大象传媒

Chapter 13

No room at the inn.

The lorry started up and Mary disappeared from view. Suddenly everything went pitch black. Molly looked up to the sky for the moon what had happened to it. She soon found they were entering a tunnel made by tall hedges and trees meeting overhead, this lasted for what seemed several minutes then they emerged into the moonlight once again. Two more jumped off and entered an isolated cottage. Then at last came Molly's turn. The lorry pulled up outside a small row of cottages. A pretty little place with quite a long pathway leading to the front door. You will find volunteer Brown already in the cottage she was set down earlier said Stevie, as Molly clutched her civilian handbag and shaby suitcase tightly preparing to enter the unknown. However, it looked a dear little cottage, the type she had read about in some of her novels. The lorry drove off, Molly picked her way gingerly up the path, she didn't want to tread on any of the flowers overhanging the edge of the pathway and upset the landlady. Timidly she knocked at the door, straightening her brimmed hat as she did so. The door creaked slowly open, inch by inch. An elderly lady peered out and askedWhat do you want I am volunteer ? I am staying here tonight. I have already got two girls here said the old lady, wait a minute and she shut the door. Crickey thought Molly whats up now. The door opened to reveal another head which proved to be that of someone she recognised. She was one of the volunteers but she hadn't been in the lorry Molly was on. Captain S brought two of us here earlier she said. This lady can only take two of us. You are supposed to be with Mary up at the farm, someone couldn't have got the message.
Molly's heart sank, You'll find your way there, its right at the end of the lane, you cant miss it called the old lady's voice from the dim interior.
Molly turned away and dejectedly walked down the pathway not noticing if she had trodden on any plants. Oh well she hoped it wasn't far she was beginning to feel like bed. She closed the gate and began to walk back to the farm. All was well whilst the moon shone above but then to her horror she came upon the dark tunnel created by the overhanging trees and tall hedges. She was used to busy roads and the noisy city. This seemed so strange. She had gazed at the beauty of the lovely patchwork of fields by daylight with the sheep-grazing etc. but this was totally different.
She had noticed whilst in the lorry at midnight the grass verge at the side of the lane then in between that and the hedge and trees was a black patch which she assumed must be a ditch. As she crossed from the moonlit lane into the dark tunnel of trees screwing up her eyes trying to piece the gloom pictures formed in her mind Oh what if the enemy had already landed and some were hiding in the trees ready to pounce on her. The hairs on the back of her head began to bristle. She stood still what was that? She had heard a sound above that which her heavy army shoes were making as she cautiously made her way forward. Her heart was pounding and she broke out into a cold sweat. There it was again Clump Clump Clump, it was coming towards her. As the clumps grew steadily nearer Molly observed a cigarette glow and guessed it was someone in heavy boots. A soldier most likely = friend of enemy. Well she was a soldier after all although she had no uniform as yet apart from shoes, she had got to get tough. She pressed forward still keeping to what she hoped was the middle of the lane. Now and then there was a flash of a torch which the person must be holding.
The steady clump clump of boots drew nearer and nearer until they were almost abreast of each other. Would this friend or foe stop in his tracks, her heartbeat pounded in her chest as she pressed forward, Goodnight Zirrr! Came a friendly voice and the utterer drew a puff on his cigarette. A second or two elapsed before Molly could get her breath back to turn around call out Goodnight Farmer, in a tremulous voice. As she was clothed in a trilby like hat with a brim, her long brown coat and heavy shoes must have made the farmer mistake her for a boy. What were his thoughts when he heard her squeaky reply to his goodnight Zirr she wondered. She was so relieved at the outcome of her friend or foe thoughts she stood for some minutes peering at the figure disappearing into the distance, then she walked backwards a few steps wishing she hadn't been so nervous. Molly suddenly tripped and went flying, she had stumbled on the grass verge and landed in a ditch. Thoroughly shaken she picked herself up on to her knees thankful the ditch although damp wasn't any deeper. Her hat had gone flying her specs felt funny dangling on one ear. She felt her glasses and they seemed