A New Day (8 page)

‘I’ve had a lovely time. Thank you for asking me out and for showing me the dance steps.’

He smiled. ‘It was fun. Will you come out with me again?’

‘I’d like that.’

‘Good. I work shifts so it will be a couple of weeks before I get another Saturday off. Perhaps you’d like to go to the cinema then?’

‘That would be lovely. I haven’t seen a picture for ages. I used to take Jack to the children’s matinee when we could afford it, but that wasn’t often.’

‘There hasn’t been much fun in your lives, has there?’

‘Not much, but that’s all over now.’ She smiled up at Alan. ‘Thank you again for a fun evening.’

‘It was my pleasure, Hanna.’ He kissed her gently on the cheek. ‘I’ll come for you at six o’clock in two weeks’ time.’

‘I’ll look forward to it.’

Once back in the house she ran up the stairs and danced along the landing to her room. Mrs Harcourt and the boys were staying with Captain Harcourt’s mother for the weekend, and wouldn’t be back until teatime tomorrow. There would be no need to get up early in the morning. What a luxury – what fun!

How his life had changed. The years at the orphanage and the nightmare of being under Talbot’s control seemed like a distant dream. Jack felt as if he had stepped into another world. There was a comradeship among the men, almost like being part of a large family. Although he was new and young he had been accepted. The only concession they made to his youth was to take the time and trouble to explain things to him in detail so he understood exactly what he was being asked to do. It gave him a lovely comforting feeling.

They had made a brief stop to pick up the mail and he had two letters from Hanna on the table in front of him.

‘Tea, Jack?’ Frank asked as he walked into the mess carrying boxes of supplies.

‘Please, I’m gasping.’

‘You going to read your letter, lad, or just gaze at it?’ Bill took two mugs from Frank and put one of them in front of Jack, and then sat beside him.

Jack gave a nod of thanks. ‘I know she’s happy where she is, but I left a mess behind for her to sort out, and I’m afraid she might have had trouble with Talbot. He’s a nasty brute, and not the sort to let my disappearing go without a fight.’ He picked up a letter, weighing it in his hand. ‘And I don’t like the look of this one. It’s rather bulky.’

‘There’s only one way to find out. Go on, open them.’

‘You’re right.’ He slit open the thick letter first and frowned as he unfolded a child’s drawing. When he spread it out on the table all the men in the mess stopped what they were doing to have a look at it.

‘Your sister like drawing?’ one of the men asked.

‘No.’ He laughed, suddenly realizing what it was. ‘She’s looking after two young boys – twins – and one of them must have done this.’

‘Read what she says,’ Bill urged.

Jack unfolded the letter and began to read quickly, a smile spreading across his face, and he roared with laughter from time to time. He looked up, his face animated. ‘The picture is from one of the boys, Andrew, and she said he did it especially for me, so I’ve got to put it by my bunk.’

‘Ah, in that case you must.’ Bill picked up the picture and studied it carefully. ‘Do you know where this is, or did the boy make it up?’

‘That’s Richmond Park. Hanna used to take me there now and again as a treat.’

‘And I have a feeling you didn’t get many of those,’ Bill said seriously.

‘No, but we really enjoyed them when we did. My sister was very good like that. She tried hard to see I didn’t miss out on everything. My favourite time was when we went to the swimming pool.’ Jack gulped some of his tea. ‘I’ve always liked the water.’

‘We’ve noticed that by the way you spend your spare moments gazing at the sea.’ Bill pointed to the drawing. ‘Tell you what, lad, we’ll tack it up for you and I’ll take a photo so you can send it to the boy.’

‘Would you, Bill? That would be wonderful.’

‘Easy done, lad. Now, you’d better read your other letter.’

He slit this one open eagerly, and as he read his smile turned to a frown. ‘Oh, damn!’ he muttered. ‘I was afraid of this.’

‘What is it, lad?’

‘That blasted man has been causing trouble. I knew he would, but he went to the police about me! Can you believe that? A brute like that daring to take the police to question my sister!’ Jack was furious that Hanna had had to endure such an ordeal.

The men sitting around him said nothing as Jack continued to read. Slowly his frown eased and he sighed with relief. ‘Oh, it’s turned out all right – more than all right. Hanna’s got friends who are sticking up for her, and they’ve helped her to deal with him.’

