leave the room and they all stumbled awkwardly to their feet and exited, one by one, into the front room. Ania and Lukasz hardly seemed to notice their departure. They were already talking together in a flood of Polish, crying, laughing and embracing each other by turns.
“What happens now?” Brian asked hoarsely.
“I think we must give them as much time together as we can,” said Mum. “But it can’t be long. And, to be honest, I don’t really know what happens now, Brian. It depends on what kind of plans Lukasz has, if any. But at least we know he’s genuine – he really is Ania’s uncle, and that’s all that matters at the moment.”
“Well, I hope they don’t take too long over all this tearful stuff,” said Brian. “I didn’t get time to eat my tea properly, and I’m starving.”
“I’ll see if—” But Mum was cut off mid-sentence by a loud ring of the front doorbell.
The whole family froze.
“Quick – go and answer it, will you, Audrey?” Mum whispered. “And try to get rid of them, whoever it is. Tell them we’re busy. Don’t let anyone in, for heaven’s sake!”
Audrey scurried to open the door, and to their horror they heard the all-too-familiar voice of Ronnie Harper Jones. After ignoring Audrey’s efforts to keep him at bay, he walked straight past her and into the hall.
“Don’t want to alarm you again,” he was saying, “but the Military Police think they’ve tracked down this deserter chap at last. It looks as though he may be somewhere in this area, so I came straight over to see that you’re all right.”
Mum stepped out of the front room and planted herself firmly in his path, blocking the way to the back of the house.
That’s brave of her, thought Joan.
“Ronnie! How good of you to come.” Her voice sounded high-pitched and louder than usual. “As a matter of fact, we’re just having something of a family get-together – not often that we’re all home at the same time and there are so many things we need to discuss. I would ask you in, but, as you can see, it isn’t the most convenient time…”
“That’s all right, my dear. I wouldn’t dream of interrupting you. I’m very pressed for time myself.
I just wanted to make sure that—”
Without bothering to remove his greatcoat, he strode past her towards the back of the house. Then he flung open the back sitting-room door.
Ania and Lukasz were standing there, frozen with fear. At the sight of the captain’s uniformed figure, Lukasz seemed to crumple. Instinctively, he and Ania both backed away towards the window. Ronnie’s ample presence dominated the room. He recognized Lukasz at once, and his moustache positively bristled with triumph.
“Lukasz Topolski?” he said. “Don’t bother to deny it. I know who you are. I am a British officer and I am arresting you on a charge of desertion from the army. You will be held in a military prison and face a court martial in due course. The police are in this area and will be here directly, so it is quite useless for you to try to escape. You would be recaptured immediately, believe me.”
Lukasz did not reply. He swayed, then steadied himself by holding onto the back of a chair, while facing his captor as bravely as he could. But all his remaining energy seemed to have drained out of him. He half turned to Ania, who stood transfixed, her eyes wide with fright. He put out his hand towards her in an attempt at reassurance, then let it drop hopelessly to his side.
Ania was in deep shock. Mum, pushing past Ronnie, tried to put an arm around her, but she just stood there, mute, her eyes fixed despairingly on Lukasz. She resisted all attempts to be taken into the front room when the Military Police arrived. It was only when they had put handcuffs on Lukasz and led him away, followed by the triumphant Ronnie, that she broke down and flung her arms over her face in a flood of tears. It was the first time any of them had seen her cry.
CHAPTER 19
R oss,
“What happens now?” Brian asked hoarsely.
“I think we must give them as much time together as we can,” said Mum. “But it can’t be long. And, to be honest, I don’t really know what happens now, Brian. It depends on what kind of plans Lukasz has, if any. But at least we know he’s genuine – he really is Ania’s uncle, and that’s all that matters at the moment.”
“Well, I hope they don’t take too long over all this tearful stuff,” said Brian. “I didn’t get time to eat my tea properly, and I’m starving.”
“I’ll see if—” But Mum was cut off mid-sentence by a loud ring of the front doorbell.
The whole family froze.
“Quick – go and answer it, will you, Audrey?” Mum whispered. “And try to get rid of them, whoever it is. Tell them we’re busy. Don’t let anyone in, for heaven’s sake!”
Audrey scurried to open the door, and to their horror they heard the all-too-familiar voice of Ronnie Harper Jones. After ignoring Audrey’s efforts to keep him at bay, he walked straight past her and into the hall.
“Don’t want to alarm you again,” he was saying, “but the Military Police think they’ve tracked down this deserter chap at last. It looks as though he may be somewhere in this area, so I came straight over to see that you’re all right.”
Mum stepped out of the front room and planted herself firmly in his path, blocking the way to the back of the house.
That’s brave of her, thought Joan.
“Ronnie! How good of you to come.” Her voice sounded high-pitched and louder than usual. “As a matter of fact, we’re just having something of a family get-together – not often that we’re all home at the same time and there are so many things we need to discuss. I would ask you in, but, as you can see, it isn’t the most convenient time…”
“That’s all right, my dear. I wouldn’t dream of interrupting you. I’m very pressed for time myself.
I just wanted to make sure that—”
Without bothering to remove his greatcoat, he strode past her towards the back of the house. Then he flung open the back sitting-room door.
Ania and Lukasz were standing there, frozen with fear. At the sight of the captain’s uniformed figure, Lukasz seemed to crumple. Instinctively, he and Ania both backed away towards the window. Ronnie’s ample presence dominated the room. He recognized Lukasz at once, and his moustache positively bristled with triumph.
“Lukasz Topolski?” he said. “Don’t bother to deny it. I know who you are. I am a British officer and I am arresting you on a charge of desertion from the army. You will be held in a military prison and face a court martial in due course. The police are in this area and will be here directly, so it is quite useless for you to try to escape. You would be recaptured immediately, believe me.”
Lukasz did not reply. He swayed, then steadied himself by holding onto the back of a chair, while facing his captor as bravely as he could. But all his remaining energy seemed to have drained out of him. He half turned to Ania, who stood transfixed, her eyes wide with fright. He put out his hand towards her in an attempt at reassurance, then let it drop hopelessly to his side.
Ania was in deep shock. Mum, pushing past Ronnie, tried to put an arm around her, but she just stood there, mute, her eyes fixed despairingly on Lukasz. She resisted all attempts to be taken into the front room when the Military Police arrived. It was only when they had put handcuffs on Lukasz and led him away, followed by the triumphant Ronnie, that she broke down and flung her arms over her face in a flood of tears. It was the first time any of them had seen her cry.
CHAPTER 19
R oss,
Similar Books
