Read Online Roses of Winter by Murdo Morrison - Free Book Online Page B

attack and the noose was tightening on an increasingly smaller area of the French coast.
    Later, when Harry climbed down into the engine room to stand his watch, he told Charlie that the majority opinion among the deck hands was that they were headed for Dunkirk.   “We've turned eastward away from Calais,” Harry said.  
    “Aye, that seems tae settle it,” Charlie agreed. “Ah wonder whit kind o’ welcome we can expect?” They received an answer to that question a short time later. Charlie had come up on deck to get some air and have a quiet smoke. He was thinking about his family back in Maryhill when he was jolted out of his reverie by the sound of alarm bells. The ship vibrated under his feet as the engine room put on whatever extra speed it could muster and the ship began to alter course randomly. Charlie scanned the sky and quickly spotted aircraft speeding towards the ship. Fascinated, he stayed on deck, knowing he wouldn’t be any safer below.  
    The planes were closing fast. Their silhouettes reminded Charlie of the sea birds he had seen as a boy when he roamed the harbor at Fraserburgh. They were diving at the ship now, a loud shrieking noise preceding them. Charlie was frozen in place. He had a sudden image of Mary at their door, unsuspecting, confronting the telegram boy. Ach, ah hiv too active an imagination , he thought. It’s funny whit runs through yer heid in a situation like this.  
    Bombs left the leading plane. They screamed overhead to burst in the sea some distance from the ship. The Jasper lurched as the helm was thrown over to starboard. Charlie had always thought, my mind disnae work like other folks’ . For now, unbidden, came a strange thought, whit a story tae tell them when ah get back . He was enjoying the novelty of the experience. Just as quickly he dismissed the idea, questioning the quirkiness of his own mind. But in a way he couldn’t explain even to himself, he found the attack exhilarating. Charlie felt quite detached, far from the conventional emotions that people expect you to have in such situations. He simply couldn’t believe there was a German bomb made that could hurt him. Charlie also knew that he could never tell the part of the story that involved his inner thoughts for fear of others questioning his sanity.
    The next pilot had better estimated the course of the ship. His bombs exploded off the starboard side, throwing a mountain of water over the Jasper .   Soaked through, too surprised to give the matter any thought, Charlie yelled at the plane. “Ye cheeky German bastard ye!” Then he felt silly and looked around to see if anyone had heard. When the third German dropped his bombs well astern it seemed anticlimactic. The planes retreated. For the moment the skies were quiet. Charlie knew their respite wouldn’t last. They would be lucky to get in and out of Dunkirk in one piece.
    On the bridge, Captain Patrick Tierney turned to his first officer, John Stokes. “I think we can expect more trouble after what we’ve just seen.”  
    Stokes nodded. “The approach to Dunkirk is interesting enough as it is without the Germans getting in on the show. We’ll be a sitting duck once we’re in the main channel.”
    “You’re right there,” the captain agreed. “Have the fire fighting parties stand ready.”  
    When John left, Tierney scanned the sea ahead of the ship. They were within sight of Dunkirk. As he looked at the port city through his glasses he stiffened, trying for a better view, not sure of what he had seen. He leaned his elbows on the bridge rail to steady the binoculars and looked again. The city was under attack from the air. Bombs burst in the harbor area, each throwing up a brief flash followed by billowing smoke.  
    It was not long before a small boat came alongside. The pilot, a short, wiry man with a finely chiseled, handsome face, climbed the ladder. Entering the bridge, he greeted both officers in excellent, if accented, English,