Blackout. Part 16

"'E was sick at school, too," Binnie volunteered. "Twice."

The vicar instantly took charge. He handed Eileen his handkerchief, took off his coat, bundled Alf up in it, ordered Binnie to open the back door, and put him in the backseat, all in the time it took Eileen to wipe her shoes. "Climb in the front seat, Binnie," he said, "so Eileen can sit with Alf."

Binnie promptly got in the driver's seat. "I can drive."

"No, you can't," the vicar said. "Slide over."

"But it's an emergency, ain't it? You said you was teachin' me to drive in emer-"

"Scoot over," Eileen said. "Now." "Now." Binnie did. Eileen climbed in the back. Alf was huddled in the corner, his head in his hands. "Does your head hurt?" she asked him. Binnie did. Eileen climbed in the back. Alf was huddled in the corner, his head in his hands. "Does your head hurt?" she asked him.

"Yeah," he said and put his head in her lap. She could feel the heat through her coat.

"I'll wager it's typhoid fever," Binnie said. "I knew this boy what died died of typhoid." of typhoid."

"Alf hasn't got typhoid fever," Eileen said.

"This boy who 'ad it ate a 'ard-boiled egg," Binnie went on, undaunted, "and 'is stomach blew up, just like that. You ain't s'posed to eat eggs if you've got typhoid fever."

The vicar drove up to the manor and around to the kitchen door. He opened the door, took Alf from Eileen, and walked him into the kitchen, where Mrs. Bas...o...b.. was kneading bread. "If you're here to try to talk me into learning to drive, Vicar, you'd best save your breath. I've no intention of-Alf, what have you done now?"

"He's ill," Eileen explained.

"We found him on the road," the vicar said.

"He was sick all over Eileen's shoes," Binnie put in.

"I think perhaps we'd better phone for the doctor."

"Of course, Vicar," Mrs. Bas...o...b.. said. "Una, take the vicar through to the library so he can use the telephone," but as soon as they were gone, she turned on Alf. "Doctor? What you need is a trip to the woodshed, Alf Hodbin. You've been at the jam cupboard again, haven't you? What else have you been stuffing yourself with? Cakes? Lamb pie?"

Oh, don't mention food, Eileen thought, looking worriedly at Alf's face. "I don't think it's something he ate," she said. "He's feverish. I think he's ill."

"P'rhaps 'e was poisoned," Binnie said. "By fifth columnists. The jerries-"

"What he needs is a dose of castor oil and a good shaking." Mrs. Bas...o...b.. grabbed his arm, and then stopped, frowning, and took a long hard look at him. "Tell me where it hurts." She pressed her hand against his forehead and then his cheeks. "Are your eyes sore?"

Alf nodded. "It's typhoid, ain't it?" Binnie asked.

Una came back in. "Where's the vicar?" Mrs. Bas...o...b.. demanded. "Did he telephone for the doctor?"

Una nodded. "He wasn't in. The vicar went to fetch him."

Mrs. Bas...o...b.. turned back to Alf. "Does your head hurt?" He nodded. "Has he had a runny nose?" she demanded of Eileen.

Alf always had a runny nose. Eileen tried to remember if he'd wiped it on his sleeve more than usual the past few days. "It's been runnin' somethin' awful," Binnie said, and Mrs. Bas...o...b.. yanked up Alf's s.h.i.+rt and peered at his chest. It looked normal to Eileen, except for a long smear of dirt which he'd gotten G.o.d knew how. She'd given him a bath just last night.

"Is your throat sore?" Mrs. Bas...o...b.. asked.

Alf nodded.

"Eileen, take Alf upstairs," Mrs. Bas...o...b.. ordered, "and put him to bed. Make up a cot for him in the ballroom."

"In the ballroom?" Eileen said doubtfully, remembering what had happened the last time the children had been in there.

"Yes. Binnie, come here and let me look at your chest. Do your eyes hurt?"

