Chapter 1

Sergeant Wilson couldn't understand it. He had the feeling all week. It was as if it was in the air all around him. It invaded his sleep at night. There was no reason for it, things were going well at the bank. Things were going even better with the home guard. They had just foiled a major plot of the Nazis to smuggle a deadly nerve agent into the country. Just by following up on a passing rumor they traced the deadly substance to a local train station. It was hidden in a duffle bag in a cubicle of the men's toilets.

The spy sent in to collect it was immediately arrested and the home guard sealed the area off as experts from London dealt with the substance. It had been a fine weeks work and it had put them on the map. Everyone was buzzing with excitement about it. Mainwearing stood just a little bit taller these days but Wilson was subdued. He couldn't shake himself out of it.

By Friday he had decided once and for all to put it out of his head. He was looking forward to their trip down to Cornwall and he wasn't going to let a nonsense like this spoil it for him.

The trip was home guard business. They were to check out a large mansion house by the sea. The family had very kindly offered to let the house be used as a look out for suspicious fishing boats trying to enter the country. Wilson had told Mavis that it would take all weekend and he was careful to bring Frank along in that as well. He despaired when Frank answered that it was sinful to lie. He would have to have a long talk with that boy or he would never survive marriage.

The plan was that they were to check out the house, see if it was suitable for such use. Once that business was done and dusted there was a certain boarding house down the village Walker knew about. He had pulled some strings and had gotten them all passes.

Mainwaring was totally against the plan. When he eventually found out about it he assumed it would be wall to wall ladies of the night. He forbid that immediately until Walker put him straight telling him that it was just an all night bar with all the bacon butties you could eat. Any women there would not be of the paid variety. For once Captain Mainwaring believed him, just lately Joe Walker had been taken with a young Irish girl from the bank. It seemed as though that might be getting serious.

They all arrived early at the church hall on Friday morning. Jones was in exceptionally good form and trying to organize everyone as usual. Frank had half a pound of broken chocolate on him and offered it round to everyone. Godfrey had brought a large batch of cucumber sandwiches made by Sissy and a large canister of ginger beer.

"Glad to see we have a hundred percent turnout for this trip," Mainwaring began

"Unfortunately Corporal Jones van is not available as it is in the shop but Charles Mason has kindly offered to lend us his lorry. Myself and Sergeant Wilson will ride up front and the rest of you can ride in the back. That shouldn't be much of a hardship for you as it is a glorious day." Mainwaring fixed them with a rare smile.

"Wilson, will you get the forms from the office. The house holders will need to sign consent forms if their house is to be used by the state."

"Very good sir," Wilson nodded as he headed off in that direction.

"The rest of you can fall in and head out to the truck." he gestured.

He smiled as the platoon cheered and headed out into the sunshine.

The trip turned out very pleasant. Although they were sitting on not very comfortable boards in the back of a lorry the sun was high in the sky and Walker got a sing song going. Pike thought it such fun to be in the back of an old lorry singing with all his friends. Wilson looked back and smiled at his happy tanned face. They stopped half way down and sat on the grass to enjoy Godfrey's sandwiches and a pound of cooked sausages supplied by Corporal Jones.

They arrived at the house by late afternoon. The sun was beginning to dip over the horizon. The couple were a jovial elderly pair with a smile and a warm welcome for the troops. Even better, their large oak kitchen table was laden with salads, meat, buttered bread and bowls of stewed fruit for the men. They all got stuck in.

When they had eaten their fill and indulged in just the right amount of polite conversation Mainwaring felt it was time to get down to business.

"May I say that it is most awfully kind of you to offer to throw open your house for the good of the war effort."

The old man smiled gently.

"Not at all, it's the least we could do. We all must do our bit to keep Gerry at bay."

Mainwaring smiled stiffly. "If more people thought like you then Hitler would not stand a chance. You're a credit to your country."

"Thank you captain Mainwaring," the lady smiled warmly.

"We have looked over the house and given the view from the uppermost windows we think it would indeed be of great benefit as a lookout. There only remains a couple of consent forms to sign if you would be so good."

Mainwaring then looked to sergeant Wilson.

"Wilson,"

"Yes sir?"

"Where are the forms?"

"Forms sir?"

"Yes the forms, the consent forms for these people to sign," he barked, growing impatient.

"Oh dear we must have left them in the lorry. Frank, be a good lad and fetch the forms from the lorry will you," Wilson asked the boy.

Pike stuffed the last of his sandwich into his mouth and headed towards the door.

The house was very large and spacious with high ceilings and fine oak furniture but Pike managed to find his way back to the front door. He stepped out and immediately pulled his jacket closer round him as a wind was getting up.

He ran towards the Lorry holding his hat to his head so that it wouldn't blow off. He scampered around the rear of the vehicle but stopped short and gaped at the four or five men peering into it.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Seconds later he hit the ground. He lay unconscious at their feet as they looked to the house.

Their leader looked down at Pike.

"They shouldn't pose a problem," he muttered. "Most of them are old. Tie this boy up and keep him quiet. We don't want a showdown just yet."