A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

Ronnie found her handkerchief in her trouser pocket and blew her nose. ‘Did you see Jess?’

Sally nodded. ‘She’s going to wait for the ambulance.’

‘Is it really bad out there?’

‘The fire’s terrible. Apparently, one of the caretakers was blown to pieces.’

Ronnie felt the blood drain from her face. ‘What caused it?’

‘They say it was one of the new rockets Hitler’s bragged about, but we’ll have to wait and see.’

Sally worked quickly, looking up every few seconds.

‘All right, Ronnie?’

‘I keep feeling faint.’

‘You won’t faint. I’ll make sure of that. You’re just in shock on an empty stomach.’ Sally paused. ‘Is your hand very painful?’

‘No. I can’t feel anything.’

‘Hmm.’ Sally tore the end piece of the bedsheet in two vertically and used the strips to finish with a loose knot. ‘That’s all I can do for the time being. Do you think you could walk if I hold your arm? It’ll be quicker than waiting for someone to come for you. Long as you can keep your bad hand up above your heart.’

‘Yes, I can do that.’ Ronnie suddenly looked around. Lucky wasn’t curled up on her usual chair. ‘Oh, Sally, where’s Lucky?’

There was a horrible silence.

‘Sally?’

‘I’m afraid it’s bad news. I thought she was just asleep but when I touched her she didn’t move. She wouldn’t have known a thing.’

‘Oh, no. Not my little Lucky.’ Tears poured down Ronnie’s cheeks, leaving dirty streams. ‘I promised Margaret I’d look after her.’

‘But you did.’ Sally’s voice was soothing.

‘Where was she?’

‘On the deck. It’s been such a nice day she didn’t want to come in when I called her earlier. But it wouldn’t have made any difference. She wouldn’t have survived.’

‘I hate them!’ Ronnie bellowed, making Sally flinch. ‘Bloody Nazis with their bloody bombs. Everyone says they don’t have a chance of winning the war but they don’t let up.’

‘They won’t, as long as Hitler is in charge,’ Sally said. She took Ronnie gently by her arm. ‘Come on, Ron. It really is important that you get seen to quickly. There’s nothing more you can do here.’

‘What about all this mess?’ Ronnie said, for the first time really taking in the devastation. ‘It looks terrible. Like the cabin’s taken a direct hit.’

‘Don’t worry. Jess and I’ll see to it.’

Reluctantly, Ronnie rose to her feet and allowed Sally to help her through the hatch and out of the butty onto the towpath.

A warden was blocking their way.

‘Sorry, love, stand back, and let the firemen do their job.

‘My friend’s been injured,’ Sally said. ‘It’s quite serious and we need to get her to a hospital. I’ve called an ambulance.’

The warden looked at the now blood-soaked bandage.

‘Oh, dear.’ He frowned as though to make a decision. ‘Right-o. Stay where you are. We’ve got one ambulance here already and another on the way. Let me have a word.’

Ronnie shivered. Her teeth began to chatter and Sally glanced at her anxiously.

‘Are you cold?’

‘Not really,’ Ronnie answered.

‘It’s still quite warm,’ Sally said, putting an arm round her. ‘You’re in shock. I hope to goodness they don’t keep us here long.’

The warden was a few minutes but he came back with an older woman in Red Cross uniform.

‘I’m Dr Hamlyn,’ she said. ‘What happened to you, my dear?’

Sally quickly explained, and the doctor nodded. ‘We’re taking three injured men to hospital right away, so you can come with us.’

‘Would I be allowed to go with her?’ Sally said.

‘Sorry, my dear. We’re going to be crowded as it is.’

‘What hospital are you taking her to?’

‘Queen’s Hill.’

Sally nodded and turned to Ronnie who was feeling dizzy again.

‘Jess and I’ll find out where you are,’ she said. ‘Don’t worry about anything. Just get that hand sorted out.’

Ronnie nodded, too upset about Lucky to argue.

‘Miss Linfoot … Veronica … wake up!’

Ronnie opened her eyes, a smell of disinfectant in her nostrils. She blinked. Where on earth was she? Then a fuzzy white-clad figure came into her line of vision. It bent over her.

‘Ah, you’re awake.’

‘Where am I?’

‘In hospital.’

Alarmed, Ronnie tried to jerk into a sitting position.

‘Why …? What …?’ She shook her head, trying to clear it. ‘How long have I been here?’

‘You came in two days ago.’ It was a man’s voice. A voice of authority. ‘A doodle-bug fell on one of the warehouses opposite your boat. I’m Mr Ferris, who operated on your hand.’

Then it came back to her. The explosion. Her hand. Lucky. And Michael’s letter. Overwhelmed, she fell back onto the pillows again and began to sob uncontrollably.

‘There, there. No reason for that. The operation went well but it’s going to take some time for the movement to recover because a nerve was severed. But it will come back, I promise. You’ve had a temperature as well, but it’s almost back to normal. We’ll soon have you out of here and back with your mother.’ He smiled down at her, transforming his angular features. ‘What a charming lady she is.’

Maman had come? Ronnie wiped her eyes with the back of her good hand.

‘Why didn’t someone tell me she was here?’

‘You were sound asleep. She wouldn’t let the nurse wake you up, but she stayed by your side yesterday through visiting hours. She’d had quite a tiring journey what with the delays, so I told her you’d be home in a few days and not to try it again as we would let her know how you were doing.’ He picked up her chart at the end of the bed and glanced at it. ‘Though it’ll be a long time before you’ll be able to go back to working on the canals,’ he continued. ‘By then we all hope the war will be over.’

Ronnie lay there, the surgeon’s words floating over her head without her really taking them in. All she could think of was that Maman had been worried enough to make a journey fraught with problems to come and see her. The thought warmed her heart.

‘And you certainly won’t be fit to go