Chapter 3: Evacuation

Finchley, London, England. The Blitz, October 7th, 1940

The roar of airplane engines and sirens pierced the once quiet London night. The Luftwaffe was coming. Peter Pevensie and his brother Edmund sat bolt upright in their beds and looked at each other in frozen fear. Edmund ran out of the room, Peter following on his heels. On the way he passed his sister, Susan, rushing into her and their other sister, Lucy's room, a flashlight in her hand. Lucy yelled for Helen, their mother, her eyes were laced with frightened tears and her hands covered her ears.

"Lucy, come on!" Susan urged. She grabbed Lucy's hand and dragged her out of bed. Peter rushed them to the door then went to find their mother. He followed her right into the parlor, where Edmund was standing at the window, trying to catch a glimpse of the German bombers. He heard Helen call his name.

"What do you think you're doing?!" she yelled at Edmund. "Peter, the shelter! Now!" Peter grabbed Edmund's wrist and ran outside with him, Helen following close behind. Fear filled them all. They could be blown up any moment. The family was about halfway to the shelter when Edmund abruptly stopped and turned around

"Wait! Dad!" He broke out into a run to go back into the house. Helen called after him to come back to no avail. Peter began to chase after his younger brother back inside the house. Ash fell in their hair as more bombs exploded around them. Their time was running out. Peter chased Edmund back into the parlor. He had run to a side table and grabbed a picture of their father, Christopher, dressed in his military regalia. In any other situation, Peter would've understood, but not when they were about to be blown up.

"Edmund, get down!" Peter yelled, tackling his younger brother to the ground just a bomb exploded on the next street over. The blast shattered the glass of the window, giving them several small cuts. When the danger had passed for the moment, Peter scooped up Edmund as he picked up the broken picture. They broke out as fast as they could into a run back to the bomb shelter. "Come on, you idiot! Run!" Peter shouted at Edmund. "We have to get out!" He rushed Edmund in front of him as more and more bomber planes flew overhead. Helen opened the shelter door and urged them to hurry.

With one final push, Edmund fell onto the free cot in the shelter. Now that they were safe, Peter felt all the anger bubble to the surface. "Why can't you care about anyone but yourself?!" he yelled at Edmund "You're so selfish! You could've gotten us killed!"

"Stop it!" scolded Helen. Edmund was still holding the picture, his hand was cut because of the glass. He began to sob. So did Lucy. Susan wrapped her little sister in her arms and Helen gathered Edmund into hers.

"Why can't you just do as you're told?" said Peter quietly. With a final huff, he turned around and slammed the shelter door closed, not knowing what they would be faced with in the morning.

The Next Morning

After a less than restful night in the shelter, the Pevensie's awoke with a feeling of dread. They almost could not bring themselves to open the shelter door. Helen assured all of them that they must face what was out there. Summoning all of his courage, Peter opened it. A shocked, stunned silence enveloped all five of them. All they could see were what could generously be called ruins. Miraculously, their house still stood, but with extensive damage. Others in the area were not so lucky. Some were half gone and others were reduced to crumbles. Dirt and debris were scattered this way and that, and the air was thick with it as well. A huge piece of shrapnel from a bomb was sticking halfway out of the ground. Susan shielded Lucy's eyes from seeing such a horrendous thing. Helen's eyes teared up at seeing her beloved vegetable and herb patches in shambles. There was also litter everywhere. Even Edmund was silent as he still tightly held the picture of Christopher to his chest.

"What are we going to do, Mum?" Peter asked Helen. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up straight, trying to make herself seem stronger.

"We have to make sure that everyone is alright," she said. "Peter, Edmund, I want you to check on the Mitchell's. Susan and Lucy, you go see the Davidson's. I'll pop by the Knights to see how they are." With that, the family split up to go check on their neighbors. The Mitchell's were alright, but their eldest daughter was injured. The Davidson's told Susan and Lucy how they barely survived. Helen and Mrs. Knight chatted for a while before the older woman handed Helen a flyer that Parliament officials had been passing out all morning. It depicted three children and their mother surrounded by rubble and burning buildings. It had blue top and bottom borders that respectively read: "It Might Be YOU! Caring For Evacuees Is A National Service". Mrs. Knight told Helen about how her son was preparing to send his children away to live with someone in the country until it was deemed safe for them to come back to London. Helen gazed at the flyer in her hand as she walked back home, pondering the message of it. The more she thought about it though, the clearer the answer became. She didn't want to do it, but she knew in her heart that it was the best way to keep her children safe.

