Page 9 of Neighbors at War

‘Over that way.’ Tommy pointed to the right of where they were standing. ‘The ground will be harder there, so I reckon the ladies should probably dig up the spinach here, while we tackle the bonfire and dig that hole. We’re going to need to be careful to keep the ash and bits of burnt wood and stuff away from the soil so that we can put it back on top of the stash when we’ve covered it up.’

‘Good idea.’ Tony nodded, then addressed Peggy and Helen. ‘Will you two be all right to dig up the silver? We’ll come back to help you move it as soon as we’re done.’

‘Of course,’ Helen whispered. ‘Mrs Edwards has called them into the dining room for a tasting of some bottles of sloe gin she’s been keeping in the cupboard for a special occasion. She’s going to pretend that she’s only just discovered it and do her best to keep them away from the west of the house, where we are.’

‘That’s clever of her,’ Peggy said. ‘Right, let’s get on with it.’

Peggy watched Tony leave with Tommy and took a spade from Helen. ‘I hope you’re feeling strong,’

Helen grinned. ‘So do I.’

It was a warm evening and Peggy was perspiring after fifteen minutes’ digging. She and Helen had carefully placed the spinach they had dug up to one side, away from the mound of soil that now stood next to the hole. ‘Look, that’s one of the bags,’ she said spotting a khaki canvas bag. ‘Help me lift it out, will you?’

She hoped the silver was well wrapped to dull any sound as they lifted the first three bags they discovered.

‘Shush,’ Helen said, grabbing Peggy’s right wrist tightly.

Peggy immediately stilled, horrified to hear heavy boots walking somewhere nearby. She stared into Helen’s eyes, wide with fear. Neither of them dared to lower the heavy bag in case they made a sound. Hearing another voice, then laughter, Peggy willed them to go somewhere else. Where were they? she wondered. Following the voices, she spotted a red glow through the bush behind them. They were having a cigarette on the balcony, just like Tommy had warned.

She grimaced, desperate to lower the bag, and saw that Helen was struggling, too. There was no sound coming from where she had heard the men digging earlier and for the first time Peggy realised how dark it was. The only light was coming from the full moon.

‘Would you gentlemen like a top-up?’ she heard a lady ask.

‘Mrs Edwards,’ Helen mouthed, relief on her face, when the men’s voices receded into the house and they heard the balcony door closing. ‘Thank heavens for that,’ she murmured, lowering the bag next to the mound where the other two were placed.

‘Right,’ Tony said, joining them with Tommy. ‘We’ll take these bags and bury them while you two refill that hole.’

‘You’d better replant the spinach as best you can,’ Tommy said. ‘Don’t worry too much, I’ll straighten them out when you’ve gone.’

Peggy was relieved that refilling the hole was much easier and quicker than digging it had been. As soon as they had replaced the spinach, they hurried to join the men and help them at the bonfire site.

‘This is such a good idea.’ Tommy said, clearly impressed. ‘No one will ever think of looking under this lot.’

The moonlight lit the patch where they were stamping on the soil to harden it before scattering debris and ash on top. It was incredible, she thought, and couldn’t help smiling.

‘I’m impressed. You’d never know this had been moved.’

‘You wouldn’t,’ Tommy agreed, holding out his hand for the spades. ‘I’ll be out here first thing to set another fire, so that even if they do fancy coming this way with their search they’ll be put off by the smoke and flames.’

‘We’ll go the way we came in,’ Tony said, patting Tommy on the back. ‘Good luck tomorrow, and don’t forget to let me know if you need help with anything else.’

‘I will, lad,’ he said, giving Tony a smile, displaying more gaps than yellowed teeth. ‘You’re a goodun and no mistake.’

‘I’m glad you think so.’

Peggy followed Tony and Helen through the shrubbery and back to Tommy’s cottage. They wiped soil from their shoes before brushing it from their hands and straightening their hair and clothes.

‘We’ll have to do,’ Peggy said, aware that if they weren’t careful they’d wouldn’t be home before curfew. ‘We need to get going.’

She and Helen left Tony to make his way home and walked the last part together.

‘That was frightening,’ Peggy admitted. ‘But now it’s done I can’t help feeling exhilarated, don’t you?’

‘I do,’ Helen agreed. ‘I’m so glad we were able to help them out of this sticky situation.’ She sighed. ‘I feel as if I’ve really done something worthwhile tonight.’

‘Me, too,’ Peggy agreed as they reached the bottom of their front steps. ‘See you tomorrow then.’

‘Yes,’ Helen said. ‘And thank you again.’