Chapter 10
A few hours later in Sydney.
Kate and Rebecca walked down the street and stared in amazement at the old cars and shop windows.
"Can you find yourself in this fashion?", Rebecca asked.
"Hmm, up to a point. I like dressy clothes. Not you?", Kate replied.
Rebecca rolled her eyes, "I have to get used to it. I have to, I'm afraid. By the way, did you also notice how many men were looking at us?"
"Indeed, but it's only because we're the only female sailors in the Navy. If we see others, then they are WRANS with blue grades and we have yellow and gold. Moreover, our hair is not like what we see here now", Kate answered.
"I've got goose bumps", Rebecca replied.
Kate pointed at a hairdresser, "Anyhow, I'm going to cover up. I think it will help"
"Hmm, it's not a bad idea", Rebecca said and they crossed the street.
"I need a drink", Rebecca said when they came out later.
"So do I. I didn't expect it to take so long", Kate answered.
They entered the first decent café they found and sat down. Kate put her hat down next to her and Rebecca looked at the hairdresser's work "I've to get used to that too. All these curls. It's so different from 2011".
"Yes, but does it look good?", Kate asked.
"Yeah, of course".
"Yours is not bad either", she said, looking at Bomber's curls.
"Thanks".
"Ma'am…", Bomber began, but was interrupted by Kate.
"Rebecca, call me Kate. Given the situation, it will make it easier for both of us", Kate replied.
At the same time they got their coffee.
"Ah, ok! Uh, what I wanted to ask is if you have any idea what's going to happen with us?", Rebecca asked.
"Gosh, what could I say? We both know when it's going to end, but we also know that the next three years are going to be rough because we're only at the worst situation now. Darwin was bombed in February, so the threat of an invasion of our country is real. We're only at the beginning of hitting back.
And what about us? Honestly I don't know. Mi..the CO will keep us together, but Hammersley equipment is not endless. Sooner or later something is going to break down and spare parts are limited. Do you see what I mean?", Kate answered stirring in her cup with her spoon.
Rebecca frowned, "Uh-hu, still too many unknown quantities".
"Indeed, I expect a plan in the next coming days. We're too valuable to do nothing", Kate said.
"Yeah, you're right. At least we have the advantage of being able to count down to victory", Rebecca answered.
"Correct".
"Uh, wasn't the CO well last night?", Rebecca asked, taking a sip of coffee.
"Uh..no, he's fine", Kate replied a bit confused.
"Oh? Because we met in the corridor last night and you were coming out of his room in pyjamas", she replied.
"Ah, uh… he wanted to tell me something", she said hesitantly.
Rebecca gave her a suspicious look.
Kate shrugged, "Who cares now? Mike and I have a relationship. We started after Chris and Jim died. Every time we're on shore leave, we disappear to Mission Beach where we can behave like a real couple. And yesterday, I just wanted us to be together", Kate confessed looking at Bomber.
Bomber nodded, "Uh-hu".
"Don't you look surprised?", Kate wondered.
"In fact, no. I already suspected it for some time", she replied.
"Ah? How?"
"Well quite easily. The way you talk to each other, the way Mike tells you something. It's different from the way he tells someone else. How often you slipped up. You refer to him as Mike rather than the CO", she said.
Kate blushed a little, "Ouch, was it that obvious?"
"No, I think most men haven't noticed it yet, although there are probably some exceptions like Dutchy and Harpie", said Rebecca.
"Dylan is the only one I've told it to", Kate replied.
"Well, I wish you all the best", she answered.
"And what about you and Robert?", Kate asked in return.
"Good! For the first time, I'm feeling I'm dealing with someone for whose sex not the first priority. I discovered a whole different character behind RO. He's kind, open-minded and serious, although he has his silly principles, but I think I can change that. For the rest, we spend most of the time at my place, because his flat is really tiny. And what's next? We'll see how our relationship evolves and then we have to make a decision", she said shrugging her shoulders.
"But Kate, what about you? Will a Mission Beach escape to be the permanent solution for your relationship?"
Kate rolled her eyes, "Gosh no! Before we left I wanted to request a shore posting, but Commander White didn't have time to listen. Now we have this situation out of the blue or should I say out of the fog! That means that we will certainly have to wait until the war is over, unless Mike wants to get married sooner".
Rebecca grinned, "Great! A wedding party is looming on the horizon".
"If Becca, if! That's the magic word actually", Kate replied realistically.
"Uh-hu, do you think we could get a few days off shore leave?", she asked.
Kate shrugged, "Maybe, I'll discuss it with Mike, but none of us know what the Brass has in store for us".
Rebecca nodded, "Yeah, it's obvious".
"Anyway, if we can have a few days off, then I'll have to buy a new outfit, otherwise I'll attract attention from miles away", she said, looking out the window at the women's outfits of 1942.
"Uh-hu", Kate mumbled and they looked out for a while until Kate looked at her watch, "It's time to go or we'll miss the bus back to the base".
