Odea wakes up the next morning as if she didn't sleep a wink.
She struggles to get up and makes her way down to kitchen.
Olga is watching the now heavy footed sleep monster attempt to make breakfast for herself.
"I will make you breakfast? The usual?"
Olga pours herself a hot cup of coffee and slumps over to the table.
"Da!" Odea speaks to the coffee and Olga, "I came home around midnight. Scotland yard didn't need an expert."
"Why did they call us then?"
"They were looking for discretion. It was not complicated but it did take time. The only thing I found unusual was the marks, hoof marks."
"Horse?"
"No. Horses are huge and would break bones."
"Cat?"
Odea half laughs, "No."
"I don't know of any wild animal in London."
Odea looks up after drinking another large sip and then she kisses the cup. "The reason for discretion was the location, activity and, of course, the family."
"Where were they found?"
"Richmond Park."
"Where?" Olga looks at Odea, "Serious. I could use gossip."
"They were found in Richmond Park by the smell from two female auxiliary officers. They were using their flashlight and noticed something shiny." Odea gulps the last of her coffee. She gets up and pours another. Sits back down.
"You can't walk and talk?"
"Not this morning."
"The shiny item was the diamond ring on the woman's finger with a necklace to match," Odea takes another sip.
Odea lays the plate of food in front of Odea and sits patiently for more.
"They found the two in a compromising position."
Olga covers her mouth in shock, "What happened?"
"Dears trampled them."
"No." Olga leans forward, "Why didn't they just run away?"
"I am no expert but how easily when you are mid shag, or near the end of their shag? The truth is that the woman trampled was a married woman and the man underneath was not her husband."
"Oh! Oh." Olga grasps the news around her brain. She calms herself and nods to hear more.
"Her husband, which I am not even privy." Odea takes a bite of her breakfast. "This is good. Nobody," She points her empty fork at Olga, "Nobody makes eggs like you do." She bites more breakfast, swig of coffee and continues. "My paperwork had no names, no birthdates or any personal information."
"What did you do?"
"My job is to be curious." She bites a mushroom between sentences. "So when I was alone I did a little investigating on my own. First she is at least forty-five. While he was," She says in almost hushed tones, "Just eighteen."
"Oh my goodness."
Pointing with her fork again at Olga, this time with a mushroom secured, "That is scandalous. A young boy is being treated in such a way." She eats the mushroom, "They don't have their brains fully developed. This nothing more than a bored wealthy woman who is selfish enough to not be active in the W.I., to be essential to the community or participate in the war effort. That is what is scandalous."
"I am almost ten years his senior."
"You both have so much to offer. Fate brought him here."
"No, it was Mrs. Holt."
Odea raises her cup, "To Mrs. Holt!" and drinks the entire contents. She looks down at the plate. Then back at Olga, "What are you going to wear tonight?"
"I don't know."
"I think you should go through Ada's and Fiona's bureau, we can get something you would like."
"That isn't right."
"Do you think they would not offer if they were here?"
"True."
"Lunch time we shall scavenger and we shall find something perfect."
"What are you going to do tonight?"
"I am hoping to hear family on the radio. I received notice that Jennifer will available."
"Good." Olga attempts to take Odea's plate.
"I am awake and will take care of the dishes. Why don't you go down to start the day while I clean up here?"
"Are you sure? We can get it done faster."
Odea felt obligated to clean after Olga made the breakfast. Then she realized that Olga wanted to spend more time with her before work begins. "It will go faster. Wash or dry?"
"Dry."
Odea turns to wash the dishes, "What are you going to see tonight?"
"Wizard of Oz."
"From the book?"
"It is a Hollywood movie so maybe basic characters. There will be plenty of singing?"
"Singing?"
"I know." Olga shakes her head as she dries the first clean plate. "Tell me about the women who were receptionists."
"I have to remind you it does have a happy ending. Also, you promised not to mention this to your mother, there is a burden to carry knowing this information. Do you understand my friend?"
"I do and I promise not to mention a soul."
"The first I can remember was Miss Shaw, she worked for Fiona's Mother April. I remember her always at the front desk with a smile. She would take us to museums, when mother wasn't able and was our teacher until secondary school. She was in that position until I was eighteen. So she was in that position a very long time."
