Page 29 of The Unknown Birds

“Just a few more now, and then you can sleep.”

“I can’t⁠—”

“Listen to me, Little Bird.” He shook her gently. “You don’t have to kill anyone out there. You only have to make it to the other side. Focus on the football.” He held it up to remind her. “Just chase it until you reach the German line.”

“What if I can’t?”

“What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?”

“The hardest?”

“Aye, something that tested your mettle. Surprised even you?”

“One night I was trapped in an alley by Billy Boyle and his gang.”

Rook’s expression grew even more sober until Ash shrugged.

“They learnt I had teeth and claws. Not one of them limped home without a scratch.”

His face softened. “That’s right—you do. There ain’t nothing out there but boys as young and scared as you. Just a bunch of Billy Boyles and his gang. So when Cap says go, you’re going to fly as fast as you can and never look back, one foot in front of the other.”

“What happens when we reach the other side?”

The muscle in his jaw popped. “Don’t worry about it. Don’t worry about the whole damn war. Just focus on the next right thing, and that’s chasing this football. Easy as cherry pie.”

“I hate cherries.”

“Strawberry, then,” he laughed.

“Strawberry pie?” she asked, but something inside her had begun to settle.

“Whatever kind you like.” He grinned. “Here, take this for luck,” he said, handing her a pocket-sized book from his rucksack. “I’ve read it too many times.”

“What is it?”

“The Life of the Fields. Something peaceful to study while you’re waiting for the rest of us to catch you up. Come on.”

Ash nodded her thanks and swallowed down the lump that had choked her throat, as she followed Rook to the fire step and took her place. She breathed through her mouth to avoid the anxiety-laden perspiration that hung over the trench like a cloud of poison gas, mingling with the acrid mortar smoke.

Ladders were thrown up to reach the parapet, and all the boys pushed and jostled as the stretcher bearers lined up just behind.

It was the sight of the stretcher bearers that made her feel faint again, and she looked wildly around, finally catching Rook’s eye. Still cool and calm, he gave her a tiny wink, and she could breathe once more.

Fly safe, he mouthed, and all she could do was nod.

Next to her, Tom trod lightly on her foot. “All right, Ash?” he asked, pushing his glasses up his nose.

“Right as rain,” she gasped, but her words were lost as the first whistle blew and the world erupted into chaos.

With a god-awful roar, the first wave scrambled over the parapet, and Ashley’s heart shot to her throat so she couldn’t swallow, their blood-curdling howls harmonizing with the shrieks of death and dying.

Ash and Tom were shoved forward by the eager boys behind them.

The whistle blew again, and suddenly there was no one left between Ashley and the ladder.

She tried to look for Rook, but the men around her were all faceless, a homogenous and ghoulish gang. Finally she caught the captain’s eye, and he nodded once to her box respirator, waited while she pulled the too-big goggles over her eyes.

Then he blew the whistle one last time.