Angel on my Shoulder

by Carl Leckey

  I explain that Louise wants her to arrange a visit to the Doctors where she is going to apprise her of the scheme we are hatching. The congregation is entering the church. All too soon I have to terminate our meeting when Father Peter coughs discretely outside the confessional using the prearranged signal. I detect Denise leaving the box and the church goers settling down for the service. When the Priest is in full flow into his sermon I slip out of the church undetected.

  I wait until the end of service and I am rewarded by a glimpse of Denise and her sister as they leave the church and enter a closed coach. Again I run the delighted passengers to their various locations. Louise sits by me as I drive she appears interested in the operation and controls of Pompey Lill. When I drop the old couple she lingers behind asking me questions about this and that? How does this work? What does that do? I invite her to take up position in the driver’s seat she doesn’t need a second offer and is in the cab in a flash. Under my instruction we operate the clutch I explain and select gears compress the brake engage the hand brake. Within half an hour I consider her capable of driving. Cautiously she drives the vehicle around the farm yard in low gear getting used to the steering. Next stage she changes gear on the move A few grinds and crunches and she masters the operation. I feel impressed enough to allow her onto a long flat field and order her to stop the vehicle. “You are on your own for a while Louise. Drive around the field use the gears stop and start use the handbrake. I shall be standing by at the gate. Are you confident enough to have a go?” Without hesitation she waves me out of the vehicle. As I watch her driving around the field I am amazed she has picked up the ability to drive the large vehicle so quickly, much quicker than many of my mates I taught to drive in the army. I open the gate wave her to a stop climb aboard and invite her to go for a spin on the open road. She is a natural driver I will have no hesitation in trusting her to take Pompey Lill out on her own, maybe tomorrow we will give it a try. The rest of the day is occupied finalising the plan and carrying out jobs around the farm. As we sit down to supper Louise tells me of something Denise had revealed as they sat together at the church service. It concerns Oscar. When he dropped Denise off at her relative’s farm she had forgotten something and went back to the truck to fetch it. Oscar was at the rear of the vehicle talking to someone. She peeped through one of the lace holes and identified two men hidden in the rear behind the stowed goods. She listened but could not hear what they were saying but they were arguing. She did however recognise the language they spoke, it was definitely German. Not sure what was going on and scared at being detected she hurried into the farm house. When Oscar came in to say goodbye he appeared very agitated.

  He did not mention his passengers, soon after he left to drive to his fiancées farm. Bloody hell! What’s that all about? I don’t want to alarm Louise so I shrug it off as something trivial but I am worried. Monday! Although I carry a large supply of extra petrol I need to replenish my dwindling stocks.

  With this in mind I inform Louise I am heading for the nearest town to find a source and top up my reserves. She offers to accompany me this gives me the opportunity to let her drive on the open road. She takes to it like a duck to water. I am glad she is with me as she knows the town. We find a fuel depot by the railway siding I top up the petrol tank and my reserve drums. We have a meal in a workers café and head back to the village. As we arrive abreast of the post office the proprietor hails Louise indicating he wants to communicate.

  She climbs down and enters the building. I take up position in the driver’s seat within minutes she returns to the vehicle carrying a large envelope it is addressed to me. The envelope contains a letter from Alec and a number of official looking documents quickly I scan through the contents of his letter. Alec informs me the stolen truck has been intercepted close to the Belgium border and has been impounded by the Gendarmerie at a city named Metz unfortunately the driver had made good his escape. This is good news but he has no way of getting it back to Le Havre. He cannot spare the drivers he is so busy with more orders than he is able to handle. The other documents are for me personally they state I am permitted to remain in France pending the issue of an official identity card. Good old Alec the lack of a card has been a source of worry to me. I get my map books out and locate the city of Metz with Louise looking over my shoulder showing great interest. We are discussing the letter from Alec when suddenly she suggests. “Why don’t we go and pick up the truck? Look we are here close to Amiens.”

