The Lost Years (8 page)

It was intended that Arabella too should follow in the footsteps of her famous ancestor. She was eager to commence her training, but Perys was of the opinion that the younger of the two Tremayne girls would never achieve the calm efficiency of her sister.

Once Maude was gone from Heligan, Perys knew he would need to reach an early decision about his own plans. He could not remain at Heligan for very much longer unless he was able to earn money to support himself. There was also the increasing pressure of watching local young men going off to war. Perys felt he too should be playing a part in the increasingly fierce conflict raging in Europe.

Heligan had already lost a number of its work force. Three reservists had left in the first week of the war. The same number had since enlisted, joining many men from Mevagissey and other surrounding villages.

Because of the sudden dearth of workers, Perys spent a week helping to gather in the wheat on Heligan Home Farm. He followed it by helping out the Brays on Tregassick Farm.

He was working in one of the Tregassick fields, wielding a pitchfork and loading sheaves of corn on to a farmcart, when he heard a sound that was alien to the Cornish countryside. It was the steady drone of a petrol engine.

At first, Perys thought it must be a motor-car. This in itself was unusual enough to attract attention, but as the sound grew louder it became apparent this was no motor vehicle.

Suddenly, Annie cried excitedly, ‘Look. Up there in the sky.’

Following the direction of her pointed finger Perys saw something approaching, high above the ground. It was an aeroplane.

Throwing down his pitchfork, he cried, ‘It’s Rupert! I’d given up all hope that he would really come.’

He had no need to explain in any more detail. He had already told Annie of Rupert’s intention to fly to Cornwall and visit Heligan.

‘I must go, Annie. I’m sorry . . .’

‘How do you know where he’s going to come down?’ she asked.

‘There’s only one field flat and clear enough for him to land in. It’s just the other side of Heligan. I want to be there to meet him.’

Wasting no more time in conversation, Perys sprinted off. There was a deep, wooded valley between him and the field in question, but a track climbed the hill on the far side of the valley, skirting the field.

The run would test his fitness to the limit, but he was determined to be the first to greet Rupert when the aeroplane landed.

It was a close thing. Had the pilot not made two passes over the field to ensure there were no hidden hazards, Perys would not have achieved his aim. As it was, although his chest was heaving alarmingly as he fought to regain his breath, he reached the field in time to see the aeroplane float to the ground, its engine coughing noisily.

It bounced twice before coming to a halt, then turned slowly and trundled across the grass towards the nearest point to Heligan, which happened to be the gate where Perys was standing.

Stopping short of the gate, the aeroplane’s engine noise increased momentarily before ceasing altogether. The propeller cut through the air in silence for a moment or two, then came to a spasmodic halt.

The aeroplane had two open cockpits, but only the rear one was occupied. The pilot unfastened a safety belt and pushed his goggles up to his forehead before extricating himself and climbing stiffly from the aeroplane to the ground.

As he did so, one of the Heligan gamekeepers appeared behind Perys, a double-barrelled shotgun carried in the crook of his arm. He looked uncertainly from Perys to the airman and Perys realised the gamekeeper was uncertain - whether or not the pilot of the aeroplane was friend or enemy.

The pilot removed his flying helmet and ran fingers through his overlong blond hair before speaking to Perys. ‘You there, will you keep a watch on my aeroplane for an hour or so and make certain no one touches anything? I am paying a call on Heligan.’

Perys was dressed in clothes that were appropriate for gathering in the harvest. He realised Rupert had mistaken him for a farmworker.

Turning to the wary gamekeeper, he said, ‘It’s all right, Frank. It’s Rupert Pilkington, a relative.’ Then, returning his attention to the flier, he said, ‘I think Frank will be a much better guard than I. What’s more, he’s armed.’ Smiling at Rupert, he added, ‘I’m Perys Tremayne. Would you like me to show you the way to the house?’

‘I’m terribly sorry, I thought you were one of the farmworkers.’ Extending a hand, he said, ‘Please forgive me, I am Rupert.’

Taking his hand and shaking it warmly, Perys said, ‘It was an understandable mistake. I was helping to gather in the harvest at Tregassick Farm. So many men have gone off to war there’s a shortage of labour in the farms about Heligan at the moment . . . but before we go up to the house, would you mind if I had a look over your aeroplane?’

