Season Of Darkness (27 page)

To his mind, the boots the army had issued to Bobby were the cause of the trouble that followed
.

They were one size too big, heavy and stiff, and he kept tripping over his own feet. They were all running, Wilf first, then Bobby, behind him, Dennis. Jimmy had twisted his ankle leaping into a ditch when the Stukka dive-bombers attacked the column, so he was bringing up the rear. There was a particularly loud bang from one side and a plume of dirt and rocks showered down on
them. Too close for comfort. Jimmy was covered with dirt, choking on it, hardly able to see. Bobby stumbled and fell to the ground. He should have put the safety catch on his rifle, but in the rush and panic to get out of the farmhouse, he’d forgotten to
.

Bam. The gun discharged
.

Wilf was actually lifted in the air and flung on his face. At first Jimmy thought Wilf had been hit by the shell. He caught up with Bobby and tugged at his shoulder
.

“Keep moving,” he said
.

Wilf was writhing on the ground, his right thigh and buttock were crimson with blood, a chunk of flesh was shot away. They heard voices from the farmhouse. Some Jerries were running out, one of them setting up a machine gun
.

“Come on,” said Jimmy
.

They scrambled up the slope to where Wilf lay. He was going into a seizure and it looked as if he were trying to bite into the ground
.

“Grab him,” said Jimmy, and he took Wilf under his armpits
.

Wilf groaned; saliva and blood were running down his chin
.

“Don’t leave me,” he gasped. A little pink bubble popped out of his mouth
.

Jimmy didn’t reply but said again to Bobby, “Let’s get him off this fucking hill.”

Dennis was still lying flat on his stomach just behind them, and for a minute they thought he’d bought it too, but he staggered to his feet and half ran, half crawled up to them
.

“Christ, Bobby. You shot him. You fucking well shot him.”

“Shut up,” said Jimmy. “Let’s get him out of here.”

Bobby seemed unable to act so Dennis took Wilf’s other arm and he and Jimmy dragged him up the hill as if he were a bag of potatoes. Once over the crest, they slid and rolled down to a ditch half-filled with stagnant water. Wilf had left a trail of blood behind them. Jimmy could see the white tendons and glistening
exposed bone in his thigh. Bright red blood was pulsing out of the wound
.

There was a road running alongside the ditch and, on the other side, a thick stand of trees
.

“Come on,” said Jimmy. “We can’t stay here. Let’s get under cover.”

He and Dennis picked up Wilf, who was trying to help by using his good leg, the shattered right leg dragging uselessly. They managed to climb out of the ditch and scramble across the road to the safety of the trees. They pushed in as far as they could but the underbrush was dense, clawing at them, holding them. It was obvious they weren’t going to get far with the injured man and they were forced to halt. They lowered Wilf down to the ground
.

Bobby looked at Jimmy, who shook his head. Wilf saw the look. “Don’t leave me lads. Jerry’ll shoot me. I can manage, you go ahead and break the trail. I’ll keep up with you.”

“You can’t,” hissed Dennis. “They’ll get all of us.”

“No, they won’t. I can do it, I swear.”

They heard shouts and a spray of bullets ripped through the trees overhead. The Germans hadn’t found them yet, but they would at any minute
.

“Come on,” said Jimmy again and he tried to hoist Wilf to his feet. Wilf let out a half-choked yelp, more like a bark than a human sound
.

“I’ll carry him,” said Bobby. “Get him on my back.” The other two didn’t argue, just hoisted the injured man up and across Bobby’s shoulders. The blood from Wilf’s wound immediately soaked through his collar. Dennis went first, then Jimmy, trying to break the trail. There were loud explosions from behind them but they kept going
.

“Here,” cried out Dennis. There was a narrow animal track leading through the trees, which made them able to move faster. They must have gone like that for ten, fifteen minutes until finally Bobby had to stop
.

“Just a minute,” he gasped. He fell to his knees and let Wilf slide as gently as he could off his shoulders onto the ground
.

Jimmy scrambled over. “I’ll take him,” he said
.

Wilf’s eyes were turning up in their sockets and he was chalk white. However, he suddenly took in a shuddering breath and his eyes focused
.

“I’m done for,” he whispered. “Leave me. Get out of here.”

