Chapter 2

“Cold,yes,”she said absentmindedly,wondering about one of the houses near the end of the block.“At least the others have some light peeping though.What do you make of that one completely in the dark?

“Probably unoccupied,”Cyril said.“Come on.Let’s get hopping.”

“Yes,you must be right.It just looks so…I don’t know.Forlorn,”she said,and shivered.“There’s a local myth about the fog.Want to hear it?”

“You can tell me about it later.Much later,”he said practically dragging her along.

“And you know something else?”she asked.

“No.What?”

“In my head I know you’re right.With so much hate and misery around us,we can’t afford to take risks.It’s just some of the internees don’t belong in there.”

“I know,”he said.

“You do?”

“Yes,but I still believe quite a few of them do...belong in there.For now.”

“Then why let me go on as I did,”she said,“especially knowing I would agree with you in the end?”

“It’s more fun when you get your dander up.”

“You,too,”she said.“Do you think it will lift its lovely head again anytime soon—your dander,I mean?”

“I wouldn’t be in the least surprised.”

“I’m thinking a good old fashioned spanking is just what I need,”Caroline said,“in the privacy of our room,of course.”

“You know,”he said,“I was thinking the exact same thing.”

Cyril and Caroline were seated at a small table off to the right of the bar.Inside with the blackouts down,curtains drawn,the lights dimmed,and logs blazing in the hearth,The Black Dog Inn was a cozy respite from the swirling fog now blanketing the island streets.Caroline glanced at Mrs.Bundy,the innkeeper,who was behind the bar pouring drinks for her guests.Thewoman suddenly turned toward the mirror behind her,ran a hand over her short black hair,peppered with gray,and seemed to stare a moment at her image.She caught Caroline watching andwaved at her in the mirror.

Caroline waved back.

The older woman’s weathered face gave no clue to her age.Caroline suspected she was younger than she looked,and found she had great respect for this hearty soul who ran the inn on her own with minimal help.

“I thought we were going directly to bed,”Cyril said,seeming a bit peeved.

“Are you really that tired or just impatient?”Caroline tried to hide a chuckle,but couldn’t quite manage it.

“Well,uh…might as well have the one drink,I suppose,and—”

“Please,darling,not to worry.There’s a spanking in the offing and I won’t let you down.”She reached over and stroked his thigh.“Feel better?”

“Much.”

Caroline’s thoughts drifted back to the camp.She couldn’t erase her opinions as easily as Cyril might want.My problem is I see both sides of the argument.Not necessarily a good thing for a spy these days.

“No rest for the wicked,”Mrs.Bundy said,as she brought over their drinks and set them down at their table.“Seems I’m always rushing about.It’s difficult these days,managing the place night and noon with so many men folk off to war.”

“But you have help,”Cyril said.

“Yes,”the innkeeper sighed loudly.“But the young village girls aren’t dependable.In my day…oh,well,let’s leave it at that.”

“What with having to do up the rooms,supervise meals,and serve at the bar,I don’t see how you manage it,”Caroline said.“That young girl,Diana I think it was,the one who cleared away the breakfast things,said you were over at Hutchison Camp this morning.”

Caroline thought she saw a look of surprise flash across the innkeeper’s face.“We do our bit.I bring them fresh vegetables from the market on Tuesdays and Thursdays,and a few bits of clothing,odds and ends really.Things they need,but can’t find on the inside.You’d be amazed how resourceful they are.”

“I know,”Caroline said.“Saw it first-hand on our walk this evening;the creative window etchings and such glorious music.Didn’t we,Cyril?”

“What?Oh,yes,”he said.“Very unusual.What was it exactly you were saying?”

“Never mind him,”Caroline said,smacking him playfully on the shoulder.“He has other things on his mind.”

Mrs.Bundy smiled and gave her a look that said she knew quite a lot what men had on their minds when it came to women.She glanced at Cyril,who was lighting a cigarette and seemed absorbed elsewhere.“Well,I do what I can.”

“That’s wonderful,isn’t it,Cyril?”Caroline said,and saw Cyril roll his eyes,and scrunch up his nose most unattractively.She reached over and slapped his hand,this time not at all in a playful manner.“Cyril’s not convinced the detainees need or should get any special treatment.Suspected enemies and all that.”

Mrs.Bundy shrugged.“Sometimes I wonder if we Brits are no better than the Nazis.”

“Now,see here,that’s a bit much,”Cyril said with more than a tad of indignation.

“Yes,I know.Many folks here feel the same,”Mrs.Bundy said.“Still,I can’t just sit and do nothing,can I?Not with Themselves running about doing good,helping here and there where they can?”

“You can’t be serious,”Cyril scoffed.

“Cyril!”Caroline said.“Behave yourself.”

“They are about,you know,Mr.Graham.”Mrs.Bundy said.“You just have to believe and you’ll see for yourself.”

“Getting back to why the detainees are there,”Cyril said.“It’s quite simple,really.For starters,their movements are restricted and controlled by the government in order to keep our public safe and out of harm’s way.”

“And recited beautifully,too,I might add,”Caroline said sarcastically.“Defense Regulation 18B.”

Mrs.Bundy turned to leave.

“He didn’t mean anything by it,Mrs.Bundy.Cyril’s a patriot.”

“And I’m not,I suppose,”she said.

“I am sorry,”Cyril said,and in spite of what he’d said earlier,the innkeeper’s mood seemed to lighten.Perhaps to smooth things over between them,Cyril asked about the Manx toast.“It’s something to do with fish,but I can’t recall—”

Mrs.Bundy seemed to soften toward him and smiled.“It’s our livelihood after all,Mr.Graham.“Life to man and death to fish,”she said.“We forget this at our peril.”

Caroline knew her husband could be quite charming when he put an effort into it.“Don’t forget,”she said.“You promised to cast runes for us later.”

“I won’t.”Mrs.Bundy glanced at her wristwatch.“If you can hang about a bit,the bar traffic usually slows down around this time,”and then she moved off to serve another customer.

After giving the Manx toast,Caroline sat quietly sipping her drink.

Minutes passed.

Cyril excused himself and went off to the gents.

“All right,”he said when he returned.“I’ve been efficiently chastised,I think.Will you speak now?”

“You were terrible to her,”Caroline said.“Really Cyril,is this what I have to look forward to in the years ahead?”

He husband picked up his glass and clinked it against hers.“I certainly hope so.”