The CBB :: View topic - The Children's Journey (Ste Therese)

#1: The Children's Journey (Ste Therese) Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:06 pm

“Oh, Jem, you do think Joey and the others will be safe, don’t you?” Margot Venables leant out of the train window for a last embrace with her brother, just as the guards began to slam the doors with curt commands for the passengers to take their seats.

“Hush, dearest, we can’t talk about it here – anyone might be listening,” Jem replied, but his eyes betrayed his anxiety. “Be careful and have a safe journey. I wish I could have sent someone else with you other than Rosalie! She’s a good kid, but only a kid! Look after yourself and wire me the minute you reach Guernsey. ”

“I will. I’ll do my best to take good care of your children,” Margot said, but her words were drowned out by the guard’s piercing whistle and Jem Russell was forced to step back as the train started to pull away from the station. His sister waved until she could wave no more and then she returned to Rosalie Dene and the children, her own girls, her brother’s pair, and the four children of Madge Russell’s twin brother.

The train was very full, Margot knew that Jem had been lucky to get tickets for them all. People were standing or sitting on cases in the corridor, she had to squeeze past to get back to the compartment they had been fortunate enough to obtain.

It was very early, barely six, for they had a long journey ahead of them. All the children but Daisy were curled up in their seats, sleeping. Daisy was talking to Rosalie, who had determined to keep her talking about cheerier subjects than the fate of Joey, Jack, Miss Wilson and the others, who had fled in such a dramatic and terrifying way. Margot was pleased that Daisy’s own experience in the adventure had been so brief and that she was able to travel with them; for a second her thoughts turned to delicate Robin, who had been forced to undertake the long, weary journey with so many risks.

I mustn’t think about it now, she thought, determinedly. All I can do is pray they will be safe.

Jem hadn’t needed to impress on her the importance of getting the children to safety, she understood already, glancing at the sleeping Primula and at Daisy’s unusually pale face. Inwardly she resolved to do whatever in her lay to make sure that the journey was as easy for them as possible.

Daisy left Rosalie and scrambled across to her mother.

“Mummy, is it a long journey?”

“Yes, pet. We have to cross Austria, and then go through Switzerland and into France, then we’ll get the boat-train from Paris, and then into England. We’ll break the journey in Switzerland and again in France, but most of the time we’ll be sitting on trains.” Margot said, with a glance at the lively children.

She knew they would find the journey tiresome, although Peggy was a peaceful little thing, and Primula another. Little Jackie, the youngest, would be content mainly to listen to stories and look out of the window, she thought. Bride was usually happiest with her nose in a book. David, Rix and Sybil were apt to be more boisterous and she was rather dreading keeping them all occupied once they woke.

A basket perched above Rosalie’s head contained puzzles and simple card games, as well as books. One good thing was that their clothes and other belongings were going with the school’s things and were being sent in advance. Each child had a small case containing clothes for the journey and their own special treasures. Madge, in her anxiety, had insisted on labeling the children with their full name and the Guernsey address. Margot had acquiesced, the worst thing that she could possibly imagine would be for a child to be lost in Europe alone.

Sybil was the first to wake, and of course she woke the others.

“Where are we, Auntie?” Bride asked, trying to climb over her brothers to look out of the window.

“We’re still in the Tyrol, darling,” Margot said, taking Primula on her knee. “Are you sure you don’t all want to sleep a little longer? You’ll be too tired later if you don’t.”

“No, not tired,” David insisted, rubbing his eyes, despite his protestations.

“Shall we do this jigsaw?” Rosalie said, cheerfully, putting down her knitting and lifting down the basket of toys.

“Is it one of Auntie Jo’s?” Peggy asked.

“Where is Auntie Jo?” her twin demanded in loud tones, “Why didn’t she come home? Did that soldier take her away?”

Margot hushed him quickly, scared in case somebody heard. Jem had pressed on her the need to keep their knowledge of the escape quiet until they reached safety. All of the children were looking at her with wide eyes, their bewilderment at having to leave Die Rosen was clear.

“Auntie Jo’s gone to stay with Frieda in Innsbruck,” she fibbed, “Doctor Jack has gone with her, and Robin. They’ll be following us to Guernsey very soon, but it’s best if we don’t talk about it right now.”

“Why?” asked David, who was frowning and fiddling with the name label attached to his coat. “Why didn’t Mummy come?”

“Because she had to stay with your Daddy at the San,” Margot explained, gently. “She’s coming to meet us very soon, but for the time being Auntie Rosalie and I will look after you. Aren’t you looking forward to staying in the hotel in Switzerland? And then soon we’ll be in Paris and you can play in the park and even ride the carousel.”

“Want Mummy!” Tired and cross, Sybil started to howl.

“Let me tell you all a story, my darlings,” Margot said at once. She began to tell them about Australia, making the tale thrilling enough to hold their attention, while Rosalie calmly set about opening their food baskets and unpacking a light meal for them all. When Margot had finished, they demanded another and to her relief, the afternoon passed with no trouble.

Rosalie left them to wander down the corridor and see if any of their fellow passengers had news. The train had been delayed just outside Seefeld for nearly forty minutes and both she and Margot were both anxious not to miss their next train, which would leave from St Anton early in the evening. It would mean an extra day in Austria if they missed it.

She drew some strange looks. Rosalie did not look her twenty-two years and it was unusual for a young girl to travel without a chaperone. These were unusual times, however, and before long she had found the guard, who looked harassed.

“Bitte, mein Fraulein, I do not know when we will reach St Anton. The Germans are holding up the trains there, checking papers. We are not stopping at Seefeld – there are too many people at the station.” He lowered his voice after a swift glance around. “All who can are leaving Austria.”

“Why now?” Rosalie asked, but he couldn’t tell her.

#2: Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:34 pm

Am looking forward to more of this Mia!

#3: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:48 pm

Wow, I can tell this is going to be one of my favourites already. Thanks for posting, Mia. I can't wait for more.

#4: Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester

Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:27 pm

This is excellent! I'm really looking forward to more - I'm betting it's not going to be an easy journey Confused