Resistance

Chapter Ten

After several hours of hard walking they finally reached their destination, the Spanish coastline. The sight was beautiful. The clouds were so pretty, so many different colours, Purples, pinks, oranges and blues., and the sun just beginning to rise in the distance looked like it was rising out of the water, which was a deep and beautiful blue. The blue of the sea reminded Angelique of Richard’s eyes, she didn’t think that she had ever seen such a beautiful sunrise, if only Richard could have been there to share it with her.

On the edge of the water there was a rowing boat with a man in it. As they approached them he stood up and smartly touched his cap. He was in the uniform of a British Seaman and when he spoke it was with a cockney twang.

“Cor Blimey folks. We don’t 'ave all bleedin' day yew knows. This may be a neutral coun'ry but there’s still a bladdy war on yew know, 'urry i' up.”

The small rowing boat took them to a Light cruiser some way out with a destroyer providing defence. The party was helped over a ladder and onto the ship. The Captain was on the bridge.

“Welcome aboard the *HMS Neptune. I am Captain Hacking, I am sorry if I seem rude now but I would appreciate that on this journey to England you stay in the Cabin provided and do not get in the way. We are a working cruiser after all we all have our jobs to do.”

The party was shown to a largish sized cabin and left to themselves. They all fell asleep within five minutes of letting their heads touch their pillow aside from Angelique. She lay on her side of one of the bunks and looked at the sea through the porthole. She had dreamed about this for weeks now but Richard had always been part of the dream before. They would leave this war torn country that had so many bad memories for her and start anew in England his homeland, but now. Well now, she was indeed going to England but without the man that she wanted to start her new life with. She touched her stomach with affectionately, at least Richard’s child would grow up in a safe environment. With these thoughts in her mind she nodded off.

 

When she awoke the next morning the others were already awake, there was a tap on the door and the Cockney Seaman was stood there with a grin and a tray balanced on one arm. He stepped into the cabin and called out.

“Room service”

On the tray was a loaf of bread that was slightly hard, some ships biscuits and five mugs with a bottle of Rum. He placed it on a table and sat on the end of one of the bunks.

“Not exactly High Tea at the Ritz but we’ve done our best.”

Michel nodded and stood up.

“We quite understand. You don’t have to provide us with food you know.”

The seaman’s grin widened.

“Actually I do old boy, I 'ave been assigned as prisoner escort fer yous lots journey ter Blighty.”

As he said this he winked but Ellenor who hadn’t been looking had only heard what he said and loosed off a torrent of French at him.”

“Bleedin' 'ell Miss I don’t 'ave a foggiest what yew just said but yew didn’t sound at all 'appy ter 'ave me company an' I am afraid I am offended.”

Ellenor did not speak particularly good English and the Cockney colloquialisms and accent was confusing her. She looked at Jean- Paul with a dazed look in her eyes and he turned to the Seaman.

“I apologise for her, she does not speak English very well and does not understand your version of it and I am afraid she only really understood prisoner escort and you can imagine what she deduced from that.”

The seaman laughed loudly.

“Lor' luv a duck! Well I never. I am sorry she got da wrong end ov da stick.”

He patted Ellenor’s arm

“Lawd above! I was only joking pretty lass. I didn't mean ter upset you. As fer me accen' it’s Cockney, da classiest ov all languages. I am from dawnn in Laandan Town. Me name’s Dan Phillips 'ow do yew do”

Angelique had been observing these exchanges with a strange kind of interest. She found Dan’s accent a welcome change from French and German and the phrases that he came out with made her laugh. She moved from leaning against the cabin wall and as she did so she knocked the cap off her head and her hair fell out of it.

“Lawd above! It's a lass!”

“That’s very observant of you Monsieur. I’m Angelique. Madame Angelique Wright.”

She held out her hand to be shaken, and then introduced each of her companions.

“Do you know how long it will be until we reach England?”

“Sure lovey we should be dockin' in Plymowf at abaaht lunchtime tomarra.”

One more day and she would be in England. It was wonderful news.