Gordon pushed his chair back, scraping the floor with the feet as he stood up. “The blame is entirely mine, Miss. Bradshaw. I fear that I have been a complete idiot and totally disrespectful to the entire class. If it was not for my meddlesome behaviour, you would not be looking to blame anyone else but me.”
Vera gave him a cold stare. Even though Alice was in her peripheral line of sight, she wouldn’t allow herself to look at her. “Alice Bennet, stand up.” Still glaring at Gordon, her words were aimed at Alice. A twitch activated at the side of her nose as she spoke with cold words. “Perhaps the two of you should be shipped back to England. If you both feel that you are far too good for this organisation, I’m sure that we can certainly find others to fill your shoes.”
Alice, horrified at the thought of being sent home as a failure, immediately responded. “I fear that we have neglected our duties today. In my defence and I’m sure that Mr. Nicolls feels the same, we were feeling a little homesick, weren’t we, Gordon?”
He nodded quickly.
“This is extremely important to us both, we would never jeopardise a mission like that, never in a million years. Neither one of us have taken our training lightly, and everything that we have been taught, we have absorbed.”
Vera stared—her face enveloped with a dead-pan expression. “I will not issue any more warnings. Both of you have made your presence felt among us, the very opposite of what you should be doing. Take a leaf out of my book now, change your ways, or you will be going home. Now, sit down and learn.”
Chapter Six
Feeling as though she had let everyone down, Alice sat on the edge of her cot, staring blankly at the window. She couldn’t see anything beyond the glass, as it was almost midnight. The door opened at the end of the barrack—Vera walked in. Alice knew it was her, she could tell from the way that Vera walked. The tap that heels on her shoes made, had a unique sound as she walked across the polished wooden floorboards.
Vera glared at Alice’s back, as she neared her cot. Passing her, to reach her own, she turned her face away, as not to be forced to look at her. She was actually angry with herself, not with Alice. There was something that she had held back when she had told her about her losses. She had lost someone very close to her, someone she had loved for many years—a woman, Vivian Adams. They had been lovers and even shared a home. Vivian was killed in that home, while Vera had gone to visit a sick friend. It had been the first night that they had been apart but her friend was in dire need of nursing back to health and no one was available apart from her. She had only travelled twenty miles to the next town and when she returned the following day, she was faced with the devastating image of a destroyed home and Vivian’s dead body being pulled from the wreckage by firemen. It was an image that would stay with her forever. Since meeting Alice, her looks so apparent to Vivian’s, she had found her emotions stirring inside her belly. It was a fight that she was determined to keep locked away. She sat on her cot and removed her shoes, slipping her feet out of them and placing them in the locker. She unbuttoned her jacket and slipped her arms out of the sleeves, stood up and hung it up on a wooden hanger inside the locker. She could sense that Alice’s eyes were glaring at her. Not giving her the opportunity to connect in a stare-down, she unfastened her skirt, slid it down her long legs and reached into the locker for another hanger. Slipping the loops onto the grooves at the end of the hanger, she hung it in front of her jacket. Her back still facing Alice, she unbuttoned her blouse, again, she slipped her arms from the sleeves and hung it up neatly. Dressed in her bra, knickers and stockings, she lifted her foot onto the edge of her cot and rolled the stocking down her leg, then repeated with the other. Rolling them up, she placed them in the top drawer of her dresser. She then unclipped the back of her bra and with her one arm, she covered her breasts and using her free hand, she slid the bra straps down her arms and placed the garment in the drawer with her stockings. Plucking her nightgown out from the drawer, she put it on, then pulled back the blanket and sheet on her cot and slipped into it.
After lying in bed for a while, Vera found that she was having trouble in getting to sleep. It was pitch black, everyone who had already gone to bed were asleep, all apart from Alice. She had remained on the edge of her bed, deep in thought. Those thoughts were all self-disciplining and self-questioning. Staring hard in the dark, she could just make out Vera’s silhouette.
“I’m so sorry,” Alice quietly uttered with her breath.
