1916: The War Years, #3

Prologue

Is that really your boy? Shaun Hart leaned against a stack of supply crates ready for transport to Belgium.

My boy, alright. He’s a Warren. I can’t stand the way he walks, though. All gangly and moves like he’s got a hunchback. Keep telling him he should walk with his head up. He’s got blue blood in those veins.

Shaun arched his eyebrows at Edward Warren. Eddy, I’ve never really asked you this before, but what’s all that stuff about you coming from a poncy background? You don’t have two brass farthings to rub together.

Edward Warren didn’t look at Shaun and licked the edge of a cigarette paper. We’ve got a long line of aristocrats in our family. A lot of things happened long before I was born and we ended up poor as muck. Don’t like to talk about it much. Nothing to do with the rest of the bastards. They’d only want to know more.

Can’t you tell me anything? I’m your mate.

Edward glared at Shaun before rolling and mashing the handmade cigarette together between his fingers. Silence passed between them.

Sorry, mate. Didn’t know you were like that about it.

Seen him? Edward nodded to his right.

Shaun followed Edward’s eyes. Don’t see anything, mate.

Edward clenched the cigarette between his teeth. He didn’t know why he still spoke to Shaun. Not a single strand of grey matter ran around his head. Still, at least he could follow orders. That’s all he wanted from him. If he had enough people around him, he might get through this war and back to Blighty without having a line of officers waiting for him when he got off the boat. Making it through this visit home would represent some sort of achievement. By rights, the police still had a warrant out for his arrest. His commanding officer had assured him they never arrested a man in uniform for old offenses.

You mean that kid over there?

Edward rolled his eyes. Aye, Shaun. That kid over there. He’s with his mates, now. Thought I’d leave him alone for a bit. I suppose it’s my fault Jack turned out like he did. I was always too busy trying to keep a roof over our heads. Didn’t have much time to bring him up right.

Least he’s got some mates with him. That usually gets them in line quick enough. Following the herd and all that.

Best he can manage. He’ll end up as a worthless sod in the mines or in the steelworks. I’m hoping he finds some girl soon. When she pops a kid out, I can take him and make him my own. Get him to do something worthwhile. Gave up on Jack years ago. He never listens and he’s thick as pigswill.

Edward couldn’t stop himself looking towards the little group away from him. He was sure they couldn’t see him from here. He’d told Jack he would see him back home or on the boat. His pulsing, brown eyes focused away from his son and onto the boys surrounding him. That was all they were. It didn’t matter how old they were. He could see the mother’s milk still dripping from their chins from here.

He’d met Jack’s friend Danny Keeton when he’d encountered his son back in Poperinge. Jack only allowed his emotions to get in the way of everything. This Danny had something about him. One look at him told him that. He didn’t get emotional and he had a natural curiosity to rival his own. His eyes flickered when he’d told him about that tattoo. Maybe he had aspirations of climbing the social ladder? If so, he might get to him.

Do you know who those boys are? said Edward.

Shaun squinted at the group and scratched his nose. Keeton twins there. The other one’s a lad called Alan Sullivan. Professional soldier from before the war. Think he lives up in Beeston.

Edward nodded. Don’t know how they tell the difference between those Keeton lads. All the same. Once met his brother, Will. He’s a little devil.

Edward remembered William Keeton well. He’d had a run in with him once in the pub. He’d tried to steal his girl and the young Keeton had stood up to him. He hadn’t expected that. It was a good thing he wasn’t drunk or he’d have taken the fight.

Edward learned long ago never to take on a professional soldier. They knew how to fight. That was his one regret about not joining the army when he was younger. Professional soldiers knew things he could use. Too late for that now.

Come on, let’s get off. Edward dashed out his cigarette and took Shaun away by the elbow.

Where are we off now?

Need to go find Adam. Got something to talk about with him.

Edward climbed up the gangplank onto the boat. It would sail from Calais to Dover soon enough. He shoved a smaller man out of the way. Adam had said he would meet him along the rails on the main deck.

A seagull cawed over their heads as they made their way through groups of men smoking and talking. He wished he had his rifle so he could shoot it out of the sky. Seagulls were insistent and didn’t know their place.

You’re late, aren’t you?

Edward turned around to see the scarred face of Adam Simpson. War hadn’t been kind to him, he thought as his eyes fell upon the long scar running down his face and over the bridge of his nose.

Alright, mate, I was wondering if you’d seen my son before?

Jack. You told me about him, but haven’t seen him. Is he around here?

Aye, come over here. Edward guided Adam towards the railings and pointed down onto dry land. Jack and his friends hadn’t moved and still talked without a look in their direction.

