Tuppence to Tooley Street (16 page)

For as long as anyone could remember, Old Jerry had trundled his rickety barrow around the backstreets of dockland. Where he came from or where he lived was a mystery. He was bowed and weatherbeaten, with a beer-stained moustache and bushy eyebrows. His faded blue eyes glared out from under a greasy trilby and he wore a tattered grey raincoat without buttons that was tied around his middle with string. It was filthy and he wore it in all weathers, and underneath he carried a money pouch, a spring balance that was rusting and did not work, and a roll of money secured with an elastic band. The most striking feature of Jerry’s appearance was his brown boots. They were always clean and polished, which led some people to believe that he was an old soldier.

The barrow that Old Jerry pushed around the back-streets looked as worn out as its owner. The wheels squeaked and the shafts looked ready to fall off. It was piled high with rags, bits of old iron and an assortment of empty glass jars. How he managed to get a living from such rubbish was a puzzle to the local folk, but they were aware that Old Jerry was never short of cash. He struck a hard bargain and the locals learned not to haggle. He swore that his spring balance was correct to the ounce, and if it was ever doubted the bag of rags would most likely be deposited on the pavement and Old Jerry would be off, mumbling under his breath. Connie knew this as she walked up to his barrow and handed Old Jerry the rags her mother had sorted out the previous night. He fished out the spring balance and hooked up the bag, he squinted at the reading then tossed the bundle on his barrow before counting out three pennies and one sixpence.

 

Later that morning Danny took a leisurely stroll up to The Globe. A small boy cracked a whip against a spinning top and chased it happily, another couple of lads were setting up their firewood pitch, and women carried laden shopping baskets into the turning. Danny contentedy mulled over the letter he had received from Alison. It had really cheered him up after hearing Kathy’s news at the races to know that Alison had been granted some leave and she was intending to come up to London next Sunday morning and stay over until Monday, when she would catch the night train to Cardiff to see her folks. And he smiled to himself as he walked into the pub.

The Globe was busy as usual with its regular clientele of dockers, stevedores and shoppers who called in for a ‘livener’. Eddie was chatting to Biff and when he saw Danny he came over.

‘Jack Mason’s in the saloon. ’E was askin’ if yer come in’ere on Sat’day mornin’s. I fink ’e wants a word wiv yer.’

Danny ordered a pint of ale and Eddie nodded to the connecting door. ‘If yer wanna go frew I’ll ’and yer beer round.’

‘Fanks, Eddie,’ Danny said. ‘I’d better see what ’e wants.’

Jack Mason was talking to a couple of burly men and when he saw Danny walk into the bar he came over to the counter. ‘So yer joined the firm then?’ he said with a slight smirk on his bloated face.

Danny nodded. ‘Me pal Johnny Ross spoke fer me. I used ter be Bernie Marsh’s runner.’

‘Yeah, so Tony Allen tells me,’ Mason said, beckoning the barmaid over.

Danny sipped his drink while the bookie ordered another Scotch. He noticed how the man’s deep-set eyes seemed to dart around nervously. He was a snappy dresser, Danny noticed. His suit looked expensive and was immaculately cut; his crisp white shirt made his swarthy complexion seem even darker, and his black patent shoes looked like they were from a West End shop. Danny watched as Mason took a swig from his glass and his eyes were drawn to the small, crescent-shaped scar in the corner of his mouth.

Mason laid a fist on the counter and leaned towards the young cockney. ‘You’re a mate o’ Rossy then, are yer?’

‘I’ve known ’im since we were kids. We went ter school tergevver,’ Danny replied.

The villain’s eyes seemed to bore into him and Danny felt uneasy. ‘Trouble wiv yer pal is, ’e can’t keep ’is mouth shut. I’eard ’e was in ’ere the uvver night chuckin’ ’is money about. Yer wanna tell ’im ter watch it. It don’t do ter let people know yer business. Yer never know, the law might be in ’ere.’

Danny felt his dislike for the man growing as he listened. Jack Mason stared into his face. ‘Jus’ ter put yer in the picture,’ he said, ‘I’m what yer might call Tony Allen’s right ’and. It’s my business ter look after ’is interests. There’s bin a few geezers in the past that’s tried ter come it and I’ve ’ad ter sit on ’em, if yer get me meanin’. I ’ope you ain’t got no fancy ideas?’

‘Yer don’t ’ave ter try an’ put the fear in me. I’m pleased Tony Allen gave me the job, I’m not out ter take liberties,’ Danny said.

Mason grinned crookedly. ‘No offence, son, jus’ tellin’ yer, that’s all.’

Danny finished his drink and Jack Mason pointed to his glass. ‘Wanna top up?’

‘No fanks, I’ve gotta meet somebody,’ Danny lied.

Mason put his elbow on the counter and looked at Danny, a menacing expression on his face. ‘Kathy tells me yer know ’er.’

