A Sister's War Page 8

  How long ago had it overturned? Oh, if only there was a light. Of course! She suddenly remembered she had a torch. Stumbling out of bed she bent low, her arms flailing, trying to feel for her rucksack. There! She dug into the outside pocket and her fingers enclosed it. Thank goodness she’d thought to pack it. Oh, but why hadn’t she remembered and used it instead of the candle? She switched it on and pointed it at the shelf, then picked up the fallen candle. To her horror she saw a burn hole and scorched shreds of wood, the damage the size of a saucer. Dear God, she might have set the whole boat on fire and at the same time asphyxiated herself!

  Dora would go berserk when she found out. Ronnie clenched her jaw. She mustn’t find out. Whatever happened, she mustn’t see it. It could be enough for Dora to send her home.

  As she stood wondering how to get rid of the smell, she heard laughter and noisy footsteps. They were already returning from the pub. One of them was singing, and another joined in. Well, the girls in the motor boat wouldn’t be able to smell anything, but Jessica and May certainly would. She’d have to come clean with them and make them swear not to say anything to Dora.

  May was still singing as she dropped through the hatch, Jessica behind her, swearing as her foot slipped on the last step.

  ‘What’s that smell?’ May hissed.

  ‘Shhh,’ Jessica warned loudly. ‘Don’t wake Ronnie.’

  ‘I’m not asleep.’ Ronnie shone her torch onto the two girls’ startled faces.

  ‘Something’s burning,’ May said. ‘What happened?’

  It was suddenly all too much. Ronnie dropped on the bed and put her head in her hands. Tears trickled between her fingers.

  ‘I couldn’t see to read,’ she said in a muffled voice. ‘I forgot I had a torch so I lit a stupid candle. I was reading and fell asleep. Then I must’ve turned over and somehow knocked it. Or it could have been the boat rocking … I don’t know.’ She began to sob.

  ‘Dear Lord.’ Jessica rushed to the bed and put an arm around her. ‘It’s a wonder the whole boat didn’t go up in flames with all this wood. But thank goodness you’re safe. No harm done.’

  ‘Only the shelf,’ Ronnie muttered.

  ‘Let me look.’ Jessica took the torch and shone it onto the burnt patch. ‘It’s nothing so terrible. Keep your book over it and no one will be any the wiser.’

  ‘I just don’t want Dora to find out,’ Ronnie sniffed. ‘I know it was inexcusable to be so careless but I don’t want to be sent home.’

  ‘You won’t be,’ May said. ‘We won’t let you. What are friends for if they can’t stick together?’

  ‘Especially against that old bat,’ Jessica grinned. ‘We won’t even let the other girls know about it.’

  ‘Least said, soonest mended, is what I always say,’ May added.

  Ronnie looked up at the two girls, so very different to one another, but making a vow to keep her secret. It reminded her of Raine and Suzy. Ever since they were children the three of them had made a special pact never to keep secrets from one another, but also never to spill them to Maman or anyone else. She realised how much she missed the camaraderie of her sisters, but to her relief it looked as though May and Jessica wanted to be friends.

  ‘Thank you for standing by me,’ she said.

  ‘You didn’t think nothing different, did you?’ May said.

  Ronnie shook her head and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

  ‘Here, blow your nose.’ Jessica handed her an immaculate white handkerchief embroidered with a ‘J’.

  ‘It’s too nice to use.’

  ‘Don’t be daft. Things can always be washed.’

  ‘Shall I make some cocoa?’ May said.

  ‘What’s the time?’ Ronnie asked.

  ‘Coming up to midnight.’

  ‘Perfect time,’ Jessica laughed. ‘Be like boarding school when we used to have midnight feasts. I might just have a ciggie.’ She glanced at May. ‘Would you like one?’

  ‘I’ve given up.’

  ‘Since when?’

  ‘Since just now,’ May said, picking up the water can. ‘The stink of smoke in the pub made me feel queasy. And sitting next to Dora with that disgusting pipe didn’t help. But all this talk of midnight feasts’ – she paused to fill the kettle – ‘course I wouldn’t know about them. I never went to no posh school. Left at fourteen, I did, to look after three screaming little horrors – but talking of feasts is making me hungry.’ She took a half loaf from the bread bin. ‘Anyone want a cheese sandwich?’