  She points at the map. “It shouldn’t take too long to get to Metz? You have to remain here for a couple of weeks there is plenty of time to retrieve the vehicle and be back here for the wedding. Let us do it Adam?” She pleads. “I should love to go for a trip and see something of my country. I am capable of driving, how do you call her Pompey Lill? You said so. There is something else you will need me as an interpreter, imagine having to deal with some of those Gendarmes on your own? I don’t think you will manage somehow without me do you?” Louise smiles sweetly she is very persuasive. This is a factor I have not considered. She is right. I have met some of them and can only compare the Gendarmes with wartime Military Police. “But we cannot, what about your position with the Doctor?” I enquire still putting obstacles in her way but not as forceful. “It is nothing, an occupation my cousin the Doctor created to keep me busy, he can manage without me.” Louise is very excited.

  “There is another thing that worries me Louise, what will people say if we were to go off together. It will entail staying away for a couple of nights, where will we sleep?

  Normally I sleep alone in the vehicle I don’t think that will be appropriate for you? Won’t gossiping tongues wag?” She shrugs her shoulders “Who cares about idle gossip?” I reply indignantly. “I do Louise. I don’t want to be responsible for harming your reputation. If only we could find another person to come with us as a kind of chaperone I would feel better?” She smiles sensing victory. “You are a bit of a prude aren’t you Adam?” She snaps her fingers. “I have got it! Leave things to me I will arrange everything if you agree to take me along.” How can I refuse? She clambers down and heads up the village road leaving me wondering what this remarkable woman is up to now. While she is away I enter the post office and write a letter to Alec apologise for my absence and telling him of the problems I have encountered regarding Denise. I request him to send me authorisation documents and I will attempt to retrieve the stolen truck. While I am waiting for Louise I use the time to write to my mates in England telling them all my news. As I emerge from the café a steam wagon arrives carrying supplies for the café and to deliver and pick up the mail. That is fortunate my letters will be on their way immediately. When Louise returns she tells me the wagon travels the area daily between the villagers in the district and the railway station in the town. She will not reveal the arrangements she has made for a third person to travel with us despite my pleading. She takes great pleasure in teasing me as I drive back to the farm. I have to give this woman credit, she not only wants to be a driver she also insists on learning all the technical details about the vehicle including what and when and how to do the service. The next day I show her as much as I am able regarding the vehicle.

  Feeling I can trust her I then leave her alone to carry out the greasing oil checks etc while I do chores for the old folks. On the third day the letter from Alec arrives. The documents translated by Louise identify me as the owner of the vehicle and give me the authority to reclaim it. “Right Louise I have everything I need, tomorrow I will set off for Metz. You shall accompany me but not until I am satisfied with the chaperon arrangements. Isn’t it about time you revealed who is to accompany us Louise?” She requests “May we go for drive I will introduce you? I think you will be more than satisfied with my choice of chaperon.” Of course I agree, she takes the driving seat after I start the engine. At the sound of the engine the old couple appear hurriedly donning their coats. There is no way they are going to miss the opportunity for a ride in Pompey
Lill. As I assist them aboard a thought crosses my mind. There is a need for an omnibus service in these remote villages in France I must look into this possibility. Surprise! Surprise! We stop outside the Priest’s house.

  “Hmm so Father Peter is coming with us? I muse “That should be interesting? Maybe we can have some good debates while we are together?” Louise laughs. “You think so eh?” The nun opens the door to Louise’s knock she leads us into a sitting room. Father Peter greets us. I shake his hand warmly. The nun stands behind his chair as she did earlier when we met. “It will be nice to have you along Father. We can carry on the discussion where we left off.” He responds with a smile. “I think you have been mislead my boy it is not me that is coming with you it is Sister Marie.” His statement takes me aback. Oh Lord what am I to do with two women and one of them a nun? Father Peter sees my obvious confusion. “Don’t worry my boy Sister Marie is not the kind of nun you knew in the past I promise you. I’m sure you will all get on very well together she knows the area around Metz, she was a student in the city. Come here Sister Marie and meet Adam.” She emerges shyly from behind the chair and shakes my hand and hurriedly returns to her haven behind the Priest. She still doesn’t speak. This is very odd. We chat for a while until the Priest has to excuse himself as he has duties to carry out. We make arrangements to pick the nun up in the morning and leave. On the way back to the farm I ask Louise. “Is the Sister one of those silent-order nuns?” She replies. “No, no it is more tragic than that. She confessed what occurred in the war to Father Peter and has not spoken since neither to him or anyone else. The poor woman has suffered greatly. She is a Belgiun you know? Poor Marie was caught in the big German advance. I don’t know the entire story but she was captured and raped by soldiers. They were not Germans.” She adds quickly. “They were Croats I believe, she has not spoken a single word to me since we first met.” This puzzled me. “Why was Father Peter in the war, wasn’t he here with his parishioners?” Louise replies. “Of course, how were you to know?

