Page 20 of The Gathering Storm

‘But that’s just a defensive treaty – that each will defend the other in case of an unprovoked attack. And even then, only after approval from the League of Nations. Or am I misunderstanding?’

‘Your understanding, as always, my love, is immaculate.’

‘So how does saying, “If you hit my friend I’ll help him defend himself,” constitute a threat?’

‘It’s obviously just an excuse,’ Jack said, handing her a glass and sitting down by the fire. ‘And after they took back the Saar last year without a word of protest from anyone, they must have thought it was perfectly safe to walk into the Rhineland.’

‘Well, they had a plebiscite on the Saar,’ Helen said, ‘with a ninety per cent vote for reunification. So there wasn’t much anyone could do about that – was there?’

‘There was a lot of disquiet at the time about irregularities – you remember, reports of intimidation by the Nazis? The League was supposed to conduct an investigation, but I don’t think anything came of it.’

‘And what is the League going to do about the Rhineland?’

‘Probably nothing,’ Jack said. He held up his glass to look at the firelight through the golden liquid. ‘Hitler took a calculated risk: people don’t want another war. And there’s an idea circulating that the Germans were unfairly treated by Versailles. I heard someone at work today saying that, after all, Germany was only walking into its own backyard. Is it worth starting a war over that?’ He drained his glass. ‘More sherry?’

‘No, thanks.’ Helen watched him go over to the drinks tray. ‘Don’t spoil your dinner,’ she warned.

‘The thought of eating Mrs Dyer’s kidneys will carry me through,’ Jack said.

‘I believe it was supposed to be a hash of yesterday’s beef, but the joint wasn’t large enough, after they’d had their supper. There’ll be apple dumplings afterwards.’

‘In that case, I’m reconciled.’ Jack poured himself another glass. He held up the decanter. ‘You’re sure?’ She shook her head and he returned to the fire. ‘The government seems to be working on the principle that going into the Continent in 1914 was a terrible mistake that cost thousands of lives, and that we shouldn’t ever do it again. We should let the European countries work out their own problems.’

‘That’s all very well, until the bombers start flying over London, and it becomes our problem again.’

‘Well, at least we’re doing something about that,’ Jack said. ‘Dowding wants a network of spotters, with radio and telephone links, and the lines all buried deep underground so they can’t be damaged by bombs. Thousands more fighter planes: the Hurricane will be going into production this year, as you know. And then there’s the good old secret weapon – radio detection.’

‘If it’s secret, should you be telling me?’

‘I can’t go into details, but the theory’s pretty well known. You remember that the biggest problem for home defence during the war was having early enough warning of enemy planes approaching?’

‘Yes. By the time our fighters made the height the bombers had been and gone.’

‘Quite. So this new idea is to send out radio signals, which bounce off anything they hit. You can tell where the thing is and how big and how fast it’s travelling and so on. We’re pretty sure the Germans are working on the same idea – you’ve heard of this Death Ray they’re supposed to be developing?’

‘There isn’t a Death Ray?’

‘Not outside an H. G. Wells novel.’

‘Thank goodness. The servants will be pleased,’ said Helen.

‘We think the Death Ray story is just a cover for their version of the radio detection system.’

‘And this system – will it work?’

‘There was a demonstration down in Daventry last year that impressed Dowding so much he was able to get government funding for more research. Once we get it up and running it will make all the difference. We will be able to detect German bombers while they’re still out over the sea.’

Helen’s expression changed. She stared at him bleakly. ‘You said “we will” not “we would”. You talk as if they’re really coming.’ She got up abruptly, went to the window and stood with her back to him. He was afraid she might be crying.

‘Darling—’ he said.

‘It’s all starting up again, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘The war was supposed to be the end of it. There wasn’t ever going to be another one, they said.’

He went over and laid a tentative hand on her shoulder. She wasn’t crying – she had reached an age where tears were hard to come by – but she turned an impassioned face up to him. ‘Oh, Jack, why do we keep ending up in the same place? I can’t bear it.’

‘If it comes you’ll have to bear it,’ he said gently. ‘But perhaps it won’t.’

‘I’ve heard it in your voice – you don’t think Hitler will stop at the Saar and the Rhineland. All that build-up of arms – you think we’re for it.’