Page 84 of Shadows In Paris
CHAPTER 43
The turbulence was fierce as the plane descended, ready to land at the airfield. Lizzie held onto Hannah, who had fallen into a troubled sleep and was thrashing about.
‘This is it,’ said Jack, and Lizzie felt the wheels touch down and her stomach lurched as the plane bumped along before it slowed and skidded to a stop on the icy ground.
The navigator opened the door. ‘Welcome back to Blighty,’ he said, saluting, a wide smile on his rugged face.
‘Thank you,’ Jack and Lizzie chorused.
‘I’ll see if there’s a medic on hand.’ Jack jumped from the aircraft, and Lizzie stayed with Hannah. There was fresh bright blood on the dressing they’d used to bind her wound, and Lizzie was worried.
There was a screech of brakes and a minute later Val poked her face through the hatch and called cheerfully, ‘Welcome home, Seagrove. Oh, who have we here? And where’s Jack?’
Lizzie told Val how they had made it out in the nick of time, and Hannah had been wounded.
‘So, this is the legendary Hannah… Why is she wearing men’s clothes?’
‘Long story,’ Lizzie said.
‘Well, I’ll look forward to the debrief. They’re always fascinating with you!’ Val climbed aboard and looked at Hannah’s arm. ‘She’ll live,’ she said and went off in search of Jack.
Hannah was carried off the plane on a stretcher and was soon receiving emergency treatment in a hut they used for injured pilots. The verdict was she would indeed live, but she needed stitches at the hospital.
‘You’re very lucky. It could have been a lot worse,’ the medic said as Hannah winced when he cleaned her wound.
When they were alone, Lizzie asked Hannah how she was feeling.
‘A gunshot wound is a small price to pay to see Henry,’ Hannah muttered, her voice groggy.
‘You might not say that when the morphine wears off!’ Lizzie laughed.
Lizzie slipped outside and found Jack drinking tea with Val in another hut.
‘The medic said her arm will be sore for a while, but there shouldn’t be any lasting damage,’ Jack said.
‘What a relief. I feel personally responsible for urging her to come back with us,’ Lizzie replied.
Val patted Lizzie’s shoulder and went to organise mugs of tea for her and Hannah.
‘Now you know how I feel when my agents are in the field,’ Jack said. ‘It’s hell.’
‘So, I’m just another agent, am I?’ Lizzie asked coyly, tilting her head to one side.
‘Let’s just say it’s one hundred times—no, one thousand times worse when it’s you. In fact, let’s say you’re grounded indefinitely and be done with it.’
They were alone, and Jack pulled Lizzie into his arms, and she nestled her head against his shoulder. ‘Welcome back to England’s green and pleasant land, my darling. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have you home safely.’
They heard footsteps and jumped apart guiltily in time for Val to enter and hand Lizzie an enamel mug of steaming tea. ‘You’ll be pleased to know, sleeping beauty is sitting up and drinking tea. I’ve made arrangements to move her by ambulance. I daresay she could make it by car, but she’s certainly earned a ride to London in style.’
After another round of hot, sweet tea, Val fired up the Austin, and they piled in. Lizzie sat in the back and Jack and Val talked about the mission, and their voices lulled Lizzie into a deep sleep. Her head lolled against the seat, and she slept all the way to London. Her last thought was it was good to be back on English soil with Jack.
Hannah spent the night in hospital and was released the following afternoon.
Lizzie had her first driving lesson with Jack on their way to collect Hannah. ‘When Hannah stole the milk truck and drove us to the woods, I realised how critical it is to be a competent driver. It made me more determined to get used to driving,’ Lizzie said, her brow furrowed as she concentrated on the road.
‘Shall I see if we have an old milk truck knocking about for you to practice on? Failing that, we could get you a part-time job on a morning milk round before you come into the office,’ Jack said, his tone serious but his eyes gleeful.
Lizzie stopped at the traffic lights and turned to face him. ‘I think I’ll manage, thank you!’ she said, rolling her eyes but smiling at his teasing.