The taller one. Blond hair. That’s him, isn’t it?

Got it in one. He said he was in your regiment.

Well, I haven’t seen him. Adam squinted down at Jack.

No, no, you won’t have. They took him out of the line for some injury he got. Don’t believe a word of it myself, but I managed to get it out of him. Now look at those two boys standing next to him. They look exactly the same. Twins. The Keeton twins.

I’ve heard of them. The Keeton family don’t live far from me. Can’t say I know the kids. Met William and Mike a few times, but not the younger ones. Only ever saw them down the pub, really.

Good, good. I’ve got a bit of business with one of them. One of the twins is called Danny. I like him and I want to get to know him. Get in well with him and I’ll be able to slip in.

Why can’t you go up to him yourself?

Jack. He’s said some bad things about me. Whenever I try to talk to the lad, he jumps in. Course I can clip him round the ear and tell him to mind his own, but then the others will go off with him. Can’t really smack them, can I? I’m going to have to go in slow to make them trust me, understand?

Oi, Eddy. Why are you so bothered about this Danny? Shaun popped up on Edward’s other side. You haven’t told us what you’re going to do with him.

And you’re going to get a slap if you don’t mind your own. Edward pushed a balled fist into Shaun’s chin. As he expected, Shaun flinched and stopped talking.

Alright, now I just want to make friends with him. He could be useful in the future. I want to get in good with that family. They’re a good lot. That should be enough for you.

Adam only looked back at him and nodded. Give us a few cigs and whatnot in return, won’t you?

"Aye. I take care of my mates. Might be a bit of chocolate and anything else I can find in it for you, as well. You won’t go for nothing when you’re working for me.

He knew Adam would always say the right things. Shaun didn’t have the intelligence to know when to keep his trap shut. He had his uses, but when it came to planning he had no purpose in life. Edward wanted Danny Keeton. He needed him. His father, George Warren, had always wanted him to help revive the family’s fortunes and bring it back to the upper classes, where it belonged. Someone like Danny Keeton could replace his useless son, whilst he set the wheels in motion.

Edward would find Jack a girl. He would produce a male heir. The boy would know everything about the family and know what he had to do. Again, the Warren household would rise from poverty and regain its place in the world.

Chapter One

The train rumbled along, shaking and jolting everyone aboard. Danny Keeton leaned against the window and tried to hold onto the seat. Over from him, his identical twin Charlie Keeton sat in the same way. They hadn’t spoken much since leaving Dover. The trip on the ferry had left him seasick. Charlie had turned the colour of the choppy waves on that overcast morning.

What’s wrong with this train? said Danny.

Charlie groaned. Probably nothing.

Probably got one of the bad ones, said Jack Warren on his right. The older ones can’t be as good. Like the one we came down on was good. That one didn’t shake much. It’s not like it’s windy or anything outside.

Danny looked outside to make sure. The sky had turned darker, but he couldn’t see any signs of bad weather. Jack was right. This must have been a train in need of a repair.

Are we going to be back soon? said Danny to Alan Sullivan.

Alan closed the carriage door behind him and shuffled past a red-haired solider in the aisle. Not that far now. Should be in London soon. Then we’ll have to switch and we’ll be back in Leeds by teatime.

Hope we get a better train. My arse is killing me on these seats. Jack thumped the wooden seat.

That’s all your time out of the line. You’ve only been back in a few months. All that sitting on feather pillows and not doing anything all day, said Alan.

Oi, I’ve been injured. I couldn’t help the Germans slicing me open with their bayonets. Took me ages to get it right again. My hip still hurts now. And I didn’t think it would take me this long to get used to it all again.

Danny turned his head back to the window and settled into the rhythm of the bucking train. It didn’t take long for him to doze off because when he refocused again, the green farmlands had gone. He swore he saw a field of daffodils when his eyes had closed. Now, smog and smoke surrounded him. Industrial districts and tired men in uniform whizzed past as the train barrelled through London to St. Pancras station.

Alright, Jack?

Danny turned to the grimy voice of the new speaker.

Edward Warren placed his hand on the top of the seat.

Jack turned his head away from him. What do you want?

I’m just saying hello to my old son. Make sure you’re in the house when I get back. I need to get out and see a few mates. Hello, lads. Keetons, yeah? Edward flashed Charlie and Danny a smile.

Aye, said Danny.

What do you mean wait in the house when I get back? said Jack. We’ve not got anywhere to stay. We lost the house when you walked out and nobody was there to pay the rent. I couldn’t afford that on my wages. I was only a cleaner.

