Read Online The Uncertain Years by Beryl Matthews - Free Book Online

showed me of your brother? Well I thought Isaw him jumping into one of the boats. I wanted to go and ask him, but they were already heading out to sea when I got there.’
    ‘You must have been mistaken,’ Becky said, shaking her head. ‘He could be here after a story for his newspaper, but there’s no way he would be able to join in the rescue.’
    ‘I guess you’re right; it’s just about impossible to recognise anyone in amongst that crowd.’
    ‘Blimey! We’ve got a couple of girls here, lads. You got any fags? We’re gasping back here.’
    Alice turned round, smiled at the face peering at them, and handed over her packet. ‘There’s only five left, but you’re welcome to them. Have you got any left, Becky?’
    ‘Try my right-hand pocket, there might be some there.’
    Alice dived in the jacket pocket and pulled out a crumpled packet. She counted them, and then handed them to the soldier. ‘Only six. That’s all we’ve got, boys.’
    ‘Thanks, we’ll break them in half.’ The face disappeared.
    ‘Hey, Jack, what they like?’ one of the men said.
    ‘Real beauties.’
    There was a lot of scuffling in the back as the men took turns to have a look through the gap at them.
    ‘Be careful,’ Alice laughed. ‘You’re rocking the lorry, and my friend has only just passed her driving test today.’
    ‘Bloody hell! We’ve been bombed, shot at and nearly drowned, only to find ourselves at the mercy of a woman driver.’
    Alice turned until she could look at the men in the back. ‘Not just any woman driver. This one’s better thanmost men, and if we break down she can fix anything mechanical.’
    ‘In that case, Miss, we could have done with you on our boat. I didn’t think the poor old thing was going to make it, and I didn’t have the energy left to row the rest of the way.’
    The banter continued, and Becky relaxed, leaving Alice to do her best to make the men smile. Something her friend had said niggled at her, though. Had she really seen Will jumping into a boat? It was the kind of crazy thing he would do. She shook her head slightly, dismissing the worrying idea. It was highly unlikely. Still, she would get in touch with her parents as soon as she could, just to set her mind at ease.
     
    Dover was crowded with ships, and Doug had to steer expertly to reach the open sea without colliding with larger vessels. They’d only been going for about an hour when they came across a tug wallowing helplessly without power. It was packed with troops all waving frantically at them.
    Doug steered close and shouted, ‘What’s your trouble? Are you out of petrol?’
    ‘No, we’ve got enough, but the engine’s packed up and we can’t get it started again.’
    ‘Does the captain know what’s wrong?’
    ‘He ain’t aboard, mate. He got killed when he went on to the beach. Only got a young lad here, and he can drive this thing, but don’t know nothing about engines.’
    ‘Hell,’ Doug muttered before turning to Will. ‘Know anything about engines?’
    ‘A bit, but if my sister was here she’d soon sort it out.She’s the mechanic in our family. I’ll give it a go, though, if you can get me close.’
    It wasn’t easy, but with a lot of help and shouts of encouragement from the soldiers, Will managed to tumble on to the tug. After taking a look at the tug’s old engine, Will was at a complete loss. He really did need his sister, he thought wryly. These men had to get home so he’d better try and fix the thing, because the Lucky Lara couldn’t possibly take all these men. Pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket he began by wiping away some of the grease, and tightening anything he could see with a spanner from a nearby toolbox.
    ‘What do you think, lad?’ A soldier pushed his way through the crowded boat and hunkered down beside him.
    ‘Well, there doesn’t appear to be much wrong.’ There was no way Will was going to admit that he didn’t know what the hell he was doing. These men were