Free Uncommon Enemy by John Reynolds

concluding with, “I couldn’t go home in this state so the only place I could think of was varsity.”
    His professor’s reaction was to suggest that he leave the blazer in the basin where the smell might evaporate and adjourn to his study for a further discussion adding wryly, “This is hardly the place for us to be seen to be holding an earnest conversation.”
    Stuart readily agreed, as the September night was turning increasingly cold.
    “So, what’s to be done?” asked Sterling, once they had seated themselves in the welcome warmth of his study.
    “Well, sir, I’m afraid that Brendan will be spending the night in the police cells with all the other city drunks.”
    “Yes. Perhaps he’ll swear off the booze after the experience.”
    “Quite possibly,” grunted Stuart. ‘‘At least for a few days.”
    “At any rate, tomorrow morning I’ll go to the police station and see what can be done. He’s very foolish to carry on like that in a pub full of soldiers. However I should be able to get him released due to his work on our research project.”
    “Yes that should carry a fair bit of weight.”
    “Agreed, but he’ll have to keep his mouth shut and let me do the talking. Now young man,” he looked Stuart up and down,
    “what about you? Clearly you can’t go home. Your dishevelled state would hardly endear you to your er, conservative parents.”
    Stuart smiled wryly. “True.”
    “Well, there’s only one thing for it.”
    “What’s that, sir?”
    “You’ll have to stay at my place.”
    “Oh, but I couldn’t,” Stuart protested.
    “You’ve no alternative Stuart. You can phone from there and explain to your parents that we have been engaged in some research at my home and that I’ve invited you to stay to save myself the trouble of having to run you home late at night. Sound plausible?”
    “Well, yes, sir, but are you quite sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure. I have a spare room and you’re welcome to it. You’re lucky I brought my car in today as I normally catch the bus and ferry, to save using my petrol coupons.” He smiled. “In any case, young man, travelling with you in that state on public transport would severely damage my reputation in the community. Now, where did I leave my briefcase?”
    Within ten minutes Stuart was seated in the professor’s 1937 Morris 12 waiting in the queue of cars for the vehicular ferry to transport them across the harbour to Devonport wharf. Growing increasingly tired, and shivering in his shirtsleeves he was relieved and pleased when the car managed to make it onto the ferry’s deck as the last one of the fifteen vehicles.
    As the ferry began to pull away from the wharf Sterling faced Stuart. “Now, I need to discuss some matters with you.”
    “Serious matters, sir?”
    “Not sure,” replied the older man. “In the last forty-eight hours all German front line troops have ceased advancing on all fronts.”
    “No further advances, sir? I know our boys gave them a mauling in Crete even though we lost the battle. Maybe the Germans are just taking the time to lick their wounds and regroup.”
    “It’s much more widespread than Crete. For example Rommel has just won a major battle at Sol um in the Western Desert. Consequently he’s well placed to continue his drive into Egypt with the ultimate aim of capturing Cairo. Similarly, General Guderian and other German commanders in Russia appear to have halted their advances.”
    In the increasing wind, the ferry was making slow headway against the whitecaps that thudded in an erratic rhythm against its hull.
    Stuart frowned. “Odd. From their point of view the German armed forces have been very successful.”
    “Certainly. They recently captured the major Russian city of Minsk. But, like I said, apparently they’ve been ordered to go no further, even though their ultimate goal of Moscow now seems achievable.”
    Stuart gave a short laugh. “You don’t think this is a prelude to their suing for