  ‘Yes, please,’ Ronnie and Jessica chorused.

  May nodded and cut three thick slices. She looked up, a sly smile hovering over the pretty mouth. ‘You know, I’ve just thought of something. This smell won’t be gone in just a few hours and guess who’ll be the first to show their ugly mug?’ She jerked her head towards the hatch. ‘Dora, that’s who. So tomorrow morning, who’s up first must get the stove lit, then put a couple of slices of bread on the top and leave it on too long so it burns. That will really make it smoke. Then when she comes in and smells burning we can show it to her. It’ll put her right off the scent,’ she chortled.

  ‘Excellent idea, May,’ Jessica laughed, springing up. ‘Come on, Ronnie. Up the table for May’s midnight buffet.’

  Ronnie sat down. ‘I don’t mind admitting I burnt the toast.’

  ‘Be a lot easier than explaining how Penelope came to be a burnt-out shell,’ Jessica teased as she carefully fixed her cigarette into a long ebony holder. She flicked her lighter, lit the end, drew a deep breath, rounded her mouth and proceeded to huff out a string of smoke rings. Ronnie watched, awestruck. Jessica was so sophisticated. She’d never met anyone like her before. She wondered if Raine would get on with her. Mmm, she might. But she’d be too much for Suzy, that was certain.

  ‘Just be careful with that fag, Miss Hamilton-Bard,’ May said, putting the mugs of cocoa on the table, ‘or you could be the one doing the explaining.’

  But it wasn’t Dora who woke them, it was Angela. And all of them were fast asleep when she shouted through the hatch, ‘Anybody up? It’s six o’clock. Dora says we have to leave at seven latest.’

  Ronnie awoke with a jerk. She’d lain awake next to Jessica for at least an hour after they’d all gone to bed, worrying about the candle damage. Thankfully, Jessica hadn’t been so restless and finally Ronnie had drifted off, but she’d been in a deep sleep and Angela’s loud tone had scared her half to death.

  She scrambled out of bed.

  ‘I can smell something,’ Angela called down, and to Ronnie’s horror the girl dropped heavily into the cabin. ‘What is it?’ She looked accusingly at Ronnie, who was furious with herself that she’d overslept and had nothing to offer as an explanation.

  ‘Oh, I …’

  ‘I had a ciggie in the early hours.’ Jessica sat up in bed. ‘It must be that. But it was too cold to open the hatch.’

  Angela’s eyes narrowed. ‘I know cigarette smell,’ she said. ‘It isn’t that. Something’s burning – or has already burnt.’ She looked round and her eyes fell on the candle, now back in the candlestick. ‘Did you light a candle when you came in last night, Jessica?’

  ‘No,’ Ronnie cut in. ‘It was me. I was hungry when the others came in last night and fancied some toast. I burnt it, that’s all.’

  ‘I don’t believe it.’ Angela scanned the small space, then her gaze went back to the candle.

  Before Ronnie realised what Angela was about to do, the girl snatched up her book and gave a gasp as she saw the damage. ‘What’s been going on here?’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Ronnie said.

  ‘This is new,’ Angela said triumphantly as she fingered the burn. ‘And the wick has been used. It looks like the candle toppled over and set fire to the shelf.’ She swung round. ‘Do you realise you could have set the whole boat on fire – and ours as well?’

  ‘What’s going on?’ May sat on the edge of her folding bed and rubbed her eyes. ‘Oh, it’s
you, Angela. What d’ya want?’

  ‘To tell you to be ready by seven,’ Angela snapped. ‘But I’m more worried about Ronnie and her lighted candle last night. Do you know anything about it?’

  May shook her head. ‘Why should I? We were out, if you remember.’ She sniffed the air. ‘Oh, you’re on about the burning smell. We had some toast when we came in last night and burnt the first round.’

  ‘Don’t give me that.’ Angela looked from one to the other. ‘Ronnie’s already told that lie. Just have a look at that shelf. I’m going to have to report this.’ She turned to go up the steps.

  ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Angela,’ Jessica said, her voice steely. ‘It was an accident and no harm done.’

