Chapter 2. Bell tower

  England 1916

  Finn and Bish made plans to catch the same train back

  to London. As the train pulled out, they stood in the carriage

  window waving until steam clouds blocked the view of the

  platform.

  Bish lifted a bag onto the overhead rack and sat across

  from Finn. "What are your intentions with Vie?''

  Finn put a bag under his seat and sat down.

  "Vie is the one with all the intentions Bish, ask her."

  Bish laughed and looked out the window.

  "I love my cousin, she means more to me than anyone

  else in the world. Promise me you'll look after her

  when I'm gone.''

  "What are you talking about Bish?"

  "I've had the same dream a few times now Finn. I've seen

  what's going to happen, as clear as I'm sitting here next to you.

  We're off to the Great War and I'm not coming back."

  For a moment Finn was lost for words.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  ''If you're that certain Bish - don't go. Get off at St.Erth and

  sit the War out, become a conscientious objector."

  Bish slowly shook his head. "There's no escaping your

  fate Finn."

  Finn wondered what was there to be gained in believing

  in such a stupid idea.

  Fate can go and fuck itself he thought to himself.

  *

  Finn began to worry that it was going to be a slow painful

  trip back to London if Bish kept going on, but after they

  changed trains at St.Erth, Bish's mood seemed to lighten.

  The London bound train was half empty.

  They stretched out and enjoyed the luxury of the extra space.

  Bish looked through one of his bags and took out a flask of

  whiskey. ''I originally put in for an infantry regiment but when

  the recruiters found out I could speak German they asked

  if I'd be interested in the Signals corps." He unscrewed the lid,

  took a long sip and passed the flask to Finn.

  "What I don't understand Finn, is what on Earth made

  you choose the Medical corps. Your basically going to a

  War without a gun. Are you completely mad?"

  Finn laughed and looked at the flask in his hand.

  "I didn't choose the Medical corps. I put in for the infantry

  just like you did but for whatever reason, I ended up being

  assigned to the RAMC."

  "Maybe it was just a mistake." Bish said. "Surely you can

  appeal or go before a tribunal."

  Finn drank from the flask and handed it back.

  "You know Bish, there is bound to be two German lads just

  like us, somewhere in Germany having pretty much the same

  conversation we're having."

  "What's your point Finn?"

  ''I was angry at first about being assigned to the Medical corps,

  but after coming home and spending time with Nain Joan and

  meeting Vie, I've changed my mind. Trying to save lives during

  a War doesn't seem like such a bad idea after all."

  Bish held up the flask in toast. "I'll drink to that."

  *

  Finn got his bags ready, his station was next. Bish was

  lying stretched out on his seat fast asleep and quietly snoring.

  Finn wondered if he should wake him to say goodbye.

  He'd already slept through the last few station stops, so it was

  unlikely he was going to wake up.

  Finn wrote a note and put it in one of Bish's bags. He looked at

  his friend's untroubled face - maybe this would be the last time

  he would see him.

  "Good luck Bish." he said and got off the train.

  *

  In the bell tower of a church that overlooked the town centre,

  a raven watched Finn leave the train station and cross

  the road. "I've been waiting for you young man."

  Staying out of sight, the raven flew along the roof tops and

  followed as Finn made his way home. It perched on a lamp post

  and watched him walk through an open park. "Fate leads the willing,"

  it said to itself," and drags the reluctant behind on the journey."

  *