Back at the base, Andy headed for his bunk-room. It was warm in the barrack block. Still, he hadn’t really minded the walk back as it reminded him of similar conditions encountered while mountaineering. He sat down at his desk and started compiling another report to Lutterworth. When Andy had completed the report he also wrote to Alice and took the letters down to the post box and posted them.
***
As Andy walked to the post box, Berin — alias Bill Enderby — walked to the bus stop just outside the village to catch the bus to Louth. He would then catch the train to Lincoln and onward to Coventry. He had put aside his fisherman’s clothes and wore a sports jacket and flannels under his overcoat. On his head he wore a cap like so many other men working in factories and workshops. He carried a small overnight bag which suggested a stay away. The old Bedford bus came round the bend and Berin waved it down. Its driver was old and weather-beaten but cheery. Berin told him a single to Louth and the driver pulled a ticket off his rack of different priced tickets, took the money from Berin and gave him his change. As Berin walked down the aisle to a seat he noticed that there were only about eight passengers on the bus. They all looked at him intently and he smiled at them as he walked to a seat. Berin chose a seat near the rear of the bus and sat at the window. The bus jerked forward as the driver released the hand-brake and put the old bus through the gears, the engine whining in the peculiar way of that type of bus. It ground its way down the country road, stopping whenever it was waved down. There were official bus stops in the villages but none on the road. Eventually it reached Louth and pulled up outside the railway station before it headed for the centre of town where it would terminate. Berin got off the bus with a thank you and a smile to the driver and headed into the railway station. He had twenty minutes to wait for the train’s departure and headed into the refreshment room for a coffee and to keep warm. From Lincoln, Berin would catch an evening train to Nottingham and change for one to Leicester and Coventry. On a Sunday evening the trains were popular with people wanting to get to their workplaces after a weekend away. The refreshment room had a stale smell to it, common to many of those on railway stations towards the end of a day. At least it was warm in there. He ordered a coffee and the woman serving filled a thick, white cup with it from an urn and pointed to the milk and sugar at the end of the counter. Berin sat at a table with his back to the wall from habit and reflected on his assignment.
Back in Parfleet St Peter, Walmar sat around the table with his wife and children. They were playing Ludo. There was a coal fire burning in the grate and the room was cosy and warm, contrasting with the cold wind outside. Sometimes, after throwing the dice, Walmar would pretend to cheat and laugh as his children remonstrated with him. His wife Penny joined in the laughter. It was a very happy household. At the end of the game, Penny suggested an afternoon tea of home-made scones with cream and jam. She had baked other little cakes as well but kept them for teatime. They would be a treat for the children. Walmar leaned back in his chair and sighed with contentment. He felt that life was good and he was fortunate to have such a lovely wife and lovely children. He put other things out of his mind as he enjoyed this Sunday afternoon. The weather was poor and the seas were rough, making it poor for fishing. It was a suitable time for his deck hand, Berin, to be gone for a couple of days. He had made good money from the last catches and could afford to relax for a couple of days. Besides, the weather forecast was for the present conditions to continue until Tuesday. He could enjoy more time with his family, although Penny would complain if she thought he was getting under her feet. He smiled at that. Walmar was wakened from his reverie with the children coming back into the room, pushing the tea trolley with the afternoon tea on it. They would have it in front of the fire instead of at the table.
It was Monday morning (10th) and Eddy Dennis was getting ready for work. His wife had cooked him bacon and eggs with a slice of fried bread added on. He really enjoyed the meal. He was still getting headaches since that trip to deliver the tractor/loader but the doctor
