Eve of the Isle (32 page)

‘That is why I am here. I saw her this morning.'

‘Where?' Peg demanded over Eve's shoulder.

‘I was in my front room and looked out of the window. Your sister went by. I was not dressed or washed at the time or I should have come sooner. I know she does not venture out alone.'

‘I never let her out of me sight,' said Peg anxiously. ‘Only when I close me eyes. I've often thought about tying her to the bedstead and I would if I had one.'

‘What time was this?' asked Eve.

‘It could be an hour ago.'

‘Oh blimey,' shrieked Peg, ‘she's bolted.'

Eve opened the door. ‘Come in, Joseph.'

They were standing in the hall, discussing what to do, when Jimmy came down the stairs in his underpants. ‘What's all the racket about?' he asked, scratching his skinny chest.

‘Joan's gone.' Eve was trying to think what to do first.

‘You looked in the lav?'

Everyone nodded. ‘We had a tiff last night over her clothes,' confessed Peg. ‘Said she was fed up wearing
my old togs. She wanted to go back to Bambury Buildings to get her own. But I said that Harold's probably chucked 'em out by now. She threw a tantrum and plonked herself in the armchair with a face like a poker. I made up the bed and told her to get her arse in it. She wouldn't move. So I thought, bugger it, I'm too tired to argue. She'll come to bed when she's ready.'

‘So she could have gone back to Bambury Buildings?' Eve asked.

‘Yeah. S'pose so.'

‘She must have been thinking about it all night,' said Eve.

‘She's been a bit funny lately,' nodded Peg. ‘Fidgety and talking all about Harold. She ain't done that whilst the drink's been wearing off. Now he must be on her mind.'

They all looked at one another. Eve knew that if Joan had gone to Blackwall, it wasn't for her clothes, but to confront the woman that Harold had taken up with.

Dressed for the first time that autumn in coats and hats, Eve and Peg made their way to Blackwall. It was a long walk, the best part of an hour and Peg's rheumatics were playing up.

‘I'll give her a piece of me mind when I find her,' said Peg as they went through the quiet streets. There were only one or two people up, good Christians going to worship. Eve hoped that Jimmy would make certain
the boys went to Mass. They had wanted to come with them to find their Aunty Joan, but Eve had refused. She didn't know what or who they would find at Bambury Buildings.

‘When did she start talking about Harold?' Eve asked.

‘It was when she found a photograph in me drawers. I caught her one day, looking through them, the nosey cow. It was a picture of me and her as kids, with our two brothers and Mum. Dad wasn't around, but then he never was. It was me older brother that brought us up really. Mum died when I was about eight and Joan six. She was a good woman and a bloody good flower-seller. But what good did that do her? Benny was about fifteen, kept us all together till he went into the army and then we was turned out on the streets. That's why I always felt sorry for Jimmy. Knew meself what it was like not to have no home.'

‘When did Joan meet Harold?'

‘He was a bit of a charmer, though he don't look it now. And me sister was a good looker. Whilst I sold me flowers, she got a job up the Strand, in an office. We was sharing rooms at Seven Dials, a real pig sty with a load of brasses. Harold worked in the same office as Joan, she told him a story about being orphaned, didn't have no one or nothing and he married her. A year or two later, Harold was up to his old tricks. Tried it on with me and the rest is history.'

‘So Joan ain't been with another man?'

‘Not to my knowledge. The silly cow. If that'd been
me, I'd have fleeced Harold for every penny and enjoyed meself into the bargain.'

‘Did Harold always live at Blackwall with his mother?'

Peg nodded. ‘That's what he wanted Joan for. A nursemaid. Whilst he enjoyed himself. The old girl was a real tyrant too.'

‘Poor Joan.'

‘She should have ditched him years ago. She wouldn't listen to me.'

‘She must have loved him.'

‘Don't know about that.' Peg caught her breath, clinging to Eve's arm. ‘Can tell the weather's changing. Me back's playing me up something rotten.'

‘Let's walk slower.'

They moved off again at a slower pace. Which only served to increase the tension as they made their way to Bambury Buildings.

Eve recalled the day they had first come to Bambury Buildings at the beginning of the year in the company of the young Salvationist Clara Wilkins. It was Joan who had opened the door to them after their climb up the dirty stone steps that led to the cold and soulless balcony outside the Slygos' rooms. Joan had been well dressed in a green suit and wearing make-up, with her hair dyed red. But Eve had been able to tell they were sisters, even though Peg took no trouble at all with her appearance. As they went slowly up the steps, Eve remembered the cold greeting that had awaited them. If it hadn't
been for Harold, Joan would have turned them away. But Eve had soon learned that Harold had a motive for his actions.

‘What shall we do if he says she ain't there?' said Peg, stopping on the cold and draughty stairs, her head tilted to one side. Eve could hear the sounds of the residents of Bambury Buildings waking up. The smell of the lavatories was overpowering.