A trickle of dark blood was running from the corner of his mouth
.

Hardly able to breathe, Bobby leaned over him. “I’m sorry, Wilf. I’m so sorry.”

Wilf lifted his hand, made a fist and bumped Bobby on the cheek. “You stupid bugger. I warned you about that fucking safety catch. Now get the fuck out of here. No sense in all of us dying.”

He closed his eyes
.

Dennis had joined them. “I think he’s dead,” he said from over Bobby’s shoulder
.

“No, he’s still breathing,” cried Bobby
.

“He’s a goner, mate,” said Dennis and he grabbed Bobby by the arm. “We’ve got to leave him or it’s all of us gone. Jimmy tell him.”

Bobby shook him off. “No. We can’t let him die alone.”

Jimmy stared down at Wilf. “Dennis is right. We can’t help him.”

They heard another shout. Jerry was following the trail and closing in fast
.

“Come on,” said Jimmy, tugging at Bobby’s sleeve
.

“He’ll be all right,” said Dennis, almost dancing with agitation. “The Jerry will take him prisoner. He’ll be living the life of Riley in no time.”

Wilf managed to wave his hand at them
.

“Go, you silly sods,” he whispered. “Just leave me my gun.”

“I’m going if you’re not,” said Dennis and he started off along the trail
.

“Come on, Bobby,” said Jimmy. He stood straight and gave a formal salute in Wilf’s direction. “Best of luck, mate.” He handed Wilf the gun, then grabbing Bobby’s arm, he shoved him ahead and they ran
.

Moments later that they heard a burst of machine-gun fire
.

Somebody howled
.

There was more gunfire, then silence
.

They ran on
.

Alice covered Jimmy’s hand with hers for a long time.

P
RIVATE
D
ENNIS
M
CEVOY WAS COMING TO THE
rendezvous directly from his shift at the camp. He was still wearing his uniform even though it was itchy and hot. Girls liked to see a lad in uniform. He’d taken the precaution of reporting in sick, pleading a bad stomach. Not that this was entirely untrue. He hadn’t been feeling that grand for the last couple of weeks. Cleverly, Janet had also pleaded a bad tummy to get off work. She couldn’t get away in the evenings, just the early mornings, which suited Dennis just fine. He could see another girl in the evening.

He’d got there first and he stood in the clearing smoking a cigarette. It was barely light, and the grass was damp from yesterday’s thunderstorm. Good thing they had somewhere dry and comfy to go. The place known as the Fort had been a favourite spot for couples for decades.

“A woman will always remember her first time, Denny,” one of the chaps had told him while they were sitting around the barracks, waiting for something to happen. The talk fell, as it usually did, to girls and sex and whether, or how much, of both you’d had. Dennis hadn’t forgotten the man’s words and he wanted to make sure Janet’s memories were going to be fond ones. He’d been warned that most virgins didn’t always enjoy themselves, but he was experienced. He knew a thing or two and he was sure he could satisfy her. He couldn’t help but preen himself a little, giving his pencil-thin moustache a stroke. He’d had no complaints from the other girls. They couldn’t get enough of him. Practically had to fight them off.

He felt a strong urge to urinate and relieved himself at a tree.

Phew, what a pong. Smelled like a dead animal. Maybe a fox had got himself caught in a trap. Well, he wasn’t about to go and find out. Young girls were sensitive and if Janet knew there was a creature dead nearby, she’d probably want to bury it. They’d practically grown up together, and he knew she was that kind of girl. Dead, maggoty animals, however, were not conducive to romance.

He heard twigs snapping and she appeared at the edge of the clearing. She was wearing a yellow raincoat, and the damp air had made her dark hair stand away from her head in an explosion of curls. His heart wasn’t the only thing that leaped up when he saw her. He didn’t immediately go over to her and give her a whopping kiss. He let her come to him, which she did. She was smiling.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

“Likewise. Here.” He offered her his cigarette. “Have a drag.”

“I don’t mind if I do. Might wake me up.”

They passed the cigarette back and forth until it was finished, Janet handling the fag with the clumsiness of the novice. They still hadn’t touched, Dennis allowing the anticipation to build up. Finally, he took one last drag and stubbed out the butt under his boot. Then he took her in his arms and tongue-kissed her deep and passionately, until both of them had to break off to get breath.