"Come along, Alf," Eileen said and walked him up the stairs and into the nursery. "Climb into your pajamas. I'll be back straightaway," she told him and ran back down to the kitchen. Mrs. Bas...o...b.. was filling the kettle, and Binnie was looking interestedly at the pots and pans, no doubt waiting for a chance to steal them for the sc.r.a.p drive. Eileen hurried over to Mrs. Bas...o...b.. and whispered, "Has Alf got something serious?"

Mrs. Bas...o...b.. glanced over at Binnie, then set the kettle on the cooker, and struck a match. "Make sure Alf's kept warm," she said, lighting the burner. "I'll bring you up a hot water bottle in a moment," which meant she didn't want to say anything with Binnie there. Which meant it was was serious, and obviously contagious. Not typhoid fever-that had been a waterborne disease-but there'd been all sorts of infectious diseases back before antivirals and some of them had been killers: typhus and influenza and scarlet fever. serious, and obviously contagious. Not typhoid fever-that had been a waterborne disease-but there'd been all sorts of infectious diseases back before antivirals and some of them had been killers: typhus and influenza and scarlet fever.

He can't have scarlet fever, Eileen thought, running back upstairs. I'm supposed to leave today I'm supposed to leave today. She looked at the clock. It was four already, and who knew how long it would take the doctor to get here. If she didn't make it out to the drop before dark, she'd be trapped here an entire extra week. But if Alf was seriously ill- Perhaps I can get him into bed, and then, as soon as Mrs. Bas...o...b.. brings up the hot water bottle, run out to the drop and tell them I'm going to be late, she thought, going into the nursery. Alf was sitting listlessly on the edge of his cot, still in his clothes. Eileen took off her hat and coat and helped him into his pajamas, looking anxiously at his chest as she b.u.t.toned the jacket. His chest was a bit pink, but she couldn't see a rash. "Lie down while I make up a bed for you," she told him and dragged one of the cots into the ballroom, made it up, then helped him across the corridor and onto the cot.

She heard a door slam below and voices. "Go outside and play now," Mrs. Bas...o...b.. said.

The rest of the children must be home from school. "I want to go see Alf," Eileen heard Binnie say.

"I want to go home," Theodore Willett said. want to go home," Theodore Willett said.

"Outside," Mrs. Bas...o...b.. repeated.

"But it's raining," Binnie protested. "We'll catch our death."

And whatever Alf had, it couldn't be that serious, because Mrs. Bas...o...b.. said, "No talking back. Outside, all of you."

"I don't got to go outside, do I?" Alf asked worriedly.

"No," Eileen said, covering him up. He looked very green. "Are you feeling like you're going to be sick again?"

He shook his head weakly, but she fetched a basin, just in case. When she got back to the ballroom, Dr. Stuart was there, and he was asking Alf the same questions Mrs. Bas...o...b.. had. He looked at Alf's chest and then stuck a barbaric-looking gla.s.s thermometer in his mouth and took Alf's pulse, using two fingers and his watch. If this was something serious, Alf was in trouble. Nineteen-forties medicine was extremely primitive. Could a thermometer like that even detect a fever?

"He's been complaining of feeling cold," Eileen said, "and he's been sick twice."

Dr. Stuart nodded, waited an interminably long time, pulled out the thermometer, read it, and took a small pocket torch from his bag. "Open wide," he said to Alf and looked at the inside of his cheek with the light. "Just as I thought. Measles."

Not scarlet fever. Thank goodness Thank goodness. If he'd been really ill, Eileen wasn't sure she could have brought herself to leave. But measles was only a childhood disease of the time. "Are you certain?" she asked. "He hasn't any rash."

"The measles won't appear for another day or so. Till then, he needs to be kept warm and the sickroom kept dark to protect his eyes. That's one advantage of the blackout. You needn't put up new curtains." He put the torch back in his bag. "His fever is likely to go up sharply until the measles come out." He snapped his bag shut. "I'll look in tonight. The most important thing is to keep him away from the other children. How many are here at the manor just now?"

