While the men struggled to keep afloat in the water, Danny and Kate went back and forth between the sinking vessel and another rescue ship farther out to sea; so many times that Kate lost count. On the first trip out to the bigger ship, Danny sided with Kate and insisted that Gordon take the young airman aboard and stay with him.

‘Ya’ve done your bit, mate,’ Danny said, putting his hand on the older man’s arm.

‘I don’t like leaving you and the young lass to cope.’

‘Just stay with him,’ Kate said, nodding down at the airman, ‘Get him some proper help as soon as you can.’

‘I’ll do that, Miss, I promise. But you take care, mind.’ He shook Danny’s hand warmly and, without a trace of embarrassment, kissed Kate’s cold cheek. ‘I hope we meet again . . .’

They watched Gordon climb a swaying rope ladder, while alongside him, the RAF officer was hoisted aboard on a swinging stretcher. When he was half-way up, they saw Gordon swing round and look out across the water towards the soldiers on the beach running towards the dunes as yet again, enemy aircraft swooped low overhead. For a moment Gordon released one hand-hold, leaned back and looked up at the planes. He shook his fist at them. ‘We’ll be back, you buggers!’ he shouted. ‘We’ll be back.’ Then he turned and continued his climb.

Danny laughed. ‘He’s a character, in’t he?’

‘He’s a great chap to have around in a crisis,’ Kate murmured, half sorry to see Gordon leave them. ‘Danny, do you reckon the airman’ll make it?’

‘I dunno, Kate. He looks bad to me. Come on, let’s not stay here – we’re sitting ducks!’

Each time they returned to the same ship, Gordon was there, hanging over the ship’s rail.

‘Your young airman’s below,’ he shouted down. ‘We’re in luck – this is a hospital ship. There’s a doc on board – and even nurses! He’s in good hands now.’

Kate smiled up at him and waved.

Then later, Gordon was still there. ‘Come on, mate, come aboard yourselves now. The Captain says we can’t take any more and we ought to be on our way before we get hit.’

Danny shook his head. ‘There’s still men on the beach.’

Gordon shaded his eyes. ‘Not so many now – and there’s still boats picking them up. Come on board, man. That lass is exhausted.’

Kate felt Danny’s eyes on her. ‘You go, Kate. I’ll manage . . .’

‘No!’ she said with far more strength than she felt. She was bone-weary, wet, cold and hungry. Her mind kept wandering so that she imagined herself fourteen again and walking across the Wolds in the pouring rain to find her grandfather. Only will-power was keeping her going – as it had then – only sheer determination made her drag her frozen mind back to the present.