"What happened to her?"
"She travels the world with our accountant. Even took her parents all around South America."
"That sounds to me like a happy ending."
"That is when it all began. It took a turn for the worse. First there was Miss Paterson ... "
By the time Olga heard the entire story of the receptionists it was noon. She looks up at the clock, "My goodness!"
She springs to her feet and pulls Odea out of the kitchen. They run down the stairs and onto the first landing.
"I hope we didn't miss anything important." Olga turns to see Odea and makes an awkward facial expression.
"What?"
"You are not transformed."
Odea looks down to see the perception device was not activated. She almost forgot how to manual switch it on and then with a bit of practice her outer appearance was transformed. "Better?"
"No."
Odea looks down and sees that everything is as it should. Spins around and asks, "What is wrong?"
Olga smiles, "I prefer that you didn't have to hide."
Odea pulls Olga into a massive hug, "Good."
The run down the rest of the way like two young girls who have not yet mastered soft and graceful walking.
Mr. Warrilow stands and sees Olga with bloodshot eyes, "Mrs. Yunevich is everything alright?"
"Yes. Yes. Yes." She attempts a smile, "I just have been relayed some troubling information. War has a price."
"This will pass and there is much to do." Mr. Warrilow grins largely hoping that being busy will bring back Mrs. Yunevich's natural color. He hands her the large stack of messages and then hands all the mail to Odea. "That should keep you two busy during lunch."
He stands up and heads down the hall, "I shall be having lunch with Miss Warrilow and Mrs. Holt." He holds up an olive-green lunch box. "I shall return before the strike of one. I have information to share."
"Why not share it now?"
He walks down the hall holding high a olive-green lunch box and disappears to the sewing area.
"He is exactly what this office needs." Odea shakes her head, "I hope he will get along with Julia."
Olga grabs Odea's wrist, "We shall work through lunch, which means I will not have time to scavenger for an outfit."
Maybe we can get through our assignments quickly." Odea hold up the mail mimicking Mr. Warrilow holding up the lunch box as she disappears into Julia's office.
She was wrong. There was no way to go through anything quickly.
Olga made phone call after phone call, appointment after appointment until the clock struck five forty-five. She exits Julia's office to see Mr. Warrilow standing there with her coat in hand.
She looks down at herself, "I am not appropriately dressed." She attempts to head up the stairs to the residences but is blocked like a matador with his red cape bravely face the bull.
He shakes his head no.
Odea peeks around the door frame to watch.
"Please I shall not be more than ten minutes."
He shakes his head no and shakes the coat with his hand, "I am familiar with the feminine concept of getting dress. Unless you have already laid out your clothing and do not touch your hair then you may pass."
Olga instantly touches her hair and feels the unsettledness of it all, "Mr. Warrilow, please."
He shakes his head no, "I want to spend time with you. It has been a long day and it is our time. If you believe your clothing will have any effect my enjoyment your company, then you have mistaken me for someone else. There is a mirror fix your hair and it is time to, excuse the pun, let our hair down."
"Oh Mr. Warrilow you do challenge me." She goes to the large mirror on the wall for client alterations. She fixes her hair, attempts to smooth out her clothing and can see Mr. Warrilow watching.
He shakes the coat.
Olga walks over in an exaggerated huff, grabs the coat, slaps on her wool hat, yanks the gloves from their box and says, "It shall only affect your reputation to be seen with a scraggly woman."
He opens the door, "I am a scraggly one-armed man."
"Mr. Warrilow!" She walks through the door and waits as Mr. Warrilow closes the door behind them.
Odea hears a soft giggle. She stands and looks as the door to the sewing area is ajar. She quickly swings it open to see Mrs. Holt and Miss Warrilow attempt an escape.
"Good evening ladies."
"Good evening Mrs. Mosin." The two turn around shyly, "We were just curious."
"I was watching from my office. It was quite enjoyable."
"He is a good man."
"Mrs. Yunevich is a good woman."
"See," Mrs. Holt turns to Miss Warrilow, "There is nothing to worry about."
"You are worried?" Odea asks.
She meekly responds, "He is my only son, together we have had a good life."