She returned to the garden a few minutes before Peter and Edmund. Soon after Susan and Lucy returned. Helen took a deep breath. "Children…" she began. "We need to talk." She showed them the flyer in her hand and explained what was going to happen. They were reluctant to go but knew that Helen's mind was made up. And there was no changing her mind once it was made up. So, a few hours later the Pevensie's found themselves at Balham Station. Helen had to do a good deal of paperwork and an even greater deal of arguing with officials in order to get Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy to go to the same place. Luckily, they found a wealthy man named "Professor Kirke" who lived far in the country. He had a stately home with plenty of room and was willing to take in all four of them. Within moments that moved by all too quickly for them, they each were presented with a nametag to pin on their clothes. When they arrived at their train platform, a woman named "Mrs. Macready '' would be there to pick them up. Each of them also had a suitcase, a satchel, and a small bag containing the items of the list the government recommended each child to take with them. They were not to go back to London until the attacks on London ceased.

"You need to keep this on, dear," Helen coaxed Lucy. The youngest Pevenise was not taking this well. She was constantly rubbing her eyes and nose from crying. "Are you warm enough?" asked Helen. Lucy sniffled and nodded. While Helen was busy with Lucy, Edmund's eyes spotted another flier. He was very angry and sad about having to leave London, and took every opportunity he had to say so. Edmund, of course, was also very immature and didn't quite grasp the direness of the situation.

"If Dad were here he wouldn't make us go," he said in a matter-of-fact way.

"If Dad were here it would mean that the war was over and we wouldn't have to go," Peter immediately replied. He had been growing more frustrated by the minute at his younger brother. He also felt the growing level of responsibility he would soon be faced with. Sure they were going to live with an adult, but he was still the oldest sibling, therefore he felt that everything was on him. Edmund rolled his eyes. Helen saw this.

"You will listen to your brother, won't you, Edmund?" she said sternly. Peter laughed inside his head. Edmund didn't listen to anyone. But there was perhaps a reason. Ever since their dad had gone off to fight, Edmund had been in trouble at school tenfold than what he was before. Peter supposed that making mischief was his way of distracting himself from Christopher's absence. When Edmund didn't answer, Helen rose from where she was at Lucy's level to hug her youngest son, but he stiffened himself at her touch. Helen's face fell at Edmund's reaction, but still kissed his cheek. Next, she turned to Peter. With no words he reached forward and held his mother tightly, a few tears spilled onto her jacket.

"Promise me you'll look after the others." she said.

"I will, Mum," Peter promised, choking on a sob. He had to be strong.

Helen smiled. "Good man." Then she turned to Susan, who was struggling to hold back tears. She gathered her daughter in her arms. "Be a big girl," she soothed. Susan quickly dried her eyes. Helen looked at all of her children together, hoping that this was not the last time she would see them. "Alright," she finally said. "Off you go." Wordlessly, the four of them picked up their luggage and began to make their way to the boarding platform. Peter took Lucy's hand.

"We have to stick together now," he told her gently. "It'll be alright." Susan tried to do the same to Edmund, but he snatched it away angrily.

"I know how to get on a train by myself," he snapped. Suddenly, the steady beat of marching feet caught the attention of everyone in the train station. A platoon of soldiers was marching through. Peter looked and was shcoked to see his father marching with them. Christopher only spotted his children for a moment before he moved on with his fellow men. Peter's heart pulled terribly. He missed his father perhaps the most of any of his siblings. As soon as the soldiers were gone, the station returned to its normal bustle. Peter must have been frozen longer than he thought, because Susan snatched his ticket out of his hand and handed it to the conductor. She waved them forward with a kind smile, though Peter flushed red with embarrasment. Eventually they all managed to squeeze their way onto the train. They walked throughout the cars trying to find an empty compartment to sit in. Within a few minutes though, the train began to pul away from the station. They quickly found a window and stuck their heads out to wave at Helen, who was dabbing at her eyes with her hankerchief. She smiled at them and waved until the train pulled out of sight.

When the Pevensie's could no longer see their mother, they left the window and continued their search for a compartment. Though they could not find an empty one, they did find one that had another little boy and girl in it. The four siblings sat down in silence as the train made its way out of the station and into the green countryside. Peter helped Lucy put her suitcase on the rack above the seats. He tried to help Edmund as well, but he just gave him an angry look and proceeded to do it himself, with a good deal of struggling. Eventually he got it and sat down. Peter took out a book to help him pass the time, but every now and then he got distracted and gazed out the window. He always found the country beautiful. When he and his siblings were children, they would often holiday at a lake house with their parents. They used to have fun together, walking in the forest and splashing in the water. But that was before their dad went away. Before the war.

After a couple hours, they came to the first station. Many children disembarked and were taken away by their temporary hosts. That made Peter think about this Professor. Would he be old and wise or young and studious? Would he be sharp and stern or kind and welcoming? He looked at his siblings. Lucy was drawing in her journal (she was actually a very talented artist for her age), Susan was playing a game with the other two young children to help them feel more at ease, and Edmund was asleep, snoring rather loudly. It was Peter's turn to roll his eyes. He tried to focus back on his book, to little avail. After a couple more hours, the engineer announced that they were approaching Coombe Halt. This was where the Pevensie's were supposed to get off. When the train came to a halt, they all stood and made their way off the train, Susan waving goodbye to the two children. When they were on the platform and the train had gone out of sight they were suddenly made aware that they were entirely alone. They looked at each other in confusion. But after a few minutes they heard the sound of an automobile. They ran to the platform edge, where a car came into view, but it rolled right on past them, only honking its horn in greeting. Lucy waved to the old man driving.

