THE RESCUE FLIGHT

by Captain W. E. Johns

XIV. BELVILLE-SUR-SOMME (Pages 174 – 187)

Thirty goes to walk the six or seven kilometres to Belville-sur-Somme in the pouring rain. A heavy lorry stops to give him a lift and the driver is a German soldier. They make small talk and Thirty asks to be dropped near the church. The German is in fact, parking in the square right in front of it anyway, but the square is a scene of intense military activity. “Soldiers were everywhere”. Thirty is seen walking off and his driver, Willy Schmidt, is reprimanded by a German N.C.O. for giving someone a lift against orders. Schmidt lies and says “He’s the son of the women at my billet”. The N.C.O. stares at Thirty’s field boots as he walks off and calls Thirty back. Thirty ignores him and manages to get down a narrow alley. Thirty manages to get into the churchyard but he can hear voices coming after him and fears he is being pursued. Thirty knocks on the door of the presbytery and a man opens the door. The man confirms that he is Father Dupont and Thirty says he has a message for him. (He experienced a feeling of profound relief when he perceived the black cassock of a priest - is the illustration on page 183). Invited in, Thirty gives the priest the important package. The priest says “Thank you” and then “Is that all?” “Yes … that’s all,” replied Thirty awkwardly, somewhat taken aback by the other’s manner. “Then you’ll be going now? Come, I will show you out”. They then both hear heavy footsteps approaching the house. The priest tells Thirty to go into the kitchen, put on the apron hanging behind the door and stir the soup simmering over the fire. “As he passed into the kitchen there came a loud knocking on the door”.