‘That’s good news.’ Frank refilled their mugs. ‘Who’s been helping her?’

‘The woman she works for – Mrs Harcourt, and a friend of hers who is a lawyer and working at the council offices. Rose Freeman’s her name. She’s sorted out the orphanage and had Talbot blacklisted so he can never take another kid into his home.’

Bill tipped his head back and laughed. ‘If Rose Freeman is involved then you’ve got nothing to worry about.’

‘You know her?’

‘I only met her once, but my mother knew her when she worked for the council. That was a few years ago now, but I doubt she’s changed much. She’s the kind of woman once seen never forgotten. You and your sister won’t have any more trouble, lad.’

Intrigued, Jack asked, ‘What’s she like?’

‘Six feet tall, black hair, impressive and absolutely beautiful. She gets things done, and won’t tolerate injustice of any kind. Your sister’s employer did the right thing by going to her.’

‘That’s a relief to know.’ Jack nodded and put the letters back in their envelopes.

Bill picked up the drawing. ‘Let’s find a place by your bunk for this.’

Life settled into a busy routine while at sea. Time, and even days of the week merged together, where the only view was the ever-changing sea. Jack loved it, recording every moment of his day as Hanna had suggested for her to read one day.

He sat at the table in the mess, hungry as usual. ‘What we got, Frank?’

‘Steak and kidney pudding.’

‘Lovely, my favourite. I’m ready for it.’

Frank laughed and dished up a generous helping. ‘You’re always hungry. There will be seconds, if you want it? Though why I ask such a daft question I don’t know.’

Bill joined them. ‘Your cooking’s done the lad a power of good, Frank. He was too scrawny when he joined us, but look at him now. He’s filled out nicely.’

Grinning, Jack continued to tuck into his meal. ‘I think I’ve grown taller as well. My trousers are a bit on the short side now. If Hanna was here she could alter them for me.’

‘All sailors can sew. We’ll teach you how to do things for yourself.’

‘You’re joking, Frank.’

‘No I’m not. How do you think we manage when we’re at sea for weeks?’

Everyone round the table was nodding, so Jack pulled a face. ‘In that case I’d better learn, I suppose. Can I have some more steak pudding, Frank?’

Jack was just wiping his plate clean for the second time when silence fell on the mess, everyone listening intently. ‘Why have we slowed down, Bill?’

‘Don’t know.’ He stood up and strode out.

Fifteen minutes later he was back. ‘Engine trouble, but the engineers think they can fix it. We’ll have to stop for a while so they can make repairs.’

‘What happens if they can’t fix it?’ Jack wanted to know.

‘Then we radio for help, lad.’ Bill smiled. ‘But don’t worry, no captain likes to do that, and the owners like it even less. It can cost money, but we’ve got some clever engineers on board. If it can be repaired they’ll do it.’

‘Can you swim, Jack?’ one of the men asked.

He nodded, looking puzzled.

‘In that case you can get out and give us a push if we need it.’

Everyone in the mess roared with laughter, including Jack. ‘I might need a bit of help to do that. It would be a job for more than one person.’

Chuckling, Frank poured more tea for those who wanted it, and winked at Jack as the engines fell silent.

It was an eerie feeling being on a silent ship, but it was a new experience for Jack, so when he had finished his allotted work for the day he went up on deck. He leaned on the rail and gazed at the sea – something he never got tired of doing. They were miles and miles away from England now, and he couldn’t remember ever feeling so fit and content. Never in his life had he ever had the peace of mind he now felt as he gazed at the ever-changing sea.

A mug of tea was put in front of his face and he took it, looking up. ‘Thanks, Bill, I need that. It’s been a busy day even if we aren’t going anywhere. How are the repairs going?’

‘Nearly done, but we’ll see how successful they are when they try to start the engines up again.’ Bill laughed softly. ‘A few of the men are praying we can get going soon. The old ship wallows a bit when she isn’t moving and that doesn’t do their stomachs a lot of good. We’re lucky we don’t suffer like that.’

They stood there for some time enjoying the quiet, then the peace was shattered when there was a roar and the ship shuddered, and then fell silent again. It took three attempts before the engineers were able to start up again, and Jack could hear cheers coming from various places on the ship.

