‘You will already have ascertained that the success of this country’s air defences – indeed the outcome of a war should we, heaven forbid, have to fight one – will absolutely depend on what you six gentlemen come up with,’ he concluded. ‘The lives of thousands and the future freedom of our country are depending on you.’

9

‘Does your brother see much of that captain?’ Nancy asked, a little too casually, next time they were on shift together.

‘You mean he hasn’t asked for a date yet? I’d assumed it was a dead cert,’ Kath said, surprised but also secretly amused. Nancy had never, to her knowledge, been disappointed in love. It was always the men who seemed to suffer.

‘Not a dickey bird. Shame, though. A handsome fellow like that needs a girlfriend, don’t you think?’

‘He might be wedded to his work, you know. Give it time.’

In fact, Kath was about to learn rather more about Captain Raymond Burrows than she would ever let on to Nancy – or anyone else, for that matter. His name seemed to appear in Mark’s conversations more and more frequently, and then, one weekend, he came for Sunday lunch.

‘He doesn’t get home often,’ Ma said, by way of explanation. ‘Said he missed his mother’s cooking. Now lend a hand with these spuds, would you?’ She pointed to a colander of potatoes that would surely feed a squadron. ‘These young men have big appetites, you know.’

Kath began peeling. ‘How do you know so much about the captain, Ma?’

‘We had a lovely chat after Mark introduced us at the Empire Day; don’t you remember?’

‘You invited him to lunch there and then, on the spot?’

‘No, silly. Mark suggested it,’ Ma said, turning to her. ‘Anyway, what’s wrong with asking someone to enjoy our meal when they’re so far away from their own family?’

Kath couldn’t put it into words, somehow. There was something about the man that made her uneasy: his over-friendliness and flirtatious manner, first with herself and Joan and then with Nancy, and the way he’d suggested that just by giving the word he could fix it for Mark to become a pilot.

Despite her misgivings, the lunch was fun. The captain – ‘Call me Ray’ – was the best of guests, complimenting Pa on the excellence of his carving technique and Ma on the deliciousness of the food, accepting second helpings of everything while talking about flying boats in such a way that even Kath found herself fascinated. Afterwards, they took their customary Sunday afternoon walk to the seafront and when they reached the pier, the captain went to buy them all ice creams.

‘Such perfect manners,’ Ma remarked.

‘He says I’ve got what it takes to become a pilot,’ Mark said.

‘I suppose we can’t change your mind?’

‘It’s what I’ve always wanted, you know that. He’ll be putting my name forward for the next intake in September.’