Danny felt his stomach tighten, he was afraid of what Kathy might have said. ‘Everybody knows everyone else round’ere,’ he said dismissively. ‘Kathy, Johnny Ross an’ me was all in the same class at school. As I was sayin’, we all grew up tergevver.’

Jack Mason continued to fix Danny with an intimidating stare. ‘Me an’ Kathy are goin’ around tergevver. Jus’ so’s yer’d know.’

‘Yeah, I know,’ Danny replied, returning the stare.

Jack Mason suddenly relaxed. He picked up his empty glass and looked in the direction of the barmaid.

Danny felt it was time he got away from him. ‘Well, I’m orf. I’ll see yer around,’ he said, walking from the saloon bar and out into the warm sunshine.

Danny walked along Tooley Street; as usual on Saturday afternoons the area was almost deserted, the wharves were locked and only a few locals ambled by. In the sudden quiet Danny had time to think. He would have to be careful of Jack Mason, there had been a distinct warning in his tone when he mentioned Kathy. Maybe someone had seen him leave the party about the same time as Kathy and told Mason, but it seemed unlikely. It was more probable that Jack Mason was suspicious of him for another reason. It was obvious the man did not like Johnny Ross, and it was Johnny who put in a good word for Danny to the bookie.

As he turned into Dawson Street he saw Johnny Ross coming along towards him. Johnny was limping noticeably and he wore a large grin. ‘’Ello, Danny, goin’ ’ome already? I was comin’ up The Globe fer a chat wiv yer. What’s the matter?’

Danny scowled. ‘I jus’ got lumbered wiv Jack Mason. After five minutes in ’is company I was glad ter get out inter the fresh air.’

‘I told yer about ’im didn’t I?’ Johnny said with a confirming nod.

Danny pulled on his pal’s arm. ‘By the way, Mason told me ter give yer a bit of advice.’

‘Oh yeah, about what?’ Johnny asked, looking serious.

‘’E reckons yer should be more careful about flashin’ yer money in The Globe.’

‘Well somebody must ’ave told ’im, ’cos ’e wasn’t in the pub,’ Johnny said indignantly. ‘An’ I bet I know who it was. I bet it was that barmaid of Eddie’s. Mason took ’er out a few times. She’s still sweet on ’im, I can tell.’

Danny shrugged his shoulders. ‘It don’t matter who it was. Johnny boy. Be careful, or they’ll stop yer little earners.’

Johnny Ross grinned. ‘Don’t worry, Danny. I’ve got a nice little touch comin’ up. I’ll tell yer about it later. Take it easy. I’ll see yer soon.’

Danny stood beside his front door and watched his pal hobble up the turning. It looks like I’ve gotta look after both of us, he thought as he pulled on the door string.

 

The bows of the destroyer rose and dipped into the heavy swell, and up on the bridge Ordinary Seaman James Ellis wiped the salt spray from his face and stamped his numbed feet on the wet steel deck. His eyes were begining to play tricks with him and he blinked hard. ‘Christ! Where’s that dopey git wiv me cocoa,’ he mumbled aloud as more spray lashed his raw face. Lofty Boulter was struggling for’ard and Jimmy could see him leaning into the wind, his hand protecting the steaming hot cocoa.

‘Bloody ’ell, Lofty. It’s about time. I was givin’ you up.’

Lofty Boulter grinned and handed over the beverage. ‘Fink yerself lucky, Jimmy boy. I nearly went over on me arse a couple o’ times.’

Jimmy Ellis gulped the drink and felt the warmth penetrate into his stomach.

Lofty pulled his duffle coat up around his ears and leaned on the guard rail beside his pal. ‘What a poxy night,’ he groaned, ducking as the spray flew up from the bows. ‘I knew it was a mistake ter sign on in the Andrew. I could ’ave joined the Brylcreem mob an’ got meself a nice little WAAF ter keep me warm on nights like this.’

Jimmy handed back the empty mug and took another scan of the dark horizon. ‘D’yer ever get scared on these patrols, Lofty?’ he asked after a while.

‘You tell me when I’m not,’ his pal replied. ‘I don’t like these cat an’ mouse games wiv the U-boats. I don’t like what I can’t see. I know very well there’s a bloody German down there somewhere jus’ waitin’ fer the opportunity ter stick a tin fish inter the first ship ’e can. I tell yer, Jimmy, it gives me the creeps.’

The
Prowler
continued the ‘cat and mouse’ manoeuvres and was now sweeping a wide arc ahead of the convoy. Clouds were gathering below the cold stars and spots of rain fell on the steel deck.

‘Funny ’ow the weavver changes at sea,’ Jimmy remarked, wiping his face on the back of his hand.