The two men grinned at each other, and Bill said, ‘That’s another experience you’ll be able to tell your sister about.’

‘I know, and I’ve got plenty to tell her. When I get home I’ll be talking for days.’

It seemed to Hanna as if Jack had been away for years, but of course it was only a few months. She had looked after him from the moment their parents had been killed, and this was the first time they had ever been apart. Things were different now though. They were older and Jack had to make his own way in life, she knew that, but she missed him so much and really hoped he would be home in time for Christmas. If he wasn’t she knew he would have a good time on board ship, or at whichever port they were in, but she would be lonely without him. Mrs Harcourt had already heard that her husband would be home and they were going to spend the holiday with his mother, so she wouldn’t be needed. The rest of the staff all had their own plans and she would be the only one left here.

She read Jack’s last letter through again and then carefully put it back in the tin box. It was unlikely that would happen, but if it did then she would go to the library and get out some books. It was a long time since she’d had a good read, and would enjoy that.

She would also enjoy going dancing with Alan this evening, and she had better start getting ready. They had been out together a few times now and she liked him very much, they got on well together, but she didn’t dare think beyond that. They had learnt while in the orphanage that it wasn’t wise to hope for too much as it could easily lead to disappointment. Things were going so well for her and Jack at the moment, and she couldn’t ask for more. Their lives had changed dramatically – and for the better.

They were steaming at full speed, proper repairs having been made to the engines while they were in New Zealand, and that had delayed them. But everyone wanted to be home for Christmas. Jack pulled his collar up and blew on his hands. The sea was churning, angry looking and grey as he braced himself against the pitching of the ship. Such a change from the blue waters they had been in. Due to the delay they had spent more time in New Zealand than originally planned, and they had been able to explore quite a bit. It was a beautiful place, and he looked forward to going there again so he could see more. There was no doubt in his mind now that the merchant navy was where he belonged and he would make this his career. One day he might even be able to study for a master’s certificate, and that thought made him grin to himself. Such lofty ambitions! But what was it Mrs Freeman had told Hanna – nothing is impossible? He straightened up. Quite a thought, but now his stomach was telling him it was time to eat.

The mess was nearly empty when he arrived. ‘Where is everyone?’ he asked Frank.

‘Been and gone.’ Frank eyed him. ‘I can see from your red nose that you’ve been gazing at the sea again.’

He nodded and sat down. ‘I like to watch it, whatever its mood.’

‘Phew! Cold out there.’ Bill came in blowing on his hands. ‘Shame we’ve got to make a detour instead of going straight home, but we managed to pick up a cargo for Germany on our way back.’

‘Will we have a chance to go ashore?’ Jack was always eager to see another country.

‘Probably.’ Bill’s expression sobered. ‘But you’re not to go ashore there unless the two of us are with you. Promise?’

‘All right, I promise.’ Jack was puzzled by their serious expressions, but didn’t ask why. They had looked out for him ever since he’d joined the ship, and he trusted them. In fact, Bill had become like a father to him, and Frank an uncle. He followed their advice without question. They were experienced travellers, and he wasn’t, so he was happy to do as they said.

They reached Hamburg the next day and Jack watched the activity on the dock, and it wasn’t long before Frank, Bill and three more men joined him.

‘We’ve only got three hours, and then we’ll be under way again, so it will have to be a quick look round.’

‘That will be enough,’ Frank muttered.

‘At least I’ll be able to say I’ve set foot in Germany.’ Jack smiled at the group of men. ‘Are we all going?’

‘Yes, and we’ll stay together. Come on, let’s go.’

They caught a bus into the centre of the town and began to walk along a street. Jack frowned. ‘Are all those men in brown police?’

‘No lad, they are members of the Nazi Party.’

‘There are quite a few of them.’ There was a sound of breaking glass and Jack spun round, pointing in amazement. ‘They’ve just broken that shop window!’

‘None of our business.’ Frank urged Jack to keep walking when it seemed as if he would go over to the commotion.

‘Why isn’t someone calling the police?’ he asked, looking back over his shoulder.

They stopped round a corner and Bill turned Jack to face him. ‘This is what’s going on here, lad. The fascists are gaining the upper hand and no one is trying to stop them. If we interfere we’ll end up in prison – or worse.’