Eagle Day - Robert Muchamore Page 0,38

is a naval department, so you’ll receive naval rank and naval pay. I’ll send the papers through for your commission and you have my number. If you need more people, larger offices or anything else, just let me know.’

‘Well, I suppose,’ McAfferty said warily. ‘But my feet tend to swell up, so if I’m to wear a uniform, I hope the Navy has some shoes that fit comfortably.’

‘Men’s shoes,’ Colonel Jackson suggested. ‘Extra-wide fitting or something. I’m sure they’ll dig up something suitable.’

Lord Hawthorne cleared his throat. ‘Leaving Miss McAfferty’s footwear aside for a moment, perhaps we should discuss Henderson’s position in France.’

‘Yes,’ McAfferty said, stifling a smile as she marvelled at the turn her day had taken. ‘Henderson has spent most of the last week laying plans for the trip north. He’s arranged French papers for himself, his lady friend Maxine and six children.’

‘children?’ Mews said. ‘Where the hell did all that lot come from?’Six

‘I’m not certain,’ McAfferty said. ‘I believe he’s taking two orphaned toddlers home to their grandparents, but to minimise the risk of our communications being intercepted and/or decoded, we keep messages short and only ask questions if we have to know the answer.

‘They’ve obtained fuel for a truck and a car, and I believe they’ve arranged accommodation on a farm near Calais. Once they arrive, Henderson is going to scout the coastline and German military bases to find out whatever he can about the invasion plans. If possible he’ll also try to sabotage them.’

‘good,’ Lord Hawthorne said, nodding enthusiastically. ‘Although I suppose there’s a limit to how much sabotaging a single agent can do.’Very

‘What about the secondary objective?’ Mews asked.

‘Minister, our secondary objective is to gather information on the German occupation,’ McAfferty said. ‘As you of course know, the Special Operations Executive wants to start sending agents into occupied France as soon as they’re trained, but we have little idea what’s going on over there.

‘We need basic information on everything from curfews and train times to permits, landing spots and German security measures. When Henderson leaves France, he’ll bring back as much original documentation as he can muster so that SOE’s forgery department can get to work making copies.’

‘Well,’ Lord Hawthorne said, glancing at his watch before making a sweeping gesture to indicate that the meeting was over. ‘Colonel, I expect I’ll be seeing you at the club this evening. Superintendent McAfferty, a huge amount is riding on Commander Henderson’s operation. The future of Britain could hinge upon his ability to give us advance warning of a German invasion.’

McAfferty was overawed and her feet hurt so much that she dreaded the long walk back to the lift. She reached across the desk and shook the Minister’s hand.

‘Henderson is an outstanding agent,’ she said. ‘I have every confidence in his success.’

* * *

5Wren – a female member of the Royal Navy, derived from WRNS (Women’s Royal Naval Service).

CHAPTER TWELVE

Northern France

Lucien Boyle was four years old. He had dark hair, serious eyes and currently stood at the roadside fifteen kilometres north-east of Abbeville, facing the side of a burned-out tank.

‘Come on then,’ Henderson sighed. ‘What are you waiting for?’

The boy looked back over his shoulder. ‘You have to undo my button,’ he explained.

Henderson leaned forwards and caught an unpleasant smell. They’d been on the road for two and a half days, sleeping at the roadside or in the back of the truck. Everyone was grubby, but Lucien was the worst because he sometimes wet himself in the night.

Henderson jerked Lucien’s shorts and underpants down with a single movement. The instant the youngster’s penis was exposed he blasted the tank tracks.

‘Crikey,’ Henderson cursed, as he flicked beads of the youngster’s urine off his hand. ‘Couldn’t you wait two seconds?’

Lucien looked a touch upset, but Henderson staved off tears by giving him a quick kiss on the forehead. ‘You’re a good boy,’ he said reassuringly. ‘Run back to the truck.’

As Henderson unzipped to pee himself, Marc reached out the back of the truck and lifted Lucien over the rear flap. The little boy wandered to the middle of the floor and settled on a mound of pillows and cushions. His five-year-old sister Holly shoved him away.

‘You stink!’ she blurted. ‘Get off me.’

Once Henderson was back in the cab he blasted the horn, telling Maxine to lead off in her convertible Jaguar, with the truck trundling behind. In the back of the truck, Rosie grabbed Holly and pulled her away from her brother.

‘Don’t even about starting another fight,’ Rosie said,