The Leaving of Liverpool by Lyn Andrews Page B

as she suddenly realized the consequences of her actions. She hadn’t thought there were so many of them and they did appear to be drunk and some of the curses brought a flush to her cheeks. She had to get away from them! She looked around for an avenue of escape. There was none. In her fright she pushed her foot down hard on the accelerator and the car shot forward, taking them into the front ranks of the mob.
    ‘This is all your fault!’ she screamed at Phoebe-Ann as the crowd surged around them.
    Phoebe-Ann didn’t hear her. She had sunk back against the seat as far away from the rough, villainous faces that were pressing against the windows as possible. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be plain Phoebe-Ann Parkinson again in her dull clothes and with her long hair pinned up under her hat. She wanted her mam and Emily and Jack and Jimmy. She uttered a terrified scream as she felt the cab rock. She heard the sound of breaking glass as the headlights were smashed and a tattoo of blows rained upon the roof. She was rigid with terror.
    Then the crowd seemed to be moving on and thinning out and she started to cry in earnest and with relief as she caught sight of the men in dark blue uniforms who charged past, truncheons drawn and flailing, their faces grim.
    Olivia screamed at her. ‘You said they were on strike! You stupid little liar!’
    Phoebe-Ann sobbed harder. She didn’t care if she was stupid or a liar or anything else. She just wanted to go home.
    The door was opened by a burly, bewhiskered policeman. His uniform was torn and dusty, his face streaked with sweat and dust and blood. ‘Are you two all right?’
    Olivia swallowed hard and nodded.
    ‘Then I’d get out of here and as quickly as you can! There’s only a handful of us to protect the whole city and things look like getting worse before the night is over.’
    Olivia found her voice. ‘Can . . . can you drive us home, please?’
    ‘Sorry, luv. There’s not enough of us. I can’t go chasing off and leave the lads. How far are you going?’
    ‘Upper Huskisson Street.’
    ‘You’ll be all right. I’ve not heard of any trouble up that way. Just keep driving, don’t stop for anyone and keep to the main roads!’
    Olivia stared at his retreating back. Phoebe-Ann’s sobs grated on nerves that were already shredded. ‘For God’s sake! Shut up whingeing! Haven’t I got enough to think about without you having hysterics?’ she yelled. ‘You don’t deserve a penny of the money I spent on you! In fact when we get home you can take all those things off and throw them out! You shan’t have them!’
    Phoebe-Ann didn’t answer. She was past caring and in fact had begun to hate the coral dress and the shoes that were pinching her feet.
    It was dark when they finally arrived home but both their hearts plummeted when they saw Richard Mercer standing on the front step with Lily, Albert and Emily.

Chapter Six

    O LIVIA SUMMED UP BOTH the situation and her predicament in a second. Shaken though she was by the experience, she recognized the stern jut of her father’s chin and the tightly compressed lips as signs of anger that would be vented on her head. She threw her arms around him. ‘Oh, Papa! I’m so glad to get home! I was so scared. I was terrified out of my wits. It was horrible. Horrible!’ Tears of genuine remorse and relief welled up in her eyes.
    Richard Mercer patted her. His anger had been mixed with concern and not only for Olivia. In fact it had been the arrival of Lily and Albert with news of the growing unrest that had caused his anxiety. Anxiety that had increased when he heard from Emily that they had gone into town hours ago. ‘You’re safely home now and that’s all that matters.’
    Olivia dabbed at her eyes. Now that it was all over she found she was shaking.
    ‘Where did you get the taxi from and where’s the driver?’ her father questioned.
    ‘He left us. He ran away and left us at the mercy of those . . . people. I