Vera sat up. Turning her head to the direction of Alice’s voice, she whispered back, “Alice, go to sleep.”
Alice lowered her head and slapped her hands over her face, crying silently in the darkness.
Vera pushed her blanket away from her and swung her legs out from the cot. She tip-toed over to Alice and crouched down at her feet, holding Alice’s knees in the palms of her hands. Looking up at her shadowed face, she spoke softly. “I’m not here to make you feel inadequate, I hope you understand that? It’s my job, as well as Sergeant Todd and Sergeant Jenkins, to asses you all and report back to Colonel Simms whether we believe that you are capable of completing a mission, or not. Your bravery, intelligence, capability to adapt to new unfamiliar situations, are all as equal to each other in importance. Just that one brief moment of tomfoolery could cost someone their life and even perhaps jeopardise this camp and everyone in it.”
Gradually moving her hands from her face, Alice looked down at Vera. She placed her hand on top of Vera’s head, stroking her hair gently, as she listened to her soft words. “I’m so sorry, Vera,” she repeated.
Although Vera couldn’t see her face in the dark, she knew that Alice wore a frown and that her eyes were filled with sadness. Without thinking, she stretched herself up, until her face met with Alice’s. Impulsively, she placed her lips to Alice’s and kissed them. Alice didn’t pull away.
Vera pressed hard into the kiss, then without warning she prised her lips away. “I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me. Please accept my apology.” She stood up and raced back to her cot, pulling the sheet and blanket over her as she climbed in. She laid on her side and covered her head with her pillow, hoping that everyone else sleeping, hadn’t heard a word.
Alice, confused, touched her lips—she could still feel the kiss pressing down on her mouth. Her mind filled with disorder, she undressed and slipped into bed but with so many questions battling to be answered, she found it hard to drift off.
Vera, always being a focused woman, was angered by her lack of control. Quietly, she chanted to herself, “What have I done, what have I done, what have I done?”
•••
Building Four had been built to the far side of the camp. Sergeant Jenkins had been assigned to train the recruits in poison knowledge. “It is vital that you understand what you are dealing with when it comes to poisons and explosives.” He held up what appeared to be a lipstick. “You may think that this is an ordinary lipstick but don’t be fooled by it. It can fire a single 4.5 Cal. bullet at close range. Most of our female spies carry these with them.” He placed it down on the desk behind him and then picked up a silver pen. “This is not a pen. This device has poison on the tip, you can stick it directly into the skin.” He placed it down carefully, then picked up a torch. “Need a torch? This has been rigged to fire bullets. A weapon can come in many disguises, you may not be the only one who uses them, be prepared, or you will die. Exploding rats. Now, these are my favourite devices. You hide the explosive in the dead carcass and leave it on, or as near to a pile of coal, or a burning fire. A German will be unsuspecting enough to just pick it up and sling it into the flames. Boom! He’s dead, along with a few of his chums. Gordon, I’m sure you’ll appreciate this one. A box of condoms, here catch.” He picked up a box and threw it to Gordon. Gordon, thinking it might be booby-trapped, stepped back without catching it. Sergeant Jenkins laughed. “It’s all right, Gordon, on their own they’re harmless. These condoms are overlooked by the enemy. They are filled with Cacc
olube, a gritty mixture that’s none-explosive. But, when the condom is dropped into an engine, the oil melts the condom away after a short distance of driving and then the Caccolube completely destroys the engine, rendering the vehicle useless and stranded.”
Alice shook her head at Gordon when she became aware that he wanted to make a joke. He backed down from turning the lesson into a show.
“The Mole is an explosive device. The photoelectric cell is charged by daylight but when dark, or night hit, the explosive detonates. This is good to use for trains entering tunnels. Imagine the hell that it causes when they need to remove the wreckage.” He stared each recruit out, as he spoke with a serious tone to his voice. “Guns are not the only weapons that will make you an assassin. There are many ways to assassinate the enemy, knowing how to use them is key, or you will die. You need to assess a situation quickly and accurately, or you will die.”
