Page 54 of Summer of Fire
Lizzie arrived home in time for dinner, so she could see everyone before she left for training the next day.
‘Another course?’ asked her mother that evening when she announced she would go away for work.
Lizzie’s father interceded. ‘They need all the training they can get if we’re to succeed. I imagine she’ll be away a lot now she’s had a promotion. We’re so proud of you, Lizzie.’
Rose looked doubtful. ‘Yes, but why don’t they do the training here, so you don’t have to leave London every two minutes?’
‘Well, I, for one, will be pleased Lizzie is out of the way ofthis dreadful bombing. It’s much safer in the country now. Just like we predicted it would be when it first kicked off.’
Lizzie’s father gave her a subtle wink. He had been told she was working for SOE. Drake knew him and had explained the situation.
He was referring to the start of the war when so many children were evacuated out of London because it was presumed the cities would be immediate targets. After the initial period of the Phoney War, when nothing much happened, the German strategy was to bomb strategic installations, and to shoot down as many RAF pilots over Britain as they could. The aim was to weaken sky and sea defences to the point where Germany could invade with ease.
Lizzie was relieved her father knew about her change of job. He was already bound by the Official Secrets Act, so she could confide in him, although she still couldn’t reveal details of specific operations. He was trying to divert her mother’s attention, for which she was grateful.
‘I suppose you’re right,’ Rose said. ‘It’s just I like us all to be together. It’s hard enough not knowing what’s happening with the boys.’
Reginald looked troubled, and it was Lizzie’s turn to change the subject.
‘I’m looking forward to meeting some new people. I’ve not had a chance to make new friends since we moved here.’
The idea of her daughter making friends cheered Rose, and she patted Lizzie’s hand. ‘Of course, darling girl. It will be a pleasant change for you. I’m just being selfish because I like knowing you are safe and sound here with us.’
‘Oh Ma, it’ll be fine. Apparently, the course is held at a beautiful old, requisitioned manor house surrounded by acres of land, so you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be well away from the Blitz. Maybe I’ll even get a proper,undisturbed sleep without having to run for shelter in the middle of the night.’
Since the first major London raid on that fateful day dubbed as Black Saturday, so many had been killed and injured, and the reality of war had changed dramatically for Londoners. They were now up against an intense daily barrage and nerves were frayed and tempers severely tested.
Lizzie hugged each member of her family before they left for work. When she kissed her mother’s cheek after the others left, she tried not to think that this could be the last time. Val had confirmed she would go straight to Reims from the training, all being well. There would be no time for goodbyes before her next mission.
It was difficult to act naturally, but worrying her mother wouldn’t help anyone, and she couldn’t tell her anything about what she was doing, anyway.
An army van pulled up outside the window, and Lizzie picked up her bag and gave her mother a final big hug. ‘Time for me to go, Ma.’
Rose looked out the window. ‘Why on earth are you travelling in an army van?’
‘The government offices are lucky to get whatever vehicles they can, I suppose,’ Lizzie said. The answer rolled off her tongue, and she thought it was shocking how quickly she’d grown used to distorting the truth in the name of secrecy.
A chirpy female driver in uniform met Lizzie outside and stored her bag and opened the door for her to join the others. Inside sat five women of varying age and appearance.They proved a friendly bunch and greeted her with a welcominggood morningchorus.
The tight nerves eased in Lizzie’s stomach, and she settled back against the seat for the drive. Val had given her no details of where she was going for the training, other than it was a stately home somewhere in the countryside.
The van wound its way out of London, and Lizzie looked for a clue of where they were heading. She hadn’t travelled in England much, so the roads were all new to her. Wartime procedure was to remove all road signage in case of invasion. That way, the Germans wouldn’t know which way to go. Lizzie thought it was an ingenious move, but it also meant that their destination remained a mystery.
She could have asked the other girls, but it had already been drilled into her from her training with Jack and Val that it was better not to ask for information you didn’t need. She would find out soon enough if she was supposed to know.
Lizzie’s head bumped against the cool leather seat as she nodded off to the hypnotic rhythm of the wheels on the bumpy road.
‘We must be nearly there.’ A voice woke her as the van turned a sharp bend and she saw they were weaving through a pretty little village. They passed a green where children were dotted about, playing ball. To one side there was a sprinkling of cottage style shops and a red telephone box. She saw a church spire in the distance on a hill. It was like something out of a children’s picture book and looked so peaceful, the war seemed a million miles away.
London was an impressive capital, but the thousands of little villages just like this one were the beating heart of England, Lizzie thought. A wave of fear gripped her at the realisation of all that was at stake in this bloody war.
If they lost, the Nazis would destroy their freedoms in a heartbeat like they had done in France and the ChannelIslands. The blood-red Nazi banners, like in Reims, would be draped on the village halls in these beautiful little villages. It would be the end of the Britain they knew and loved.
The van stopped abruptly in front of tall wrought-iron gates whilst a member of the Home Guard stepped forward to check the driver’s authorisation. A few minutes later, the gates opened, and the van entered and rumbled down a lane.
Lizzie strained her neck to look out the window, but all she could glimpse was green grass for miles around. The van continued along the lane, winding through the grand country estate until finally an impressive stately home with huge stone pillars rose up before them.
‘Here we are,’ the driver announced. ‘Gather up all your belongings, ladies. I’ll be going back to London shortly, so don’t leave anything behind.’
