He watched as Maggie made her way unsteadily towards the soldiers. Those who were sitting on the floor, started to pull their legs in.

‘Hello, sweetheart, is that your fella?’

‘Come on, darlin’, give us a smile!’

‘Or a kiss!’

‘What’s your name, then?’

‘Say, would you like to write to me? I’m ever so lonely!’

‘Don’t go wandering off now, will you, sweetheart?’

The jokes were accompanied by loud laughter, excited whoops and yet more whistles. Anyone would think they’d never seen a girl before.

Ray hesitated. Should he wait, keep an eye on her? No, don’t be daft; she was a grown woman. Maybe she was even enjoying the soldiers’ attention. Ray’s experience of the fairer sex was limited and somewhat disastrous. Who knew what women liked?

He made his way down the corridor. The train was rocking like a boat as it sped up and he almost lost his balance more than once. He nodded his thanks as he squeezed past yet more troops. The train was teeming with them. They were even using the luggage racks as hammocks.

London’s grey skyline flickered past the dirty windows. He caught glimpses of silver barrage balloons with fins like giant fish and pulverised, half-demolished buildings. It was a shameful thought but he could barely believe his good fortune. There were constant twinges of guilt about Ma, of course, and it was too bad about losing the flat but, otherwise, Ray felt nothing but relief to be leaving it all behind.

He’d reached the girls’ compartment. Pam and Nancy waved through the glass, gesturing to the seat they’d saved.

‘Come on, twinkle toes!’ Pam said, as he slid open the door and stepped between the other passengers’ feet and bags. He sat down gratefully between her and Nancy and took off his hat. The compartment was now full. When Maggie reappeared, he’d give up his place for her and join the men.

Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed and there was still no sign of her. The train regularly ground to a halt and, having nothing better to do, everyone in the compartment – except a woman in the corner who didn’t look up from her knitting – gazed out of the window.

‘Where’s this then?’ Pam asked.

Ray shrugged. ‘Haven’t a clue. That’s the idea of all the station names being removed, Pam, dear.’

She whacked him on the shoulder. ‘All right, Sarky! I thought you might know, that’s all. Seeing as you know most things. Bet you were a right know-it-all at school, don’t you think, Nance?’

Nancy didn’t answer. She was asleep on the other side of Ray, her mouth open, snoring gently.

It was a slow journey. As well as stops at unknown, mostly deserted stations, they had to pull into the sidings every so often, to let other trains through.

Maggie still hadn’t appeared.