The Shadow of War by Jack Murray (read this if TXT) 📕

Henrylooked at the four boys for a moment, clearly sceptical. Finally, he said,‘Really? It certainly didn’t look like it from up there.’

Nobodysaid anything for a moment, Danny’s intervention having averted a potentialcrisis for all the boys. Danny glanced up at where Lord Cavendish had just come from.

The woman on the chestnut was Lady Jane Cavendish. Danny saw herfrom time to time when hebothered to go to the Sunday service. She was the most beautiful woman he hadever seen. Her wild red hair was messily stuffed into the riding hat. Fromunder the brim he could see her green eyes crinkle in amusement.

Beside her was Sarah, their daughter. Unlike her mother, her hairwas ash blonde. The curls were clearly visible underneath the hard riding hat. However,the green eyes were those of her mother. The little girl coolly ignored theactivities below and staredstonily ahead. The boy beside her ignored them also. Hateful-looking boythought Danny, unkindly. He’d give a sixpence for the opportunity to throw him.

Aftera few moments where the only sound in the forest was the gentle rustle ofbranches in the light breeze, Henry nodded. Scepticism remained, however, heturned back and walked towards his family.

‘Isee. Well, be sure it is only messing around.’

Heused a branch to help pull himself back up onto the ridgeway to re-join hisfamily. One last glance down and then he climbed up onto his horse in one swiftmovement.

‘What’syour name, boy?’

‘Shaw,sir. Danny Shaw.’

‘StanShaw’s son?’

‘Yes,sir,’ replied Danny. His eyes never left Lord Henry Cavendish.

Henrynodded, seemingly in approval. With the slightest movement of his reins Henry’shorse moved forward and a few moments later they were all gone. The four boyswatched them as they trotted off into the distance. Hugh looked up at the sky.It was clouding over again.

‘Weshould head back.’

Theymarched back to the village together in a guilty silence. However, after aminute or two they began to chat.

‘Whowas the boy?’ asked Hugh. ‘Looked too old to be the son.’

‘Noidea,’ replied Danny. ‘Definitely not Robert Cavendish, that’s for sure.Probably some other Lord they want to marry his daughter to.’

‘Whata life,’ said Fred.

‘You’dtake it,’ said Hugh, giving his friend a friendly clip on the back of the head.

‘She’llbe all right when she’s older,’ said Greg. This was more awestruck than coarse.There was no disagreement from the other boys. One by one they peeled off asthey passed each house until only Hugh and Danny were left. Finally, theyreached Hugh’s house. They parted with a nod.

Aminute later Danny announced his arrival in the kitchen with a cheery, ‘Somethingsmells good.’ He tapped his mother on one shoulder and then as she turned tolook, Danny dodged the other side and sampled what she was cooking.

‘Actually,it is really good,’ he confirmed. Then he glanced at his father, sitting by thewireless, grim-faced. There was something about Germany on the wireless. Dannywas relieved it wasn’t anything he had done. He went to the sink and washed hishands. This was something his mother insisted on before they ate. Tom wasalready at the table. At least he had a smile for him.

‘Lazin’around as usual?’ asked his brother.

‘Youknow me,’ laughed Danny reaching to break some bread off the loaf in the middleof the table. ‘Anyways, I offered to help. You didn’t want me.’

‘Didn’twant you under my feet, you little sod. Worse than useless, you are.’

Mothergave Tom a look. His brother mumbled a sheepish apology. Bad or coarse languagewas not permitted in the household she reminded him. This rule was applied withrigour by their mother. Nobody, Stan included, was permitted to break the rules.Danny grinned at his brother who merely rolled his eyes.

Stanwas still sat with his ear close to the wireless. The wireless announcer wasstill giving the news headlines. Danny heard him mention a name several times.He was going to ask his father but one look at the lines tightly etched overhis cheeks and around his eyes, told him the subject was not for discussion.His mother also stopped what she was doing to listen more closely. Somethingabout a fire in the German Parliament. She glanced at her husband. Stan shookhis head and switched off the wireless. Outside they heard the rain begin toslap against the roof and the ground.

Chapter 2: Germany1933

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Ladenburg (nr. Heidelberg):February 1933

Theleaden grey sky was heavy with cloud. Rain and who knows what else was coming.The prospect did little to improve Manfred Brehme’s mood. Normally he likedEnglish class, and why not? He was probably the most accomplished speaker inthe class apart from Diana Landau. She had the advantage of being half-English,however, so that didn’t count.

No,the problem was Erich Sammer. What had started out as a few playful punchesbefore the class, had escalated steadily during the class. Now they carriedreal venom and neither boy was prepared to give way until they had struck thelast blow. A glance at the clock on the wall confirmed there was anotherfifteen minutes of this war of attrition left to run. A few classmates wereaware of the undeclared conflict and would no doubt press for a more explicitresolution to the hostilities at the next break.

Thiswas now a problem. He and Erich were nominally friends. However, these episodeshappened from time to time. Rarely did they reach a point where a fight wouldend the quarrel. If they stopped now, the issue could be resolved, if notamicably, then at least without bloodshed.

Thetwo boys looked at one another. Erich was clearly angry. The look in his eyessuggested he wanted to get another blow in. Manfred widened his eyes slightlyand then shifted them behind to indicate others were looking. Erich paused fora minute while he tried to assimilate the communication. A voice from the frontof the class interrupted them both and caused the rest of the class to giggle.

‘Silence,’shouted the English teacher, in German. ‘Herr Brehme, I asked you a question. Willyou answer it please?’

Manfredreddened; he had absolutely no idea what had been asked such was his intensefocus on ending the fighting with Erich. He had to think quickly now. Riskingall, he plumped for the least embarrassing response he could think of.

‘I’msorry, sir,’ he replied in