’

  ‘Then take me with you.’ Annie knew from his anguished expression that it would be suicide for him to go in this mood.

  ‘No!’ He thumped the desk to emphasize the rejection. ‘This is none of your business.’

  Annie recoiled as if she’d been struck. She had never seen him this volatile. He was usually a quiet, controlled man; she knew it would be useless to argue. And he’d obviously already cleared it with those in charge.

  ‘Very well,’ she told him. ‘But if you get caught, then you and a lot of other people could be killed. And when you’re knocking on the Pearly Gates, remember that I told you so.’ She turned to walk out of the room.

  ‘Wait!’ He ran round his desk, caught her arm and turned her to face him. ‘I’m sorry for shouting. I know you’re only trying to help because you care, but there’s more to this. I think there’s someone else with my sister. Sit down and I’ll explain.’ He held a chair out for her.

  When they were settled, she waited patiently for him to speak.

  ‘As I listened to the operative talking about the people who had helped him in France, I became convinced he was talking about my sister. The description fitted, right down to the small heart-shaped birthmark on her right arm.’

  Sam stopped and gazed into space for a few seconds, then continued. ‘In the house with my sister was an elderly woman who was looking after a small boy of about three years old. It was her grandson, she had told him.’ His voice became husky with emotion.

  Annie didn’t interrupt. Sam obviously needed time to compose himself, for something had come as a great shock to him.

  He took a deep breath and then cleared his throat. ‘There was a girl I’d known from childhood, and as we grew up it was expected by both families that we would marry one day. And if the war hadn’t come along that’s what we would have done.’ Sam stood up and started to pace the room. ‘Maria was heavily pregnant, and we were going to be married in two weeks, but the wedding never took place. As soon as the Germans invaded I was off fighting.’

  ‘Do you know if your girl is still alive?’

  Sam shook his head in a forlorn gesture. ‘I was away for about six weeks, and when I finally got back to my village I was told she had been killed by shellfire during the battle for our village. I got out of France then. If this woman is Maria’s mother, then the boy she is looking after could be my son.’

  He looked at Annie, searching her face, and there was a gleam of hope in his troubled eyes. ‘Suppose Maria had the baby before she died?’

  The look he gave her was enough to bring tears to her eyes. Annie knew Sam was building up for some unbearable grief if this turned out to be untrue. She hated saying this, but he shouldn’t hope for too much. ‘If you were told she had died, then that is probably what happened.’

  ‘I know.’ He sat down again and buried his head in his hands.

  ‘Things are very confusing over there,’ she felt she ought to point out, although he knew that better than anyone, ‘and the grandmother might not be any relation to your Maria.’

  ‘I’ve got to find out!’

  Now Annie understood why he was willing to risk his life. She couldn’t blame him for that. ‘What are your plans?’

  He sat back and sighed. ‘I’m leaving tonight, and if it is my son then I’ll try and bring him, Maria’s mother and my sister back here.’

  ‘That’s quite a task,’ she told him quietly.

  ‘I know the odds against success are enormous. But what would you
do, Annie, if you thought it might be one of your family?’

  ‘Nothing would stop me from finding them,’ she admitted with honesty. Sam shouldn’t go back to France yet, but she knew that if she were in his shoes she wouldn’t hesitate to take the same chances.

  He glanced at his watch. ‘I must get ready. I will send only two messages, one with the intelligence I’ve gathered, and the second for transport back here.’

  ‘I understand. Take care, Sam.’

  ‘I will.’ He gave a tight smile, and then strode out of the room.

  The next three weeks dragged by without a word from Sam and a feeling of gloom began to settle over the ops room.

  Annie had remained hopeful for two weeks, but as the silence continued, she began to fear that he had been caught, or even killed. Every intercepted message was quickly decoded in case it gave an indication of arrests, either of Sam or any other operatives. But there was nothing, and the waiting was tearing everyone’s nerves to shreds. Dora and Jean had given up trying to coax her away from the camp; even the promise of all that lovely food at the American dances wouldn’t shift her. Only those closely connected with Sam knew what was happening, but the tense atmosphere alerted everyone that something was up.

