Red Hawk Rising

by Peter William Hall

  It was Monday morning (10th) and Eddy Dennis was getting ready for work. His wife had cooked him bacon and eggs with a slice of fried bread added on. He really enjoyed the meal. He was still getting headaches since that trip to deliver the tractor/loader but the doctor couldn’t find a cause so Eddy guessed that he would have to live with them for the time being. He picked up his lunch pack and kissed his wife good-bye and told her that he loved her. She looked surprised as he didn’t say it often and gave him a hug. Eddy smiled and headed out the door. At the Foleshill Road, Eddy caught the bus that would take him to work. He went and found a seat on the lower deck. Sitting in the upper deck was Berin. He had received information on the location of Jennings Industries and decided to check it out. He also hoped to see the different employees going in to work. Afterwards, he would return to the city centre and pick up a package at the main post office that should be waiting for a Mr Edward Williams, another alias that he used. The stop came up and Berin got off the bus, as did Eddy Dennis and a couple of other employees of Jennings Industries. The three men talked together as they walked along. Berin walked along not far behind them. As the factory came into view, Berin quickened his pace and overtook the three men. He wanted to see their faces before they turned into Jennings, if that was in fact where they were headed. Berin walked past the gate and turned to get a good look at the men. The three of them turned in at the gate and disappeared from view as they went in to ‘clock on’ for work. Satisfied, Berin walked across the road to stand for a few minutes watching the different employees arrive for work. There was a last minute rush and after they had gone in, Berin headed back to the Foleshill Road to get the bus back to the city centre.

  It was 9.15 a.m. and Berin, alias Edward Williams, went up to the ‘Post Restante’ counter at the main post office and presented a driving licence as his identification. The postal clerk went to the shelves and returned with a large envelope. Berin signed for it in his alias name and went out to find a quiet place to open the envelope and check the contents. He found a spot near the ruins of the cathedral, bombed and destroyed during the war. Opening the packet, Berin drew out instructions, a photograph and a miniature tape player. He read the instructions and looked at the photograph, realising that it was of one of the three men who got off the bus that morning. Berin checked out the tape player and was impressed by the miniaturisation. It was not much bigger than a packet for twenty cigarettes and was made to look like one. It was operated by him opening one end as though it was a packet of cigarettes. When he removed a cigarette it would activate the tape. He read through the instructions again, checked the face on the photograph and committed all to memory. Berin then walked past the bus station to a park. There he found a quiet spot, took a box of matches from his pocket and lit a match. With this, he burned the instructions and scattered the ashes among the plants. Moving to another part of the park, Berin did the same thing with the photograph. He then went and found a cafe to get a good breakfast, late though it was. Finding one not far from the cathedral, he went in and ordered a meal and tea. The tea came in a pot with milk and sugar, all on a tray. He thought of home in Russia and his mother’s samovar and tea drunk from tall glass beakers. The English tea was strong and nearly black. It had taken some getting used to. He hoped that the meal would help to freshen him up. He would go for a good walk afterwards. The journey from Nottingham had not been pleasant. It was a night train to the south-west and, judging by the conversations and hair-styles, seemed to be full of servicemen returning to their bases. He had had to stand from Nottingham in a crowded corridor of the train. By gradually working his way towards the rear of the train he had found a seat and managed to sleep fitfully. When he had completed his work he would get an evening train to Nottingham and spend the night there. Then he would travel back to Louth on the Tuesday morning. After the meal, Berin went for a walk and stopped to look at the ruin of the old Coventry Cathedral. It had been destroyed by German bombs during the Second World War. As he looked at it the memories came flooding back. He remembered the bombing of his home city by the Germans, the sound of the Stuka dive-bombers as they dived towards the city before releasing their bombs. His father had joined the local militia and fought the Germans. Berin remembered the hunger as food supplies virtually ceased. Then when he was eight years old he was evacuated with his mother and younger brother and sister. It was a long journey by train across the north of Russia. They returned after Leningrad was freed and the German siege lifted. His father was still alive but had been injured during the fighting and walked with a severe limp. Berin shook himself out of his reverie and resumed his walking.

