CHAPTER III
THE VISITOR
In the early hours of the next morning John was awoken from his sleep by a heavy knocking on the cottage door. Somebody was clearly eager to wake them, and with some urgency.
He reached out and picked up his watch, glanced at it, he still used the same one that accompanied them to Wild Cat Island, and wondered who at five o'clock in the morning would know they were all there and what could they want at such a time.
Getting out of his sleeping bag and pulling on his oilskin over his pyjamas to keep some modesty and dignity in the next room, he left his bedroom, made his way past the sleeping women and went down the stairs He unbolted and unlocked the heavy wooden door.
On opening it there stood a young woman. She was fresh faced with short hair, an almost boy-like in her appearance, and dressed for serious walking, sturdy jacket and trousers and boots. On her back she had a bulging knapsack with a bedroll hanging beneath, she was clutching a folded map and a compass.
"Is Nancy here?" This was no casual inquiry, and John had no chance to respond. "Well?" Her impatience was clear to him.
"Yes, she is, but who are you?" The young woman's smile surprised him.
"You don't remember me do you?" John hesitated.
"No. Should I?"
"Yes John, you should!" John was taken aback that this woman, whom he did not recognise, as not only did she recognise him but knew his name.
"Daisy. Remember? One of the Eels!" He suddenly had a memory of one of the last summers well before the war when they had all explored and mapped the Essex Backwaters and the others they met there.
"Yes, yes, of course, come in, come in. What brings you here? Do you want tea? Nancy and the others are still in bed."
By the time she had followed him in to the cottage the others, also awoken by the noise, had descended the stairs and were standing in the kitchen as if a welcoming committee, they had witnessed the exchange between John and Daisy.
Nancy was open mouthed in surprise; her reaction though was not noticed by the others who just stared at Daisy. Peggy and Titty recognised her at once and both exclaimed.
"Daisy!" They both were pleased to see her after so many years despite the odd circumstances. Daisy did not react to either of them but stared at Nancy, clearly expecting her to say something at her sudden arrival at the cottage. Titty looked at Nancy, wondering why she had apparently been singled out.
"So you haven't told them?" Daisy was clearly indignant, if not annoyed. Nancy managed to reply but spoke almost in a whisper.
"No." Nancy's face had an expression of almost embarrassment or even shame. As they all looked at her this was a side of the 'terror of the seas' the others had never seen before. Peggy, overcome with sisterly concern intervened.
"Told us what?"
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