She drew in a deep breath and held it, revelling in the feel of the wind upon her face and the panorama before her. A small smile curved her mouth as she looked about her. She was so happy to be back in her home county. Before her, beyond the perimeter of the airfield, lay the gently rolling fields of the Wolds. Nearer, she watched a tractor, driven by a WAAF, hauling a bomb-train from the ammunitions dump towards the waiting aircraft. That was a job she might have done. But it seemed as if her new Station Commander had other plans. Now, her main duty would be to familiarize herself with the MT yard and the CO’s staff car in particular. Crossing her fingers that it would be a Humber Super Snipe, the same type on which she had done her training, she went in search of the MT Section office.

Flight Sergeant Martin was a kindly, fatherly figure, affectionately known by all in the section as ‘Chiefy’. He was bald, apart from tufts of grey, bushy hair which sprouted on either side of his head just above his ears. His eyes twinkled at her from behind round, steel-rimmed spectacles. ‘CO wants to see you the minute you arrive. Leave your gear here . . .’ He took her outside and pointed in the direction of the building which housed the CO’s office. ‘Now, you be careful. He’s a handsome devil, if ever I saw one,’ Chiefy chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound from his round belly.

Waiting in the outer office for her interview with the CO, Kate’s confidence ebbed away again and her stomach was churning with nervousness. She was uncomfortably aware of the eyes of the Adjutant upon her.

Then for some reason she suddenly thought about her mother. A picture of Esther Godfrey was in her mind’s eye, standing with hands on hips, feet planted firmly a little apart, her strong jawline jutting out resolutely. A small smile twitched at Kate’s mouth. No one, as far as she could remember, had ever intimidated her mother; not the Squire, not a headmistress, not authority of any kind. And were she in Kate’s place at this very moment, the man beyond that door would hold no fears for Esther Godfrey either. Some of the fluttering under Kate’s ribs settled a little.

Something buzzed on the man’s desk and he lifted a telephone receiver and listened. ‘Sir,’ was all he said into the instrument. Replacing the receiver, he looked up at Kate. ‘You may go in now.’

Kate stood and marched through the door. As it closed behind her she came to attention in front of the CO’s desk and rattled out her rank, name and number.

Then her hand fell away from her forehead in an untidy end to her salute and her lips parted in a gasp.

She was staring straight into the blue eyes of Philip Trent.