  Ronnie shivered. Even in the dim light Jessica’s eyes were flashing dangerously.

  ‘That’s hardly the point.’ Angela’s voice was cool. ‘Ronnie was careless to the point of stupidity, and you know it, Jessica. Heaven knows what she might do next. She certainly doesn’t act like a responsible adult. And quite frankly, I don’t believe for one minute she’s eighteen next month. I think that’s another lie. But that will be easy enough to confirm. And get her sent home to her mummy.’

  She was gone before Ronnie could open her mouth to reply.

  Chapter Nine

  ‘I want a word in private with yer about last night.’ Dora Dummitt surveyed Ronnie from the roof of the Persephone as she puffed on what looked like an unlit pipe. She’d beckoned Ronnie over just before they were ready to let go.

  ‘Miss Dummitt, I can explain—’

  ‘I hope yer can. And while the others are gettin’ the next lock sorted yous’ll have the opportunity.’

  Ronnie’s heart sank. Angela was acting like the school bully and must have already reported her.

  The hour dragged by for Ronnie until they came to the first of several locks. Angela and Margaret were trudging along the muddy towpath to get it ready. This time Sally was at the tiller with Dora warning her not to bash the sides of the boat in what would be another narrow space and Jessica and May were preparing lunch in Penelope.

  ‘She’s all yours,’ Dora told Sally as the boat was safely inside the lock and the water was streaming out. ‘Hold it steady until the level’s the same as outside.’ She paused. ‘Ver-ron-eek, me and yous’ll sit at the table. I want ter know what’s bin goin’ on.’

  Sally sent Ronnie a swift glance, then looked away, chewing her lip, making Ronnie feel even more nervous.

  ‘So, miss …’

  Dora Dummitt sat without interrupting, only tapping her pipe on the table while Ronnie recounted the accident. Ronnie had already made up her mind there was no point in lying to the woman. The burnt shelf was proof enough. But she didn’t mention Angela.

  ‘Yer know yer coulda set the butty on fire,’ Dora said icily. ‘And it coulda spread to the motorboat.’

  Ronnie bent her head. ‘I know,’ she mumbled. ‘I can’t believe I didn’t snuff it out. But I’ve never been so tired in all my life. That’s why I fell asleep without even realising.’

  ‘No excuse,’ Dora snapped. ‘By the end of the week yer goin’ ter be worse tired than that. Yer need to keep yer wits about yer, girl, and remember everythin’ I tell you. It’s like I said yesterday – there are all sorts of dangers on the cut besides drownin’. Folks’ve lost fingers when workin’ the paddles, slippin’ on the roof and breakin’ a leg – that’s happened before – yer never know what’s round the corner. Often another impatient boater tryin’ to squeeze in front. Yer have to be ready for it.’ She gave Ronnie a hard stare. ‘Are y’up to it?’

  Mrs Hunter had asked her the same question. But did this mean Dora was going to give her another chance?

  ‘Yes, I am. I promise.’

  ‘How old are yer, miss? And don’t give me no lies.’

  ‘Seventeen … next month,’ she added.

  Dora frowned, then seemed to come to a decision. ‘All right. I won’t say nothin’ ’bout you bein’ underage. A month is neither here nor there, s’far as I’m concerned.’ She gave her hideous smile. ‘Maybe I’ll make a boater out of yer one day!’

  Ronnie forced herself to look at Dora Dummitt. She couldn’t believe she’d been let off so lightly. Angela must have even told the trainer she didn’t believe Ronnie was seventeen, but Dora obviously had her own way of dealing with such matters and was not going to be swayed by anyone. Ronnie wondered what Angela would say. Angela had strongly hinted Ronnie would be sent home.

  ‘Right, that’s it,’ Dora said, leaping up. ‘We’ve work ter do but let me tell you, miss, I’ll be watching yer closely.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Dummitt. I won’t let you down.’

  ‘See yer don’t,’ Dora grunted. ‘Now get the kettle on and make the tea. Two sugars for me – an’ don’t go puttin’ no salt in it, mind.’