"Thirty-five," Eileen said.

He shook his head unhappily. "Well, we'll hope most of them have already had measles. Alf, has your sister had them?" Alf shook his head weakly. The doctor turned back to Eileen. "You've had them, I hope?"

"No," she said, "but I've been-" and remembered they hadn't had vaccines in 1940 except for smallpox. "I mean, yes, I-" she stammered and stopped again. If she said she'd had them, he'd put her in charge of the sickroom and she'd never get away. The doctor was looking at her curiously. "I haven't had measles," she said firmly.

"Sit down," he said, and opened his black bag. He took her temperature, looked at her throat, and examined the inside of her cheeks. "No symptoms yet, but you've been in close contact. I'll tell Mrs. Bas...o...b.. to send someone up to take over for you immediately. In the meantime, no more contact with the patient than absolutely necessary."

She nodded, relieved. There was no reason now not to leave. Even if she stayed, she wouldn't be allowed near Alf or the other evacuees who caught the measles.

"I'll look in on him tonight," Dr. Stuart said and left.

"What'd 'e mean, 'ave someone take over?" Alf asked, sitting up on his cot. "Ain't you goin' to take care of me?"

"I'm not allowed to," Eileen said. "I haven't had measles." She started toward the door.

"You ain't leavin' now now, are you?"

"No, I'm only going across to the nursery to fetch you another blanket. I'll be back straightaway."

"You swear?"

"I swear. I won't leave till someone comes to relieve me."

"Who?" he demanded.

"I don't know. Una or-"

"Una?" he said disbelievingly. "Una'll let me die. You're You're the only one wot's nice to me'n Binnie," and looked so woeful she almost felt sorry for him. Almost. the only one wot's nice to me'n Binnie," and looked so woeful she almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

"Lie down," down," she said, fetched him a blanket, and then went across to the nursery for her hat and coat and put them on the table just outside the ballroom door. One good thing about Alf's illness was that the resultant confusion in the manor should make it easier for her to slip away. When someone arrived to relieve her. she said, fetched him a blanket, and then went across to the nursery for her hat and coat and put them on the table just outside the ballroom door. One good thing about Alf's illness was that the resultant confusion in the manor should make it easier for her to slip away. When someone arrived to relieve her. Where Where was Una? Had the doctor forgotten to tell Mrs. Bas...o...b.. to send her up? And what had happened to the hot water bottle Mrs. Bas...o...b.. had said she'd bring him? Alf was s.h.i.+vering. was Una? Had the doctor forgotten to tell Mrs. Bas...o...b.. to send her up? And what had happened to the hot water bottle Mrs. Bas...o...b.. had said she'd bring him? Alf was s.h.i.+vering.

There was a knock on the door. Finally Finally, Eileen thought and hurried to open it. "I come to see 'ow Alf is," Binnie said, peering into the ballroom.

"You're not allowed in here, Binnie. Your brother has the measles. You might catch them."

"No, I won't," Binnie said, attempting to sidle through the door. "I've already 'ad 'em."

"She's lyin'," Alf called from the cot.

"I am not not. You was only a baby, Alf, that's why you don't remember. I was covered all over in spots."

Well, that's a blessing, Eileen thought. All she needed was two two ailing Hodbins. But she still didn't intend to let her in. "Go and play." She shut the door. ailing Hodbins. But she still didn't intend to let her in. "Go and play." She shut the door.

Binnie promptly knocked again. "Alf don't like to be alone when 'e's ill," she said when Eileen opened the door. "'E gets frightened."

Alf has never been frightened of anything in his life. "No one's allowed in." Eileen shut the door again and locked it. "Doctor's orders."

Binnie knocked again. "Go away," Eileen said.

"Eileen?" Alf said.

"Binnie's not not allowed in here." allowed in here."

He shook his head. "That ain't wot I-" he said and vomited again.

Eileen grabbed for the basin, but she shoved it under him a second too late. It went all over the sheets, the pillow, and his pajamas as well. The knocking began again. "Go away away, Binnie!" she said, reaching for a towel.