‘Of course not. Aunt Maude has told me you’re keen to join the Royal Flying Corps. Have you had anything to do with aeroplanes?’

Reaching out to touch the taut canvas of one of the plane’s wings, Perys shook his head. ‘Nothing at all, although I have discussed them at some length with a friend at school. He’s French and his brother is a French army pilot.’

Rupert nodded approval. ‘The French have some fine aeroplanes - and damned good pilots to fly them. Come across to the cockpit and I’ll show you the controls and explain what they do.’

Perys learned that the aircraft was a BE2c; ‘BE’ being the initials of Bleriot Experimental. He was deeply interested and asked a great many questions. His inspection came to an end with the arrival of Morwenna and Arabella to greet their cousin.

Arabella looked at the fragile aeroplane in disbelief. ‘Rupert, you actually put your trust in this flimsy thing to take you up into the sky?’

Rupert smiled. ‘Of course. What’s more, I have actually taken it to France and fought against a German pilot while I was flying it. Mind you, we were both using revolvers and neither of us was a terribly good shot.’

Arabella shuddered. ‘I would rather not think about such things, especially if Perys is going to be a pilot.’

Such a positive declaration of concern for Perys startled Rupert. He looked enquiringly at Perys, who was embarrassed by Arabella’s remark.

‘If Perys becomes a pilot I have no doubt he will be a good one,’ Rupert said. ‘And for much of his time a good pilot has more control of his own destiny than the most efficient infantry officer.’

‘In that case I’ll try to be a very good pilot.’ Perys said, meaningfully.

‘That’s the spirit!’ Rupert said, jovially. His glance rested upon Morwenna who had not yet joined in the conversation. Speaking to her now, he said, ‘You have grown up considerably since we last met, Morwenna.’

Perys was surprised to see her blush as she replied, ‘That is hardly surprising, Rupert. I was only fourteen then.’

‘Is it really so long ago? It is terribly remiss of me not to have called on you and your mother before this. Never mind, I am here now.’

‘You have been far too busy doing exciting things to think of relatives,’ Morwenna replied.

There was something in their manner that made Perys think that Morwenna had probably once looked upon Rupert in the same way as Arabella now regarded him.

He wondered whether Maude had viewed the situation with the misgivings he was aware she had about him. Sadly, he thought the answer would undoubtedly be that she had not.

Chapter 12

Although Rupert had made a joking reference to the part he had played in the war so far, he had in fact been involved in the forcing down of a German aeroplane and the destruction of another. He also felt very strongly that he should be in France with his squadron right now. Instead, he had been sent back to England to attend a meeting at the War Office to discuss the future role of the Royal Flying Corps. When the meeting had ended, one of the senior officers remembered he had still not carried out the proposed survey of possible airfield sites in Cornwall and decided he should fulfil the task right away.

Perys had taken an instant liking to Rupert and it seemed the flier liked him too. Much of their conversation during the all-too-brief visit of the airman to Heligan concerned flying and the activities of the Royal Flying Corps.

When Rupert said it was time for him to leave, Perys looked so crestfallen that after a few moments’ thought, Rupert said to him, ‘Just how serious are you about joining the RFC, Perys?’

‘I have never been more serious about anything,’ Perys replied, emphatically. ‘I had no real doubts before, but after talking to you, nothing will stop me from becoming a pilot.’

‘In that case,’ Rupert said, ‘how would you like to come with me to check out a couple of airfield sites I have in mind in the west of Cornwall?’

Perys could hardly believe what he was hearing. ‘You mean ... fly there with you?’

‘I am certainly not going to use any other means of transport,’ Rupert declared, amused by Perys’s excited disbelief. ‘Do you have any warm clothing?’

‘I have one or two things in my room.’

‘Then go and put them all on,’ Rupert said. ‘You’ll be sitting immediately behind the propeller and it can be very cold once we are in the air. Hurry up now, I need to be off pretty quickly if I am to return you and get myself back to the Central Flying School in Wiltshire before dark.’

