“Really?” Edie was intrigued.
But Uncle Peter just smiled. “I better see to this. Maisie’s still off with flu, I’m afraid. If you don’t mind looking after Greta, shall we say lessons are cancelled yet again? You can tell the others it’s in honour of your birthday.”
“Brilliant!” said Edie as Uncle Peter hurried away. She knew Gus wouldn’t mind a bit – it was clear now he’d only been pretending to get serious about school work earlier, so he could prepare her secret celebration.
“Help yourself to the rest of the boiled eggs for lunch. And there’s some bread and another slice of cake for you all too. Make a picnic, if you like,” Uncle Peter called over his shoulder.
“Good idea,” said Edie. “Thank you.”
She packed a little basket with an old checked tablecloth, the leftovers from the breakfast feast and the bar of chocolate from Fliss too. She thought it would be fun to take their lunch to HQ and eat it in the old dining car, as if they were going on a long train journey … perhaps through the snowy Alps like Aunt Roberta had done.
Then she gathered all her other birthday presents around her and settled down to read the first few pages of Heidi while she waited for the other two to be finished outside.
By the time Gus and Greta came in, Edie was lost in the world of the Swiss mountains.
“One minute,” she said, holding up her hand. “I just want to finish this chapter.”
“Can I play with your new pencils?” asked Greta.
“Hmm,” said Edie distractedly.
“And your lamp?”
“Careful, Greta,” said Gus.
Edie glanced up.
“Can we light it?” Greta asked.
Edie sighed and put her book down. It was obvious she was going to have to leave Heidi and the Alps behind for now.
“We could light it,” she said, opening the little door in the back of the lantern to show Greta how. “But there’s not much point until this evening. We won’t be able to see it glow properly until it’s dark.”
“And then we’ll have to have the blackout curtains drawn,” reminded Gus.
“Can’t we draw the blackout curtains now?” whined Greta. “I want to have a go.”
But Edie leapt to her feet. “I’ve thought of something even better than that,” she said. “Come on!”
She found a box of matches above the stove, then grabbed the lantern in one hand and the picnic basket in the other.
“Where are we going?” asked Gus as they ran across the meadow.
“To the Alps!” said Edie. “Heidi gave me the idea… ”
“Heidi?” said Gus.
“Well, Heidi and Aunt Roberta, actually,” said Edie. “You’ll see. Follow me!”
She led them across the top of the fields and only dropped down towards the railway when they reached the dim grey mouth of the tunnel.
“See!” she said triumphantly. “We can light the lantern in there. It’ll be just like Aunt Roberta’s train journey in the long, dark tunnels beneath the Alps. Even though it’s the middle of the day out here, it will be black as night once we’re underground.”
“Golly!” said Greta, and she slipped her hand into Edie’s. “The very last dark… ”
“The very last dark,” repeated Edie. “I like that.”
But Gus shook his head. “We can’t take Greta into the tunnel. It’s not safe,” he said. “What if a train comes?”
“There won’t be any trains,” said Edie. “Not today. That’s why it’s so brilliant. Perky and I saw the Italian POWs this morning. They’re still working on the line. No trains can get through.” Edie didn’t like to admit it, but she would never have dared to come back here otherwise. She had been frightened out of her wits that first day when she and Gus had run away from the Snigsons’ farm and hidden in the long, dark tunnel. She could still hear the roar of the train in her ears and see the lights coming towards her like a dragon’s fiery eyes in the darkness. It would be different this time, they could walk right along the middle of the tracks without worrying if a train would come and they’d have the lantern with them to light their way.
“We could walk the whole length of the tunnel underground,” said Gus. She could hear the excitement in his voice now. “If what you are saying is true, then today’s our one and only chance. They’re bound to have the tracks fixed soon.”
“Exactly. Perky says they’ll be done by tomorrow.” Edie crouched down in front of Greta. “Just so long as you are not too scared to come in,” she said kindly.
“I’m not scared one bit.” The little girl shook her head and squeezed Edie’s fingers.
“We’ll keep the lamp alight for the whole time and I won’t let go of your hand for a moment, I promise,” said Edie. She put the picnic basket down on the grassy bank and left it there so she could get a better grip.
“That’s good … because Mr Churchill is a little worried,” said Greta, clutching him tightly.
“Then we will have to sing to him!” said Edie. And she looked round at Gus one last time just to check he was sure.
“Let’s do it!” he nodded.
“You can take the lantern if you like,” said Edie, although she longed to have it herself. But Gus had been a brick to agree to the expedition in the first place and he was the oldest. “I’ll be holding Greta’s hand anyway.”
“All right,” said Gus. “But you should light it and take it for the first little bit. I’ll look after Greta until then and we can swap over when it gets really dark.”
“Thank you!” said Edie. It was a lovely compromise. “Everybody ready?” Before Greta – or Mr Churchill – could get any more nervous, she lit the wick and walked into the mouth of the tunnel.
The glow of the old lantern was as warm and bright as Edie had hoped it would be. The orange light flickered and danced in the