"The Professor knew we were coming," said Susan.

"Perhaps we've been incorrectly labeled." suggested Edmund, looking at his tag to double check. There came then the sound of a horse's hooves and the cracking of a whip. They turned their heads to see a wooden wagon pulled by a white horse approaching them. A thin, wiry, stern looking woman was driving it. She stopped in front of them and looked at them in a way that seemed like she was expecting an explanation for why they were there.

"M-Mrs. Macready?" Peter asked nervously.

"I'm afraid so," replied the woman. "Is this it, then?" she asked. "Haven't you brought anythin' else?"

"N-no ma'am," stuttered Peter again. "It's just us." He gestured to the other three. Lucy nodded in confirmation. Mrs. Macready raised an eyebrow.

"Small favors." She moved her head towards the wagon, gesturing for them to climb in. They quickly did so, as they got the impression that this woman was not one to be crossed. Even Edmund instantly obeyed.

They rode about ten miles before their eyes were met with a stunning sight. The Professor didn't live in a house, he lived in a mansion. It was absolutely huge. The Pevensies all shared a glance with each other. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all, what with a house like this. The inside seemed even bigger. It was a house of long corridors, winding stairs, and wide landings. It was also decorated immaculately with what seemed to be many priceless works of art and many historical artifacts. "Professor Kirke is not accustomed to havin' children in the house," Mrs. Macready warned. "There'll be no shoutin'. Or runnin'." She began to lead them up the stairs. "No improper use of the dumbwaiter - NO!" she suddenly yelled. Susan had reached her hand out to touch a marble bust. "Touchin' of the historical artifacts!" Susan withdrew her hand with a huff. "And above all," Mrs. Macready lowered her voice to a whisper. "There shall be no disturbin' of the Professor." She then began to lead them down a hallway. Lucy paused momentarily to examine the lion's head shaped knob on a heavy looking door. Suddenly, it started to turn. With a gasp, Lucy rushed on ahead to join her siblings.

The children were then shown to their rooms, where they met Ivy, Margaret, and Betty who were the servants (though they don't come into the story much). The girls had their own room and the boys had theirs. When Peter and Edmund were shown their room, Edmund claimed his bed closest to the door by promptly flopping down on it face first. With a sigh, Peter moved his all the more heavy luggage to the other bed on the other side of the room, by the window. From here he could see the rolling hills and meadows that made up the grounds of this lush estate.

That night, they met and ate dinner with the Professor. He himself was a very old man with shaggy white hair. They liked him almost at once, as he was very eccentric, but also very kind. Though at first he was so odd-looking that Lucy was a little frightened of him. He treated them to a sumptuous meal and gave them hot chocolate and a fancy layered pudding. After dinner they bade him goodnight and went to their rooms. Peter and Edmund after changing into their nightclothes went into the girls room to talk things over. When they arrived, the radio was broadcasting about the raids. Susan quickly saw them and turned it off. Lucy let out a sniff from her bed.

"The sheets feel scratchy," she mumbled.

"Wars don't last forever, Lucy," consoled Susan with a gentle smile. "We'll be home soon."

"Yeah," Edmund piped up. "If home's still there."

"Well, I'd say we've fallen on our feet and by no mistake, either," said Peter. "That old chap will let us do whatever we want."

"I think he's an old dear," Susan agreed.

"Oh, come off it!" exclaimed Edmund again. He was tired and pretending not to be tired, which always made him irritable. "Don't go talking like that!"

"Isn't it time you were in bed?" Susan sighed.

"Yes, Mum," replied Edmund sarcastically.

"Ed!" Peter scolded.

"Hadn't we all better go to bed?" Lucy asked. "Mrs. Macready will be angry if she hears us still up."

"No she won't," replied Peter. "I tell you this is the sort of house where no one, not even Macready, is going to mind what we do. Anyway, she nor anyone else will hear us. It's about a ten minutes walk to where anyone else would be at this hour. And there could be any amount of stairs and passages in between."

"What's that noise?" said Lucy suddenly. It was certainly a far larger house than she had ever been in before and the thought of all those long passages and rows of doors leading into empty rooms gave her a small fright.

"Its only an owl, silly," said Edmund.

"I say let's explore tomorrow," suggested Peter. "We could find anything in a place like this. Did you all see the mountains and woods? There could be anything from stags to eagles!"

"Or foxes," said Edmund.

"Rabbits!" said Susan.

"Badgers!" said Lucy, finally smiling.

"Exactly, Lu," replied Peter, tapping his sister's nose playfully. "I saw the back grounds. This place is huge and we can do whatever we want here. You'll see. Tomorrow's going to be great. Really." Peter ruffled her hair before he and Edmund said their goodnights.