36

There were no heart to hearts during the first stretch of the journey, just strategy and planning. Jerry had made it to Lieutenant during his four years of service. He could have gone further, he was smart enough, but he butted heads with those above him a little too often. And Captain Ford was getting a taste of this now.

Jerry wanted to split up, Ken was insisting they remain together, in the car, circling the streets, after hitting the most obvious locations.

"So, station first," Ken said, hunched behind the wheel. "And then, what would you say next, the churches?"

Jerry grimaced. "Listen, just because our dad's a minister doesn't mean Una doesn't understand the world. She's not shy, she just likes to figure out the situation before she dives in." He sat back in his seat. "She's actually pretty wise."

Ken was quiet for a moment, thinking about the girl Jerry was describing. How she had asked to touch his scar and shared his cigarette and used his lance corporal as a floatation device. Either Jerry didn't know her at all, or she had changed a great deal since his arrival.

"Goat," said Jerry.

Ken pulsed the brake. "I saw it," he said, swerving the car. "You know this place could do with a street light or two."

"You city folk are very fond of telling us what this Island could do with, and yet you keep coming back here every chance you get."

"You never think of leaving?"

"I did leave," said Jerry. "I didn't like it very much."

"None of it?"

"Nope."

Jerry unhinged his window, Ken did too, and let in some air.

"The only way I got through it was knowing this little Island was untouched and it was up to me to keep it that way." Jerry was silent again, and then, "What about you?"

"I'm afraid it was nothing so valiant as that. Drink mostly, women of course - when you could get them."

Jerry swivelled in his seat and rested an arm on the back. His eyes, black and steady, drilling into Ken until Ken couldn't stand it.

"What?"

"Pardon my French, Ken, but you're full of merde."

Ken laughed. "So back to Una."

"What do you want to know?"

"We have to get into the mind of the enemy, so to speak, think how she would think. She's alone in town, it's almost eleven, where would she go?"

Jerry could see the wisdom in going to churches now, they would definitely be the safest place to find shelter for the night. His father knew two or three ministers in Charlottetown, if he could just remember their names…

"Darn it," he murmured under his breath. "We should probably check the hospital. That Willoughby. He doesn't strike me as an idiot, so what was he thinking?"

"I know he made a bad call, Jerry, but he isn't thoughtless. If Una told him she could manage the journey home by herself, he simply would have believed her."

"But it's different with Una."

Ken shifted in his seat. "Mmm, I know." He could feel those black eyes on him again. "She's going to Redmond, I hear. What about you?"

That did the trick. Jerry hinged the window up and straightened his back. "Nan and I are getting married."

Ken couldn't hide his surprise. "Without the blessing of good Doctor Blythe?"

"He'll come round. It's Nan I'm worried about. I can't stand her thinking she ruined my chances. I don't see it that way at all."

Ken swerved to the side of the road and let the engine idle. They were outside the Catholic church and a bell was ringing. At eleven o'clock? What was that all about?

"Hang on a minute." The penny had dropped. "Is Nan… did you get her-"

"She's not sure yet," Jerry said. "It's too early to tell. If you say a word, Ford."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Only Di."

"Bloody hell, Jerry. I don't know what to say, you sly dog."

"There's nothing sly about it. Either way I'm marrying her, whether she is or not."

"You're so calm about it."

"I don't need a poem to remind me to keep faith. I do miss Walt though."

"Mmm," said Ken again. "I think Una misses him too." He started up the engine and kept it idling while he peered up at the church. "What do you think, should we poke about in there and see if we can find her, there's a few lights on in the convent?"

Jerry laughed this time. "You don't know her very well, do you?"

...

Next chapter to follow, it turned out that these bits seem to go in threes!