AS HE PASSED THE SHAFTBURY AND TURNED THE CORNER to go up the back stairs, Alec heard the front door of the inn open and saw Mrs. Tanner step out onto the stoop. His heart sank. The only reason for her to visit would be to spread the news about Badger's accident. She had probably bothered every dockworker coming up from the port until she'd found one who would pass on what he knew about the Britannia. Alec shook his head and hurried up the back steps.
In the kitchen, he saw Aga first. "Alec," she began. "Are you okay, lad? Are you hurt?"
"Aye, Aga. I'm more than okay I'm an able seaman. Even Captain Cairns said so."
"Your father knows all about Captain Cairns and the Britannia's mishap. Aye, Mrs. Tanner—she told your father and mum the whole story. They're looking for you. So keep your words to yourself when your father shows up."
He didn't have long to wait. He had barely begun cutting onions for stew when his father and mother came into the kitchen.
"Alec, is it true what we've heard? About the storm and the first mate? Is Cairns daft to go out like he did?" his father demanded.
"It wasn't so bad at first," Alec said. "And we would have made it fine if not for the stuck rudder. Nasty luck for Badger, it was. But the captain says he'll be around again soon."
"It's just what we feared, Alec," his father continued. "You won't be able to manage working for Cairns and for the Shaftbury."
"It's only my first day! And it was not normal. Captain Cairns said he's never seen such a bad break as Badger had. Just one of those rotten times, the captain said. It can't happen again."
"You must tell him you're finished, Alec. You need to wait a few more years and give yourself some time to grow into the sea life. You're too—"
"Too what, Father? Too foolish? Too irresponsible? What is it you think I am?"
His father avoided his questions. "I told you before, this is not the work for you. But you insist on charging on."
"I know you don't think I can do it," Alec said. "But the captain does, and until he fires me, I want to be his galley boy. I'll prove I'm the right one for the job."
Before his father had come into the kitchen, Alec had decided he would stand up to him. He was done ignoring his own feelings and following his father's plans. He had weathered one storm today. But this storm brewing in the Shaftbury was a different challenge.
"Supper is due in one hour, Alec," his father said, moving toward the door. "I haven't time to argue with you now. But we will talk again. This matter is not settled." With that, he left Alec and the two women in the kitchen.
Alec's mum followed him into the scullery, where he went back to slicing onions.
"It's hard on us, Alec, these times when you're away and we can't help you if you need us. You've got to understand how it wears us down."
"But it's not as though I've left home and joined the BEF, Mum. I'm a galley boy, working on a good boat. Captain Cairns has been around longer than most men at the docks. He knows what he's doing. It was just some bad luck."
"I know that now, Alec. And I know you're not going to join the British Expeditionary Force. But hearing the news from Mrs. Tanner—well, she made it out to be worse than you say."
"And you're surprised by that, Mum? She's a wretched woman."
"I know. She's got to have her nose in all the business. But between her report and a telegram that came today, your father's in a flap."
"What telegram? What did it say? Can I read it?"
"Your father has it. It's from a Vice Admiral Ramsey, asking for rooms to be saved for a group of soldiers who are to arrive next month. Your father's grateful for some guests, but he's also afraid of what it might mean for the war—soldiers at the Shaftbury instead of up by the castle. It's very odd."
Alec could feel his stomach muscles tighten. And though his mum kept talking, he heard nothing beyond the telegram news.
Later, helping Aga after supper, he imagined what it could mean. "They must be British spies," he said.
Aga smiled. "What makes you think so, lad?"
"Regular infantrymen would billet with the others up on the hill. But these chaps—they must be the Special Forces Badger was talking about. He said some bloke at the White Horse was telling about Special Forces who are going to be posted in Dover. I think these men who'll be staying at the Shaftbury are spies."
Alec was unsure what to make of it. For several months, British troops had been leaving England for France; the radio said that the British were there to help protect France from a German invasion. But special troops in Dover? Did the army think the Germans would get across the Channel?
"No need to get all excited, Alec boy," Aga said. "You know we've been seeing soldiers move through southern England for months now. Just because a few of them are staying at the inn doesn't mean they're spies. Maybe they're part of the medical corps headed off to France to tend the wounded. We've no reason to think anything more than that."
Aga motioned for Alec to help her with the ashes in the fireplace. He grabbed the brush and swept up the cool ashes, then knelt down to pile the sticks and kindling and set the coal bin nearby for the evening fire.
"No matter," Alec replied. "I can't wait until they come. I want to know all about Hitler and the Jerries. We'll blast them out of Europe—that's what the men on the docks are saying. Hitler's no match for England."
The next morning, Alec went to the docks after breakfast, looking for Captain Cairns and word on Badger. It was late enough that the fog had cleared, and the skies showed bits of blue mingled with clouds. Alec had just reached the shore when he heard a loud roar overhead. The ground shook, and he looked around for a place to take cover. But the planes were already over him. He started to run and then turned to look up. He stopped when he saw the Royal Air Force crest with the king's crown painted on the side of the fighters. The roar followed them as they soared over the ocean. Alec kept his eyes on them until they were out of sight, and then he sprinted the remaining distance to the Britannia.
"Did you see that, Captain?" he shouted. "Captain, are you here? Did you see the planes?"
"Aye, sonny. I saw and heard them. A menacing sight, I fear. It means the war is pulling us closer."
Alec sat down on the locker. "Do you really think so, Captain? Are we in danger?"
