The airfield Charles Roberts

 

If the old Colonel used his binoculars he could look across the airfield to the hangers and watch them pushing the planes in and out; could watch the men as they worked on the planes when they left the hanger doors open.  He knew that he might get into trouble for watching what they were doing, that they might think that he was a spy or something, but he was just interested and it gave him something to do; I mean what else can you do when you are in your eighties and stuck in the house.

          During the night he couldn’t see anything, oh they might wheel a plane out, but the hanger doors would open, the plane pulled out, then the doors shut quickly so that they kept it so that the lights showed as little as possible just in case an enemy bomber was in the area and saw it.  Everyone in the village was worried sick about being next to an active airfield, but they couldn’t evacuate an entire village; I mean where would you put them?  And the ones who were left were mostly elderly or infirm, or very young.

          They’d managed to keep the village school open, but during the winter months they had altered the lessons so that the kids would start when it was light and go home while it was still light, or just turning into dusk.  The old Colonel tried to make sure that all the lights were out in the house before he started to watch what they were doing over on the airfield.  He knew that if he didn’t then he could be in serious trouble, and that wouldn’t do because he was the chairman of the parish council.

          One evening he was at the window watching the airfield when he heard muffled voices coming from downstairs.  He didn’t take much notice of them and continued to set himself up in his usual position by the window.  Suddenly the bedroom door burst open and his daughter walked in.

          ‘That was Mr. Rogers, the policeman.  Someone on the air force station telephoned him to say that they could see a light on in this house,’ she crossed the room and adjusted the blackout curtains, ‘if you carry on they’ll arrest you for spying, do you want that?’ she put her hands on her hips and looked down at him, ‘it’s only because you are a respected veteran of the last war that Mr. Rogers isn’t taking it further; this time, but if it happens again he’ll have to.  Do you hear me daddy?’

          ‘Good man that Rogers.  Yes, I hear you, but it’s interesting.  We didn’t have anything like that in the last one.’

          ‘I know that daddy, but, and we’ve been thinking about this a lot, I think that you’d be better off moving in with Archie and me at the far end of the village.’

          ‘But I won’t be…..’

          ‘I know that you won’t be able to see the airfield, but you’ve less chance of being arrested for spying.  And I’ll be able to keep a better eye on you.’

          ‘But you’re only at the other end of the village, it’s not that far to walk.’

          ‘Daddy!  It’s a mile each way, and you know that Archie needs me as much as you.  Just remember that he lost a leg in the last war, you came through without so much as a scratch.  Then I have the children to worry about with John in the RAF and Richard in the Army.’

          ‘I wouldn’t worry about those two, they’ll be all right.’

          ‘They are out there fighting daddy.  Richard’s with the expeditionary force somewhere in France and John is flying Hurricanes also in France.  And the news isn’t looking good daddy, for either of them.  The Nazi’s are pushing into France at an alarming rate, Richard could end up either dead or a prisoner of war, and I just hope that it’s that last one.  As for John, well we never hear from him so I don’t know what is happening with him.’

          ‘They’ll be all right my dear, don’t worry.  Those two have come through some tight scrapes as they were growing up.’

          ‘Now to you!  I think that the best plan of action is to move you down to my house, then I can keep a close eye on you, and I don’t want any argument.  Both Archie and I agree that it is the best option, so I will take these,’ she said picking up his binoculars, ‘and we’ll move you down to my house in the morning.  I’ll see Mr. Jenkins and we’ll take whatever you need down and make you comfortable in one of the boy’s rooms.  That way I know that you won’t be arrested for spying.  Now bed!  And I don’t want any arguments, I’ll see you in the morning with Mr. Jenkins,’ she bent down and kissed him on the cheek, ‘night daddy.’  She left him wondering what had just happened.