Part 26 (1/2)

The soldier exhaled a cloud of cigarette smoke and sighed contentedly. 'Gawd, that's good,' he smiled.

'Where d'yer cop it?' Charlie asked.

'It's me toes,' the soldier told him. 'I lost 'em all wiv frostbite. Still, I'm lucky, I s'pose. That poor sod lost 'is leg.'

Charlie looked at the next stretcher and saw the still form lying beneath the blanket. 'I jus' feel grateful ter be alive,' he said, holding the cigarette to the soldier's lips.

A young Red Cross nurse bent down over the stretcher and read the medical notes pinned to the blanket, then she smiled at the soldier. 'Are you in a lot of pain?' she asked softly.

'Nah, it's all right, luv. I jus' wanna know when they're gonna move us. It's b.l.o.o.d.y cold layin' 'ere,' he answered.

Charlie took the cigarette from the soldier's mouth and his eyes met those of the nurse.

Suddenly, she smiled. 'Aren't you William Tanner's son?'

Charlie looked puzzled. 'Should I know yer?' he asked.

She laughed. 'I'm Josephine Galloway.'

Charlie stood up. 'Well, I'll be blowed!' he exclaimed. 'I wouldn't 'ave reco'nised yer. Yer look all grown-up.'

Josephine smiled, showing even white teeth. 'If I remember right, you're Charles. Father told me you and your brother James had joined up. Is he with you?' she asked.

Charlie nodded. ''E's wiv the rest o' the lads. They've gone ter the pub. By the way, call me Charlie,' he said, holding out his hand.

''Ere, when you two 'ave finished yer little chat, could I 'ave anuvver puff o' that f.a.g?' the wounded soldier cut in.

Charles bent down over the stretcher. 'Sorry, mate. That's the first chance I've 'ad ter talk ter a pretty face fer a long while.'

Josephine bent down and wrote something on the chart, then she stood up and went to the next stretcher. Intrigued, Charlie followed her.

'The last time I remember seein' yer was when yer bruvver Geoff brought yer in the yard ter see the new 'orses. Yer couldn't 'ave bin no more than nine or ten, an' now look at yer,' he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

'I'm eighteen, going on nineteen,' she replied.

'Well, I'll be ...' laughed Charlie.

Josephine studied the chart and straightened up. 'How long are you home for?' she asked.

'Seven days. Seven long days,' he said, smiling. 'I promised meself I'd get drunk every one of 'em.'

'It must be dreadful out there,' she said.

Charlie nodded awkwardly, a serious cast suddenly clouding his features. 'It's not very nice. In fact, it's terrible,' he said quietly, and then his face brightened again. 'Look, I know I said I was gonna get drunk every night, but if yer like I could maybe take yer ter the music 'all? It'd be a lot nicer than gettin' boozed, an' we could 'ave a long talk about when we was kids. What d'yer say?'

Josephine smiled at him. He looked so handsome in his uniform and there was something in the way he was gazing at her which made her heart leap.

'I'd like that,' she replied, suddenly noticing the matron coming along the platform. 'When?' she asked quickly.

'Termorrer?'

'Yes, all right. Look, I've got to go now,' she said anxiously. 'I'll be on duty until six o'clock. Meet me at the church hall in Jamaica Road, opposite the Drill Hall. Is that all right, Charles?'

'That's fine, an' it's Charlie,' he reminded her.

The stern-faced matron gave him a brief glance and turned to Josephine. 'Lord and Lady Dunfermline have arrived,' she said in a loud voice. 'I want you to make sure all those blankets are straightened, and none of the soldiers is to smoke. Is that understood?'

Josephine nodded. 'Yes, Matron.'

'Well, see to it.'

Josephine busied herself, stealing a last glance in the direction of the young soldier as he walked across the station concourse.

The overhead clock showed ten minutes past the hour of one as the official party came into the station, attended unctuously by a few of the military top bra.s.s and a group of civilians wearing morning suits and top hats. Lord Dunfermline was tall and stooped slightly as he walked unsteadily beside Her Ladys.h.i.+p. She wore a silver fox stole over a long black coat, and a wide-brimmed hat with a large satin bow. They both looked miserable as their entourage fussed and worried, and when Lady Dunfermline asked if there was a powder room the escorts were thrown into a state of panic. A room was finally provided, compliments of the station master, and Lady Helen sat down heavily in a chair.

'I do wish you wouldn't let yourself get talked into this sort of thing, Albert,' she moaned. 'You know how sensitive my stomach is.'

'Sorry, m'dear. Couldn't be avoided. We've got to play our part,' he reminded her. 'It could be worse. The Chalfonts are at a military hospital and Sir Norman Kirkby's doing the St Dunstan's thingy. Nasty one that.'

Lady Helen sighed and rubbed at her ankles. 'Don't take too long, Norman. Just walk quickly and don't stop at every stretcher or we'll be here all day long. I've an appointment at the dressmaker's, and then there's the party tonight. I do like to go looking my best and I can't if I've spent most of the day talking to wounded soldiers. It is annoying. I do wish they'd chosen any other day but Friday.'

'Sorry, old dear, can't be helped,' he said in the comically musical tone that he knew amused her.

Outside the station master's office a haughty-looking man in gold-rimmed spectacles and a bowler hat was trying to calm the agitated young army doctor. 'I'm sure they won't be long. They've had a tiring journey from Hamps.h.i.+re and Lady Dunfermline's got a bit of a headache,' he said in a silky voice.

The doctor gave him a wicked look. 'Those troops have not exactly been enjoying the trip,' he protested. 'They've had a rough crossing, and they've spent nearly three hours on a train in cramped conditions, and now they've been lying on the cold platform for the past hour. Now you go in and tell Lord and Lady What's-their-names that if they're not out in five minutes I'll tell my orderlies to put the stretchers on the motor vehicles and despatch them to the hospitals, is that quite understood?'

'But, but, I-I can't do that,' the official stuttered.

'Please yourself,' the doctor said casually, marching off quickly.

The official chewed on his fingernails in consternation and paced back and forth trying to think of some way to hurry the proceedings along without upsetting the venerable Lord and Lady. His torment was suddenly resolved as Lord Dunfermline emerged from the office looking a trifle distracted with Lady Helen at his side. 'Lead on, Brown,' he said with a sweep of his bony hand, and the official could smell brandy on his breath.

When he reached the first stretcher on the platform Lord Dunfermline stopped and smiled down at the pale-faced young soldier. 'Feeling well, are we then?' he said, walking on without waiting for an answer.

Further along the line he looked down at another casualty, the entourage at his heels b.u.mping into each other as he stopped suddenly. 'Rifle Brigade I see. Good man. Arm is it? Never mind, we'll soon have you on your feet,' he said cheerfully.

The young army doctor gritted his teeth in disgust. 'The man's lost his leg for G.o.d's sake,' he almost shouted at the matron.

Lady Dunfermline stood beside her husband mumbling at him to hurry along and finally the dignitary reached the last stretcher in the line. 'How are we?' he asked.

Josephine was adjusting the soldier's bandages and she looked up with surprise. Her patient leaned up on his elbows and puffed loudly. 'Well, I don't know about you, pal, but I don't feel too good,' the soldier said sharply.

'Steady on, private,' an accompanying staff officer said quickly.

'It's corporal, mate,' the soldier replied.

Josephine had moved to the head of the stretcher and she clasped the soldier's arm firmly, trying to restrain him with a slight shake of her head. The officer flushed the colour of his headband and Lord Dunfermline looked taken aback.

'East Surreys I see. First-cla.s.s regiment, corporal,' he remarked in a casual lilting tone. 'What's the injuries then?'