Shadows of Deceit (2 page)

“Property?”

“Yes, property. The thing is you can buy houses and flats now, especially in the cities, for next to nothing. The owners are often desperate to sell and move out to the countryside where they find it’s safer. So I try and assist them.”

“So you buy houses and hold them or rent them out?”

“I rent them, there’s a good market for cheap short term rental accommodation. When the war ends and values increase again I’ll sell some and enjoy the benefits.”

“I see.”

Harry examined the room again;

“Well, you appear to be doing alright now by the look of things?”

“Yes, it’s…satisfactory I suppose.”

“If this is ‘satisfactory’ I wonder what adequate would be like?”

Andrew smiled as Harry continued,

“But why live here, this is one of the most run down areas of the city?”

“I didn’t intend to stay here, but having decorated the place up over several years and with the war on, I just decided to settle for the time being.”

“But why the subterfuge?”

“You mean the pawn shop appearance?”

“Yes.”

“Look Harry, there’s a lot more you don’t know about me, and obviously I don’t know you well enough at the moment to tell you. But, as I said earlier if you are looking for some work I may be able to assist you.”

Harry decided not to pursue the subject any further. The sounds of distant bomb explosions and anti-aircraft fire could still be heard.

“They sound a long way off - ,” Harry said,

“ - probably over Greenock again?”

“Should they come any nearer then there’s an Anderson shelter we can use in the back garden.” Andrew listened again. “Although I think we’re OK for the moment.” He continued.

“So what about you then, how long have you lived here and what do you do?”

Harry stretched his legs and made himself more comfortable in the chair,

“I’ve been in Scotland about five months now.”

He paused trying to consider how much he should reveal of his past life.

“You’re not in the Services then?”

“No, I’m in a reserved occupation. But I was injured in a bomb blast and was given some time off to recuperate.”

Harry appeared a little uneasy with this obvious lie which was made worse by his following explanation.

“My plan is to return in a few months time.”

“Look I don’t want to pry, I’m sorry.”

Andrew then changed the subject,

“Here let’s top you up again.” He reached across.

“That sounds good to me. Thank you.”

Harry swallowed the last dregs and offered the glass up. He felt more relaxed now.

They sat in silence for a few minutes listening as the enemy action rumbled on.

Andrew then turned towards Harry, “This raid seems to be developing into one of their longer ones. Look, if you want to bed down for the night, there’s a couch in the small box room you can use. When it’s over we can go out and search for that ring of yours?”

Harry thought about the offer. If he left now
he would have to find a crowded public shelter, so he
was content to remain until the raid was over, and, after all, he was enjoying the whisky.

“If that’s OK I’d like to stay, and then I’ll get moving as soon as the all clear sounds.”

Andrew left the room and came back with some pillows and blankets.

“The box room is through there, next to the bathroom.”

He picked up the whisky
bottle to examine it and then poured more into the two glasses,

“Might as well finish this one off.”

Then he produced another bottle from the drink’s cabinet.

“I’ll get some food. Bread, cheese and pickles, is that o.k. for you?”

“Excellent, thanks. I must admit to feeling a bit hungry now.”

“Help yourself to more drink if you want.”

Andrew left the room and prepared the food. Harry poured another whisky and scanned a local newspaper without really absorbing anything he read.

Andrew returned with one plate.

“You not eating?”

“No, too much excitement for one evening, I might try some later but you carry on.”

After the food was consumed they continued talking for about an hour on subjects ranging from the lack of British pre-war rearmament, the raid that was still continuing in the distance and the latest film releases. After a long pause Andrew yawned loudly,

“I’m sorry Harry but it’s time for my bed I think; it’s been an eventful day. You’ll find towels in the press cupboard in the bathroom. Would you switch the lights off as you go through? - Give me a shout if I’m not awake when you’re ready to go and I’ll help you look for that ring of yours. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, OK, and thanks again Andrew.”

Harry felt utterly at ease as he scanned the room again. This is the kind of place I’d like one day, he thought. There were two settees, one facing the fire and the other at ninety degrees to it. A walnut dining table and six chairs were positioned by one of the windows, together with a matching drinks cabinet and radiogram. An old, highly polished partners’ desk was arranged at an angle by the second window together with various cupboards and side tables with ornate lamps stationed around the walls. The whole effect was completed by a display of mirrors, book cases, pictures and heavy curtaining.

“One day Harry boy, one day you’ll have a place like this,”

he thought. He poured another drink and decided to find the box room. As he left he turned all of the room lights out as instructed. He paused and switched them on and off again and smiled.

“Bloody marvellous!” He whispered to himself.

Harry went to his room and peered through the curtains. It was now raining heavily and far away he could still see flashes lighting the horizon as bombs and incendiaries continued falling. The white fingers of three, sometimes four, searchlights arched across the distant dark, cloudy sky. After taking off his shirt and trousers he made a comfy nest with the blankets and pillows and downed the last of his drink and settled into a deep spirit induced sleep.

He didn’t hear the ‘All Clear’ sounding but later in the night he awoke and lay there drifting slowly back into consciousness. He became aware of something, a soft noise in the room. Breathing perhaps, or
was it the rain and the wind rattling on the windows? He didn’t move, his mind became more focused as he remembered the events of the evening before and where he was. He turned over abruptly to see a shadow of something - now someone - in front of him.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

He shouted in the darkness.

