‘Oh yes we do,’ said Bill with verve, ‘but even the Channel won’t stop them. It didn’t last time, so why should it this, when they’ve got better planes, boats, and ammunition?’ He stood up to help Felix with the washing-up.

‘Better prepared …’ said Felix softly.

Alan rested his head in his hands. ‘How long do you think we’ve got?’

‘How long’s a piece of string?’ said Bill. ‘But I reckon we’d best get our skates on, ’cos we’re goin’ to be playin’ catch-up as it is.’

Felix passed the dishcloth over a bowl then handed it to Bill who wiped it dry. ‘We can’t let him win,’ said Felix. ‘He’s a maniac.’

‘I know, son,’ said Bill, ‘and we won’t, ’cos even though he’s had longer to prepare, we’re British, and he’ll never take us over, not whilst there’s breath in our bodies.’

‘And don’t forget the Americans,’ added Alan. ‘They’d stand by us, and no matter how prepared Hitler thinks he is, he’s no match for them.’

‘I’m sure you’re right,’ said Bill, nodding slowly, ‘but don’t you think Hitler’s thought of that already?’

‘He’s arrogant,’ said Felix, ‘he probably thinks he can persuade them to be his ally.’

‘Then he don’t know diddly squat,’ said Alan, much to Felix’s amusement.

‘Diddly what?’

‘Squat,’ said Alan. ‘It means he don’t know nothin’, because there’s no way the Americans would side with the likes of Hitler, not after last time. You wait and see, if the proverbial hits the fan, they’ll be by our side before you can say knife.’

CHAPTER THREE

The next day was Roz’s intended rendezvous with Felix and she was determined to make everything appear as normal as possible so as not to arouse suspicion, but on the other hand she wished to look her best for Felix so she had made an extra effort with her hair, and had tried to scrub the filthy plimsolls. This hadn’t interested Callum in the slightest, but Suzie had been quick to pick up on Roz’s extra attention to detail.

‘Why all the effort?’ she asked suspiciously.

Roz glanced at Callum, who was looking lazily in her direction. ‘I’ve been scrounging down the market for a while now. If they don’t think I’m beginning to look any better, they may not see the point in giving me anything.’ She shot Callum an accusing glance. ‘I don’t think the stallholders would be too happy if they knew all their stuff ended up down the pub, do you?’

Callum’s eyes flickered over her appearance. ‘Not too good, mind,’ he muttered, ignoring her last question, ‘else they’ll think you don’t need nowt no more.’

Roz glanced at Suzie but she wasn’t as easily swayed as her father.

‘My arse!’ scoffed Suzie. ‘A girl only goes to that much trouble if there’s a feller involved.’

Callum’s head snapped up. ‘What’s that?’

Roz made sure her eyes never left his. ‘I don’t know what she’s talking about. Besides, what feller’s going to be interested in me?’