The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (latest ebook reader txt) 📗

Chapter 5: Britain 1941

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Little Gloston: January 1941

Henry Cavendish stood up fromhis table and looked at the young men sat with him. There were around a dozenof them, none older than twenty-five, all destined to leave the village at theweekend to join a branch of the military. The war had come to Little Gloston,and it was going to extract its toll.

Henry looked up and down thetable in the entrance hall where they had enjoyed a five-course meal. All ofthem were familiar to him. He had seen them all grow up. The Shaw brothers satclosest, theGissing brothers at the other end of the great table. There were other sets ofbrothers also. Some of the young men before him would not return. He felt anemptiness as he thought about his own wife and the loss she had experienced asa young girl in the previous War. Beside him, Jane looked up. Her eyes were brimmingwith tears.

Robert was also with them. Hewas back from his boarding school for the Christmas holidays. Whether it wasthe nature of the evening or the time at the school, Henry knew not, but therewas a solemnity and a seriousness in his young boy that reflected the mood ofthe evening.

Much to Henry’s surprise, Sarahhad asked to attend the meal. He’d initially been unsure. As much as heworshipped his little girl, for little girl she always would be to him, herecognised something of his old manner in her; a standoffishness. Growing upwas its own journey. He looked at her and wondered what she must be thinking.He had no idea. She was sometimes enigmatic, often distant, always polite butrarely warm. To see her beauty and innocence among young men who would soonlose any trace of their own made his heart break in a hundred ways. Soon theircountry would train them to kill with impunity and efficiency. Beside her satLord Augustus Browning, son of a friend and a friend of Sarah’s in particular.

‘Gentlemen,’ said Henry, which caused some amusement amongthe audience, considerably relaxing the mood, ‘I do mean gentlemen, I havewatched you grow over these years into young men that your parents, any parent,in fact, would be proud of. You will leave us now to go off and fight a war youdid not cause, against men who care not for liberty or justice or freedom, onlyconquest. You will take with you the burden of our fears and in return youoffer us the promise of your life. A bad bargain, yes, but know this. You’refighting for something greater than yourself or your town or even your family.This is a fight for freedom. It is a fight you must win. Take with you ourgratitude for your steadfastness,our prayers for your survival and the love that we feel for all of you. For youare also our family. I toast your success but most of all I toast your return,safe into the arms of the people who love you.’

The young men cheered Henry andmade the toast. Danny clapped enthusiastically and looked across the table atwhere Sarah Cavendish was sitting. She was looking directly at him. Normallywhen he saw her, she looked away or pretended not to notice him. This time shecontinued to look at him. Danny wanted to tear his eyes away but could not.Finally, the sound of clapping ebbed away, and the moment was broken. On animpulse, Danny stood up and looked around the table.

‘Thank you, sir, for inviting usto this supper. I think I speak for every man here when I say how special thisevening has been. It is an honour to represent the village in this fight. We standunited against the tyranny that threatens our country, our village and ourfamilies. As you say, sir, we have grown up together and yes, we are family. Hetoday who sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.’ This brought cheersfrom all of the assembled audience and a knowing look from Henry Cavendish.Danny continued, ‘We are not the first men from the village to go off to war, but I hope earnestly we arethe last. I toast our country, our village and our families.’

The room rang to the sound of‘Hear, hear.’ After the toast, Henry looked at Danny and said, ‘Well done,young man. Whenever this business is finished, and you come back, I pray, Iwant to talk to you about your future. But there’s much to do, I know.’

Danny nodded; there was a smallmatter of survival. He risked a glance at Sarah again. She had risen from thetable and gone to speak to one of the servants. Robert tugged at his arm andcongratulated him on his response to his father. They chatted for a while abouthis school. As they did so, Danny saw Sarah and her mother slip out from theentrance hall into another room, to leave the guests to their talk of war.

Danny glanced at the young lordin front of him who was now chatting to Lord Cavendish. Age had not made himany friendlier. Danny wondered what Sarah could possibly see in him. Hischaracter was evident in the perpetual sneer that the young lord took to berequired from someone of his station when with people he clearly felt wereinferior.

‘Danny,’ called Henry, ‘Pleaselet me introduce you to Lord Augustus.’

Sarah’s friend seemed less thanpleased by this. Danny tried to remain neutral and walked over. The two shookhands as Henry explained who Danny was.

‘Please to meet you, I’m sure,’said Augustus. Henry looked at him as he said this. Was there a hint ofamusement on his face? It was difficult to know sometimes with Lord Cavendish.Of late, Danny had begun to realise that he was a man who had a wicked sense ofhumour, but this was not always made obvious to the target of his amusement.Danny was becoming more adept at reading the signs.

‘I’m pleased to see you again,sir,’ said Danny with a grin. ‘You’ve been a frequent visitor over the years,if I remember correctly.’

‘Indeed,’ said Augustus, mildlyflattered to be remembered.

Henry glanced at Danny. Thiswas unusual, even from Danny. Although he was very familiar with the staff atthe Hall,