‘Yeah, it’s somefink yer can’t predict, mate,’ Lofty answered, bracing himself against the bulkhead and digging his hands deeper into his jacket pockets. ‘I read somewhere that the sea’s like a woman. It’s right, I s’pose. Women are unpredictable, at least a few I know are. Yer fink yer got ’em sussed out, an’ they kick yer right in the cods. Now you take this girl I used ter know. Rachel ’er name was. She was a good-lookin’ sort, an’ all the lads round Balham fancied ’er. I was cartin’ ’er out fer a spell before I joined up. D’yer know I tried me ’ardest ter get ’er inter bed but she wasn’t ’avin’ any of it. All I got out of ’er was, “let’s get engaged, Freddy”. Well, I thought ter meself, play yer cards right, Freddy boy, an’ you’ll crack it, so I ups an’ ses, “Yeah, all right” an’ I got ’er a ring. Cost me a few bob as well. I took ’er out fer a good piss-up on the night we got engaged, but it didn’t make no difference. “Wait till we’re married”, she said. Anyways, this went on an’ on until I was gettin’ like a dog wiv two dicks an’ a double line o’ trees. Frustration, Jimmy boy. That’s what I was sufferin’ from. Well, one night we ’ad a right ole barney. I called ’er a frigid prune, an’ she called me a lecherous git. She threw the ring at me an’ it dropped down a drain ’ole. Off she stormed an’ next day I joined up.’

Jimmy grinned as he wiped the eye-piece of his night glasses. ‘So that’s why yer joined the Andrew then. ’Ave yer seen anyfing of ’er since?’

Lofty shifted his position against the rail and leaned closer to his pal. ‘Yer never gonna believe this, Jimmy, but after our last trip I bumped into ’er in the Balham High Road. She was in the club. Honest. She was out ’ere,’ he said, gesticulating with his hand held out in front of him. ‘Bloody pregnant, an’ there’s me couldn’t get a look in.’

‘She wasn’t married, then?’ Jimmy said.

‘Married nuffink. She ended up wiv this geezer who ’ad a shop in the Balham market. Right flashy sort o’ bloke ’e was. As I said, women are unpredictable. They’re like the weavver.’

Lofty left the bridge and Jimmy Ellis put the glasses to his eyes for the umpteenth time. He could see the fitful moon playing down on the rolling sea and the distant stars as they broke from the rain clouds. Away to starboard he saw the billowing smokestack of a small freighter, and the oil tanker that had been running abeam for some time. He was looking forward to the warmth of the mess when his spell of duty was over and his thoughts turned to that last night in London. They were sitting in the back row of the stalls and Connie had snuggled up close. He couldn’t remember the film, but he recalled the fragrant smell of her body and how her red lips had searched out his in the darkness as they whispered promises and everlasting love. They had walked slowly and sadly to London Bridge Railway Station where he was to catch his train to Chatham. Connie had given him a small locket as a good-luck charm and he wore it around his neck. He had wanted to take her in his arms and make love to her, but there had been no time. Connie had suggested that they see her father when he returned home, and then they could have all the time in the world.

Bright flashes suddenly blinded the look-out as torpedoes exploded in the dark. The silence was shattered. A freighter lay dead in the water and her crew were scrambling into lifeboats. The tanker was burning as its bow rose up out of the water and it began to sink stern first. The wild sea was full of flotsam and bobbing lifeboats. Oil was burning on the water and the other ships became shrouded as the convoy put down a smokescreen. The
Prowler
was speeding forward into the smoke and the surrounding chaos had dissolved into indistinct shapes.

Suddenly Jimmy Ellis saw the ugly wet shape of the U-boat dead ahead and he could read the number 107 clearly on its conning tower. The destroyer ran straight into it and the sound of crunching steel plates was like a scream out of hell. The
Prowler
rose up on the hull of the sub and then settled back in the water. Oil bubbles broke the surface as the 107 went down to the depths and then a fountain of water rose level with the bridge. The destroyer was beginning to swing around when a torpedo exploded amid-ships. Ordinary Seaman James Ellis shut his eyes as he felt the cold sea smash into him and close over his head.

When he struggled to the surface the
Prowler
had gone. Only pieces of wreckage remained. His thoughts were of Connie and he called her name aloud, but he was alone in the angry sea. He hoped that he would spot other survivors, or a lifeboat, but he soon realised that none had been launched, it had all happened too quickly. He tried shouting but he felt too shocked and tired and though his life jacket was keeping him afloat, the coldness was beginning to numb his body. In the loneliness of the vast ocean Jimmy waited for the end to come. He felt a strange sense of calm. His eyes were starting to close and he saw his pal Lofty walking down the street with a dark-looking girl on his arm. Lofty smiled at him and was gone. In his confused mind he saw the large ocean-going ship coming up river. ‘Look, son! Can yer see it, Jimmy? ’Ang on, I’ll lift yer on me shoulders. There you are, see it now?’