大象传媒

A ship eased its way like a limping animal towards the Pool of London. Sounding its foghorn. Strange, haunting. The last of a small convoy that had survived the crossing. Midship blown apart, the blackened twisted metal like a huge gaping wound.
I watched it pass then made my way forward carefully and slowly.
"Oy! Come back here. You'll get stuck," shouted Barry.
"But its a big bit. i can reach it OK." I replied looking at the plank of driftwood trapped between some rocks.
"It's to far out. Leave it. The tides coming in." He turned away towards the sea wall carrying his bundle of firewood to were Charlie waited.
To beat the tide we had earlier raced to the beach straight from school. Now in the fast fading wintry light I could barely make out my two elder brothers as they stacked driftwood clear of the tide mark.
The icy cold wind laced with oil and seaweed made me shiver as I looked again at the plank and the creeping tide.
A small half submerged Flat rock lay in between, a tiny island surrounded by advanced grey muddy water. If only..."Go for it," I whispered to myself as i stretched and planted my foot squarely on the rock surface. A wobble, whoops! Too late. A slimy surface. Splash!
"Barry!" I screamed struggling to keep upright.
"Told you to come back you stupid little sod. Keep still. We're coming."
"Hurry up, I'm sinking." I watched with horror my foot slowly disappearing beneth the black oozing mud. If I lost my shoe I would be for it. Get the stick for sure.
"Grab hold of this," it was Barry holding out a lenght of wood. "Don't panic, pull your foot out slowly, keep your shoe on it."
Cor, look at the state of my shoes," I grumbled, when we were safely on the shoreline.
"You're stupid. Told you to come back," He punched me hard in the stomach knocking me to the ground. "If you had gone in then I would have been blamed. Now scrape the mud of them."
"Didn't hurt," I grimaced, fighting back the tears.
"Come on, let's hide this lot before it gets to dark," said Charlie.
We searched and found a hiding place amongst bushes and away from the beach path. With luck we'll have a barrow load by Saturday.
"There's a holly tree covered with berries at Dell House," said Charlie.
"Lets get some on the way home."
"How'd you know?"
"Saw it when i was delivering newspapers."
Suddenly the cold night air shattered, pierced by a howling siren. Air Raid. I trembled.
"Some bugs coming," shouted Barry.
We could hear the faint drone of approching Doodlebugs, our necks craned upwards, searching. The cold, the driftwood and my aching chest was forgotten as I scanned the darkening sky. Scared and sick inside. Trying not to show it.
"Theres one!" said Charlie pointing towards Tilbury.
I could see the red fireglow on its tail. We watched it pass overhead, knowing the route. Tilbury, Dagenham then London, dropping anywhere in between.
"There's another", shouted Barry.
"Let's get out of here," fear had taken hold of me and I wanted to run.
"Don't worry, as long as you can hear them you're safe," said Barry. "Bet they're making for the docks. Come on lets get this wood hidden, we don't want it pinched."
The two bugs, bellies full of explosives droned away into the distance.
"I can hear another coming."
We stood still. Listening. A different sound. Coughing, spluttering, like an old tractor engine.
"There it is!" shouted Charlie. "Bloody hell, the burners gone out."
We waited, spellbound. Watching this big black cigar glide earthwards. A swishing noise. So close we could see the stubby wings. Silence. i could feel a knot in my stomach getting tighter. There was a moment of utter stillness when the whole world seemed to stop breathing, then a roar like a clap of thunder ripped across the sky.
"It's hit the town, come on!" yelled Barry.
We ran.
The High Street. Air foggy, smell of scorched dust. Broken glass crunching beneath our feet. Bells ringing, whistles blowing.
"Hey, wait for me." Panic. Didn't want to be left behind.
Could see the flames. People running, men in uniforms, khaki, police and ARP's.
"The school's taken a direct hit," said a voice from the crowd. "The Robinsons have copped it."
I shuddered. An hour ago we were in there. I left my mittens in the desk. The Robinsons lived in a caravan at the back by the allotments. Three kids. Katy was in my class.
"Hey, you lads. Do you live up that street?" An ARP warden approached.
"No.".
"Well lets have you away, go home."
"Come on lets go to Dell House, get some holly for Christmas," said Charlie.
We walked back through the rubble-strewn streets. The blast had taken down one wall of the museum. Zulu spears and a shield, poking out of the debris. Opposite, a house with windows blown out was split apart and showing its entrails. Tossed furniture and carpets hung over the jagged edges or the broken floors and ceilings. Torn paper and plaster, a picture askew on one wall.
We clambered over the debris and into the museum. huge butterflies with pins stuck through them littlered the floor. I want a Zulu spear to do a swop at school for Bottomley's lead soldiers.
"Hey! You lads, clear off."
Spear and a tomahawk dropped as out the way we came in and away from the blue uniform.
"Look what I've got?" Charlie held up what looked like a black and old hairy tennis ball.
"What's that?"
"A shrunken head you dope."
"Bloody Hell. Chuck it!" said Barry.
"Why?"
"Cos it's voodoo, worse than a broken mirror."
We reached Dell Road over the high wall, and through the Spinney we crept like advancing soldiers towards the enemy, Dell House. Lawns at the front. No sign of the enemy.
"A big house for one family," whispered Barry.
"It's used as a hospital now."
"How do you know?"
"Cos. I deliver papers here, that's why. Follow me and keep down. I'll show you the Holly Tree."
"Has it lots of red berries?" I asked.
"Yes, now shut-up."
"Are there any dogs?"
"No I said shut-up"
We picked holly quickly in the darkness, oblivious to spikey leaves.
"Come on, let's go now before we're caught," said Barry.
"Just a bit more, wanna get some for Ossies mum" I whispered.
"Why?"
"Because she gives me fried bread and jam sometimes when I call for Ossie."
"Hurry up then. You'll have to carry it yourself."
"What if we're seen walking along the road?"
"Say you found it."
We struggled back in the dark through the trees and undergrowth, making for the high perimeter wall. Barry infront leading the way.
"Found one," he shouts.
"Found what?"
"An incendiary, just kicked it, thought it was a rock."
"Let's see," Charlie and I gathered around looking at the small sleek bomb, not much bigger than a rolling pin.
"Bet it's a fresh one from Tuesday nights raid. Maybe it's a dud," said Barry, brushing the dirt off his sleeve.
"Hit the bushes more like and didn't go off." Charlie reached out.
"Come on let's have a hold of it?"
"I'll make it safe first." Barry was good at that. He knew how to unscrew the cap behind the flight and shake the powder out. We watched him struggle with it.
"I think it's jammed. Let's take it to the wall, too dark in here to see." Shoving his knife back into his pocket.
We climbed a tree growing close to the wall. Holly and incediary bomb passed up to Charlie.
Sitting astride the wall we watched Barry.
"Getting cold," I said, shoving my hands under my armpits.
"Stop bloody moaning."
"Can you do it?" asked Charlie. "Here let me have a try."
"No it's jammed tight. Can't shift it. Come on, let's go home, it's starting to rain," said Barry tossing the bomb from the top of the wall to the roadway below. A boy soldier throwing a hand granade.
BANG!, whoosh.
Brilliant white flames shot skywards. Giant burning raindrops fanning slowly down.
"Run!" shouted Barry.
We ran. Scalded cats along the high Dell wall.
Wounded ship, driftwood, debris, death and Zulu spears forgotten.
"Hey! Wait for me. I've dropped my holly."

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