  ‘Get some rest,’ Wing Commander Felshaw told Annie. ‘If anything comes through, I’ll let you know.’

  It was two-thirty in the morning and Annie rubbed her tired eyes. ‘OK, I’m too exhausted to concentrate, anyway.’

  When she arrived back at her hut, Dora was waiting for her.

  ‘It’s about time too. If you don’t get some sleep soon you’ll make yourself ill.’

  Annie dredged up a smile. ‘Just because you’re my sister-in-law doesn’t mean you can boss me around.’

  ‘Really?’ Dora feigned surprise. ‘I thought that was my job now.’

  ‘Where on earth did you get that idea from?’ Annie was too tired for the usual banter, and kicked off her shoes, then stretched out on the bed with a groan of relief.

  ‘Have you had anything to eat?’ Dora threw a blanket over her.

  ‘Can’t remember.’

  ‘That means you haven’t,’ her friend declared. ‘I’ll go and cadge you a sandwich and a cup of tea.’

  ‘I don’t want anything, Dora, I just need to sleep for a few hours.’

  ‘Don’t argue with your new sister-in-law.’

  Annie peered at Dora. ‘Does Will know how bossy you are?’

  ‘No, I’m keeping that as a surprise.’

  ‘My poor brother,’ Annie murmured. ‘He doesn’t know what he’s let himself in for.’

  Dora laughed. ‘Oh, I think he does. We had a riotous honeymoon.’

  ‘That’s nice.’ Then Annie was asleep.

  ‘Wake up!’

  Annie’s reflexes surged into action and she sat up, although she was still half asleep. She peered at her watch and saw that it was five in the morning; she’d only had a couple of hours’ rest.

  Jean stopped shaking her. ‘You’re needed back on duty.’

  ‘Right.’ Annie took some deep breaths to try to clear her head.

  ‘Hurry. They said it was urgent.’ Jean was forcing Annie’s feet into her shoes and tying the laces. ‘Good job you’re already dressed.’

  Annie was out of the door of the hut and running, then tumbling down the steps to the ops room. There must be news, and she was praying that it was good.

  ‘We’ve heard from Sam,’ Wing Commander Felshaw told her as she erupted into the room. ‘He wants transport for himself and two passengers, tonight, if possible.’

  ‘Are you sending in a motor torpedo boat?’ Annie asked.

  ‘No. He can’t reach the coast. We’ll have to get them out by plane.’

  Annie was dismayed. ‘That’s dangerous. Why are you taking such a chance?’

  ‘No choice, I’m afraid. This hasn’t just been a mission to find his family; Sam’s gathered some vital information for us, and he’s got to get out in a hurry. The message was too lengthy for him to send it through.’

  Annie nodded, knowing how imperative it was to keep all transmissions short.

  ‘He will be coming through again in thirty minutes and you are to give him these instructions.’ He handed her a sheet of paper and studied her through narrowed eyes. ‘You look a mess.’

  ‘Sorry.’ Annie tried to smooth the creases out of her skirt. ‘I fell asleep in my clothes.’

  He gave a wry smile. ‘Well, when you’ve finished here, go and put on a clean uniform and meet us in the yard. I want you to meet the plane with the immigration official. Sam might need your help.’

  Annie gazed through the window of the control tower and searched the sky. The small Tempsford airfield was only a short distance from Chicksands, and as dawn began to stain the sky with a silvery glow even the field seemed to be holding its breath. There was an eerie feel about the place, and the waiting was agony. Had the plane been able to get in and pick up its passengers?

  ‘Here it comes,’ someone said.

  ‘At last!’ Annie hurried down the steps and waited for the small plane to taxi towards them.

  When it stopped she could see an elderly woman being lifted out in obvious distress, and Annie stepped in to help. Then Sam eased himself to the ground carrying a small child.