"It's Una," Una's voice said timidly.

Oh, for heaven's sake. "Come in," Eileen said.

"I can't. The door's locked." Eileen handed Alf the towel and unlocked the door, and Una came in, looking frightened. "Mrs. Bas...o...b.. said I was to take over for you."

Eileen was tempted to hand her the basin and walk out. "Get Alf out of his pajamas while I empty this," she said. "And don't let Binnie in." She rinsed out the basin, got fresh sheets from the linen closet, and found a clean pair of pajamas for Alf.

When she got back to the ballroom, Una was standing exactly where she'd left her. "What's he got?" she asked nervously. "Flu?"

"No," Eileen said, standing Alf up and unb.u.t.toning his pajama top, taking it off him, and sponging his chest clean. "Measles." And, at the terrified look on Una's face, "You have had the measles, haven't you?"

"Yes," Una said. "That is, I may have done. I'm not sure. But I've never nursed nursed anyone with them." anyone with them."

"The doctor will help you," Eileen said, stripping the sheets off and remaking the cot. She helped Alf into bed and covered him up. "Dr. Stuart will be back later tonight. All you need to do is keep Alf warm." She gathered up the soiled sheets and pajamas. "And keep the basin handy. And keep Binnie out."

And she made her escape. But she still had the wad of soiled sheets, and she didn't dare take them down to the laundry, or Mrs. Bas...o...b.. would hand her the hot water bottle or put her to work looking after the other children. She opened the door to the bathroom, dumped the sheets in the bathtub, and shut the door again, feeling guilty at leaving the mess, but it couldn't be helped. She had had to get out of here. to get out of here.

She put on her coat and hat, listening for the children. Had they all come back inside, or only Binnie? And where was was Binnie? Eileen couldn't afford to have her follow her. She heard a door slam below and Mrs. Bas...o...b..'s voice saying, "Go upstairs and get your things off, and then come straight back down for your tea. And you're not to go near the ballroom." Binnie? Eileen couldn't afford to have her follow her. She heard a door slam below and Mrs. Bas...o...b..'s voice saying, "Go upstairs and get your things off, and then come straight back down for your tea. And you're not to go near the ballroom."

"Why not?" she heard Binnie ask. "I've 'ad 'ad 'em." 'em."

Good, they were all in the kitchen. For the moment. Eileen shot along the corridor and down the main staircase. If Lady Caroline was back or the doctor was still here, she'd simply pretend she had a question about Alf's care. But there was no one in the hall below. Good. In a quarter of an hour she'd be at the drop and on her way home. She ran down the stairs and across the large hall to the door and opened it.

Samuels was standing there, with a hammer in one hand and a sheaf of large yellow papers in the other. "Oh," Eileen gasped. "Has the doctor gone?" He nodded. "Oh, dear. Perhaps I can still catch him." She started past him.

He stepped in front of her, blocking the way. "You can't leave," he said, looking pointedly at her hat and coat.

"I'm only going to fetch the doctor," she said and attempted to sidle past.

"No, you're not." He handed her one of the yellow sheets. "By order of the Ministry of Health, County of Warwicks.h.i.+re," it read at the top. "No one's allowed in or out," he said. He took the sheet back from her and nailed it up on the door. "Except the doctor. This house and everyone in it's been quarantined."

Another part of the island.-WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, THE TEMPEST THE TEMPEST

Kent-April 1944

CESS OPENED THE DOOR OF THE OFFICE AND LEANED IN. "Worthing!" he called, and when he didn't answer, "Ernest! Stop playing reporter and come with me. I need you on a job."

Ernest kept typing. "Can't," he said through the pencil between his teeth. "I've got five newspaper articles and ten pages of transmissions to write."

"You can do them later," Cess said. "The tanks are here. We need to blow them up."

Ernest removed the pencil from between his teeth and said, "I thought the tanks were Gwendolyn's job."

"He's in Hawkhurst. Dental appointment."