“I’m sorry Harry, it’s me Andrew. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Harry turned the table lamp on to see Andrew, naked except for
a blanket wrapped around him, sitting on a chair directly in front of him. Andrew tried to shield the light from his eyes,

“I’m sorry - ” he said rather pathetically,

“ - I seem to have been caught out.”

Harry sat up,

“What are you doing here like this?”

Andrew began his apologies again, but Harry interrupted him.

“I get it now. Jesus what a fool I’ve been. I know your story, all these kind invitations to help me out, the drinks, and the food. You’re nothing but a…”

He stopped, a long pause followed.

“Say it Harry, go on say it!”

Harry couldn’t speak, he was angry at the situation he had allowed himself to be drawn into.

“I should never have stayed.”

“No, that’s not true and you know it, I didn’t entice you at all. It was just the circumstances of the evening brought you here. Besides nothing has happened.”

“Nothing has happened! - listen mate I don’t usually give myself up to be viewed at close quarters by some…”

“Say it Harry, say it, go on, ‘some nance, some ponce, whatever!”

Harry couldn’t make eye contact with Andrew; now he felt embarrassed. Perhaps he had overreacted somewhat?

Andrew continued, speaking quietly,

“I’ll admit to you …yes…I am - but it never entered my head to try anything with you I promise. I woke up and came in to see if you had gone or whether you wanted to look for the ring you lost. It’s just getting light now. The all clear has sounded.”

“Go on.”

“I came into the room but felt dizzy, the drink, the fight or something. I didn’t eat properly yesterday so I sat down here. I thought you would have heard me come in. I’ve not been here for long. Again, I’m sorry if you’ve taken offence.”

Harry’s face showed that he was angry but he said nothing. Andrew continued,

“It’s probably best you go now, my life is complicated enough without all this. I really did just come in to help you, that’s all.” Andrew stood up and left the room.

Harry quickly dressed and checked his pockets again. He picked up his coat and went to the apartment door. Andrew was waiting there in his dressing gown, he opened the door for Harry.

“Look.”

He said,

“If you can detach yourself from what occurred just now my offer of a possible job could be yours, here’s my phone number.”

“We’ll see.”

Harry stuffed the card in his pocket and walked quickly down the stairs and out into the street.

Andrew called after him,

“What about the ring can I help you search for it?”

Harry didn’t hear him.

The heavy rain had stopped; Harry lit a cigarette and retraced his steps to where the attack on Andrew had occurred. A few of the small shops had opened and the owners were busy carrying produce outside to display. Only a handful of people were walking by and all were wrapped up against the icy wind now gusting from the east. He searched for some time without finding the ring, as Andrew watched him, unseen, from the window of his apartment above.

“Bugger it!”

Harry said under his breath.

A half empty double decker bus squelched by, its tyres noisily slapping over the cobbles as it travelled towards the centre of town. Harry decided to return to his digs; the ring was gone: he had to accept that, but his mood became increasingly gloomy as he was forced to negotiate an alternative route home because of an unexploded bomb. Eventually he turned into his road from the far end and peered down towards the house only to discover that an incendiary bomb had burst through the tiles and destroyed much of the roof of the property. Two nearby houses had also suffered a similar fate,

“This is turning out to be one fucker of a day!”

He negotiated his way through the rubble and broken glass strewn across the road and passed by a group of men who were sawing up a tree that had been blown over.

“Harry, thank God you’re alright, we weren’t sure whether you were in the house or not?”

His landlady, a slight thin woman with greying hair, was standing by the gate. She was holding onto a rope attached to the collar of a timid black mongrel that the rescue team had found abandoned. Before Harry had an opportunity to reply their attention was diverted by a Fireman emerging from the rubble.

“It’s safe to go in and collect things but we need to tarpaulin the roof before you can stay. We’ll get one of the council teams to get on to it later this afternoon. Then, when it’s dried out in a few days you should be able to move back in again.”

“That’s a relief to know, thank you.”

She turned to Harry.

“You see, I knew that Georgie, my other lodger, was away working nights and as I was staying at my sister’s house last night we had to make sure that you weren’t inside. Oh thank God you’re OK.”

Harry had calmed down now,

“I’m sorry if I caused you any distress, but there was no way I could let you know what I was doing; because of the raid I had to alter my plans.”

As the Firemen cleared away their equipment the senior officer came back to talk with the landlady,

“Right, we’re off now. The street wardens are fully aware of your situation and they’ll keep an eye out for looters whilst you’re away. You know what the procedure is don’t you?”

“Yes, I’ll be OK. thank you for all your help.”

She turned to Harry,

“I’ve got to go down to the Council to register the loss of the property and damage. But where will you go tonight? I might be able to find an address for you when I’m down there?”

“No it’s alright thanks, I’ll find somewhere else, don’t worry about me.”

Harry went inside and salvaged a few of his belongings that he stuffed into an old suitcase. When he came out he went across to his landlady, who was talking to her neighbour,

“Well that’s everything I need. I’ll be on my way now.”

Harry bent down to stroke the dog that was now shivering. The animal initially tried to hide but quickly became appreciative of the attention on offer.