Sunset Read Online Free Page B

peered at the window uncertainly. ‘Where are we, do you know?’
    â€˜Inverness in an hour at this rate.’ He did not want to talk. He was not ready.
    She said, ‘It’s been a long ride, ah. . . .’
    â€˜Toby Calvert, Lieutenant.’
    She seemed to gain confidence now that he had acquired personality. ‘I’m hoping to meet . . .’ She hesitated again. ‘My husband quite soon.’
    Calvert had already seen the diamond brooch on her coat, like a miniature cap badge. Naval officers often bought them for their girlfriends or their wives. He had also noticed the self-conscious way she had twisted the wedding ring around her finger. That was new, too.
    â€˜Shore job?’ He sensed her sudden caution and added, ‘Sorry, careless talk costs lives. I know all about that.’
    He saw her teeth in the gloom as she smiled. ‘I’m not used toit yet.’ She lifted her chin with obvious pride and said, ‘He’s serving in the
Hood.
’
    He said, ‘I’m joining a destroyer. The
Serpent.
I’m a navigator – now.’
    Boots stirred and scraped in the corridor as the train shook itself awake. Calvert had forced his way through that same corridor during the night to reach the toilet. Men and women of all three services had crouched on their kit or suitcases; some were even propped against one another in search of comfort. Cattle travelled better, he thought.
    She asked him, ‘Do you know the
Hood
?’
    He found that he was smiling and wanted to record it somewhere. ‘Of course. I thought everyone did. Biggest warship in the world, or was once. I’ve seen her a few times.’ What was
Hood
doing here? The great battle-cruiser had been at Gibraltar when he had last heard.
    He said, ‘Lucky chap.’ He did not realise he had spoken aloud.
    She studied him and found herself speculating. Late twenties but looked older because of his fair beard. She had seen him touch it several times as if he were not used to it yet. Her husband had told her young officers grew them to make themselves look more like old seadogs. But not this one, she decided. In profile when he tried to look through the window he had an air of hardened experience, the cause of which she could only guess at. Watchful: not a man capable of relaxing much.
    â€˜I wonder what it will be like,’ she said.
    He looked at her. ‘Much like Edinburgh, I expect. Raining and cold. As you go further north only two things happen. It gets more dismal, and there are fewer trees.’
    They both laughed and one of the army officers almost choked in the middle of a long snore.
    He added, ‘I’ve a bit further to go yet.’ He allowed his mind to examine it.
Scapa.
He had last been there when his ship was leaving for the ill-fated Norwegian campaign. He thought of all the missing faces. Maybe they would blur in time; he would accept that they were dead. No more landings on the big carrier’s deck in all kinds of weather. No more wild parties and then moretake-offs on patrol above those incredibly beautiful coasts and fjords. He shivered. Beautiful, and so bloody cruel.
    He touched his beard, his eyes in shadow. He might be able to shave it off soon, but some scars would remain. People would stare at him. Ask questions. On and on . . .
    He closed his eyes and listened to the gentle regularity of the wheels.
Clack-clack, clack-clack.
There was a faint hissing sound too, probably sleet, quite common in April up here. He wondered about his new ship and the men he would share her with. No room to hide your feelings from others. But a ship: a different sort of life.
    The navigation course and the intricacies of ship-handling and pilotage had seemed unexpectedly simple after being a flier.
    He would never fly again. Once he had believed he would rather die than accept such a verdict. Now he knew he
could
not fly. Ever.
    The train slowed even more and he heard a