  Later in the morning, Berin again caught a bus that would take him out to Jennings Industries. There was a cafe and shop not far from the works and it was just possible that his target would go out during the lunch-break. On arrival, Berin walked up past Jennings Industries and as he neared the front gate he saw the man in the photo drive a truck into the company’s yard. Five minutes later the hooter went for lunchtime and shortly after that the same man came out of the factory with two other men and they headed for the cafe. Berin followed them down at a discreet distance. He noticed that they were all smoking cigarettes that they must have lit up as they came out of the works and it gave Berin an idea. The men went into the cafe and ordered their lunch and ate it there. Afterwards, they lit up cigarettes again. Berin walked in and ordered some food and coffee. Receiving the order at the counter, he took the table next to the three men and sat behind Eddy Dennis. He ate some food and then took the packet out of his pocket and opened it and took the cigarette out. The recording started to play. Berin tapped the cigarette and hummed a tune in time to that on the recording. He noticed Eddy Dennis, the man in the photo, tense a little. Then Eddy told his companions that he had to go back to work. Berin put the cigarette back into the packet and put the packet in his pocket. Eddy got up and headed back to work. His companions got up and followed him out, both of them grumbling. Berin finished his food and left the cafe and walked back toward Jennings Industries. He knew that he couldn’t leave until he knew that the work was completed. Berin walked past the main entrance to where he couldn’t be seen from the gate office and found a convenient spot to wait. After about fifteen minutes he saw Eddy Dennis come out of the main gate and head down to the Foleshill Road. Berin followed at a discreet distance. The bus stop for Eddy to go home was on the other side of the road and Eddy appeared to be waiting for traffic to clear. Suddenly, as a heavy lorry came along north-bound, Eddy stepped off the pavement and appeared to trip and fall in the path of the lorry. The driver stamped on the brakes but he couldn’t stop before a wheel went over Eddy’s body, crushing it and the truck dragging it along the road before stopping. Eddy flailed an arm and then it went limp. Passers-by rushed to the scene. The driver of the lorry sat in the cab in a state of shock. A shop-keeper, on seeing the accident, rang ‘999’ and asked for police and ambulance. Berin stayed at a distance and watched. Soon, the clanging of the bells on the police car and the ambulance were heard as they raced up the Foleshill Road.

  About a minute later, they pulled up and the ambulance team went over to Eddy. They checked for a pulse but there was none. One of them shook his head to the policeman and called out, “Sorry, he’s dead already.” Berin moved off down the road away from the scene of the accident, walking two hundred yards down the road before crossing over to get a bus into the city centre. An hour later a policeman knocked on the door of Eddy Dennis’s home to give the news to Eddy’s wife.

  ***

  While events had been taking place in Coventry, at RAF West Sanby there was a lot of activity in the JSTU area as equipment and furniture was being unloaded and installed in the new headquarters building. Andy had been detailed to oversee the locating of it all. It was mid-morning and the control unit and missile had arrived from Argonaut Industries without incident. By lunchtime the headquarters personnel would start arriving from RAF Low Fenton. Then Andy would be directing t
hem to billet allocations. More personnel were being posted in and would arrive on the morrow. Among them would be two progress clerks for Andy’s section. Later, as the trials really got underway, there would be more progress clerks, including a corporal. It would relieve the pressure for Andy since he would need to focus on the analysis of data from the trials. On top of this he had his assignments from Lutterworth.

  In Louth, Jamie and Yvonne were enjoying a walk around the town before they had lunch somewhere. Yvonne had picked Jamie up from West Sanby village and then driven to Louth. She had a couple of deliveries she had to make and had done that. Now they were free to enjoy time together. Yvonne wanted to look for a dress for the dance at Parfleet St Peter. Jamie patiently went with her and sat as she tried dresses on and sought his view of each. Thinking about this, Jamie found it hard to believe what he was doing. This had always been a ‘no-no’ to him and his mates. Maybe it had something to do with how he was starting to feel about this woman. Later, they sat having scones and coffee in a little cafe. The conversation turned to fishing and the village. Yvonne was telling Jamie about the different families. She commented on Walmar and how he had come and settled there. Now happily married to a local girl and proud of his family, he was well respected in their community. Then Yvonne commented on the different crewmen that would come for a while and go again. She thought it strange and couldn’t understand why Walmar didn’t employ a local. “The present guy, Bill Enderby, is one to be careful of,” she said. “There’s something about him that makes me wary.” But Yvonne couldn’t explain why. “He got the bus to Louth yesterday and was getting the train to Lincoln,” she said, “and will be away for two or three days. I feel more comfortable while he’s away.”

