Read Online The Gunner Girl by Clare Harvey - Free Book Online Page B

hand across a ruddy cheek. ‘Joined up last year, but since he turned eighteen he’s been posted. North Africa. I
had a letter from him today. He said it’s colder than a witch’s tit at night in the desert. Excuse my French.’ He paused and sighed and Edie looked at his face. There was a nick
on his cheek where he’d cut himself shaving. She wondered if he had a wife at home, waiting, keeping his supper warm in the oven. ‘Follow me back to my office and you can tell your
parents what you’ve decided,’ he said.
    The CSM opened his office door and ushered Edie inside. She noticed the cream-painted wooden walls, covered with large charts. To her left was a desk. And suddenly there was
Mummy, grabbing her arm.
    â€˜Edith Elizabeth Lightwater. This time you have gone too far, hasn’t she, Neville?’ her eyes flicked across to Pop, who appeared to be reading something on a poster.
    â€˜Your mother was very worried, Half Pint,’ he said, frowning slightly and swaying as he turned.
    â€˜More than worried. I was frantic. Anything could have happened. We had no idea where you were and you didn’t even leave a message. How could you be so thoughtless?’
    Then her mother abruptly let go and lifted her hands to her face. Her shoulders were jerking, but no sound came out. Edie heard the soft click of the door and sensed the CSM coming in behind
her. Pop enfolded Mummy in a stiff embrace, looking awkwardly over the top of her head at Edie. His hair looked very white under the electric bulb. ‘All right, old girl,’ he said,
giving Mummy a pat. The CSM cleared his throat and sat down behind his desk.
    â€˜Good set-up you’ve got here,’ said Pop to the CSM. ‘Busy?’ He was still patting Mummy’s back. Her shoulder blades made sharp triangles under her fur
coat.
    â€˜Very busy,’ said the CSM, picking up a fat fountain pen. ‘There’s conscription for the girls soon – we’ll be even busier then.’
    â€˜And their training, is it similar to the men’s?’ Pop continued, as Mummy sniffed and fished in a pocket for a lace-edged hankie.
    â€˜Fairly similar. It’s modelled on the men’s – no weapons training, obviously.’
    â€˜Oh, quite. I was an adjutant last time round and I remember . . .’
    Pop and the CSM began talking about the military, and the differences with this war. Mummy disengaged herself and looked angrily about. Edie watched, feeling detached, as if the scene was being
played out in a cinema and she was just in the front row.
    The CSM’s desk had a big sheaf of papers and a green-shaded lamp, which illuminated his large hands. He made some comment about junior officers that made Pop throw his head back and laugh.
Mummy glowered, searching in her handbag for her silver cigarette case. Edie rubbed her hand where the skin was chafed and raw from scrubbing. One of the other girls would have some Vaseline
somewhere, wouldn’t they?
    â€˜So how’s she been getting on?’ said Pop, nodding in Edie’s direction.
    â€˜Apart from the insubordination?’ said the CSM.
    Pop laughed again. ‘Oh, that’s in the blood, I’m afraid, old man. When I was in training . . .’ and he was off again with another anecdote, while her mother smoked,
greedily, her eyes flicking between Edie and the men.
    â€˜I’m sorry to interrupt,’ said Mummy, eventually, not looking sorry at all, ‘but I really think we ought to get Edith home. It’s hours back to Surrey.’
    â€˜It’s all right, old girl, we’re staying at the Cowies’ country place tonight. Didn’t I mention?’
    â€˜No, you didn’t.’ Her mother’s voice was like chipped china. ‘Meredith didn’t say that she and George . . .’
    â€˜George is up at Chequers. Something on, apparently. Meredith’s about, though,’ Pop