Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2 Fenella Miller (best books for 8th graders txt) 📖

wall as he was, he would be invisible to anyone coming around the side of the house. He was glad of the support it gave him.

There was a faint sound. He raised the gun and felt a shaft of agony in his right side. He’d get one chance to stop this bastard so he’d better make his blow a good one.

A man stepped into view. He began to swing. The distinct sound of a car approaching distracted him. The man he’d intended to knock unconscious grabbed the gun and they struggled silently.

It was an unequal contest and he lost his grip. The car had stopped but he could hear the engine purring in the darkness. Who the hell was coming here at this time of night?

He was grabbed roughly by his injured shoulder. He couldn’t stop the yelp of pain. ‘Good God! Is that you Reynolds? What the devil are you doing out here?’

The pain and dizziness subsided. ‘Inside, quickly, they’ll be here in a minute.’

Whoever it was didn’t argue and Jack was relieved when the door was bolted firmly behind them. There was a slight sound and then the flicker of a torch.

‘Sod me! What the hell are you doing here, Dunlop? You can tell me later. Can you use a shotgun?’

‘If I have to.’

‘Now, for God’s sake keep your voice down, I don’t want to wake Ellie or her father if I can help it.’

‘A bit late for that,’ she said from the top of the stairs. Greg shone the torch up and Jack saw she was, like him, in her pyjamas. ‘Greg, what on earth are you doing here? I heard a car just now – in fact I thought I heard two cars.’

Jack beckoned her down and quickly explained why he was prowling about with a shotgun. Dunlop told them how he came to be here. ‘You do understand why we can’t call for backup, why we have to handle this on our own?’

‘I think you’re wrong but I’ll do what I can to help you tonight. Ellie, why don’t you get dressed? We’ve probably got a few minutes or so before they try and break in and you’re no good to either of us in your night clothes.’

Jack waited for the girl to refuse, to object to this man telling her what to do. Instead she vanished upstairs without a word.

‘She shouldn’t be involved in this, Dunlop. She could get hurt.’

‘You’re in no fit state to repel invaders and I’m sure Ellie can handle a shotgun better than either of us.’

This was a ridiculous state of affairs. To be arguing about something so trivial when at any moment two murderous bastards could smash their way into the house.

‘There’s one more gun – I’ll go and get it. I’ll see if I can find another torch at the same time.’

They’d been talking in whispers and he was pretty sure Mr Simpson wouldn’t wake up unless there was a full-blown fight. If there was, he doubted he’d be much use. This Greg bloke seemed to know what he was doing despite obviously coming from a long line of posh blighters.

With the single beam of the torch he led them to the small room, more a large cupboard really, where the guns were kept. It obviously also served as a makeshift office, but as it had no windows it wouldn’t be pleasant working in here.

He grabbed hold of the door frame to steady himself. The torch flashed over his face and down his arm. ‘You’re bleeding. You shouldn’t be on your feet, old man, you should be in hospital.’

Jack collapsed into the single chair that stood in front of the small deal table. ‘I reckon you’re right. I’m going to stay here for a bit. Don’t worry, if I’m needed I’ll be ready.’

Greg took down the gun and loaded it efficiently. ‘That reminds me, the two men outside aren’t your usual sort of burglars. I overheard them speaking and they’re definitely public-school.’

This merely confirmed what Jack already knew. ‘There’s not time to explain everything now, but when this is over we’ll fill you in.’

Greg put the gun under his arm, barrel pointing to the floor, and left without replying. He took the torch with him leaving Jack in the dark. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths hoping the dizziness and nausea would pass.

Whatever was happening elsewhere he’d be a liability at the moment so he might as well get a bit of a kip until things kicked off.

*

Ellie had never dressed so quickly. She hesitated outside her dad’s room not sure if he would be better off asleep or downstairs helping. She decided to leave him where he was. Greg seemed to know what he was doing although she would rather have Jack, if he was fit, in charge.

Using the narrow beam of her torch to guide her, she retraced her steps. Greg was waiting and handed her a shotgun and four cartridges. He put his finger to his lips and gestured with his thumb towards the back door and then the front.

This must mean there were two men attempting to get in. They were most certainly armed as one of them had shot Jack last night. Her hands were shaking so much she doubted she would be able to use the weapon she had under her arm. She prayed – to a God she didn’t think existed – that she wouldn’t have to.

There was a light touch on her arm and she pushed her fears to the back of her mind. Greg drew her into the sitting room and then whispered in her ear.

‘Would gun shots attract any attention?’

‘No. Farmers shoot rabbits and foxes at night.’ Her heart was thumping so loudly she was surprised he couldn’t hear it.

‘They don’t know anyone is up. If we start making a racket and shouting about calling the police and then fire our guns out of the window I think they’ll take off.’

‘That will wake Dad