Basham by Robert F. Clifton (books for men to read TXT) 📖

all right mother?”

“Yes, but I'm tired, so tired,” answered the woman.

“Then rest dear. I'll stay with you although I can't say that we'll find shelter any time soon,” Perkins replied.

“Shelter? I don't need shelter. I have my own flat if it hasn't been bombed like the others.”

“If that's so, why are you here among the homeless?”

“I went to see my sister last evening. The Germans came. You know the rest.”

“I see. Where is your sister?”

“Gone, dead, buried under brick and concrete block. All I could see of her was one hand that stuck out from the debris. I stayed with her until they took her away.”

“Do you live here on Tooley?”

“Yes, several blocks ahead, if the building is still standing.”

“If you would like I'll help you get there.”

“Really? You are a dear, but what about you love, what are your circumstances?”

“Well, to start, like those of us here I'm at the moment homeless as well. At the same time it is my duty to country and King to help those less fortunate.”

“Duty?”

“Yes, duty. You see mother I am a social worker.

“And they sent you out here into the streets?”

“Yes, to help of course.”

“Yet, you are without a gas mask.”

“I seemed to have lost it during one of the raids while I was in the tubes.”

“Well, make sure you get another issue. Now, dear if you still wish to help me home I think I've rested enough and we can be on our way. What s your name dear?”

“Mildred, Mildred Perkins.”

“Well Mildred, I'm Ann Peters”.

As they neared six hundred and seven Tooley Street Ann Peters said excitedly, “Its still there. The building is still there.

Come my dear. The first thing we'll do is have a cup of tea, providing the cooking gas is available. The gas works have been shutting off the service during the raids. Seems it cuts down on fires when a building is hit by the bombs.”

“That sounds wonderful mother”, Mildred replied.

“Then we'll get things back to right. I'm sure things might have been moved or knocked over due to the shaking of the earth when the explosions occurred. Afterward, we'll see what's in the cupboard and I'll fix supper. You'll spend the day of course. We both need to rest. You may sleep on the couch. The Germans will probably come again tonight which means another night in the shelters. Nonetheless, we both can live like human beings during the day.”

“Thank you so much mother.”

Together they climbed the wooden stairway to the second floor. Outside of apartment three B Ann Peters removed the door key from her pocketbook, unlocked the door and slowly walked into the dwelling. “Not to shabby”, she said looking over the parlor. “A few of my bric-a-brac has been knocked about, but nothing serious. Come dear. Sit, make your self comfortable.

I'll go and see if the gas is on.

Mildred walked over to the couch, placed the overnight bag on the floor, but kept her pocketbook in her hand. Leaning back on the sofa she fought the urge to close her eyes and sleep.

“We're in luck love. The gas is on. Soon we'll have a hot cup of tea. Later, we'll have lunch. I'm afraid all I can offer at the moment is beans on toast. Is that alright?,” asked Ann.

“That's fine mother. I was wondering that after a cup of tea that I might be able to take a bath?”

“Certainly, but in all probability there won't be enough hot water. However, I can heat water on top of the stove.”

“That would be wonderful.”

“Good. Now I hear the kettle. Time for tea. Let's sit at the kitchen table. It's warmer there.”

After having tea Mildred carried pots of boiling hot water to the bathroom and emptied them into the tub. Adding cold water from the tubs faucet she tested the waters temperature with her hand and satisfied with it disrobed and stepped into the bathtub. She quickly wet her body, then lathered with a small bar of soap. The hot water felt good on her body. Yet, Mildred was use to much more water. At the hospital they covered her

entire body completely with warm, running water as she lay comfortably on the canvas sling in what they called the sedative tub. However, what she had now had to do.

“Ducky? While you're bathing why don't I collect your clothing and give them a wash? Is it alright for me to come in?,” asked Ann Peters.

“No! I'll wash them myself, but thank you”, Mildred replied. She didn't want anyone to see the stenciled words, “Haven Manor Hospital” on the waste-band of her knickers.

“Very well. I was just trying to be helpful.”

“Thank you mother. Would you be a dear and set my bag next to the bathroom door?”

“Certainly. Did you find the clean towels?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Alright, when you are ready the beans are prepared. I'll make the toast when you come to the table.”

I'll be there soon.”

Later, after lunch, Mildred helped by drying the dishes.

After placing the last dried, tea cup in the cupboard she turned to Ann Peters and said, “When we retire to the parlor I should like to check your blood pressure mother.”

“My blood pressure? Why?”

“As a social worker one of my duties is to check the health conditions of the elderly. It seems that the Home Office wants to keep records. That way they can do a study on just how the

aged British citizen is coping with the German attacks.”

“I see. The thing they should be concerned about is feeding us and providing shelter. Where are we supposed to go if and when our homes are destroyed? After all I'm seventy eight years old.”

“I don't know, but I'm sure that they are working to solve that problem.”

“Very well. I see that we are finished here. Let's go into the living room. Take my blood pressure and after that I suggest we both get some rest, you on the sofa, me in my bed.”

