Read Online Shell Shocked by Eric Walters - Free Book Online Page B

are?”
    â€œYeah, it’s not like they were wearing uniforms,” I agreed, thinking back to what I’d thought when that gun was pressed against my head.
    â€œSo I started thinking that I should make a break for it, but they were watching me like hawks, and I saw that one of them was carrying a piece under his jacket—”
    â€œThey probably all had guns,” I added.
    â€œAnd that made me more nervous. I wouldn’t be able to run, and I was worried about where I was going and where you and Mom were.”
    â€œThey didn’t tell you?”
    â€œThey wouldn’t tell me anything. They wouldn’t say a word. That was one long car ride. I was so relieved when we drove through the front gates of the camp.”
    â€œI hope ‘relieved’ turns out to be the right word. I’m not sure what’s going to happen. I just hope we don’t have to wait too long to find out.”
    On cue the door opened. Mom walked in, followed by Bill and … Little Bill! Little Bill being part of this meeting meant that we were going to get to the bottom of everything. But it also meant that this was very serious, and we’d probably stumbled into something dangerous. Again.
    Mom rushed over, wrapped her arms around Jack and me. Bill brought over another chair and placed it between us, gesturing to our mother to sit down.
    Little Bill stood over top of us and offered his hand. I started to get to my feet.
    â€œPlease, stay seated,” he said, and I shook his hand. He did the same with Jack.
    At that moment a man came into the room pushing a small serving cart. On the cart were cups and saucers, a little jug of milk, a sugar dish and a large, steaming pot of tea. I could smell it.
    â€œLet me do the honours,” Little Bill said.
    He started pouring tea and then began adding milk and sugar to the cups. He handed me a cup. “Milk and three sugars,” he said. “Correct?”
    â€œYeah.”
    He did the same with Bill, Jack and my mother. He didn’t need to ask anybody. He had remembered from months ago how we liked our tea. Here was this man who was in charge of thousands of spies and dozens and dozens of secret operations, a man who was licensed to kill, one of the most dangerous men in the world, and he remembered how we liked our tea! Unbelievable.
    â€œThat looks like a nasty scrape,” Little Bill said, pointing at my face.
    â€œIt looks worse than it is,” I said, although it was still stinging. It was now partially covered by a big bandage. The medic for the camp had cleaned it out. When he’d poured the antiseptic on it, it had hurt so badly that I’d had to fight hard not to scream or cry.
    â€œI don’t believe it will leave a lasting mark, but if it does, they do say that women love a scar.”
    Bill and my mother laughed. I didn’t think it was that funny.
    â€œJack, I must apologize. I’m assuming that they did not allow you sufficient time to change.”
    â€œThey didn’t allow me time to do anything.” He pulled his housecoat a little tighter around him.
    â€œStandard practice,” he said.
    â€œI should have mentioned to them that it would have been all right to allow him to get dressed,” Bill said.
    â€œNo, it’s best that they didn’t deviate from established procedures. Deviation from practice can lead to disaster.” He turned to us next. “So tell me, how are you boys doing in your new home?”
    Jack and my mother took turns talking about the new house and school and working at the plant. I didn’t say anything, I just listened. It was the strangest conversation. Here we were sitting in the middle of a top-secret spy camp, in the middle of the night, having a cup of tea and talking like we were all there for a Sunday social.
    â€œAnd you, George?”
    I was startled.
    â€œHow is school?” Little Bill asked.
    â€œIt’s good. Fine. Okay, I