  When I told you there were only two survivors that returned after the tragedy. I assumed you knew the story. How silly of me. Father Peter was with them when the tragedy occurred. Without his bravery they would not have made it home as the two survivors were captured by the enemy. He negotiated with the German officer that captured them and arranged for their release. The officer asked him to also look after Sister Marie. His soldiers had found her alone in an abandoned convent absolutely traumatised. He gave them safe passage through his lines to safety under a white flag.

  The officer was fortunately one of the good ones. That is the story briefly. I would like to know more myself but Father Peter is a modest man and does not encourage us to dwell on the past.

  By the way the German officer has been in touch with him since the war ended. I believe they communicate regularly and have become good friends, would you believe it in civvy street his family have an established transport company?”

  Now I see what Father Peter meant when he said amongst evil there is always good. He appears to be quite a man does the good Father. His contact with friends in other countries if they have an interested in the transport business could be good for all of us.

  There is something else I have to consider. Oscar was a former enemy and now a dear trusted friend. And now we have yet another example of decent people thrown together in war. Even amongst the brutality of a fierce battle Father Peter had found a humane and honourable enemy officer willing to help others in dire straits.

  To Metz

  Next morning in beautiful spring weather loaded up with all kinds of supplies we set off on our adventure. We stop and pick up Sister Marie equally loaded with all kinds of food. It seems all the relatives have contributed to the trip, they were making sure we don’t go hungry.

  Louise and I take it in turns driving; Sister Marie sits in one of the front seats a happy smile on her face. Around noon we stop by a lovely lake and have a picnic. It is great to just do nothing. I stretch the canvas sheet on the grass and lie back to enjoy the sunshine with my eyes closed. Louise joins me sitting alongside thoughtfully chewing a blade of grass. Louise asks. “Do you want to learn to speak French Adam?” I answer lazily. “Of course I do the sooner the better.” She replies. “Then when we set off later we will only communicate in French. You already have the basics. I have noticed you follow a lot of the conversation.” “I have to agree it is getting easier understanding French as long as it is spoken slowly.” I respond. Louise replies. “By the time we return to the village I guarantee you will be more competent at speaking our language do you agree?” “Er?” I reply hesitantly. “We will see?”

  Sister Marie remains in the vehicle dressed in her black habit despite the warmth of the day. I notice she keeps an alert eye on us she evidently takes her chaperone duties seriously. Although Louise is a very attractive woman I find I treat her more as my sister rather than a rival to Denise. I’m sure in other circumstances I would have made a play for her affections. I can’t help wondering why she isn’t yet a married woman. Father Peter is constantly on my mind. “Louise. Tell me more about Father Peter.” “What do you want to know?” She enquires. I think for a moment then ask her. “Well for example why does he speak English with an Irish accent?”

  “That’s easy.” She laughs. “He was trained for the Priesthood in a seminary in Dublin on some kind of exchange programme. He was a missionary in Africa when war threatened he came back home.” “But surely he is a little old for that game?” I query.

  Louise responds to my statement with a question “How old do think Father Peter is Adam?” I reply hesitantly and make a guess “I am not good at estimating age but I reckon he is in his late sixties?”

  I open my eyes and look at her while shielding the sun from my face.

