Читать книгу The Crooked Olive Branch - Frederick Munn - Страница 28

Chapter 20

The following morning Peter entered the dining room before the agreed 7.00 am breakfast, hoping to find a cup of coffee. Dorothy and Peg were already there at the same table studying the immigration documents. Joining them, he asked, “Any chance of coffee?”

“Good morning Peter, you’re early.” Peg looked at her watch. “Nowhere near seven o’clock. Couldn’t you sleep?”

“Anything wrong?” Dorothy asked.

“We are not coming with you today. Hal is not good.”

Peter was using Hal’s exhaustion to cover his real intentions. It being true, however, that Hal was under some strain and in need of a break.

“We intend to keep Miriam with us. Is that acceptable with you? We will need help with procedures and paperwork.”

This suggestion was met with silence.

Peg got up to find some coffee, having seen movement in the kitchen.

“Give us time to think and sort things, please Peter. Is Hal ill?”

“No just tired, it’s best we rest up for a while.”

Peg returned with coffee. “Did I hear you say that you can’t travel today?”

“Not today, it’s Sunday.”

Both ladies looked up. “Sunday what do you mean?”

“I’m not sure how immigration works at Dover, but I believe the main decision makers will be home for the weekend. The chances of getting Mim through against the lower ranks who will be unable or unwilling to make any decision are not good. They will go by the book. This would mean Mim ending up in the care of the local authority or whoever and we will lose control. Either way she could end up as ward of the Home Office.”

“She can still come through with us and in that case, we might retain some control.”

Dorothy offered. “Then I will do my best to keep track of the little girl.”

“Thank you, can we use that as a fall back?”

Peter considered for a moment before deciding to explain his thinking.

“I need for Sir George, my future father-in-law, to be at his desk also for his Home Office colleagues to be in their offices. Therefore, I think we will take our chance on Monday. Also, it will give Hal a chance to recover.”

“Sir George?” It was Peggy’s turn to be surprised.

“Later, Peg,” said Dorothy, now more interested in Peter’s plan. “Are you sure Hal’s all right?”

“Yes, it’s just that he’s not slept well for some days,” Peter explained, adding, “the advent of instant parenthood has disturbed his rhythm. Before Mim, I would have put money on Hal getting his eight hours if he was to be shot at dawn; not now.”

It was some seconds before he realised his gaffe. He held his hand up, “Sorry.”

It was Peggy who, not knowing the full history, broke the silence with “Comes with the territory I’m afraid.”

“Peg,” Dorothy interrupted edgily.

Tuss lit another cigarette from the diminishing stub and grinned at Peter.

“She always calls me Peg when I irritate her.”

Dorothy took a deep breath and sighed.

“Tuss, not now, this is too important. Pass me that supplementary.”

Peg passed her one of the forms they had been dealing with. Dorothy tore the form in two.

“I like Peter’s idea, can you come over on the ferry with us then wait to help Peter and Hal through immigration tomorrow?”

“Then what?” Tuss blew a huge smoke ring. “You still after me returning to London?”

“It would make sense. Think about it, please?” pleaded Dorothy. “You would be safer there.”

“I live in Paris for God’s sake. These tin pot bullies will probably take over in Austria, but do you really think they will take on France and England?”

“I’d feel happier if you at least come over to help. You could wait and see Peter and Hal through immigration and have a new form ready to fill in. Then if Peter’s ploy fails, try and marry Miriam up to the main party. That way we can keep track of her.”

Peg blew another smoke ring. “Does make a sort of sense.”

She thought for a moment, sure that Dot had another agenda but after all, her argument had merit, so she agreed.

“O.K. then.” She stood up and looked at her watch.

“7.00 breakfast time, more coffee.” Peg headed off to the kitchen.

Dorothy smiled at Peter. “That’s Tuss! Got her own way of dealing with things. It’s her way of coping with life. I assure you that she is still focused and aware. She’ll not let us down.”

“I’d hoped you would come on board with my idea, thank you. Hal will then know that we tried everything.”

“No Peter, thank you and Hal, it is you helping us, remember” Dorothy was quick to point out.

Rounding up the children after breakfast wasn’t too difficult. Peter found it poignant the way they tolerated the hustle to get them to a coach waiting outside. They lined up with an acceptance, a resignation which tore at his heart strings. They appeared to accept events as prisoners rather than refugees being saved from a tyranny. Time was short. they had to make the early train in time for the ferry. Peg managed a toothy grin for Peter.

“See you in Dover tomorrow.”

She ushered the final child aboard and hanging on to the coach step, shouted “Righty-oh.” As the coach moved away, she shouted to Peter, “About the phone, Andre will be in touch.”

Peter ran after the coach shouting, “Andre, who’s Andre?”

It was of no avail, the coach was away.

Returning to the hostel Peter, looking for the receptionist, was met one of the kitchen women. “Petit-dejeuner pour le monsieur et la enfant?”

Peter suddenly realised that Mim would be left on her own. “Ou est la petite fille?” he asked.

“Avec l’ homme.”

“Merci.” Peter forgot his question to the reception and hurried to Hal’s room. Quietly he opened the door and peeked inside. The scene served to confirm everything he knew about the relationship between his friend and this tiny child. In turn, it reinforced his intention to succeed in his plan to try and adopt her. Returning to the dining room, he collected croissants and milk and took these up. Mim was just waking, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Peter placed the tray on the side table and turned to pick up Mim. Peter was intending to take her downstairs so that Hal could sleep on, but she was already poking Hal in the cheek with her forefinger and he was stirring. Peter tried not to laugh as he spoke.

“See you two downstairs.”

Hal sat up and grunted. “Thanks, Pete.”

Downstairs in the reception area Peter was met by a young man.

“Ah! Mr. Barnes you wish to telephone to England?”

Andre had no trouble recognising Peter. Peter realised he was the taxi driver from last night.

“Yes please,” he answered realising that this must be Andre.

“You speak good English.”

“Today, Sunday it is not good. The telephone office is very busy. You will wait a long time for a connection.”

“It’s imperative that I telephone today. Is there no other way? Please, Andre.”

Andre considered this request while whistling tunefully and tossing a small coin from hand to hand in time to the whistled tune. He did this repeatedly catching the coin in the hand, palm downwards then returning it in the same manner to his other hand.

“You see ambidextrous,” he said with a smile.

Despite Andre’s charm, the performance annoyed Peter. Seeing Peter’s frown, he said, “What I am meaning to say is there is always more than one way of progressing.”

He continued tossing the coin while speaking. “You go to Calais tomorrow?”

“Yes, to catch the 11.00 a.m. ferry.”

“You will be rushed then to catch this ferry. Like Miss Firth today. Not good.”

He continued tossing the coin and resumed whistling. Suddenly he stopped and popped the coin into his pocket.

“Today I will drive you to Calais in my taxi. I know there a hotel where you can stay the night. They have a telephone service for their guests. They make and receive calls all the days, to and from England. If you wait for connections, it is better to wait in a bar.”

He smiled. “You see, another way.”

Without seeking Peter’s agreement, he continued,“I’ll meet you and the others here in just one hour.”

He held out a hand. Peter didn’t know whether this was a question or an order. This charming young man was irresistible. He had quickly dispelled his annoyance of his apparent casual manner, with a swift logical assessment of the problem. Equally, a swift presentation of an excellent solution. This covered most of the questions which had occupied him since waking.

Peter took his hand and answered. “We will be there, thank you Andre you are a star.”

“I do twinkle sometimes,” he chuckled, “See you in one hour.”