"Mrs. Yunevich goes to the cinema every Wednesday night. She has been accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Clements and myself. I assure you she is good company."
"Do you know what they are seeing?"
"Wizard of Oz."
"What type of movie?"
"It is focused towards all ages. It is supposed to be a great family film."
Mrs. Holt says to Miss Warrilow, "If it is good maybe they will take you to see it another time?"
"Do you think?" Miss Warrilow addresses to the two women.
"I do not see why not," Mrs. Holt responds with a jovial tone. "We must see how this evening works out. If it a bore I suspect neither would want to see the film or each other again."
Odea nods in agreement, "I must be going. I have plans tonight." She runs upstairs and yell back, "Remember to lock on your way out."
"Yes, Mrs. Mosin."
Odea heads up towards the top landing and walks past the activation device, she looks down and is now in her natural state. She shrugs and makes a mental note to have her mother look at possible failure.
She goes into the kitchen. She gathers the cold plate she prepared yesterday, slices two pieces of bread, a tall glass of water and brings the dinner tray into the living room. She places the tray on the nearest table to the radio and pulls the table closer to the radio chair.
She lays out the papers from Jennifer and gathers sharpen pencils. She puts on the headphones and hears familiar voices. It is Jennifer and Kay.
"... plenty of male students in my classes. I don't know how that can last as the war continues. Luckily this means the University can't be that selective when it comes to the female additions. They have always had higher expectations for female applicants while the men are required to met minimal levels."
"I hope so. We need more educated women."
Mirum speaks up, "I can hear Odea eating."
Odea stops her chewing immediately, does her best to swallow, "I just finished work. I have a cold plate. Does my eating bother you?"
"No. I thought it would be good to share that we all are here."
"I miss you all terribly." Odea sits back relieved at her confession, "I am alone tonight."
"Where is Olga?"
"Olga is at the cinema being accompanied by a Mr. Morgan Warrilow."
Kay almost jumps through the radio, "Gossip! Tell us everything."
Olga gathers her notes and tells them from the beginning. She started with Mrs. Holt all the way to the impressive Mr. Warrilow seeing company not perfection and the spying Mrs. Holt and Miss Warrilow.
"Sounds like Olga is finding a new life."
"Aren't we all?"
"Wait a minute." April asks of her sister and companions.
Silence.
"Okay I sent Kay into the other room. How is everyone truly doing?"
Silence.
"I will go first." Jennifer as always the fearless leader, "I feel as if my my organs have disappeared. I have Molly, the shop and my work. I am busy, excited, exhausted and happy all the time. But I feel like there is something missing, keeping me from being truly whole."
"I agree." April adds, "My work, my Kay, the farm and my social life is everything I imagined. Yet there is a dark place haunting me and void."
"I have two radios, books, a quiet companion and see the sea every day. I am pleased with everything around me. Now that the girls are gone, it is not just quiet it seems almost as if I am lost."
"Odea?" Jennifer asks the radio.
"She is whimpering." Mirum says softly.
Silence.
"We are here for you Odea." Jennifer reminds her friend, "We shall wait until you compose yourself."
Silence.
"My wife is in the middle of the Atlantic, I am worked to the bone and I am utterly alone. I wake up every morning to the static of the radio. I lay on the sofa at night hoping for a crackle, a voice in the night. But even that isn't enough. I feel as if my body is missing their lungs."
"We are so sorry. This war has us all spread our clan thin."
"Now that the girls are gone, my food even taste different. Mind you, not bad, just different." Mirum adds her own experience.
"My food taste differently too!" Odea excitedly exclaims, "I have not had my appetite due to Ada being gone, but the food I do eat I barely taste of anything particular. I eat for energy. Jennifer, April what about you two?"
"Not exactly. Give me a moment to give it some thought. I have been too busy to worry about eating, let alone analyze my taste buds."
"This morning Olga made me breakfast. You know how she adds that Russian spin to her eggs," Odea continues without waiting for a response, "I was amazed how much flavor there was and it made me feel better."
"Are you suggesting we add horseradish to our diets to feel better?"
Odea shrugs and realizes that nobody is watching her, "Shrug, shrug."
"What?" April asks.
"Shrug, shrug. That is exactly what I did. You couldn't see me, so I thought I would say my emotions."
