How To Be Brave by Louise Beech Page B

mended his shirt, and enjoyed the cool of the evening and the crew’s chatter. Being only nine degrees from the equator meant it was very hot all day, so they counted the minutes until the sun sank. Spirits were high tonight because they were heading back to Hull and travelling at twelve knots meant it would only take a week.
    Proceed independently for homeport at all speed , the Captain had ordered.
    In the glow of the setting sun, the men began to talk about loved ones waiting at home. They poked fun at a young lad who said there would be a letters from film star Lana Turner awaiting him.
    Then they all sang a song about the white cliffs of Dover.
    Colin’s parents were anxious for his return. He felt he travelled too much to find a girl. He had been all over the world, seen New York and much of Africa. He knew really that blaming travel was an excuse since so many of the other men had managed to find love.
    Colin liked single life. He was happy as he was. The Merry Whistler.
    He looked towards the horizon and wondered what his parents were doing. His mum had probably made tea hours ago and washed the pots by now. What day was it? Friday. Maybe they’d had fish. Or maybe strict war rationing meant just bread and jam. Food stamps were needed in England to buy meats, canned milk, cheese, butter and all tinned foods.
    Colin could picture his dad smoking a pipe and reading the paper. Maybe he was seeing things too prettily. Life would be different there now. The war had changed even small things.
    At seven-thirty a ship gunner cried, ‘Torpedo on the starboard beam!’ The shout broke into Colin’s happy thoughts.
    A torpedo is a bomb that swims under water. All seamen are terrified of them. Never had the men finished a tea break so fast. Cups and biscuits scattered all over the deck. Men cursed and screamed and crashed into one another. Colin remained calm. He watched the torpedo speed past and gulped relief.
    But they were not safe yet.
    An enemy submarine surfaced two hundred yards away. The Lulworth Hill gunners took their positions and fired three shots, but missed. The sub disappeared in a fizz of bubble and foam. The Captain ordered more speed. Colin dressed more warmly and waited for orders by his lifeboat station.
    He looked in the boat and tried to imagine living on it for a few days. What would it be like?
    At ten o’clock the submarine surfaced four miles away. It was much faster than the ship so there was nothing they could do but wait to see what happened. The Captain told them to get some rest. Sleep in your life jackets , he ordered. Six men went on lookout, and the rest retired to their cabins.
    In his room Colin wrote a letter to his mother. Writing always comforted him. He liked seeing the neat sentences after a hard day. And most days at sea were hard.
    Colin was responsible for maintaining and repairing equipment. He kept deck areas right, and also did his fair share of lookout duty. He managed the cargo gear and the machinery, and he took care of lifesaving equipment. He loved being at sea. He took pride in everything he did.
    In his letter Colin told his mother about the torpedo and how the men had irritated him with their silly behaviour. He knew he’d be home before she received the note, but still he wrote and wrote and wrote.
    The last word was his name.
    Then – surprisingly – he slept. Until he was thrown from his bunk when an explosion rocked the ship. He staggered to his feet. Then a second blast threw him against the wall. There was no time to waste. He had to get out, now.
    On deck it was chaos.
    ‘We’re going to die!’ someone screamed.
    ‘Need to get out! Need to get out!’ yelled another.
    There was grey smoke from the explosion and the sound of screeching metal as the ship strained.
    ‘God, help me!’ came another cry.
    Men Colin had treated like family, who had enjoyed cups of tea last night, had changed in an instant. Through boiling steam, they yelled and attacked one