When both women entered the room Ann asked, “Where do you want me to sit dear?”

“Why don't you sit next to me on the couch. First, I want to check your pressure in the traditional manner.”

Ann Peters took a seat and holding out her right arm watched as Mildred wrapped the sphygmomanometer around the upper arm. The cuff was inflated and then the air was slowly released. Mildred Perkins listened carefully using the stethoscope. Satisfied, she unwrapped the instrument and with a smile said, “Excellent mother. Now, I want to listen to your carotid artery. It will just take a minute.”

“Why my neck area?, asked Ann.

“It seems that once again the Home Office is concerned about hardening of the arteries in the elderly population, particularly with the diet now forced upon the citizens because of rationing. “

“ Oh, very well”.

Mildred placed the diaphragm of the stethoscope on Ann's neck. She smiled as she pretended to listen to the blood flow and pulse of the artery. Then, as the urge to kill came over her the smile disappeared. In a quick movement she removed the ear pieces then wrapped the rubber tubing around Ann Peter's throat. “Now, just relax mother. Soon all of your problems will be over. I am sending you to the other side. If you could speak you would want to thank me. Now, stop struggling and kicking your feet and go quietly. Oh, you're welcome mother. That's it. It's over. See how easy it was.”

After removing the stethoscope Mildred folded it and placed it in her pocketbook. She looked at the ticking clock on the wall and noticed that it was well past noon. She took another look at the dead woman on the couch. “Now, aren't you the lucky one. No more problems no more ills. Well, I need to rest. The bombers will be coming soon. More noise. More destruction. More old women who will need my help. Sleep. I need sleep. But first I have to wash my knickers,”she said aloud.

******************

At his home at 1600 Hitman Road Alistair Basham sat at his desk leafing through sociology text books. It wasn't certain, but it had been said to him that the Royal Military Police might be sending army personnel to Birkbeck University after the first of the year. The question in his mind wasn't how to prepare a curriculum, but rather which direction to go when teaching. Sociologist's study the social behavior of society. They are also taught the Sociology of Law. That entails seeing the law as the “visible symbol” of social solidarity.” “How does one mention social solidarity to men who's chosen profession is to disrupt and/or remove social solidarity from one's enemy?,” he thought to himself.

Marjorie Helms walked into the room. “Excuse me professor, but what would you like for supper tonight. Keep in mind that I have to shop with the rationing cards', she said.

“Why not fish and chips? It's not rationed and it saves you the trouble of having to spend time in the kitchen cooking.”

“If that's what you want I'll go and fetch it at the chip shop, just before supper time.”

“Good, that takes care of that problem. Is there anything else?”

“No sir.

When Marjorie left the room, Alistair tuned back to the problem in hand, the curriculum. “Where was I? Oh yes, social solidarity. Let's see now. The problem of detecting those that break the law normally is the role of the police, the detective, and in some circumstances the medical specialist. The question at this time is will the Royal Military Police function under English Criminal Law, English Common Law or both? Certainly when the offender is an English citizen such as a member of the military both laws could be utilized. However, what if the offender is an enemy prisoner? I see a few problems in relation to the Royal Military Police enforcing law and order not only with captured prisoners of war, but also civilians in occupied countries at least until social solidarity is re-established in those occupied areas.

Hmm mm. Let's concentrate on the problem of prisoners of war. As I see it, the Geneva Convention is the guiding factor here.

Sociology deals with the guilty law offender and assigning those found guilty to the penologists. The prisoner of war's offense is being the enemy. Therefore, the aspects of sociology in my opinion do not apply in these cases. Nonetheless, what of the citizen criminal in occupied areas? Right now t seems to me that these then become the problem of the Provost Marshall.

As I see it, the problem appears at this time to be explaining crime and criminal behavior, which is the question of scientifically

accounting for the presence of crime and criminals in a society.

However, the society in question is the military, often stringent and more demanding then a civilian society. All these factors must be considered when preparing for the classroom,” Alistair thought to himself.

At four forty pm the air raid sirens began to blare.

“Bloody bastards!” Mildred shouted as she looked towards the windows. Turning to the body on the couch she said, “Now aren't you glad you don't have to go to the tubes. See how I've taken care of you mother. You'll be alright here, but now I must go”, she said as she picked up her pocketbook, overnight bag and Ann Peters canvas bag containing a gas mask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Three

Volunteers

 

On the morning of Thursday, December 12, 1940 Alistair Basham walked from the underground station to Bloomsbury Street in the rain. A cold winter wind blew making it difficult to manage his umbrella as he walked leaning into the occasional gusts. He held on to the umbrella with one hand and his brief case with the other, all the time hoping that his fedora would stay on his head. Finally reaching the entrance to Birkbeck University he stood in the doorway, shook the water off of his Bumbershoot, closed it then entered the building.

When he got to his office he noticed a man seated on a bench in the hallway. “Good morning Doctor Basham”, said