"Smile, smile." Replies April
There is laughter through their headphones, a sound they realized they missed most.
After it all calmed down April chimes in, "So this food thing. I have been racking my brain trying to remember my eating habits through my life until now. There is a connection. Jennifer what have you eaten lately?"
"It has been cold so I have been eating my pantry empty of leeks and potato soup."
"Does it taste the same as when we had it in London last year."
"Wait! I thought maybe the canning process took away flavor."
April smiles and shakes her head no as she talks into the microphone, "Shake head no, shake head no. It was canned last year too."
Mirum, "Maybe there is something about our family trait that is affecting our ability to taste things and not feel whole."
"Or that our tribe is too far apart." Odea pulls herself together, "Mother Vastra always says she loses the family scent. Has anyone ever had that problem?"
"I have when Kay is not nearby." April says as matter of fact.
"Not a wife or friend. We are talking blood, clan." Mirum starts to lick the air. "Are we assimilated? We are not fully human."
"I am not going to lick anyone," Jennifer says into the microphone with a repulsive tone. "That is not how we do things."
"I am not saying we should start slithering down each other's necks." Mirum thinks on her feet for a solution, "What if we mail each other a scarf."
"A scarf? I don't wear scarves!" Odea laughs into the radio.
"Could you wear a silk scarf for a day or two?"
"A silk one, sure."
"Okay I think this would be an interesting experiment. Each mail three scarves to each other before the end of next week. That will give Odea time to wear three."
"Maybe to ensure exposure we should exercise while wearing the scarves."
"Ew!" April exclaims.
"This from a woman who deals with farm animals. I shake head in disbelief."
"Odea, what can we do to help?"
"I don't know."
"I know we don't all have free time and the radio is a poor substitution for face to face, but this is all we have now." Jennifer speaks with compassion, "I can speak for all of us, we built radios, we have lived in New New York City, we have been trained well by our Vastra to be a team and now our biggest fight is being apart. We should come up with a solution. I am not sure what. Odea write as many letters to us as you want and will do our best to be there for you."
"If it gets desperate, send us a telegram." April adds.
"Fiona and Alaya will be at the farm within a day or two. Then they should be back to help you figure things out."
April, "Why are they taking so long to get here?"
"Petrol is scarce. They have plenty of rations cards but there isn't much petrol to be had. They left the car outside the cove."
"What?"
"They are taking the bus into Edinburgh to make a connection south."
"Did they offer any estimate time of arrival?"
"I assume they will send a telegram."
April gets nervous, "There is no telegram delivery here at Low Borrowbridge."
"I am sure the Post Office will call ... Oh. I see the problem." Mirum becomes nervous. "What do we do?"
"We have a standing appointment with Post Office each Saturday before dawn. Hold on. May I bring Kay into the conversation? Odea?"
"Yes, I need to hear updates to the Tebay Witch!"
"Okay, let me get her."
Jennifer asks, "Odea, why don't you come up here for a weekend? What are your plans for bring in the 1940?"
"I will wait until Fiona and Alaya return."
"Sounds good."
"You can always come to the sea!" Mirum teases Odea, "I bet you couldn't put a toe in the water here!"
"If business is slow I might do a grand tour."
"Grand Tour?" Kay pops in excited.
"We are cheering up Odea with a tour of the clan's current residences."
"Count us in! Odea you will love it here. We have plenty of room even with the girls and Catherine."
"I am seriously considering a cross country visit. But first, Fiona and Alaya."
Kay asks the radio, "What about them, they should be arriving soon. Correct."
"They left the car here at the Cove because there was no petrol available."
"How are they traveling?"
"Bus."
"Does anyone have an itinerary?"
"No."
"How will we know when to go get them?"
April responds, "Do we just go every day into Tebay when the bus arrives?"
"How do we transport them to the farm?"
Silence.
Jennifer, "Tell us what is the issue?"
April replies softly, "We only have the truck."
"I see the problem, the seating isn't for more than three."
Kay pops in with a positive attitude, "We shall make multiple trips. That is the only solution."
"Do you have petrol?"
"We have store credit."
"Will that get you gas?"
"That will get us groceries."
"How does that help?"
"We'll trade for dinner at the pub."