•••
Alice and the other recruits were in the mess hall, eating supper and drinking coffee. Sergeant Todd, Sergeant Jenkins and Vera joined them. Sergeant Todd nodded to the staff behind the serving counter. Several bottles of French red wine were plonked on the counter.
Sergeant Todd picked up a bottle and using a corkscrew, he opened it. “Today is your lucky day.” The staff brought over empty glasses and Sergeant Todd poured wine into all of them. He sat down on a chair and joined in with the light conversation, encouraging them all to talk about the camp and their experiences.
Alice held her glass up and sniffed the wine. “You’re not going to poison us, are you?” she asked quietly.
The lads placed their glasses down on the table, all concerned at her remark.
“I can assure you all that this is going to be an evening of merriment, so drink up and enjoy it while you all can.” He winked at Alice.
“I’m afraid I don’t drink,” she responded sheepishly.
Vera paced forward and stood in front of her. Leering down at her, she produced a forced smile. “Just like the coffee, Alice, you will drink it and you will learn to love it. Now, do us all a favour and drink it.”
Alice was uncomfortable by Vera’s audacity but to save face, she sipped the wine.
“Come on, lads, and, lass, drink up, don’t be shy. There’s plenty to go around. Now then, Alice, let’s see you drink that entire glass. I’ll give you thirty seconds to gulp it down.”
Alice was aware that this was some sort of exercise. She drank the wine fast. The Sergeant poured her and the others more wine. They were encouraged to drink that one fast too. More bottles of wine were opened and drank, until each recruit could only talk slurred. Anyone who looked like they were about to fall asleep, were encouraged to jog around the mess hall. The ones who were seated, found this funny and laughed hysterically.
Vera sat on a chair in front of Alice. “Alice, tell me what you have learned about this camp.”
Alice could barely keep her eyes open. She giggled and then pointed her finger toward Vera. “You know, I can see two of you.”
“Alice, what do you now about this camp?”
“Now I can see four of you,” she laughed loudly.
Vera looked to the Sergeant. “She’s drunk but she’s totally oblivious to what I’m asking her.”
Alice sat forward in her chair. “Oh, naughty, naughty, little Miss. Bradshaw. Oh, my lips…your lips, does this make us liars?” She picked up the half-full bottle from the table and swigged straight from it. “I like your lips.”
Vera grew unnerved. She looked to the Sergeant, then back to Alice. “Alice, look at me. Did you learn Morse code here?”
“If I did, I don’t think I’d be any use at it now.” Again, she burst into laughter.
Vera looked at the Sergeant and shook her head. “That’s okay, Alice, you can stop drinking now. I’ll have someone help you back to the barracks.”
“Why don’t you help me, Miss. Bradshaw? I’m sure you wouldn’t take advantage of me, not in my vulnerable state, would you?”
Sergeant Todd frowned. “Miss. Bradshaw, please assist Miss. Bennet back to the barracks. I’m sure that we can handle things from here.”
“Yes, Sir,” she said. She hoisted Alice up onto her feet and then tucked her shoulder beneath her armpit. “Come on, let’s get you back to your cot. This is definitely going to hurt you in the morning, I’m sure of that.”
•••
Once inside the barracks, Vera had undressed Alice and changed her into her nightgown. She helped her into her cot and covered the blanket over her.
“Don’t go,” Alice said to her.
“But I have to. I have work to get finished.”
“I know why you made us all drink,” Alice slurred.
“Oh, yes. And what exactly is it that you know?”
“You wanted to test us, to see if we would spill the beans on this place, or anything that you have taught us. I’m right, aren’t I?”
Vera sat on the edge of the cot. “You need to be able to hold your drink and hold your tongue at the same time. Alcohol makes us all do and say things that we wouldn’t normally if we were sober.”
Alice lifted her hand from beneath the blanket—placing it on Vera’s lower arm. “You can trust me more than you know. I said I didn’t drink that wine but I have been known to get drunk on white wine. I’m not such an innocent.”
