Page 19 of These Old Lies

That being said, talking to Charlie was never a burden, especially when he was passionate and animated. As well as shockingly knowledgeable. “When did you learn all of this?” Ned asked, hoping that the question came out as honest admiration, and not judgemental.

“I knew a few of the chaps from India in Flanders, Aussies and Kiwis too. Got curious to learn more when I got back to London.” Charlie’s tone was relaxed and casual, as if talking about the war was something one could just do whenever one wanted.

“Where would you want to visit? If you could just snap your fingers and go? Or if one of those carpets over there could fly?” A silly question that Ned couldn’t imagine ever asking Freddy or Hugh with a straight face.

Charlie didn’t laugh, though. He was thinking, as if giving Ned a proper answer was important. “I want to say the Canadian Rockies, but also Victoria Falls? And Bombay?”

“This is a single destination magic carpet, I’m afraid.” Ned didn’t know why he was doubling down on this gambit.

“Harsh negotiator. In that case, Istanbul.”

“The crossroads of continents.”

“See a bit of everything.”

Ned had never done a grand tour, never wandered the capitals of Europe with the ambition of becoming cultured, but he had the money and time. He could book train tickets today and be in Venice by next Monday. Leave London behind and take Charlie with him.

The dull ringing of the closing bells echoed through the halls, shattering his daydream in the process, while reminding him that not everything was a mirage.

“I have an idea of where we should go the next time you have an evening off,” Ned said as they turned to walk towards the exit. “A pub with darts.” Not quite Istanbul, but still spending time with Charlie.

“You want to get yourself hustled?” Charlie’s surprise alone was worth the risk of the proposal.

“It's a game of skill! One that I’m quite good at, I’ll have you know. I used to fleece the rest of the officers’ corps.”

Charlie made a disparaging noise. “Officers. We’ll see. Next Friday then?” Charlie's casual acceptance made Ned’s heart race.

“Deal.”

8 Language of Love

St. Riquier, August 1916 / Charlie

Charlie gazed at the snow-capped mountains piercing the clear sky. Lush pine forests rippled like a blanket over the hills, reflecting in the lake below. There was a little dot in the sky, an eagle maybe?

The spiral lettering at the bottom of the card read “Canadian Rockies”. Charlie had spent hours looking at this card, and the dozens of other scenes like it he held in his hand.

He had built his postcard collection over the past two years, trading cigarettes and chocolate with soldiers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and even some Indians. Other Tommies hadn’t wanted to mix with the colonials, but Charlie never turned down a chance to chat with men who had travelled whole oceans. They told stories of waterfalls you could hear miles away, forests with trees as wide as a man was tall, and deserts with sand that came in different colours. He kept the postcards of their faraway wonders wrapped up in his rucksack in special waterproof paper. Not that he would ever get to see any of these places. He wasn’t likely to even get to see his own home ever again.

“Look awake, Villiers!” Charlie was brought back to reality by a sergeant’s shout. He carefully tucked away the postcard, as the men around him began to load the field guns for yet another round of shelling.

Today the higher-ups decided as part of their rest they were ‘practising’ firing shells into the fields. Right waste of time in Charlie’s opinion.

He was about to see if the gunners needed more shells when he felt a tapon his shoulder. He turned to find Matthews soberly waving a folded piece of paper in front of his face.

“That bad?” Charlie yelled over the steady beat of shellfire.

Matthews nodded and yelled back, careful to articulate each word. “I never thought the man was a poet, but we can’t let Henderson send this.”

Charlie flipped open the note.

“Dearest Betty,

Thank you for your latest letter and package. I’m the envy of all the men in the division with your socks to keep my feet warm and dry.

I have been given leave to go back to London next month, and look forward to seeing you. I thought we could get married.

Thanks also for visiting my mother. She does like a chicken and leek pie, and I know your recipe is one of the best…