Free Broken Rainbows by Catrin Collier Page A

added in an attempt to mollify her. Leaving the Jeep, he switched on the torch he was carrying, pointed the beam at his feet and gingerly negotiated the steps that led down to the basement of Penuel Chapel.
    The cry, ‘Watch the blackout!’ greeted him as he pushed open the door. Fighting his way through the curtain, he saluted two senior officers who were inspecting the neat rows of army cots that had been set around the perimeter of the low-ceilinged, damp and freezing vault.
    â€˜Not like you to be working at this time of night, Schaffer.’ Major Reynolds turned back to his list.
    â€˜With the men coming in tomorrow I thought someone should check everything was ready.’
    â€˜We already have. I hear you’ve sorted yourself a more comfortable billet than this,’ Captain Reide needled him humourlessly.
    â€˜That depends on your notion of comfort, sir.’
    â€˜Women to do your cooking and cleaning?’
    â€˜One of you want to swap?’ Kurt asked hopefully.
    â€˜For you to make an offer like that, there has to be something seriously wrong.’
    â€˜Nothing. I’ve got the lot. My own bedroom with a gas fire, carpet and comfortable feather bed. Full maid service, meals with the family, offers to do my laundry …’
    â€˜What’s up?’ Richard Reide pressed.
    Kurt glanced over his shoulder before whispering, ‘The daughter.’
    â€˜She’s too young, old or ugly to seduce?’
    â€˜Not at all. Quite passable in fact.’
    â€˜She’s a nun?’
    â€˜Or a lunatic?’
    â€˜Quit joking, you two. I had a lecture from the old man this morning on keeping my nest clean.’
    â€˜Quite right too. So, you leave her alone: what’s the problem?’ Charles Reynolds counted the number of cots and ticked off the last item on his inventory.
    â€˜She won’t leave me alone. You’ve no idea …’ Before he could finish the sentence, a ‘Coo-ee’ echoed down the steps.
    â€˜Coo-ee? Lieutenant Schaffer?’ Anthea pushed aside the blackout.
    â€˜Watch the blackout, Miss …’
    â€˜Llewellyn-Jones, Anthea Llewellyn-Jones.’ She posed self-consciously on the step, smiling coquettishly at all three men. Richard Reide winked slyly at Kurt before holding out his arm.
    â€˜Please join us, Miss Llewellyn-Jones. Now that we’ve finished here, perhaps you’ll be kind enough to show us where a man can get a drink in this town?’

Chapter Four
    â€˜We won’t go unless you come with us, and that’s our final word.’
    â€˜That’s ridiculous.’ Alma frowned in exasperation as Bethan sank down on to one of the easy chairs. ‘You’re going to crease that velvet,’ she warned as Bethan folded the long skirt of her pre-war, midnight-blue evening gown around her ankles.
    â€˜No matter. There’s no one to see it here.’
    â€˜Jane, talk to her?’ Alma appealed to Bethan’s sister-in-law. ‘Just about everyone you two know will be there.’
    â€˜Except you.’ More careful of her dress than Bethan, Jane perched on the arm of Bethan’s chair.
    â€˜It just doesn’t seem right.’
    â€˜What do you think Charlie would say if he could see you sitting here, moping alone night after night?’
    â€˜Probably that I should have got used to living without him in the last year and a half’ Alma smiled in a vain attempt to disguise her tears.
    â€˜I haven’t become accustomed to living without Andrew in two and a half,’ Bethan warned, her voice tinged with bitterness.
    â€˜I can’t stop thinking about him. Wondering if he’s in hiding, or locked up in a German prison unable to tell anyone his real identity. Everyone knows that soldiers out of uniform are shot as spies.’
    â€˜You’re that sure he’s still alive?’ Bethan probed gently.
    â€˜That sure.’ There was no anger in