While Kate and Rebecca were window-shopping, Harpie wandered along the quays to take photos of the old ships. Afterwards he went to town to take more. Finally he entered a café and ordered a beer. While enjoying his beer, he scrolled through his photos on his smartphone. He didn't realise that he screwed up the requested low profile by showing off the futuristic device. He hadn't noticed a WRANS petty officer staring at him across the café, attracted by him. She frowned when she saw him busy on a small device she had never seen. Curious as she was, she stood up and walked over him.
"Hey sailor, what's that for a nice thing you have in your hands?", she asked frankly.
He realised what she was asking for.
Shiiiiiiiiit! I'm toast now. I forgot! Now what?
He looked up and saw an irresistible smile, brown eyes in a pretty face with dark brown curls hanging over a WRANS shirt.
Wow!
"Hi, take a seat. I'm Andrew Harper, my mates call me Harpie. And you?", he asked as he put down his smartphone.
She didn't hesitate and sat down on the opposite chair. She put her hat down next to her on the table. "I'm Jane Gilmore".
"Nice to meet you, would you like something to drink?", he asked her.
"Yeah, why not. Another coffee", she replied.
"Where do you work?", he asked after ordering another beer and coffee.
"Operations. Move the flags with ship names on a big chart, paperwork and keep an eye on enlisted ranks. What about you?", Jane replied.
"I'm the artillery petty officer aboard a patrol boat", Harpie replied.
"Oh! Interesting. Where?"
"I can't tell it. Special Operations, you see. Everything is secret", he whispered looking quickly from left to right.
"Exciting!", she whispered back and in the meantime they got their drinks.
"Cheers!", he said.
"Cheers too, but it's still a bit hot to drink", Jane replied.
"But, uh… What's that nice thing you try are trying to hide under your arm?", she asked again.
"Ah, it's a secret tool too. If I tell you, then I must kill you immediately", he said on a conspiracy tone.
"Exciting! Kill me? With what? Your beer mat?", she replied laconically.
He roared with laughter.
"I see that I can't pay you a lip service", he answered.
"Nope!", she smirked.
"Well, it's a phone with a camera, fully integrated. And like I said, we are in Special Operations, thus we have to test special equipment", he said.
"A wireless phone? And a camera? So thin? Where's the film roll?", she asked in disbelief.
"Well, the phone doesn't work yet. They're still working on …hmm… the transmission, but the camera is working. They no longer use rolls. Everything is digital", he whispered.
"Digital?", she asked, frowning.
"Hmm, electronically stored. High tech stuff. As I was saiying, top secret!"
"I'll show you. Give me a smile", he said, picking up his phone to take a photo.
Then he switched to the photo gallery and clicked on hers. He showed her the photo, "Here you go".
Her eyes were popping with amazement, "Wow! In colour! And you don't have to develop it!", she said aloud.
"Shht! Shout it out, you're right", he replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry!", Jane answered, blushing.
"Never mind, but keep silent. You know of a secret now and it could be very unpleasant if you let something slip", he said.
"From you?", she asked suddenly, no longer so sure.
"No, not from me, but from others who want to know more and finally we'll end up in trouble. I don't want to know the methods they use to get what they want", Harpie said softly.
"I don't know anything!", she whispered back.
"Can I have this photo?", she asked.
"Sure, I'll print it out, so I can see you again", he replied with a smile.
"Print? Develop you mean?", she asked.
He smiled, "No Jane, we don't develop the photo's anymore. We print them".
"I see. But I think that you have to explain a lot", she said thoughtfully.
"Uh-hu, but where are you from?", he asked to ward off difficult questions.
"Perth. Bad luck for me. I could have been posted there, but they sent me here. And you?"
Hmm, think about what you are going to say buddy. I'm from Brisbane. Although, there is very little chance that she was also in Brisbane. I take my chance.
"Brisbane".
"Oh. I've never been there before", she answered.
Pfft! Smart bet!
"Well, small city, nothing special", he said, minimising his part of the conversation.
They continued chatting until she suddenly frowned and said, "Andrew, I can't explain it, but you're different. I mean, different from others. It's the way you talk and you think things. I have the weird feeling that you know more", she said.
Ouch, is it so obvious?
"Me, different? Perhaps, there are a lot of people who have said that", he said avoiding more nasty questions.
He looked at his watch, "I think that I've to go back to the barracks".
"Oh. It's a pity", she replied honestly.
"Well, there's a chance we still have shore leave. Maybe, we could meet again?", he asked.
"Sure, I've got the weekend off. Maybe….? Besides, you promised me this photo, no?", she said with a cheeky smile.
"Yeah, sure, and I want to see you dressed casual instead of that boring Navy blue", he said.
"Absolutely! Where?", she asked.
"Uh? " What could I say? I don't know the place yet. "Here again? I'll call you when I have more details. The problem is, I don't know your number yet", he said.
Jane gave him her number and they both stood up. She reached out and took his hand and, as they shook hands, he pulled her closer and gave her a peck on the cheek. Instead of an indignant look, she gave him a broad smile.
To be continued