April walks into the kitchen to inform Olga, "The beef will be delivered tomorrow afternoon."
"Da! Thank you." Olga looks at her list and make a change and returns to boiling jars.
"I am going to the fields, if you need anything just ring the bell."
"Da!" Olga smiles as she watches April head off the fields and turns on the radio to listen to the latest news bulletins, hoping for a change towards a more peaceful option.
Molly watches Jennifer from the back.
"I see you looking at me." Jennifer turns and teases.
"You don't have pedals past your knees."
"Scales."
"They are not like fish scales; they are soft like flower pedals."
"Okay! Enough." April stops harvesting the cauliflower, "I need the two of you to focus or I shall split you in different fields."
Jennifer smiles and salutes her sister, "Yes Farmer April!"
"No seriously," April comes to her sister's side. "We have a short time to get all this inside properly stored. I am sorry. Tonight, you may have a private dinner in the small study. Just please concentrate."
"You are right. I am sorry."
"I am sorry too," Molly smiles.
"Is there a problem?" Edward J Cohen catches up to the group, asks as he flips up the rim of his sunhat, "Is she a problem we can send her to the other field?"
"The lovebirds are distracted."
"Ah, well that is expected." He dusts off a one-piece jumper with very wide leg pants, fitted high waist and a slightly blousy top. "Molly is a hard worker, she knows this harvest is important."
"Thank you brother. Might I request that you wear that yellow thing tomorrow. It might keep you from getting sunburn on your arm."
He looks at his arms, "Thank you Molly. Being out here ... I have never felt so free and safe."
"I know what you mean. This is magical."
April smiles, "I do enjoy your company and high spirits, please get back to work."
"Yes Ma'am!"
The reset of the morning and afternoon everyone works diligently.
That night Molly and Jennifer took the gift of a secluded dinner for two. After they finished their meal they instantly fell asleep on the sofa.
At the end of the week everything was harvested with over 517 jars of canned goods including asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, leeks and potato soup, carrots, cabbage, string beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and red meat.
In the root cellar is filled to the rim with pumpkin, peanuts, almonds, quinoa, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, Garlic and onions.
The group looks at their hard work.
"If I never see another bean plant again, it shall be too soon." Mirum laughs at they enjoy their last night together.
Kay smiles, "Come now, one week of hard work will pay off nicely when you eat through winter."
Olga smiles, "Remember it was your decision to make potato leek soup. If by Christmas you are sick of it, do not come moaning to this Russian."
April, "We are going to be making monthly deliveries to you and London."
"Will my brother and I get to share in the bounty?" Molly asks.
"Of course." Kay looks towards Edward.
"What?" Molly looks at her brother. "Please we do not have secrets."
He adjusts his shawl, "I have asked April and Kay If I may stay here, they accepted in exchange for work." He looks at his skirts and fluffs it out, "I will go to the local office and sign up. But until I am called, I want to stay in paradise a little while longer."
Molly jumps up and sits on the dark green pouf at Edward's feet, "Are you truly happy here?"
He leans over, "My dear Molly, I found peace."
She hugs him tight, "I am so glad."
He sits back, "Who knew a family of Silurians and their extended family would be my answer."
Molly goes back to her place next to Jennifer, "If Kay and April get sick of your dramatics, come home immediately."
April smiles, "Besides this home is not ours. We are the caretakers to the family investment. As far as delivery of your bounty, I am sure Jen will make sure you will get your fair share."
"We leave here and we are back to our lives in London." Odea pulls Ada close, "We are at war and many things will change. This moment right here, I have decided to hold precious. Family and friends together with all our oddities and similarities, we worked harder than mules." She lifts her glass of wine, "The bounty!"
"The bounty!"
The next morning April and Kay drove all the hard workers to the railway station. With sober goodbyes, they watch Molly and Jennifer say goodbye from the Kendal railway station platform and an hour later it was Kay bursting into tears as she and her wife wave to their family members back to London.
"We will see them again." April pulls Kay close, "After this mess is over we shall be close quarters again."
"Not if we figure out this farming thing. Surely Vastra will see the need to have a farm."
"I was thinking the same thing. We need a plan."
The entire ten miles back they figured out a plan, but they can't do it alone.
"Edward!" Kay enters Low Brorrowbridge from the back, they hear movement in their room above. They go upstairs to their room, open the door and see Mr. Cohen going through their closet.
April coughs.
Edward turns and smiles, "I just want to see if any of these wonderful dresses fit."
Kay goes over and snatches her dress out of his hands, "Rule number one - we shall respect each other's privacy. I shall not enter your room and you shall not enter ours." She grabs his arm and pulls him out to the hallway, "Rule number two - do not ever put on our clothing."
"Are you offended?" Mr. Edward J Cohen attempts to make them feel guilty.
"No." Kay puts her hand on her hips. "First rule of sisterhood, find your own style."
Mr. Edward J Cohen shuts his mouth and stares at Kay.
April and Kay watch as the quietness of his mind races to come up with an idea.
"You are correct. I need my own style."
Kay smiles, "We will glad be of any assistance. After you get signed up at the office, we will find patterns that fit more of your style."
