Chapter 3

Ginger woke as Biggles opened the shutters to let the full light of the North African sun into the room.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Ginger, sitting up and stretching. "I feel as though I've been asleep for a week!"

"You needed it," observed Biggles. "After losing all that blood, trekking through the mountains and flying all night it's a wonder you didn't keel over before."

"I did drop off a couple of times yesterday," admitted Ginger. "Jeanette will think I'm terribly rude. It's not as though I don't enjoy her company, but I couldn't stay awake."

Biggles looked at him sideways. "I'm sure she appreciated that," he said dryly. "Anyway, if you want some breakfast you'd better show a leg."

Ginger got up with alacrity, washed quickly and threw his new uniform on. He cinched the shorts in as much as they would go at the waist, but they still felt loose.

"They were the smallest issue I could get," Biggles told him apologetically. "There seems to be a bit of a uniform shortage."

"I'll be alright as long as I don't breathe in," smiled Ginger.

"Or put too much in your pockets," teased Biggles lightly, "otherwise gravity will take over and you'll be showing off your assets."

Ginger blushed. "Don't forget there will be ladies present," he said sternly. Biggles chuckled.

They went down to breakfast to find Algy and Bertie already sitting at the table, eating. There was no sign of the Consulate staff or the ladies of their party.

Biggles and Ginger helped themselves from the side table and joined the others. Biggles was amused to notice that Ginger chose a seat from which he could keep an unobtrusive eye on the door.

Biggles knew the moment Jeanette and her mother appeared by the way Ginger's face lit up. Ginger stood up and the rest of them followed suit when they saw the ladies. The princess was not with them.

Algy drew out a chair for Madame Ducoste. Jeanette made her way to Ginger's side and smiled at him as he helped her with her chair. She took in his new uniform and the fact he was wearing shorts. They suited him; he had nice legs, she thought, blushing as she remembered helping her mother dress his wound.

Ginger fussed over what she would like for breakfast and served her from the side table. Algy, smiling, did the same for Madame Ducoste but with much less assiduous attention. Bertie sat grim faced and silent. Biggles engaged him in conversation and the atmosphere lightened somewhat.

"I thought I would escort Madame and Jeanette to see Henri at the hospital," answered Ginger in reply to Biggles' question about his plans for the day. "I'm sure they want to see him and Henri should be well enough to receive visitors." He looked enquiringly at Jeanette, who spoke quietly to her mother and nodded.

"Good," said Biggles approvingly. "Give him my regards when you see him."

"I thought I'd go and have a look round the town," said Algy. "How about you, Bertie."

"I haven't decided yet, old boy," said Bertie, crumbling a piece of bread onto his plate.

"Well, I think I'll accompany you, Algy," stated Biggles. "There's no point in everybody going to see Henri and there's plenty to see in Algiers. There doesn't seem to be any sign of any transport for the next day or two."

Ginger felt a sense of relief at this announcement. The plane could not be delayed long enough for his liking.

Algy nodded his acceptance of Biggles' company; if he thought his cousin would cramp his style, he gave no indication of it.

They all rose after breakfast to go their separate ways. Ginger waited for Jeanette and her mother in the vestibule. When they came down he escorted them onto the street. There was no sign of a taxi.

"I'm afraid we'll have to walk, madame," he murmured.

"I am used to walk," Madame Ducoste told him. "We have no taxis in Monaco any more."

They made their way slowly through the high-walled streets of white-painted houses. Ginger conversed in a mixture of French and English and made Jeanette giggle. Madame Ducoste smiled at him fondly, pleased that he was making such an effort to speak the language.

When they reached the main street, a tram rumbled past, but it was so full, with passengers that could not find a place inside clinging to the exterior, that they decided to continue walking.

At length they reached the Maillot French military hospital where Henri had been taken. Madame Ducoste made enquiries at the reception desk and received directions to the ward where Henri was being cared for. A nurse in the red bordered grey uniform of the QAIMNS showed Madame Ducoste into the ward, but told Ginger and Jeanette authoritatively that the patient was only allowed one visitor at a time.

"Let's walk in the grounds while your mother sees Henri," suggested Ginger. "We can come back in about ten minutes' time and see if we can swap."

Jeanette agreed. Outside the gardens were full of flowers. Ginger found it hard to believe it was so late in the year. In the hedgerows iris were blooming and the garden seemed to be full of roses. The blue and the pink made a colourful splash among the greenery. Amid the dark green leaves of the trees, peeped golden, tawny coloured fruits.

Ginger plucked one and smiled. "That's the first time I've ever picked an orange," he said in wonder as he handed it to Jeanette.

They found a seat and shared the fruit. The sun was climbing into a clear, blue sky and it was getting warmer. Something white moved in the bushes. Ginger was surprised to see a goat emerge and start browsing on the lower branches of the trees.

"You wouldn't get that at home," he observed smiling.

"You do not 'ave goats?" queried Jeanette.

"Yes, we have goats, but not in hospitals!" he told her with a laugh.

