“Yvonne, meet Andy Hill. He’s an old mountaineering compatriot from way back,” said Jamie by way of introduction.
Yvonne put out her hand and Andy took it in a handshake. “You didn’t tell me about this friend of yours, Jamie,” said Yvonne. To Andy she said, “Nice to meet you. Are you RAF?”
“Yes, I am,” replied Andy. “I didn’t realise it was so obvious.”
“Yvonne is from Parfleet St Peter,” said Jamie.
“And we are having a dance there in two weeks’ time. Make sure you come and bring your friends. It’s for a special cause,” chimed in Yvonne.
“If we are not on duty, I’d be delighted to come,” replied Andy. He went on to say, “I’m here with a couple of friends. I’ll catch up with you later, Jamie. Very nice to meet you, Yvonne.”
As Andy turned to leave, Jamie said, “Call me in the morning and we’ll arrange to catch up.” Andy waved in acknowledgement and went back to the bar. He wondered what Jamie wanted to tell him. It also reminded him that he had promised to ‘phone Alice in the morning at 9.00 a.m. At 9.30 a.m. she would be at church with her family.
Back in the lounge bar, Yvonne was talking to Jamie in between his serving of customers. “There’s quite a build-up of RAF personnel, I hear. New equipment being installed on the airfield, according to some of our locals who walk along the sea wall.”
“Yes, we’ve noticed an increase here, too,” Jamie replied.
“What do you think is going on?” Yvonne asked.
Jamie knew but couldn’t say anything to her. He just said, “I don’t know. The RAF lads don’t say anything. Maybe just an up-grade of existing equipment.”
Yvonne wasn’t satisfied with the answer but just let it go. “Jamie, if our two village pubs shared the bar at the dance, you could work on the bar part-time. What do you think?”
He looked at her, “Well, I’d prefer to have the evening off but that would be better than nothing.” To himself, Jamie thought it would be a good idea, particularly if Andy Hill was there too. They might be able to find out more information from the locals.
Bob, the publican, came through to the lounge bar to see how things were going. He saw Yvonne sitting at the bar talking to Jamie and decided to say something. “He walked up and said, “Hello Yvonne, nice to see you visiting our village instead of going to your local. I understand we have a new attraction.”
Yvonne turned to see Bob with a big smile on his face. “M-m!” said Yvonne, “it’s certainly a big improvement on the old faces. By the way, Bob, are you interested in sharing the bar at our dance in two weeks’ time?”
He responded, “Well, now, we haven’t been invited in the past. Whose idea is this?”
“It’s mine,” replied Yvonne, “but since I’m on the dance committee I’m sure we could make it happen. Besides, I think our two villages should do more of these events together.”
“I’ll think about it,” said Bob, “but you’d better have a talk with Alf over at your pub and see what he thinks of the idea.” Yvonne nodded in reply. “Nice to see you, Yvonne, but don’t distract Jamie too much,” Bob said as he turned and left.
Turning to Jamie, she said with a meaningful smile, “But that’s the point — I do want to distract you.” Jamie just smiled at her and turned to serve a customer.
***
Out at sea, the Penny Jane had her nets out and was slowly moving against the tide, trapping fish that were swimming with the tide. Each man was busy with his own thoughts. Walmar was thinking of his wife and children and the good life he had found here in England. The strong socialist views that had kept him linked to the Communist Party had been tempered by the strong sense of community he had found in Parfleet St Peter. He had come to realise that, here in England, the community counted for far more than political parties. At Parfleet St Peter the community looked after its members and in fact was closer to the communist ideal than Communism. He wondered how he could break free from the Communist hold on him. Could he go to the authorities and confess? Would that mean prison in England or death at the hands of the KGB? He wondered. What about his friends in the community; would they turn against him? How would his wife, Penny, react? He loved her dearly and didn’t want to lose her.
Berin was having different thoughts. Like Walmar, he was thinking of home and family. He didn’t have a wife and children but he wondered whether it was time to ask for a different position that would enable him to get married and have children. Berin had noticed the strength and warmth of the family relationship that Walmar had and had begun to envy him. He thought it would be good to be able to go home to a family that would give him the same sort of love that Walmar received. The life he was living wouldn’t do that. Would the party agree to him having a different role to the one he played now? He shook his head and headed for the wheelhouse. These thoughts were no good. He had orders to follow that didn’t allow for such feelings. Opening the door of the wheelhouse he asked Walmar if there was still some soup left. Walmar nodded and inclined his head toward the basket at the back of the wheelhouse. Berin opened the flask and picked out two cups, pointing