Read Online Churchill's Hour by Michael Dobbs - Free Book Online Page B

lose it, and the shockwaves of defeat would quite overturn Britain’s little boat. It would be the end, but he dare not admit it.
    â€˜What will you do?’ Winant asked.
    â€˜KBO, I suppose,’ Churchill muttered, his jaw jutting forward. ‘Just KBO.’
    Winant was taken aback, not knowing what to do or say and having no idea what the old man was talking about.
    The moment was broken by the arrival in the room of a young woman. It was Sarah, Churchill’s daughter, who had been visiting her mother. Winant rose, looking strangely like a schoolboy once more,the composure of recent moments vanished as Churchill made the introduction. She was tall, elegant, with a broad, open forehead and Churchill’s blue eyes.
    â€˜Forgive the interruption, Papa,’ she said, kissing his cheek, ‘I’ve come to say goodbye. May I see you at the weekend?’
    â€˜You shall!’ he said, dragging himself back from his broken dreams. ‘And Mr Winant here, too.’ He turned to the American. ‘Gil, you will be our guest at Chequers. You are one of the family now.’
    Winant stumbled in reply, wondering if he were being asked merely out of politeness and not wishing to intrude. Sarah rescued him, reaching out to touch his sleeve. ‘Papa won’t take no for an answer,’ she told him. ‘He never does.’
    To Winant she seemed delicate, a little fragile, and desperately appealing. And then she was gone.
    Sawyers was hovering at the door. Behind him a pair of generals and an air vice-marshal were impatiently waiting their turn. ‘Time for me to go, too,’ Winant said. ‘You’ve work to do. A war to wage.’
    Churchill stood and extended his hand. ‘I’m grateful for your candour, Gil. I know that’s what the President wants, it’s also what I want. No barriers between us, to hell with the diplomatic niceties. I pray we shall always be as straight with each other as brothers.’
    Sawyers escorted the ambassador out. On the wayto the door he gave the American a potted history of the old house. He also pointed to some of the features that had been added more recently—reception rooms that were badly damaged, windows broken and blocked up, great holes in the ancient plaster on the ceiling.
    â€˜In all honesty, Your Excellence, Number Ten’s not exactly what yer might call a substantial house. George Downing was a bit of a bad ‘un, like. Built the street wi’out foundations.’
    â€˜What happened to him?’
    â€˜I believe he went to America, zur,’ the valet replied, leading him through the hallway.
    As the great black door opened, it revealed a day growing dark and starting to spit with rain. Sawyers produced the American’s coat and hat, both of which had been given a stiff brushing.
    â€˜Tell me, Sawyers, what does “KBO” mean?’ the ambassador asked as Sawyers helped him shrug into his coat.
    â€˜Begging your pardon?’
    â€˜â€œKBO.” He kept muttering it.’
    â€˜Ah, it’s a military phrase, zur. From trenches in last war.’
    â€˜Meaning?’
    â€˜â€œKeep Buggering On.”’
    â€˜Yes, of course it does,’ the American said, smiling. ‘You must find your job fascinating, Sawyers.’
    â€˜I do find it has its moments, zur.’
    â€˜An important job, too.’
    â€˜Nowt special.’
    â€˜But you are with him from morning to night. You see everyone and everything, on the way in and on the way out. I guess that makes you more important than the Lord Chief Justice and the Minister of War put together. And much better informed.’
    â€˜Sadly not.’
    â€˜Oh, and why is that?’
    â€˜â€™Cos I’m by way of being too pig ignorant to understand or remember owt that’s said, zur.’
    Winant looked nonplussed.
    â€˜I’m quoting Mr Churchill, Your Excellence. Word fer word.’
    Winant’s eyes