the lass from the mills pt2 (draft and chapter reposetory)

 

It was Monday, the weekends events turned over in her mind and whilst many were good, one conversation concerned her. She and Philip had danced and had a few drinks, enjoyed fresh fish n chips as they walked across London bridge, and ended up back at his flat where they made love. Sunday morning broke, a warm early spring walk beckoned, Faith wanted a walk to a little cafe nearby for coffee and breakfast buns but Philip seemed to want to talk to her about her duties, indeed his opening "pillow talk" was asking her what she'd be doing tomorrow? It was a line of questioning that had come up previously and Ashley was mindful of the signs about "careless talk costing lives". Why the interest she asked?

Oh, you know he replied nonchalantly, I love you so much I want to learn more about you, there are things I hardly know about you. That seemed to satisfy her embryo of suspicion but she still wanted to tread carefully. Get dressed then, and I'll let you take me for breakfast she replied.

 "What about you"? she quipped as the walked along the embankment, "I know very little of your world." He shrugged, not much to know I'm afraid, event to Grammar School and on to University then landed a position as a reporter here in london, mainly covering... As he spoke the sirens wailed and they ran to a signposted shelter, t"hats breakfast postponed" he shouted above the brutality and  theatre of the scene. "I hate those Germans for what damage they're causing to my world" she said to him, "not just the Germans to blame" he shouted but quickly clammed up when he realised it caught the attention of an ARP patrol chap. Later on that morning as they sat in a simple but homely cafe for tea and cake she asked him to elaborate on the market made.

He was coy, talked about world politics and ages of empires which to be honest went right above her head Ed that said talking talking of empires reminded her something Lizzie had said back at the barracks in casual conversation with Faith some weeks earlier, could this be a family trait she wondered was he one of these fifth columnists one hears about on the BBC? Either way it bothered her and she was begining to think she didn't think that much of him anyway. Whilst they were together her mind would often wonder back to Brinscal. 

These events continued to bother her and on her arrival back at the barracks she decided to go and speak to Sergeant Grey mainly to tell her of her concerns about Philip asking her about what her duties were, and her trips out of London, adding that she hadn't told him where she was going precisely and at this point she was glad she hadn't told him much anyway.

She thought that will be the end of it in need it was as far as she was concerned but she was very wrong indeed from that moment on I like change completely the first move the sergeant did was too confined to barracks "for her own good" she said. The following morning she was told to do the middle and run again and things seem normal until she got there.

After she had unloaded her cargo she would normally get back in the van and drive back to base, this time however two men in civilian suits with bowler hats and ask her to join them in the office leave the lorry here they said we'll have you on your way shortly they seemed pleasant enough if somewhat sinister in there manner but they took her into a side office and that's who she like tea or coffee to each you replied coffee. The introduce themself as sergeants Carruthers and Thompson.

"Let me get straight to the point" said Carruthers, "we understand your boyfriend has been asking you all sorts of questions, well we suspect it might be up to no good and I think you suspect  similar which is why you reported it to your line manager last night yes?" She replied "yes" 

One day Faith was helping Mrs Pollard with the farm bookkeeping, it was a particular skill she had working with numbers, not a skill possessed by the farmers wife. Several people had noticed her numerical skills, and her teachers had suggested a career in banking might be considered. 

This day in particular she was in the process of changing the methods of accounting to double entry bookkeeping, a system she had become aware of whilst checking her church's year end returns which Mrs Pollard simply couldn't comprehend.  "It'll simpliefy the process she assured them all.The farm's huge sideboard was full of recipients, invoices and the rest and Mr Pollard and the lads knew better than get involved. She'd been working on this project for about a month and was aware the the year end farm reports were due shortly,

"What did you mean when you said it's not only Germany's fault"  Faith asked Philip when the next met.

"Well that's they want us all to believe he replied, but I believe it's Empire building by huge Industrial and Financial interest who don't really bother who are signing the cheques, they don't care whether there are communists fascists or capitalists, they don't care at all, it's all the same dirty money to them."

"Germans had felt betrayed by the signing of the "peace treaty"at Compiègne on 11 November 1918 andtheir country was carved up and many said unfairly."

"Amidst domestic political unrest that was driven by a civilian context of war fatigue and hunger. Hitler exploited the said Treaty and the dents in German pride that it, and defeat of the Fatherland, quickly resulted in a renewed sense of (extreme) national pride. Britain and France ignored the rearmament of Germany whilst Russia and Japan were preoccupied with their own empire building." He went in to tell her that he belong to a small group of men and women in in London who were actively seeking ways of ending the war as soon as possible by coming to some form of agreement with Nazi Germany how had expressed their intentions were nevervto invade or subjugate the United Kingdom or it's subjects. And had the United Kingdom cooperated with Germany the German government the boundaries of the war would have been kept to mainland Europe.