He smiles, tosses his scarf around his neck, "Acceptable terms."
After April puts all her clothing back into their armoire she joins them in the hall, "We have something to disgust, let me make some tea. We want your opinion Mr. Cohen."
Over the next few hours April and Kay share their grand plan as farmers.
"I believe it is smart and thought-out." Edward smiles, "However you first need to find out where you are going next? What if the climate is colder, dryer, wetter or even more humid? Farming is not the same all around the globe."
Kay pouts, "I didn't think of that."
April smiles, "Let us focus on making this farm a success. Edward is correct, we are missing one huge piece of the puzzle."
Kay smiles, "Yes the sun will rise tomorrow."
The next morning after a hearty breakfast April, Kay and Edward go into town. First they went to the post office and informed the local office of his location, then they went to the fabric store and then returned Low Brorrowbridge for chores.
Mirum runs upstairs and bursts into the room scaring Fiona and Jenny, "It has finally happened!"
Fiona takes a deep breath, "What has finally happened?"
Jennifer walks in the room with a grin.
Alaya and Fiona stand, "Molly?"
Jennifer nods yes.
Fiona goes to the landing, "Where is she? Bring her in."
Mirum responds before Jennifer can respond, "She had to work tomorrow, so we said our goodbyes at Kendal station."
Fiona turns around and considers Jennifer's eyes, "Do you love her?"
She smiles and with a blushed face nods, "I am so embarrassed at how stupid I have been." Jennifer looks around at her supportive family, "I am going to bed. I have a big day tomorrow." She walks up the stairs and is stopped by a warm hand. She turns around to see her mothers.
Alaya smiles, "When are you going to see Molly again?"
"Her job has a very rough schedule. She said she would write or telegram when she is free."
Fiona looked concern, "You told where you were working?"
"No, she will be contacting me here."
"Good. Do you want company to Milton Keynes?"
"No," As she rubs her calloused hands, "I would like some time alone to read. We all worked very hard."
"Alright. Sleep well."
Jennifer exits the Station, follows the path, turns right on Sherwood Drive, left on Jermima way and waits at the gate. A guard comes out and Jennifer shows her paper.
The gate open and a tall man comes to greet her, "Good morning Miss Jennifer welcome to B.P."
"Thank you sir."
They walk in silence until they come to a small building, he opens the door. There is a small desk and two chairs. "Please sit down."
He closes the door, dials to open a safe, pulls out a folder and sits at the desk. "Yes um, your talents in mathematics, puzzle solving and game theory are such assets to what we do here. Your name came to our attention when your theoretical solution computational problems to alter the Turing machine and allow for the Boolean satisfiability problem. You will find this work long but satisfying. You have a few things here that many, no none do not."
"What is that, Sir."
He closes the folder, "Frankly personal experience and special family traits."
Jennifer becomes uncomfortable in her seat, "Sorry Sir, family traits?"
"Miss Jennifer Flint-Saint Clair, I should not play with words." He closes the folder, "Your skills I mentioned are essential to the work we are doing here. Your family has a long history solving puzzles which even Scotland Yard fails to solve. Unlike your aunts and sisters, you possess skills we desperately need. Do not mistake Miss Flint-Saint Clair your intelligence is what brought you here."
Jennifer sits up taller, "Please clarify what you mean by family traits."
He smiles, "I know of your genetic pool. Something called Silurian."
Jennifer's eyes go wide, "Please rest my nerves at ease."
"Do you know what we do here?"
"You work with mathematics and theory to help with government policy and planning." Jennifer grasped her luggage handle tighter, "I was told it was a great place to work as a woman and mathematician. Please tell me I am safe."
He stands up, "Please, please I am so sorry. I thought this would be the privacy we needed before we started the tour. My apologies." He picks up the phone, "Tea please." He places the receiver down, "Please relax. We have great respect for your family and your skills. Did I come across to evil?"
Jennifer relaxes, "Not evil. You just seem to portray a person with a secret and alternative motive."
"Ah," He plays with a pencil, "That is because you are correct on both accounts."
A knock on the door interrupts the conversation.
He goes to the door to get the tea and brings the tray over to the small table in the corner. "Please allow me to be mother."
"Just plain tea."
"Typical Londoner"
She smiles, "Yes I have lived in London all my life."
"Yes. Yes. Yes." He sits down behind the desk and places his tea on the folder. "I am Commander Alastair Denniston, I oversee B.P."
Jennifer leaps up almost tipping her tea, "Are you the Alastair of the 1908 Scottish Olympic field hockey team?"
He smiles, "Yes I am."
Jennifer places her tea down and offers her hand, "Sir, my family is a great fan. My mother was born in ..." She looks at Commander Denniston who is tapping the folder, "I am sorry you must know about my family." She sits down, calms herself with a sip of tea. "I am sorry I have never met an award-winning Olympian before. Well to be honest I never had the pleasure of meeting an Olympian. Do you have the bronze medal?"
He laughs, "No my medal is in my home office. That was over 30 years ago, I am not mentioned even in history books."
"Well my family is quite proud of your achievements."