  No one spoke until they were inside. Welcome mugs of tea were provided, and Annie concentrated on trying to get the woman to drink some. When she had managed a few sips and seemed more composed, she turned her attention to Sam and the child.

  The boy was staring at his grandmother in wild-eyed terror, and fighting to get away from Sam. The breath caught in Annie’s throat as she looked at them. They were father and son; the likeness was unmistakable.

  She knelt in front of Sam and reached for the struggling child. ‘Let him go to his grandmother,’ she told him as gently as possible.

  As soon as the boy was free he threw himself at the elderly woman and buried his face in her skirt.

  ‘Drink this,’ Annie ordered, and thrust a mug into Sam’s hand.

  He gulped the tea down, and she was relieved to see some colour coming back into his face. ‘Rough journey?’ she asked.

  He nodded, not taking his eyes off the child.

  ‘Where’s your sister?’

  ‘She wouldn’t come.’ Sam looked as if he’d been to hell and was not sure if it was possible to get back from there.

  ‘Your son’s the image of you,’ she told him, reaching out for his hand. When he looked at her the torment in his eyes nearly made her cry out. Whatever he’d discovered on this journey was clearly traumatic.

  ‘He’s terrified of me.’ His words were barely audible.

  It took less than an hour for the forms to be completed, and Sam’s son and the boy’s grandmother were officially classed as refugees. Then, to Annie’s dismay, Sam was whisked off to a debriefing session even though he was obviously at the end of his strength.

  Sam paused at the door, gave Annie a beseeching look, and asked, ‘Will you stay with them for tonight, Annie?’

  ‘Of course,’ she replied giving him a reassuring smile. Then she picked up the child and followed a nurse, who was helping the grandmother to the waiting ambulance.

  24

  March 1943

  Sam had rented a flat in Shefford for Jacques and his grandmother. It was close enough to Chicksands for him to pop round there every spare moment he had, but it was not a satisfactory arrangement, and Annie was losing patience with Sam. She’d walked into the tiny lounge and found him nearly out of his mind with worry.

  ‘Stop pacing around and listen, Sam!’ Annie ordered. ‘You’ve been back two weeks now and little Jacques shows no sign of settling down. You can’t keep him cooped up in this flat; he’s used to the country.’

  ‘I can’t dump the problem on your family, Annie.’

  ‘You won’t be dumping anything on them. They’ve offered.’ Annie smiled, hoping to coax him out of his stubbornness. She was
extremely worried about the little boy and his grandmother. The elderly woman was very ill, and Jacques was becoming more withdrawn with each day that passed. She’d talked it through with her mother and Rose, and they’d felt it might help if Jacques lived with a family for a while.

  He gave a weary sigh. ‘I don’t know what to do for the best. I’m out of my depth with this.’

  ‘Sam!’ Annie was getting cross with him now. ‘Maria’s mother is ill and needs looking after; she can’t cope with a small, troubled boy at the moment.’

  ‘I’m aware of that,’ he growled, his expression a mirror of his irritation and worry.

  ‘Rose said that if you refuse she’s coming round here to knock some sense into your stupid head.’ Annie adopted her sister’s determined pose and placed her hands on her hips.

  ‘Ah.’ He gave a strained smile. ‘I can’t risk that.’

  ‘You’d be wise not to. You’ve never seen my sister when she’s made up her mind about something. She’s an unstoppable force, believe me.’

  ‘Oh, I do believe you.’

  Annie sensed he was giving way so she pressed the point. ‘George has managed to get enough petrol for the journey, so Maria’s mother will not have to travel by train. Come on, Sam,’ she coaxed. ‘You know this will be best for your son, and Mum will take good care of his grandmother. If we place him in the middle of a large and loving family it will help him overcome his fears, and I’ve been given extended leave so I can stay with you.’

  Sam nodded, ran a hand wearily over his eyes and conceded defeat. ‘Thank you, Annie.’