Free The Furies by Irving McCabe Page B

‘He was only a boy, but very brave. He died for my country. Then secret police arrest and interrogate all our family and friends. I fled to Paris before they seized me. And then I crossed to Great Britain. This country is a good friend to people in trouble.’
    â€˜And what did your cousin do, to bring you so much trouble?’
    â€˜He tried to free my country.’
    â€˜And which is your country?’
    For a moment a distant look appeared on Anya’s face, as if she was picturing her homeland in her mind’s eye. Then she lifted her chin and smiled, placing her hand on Elspeth’s shoulder once more.
    â€˜I have said too much already, Ellie. But I have looked carefully and there is nobody watching us—’
    â€˜You’re sure,’ Sylvia interrupted from the bed, ‘that nobody is following us?’
    â€˜Yes, I am sure.’
    â€˜Well, thank goodness for that,’ Sylvia said as she stood and went across to Elspeth and Anya, putting an arm around a shoulder of each. ‘Now let that be an end to the subject. We’ve much more important matters to discuss – like what the next target should be.’
    But Elspeth was exhausted from the strain of the discussion. There was a throbbing in the side of her head and Sylvia’s arm did not comfort her, so she slipped out from underneath it. Sylvia appeared surprised, but then her expression changed to one of concern.
    â€˜Ellie darling, are you all right?’
    But Elspeth didn’t answer. Her previous misgivings about the bombing campaign had been amplified by the discussion with Anya. This didn’t feel right…
    â€˜You’re not having doubts, Ellie, are you?’ Vera said, and Elspeth saw the look of concern on her face.
    â€˜I just think we should take things slower,’ Elspeth replied. ‘That inspector almost caught us—’
    â€˜Oh, Ellie darling,’ Sylvia said, an almost patronisingly confident smile on her face. ‘We got clean away with it.’
    â€˜We were lucky, Sylvie,’ Elspeth replied, ‘and our luck may run out. Emmeline’s in Holloway and Christabel’s fled to France otherwise she’d be in Holloway, too. We all need to be careful.’
    â€˜But we can’t stop now, Ellie,’ Sylvia said. ‘If we plant further bombs, the government will simply
have
to take notice of us.’
    â€˜I’m not sure about this strategy, Sylvie—’
    â€˜Look, there’s going to be a WSPU meeting at Holland Park skating rink in two weeks,’ Vera interuppted. ‘The rumour is that Emmeline will time her release from Holloway to attend the meeting. She’s been on hunger strike for a while now, so they’ll have to let her out soon. We all need to be there to show her our support.’
    â€˜I’m on duty that evening —’
    â€˜Oh, Ellie,’ Sylvia interjected. ‘You’ve done more than your share for those lazy house surgeons. Don’t you worry. I’ll charm one of them into covering for you—’
    A floorboard in the corridor outside the room creaked, and Sylvia fell silent as all four women swivelled their heads towards the door. After a moment’s silence they heard a hesitant tapping. Sylvia looked at Elspeth with wide, inquiring eyes, but Elspeth shrugged and then walked to the door and opened it to find Mrs Evans standing there.
    â€˜I know you said not to bother, Dr Stewart,’ she said, holding a tray of glasses and a jug of lemonade before her, ‘but it really is no trouble and I thought you ladies might be in need of something refreshing on such a hot afternoon.’
    Elspeth forced a smile to her face. ‘That’s very sweet of you, Mrs Evans, but you really needn’t have troubled—’
    â€˜Oh it’s no trouble, darling, and I know how hard you doctors and nurses work. Sister Calthorpe was on duty this morning, she was saying, so it’s