  Louise shakes her head and replies. “Father Peter is only in his early forties. He went with the villagers to war to look after the children. He feels responsible for what happened to them. Poor Father Peter blames himself for letting the Marquise send them into danger.

  He went a comparatively young man and came back as you see him now a broken old man.” She stops talking I detect a sob as she wipes her eyes. I sit up reach over and take her hand to comfort her. From the direction of the charabanc I detect a warning cough from Sister Marie. Louise whispers excitedly. “There is progress that is the first noise she has made since I have known her.” We gather the canvas sheet up load it aboard and away we go continuing on our journey this time with Louise at the wheel.

  She does indeed speak only in French as we travel along. At first I am confused but gradually when she repeats things slowly I find myself responding in French. I must have absorbed a lot more of the language than I thought over my years over here. My language lessons are accompanied by much giggling from Louise as I make crude attempts to translate. We even raise a few smiles from Sister Marie, at one stage we laugh so much we have to pull over until we recover. Louise will not disclose what I had literally said that amused them so much. This is turning into a fun trip I haven’t had such a good time for ages. We take it turns about in the driving Louise is very adept and I have complete confidence in her. I find another source of fuel and top up at a railway siding on the outskirts of the city of Amiens. In late afternoon Louse pulls up outside a large walled building. I recognise the layout immediately as a convent. “What are we stopping here for Louise?” I enquire.

  She replies. “Adam we have to find somewhere to sleep. You know we have our reputations to maintain? Come Sister Marie.” She gives one of her little laughs the nun smiles as they climb down from the charabanc and head towards the large grim looking door. “Louise!” I call after her. “There is no way I’m going into a convent.” “Then Adam Cheri you will sleep with your girl friend Pompey Lill. I hope she keeps you warm it is still chilly at night at this time of the year.” She rings the bell on a small inset door it opens immediately. Sister Marie enters.” I am determined to have the last word “
Ha!” I shout. “You just spoke English.” She turns to face me and blows me a kiss then disappears inside. The door is closed by an unseen inhabitant. So here I am on my own to face an uncomfortable night in the open charabanc. I set to and rig the canvas awning spanning across the rear seats something I haven’t done since the war. I complete the task just before darkness falls. Ah! This is the life I tell myself as I light a hurricane lamp and rummage through the stores for my supper.

  Some excellent ham and pickles with Aunt Edith’s bread a bottle of wine and I turn in for the night. Louise is right it is so chilly during the night.

  I dig my army great coat out and spread it over me just as we did during the war. I am very glad to greet the dawn. Louise was right as usual it was bloody cold. With a bit of fiddling I get the primus going and boil my kettle for a morning brew and wash. I have just finished my ablutions and breakfast when my two companions emerge from the convent door. Louise greets me as they climb aboard. “Bon jour” I answer in English. “Mornin” I don’t feel like playing her silly game today. I have the map spread across a seat studying our route for today. “Did you have a good night Adam?” She smiles. How can I stay mad with her? “Aye it wasn’t bad a bit cool but I managed alright, my girl kept me warm although I have to admit she’s getting a bit past it.” Louise smiles as she also looks at the map “Seems pretty straight forward to me?” She remarks. “That’s if the roads are still intact, you know Adam there was a great deal of fighting in the area we are approaching, from now on we should not be surprised if the way ahead is a bit difficult to drive through.” I open another folder of the map revealing the whole of France. Louise asks “Why are you looking at that map for Adam, surely the quickest way to Metz is on this route?” I explain. “Louise did I tell you my Mother is French, I wonder where she came from?” She replies. That’s interesting I didn’t know that, Denise didn’t mention it when we talked about you. Tell me about her?” I fold the map.” “Another time Louise, Denise didn’t know I didn’t myself until recently. Anyway it is not a happy story, besides we should get going? We need to cover plenty of ground before nightfall. I don’t want to be on strange roads in the dark. I take it you have eaten?” “I should describe it as sparsely!” She replies pulling a wry face. “But yes, we have eaten what about you?”