‘Oh, I can’t grant you leave. There’s no knowing this far ahead what “Sir” will be doing. You took the job as his driver,’ the WAAF officer said sarcastically. ‘It’s a cushy number, Hilton, so you take the rough with the smooth. You knew you would have to be on call virtually all the time. You’ll have to apply through the usual channels.’

So Kate was obliged to reply to Danny’s letter explaining the situation. She finished off on a hopeful note. ‘I’ll do my best though – perhaps I could even ask the CO when he comes back on Tuesday.’

That night as they lay in bed after lights out, Kate was still trying to work out how she was going to wangle some leave to coincide with Danny’s. She lay in her narrow bed, feeling the ridges of the three-section ‘biscuit’ mattress beneath her and staring up with sleepless eyes into the blackness of the rafters. She listened to the steady breathing of the other girls; a cough here, a gentle snore, a murmur there.

Then, above her head she heard a scuffling noise. A noise that was familiar to her and reminded her sharply of home.

In the darkness, Kate smiled.

She didn’t remember falling asleep, but she awoke with a start to a piercing scream.

Immediately, pandemonium broke out.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Is it an air-raid?’

‘There’s a feller in here – must be!’

The door opened and the corporal flashed her torch around the hut. Isobel was standing on her bed shrieking, clutching her nightdress to her.

‘Cartwright. Stop that noise at once.’

But the noise did not stop, if anything, the pitch heightened. Isobel was clearly genuinely terrified.

Kate swung her legs out of bed. On bare feet she padded across the wooden floor. Calmly she said, ‘May I borrow your torch a mo, Corp?’

Handing it over, the officer said, ‘Do you know what’s the matter with her, Hilton?’

‘I’ve a good idea.’

Kate left the room for a moment to delve in the cupboard outside the corporal’s room. Now some of the other girls were getting decidedly nervous. ‘Kate, bring the light back.’

‘Won’t be a minute. Hang on. Ah, here it is.’

She returned brandishing a broom. ‘Now then, mester, let’s be ’aving ya.’

‘Heavens! Is it a man?’ Mavis’s voice broke in comically. ‘I was only joking – at least I thought I was!’

‘Let’s just say it’s an unwelcome visitor.’

‘Something – fell – on my bed and,’ Isobel stuttered ‘and – ran across my legs!’

Kate turned the torch beam to the roof and ran the beam of light along the rafters. ‘Ah,’ she smiled her triumph. ‘There you are, Mester Rat!’