Read Online Blitz by Claire Rayner - Free Book Online Page A

a little at the savagery of his tone, and stared at him. He too was now leaning against the wall in a crouch, in the usual way that people used when they couldn’t find anywhere to sit, and she could see his eyes gleaming in the shadows.
    ‘I didn’t mean that,’ she said in a low voice. ‘Of course I didn’t. It’s awful, all of it. But we do our best to help them and – ’
    ‘Oh, aye, I’m sure you do. I’m sorry. I shouldna’ ha’ said that. It’s just that I get so angry –’ He caught his breath and then stopped. ‘You’ll not want to listen to me blethering on about it,’ he said then in a flat tone.
    ‘Of course I do!’ she said. ‘I’m always interested in what people have to say.’
    ‘Even a stinkin’ conchie like me?’
    She flushed and was glad he couldn’t see it in the dimness. She had felt scorn for him when she’d first heard why he was an orderly, and she couldn’t deny that, but he had been so helpful and brave enough out there in the Mile End Road. Many another man would have left the two of them in order to take himself to safety, rather than carry a great dead weight like that pram in order to persuade a frightened man to take shelter.
    ‘Of course,’ she said, ‘I’m interested in people of all sorts.’ She tried to smile then, hoping he could tell from her voice that she meant kindly. ‘That’s why I’m a nurse. Because I like being with people. It’s not because I like to see people in pain or anything. I just like being with them.’
    ‘Aye? Well, I’m glad to hear it,’ he said and lapsed into silence.
    They stayed there for a while listening to the crumps ofbombs becoming ever fainter, and longing for the all clear, and then she said, ‘Tell me, Todd, why are you a conchie?’
    ‘Ye gods, do you have to call me Todd like that?’ he burst out and there was real venom in his tones. ‘I’m no’ your servant!’
    She stared at him in amazement. ‘I’m sorry – I don’t understand what you – ’
    ‘If it’s too much trouble to call me
Mr
Todd then – ’
    ‘Mr Todd?’ she said. ‘But isn’t that your first name?’
    He was the one who stopped short.
    ‘What did you say?’
    ‘I said I thought Todd was your first name. I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, but it was the only name I ever heard anyone call you and – ’
    ‘Ah, to damnation wi’ it!’ he said and shook his head. ‘I’ve made a fat fool of mysel’, have I not? I’m sorry, Miss Bradman, I meant no – ’
    ‘My name is Robin,’ she said steadily. ‘I told you that.’
    ‘And mine is Hamish.’
    She caught her breath, a sudden desire to laugh bumbling up in her. It wasn’t the odd name, well, not really; but it wasn’t a common one and what with the events of the afternoon and the oddness of this whole conversation, it was all she could do to regain her composure. But somehow she managed it and said gravely, ‘I’m pleased to know it, Hamish. And I’m sorry I didn’t before.’
    ‘No need to fash yerself,’ he said and smiled again and his uneven teeth glimmered in the dimness and then she could laugh.
    ‘Such a funny word! I know it’s Scots, but I never know exactly what it means – ’
    ‘It’s no’ Scots so much as French,’ he said. ‘Did ye not do the language at school?
Ne fâchez vous
– don’t disturb yourself, don’t be angered – we’ve a good deal of the French in Scotland. Dour, d’you see, comes from the French for hard –
dûr
– and there are others – ’
    ‘You’re a very interesting person!’ she discovered and again reddened. ‘Oh, I’m sorry! That sounds – I didn’t mean to be so rude. It’s just that on the ward, only seeing you do the buckets and scrub the pans and so forth – ’
    ‘Aye,’ he said grimly. ‘Always the dirtiest jobs they can find for me. Because I’m that dirty thing, a man with conscience.’
    There was a little silence and then she said, ‘Tell me about it.’
    ‘What’s to tell you? I