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

they entered into an outer office. Two young secretaries had deskshere. One of them told Greening to go on through.

Lieutenant-ColonelDrew glanced up as the men entered. He put his pen down and rose from his seatand walked around his desk.

‘Standat ease, men. So, you’re Stan Shaw’s boy.’

Dannynearly collapsed when he heard this.

‘Yes,sir,’ he stammered by way of reply.

‘Iknew him from the last lot. Good man. I’ve heard good things about you Shaw.’Danny said nothing but looked straight ahead. ‘Corporal Lawrence, PrivatePerry, thank you for joining us also. I have some news for the three of youwhich may come as surprise and perhaps not a happy one.’

Drewlooked at Danny and the two other men for a moment and then said, ‘Well, asyou’ve heard, we’re pulling out soon. The last few weeks we’ve been assessingthe men.’

Hereit comes thought, Danny. It is about Bob, after all. It wasn’t though.

‘Waris a terrible business,’ said Drew. Danny was sure few would disagree. ‘Many ofour boys will die. We’ve trained you as best we as can, but this is thereality. Our regiments in North Africa have had a bit of tough time of late. Weneed to supplement them with men like you. I’ve agreed to transfer you over tothe 6th Royal Tank Regiment as they need more tank men. This willnot affect your leave, of course.’

Dannyfelt himself breathe a sigh of relief but then he thought of Bob. What wouldhis friend say? The guilt began to envelop him. He’d promised Beth he’d lookafter Bob. Instead, he was going to be forced to abandon him.

‘Sir,what about Private Owen?’ asked Danny. ‘We came down together from the samevillage.’

DidDrew’s face cloud over? It was just a moment. A look. A slight shift in thebody. The colonel nodded.

‘Verywell, Shaw. I shall see what I can do.’

 3

London,April 1941

Dannyand Arthur walked along the platform at Waterloo Station together. It wasmobbed. Hundreds of soldiers had also disembarked from the train and were beingmet by wives, sweethearts or family. All around them, soldiers were being embraced.The noise was deafening. People were shouting, women crying, men laughing, dogsbarking. Danny swivelled around as he walked, unable to believe what he washearing and seeing.

‘Comealong country-boy, my Edith will be here somewhere,’ said Arthur. Then hespotted his wife and pointed. ‘There she is.’

EdithPerry was a woman in her mid-thirties. She seemed older than Arthur. When shesaw Arthur, she ran towards him and they embraced. Danny stood beside thecouple awkwardly. Further up were two young girls that Danny guessed were Arthur’s daughters. The eldest wasunquestionably the one Arthur had mentioned. She and her sister, who was a yearyounger, seemed faintly embarrassed by the open affection displayed by theirparents.

Finally,and a little reluctantly, they joined their parents and embraced. Then Arthurstood back and introduced Danny.

‘Girls,this is my chum Danny. Danny, this is my missus, Edith, but you can call her,Mrs Perry.’

Edithpunched Arthur gently on the arm and said, ‘Don’t you listen to him, Danny,come here.’

Momentslater Danny was taken in a bear hug by Edith and she was just as strong as shelooked.

‘Thisbeautiful young woman,’ said Arthur proudly, ‘is Vera.’

Dannyshook hands awkwardly with Vera. Arthur’s daughter was the image of him butwith her mother’s height and robust build. She smiled at Danny, clearly pleasedby what she saw. Danny caught a warning glance from Arthur, but it was donewith a smile. Edith, however, had decided on first meeting that Danny was idealson-in-law material.

Arthur’sother daughter was Sally. She seemed to have more of her mother in her. Darkeyes and mousy hair. She was skinny and looked younger than her fifteen years.Danny grinned at both girls. He kept his compliments on the safe side offlattery but was more effusive in Edith’s direction which had Arthur rollinghis eyes and his wife already planning the wedding.

‘Youcan stay with us as long as you like, young man.’

‘It’lljust be the night, Mrs Perry.’

‘Youcan cut out the Mrs for a start, don’t you listen to Arthur. Call me Edith.’

‘ThanksEdith, just one night. I have to go back home and see my family,’ repliedDanny.

‘Soyou should. I’m glad to hear that family is important to you,’ said Edith andlooked at Arthur meaningfully. Arthur was, of course, unaware of thesignificance of the comments. His face fell into that state of confusion mostchaps feel when they realise their better half has communicated something ofgreat importance and they are, as ever, on a completely different wavelength.

Theywalked along the concourse of the platform, dodging soldiers, family andporters. Outside the station, banked against the entrance was the familiarsight of sandbags. The grey-iron sky was blotted by barrage balloons of a cityat war. Overhead they heard the sound of planes. There was no siren, however.One of ours, thought Danny.

Thebus ride to Lewisham took twenty minutes. It was mid-morning when Danny steppedinto the Perry household. The house was a redbrick Victorian terrace house on astreet with a few hundred others that looked identical.

‘You’llhave to kip on the settee,’ said Arthur as they walked through the front gate.

‘It’llbe more comfortable than what I’m used to,’ pointed out Danny.

‘Ain’tthat the truth.’

Inside,the house was small but spotlessly clean and Danny was made to feel like one ofthe family. However, he also realised he was not oneof the family and having deposited his belongings, withdrew to go sightseeingin London. The two girls seemed disappointed by this news as did Edith. Dannywas amused by the smile of satisfaction on Arthur’s face, though. He promisedto be back in time for tea.

In truth, Danny was delighted to be free. He had not had a momentto himself in over four months. As badly as he wanted to see his family again,he had been looking forward to this afternoon for a long time.

He took a bus to Trafalgar Square. He’d seen photographs of thesquare, dominated by Nelson’s column and the Landseer lions. His first sight ofthe square made his heart swell. He walked through past the column, scatteringpigeons hither and thither. Service personnel, men and women were all aroundhim. He took a seat and happily watched the world pass around him.

It was early afternoon and he