Jennifer starts to laugh, "Then what?"
"We trade our pub meals for animal feed."
Mirum chimes in, "Wait. I need a pencil."
Silence.
"Okay after you trade for animal feed then you get petrol?"
"No, we keep half of the animal feed and trade with a similar size farm for eggs."
"Don't you have chickens?"
"Not this many."
"So you got eggs, then what?"
"We trade the egg to the staff at Orton Hall."
"What do you get from the staff at Orton Hall?"
"Petrol rations."
"How much do you do this in your truck and driving all around? Do you make out in the positive?"
"The trading happens at Mrs. Theobald's, who handles the details."
"How much does Mrs. Theobald get from all these transactions?"
"Five percent."
"What do you get out of it?"
"A full tank every month and half the feed."
"So you are careful when you drive."
April remarks with a touch of irritation, "Yes we do."
Kay laughs, "That is because we no longer can drive to the Cinema."
"Why can't you go to the cinema?"
"We are saving the petrol for deliveries next month."
"Oh no!" Mirum pipes in quickly, "We do not have the girls, we still have much food in our pantry and besides you will be getting Catherine. I speak no ill will, but she loves to cook and eat what she cooks."
"Oh dear." Kay wonders about all their hard work will be used up by summer.
Odea, "I need to warn you. She is has brought her equipment to make her vodka. It will take sixteen pounds of potatoes to make one bottle of vodka."
"What do we do?"
"Can you hide the potatoes?" Odea asks.
Jennifer tells Odea, "There are many, many potatoes. Here comes ..."
"Hi! This is Molly!"
"Hi Molly!" is repeated multiple times until Jennifer coughs, "Molly how many potatoes do you suppose April and Kay have in their root cellar."
"Oh dear," Molly starts calculating in her head, "Honestly I do not know. But there is enough to feed a large orphanage for the winter."
Odea asks about her wife's grandmother, "Why not let her make her Vodka?"
"Waste potatoes on alcohol?"
"What do you get when you trade your potatoes?"
"We get groceries."
Molly asks, "What do they get with groceries?"
"I will handle this!" Mirum announces into the radio. "They trade groceries for pub dinners, with the pub dinners they trade for animal feed. They keep half of the animal feed for themselves and trade with a similar size farm for eggs."
Molly asks, "I thought you have chickens?"
Mirum answers, "Not that many. They trade the eggs to the staff at Orton Hall who in turn gives them petrol cards."
"Kay, April? What will you get if you trade pure Russian vodka? Also, depending on the mixture," Molly adds, "You could extend your petrol usage by mixing vodka. I will do some research and let you know."
"Jennifer, I think I am jealous." April jokes and within two seconds, "Ouch! I was just teasing."
"This is Kay. Molly do you have a formula you can share?"
"I must look back at my notes and do some research. It is not uncommon for college students looking to extra a bit more mileage out of their automobiles for weekend journeys. I wish Edward was here, he would remember."
"Do you think we can play while Kay updates us on the latest scoop on the Tebay Witch!"
"I don't see why not. First round goes to ..." Jennifer pauses, "Mirum against Odea. While you setup your ships Kay will update us about Mary Baines, the Tebay Witch latest rampage."
"According to Mrs. Theobald out at Garsgill's farm the two cats left before October. They just assumed that they were killed by wild animals."
"What wild animals?"
"Kestrels."
"Oh. Sorry continue."
"The two cats left before October and returned this month. They are healthy, fat and according Mrs. Theobald healthier than before they left. Apparently, those out at Garsgill's farm aren't keen on taking care of animals that aren't profitable or edible."
"What does that have to do with Mary Baines."
"Mary did not like cruelty to animals and is particular to felines."
Odea, "I am ready!"
"Mirum?"
"One second. Okay. I am ready."
"I shall flip a coin to see who goes first. Out of pity we shall allow Odea to guess."
"I shall take that pity and call heads."
Silence.
"Sorry my friend, it is tails. Okay Mirum you go first."
"B-7."
"Miss, C-4."
"Miss, J-10."
"Hit, D-7."
A soft murmur of excitement is heard through all their headphones.
"Miss, A-1"
Nobody can tell, except Mirum, that as Odea calls out possible positions, she is smiling.