“Ready?” he asked.

“As much as I will ever be,” she said. He wasn’t sure if he liked that answer and gave her breast a soft caress.

“Do you need a little more preparation?” he whispered against her ear.

She stepped away from him, giving him a little push. “No.
Let’s do it before I come to my senses.”

He put his arm around her.

“Ugh. What’s that rotten smell?” she asked.

“Nothing we can’t forget about.”

He moved aside a couple of the branches that were blocking the entrance to the lean-to, and then stood aside and gave a little bow.

“After you, madam.”

Janet didn’t move and made a mock pout.

“Aren’t you going to carry me across the threshold?”

“I would if I could but there isn’t room.”

“You can crouch.”

“Spoiled rotten, aren’t you,” said McEvoy. “Come on then.”

With a grunt he lifted her into his arms, ducked his head and stepped into the gloom of the Fort.

T
YLER WOKE EARLY
. A
S SEEMED TO BE BECOMING THE
norm, his night had been restless and troubled. Vera was still asleep beside him and he slipped out of bed as quietly as he could. For once he hadn’t been late getting home, but she was at one of her wvs meetings so he hadn’t had to answer any questions. There was a note on the kitchen table from Janet saying she’d gone out early to run the dogs with Jillian. Her friend’s father kept whippets and the girls often exercised them in the mornings.

Jimmy was still asleep and he didn’t disturb him. To tell the truth, he didn’t know how to approach him. “Come on, lad, open up to your old dad, there’s a good chap. Tell him what’s bothering you.” Tyler, himself, could not remember a single instance when he had confided in his own father about anything. The unaccustomed intimacy that confidences might bring was embarrassing.

He washed his face and had a quick shave, then left for the station. The sky was overcast, the air damp. It was just past seven o’clock.

He unlocked the front door and went straight to the duty room to make his tea. He wasn’t sure that the dinner with Clare had been a success. What had he expected? That a fairy would touch them both with her magic wand and change them back into the people they had once been? The only fairy was the waiter, and he hadn’t brought much magic with him. Clare hadn’t wanted to linger, although Tyler would have been happy to. At least she’d wanted to meet
again soon. And at her flat. Tyler had to smile at himself.
Down boy, down. As the good doctor might put it, sometimes a flat is only a flat
.

He took the paintings out of the drawer and put them on his desk. The more he looked at them, the more beautiful they seemed.

He heard the sound of his sergeant arriving, and he returned them to the drawer with the silk scarf.

“Morning, Guff. I’m in here,” he called out.

Gough popped his head around the door. “Morning, sir.”

“Kettle’s just boiled. I’m about to ring the hostel. Nobody’s called. I’m afraid the lass is now a missing person. Have one of the lads pick up the hand-outs, will you. We’re going to have to organize a search and a door-to-door.”

While Gough went to make his tea, Tyler rang the hostel. Miss Stillwell answered, and he could tell she had been awake for some hours.

“No, nothing, Inspector.”

“I’ll give the police station in London another call, just in case. If there’s no news, we’ll start a search.”

He had just hung up the telephone when his door banged open and Janet burst in.

“Daddy, Daddy. We found the girl. She was in the woods. She’s dead.”

Tyler pulled her close to him.

“There, there, pet. Take your time. Tell me what happened.”

Gough came to see what the matter was, and Tyler signalled over Janet’s head for him to take a seat. She was shaking violently and could only talk in between bouts of weeping.

“It was t-terrible what has h-happened to her …”

Tyler rocked her. “Hush, sweetheart … It’s all right now.
I’m here. Come and sit down.” He guided her to his chair and squeezed in beside her as if she were a child. She smelled of cigarettes. “Start at the beginning.”

“It must be the missing Land Army girl … she was in the Fort.” She buried her face against his chest. “Oh, Daddy. It was horrible. Animals must have got to her. Her face …” Janet’s voice was lost in a fresh burst of weeping.

Tyler waited a few moments. “Now, Jan, I need to know what happened. Look, your favourite sergeant is here. You don’t want him to think you’re a big cry baby, do you?”