Page 10 of Neighbors at War

‘There’s no need to thank me. What are neighbours for if not to step in when needed?’ She gave Helen a wink and ran up the steps and into number 3, feeling more alive than she had done in a year.

Chapter Five

PEGGY

Peggy’s exhilaration was short-lived. The following morning, as she was walking down Castle Street towards the Esplanade on her way to hand-deliver a letter for Advocate Le Gresley, she heard harsher voices than usual barking orders. Her stomach clenched in fear. Why did she have to deliver something right where there was a commotion? Aware the letter must be important for her to have to take it straight away, she forced herself to keep walking.

At the top of Castle Street she noticed islanders grouped on either side of the road. Wondering what was happening, she manoeuvred herself to the front, horrified to come across a scene straight from one of the Gothic novels she and Babs had read to each other growing up.

‘These poor people,’ a woman next to her sobbed.

Peggy didn’t want to look at the dreadful spectacle of exhausted men and women but was unable to tear her eyes away when she realised some were little more than children. Skin and bone, their poor battered bodies wearing clothes that were as good as rags, they hobbled along, their legs manacled, as guards screamed orders.

She knew they were among many now being brought to the island from camps on the Continent, to be put to work on the concrete fortifications that were blighting more and more of the island.

The woman next to her shook her head slowly. ‘They don’t look as if they have enough strength to do much more than walk, poor souls.’

Peggy wished she had something to give them. One of the women tripped and several in the crowd surged forward automatically to help her but were screamed at to get back, just as another soldier hit the fallen woman hard on the side of her head.

‘Stop it!’ Peggy screamed, wanting to snatch the rifle from him and hit him in retaliation. She stepped forward, taking a breath to shout again, when someone pulled her back. She grabbed at the muscular arms around her waist and kicked, desperate to be released. The person put her down, took her by the shoulders and turned her roughly to face him.

‘Tony? Why did you do that? Didn’t you see what he was doing to that poor defenceless woman?’

He took her by the wrist and led her further away without speaking.

Furious with him, she tried to snatch her arm from his grip.

‘Stop it, Peggy,’ he said his voice gentle. ‘I’m as incensed as you by what happened, but you’re not helping her by antagonising those guards. Most of them look as if they’re enjoying abusing those poor people.’

She was about to argue but realised he was right. ‘But we can’t just stand by and do nothing.’

He looked past her for a second. ‘I agree, but now is not the time for bravado.’

‘Then, when?’

He didn’t speak for a moment. ‘I’m sorry if I was rough with you just then, but I saw that guard looking in your direction and needed to remove you immediately.’

‘It’s fine,’ she said, aware she might have hurt him. ‘I wouldn’t have kicked if I’d known it was you.’

‘That’s good to know.’ He pulled an envelope from his pocket. ‘You dropped this as you pushed your way through the crowd.’

Peggy grimaced. ‘Thank you. Your father would be furious if I lost it.’

‘Maybe you should deliver it now.’

Shocked to have been careless, Peggy nodded. ‘I’ll do it straight away.’ She gave him a grateful smile and hurried to the address on the envelope, looking over her shoulder a couple of times when she heard screaming. She was sickened by what she had witnessed.

As she reached the correct address it occurred to her that Tony hadn’t answered her question about when they might find a way to help the forced workers.

Chapter Six

HELEN

Helen made her way downstairs after a sleepless night. The stress and adrenalin rush from helping Tommy at Villa Millbrook were tiring and she had expected to sleep fitfully, but hearing her aunt coughing through the night had upset her and she couldn’t help being frightened at the thought of her aunt’s prognosis. Why had she waited until it was too late for treatment? Her aunt had always appeared to be strong yet now her heart was weakened. Helen couldn’t imagine life without her beloved aunt. She took a steadying breath. It was her support Sylvia needed now, not someone falling apart.

Helen made them both a cup of tea. When her aunt didn’t appear ten minutes later, Helen tried to suppress the nagging sense of unease she had felt since waking. Hoping her aunt was having a lie-in after their emotional discussion the night before, she decided not to disturb her. Aunt Sylvia would be down in time for when she had to leave for work, so she fed Bobby as usual and made herself a bit of toast and a second cup of weak tea while she waited.

It was odd eating breakfast alone. Aunt Sylvia always joined her and mostly rose earlier than she did. Helen’s heart ached as it dawned on her that this would be her future if her aunt succumbed to her illness. Her throat tightened and, not wishing to be caught crying when she was supposed to be strong, she wiped away her tears with the heel of her hand. She glanced at the clock and realised she was going to be late if she didn’t get a move on. Placing two wooden building blocks on Bobby’s highchair tray to keep him entertained, Helen ran upstairs to check on her aunt.