  “Any idea what he’s gone away for?” asked Jamie.

  “None,” replied Yvonne. Jamie decided that he would report this urgently. He also wondered whether he could go through Enderby’s flat and see what he could find. Jamie decided to bring the conversation back to the families and also the forthcoming dance so he asked Yvonne who she had on her committee and what was the role of each. With this and other questions, Jamie began to build up a picture of the village community.

  “How about a lunch of fresh cray and chips?” Yvonne asked Jamie.

  “Sounds good to me,” he replied. “Where do we go for that?”

  “We’ll buy some cheese and other things here and then go back to my place for the lunch.”

  Jamie was surprised. “What will the neighbours say?” he asked.

  “They’ll be all right,” Yvonne said. “I’m a widow and they make more allowances than if I had never been married.” At that, Jamie felt nervous but agreed to her suggestion. Yvonne saw his look of surprise at her statement. “I’ll tell you about it another time,” she said, “but not now. Let’s go and buy those things I want for the lunch. They walked across the marketplace to Eve and Ranshaw Ltd department store and Yvonne headed for the specialty foods department. “After we get what I want here we’ll go to the cheese shop. They stock a particularly flavoursome cheese called The Lincolnshire Poacher. Have you had it before?” asked Yvonne. Jamie shook his head. “I’m sure you’ll like it,” she said. “It’s one of my favourites.” They went from shop to shop until Yvonne was satisfied that she had all she wanted and then they headed back to the car.

  Yvonne drove through Parfleet St Peter and near the northern end turned left down a narrow lane and parked beside a cottage. “This is my home,” she said. Getting out of the car, Yvonne asked Jamie to carry the groceries. They went round to a back door and she took a key from under a plant pot and unlocked the door and entered. Jamie followed her in. It led through a small scullery into the kitchen. Jamie put the groceries on the kitchen table and looked around him. Yvonne took her coat off and went and hung it up in the hallway. Everything was neat and tidy. There were dishes drying in a rack next to the sink. A dresser had plates and other dishes stood on end on its shelves with cups and mugs hanging from hooks. There was a gas stove with a splash-back against one wall. A walk-in larder was on the back wall. Another door led off into a living room. The kitchen table was made of solid timber and there were six high-backed chairs around it. There was the sense of the feminine touch in the curtains, in the geraniums on the window sill and the small decorations. Jamie liked what he saw.

  Yvonne came back into the kitchen and started bustling around and getting the lunch ready. A deep pan with lard in it went on the stove to heat up before cooking the chips. “Set the table, will you, Jamie?” she asked. “Use the stuff on the dresser. Cutlery is in the drawer.” He went to work. Yvonne took a crayfish from the stone slab in the pantry and went over to the kitchen bench and expertly cleaned and removed the flesh. It was already cooked and she set to garnish it with herbs and a dressing. The table setting done, Jamie looked out of the window and saw a small back garden. Beyond it were fields, some with stubble and others ploughed and planted. The village was on comparatively high ground and it sloped to a lower level to the north, hence the sea wall.

  “Is the fishing fleet out today?” asked Jamie.