“Then you will know what a hangover feels like, so get plenty of rest, Alice Bennet, you’re going to need a clear head for tomorrow. It starts all over again. And by the way, please don’t say things about my lips, or your lips. It was a mistake and I’m sorry that I put you in that situation.”
“I’m not,” Alice smiled. “I’ll make a deal with you. I promise not to do that again and I’ll even go straight to sleep, if you kiss me again, deal?”
“Alice, you’re drunk. Now, go to sleep.”
“Kiss me, or I’ll sing like a canary.”
“Please, Alice, you’ll wake the others up,” Vera whispered, looking around at the other cots.
“Oh, forget them. They can’t hear us. Now, how about that kiss?”
Vera was afraid that one of the other women would wake and hear them. To keep her from talking any longer, she lowered herself down and placed her lips onto Alice’s. It was a short, quick peck but enough to satisfy the receiver.
“Now please, go to sleep.” She rose from the cot and walked to the door. Alice was unaware of the smile that filled her face.
•••
As the daylight filtered through the window, Alice woke with a thumping hangover. Sitting up quite slowly, she held her cold hand over her forehead and opened her eyes to see that the cot opposite was occupied. She waited for her blurred vision to focus and then stared at the occupant. It was the woman who Vera had been whispering to on her first morning she was there. She had been on a mission in France and had returned unharmed and thankfully alive.
Alice got out of bed and dressed. She felt nauseous but still had to face food and coffee. She jogged over to the mess hall—her stomach feeling every movement, where she forced down a piece of toast and some crispy bacon—washing it down with a large mug of coffee. Some of the lads were already there, eating what they could cope, none of them looked as though they could manage a day of rigorous training.
Sergeant Todd strolled in and loudly announced, “Right then, you lot. Let’s get you out there. You can give me an hour on the obstacle course.” He clapped his hands together—that sound didn’t go down too well with anyone.
Outside, a course had been set up in one of the compounds. Tractor tyres had been laid on the ground side-by-side, ropes hung from wooden structures, a high wooden wall had been erected and more barbed wire to crawl under in the mud.
The recruits, in full dress and carrying rifles, ran around the inside of the compound for ten minutes. Then they had to run through the tyres, coordinating their feet and eyes as they kept up with the fast pace. Then they climbed the ropes to the tops and back down again and swung
from one rope to another. The high wooden wall was the hardest. They had to get over the top and the other side of it. Acting as a team, they hoisted one person up to the top and then that person sat straddled and leaned down, reaching his arm for the next person to pull up. Alice was the shortest of them all and also the lightest. They had no problem shoving and pulling her to the top. Then they crawled in the mud, pulling themselves along beneath the barbed wire.
They were made to do this repeatedly, hour after hour, day after day, in the rain, the wind, the sun and even the snow but with this came determination and strength. Their Morse code operations became more complex with messages to send and receive. Map reading skills had become secondary knowledge. Each recruit was able to fire a rifle and a pistol with a good aim and their ability for creeping up to someone from behind, without them knowing of their presence had become second nature.
While all of this was going on, they were being fed news of the war, of the destruction of their towns, of U Boats sinking many crucial ships delivering supplies from across seas. Whether this was an act of kindness to allow them to keep up with the war, or whether it was a ploy to keep their anger and determination alive, it worked. Not one recruit had the need to leave, even with the rigorous training.
•••
A room had been set up with guns in pieces on tables. The lights were out and the recruits were expected to assemble them. Sergeant Todd had taken them through this daily, before and after their shooting practice. Now it was time to do it in the dark.
Alice stood at her table and felt around, careful not to knock any of the pieces onto the floor. Her hands touched over cold hard metal and smooth wood pieces. She went through in her head, the instructions that Sergeant Todd had given them in previous training sessions. ‘Insert the charging handle back into the upper receiver, slide it through the groove until it’s locked. Pull out the bolt assembly. Install the bolt carrier group into the upper charging handle. Push the bolt and charging handle forward until it’s locked in place. Bring the upper and lower receiver together and push the rear takedown pin back in place.’ Once she was done, she stood silently, waiting for the rest of the team to finish.
Silent Killing Page 6