He sits back, "I was doing my best to calm you and here you have fed my ego. What can I say to you, to which you will not be offended as to why you are here?"
She sips her tea, "Honesty. I can tell if you are lying."
He moves the tea off the folder and opens it again, "I didn't know Silurians can detect liars!"
"They can't"
"But you just said ..."
"I said I could tell if you are lying. A touch of the face, a twitch of an eye, a curl of the lip. Actually, any human facial tick, except on a sociopathic, will denote lying."
"Where did you learn that?"
"My grandmothers."
He chuckled and offered a sigh of relief and closes the folder, "I am glad."
"Sir?"
"If you had sort of super powers to detect lying you would be asked to work for a different government department. I do not want to give you up, I truly believe you can make a difference."
"Good." Jennifer sips her tea, "Tell me why my family traits would be a help to you."
"No, I repeat your intelligence is what brought you here. Your family traits are a secondary thought."
"For example?"
He opens the folder, covering her view of his face and whispers under his breath.
"Yes I do have healthy hearing."
The folder didn't come down and Jennifer hears a muffled sound. She focuses her hearing, he is saying 'You like to bake?' repeatedly with his mind. She smiles to herself and allows him to believe that her telepathic abilities are simply a rumor.
He puts down the folder and makes a note.
"Would you do me the honor to show your true self?"
"Where did you say your medal was located?"
"My home office."
"I will allow you to see my true self the moment I can feel your medal in hand."
He offers his hand, "Deal"
They shake.
He reads over the folder, "It says here that you like cricket, bake and know how to build a radio."
"Well that is mostly my aunt, but I know how to follow schematics and built from a blueprint."
"Excellent." He closes the folder, "I also understand that a family trait is stamina?"
"Yes, however we have little toleration of the cold and need at least five hours sleep a night."
"Five hours?"
"That is a great asset to what we do here. We work in shift twenty-four hours a day. Nonstop."
"What exactly do you do here?"
He finishes his tea, "Ready for the tour? Remember, it was a courtesy to allow your family to know where you will be working. But as to what you do, that is not every to be disclosed. Well ..." He chuckles, "You will outlive everyone you will work with, so just wait until we are all dead. And not to the public."
Jennifer places her tea on the small table and stands up. "I understand. My family understand. As far as how long I live, I do bleed and can be killed. Where shall I put my things."
"Bring them with."
Commander Alastair Denniston places the folder into the safe, locks the safe, opens the door and leads Jennifer up to the large mansion.
"Beautiful home. Is that where I shall sleep?"
They enter the front doors, "No. This is where you will work. As far as residence, we have a small boarding house reserved nearby. You are not obligated to stay there, but it is somewhere to lay your hat until you find more suitable lodging." He points to a small closet, "You may leave your things in there."
Jennifer takes off her coat, hat and places her luggage inside and closes the door.
"Let's take a tour and please," He whispers for her ears only, "Let me know if there is anything your 'senses' notice."
She whispers back, "I will come to you first thing."
SEPTEMBER 1939
THE PARK HOTEL
MILTON KEYNES
Dearest Mothers,
I am writing as soon as I am settled. As per agreement, which you know, the details of my responsibilities are kept confidential. I can disclose this with confidence, Grandma Vastra would eat her right arm for this opportunity.
Something wonderful happened.
I was getting a tour of B.P., that is what people who work here call it, and guess who works here? Molly Cohen. I hope to have a meal or two, I must be discreet. I am sure you understand.
Now we know why she was being so secretive.
You should have seen her eyes almost pop out of her head at the sight of me. I was calm and collected. She was marvelous and did not hint to our knowledge of each other.
I will work a six-day week. It is divided up into three shifts: 1600 to 0000, 0000 to 0800 (the most disliked shift), and 0800 to 1600. I have volunteered for the 0000 to 0800 shift. I have become accustomed to being a night owl. It must be a family trait. At the end of the third week, I am off at 0800 and came back at 1600m thus putting in sixteen hours on that last day. Which gives me little time to socialize or tend to personal things. My single day off will be dedicated to preparing for the week ahead, including laundry and those little things we do to take care of oneself.
Please do not let my hectic schedule keep you from visiting, I would cherish any time with my mothers.
I will have one week's leave four times a year, I will give notice as soon as I know.
I have been assigned a small box room at The Park Hotel and allowed to find my own housing. I do not have the time off to go searching, for my schedule will just not allow it. Therefore, I must suffer the loud drunks and the smell of rotten rum waffling up to my room.
I have kept a glass of lemonade by my bedside. It is not enough I have to cover my mouth with a scarf and do my best to drown out the noise with cotton. It is not enough. I think I shall go mad if I do not figure this out. Any suggestions would be helpful.
I look forward to my responsibilities tonight, I wish I could write detail.
I will write again, soon.
Your Daughter
Jen
P.S. I get a half-hour meal break during my shift. Tell Catherine I miss her food and I miss our little kitchen.
Alaya and Fiona quickly go to Vastra and Jenny.
They hand the letter to the curious Jenny, "We must do something."
Vastra picks up the phone, "Mr. Clements your services are needed."