When Perys had hurried from the room, closely followed by the two girls, Rupert was left alone with Maude and he commented, ‘He seems a likeable lad - and very keen to join the RFC.’

‘He is a likeable boy,’ Maude replied, ‘and one of whom I feel the Tremayne family could be proud. It is a great pity there was such a scandal over his birth.’

‘When I spoke to you by telephone you told me he had been refused a commission in the county regiment. Were the circumstances of his birth the reason?’

Maude shook her head. ‘No, I believe the refusal was a direct result of Perys giving Cousin Edward a well-deserved bloody nose. Edward’s father is a close friend of the commanding officer of the regimental barracks here in Cornwall.’

‘Perys did that to Edward? Good for him! I have been tempted to do the same on many occasions. If that is the only reason he was refused a commission, I think he would do well in the RFC. We have need of young men who are spirited, courageous and determined.’

‘You will find Perys possesses all those qualities,’ Maude declared. ‘I intend writing to his grandfather to say he is being less than generous to a young man who I firmly believe will one day bring great credit to the family.’

Rupert was impressed by Maude’s praise of Perys and he said, ‘You have a reputation in the family as being the most level-headed of the Tremayne women, Maude. If that is your opinion of Perys I have no doubt he will be a credit not only to his family, but to his country too. We will see how he enjoys his flight with me, then decide how best we might help him.’

* * *

Now he knew he was actually going to fly in the aeroplane, Perys looked at the BE2c more critically when he and the others arrived at the field where it was parked.

It appeared more frail and smaller than it had before.

‘Having second thoughts about going up?’

About to climb into the cockpit, Rupert paused and grinned at Perys.

Perys shook his head, and lied, ‘No, but I am excited about it.’

‘I was terrified when I went up for my first lesson,’ Rupert confessed. ‘So much so that I almost changed my mind about transferring to the RFC. But once in the air it was like nothing I had ever known. You’ll find it the same. Now, stand by to swing the propeller, and don’t forget what I told you. Swing and get your hands - and yourself - out of the way immediately. It probably won’t do anything unexpected, but however long it takes, jump back every time. Once I have the engine started get into the cockpit as quickly as you can.’

It took a few swings for Perys to get used to the resistance of the engine to his efforts. At the seventh attempt the engine started as he jumped back, only to die again immediately. However, after the next swing the engine picked up in a series of noisy explosions and quickly gathered speed. Fighting against the slipstream, Perys scrambled over the wing and dropped awkwardly into the forward of the two cockpits. Once there he fastened the safety belt and pulled over his eyes the goggles Rupert had produced for him.

The noise from the engine increased and suddenly the aeroplane began moving. From the cockpit, Perys returned the waves of Maude and the two girls who had come to witness the beginning of his great adventure.

The field had appeared perfectly fiat to Perys when he looked at it a few days before, but the BE2c seemed to be finding a multitude of grass clumps. He thought, wryly, that the aeroplane felt as though it was waddling in the manner of a duck on dry land.

Then the aeroplane turned. The engine noise rose to a crescendo, the whole machine began to shake, and moments later it began to move forward at a rapidly increasing speed.

Suddenly there were no more bumps beneath the wheels. In spite of this, Perys did not realise they had left the ground until he saw some trees to one side of the BE2c and realised the aeroplane was above them.

A tap came upon his shoulder and Perys turned to see Rupert grinning at him and holding up a thumb in a signal that all was well.

Perys grinned back at the pilot and nodded emphatically.

He had been apprehensive about this, his first flight, concerned that he might not enjoy the experience. Might even be frightened. However now he was actually in the sky, in an aeroplane, he was filled with an overwhelming sense of exhilaration. It was the most exciting thing he had ever done. Perhaps ever would do.

They were still gaining height but already he could see the Cornish coastline stretching ahead and the small fishing villages and hamlets dotted along its irregular length. It was like looking at a large-scale map, etched in coloured relief.

Another tap on the shoulder and with a snake-like movement of his hand, Rupert indicated that he intended following the coast to the westward, flying a little distance offshore.

Perys nodded acknowledgement of the information and before long they had reached the Lizard, the promontory stretching into the English Channel, its tip being the most southerly point of mainland Britain.