Having finished the orange, they got up and strolled farther in the extensive grounds. It seemed natural to hold hands as they meandered through the flower beds.

At length they returned to Henri's ward. Jeanette signalled to her mother who came out and allowed her daughter to take her place. Ginger waited outside the ward with Madame Ducoste while Jeanette brought Henri up to date with her news. He could see Jeanette talking animatedly to Henri who, although his head was heavily bandaged, was looking in much better shape than the last time Ginger had seen him. Henri looked across and caught Ginger's eye. He smiled and gave a thumbs up sign, which Ginger returned. A nurse came in and spoke to Jeanette who got up and joined the others outside the ward.

"The nurse 'as said that Henri must rest," she told them. "I am sorry," she said to Ginger, "that you were not able to speak to him."

"Never mind," replied Ginger. "He knows I came here."

"I passed to 'im your good wishes and those of Beegles," said Jeanette. "'E asked me to tell you 'e will request to transfer to your squadron when 'e will be well."

Just then a doctor passed by and Madame Ducoste asked him a question about her son. He invited her into his office to discuss the patient.

"We'll wait in the garden," offered Ginger. "Rejoin us when you have finished, madame."

Madame touched his arm gratefully and followed the doctor into his office.

Ginger escorted Jeanette to a seat in the shade of an orange tree. They had only been there a few moments when a tall, elegant naval officer in white ducks swaggered up to them, his eyes on Jeanette.

"I say," he brayed in upper class tones, completely ignoring Ginger. "What's a pretty mam'selle like you doing here?" He looked her boldly up and down. Jeanette looked uncomfortable and upset by the unwelcome intrusion.

Ginger went white with anger. As a lieutenant, the man outranked him so he would have to be careful or he would end up being court martialled, but he was not about to stand for that.

"With respect sir," grated Ginger in a voice full of suppressed fury, "the lady is with me."

The officer looked at him with contempt. "You may have seen her first, but I represent the Senior Service," he sneered. "Push off, Brylcreme boy."

Ginger stepped between the lieutenant and Jeanette and faced up to him, prepared to go to jail if necessary to protect Jeanette.

"I repeat, sir," said Ginger menacingly, "your attentions are unwelcome and the lady is already spoken for."

Incensed that he should be crossed, and that Ginger would not get the message, the man's fist flashed out and caught the lad on the jaw. Ginger staggered and fell. Jeanette sprang to her feet with a cry of horror and bent over him. She turned and in angry French berated the sailor who was about to step in and administer the coup de grace when a hand tapped him on the shoulder.

"I saw the whole thing," stated Bertie Lissie in steely tones, "and unless you take yourself back to your ship at once, I'll have the red caps on you faster than you can say Featherstone-Cholmondeley. You were a cad at Eton and I see you haven't changed."

"Good lord!" drawled the lieutenant mockingly when he recognised the newcomer. "Cissy Lissie. Fancy meeting you here."

"Do I have to call the MPs?" asked Bertie pointedly. "I am prepared to testify if necessary. Striking a fellow officer is a serious matter as I'm sure the Admiral will agree when I bring it to his attention. He is, as I'm sure you know, married to my cousin."

Featherstone-Cholmondeley took one look at Bertie and decided that discretion was the better part of valour. With a contemptuous glance at Ginger who was still sprawled on the ground, being tended by Jeanette, he shrugged. "They're not worth bothering with," he scoffed dismissively. "Little French misses are ten a penny."

Ginger struggled to his feet. "How dare you!" he snarled, but Bertie caught hold of his arm and held him back. "Don't be a fool, Ginger," he told the angry youngster. "That's exactly what he wants. You'll be court martialled."

Furious though he was, Ginger had to admit that Bertie was right. The lieutenant laughed and swaggered off. Bertie reluctantly let go of Ginger's arm. Breathing deeply with suppressed rage, Ginger hitched up his shorts and smoothed his tunic.

Jeanette stroked Ginger's jaw where a red mark was fast appearing. She had been afraid for him, but very proud that he had stood up for her and claimed that she was his. "Are you alright?" she asked him anxiously as he winced. On receiving an answer in the affirmative, she thanked Bertie for his intervention.

"Yes, thanks, Bertie," echoed Ginger. "What are you doing here?" he wanted to know. "Not that I'm not grateful you decided to turn up!" he added quickly. "It was looking quite nasty for a moment or two."

"I thought I'd waffle along and see how Henri was getting on," murmured Bertie. "Just as well I did," he added. "You seem determined to get yourself into hot water. Women are nothing but trouble."

For once, Ginger did not rise to the bait. He had begun explaining that Henri was only allowed one visitor at a time and that the nurse had turned them out when Madame Ducoste came back. She passed on the doctor's verdict that Henri would eventually make a full recovery but that it would be a long, slow process. He would be in hospital many weeks, they had told her.

