Chapter 7

“Billy?We only met him tonight.Remember the drinks,all that chatter of his about the Ministry of Information?”

“Yes,”she said.Then somewhat reluctantly,“You’re right.”

“We took the late morning ferry over.”He began rubbing his feet against hers.“Warming up?”

“Mm.”

“Okay,”he said.“Back to the ferry.It was the last one in the morning.And there couldn’t have been another one going in the opposite direction.”

“Why not?I remember talking to the captain,”Caroline said.“It seemed such a lonely life,out there in the middle of nowhere—”

“Yes,”Cyril said.“Because on that day,perhaps because of the war or a shortage of fuel or whatever the hell reason,only one ferry made the trip back and forth,and he said he only had one more trip to make that day,the return from Man to Heysham.Remember now?”

“One ferry only on Tuesdays.Not two,”she said,still not completely believing it yet all the same letting his words sink in.“But what...does it all mean?”