The other old man agreed with him. “Mind, it’s funny,” said the second man. “He don’t seem to be able to keep his deck hands mor’un a few months at a time. He’s had a few. Must work ‘em too ‘ard or something.” Jamie broke off from the conversation to serve some other customers.
The two old-timers continued to reminisce about the fishermen and the friendly rivalry between the two villages. The reality was that one was a fishing community and the other a farming community and they supported each other as they saw the need. Jamie tried to listen in as he worked. He had got some good information that needed following up. He’d report back to Lutterworth later and get a note up to Andy Hill at the RAF base. He would write and post it in his afternoon break so it was delivered tomorrow morning.
Back at Parfleet St Peter, the fishing boats were being readied to go out on the high tide again that night. They had all been refuelled and the nets and pots checked and prepared for the night’s fishing. It meant being out for about ten hours between high tides since the channel was not deep enough for the boats at low tide. Once readied, the men would get some sleep before the night’s work. Walmar and Berin were busy stowing gear on the Penny Jane. They finished and then walked up the street to Walmar’s house to have a meal. Going round to the back door, they took off their boots and entered in their stockinged feet. The small back porch led into a spacious kitchen with a large kitchen table in the middle. Penny Walmar had a meal prepared for the two men. They washed their hands and faces at the laundry sink and came back and sat down. Penny served their meal, a beef and vegetable stew. Berin complimented her on the delicious aroma it was giving off. Penny tried to make little of it but was inwardly pleased at the compliment. As the men ate, she poured herself a cup of tea and sat quietly reflecting on the deck hand, Bill Enderby, as she knew him. He was very correct and courteous and polite and, according to her Nickie, a good worker. Yet there was something that made her feel wary about him. Too often he didn’t smile with his eyes, only his mouth. She felt that people who were like that couldn’t be fully trusted but Penny said nothing of her feelings to her husband, whom she loved dearly. The men finished their meal and Walmar said, “Well, Bill, you’d better head back to the flat and get some sleep if we’re sailing about 11.00 p.m. I’m going to head for bed myself.”
“Fine. Thank you, Mrs Walmar, for an excellent meal. You are a fine cook. I’ll be ready, Mr Walmar.” Then he headed for the back porch to put his sea boots on and go back to the flat behind Walmar’s shed.
CHAPTER 9
Eddy Dennis was making a final check of the vehicle he was to drive to RAF West Sanby in the morning. They had estimated a trip of seven hours plus a break at Sleaford, the distance being about a hundred and twenty miles. If he left at seven in the morning he should be delivering the vehicle by 3.00 p.m. He would have time to get to Grimsby to catch the train to Newark. He’d possibly have to overnight there before getting a train to Nottingham and then Coventry. His wife, Nellie, would have a break from him but they’d still miss each other. She was a good woman and Eddy felt that he was a lucky man. Eddy checked the fuel tank and gauge and saw the reading was full. He checked that there were two full jerry cans of fuel and another of water. The toolkit was fitted if he should need it. He felt satisfied and went off to let his foreman know that everything was ready for the morrow.
The JSTU team from Coventry had arrived at RAF West Sanby and Sergeant Williams reported in to Flight Lieutenant Gaskin. He reported that the MLT was operational and should arrive the next afternoon. After he had completed his report and left to supervise his team’s settling in to their workshop, Flight Lieutenant Gaskin had a telex sent off to Squadron Leader Dawson up-dating the status of preparations. An hour later Dawson received the telex and decided to report to Group Captain Clarkson. By the time Clarkson received the report it was almost 17.00 hours. For some reason he felt concerned and sat there drumming his fingers on the desk. He decided to get a message to Hamilton of MI5 and ask him to take some protective action since, in this case, the RAF couldn’t justify taking action. Looking at his watch he realised it could be too late to speak to Hamilton and would talk to him first thing in the morning.
That evening, Andy headed for the telephone box and put a call through to the Waltons. When the call connected, the operator told Andy to put in one shilling and sixpence and press button A. He did so and Judith Walton answered the call and greeted Andy with, “I’ve got a daughter pining away already! You’d better speak to her.”
“Thanks, Mrs Walton,” he replied and heard Alice’s voice in the background as she came to the telephone. Judith Walton handed Alice the telephone and discreetly headed out of the room, cocking her head at Anne to follow so that Alice could have some privacy.
The next three minutes passed quickly and the operator’s voice cut in, “Your three minutes is up. Do you wish to extend?” Andy replied in the affirmative and put