  “No,” was the reply. “The weather is not good so they will stay in harbour and do maintenance on their boats and the fishing gear. Just as well for Mr Walmar. His deck hand has gone away for a couple of days. No doubt Penny is glad to have her husband around to spend some time with the family.” Jamie pricked his ears up at those comments. He wondered where Bill Enderby had gone and if he could get a look through Enderby’s flat. After about ten minutes, Yvonne had the meal ready for them to eat. They sat down and ate with relish. As they ate, Jamie asked Yvonne how and when she was widowed. She told Jamie that she had married a local lad when she was twenty-two years old. He worked with his father on a family-owned fishing boat. She was from Mablethorpe and they had met at a dance and started dating. When they married, they bought the cottage and she got a job in the fishing co-operative. Before that she had worked as a secretary. They had been married just over a year when the boat he and his father were on was lost. They were caught out in a storm and radioed for help but by the time other boats got to where they should have been the boat had disappeared and the crew with it. Yvonne said that she had stayed on in the village because of the kindness of the people and, of course, this house was her home. She said that it had been three years ago. Jamie expressed his condolences to Yvonne, realising that he was high risk too at present. It was clear that Yvonne was making a statement to him and for him. Jamie determined not to let things between them move quickly as he didn’t want Yvonne to be hurt again. Before Yvonne could ask about him, Jamie changed the subject to talk about the meal and about the local fishing.

  Hamilton was at his desk in London when the telephone rang with a call from William Jennings of Jennings Engineering. He told Hamilton that Eddy Dennis was dead and described what had happened. Jennings also said that a couple of his employees had gone out with Eddy Dennis to a local cafe for lunch. A man at the next table had played a tune and hummed. On hearing it Eddy insisted on going back to work straight away. Fifteen minutes later he left work without saying anything to anyone and shortly afterwards was killed in a road accident. The two men had not been able to give a description of the man at the next table. He had his back to them. Jennings said that Eddy Dennis had not been his usual self after he got back from delivering the missile loading tractor to RAF West Sanby and felt that perhaps it should be investigated. He said that his company would look after Dennis’ widow. Hamilton thanked William Jennings for his call and said that they would send someone up to Coventry to find out what else could be learned. After putting the ‘phone down, he sat in deep thought for a couple of minutes and then made some notes.

  Hamilton picked up the telephone and put a call through to Air Vice-Marshal Denby. When Denby came on the ‘phone Hamilton passed the latest news on to him. They agreed to meet and discuss matters once Hamilton had a report from Coventry. They would both get their staff to review recent reports a
nd information to see whether a pattern emerged. Denby said that the request from Jamie Rogerson for a watch to be made on Bill Enderby may need to done as a matter of urgency. Hamilton said that checks were being made on Enderby but that it would take a few more days. If he was involved with the Russians then the radio contacts with Moscow would almost certainly be from a boat based in Parfleet St Peter. Hamilton agreed with him. After hanging up the ‘phone, Hamilton got onto his superior and gave a verbal report on the situation and asked when a decision would be made about sending operatives to Parfleet St Peter to maintain a watch on Enderby. He was told that they couldn’t do anything for another couple of days at least. Hamilton thanked him and hung up. He settled down to putting the different parts of the ‘jigsaw’ together and preparing a report. Meanwhile Denby spoke with Group Captain Clarkson who then contacted Squadron Leader Dawson and the CO of RAF West Sanby on the need for extra security watch. He emphasised the need to watch for people observing the base from the sea wall using binoculars and taking photographs. The latter was unlikely but suitable cameras were also used for birdwatching, a popular activity along that coastline. Denby knew that little could be learned about the equipment by just photographing it but watching a simulated operation would give valuable information. There was little chance of access through the ‘wire’ because of the current security, particularly the dogs and their handlers, but he wondered if there was another way.

  The same question was going through Major Garasov’s mind. How could he penetrate the security to get access to the key components and the wavelengths they would be operating on? Security had been tightened up at the factories and on the delivery of parts and equipment to the RAF. The RAF personnel had been checked and there didn’t appear to be any servicemen on the JSTU that they could buy or persuade to help. There had to be a way. Garasov started writing down all the different movements of equipment and their operation to see if there were any weaknesses in the system still. While he was doing this, Garasov’s assistant came into his office and put documents in his ‘In’ tray. A magazine caught Garasov’s eye. It was the copy of North Country Hospitality that he had requested. He paused in his task, picked up the magazine and turned to the article on the Queen’s Head Hotel. Calling his assistant, he instructed him to find out what he could on the two families in the photograph and named in the article. His assistant left the office to proceed with the task.