"Since we can't do any more here, we might as well drop in at the NAAFI for a cup of tea before we go back to the Consulate," suggested Ginger who had been more shaken by the punch than he cared to admit. The others had no objection to breaking their journey and the establishment was conveniently on their way back.

Sitting at the tables with a cup of strong tea and a sticky bun each they conversed about nothing in particular. Ginger watched with curiosity as a queue of soldiers and sailors formed to enter the building next door. A sign over the entrance announced it was Le Chat Noir, the Black Cat.

"It must be some sort of club," he opined innocently.

Bertie looked at him pityingly, thinking how naïve the lad was. "Not exactly a club, Ginger," he countered; "I rather think you'll find the clientele in the queue consists solely of men," he pointed out, "although those who offer their services in the bedrooms will be exclusively female, if you see what I mean."

Ginger looked puzzled for a moment and then the penny dropped. He turned bright scarlet. "Oh," he gasped, his eyes wide with shock at the realisation. "You mean …"

Bertie nodded.

Ginger did not know where to look.

The lad's wretched embarrassment wrung Bertie's heart. He blamed Jeanette who was sitting beside Ginger, also looking pink. If she had not been there, thought Bertie angrily, Ginger would have been shocked and slightly discomfited by the discovery, but no more than that. It was that woman who was upsetting him. The boy was such an innocent, reflected Bertie. The suspicion that much of Ginger's current predicament was caused by what was going on in the lad's head when he retired for the night thanks to his relationship with Jeanette twisted the knife in the wound. A pang of jealousy shot through Bertie. Truly it was sharper than the serpent's tooth, he thought sadly.

Bertie thought back to the scene in the hospital garden. He had broken his own rules by grabbing hold of Ginger, he reflected, but it had been worth it. It was just as well the atmosphere was already so highly charged, he thought, or someone might have noticed the electricity in the air. He wanted more, but he knew that it was impossible. It would be ironic if, by saving Ginger from court martial, he laid himself open to the same fate.

Madame Ducoste broke the embarrassed silence. "It was ever thus," she commented philosophically. "Men without their wives. It is normal."

"Quite," said Bertie briefly. "If you've finished your tea, perhaps we should be getting back to the Consulate, don't you think?"

Ginger got up with alacrity and pulled Jeanette's chair back for her as she stood. He couldn't get away from the NAAFI and the house of ill repute next door fast enough, he felt. The guilt he was experiencing about his feelings for Jeanette was difficult enough to handle when he was alone. In company, particularly mixed company, it was crippling.

From courtesy Bertie offered Madame his arm. He was tempted to give preference to Jeanette, but he took pity on Ginger and besides, he thought wisely, he did not want to provoke an angry reaction like the one in Castillon. As he had seen in the hospital garden, Ginger did not intend to give up Jeanette for anyone and was quite prepared to fight for her. He wondered idly when Ginger would stop deluding himself and cease protesting that his interest in the woman was platonic.

They made their way through the narrow streets which were relatively cool thanks to the high, often five-storey, buildings, being built close together, offering shade from the sun which was now well past its zenith.

Biggles and Algy were sitting on the terrace with a glass of beer on the table in front of them when the party arrived back. They all sat down together.

"I see you all managed to meet up," observed Biggles. He looked at Ginger keenly. "Have you been in a fight?" he asked suspiciously.

Ginger fingered the bruise on his jaw. "A naval officer took exception to the presence of the air force," he muttered enigmatically.

"It's just as well Ginger wasn't alone," murmured Bertie before Biggles could react. Briefly he related the incident with the naval lieutenant.

Biggles looked concerned at the prospect of inter-service repercussions. "Do you think there will be any come back?" he asked Bertie.

"I doubt it, old boy," replied Bertie confidently. "Ginger has absolutely nothing to worry about anyway. He was completely innocent." As he said the words Bertie was acutely aware that Ginger was innocent in more senses than merely not having started the fracas. "Totally blameless," emphasised Bertie; "he acted at all times like an officer and a gentleman."

Ginger blushed.

"I'm relieved to hear it," said Biggles. "Still, that sort of thing can leave a nasty taste in the mouth."

"I rather think," murmured Bertie dryly, looking at Ginger, "that in this case it's left a nasty mark on the jaw."

"At least it's only a bruise," said Ginger, making light of it. "I wasn't going to stand by and let him get away with it. He insulted Jeanette."

"Ginger was very brave," declared Jeanette proudly. "And Bertie, too," she added hastily. "I am very grateful to both of them."

Algy looked at his watch. "Well," he announced, "I'm going to leave you two knights in shining armour to your damsel in distress and have a bath before dinner."

He stood up, which was the signal for them all to go their separate ways. Bertie followed Algy, commenting that not having a change of clothes was deuced uncivilised, while Ginger escorted Jeanette and her mother to their room. He would have liked to stay longer, talking to her after Madame Ducoste had gone inside, but he could not think of an excuse, so he reluctantly turned away, promising to see Jeanette at dinner. She smiled and seemed as loath to part from him as he was from her, but when her mother called she had to enter the bedroom.