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

began to feel peckish. He’d hardlyspent any money in his time at the various camps so, on a whim, he decided totreat himself. He walked past Charing Cross along the Strand in search of Simpson’s.As he dodged his way along the crowded street, he was surprised to find thatlots of people doffed their hats to him. Children came over and saluted him. Hesaluted back with a broad grin. After a five minute walk, he finally found himselfoutside the restaurant.

Simpson’s-in-the Strand had been visited by his father over twentyyears before. It felt like a thing for him to do. He knew it was one of theoldest restaurants in London. He suspected it might also be one of the moreexpensive. He didn’t care. Life was for living and the time left for him to do sohad a huge question mark hanging over it.

The Strand was busy with cars, office workers and servicemen.Danny strolled along wide-eyed, past the Savoy and finally came acrossSimpson’s. The archway with the chess mosaic was impressive. He’d been torestaurants in Lincoln, but nothing like this. If this was what it looked likeoutside, it made him nervous to think about the interior, the people, theserving staff even. He took a deep breath and entered. All at once he sawpeople look at him.

They nodded to him. And smiled.

The interior more than matched the entrance. The walls werewood-panelled; rather like those at Cavendish Hall. Descending gracefully fromthe ceiling were several chandeliers. All around the room, were well-dressedpeople and officers from the different services. At first glance, there werefew men from the ranks.

Not surprisingly the price of the food matched the décor. Dannygulped as he saw an attractive waitress come over, beating another waitress, henoted happily, in a race to his table. The young woman was about Danny’s age,perhaps a little older. She wore her dark hair tied back in a bun, the blackdress fit snugly over her slender frame. Accompanying the more thansatisfactory appearance was a warm smile.

‘Hello,’ said the waitress, ‘have you had a chance to choosesomething?’

Danny smiled up and said, ‘Perhaps just a tea and a sandwich.’

He pointed to what he wanted. The waitress smiled knowingly andtook the order. He felt his cheeks turn red as he thought about how cheap hemust seem to her. Still, she hadn’t appeared that snooty. Rather than worryabout how he appeared, he decided to relax and enjoy his moment dining with hisbetters.

Around ten minutes later the waitress returned with a plate ladenwith sandwiches. Danny looked from the plate to the young woman in shock.

‘Did I order all that?’

The waitress smiled and said, ‘No, but you looked hungry.’

‘Thank you,’ Danny pausing at the end.

Thewaitress smiled and said, ‘Abigail. My friends call me Abby.’

‘Thanks,Abby.’

‘Areyou around for long?’ asked Abby.

‘No,I’m heading home tomorrow for a few days, then back here next week. I’m on embarkationleave.’

Abbylooked disappointed. So many men leaving to fight. It broke her heart to seethem. All were so young: some her age, many younger.Something in her face must have registered her sadness.

‘Bloodywar,’ said Danny.

‘Iknow. Good luck.’

‘Thanks,I’ll be back next week. Wednesday. Will you be working?’

‘Yes,maybe I’ll see you?’ said Abby before adding, ‘I like dancing.’

Dannylaughed, ‘I need a good teacher.’

 4

LittleGloston, April 1941

Dannyhad written every week since leaving for army training. However, the rapidityof the news on embarkation had meant he’d not been able to write and tell hisparents he was returning home. Telegrams were forbidden.

Mid-afternoonthe next day, Danny found himself disembarking fromthe bus and walking towards the family cottage. Ahead he could see the orangeglow of the forge. He could make out his father and Kate Shaw. It wasn’t untilhe was a dozen yards from the front gate that his father registered hisimminent arrival. His father stopped and stared at him. Danny stopped too. Thenhe broke into a grin. He could see his father struggling with his emotions.Stoicism won, just. He dropped the hammer he was holding onto the dustyfloorboards and walked out of the forge.

‘Kate, we have a visitor.’

‘Who?’ shouted a voice from inside the cottage.

‘Come out and see for yourself, you lazy bint,’ shouted Danny,standing against the garden gate.

A scream came from the kitchen and moments later Kate Shaw wasrunning along the garden path, tears in her eyes. She nearly knocked Danny overin her eagerness to embrace him. Stan Shaw ambled over to them and put his armsaround his wife and son. His stoicism finally crumbled when he saw the stripe.He looked his son in the eye then the tears fell freely. White lines streaked his soot-soaked cheeks.

‘Goodto have you back son,’ said Stan, finally.

-

Dannycleared the plate and looked expectantly at his mother.

‘Don’tthey feed you down there?’ said his mother, laughing as she rose to replenishhis plate.

‘Armyfood?’ said Danny querulously.

‘Don’tremind me,’ said Stan. Danny eyed him for a moment hoping that his father wouldtalk more about that time. Nothing was added, however. A refilled plate was putin front of Danny and he polished it off eagerly.

‘Whendid Tom leave?’

‘Twoweeks ago, but we still don’t know where.’

‘Ihaven’t heard anything either. Most think we’re going to North Africa.’

‘Surelywe’ve already beaten the Italians,’ said Kate.

Dannyand Stan exchanged a look and then Stan said, ‘The Germans arrived; it changedthings. It won’t be over for a while.’ There was no disguising the catch in hisvoice as he said this.

Noneof this helped Kate Shaw’s mood. Danny sensed this and said, ‘Don’t worry, mum.I’ll be protected by an inch or two of armour.’

Thisseemed to make her happier, but Danny didn’t need to look at his father to knowthis was hardly going to be enough against some of the big anti-tank guns theywould face.

Afterdinner, Danny and his father went for a walk. They walked past the village shopand St Bartholomew’s church towards the wood. At the edge of the wood theyfound a tree stump, and both sat down. Stan lit his pipe and smoked it insilence.

‘Whendo you leave?’ asked Stan after a while.

‘Latenext week or early week after when everyone is back.’

Stannodded. He looked at his son for a few moments. Then, embarrassed he lookedaway.

‘Howdo you find it? In