Edward regarded him coolly, but Danny saw his forearm tightening on the wood. Hadn’t thought of that. First clever thing you said since you were born. I remember why I told you to stay at home now. Should have got a good job with real wages, instead of that crappy cleaning job.

Oh, here we go.

Edward slapped Jack on the side of the head. And you can cut the attitude in front of your mates. I’m still your father and you’ll treat me with some proper respect. Do you understand?

Jack rubbed the part of his head where his father hit it and leaned away from him.

Aye, good. I told you to stay at home and you didn’t listen. Now we’ve got nowhere to go. First thing I’m going to do when I get back is put up with one of my mates. You can come and find me when I need you and we’ll come back down to London together after we’re done with leave.

But your mates are horrible.

Edward slapped him again. You never do learn, do you?

I don’t want to put up with them.

Edward struck him.

Jack squeaked and almost fell off his seat.

Danny wanted to say something to him. Sitting so close he could touch each of them made his stomach turn. Nobody would step in to say something to Edward. A few men from around them had seen what was going on, but even they didn’t move to step in. Danny went back to looking out the window and clenched his teeth.

You’ll not put up with them because you’re not staying with them. You think you’re so special then you can go live on your own. No, you won’t listen to your old da anymore, so you can go find yourself somewhere to stay. I’m not that bothered where you go. You’ll not get any money from me. Hope you didn’t spend it all on getting yourself drunk.

Edward strode out of their carriage and shut the door behind him.

Jack didn’t say anything for a while. He twiddled his thumbs like he wanted someone else to say something. Can’t stand that bastard.

Everyone grunted in response.

So where are you going to stay? said Danny.

Told you. Going to stay in a boarding house somewhere. It’s not much, but it’ll get me away from him. We’re only away for about a week, so it’s not like I need to worry that much.

Nah, you don’t want to stay in one of them. You want to stay somewhere better. You could come to our house. We’ve got plenty of space, haven’t we, Charlie?

Charlie wobbled his head back against the wall of the carriage. You’ve not got a chance of getting Mum to say yes to that.

She will. I’ve been back and you haven’t. We’ll be alright.

Bollocks. I know what you’re thinking. You think she’ll be alright because it’s only for a week and he’s not got anywhere else to go. She’s not like that and you know it.

Danny narrowed his eyes at Charlie. He knew Charlie was right about Mum, but he wasn’t going to admit it aloud.

It doesn’t matter, said Jack. If it’s going to cause problems I don’t want to do it. I’ll find a place to –

They all tumbled out of their seats and the lights flickered on and off. The talking turned to yelling as everyone landed on the floor and the floor flipped over and over. Danny smacked his head on something hard and hissed, but still the train kept moving. He heard the sound of smashing glass and the train finally came to a halt.

Everything had gone dark. A light appeared above. The silhouettes and shadows ambled in and out of his view.

Charlie? said Danny.

Where are you, Danny? He heard someone moving around next to him. When he did, more glass splintered.

A sharp pain ran through his bottom that made him scramble to his feet. He’d been sitting on the window. Concrete poked through what had once been a perfect pane of glass. It shattered outwards like a spider’s web. Light shone in from the opposite window above his head.

Help me up, then. Charlie reached out his hand.

Danny wrenched him to his feet. Other men rose from the floor like flowers poking out of the ground after a long hibernation. Some of them tried to yell commands, but all pretentions of rank broke down. Everyone merged into their own groups and each group had a separate plan for what to do next.

Danny’s hands could only shake by his sides as Jack and Alan gathered themselves.

Christ. Right in the finger. Charlie held up his finger to the light and pulled out a shard of glass. Blood cascaded downwards and coated his hand, which he wiped on the front of his uniform.

Are you all alright? said Alan. Got to get out of the carriage in case something’s leaking.

What happened? Was it a train crash? said Jack.

Probably. We’ll be alright. As long as we’ve not got any broken bones. Come on, let’s get through that window up there.

The group sitting opposite had already started to hit out at the glass. When this didn’t work, they lined up and pried one of the wooden benches from the wall. Using it like a medieval battering ram, they jabbed upwards and the glass fell in like chunks of spinning shrapnel. They instantly started to climb up and out.

Danny had to wait his turn, but when it came, someone from above hauled him through the opening and out into the open air again. His eyes took a few moments to adjust. All along the line of carriages men, escaped through the broken windows, helped by the strongest who had taken on the role of lifters.

Nobody injured in our train, is there? said Danny to Alan when he’d climbed on top of the carriage.

Surprised there was none in our carriage. We were close to the back. Whatever happened happened far enough away from us. Come on, we need to find out what’s gone on. Alan