  ‘We’ve just used the last of the condensed milk, Miss Dummitt,’ Jessica said when she and May joined them and Ronnie had set a mug in front of everyone. ‘We need to top up on food. Can we stop somewhere today?’

  Dora nodded. ‘Tring. It’s a village. We’ll be there about four if we put a move on.’

  ‘Is it far from where we tie up?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘I’ll go, Miss Dummitt,’ Ronnie said, feeling the need for a normal walk to stretch her legs instead of the trudge along the towpath in the mud to the next lock.

  ‘I’ll go, too,’ Jessica said. ‘In the meantime, I’m going to make some soup for lunch, and wash these mugs – if that’s okay with you, Miss Dummitt.’

  Dora nodded and stood. ‘Right, everyone else ready?’ She turned to Ronnie. ‘And yer can bring me some baccy.’

  Ronnie was conscious of several boats queueing behind them, some of the boaters shouting what sounded like swear words about wenches, as she frantically tried to fathom out how this particular lock worked.

  She’d managed in the end but as the two narrowboats approached the next lock and Ronnie was about to jump down onto the towpath a boater, bundled from head to toe in old clothes and a cap and standing on his roof, had put two fingers up at them and without a word gone on his way.

  ‘What a rude man,’ Sally said. ‘I gave him plenty of room.’

  Dora, keeping an eye on Sally at the tiller, threw her head back and roared.

  ‘He weren’t makin’ no rude sign,’ she said between guffaws. ‘He were tellin’ us he’s left two locks ready for us.’ She lifted two fingers. ‘See – one, two. He were doin’ us a favour!’ She screamed with laughter again. ‘Yer need to learn the rules of the cut. That goes for you, too, Ver-ron-eek.’

  It was the longest run of locks they’d experienced but luckily there’d been a nice lock-keeper who’d prepared the last three, to everyone’s relief. Ronnie would gladly have put her feet up with a cup of tea, but she still felt the most enormous relief that she wouldn’t have to be in Angela’s company for the next hour or two. The woman was causing an atmosphere by her withering glances at Ronnie, arguing with everything she said to the point where Ronnie kept her mouth closed. She wondered how Margaret and Sally, who saw a lot more of her, managed to put up with her overbearing attitude.

  ‘What’s up with our dear Angela?’ Jessica said as she and Ronnie left the towpath to join a hikers’ trail which led to the village.

  ‘She’s annoyed because Dora didn’t send me home.’

  ‘What!’ Jessica’s pretty mouth fell open. ‘Do you mean she ratted on you to Dora about the candle?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Dear Lord, what on earth did Dora say? Did she hit the roof?’

  ‘She warned me about fires and told me being exhausted was no excuse. But you know, Jessica, I don’t think she likes being told what to do by anyone – least of all one of the trainees. Angela also told her I wasn’t seventeen.’

  Jessica swung round. ‘Good God, how old are you, then?’

  ‘Well, I’m seventeen next month but I was two months away when I appli
ed. It seemed so silly to be only a few weeks away from the minimum age, so I let them believe I was seventeen already. I was so sure I’d be an asset but I’m not at all sure about that any more.’

  Jessica chuckled. ‘I’m sure none of us is an asset yet,’ she said, ‘but we’re bound to be at the end of our training.’ She looked curiously at Ronnie. ‘Did you tell Dora the truth about your age?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And …’

  ‘She said it didn’t matter. And that she’d make a boater out of me one day.’

  Jessica laughed. ‘Let’s hope she does it for all of us,’ she said, ‘although I worry about Margaret. She’s such a thin little waif. I think she’s finding this particularly tough.’

  ‘But she’s game,’ Ronnie said. ‘We’ll all have to help her as well as fatten her up.’

  After the best part of half an hour the two girls reached the village with its pretty parish church and the usual smattering of local shops.

  ‘This one looks like it sells everything,’ Ronnie said, opening the door. Glancing round she took in the variety of items. Second-hand clothes swung on a rail over the newspapers and magazines, cakes and bread jostled with a large shallow box of cheeses and a bowl of eggs, tinned goods sat side by side with fresh vegetables and fruit, there was a bacon and ham slicing machine taking up a third of the counter, with a couple of shelves behind that held tobacco and cigarettes.