"When there's war, Alec, everyone's in danger. For now, it's stayed on the mainland—in Europe. But every day I see evidence of our getting sucked into the mess."
"Aga will go batty," Alec said. "She's always talking about the Great War and how this feels like it did then."
"She's not far from the truth, Alec. We fought with Germany then, and it looks like we're in for it again. Aga is right to be worried."
"And Badger?" Alec asked. "Have you heard any news?"
"Aye, I was by the hospital this morning. They had to do surgery, set the bone and all that. As I feared, he'll be out for a while—maybe as long as four months."
"Four months? What will you do?"
"Well, I'm going to take enough time to think it through, Alec. Seeing those planes, I'm not sure how much I can plan ahead."
Alec was disappointed at the news. But the captain had said Badger was a loyal and smart first mate. He would not be in a hurry to replace him. And Captain Cairns had been sailing long enough that he could afford some time ashore. "I'm here, Captain. Ready to go when you are." He thought back to his argument with his father. He hoped Captain Cairns would not ask him how his parents had taken the news. He wanted to tell him about the telegram but decided against it. "I've got to run." Alec rose from the locker and crossed the deck. "I'll still visit the docks. And you'll be checking on the Britannia. I'll see you then."
The captain nodded, and Alec waved and set off for the inn, still a little shaky from the planes and from his dashed hopes about the Britannia. He had a long time to wait before sailing again. But when he was ready, he would screw up his courage and ask the captain to train him as first mate.
Back at the inn, he had just settled down with his journal when he heard a knock on his door.
"Alec," a familiar voice said. "Can I come in? It's Thomas."
"Thomas. Yes, come in. Sit if you want," Alec said, opening the door to Georgie's brother. Standing next to Thomas, Alec realized that he had forgotten how tall his cousin was. He'd seen him only once since the accident—at the post office with Aunt Lucy. They hadn't talked.
"I'll stand. I'll only stay a bit," Thomas said. "I've got something to say."
Alec felt his body stiffen. What will I do if he starts to blast me? he wondered. Thomas was between him and the door; he had no escape. I just don't want to feel more anger, he thought, rubbing his damp palms on his trousers.
"Alec," Thomas began, "I want you to know I hold nothing against you for Georgie's death. I know he was your friend, and he loved being with you. He would not have stayed behind that afternoon."
Alec thought back to that day. When they had gotten to the shore and seen the wind picking up, he had tried to talk Georgie into going another time. But Georgie had begged—
"I'll be going away soon," Thomas continued, "and I want nothing between us, no anger, no hate. Our family's too small to be at odds. We'll need each other in the days to come."
Alec sighed, relieved. Then suddenly, he understood. "Going away?" he asked. "Where are you going?"
"I've enlisted," Thomas said proudly. "I'll leave for London tomorrow, and from there I'll go to Aldershot for training before heading off to France."
"Aye, she won't speak of it," Thomas interrupted. "But all my mates are going. I can't stay behind. England needs me. And I'll be back. You'll see."
Thomas's words seemed to settle in the room like fog on a dreary day.
"I don't want you to forget that we're still cousins ... and friends. Maybe when I get back, we can do something together. Maybe we'll go fishing." Thomas smiled.
"I'll never forget Georgie," Alec blurted. "I always think about him."
"I'm store you won't, Alec. You and Georgie were always larking about, acting a bit daft. He wanted to be with you—even that day. But we have to move on or this thing will drive us apart, make us bitter. Georgie wouldn't have that."
Alec was close to tears—the first tears since Georgie's funeral. For a moment, neither boy spoke.
"Well, old chap," Thomas said, ruffling Alec's hair. "I mean it about the fishing. Soon. Very soon." Then he offered a quick salute and was out the door.
It wasn't until later that night, after supper, that Alec discovered his parents had known about Thomas's enlistment but had not told Alec.
"They didn't want you to worry. They were trying to keep you from the war," Aga said. But Alec knew that it was because his parents didn't want him visiting Thomas and upsetting Uncle Jack and Aunt Lucy.
The next morning, Alec went to the railway station on his own. He went early to find a spot to hide, wanting only to catch a glimpse of Thomas as he boarded the train for London.
Alec stood there in the damp air, watching Aunt Lucy clinging to Thomas's arm. Surrounded by his mates, Thomas looked almost joyful—ready to go. In contrast, Aunt Lucy and Uncle Jack were sober and quiet.
Then Alec saw Aunt Lucy pull Thomas to her and hug him tight. Uncle Jack patted him on the back, hesitated, and then stepped up and wrapped his strong arms around Thomas's shoulders.
The young soldiers boarded the train. Alec looked on as the steam engine puffed its way out of the station. Still, he would not leave until Uncle Jack and Aunt Lucy were gone. Hidden behind rolls of fencing, he heard his aunt speak.
"How can we let him go? What will become of him?"
"The lad will do what he needs to do, and he'll come home," Uncle Jack answered, taking her arm and turning her away from the platform. "There's no keeping Thomas here if he thinks he's got to go. We need to let him be. The boy's old enough to go, but he'll sit at our table again. I am sure of that."
Alec didn't move until Uncle Jack and Aunt Lucy had pulled away in their auto for the lonely drive back to their home. He wanted to believe that Uncle Jack was right about Thomas. But Captain Cairns's words haunted him now: "When there's war, Alec, everyone's in danger."