Vera's Valour Read Online Free

unable to think of anything to say other than, “He needs this message.” She produced the military pouch.
    “May I look at the dispatch and see if it is of importance to him?”
    Vera nodded.
    “You say it was delivered after he left home?”
    “It was,” Vera found her voice.
    The officer took the pouch and strolled over to talk to another man, who opened it and after looking at it he then replaced the document and came towards her.
    “Colonel Parkington would have found this information useful. But there is no way I can get it to him now. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing,” he said giving her a weak smile. Then he was called away, and Vera stood feeling tired and dejected. It was clear planning was going ahead for the invasion, which seemed imminent.
    Everyone was busy. She picked up the pouch, which had been left on a table.
    Dulcie Swanton’s van had gone when she walked to leave the hut. Only her bike was left propped up again the hut wall. But seeing the pouring rain she stayed undercover waiting for it to stop, so that she could go and find the NAFFI canteen.
    But the rain continued. Relentlessly.
    She leaned against the door frame for ages looking out miserably at the British Summertime weather!
    But she wasn’t surprised to see people scuttling about in their waterproofs – and she even heard laughter and someone whistling. It was the typical British spirit to keep cheerful, and it gave her some succour to carry on with her quest to find Geoff.
    But how?
    It was by chance that she overheard her husband’s name mentioned by a couple of Americans dressed in combat uniforms leaving the building.
    Running after them she caught them up saying, “I’m Colonel Parkington’s wife. And I need to get some information to him. Urgently.”
    The soldiers stopped and one turned to her saying, “Well ma’am. I guess he’s now in France.”
    Intuition made her ask, “I know that. Are you’re planning to go there? I need to get this to him.” She held out the pouch for them to see.
    They looked at each other. “Yep. We’re going on a raiding party. But we’re not offering to carry mail for a Limey colonel.”
    From somewhere deep inside her, Vera knew she must jump at the chance to go with them to France with the message. She’d no idea of what she would find when she got there – except the enemy. But someone might know where Geoff was – the underground might be able to locate him. And as the invasion would be taking place very soon so she would have to hide until she could come back home.
    “Please let me come with you,” she said impulsively. “I must do my best to find my husband.”
    “He won’t like it if his pretty wife gets killed.”
    “I’ll have to take my chance, like everyone else,” Vera said boldly. “I believe this pouch contains information that is something he needs to make it safe for many people going over there with stores after the invasion.”
    The soldier looked at the determination on Vera’s face, and then each other. “Okay, ma’am, follow us. Our leader will decide.”

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    VERA had always found most Americans had an easy-going manner – but they were also sticklers for rules. Meeting the members of the raiding party she found unnerving. They examined her, her identity card and the military pouch she had for Geoff with brusque thoroughness. And after she was subjected to a grilling by the leader of the raid – as if she might be an enemy spy - she felt so dazed she wasn’t sure she wanted to risk her life and go with them.
    Argumentative as usual, Vera looked up at them and said clearly, “I know it is a secret. But I know nothing about the invasion plans.”
    “But you know we are going to attack in Normandy.”
    “So do you. And the Germans are just as likely to capture you.”
    “Lady, you carry a military pouch with vitally important information.”
    “The information in this pouch is in code. I don’t