OK she replaced them and groped for her hat. Ouch she would have to land near blasted stinging nettles. At last she found her titfer and banged it on her arm hoping as she brushed herself down the earth and muck in the ditch hadn't marked her cloths too much. It was just as well she hadn't got her smart new uniform on, there might have been hell to pay. Thank goodness her suitcase hadn't burst open. It was a battered one and Jess had no idea where the keys were when she had the call up notice. She pressed on her eyes getting more used to the darkness by now. There! That was better she could see in the distance the end of the tunnel. She could see the outline of branches of a tree moving gently with a slight breeze which had come up and caused a rustle of leaves throughout the tunnel. Nearly there! Nearly there! The whispering trees seemed to murmur as she emerged into the moonlight. Some way ahead she could see the outline of the farmhouse where Mary had been set down. She finally reached the five-barred gate. Fumbling clumsily with the huge bolt she managed to open the gate and squeeze through she carefully replaced and locked the gate. Making her way to the door she timidly tapped with her knuckles and waited. Oh gawd don't say they're all gone to bed she thought. She found a small stone and used it to tap louder at the same time calling out Anyone in. At last she heard someone opening the door. A face appeared from the dimly lit entrance. Molly explained who she was and why she was late. The farmer called out to his wife at the same time holding the oil lamp in his hand nearer to prove it was really a woman soldier at the door. The farmers wife seemed to know more about it. I told the officer who came here I had no bedrooms left because I already have four sons. Your other lady is spending just one night on our bathroom floor. Seeing the look of horror which had come over Molly's face at the thought of being turned away yet again she hesitated then said You had better come in anyway and I'll call down the other lady who has already gone up to bed. Mary appeared wearing a smart dressing gown. With her oval shaped face with its upturned nose held high she revealed a lovely row of pearly teeth and asked in her how now brown cow voice, as Jess would put it What has happened. Molly did her best to explain.
Not a bit of space left at all said the farmers wife. Please allow her to sleep with me on the bathroom floor as it is for one night only pleaded Mary. The farmers wife agreed. Molly was so relieved at not having to trudge out into the unknown again she grabbed her suitcase, gulped a thanks ever so much and followed Mary who elegantly ascended the stairs lifting her dressing gown gracefully. The bathroom held a white cast iron bath standing on four legs. No heating???
There was a wash basin standing on a covered in table, inside the basin stood a tall jug. Mary indicated to Molly she put her suitcase inside the bath alongside hers. These blankets will have to do, one to lie on one to cover us, they are army issue left by captain ---, the cushions for our heads have been kindly sent us by the farmers wife off her settee. Couldn't we have slept on the settee, I wondered that mused Mary, but I have the feeling the farmers wife wants to stress she hasn't an inch of room to spare, hoping the army authorities will not invade their privacy. It must be (sad) for the people who own the field where all our marquees and tents are put up as it is. Such a lot has got to be organised. She turned to the hand basin with her toothbrush in hand. By the time she had begun to gargle, removed her cloths, donned her poor quality night-dress and snuggled down between the blankets. The gargling stopped Oh are you not going to clean your teeth? Molly was too tired to reply she had had enough for one day, her teeth could have an extra brush in the morning.
Molly was awakened by more gargling, gosh is she still at it thought Molly and stiffly turned over and opened one eye. Mary stood before the open window head tossed back gargling. Moooo a sound came from the open window, Mary stopped gargling and looked out. What was that asked Molly Why a cow of course said Mary. By this time she had turned from the window and in the confined and cramped conditions had managed to begin her exercises. Ah yes said Molly I was half asleep She didn't let on to Mary the sound was so strange to her she thought it was probably a factory hooter with a cold.
Whats the time? She asked Mary, just gone 5am, we have to report for breakfast at 6am the lorry will be calling for us and he may call here first, so you had better hurry. Molly rose stiffly from the floor and made her step to the basin and open window.

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