‘Don't know,' said Eve.

‘Can't hear a ruckus,' whispered Peg, pulling her coat tighter round her. ‘And you couldn't miss Joan's old Hobson's choice.'

‘She might be inside.'

Peg grimaced. ‘Yeah, strangling the floosie.'

‘She might just have wanted her clothes,' said Eve doubtfully as they continued to ascend the stairs.

On the fourth floor they looked along the balcony. It hadn't improved, thought Eve as she stared at the peeling railings and dirty brown doors with small opaque glass windows. Two small children came out of the lavatory at the end. The door banged, followed by a dreadful smell.

‘Brace yerself, gel,' said Peg, raising her fist.

The knock echoed around the tenement. Eve waited with baited breath. Expecting to see Harold, Eve was shocked when a woman opened the door.

‘Where is he?' demanded Peg rudely, staring belligerently into the crudely made-up face under dyed yellow hair.

‘Who are you?'

‘None of yer business,' snapped Peg. ‘Now are you gonna get him or do I have to push me way in.'

‘He ain't here, so push off.' The woman folded her arms.

Peg thrust the woman against the wall and marched in, going from room to room, calling for Joan. ‘'Ere, what's all this about?' called the woman after her.

‘Peg's looking for her sister,' said Eve trying not to inhale the unhygienic smell that came off the woman. At least when Joan was here, she kept herself and the place clean.

‘She won't find her here,' sniffed the woman, untroubled by the noise that Peg was creating as she searched the rooms.

‘Have you seen her?'

‘Huh!' the woman scoffed. ‘'Course we seen her. She was hammering on the door at first light. 'Arry had to get out of bed, to see to it. Reckon she's off her trolley, looked as though she should be locked up.'

‘It's not Joan that needs locking up,' answered Eve angrily. ‘It's you that don't belong here.'

‘Don't make me laugh. He booted her out.'

Overhearing, Peg pulled her roughly by the shoulder. ‘You won't be here long, dearie, you'll be out on your arse just as soon as he's tired of you. Now tell us what happened.'

The woman looked startled. ‘All right, all right, but let go of me.' She brushed her shoulder. ‘She barged
her way in and got a right eyeful. Saw him and me enjoying a bit of slap and tickle.' There was a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

Eve reached out to stop Peg from grabbing the woman by the neck. ‘Calm down, Peg. She's not here. Let's look somewhere else.'

There were shouts from along the landing.

‘Shut up you noisy cows! This is Sunday morning!'

Eve pulled Peg onto the balcony.

As they stood there, the woman shouted, ‘He was going to take her down the Sally Army. That's where they keep all the elephants' trunks, ain't it?' The door slammed.

Once more there were loud protests. A man stood on the balcony in his trousers, bare-chested. He shook his fist at them. ‘We've had enough to put up with this morning. Shut your gobs once and for all or I'll come up there and shut 'em for you.'

‘Don't worry, we ain't stopping,' cried Peg angrily as Eve hurried her down the steps.

When they were outside, Eve caught Peg's arm. ‘What if he did take her to the Salvation Army?'

‘She wouldn't have gone willingly,' said Peg shakily. ‘He must have cut up rough.'

‘We'd better try there.'

As they made their way to Poplar High Street, Eve couldn't help thinking that Harold Slygo was a man to be given a wide berth and that Joan was better off without him.

To Eve's relief, the first face she saw at the Salvation Army Mission Hall belonged to Clara Wilkins. She was wearing her bonnet and full uniform as she stood at the door.

‘Mrs Kumar, isn't it?'

‘Yes and you're Clara.'

‘Did you get back to your cottage?'

Eve smiled. ‘Yes, thanks.'

Peg stepped forward. ‘Have you seen me sister?'

Clara looked puzzled. ‘The lady from Bambury Buildings?'

‘Yeah.'

Clara shook her head. ‘No, but I've only just come on duty.'

Eve glanced quickly at Peg. ‘Mrs Slygo hasn't been very well,' said Eve diplomatically. ‘She's staying with us. But today she went off and someone said she might be here.'

Without asking more, Clara nodded. ‘Come in and we can look.'

Eve and Peg walked into the big hall where two rows of beds were placed to the left and right leaving an aisle down the middle. Men and women dressed in dirty, patched clothing were sitting on the beds or on wooden chairs. The air was pungent with tobacco smoke and the aroma of vegetable soup.

‘We've just served up a hot meal in the canteen,' said Clara as they walked slowly down the aisle to a chorus of coughs, sniffs and breaking wind.

Eve followed Clara to a bed at the end where the occupant was asleep under a grey blanket. Clara lifted the cover and shook her head. Turning to Eve, she whispered, ‘An elderly woman beset by the demon drink.'

Eve was about to walk away when she stopped. Clara had only seen Joan when she looked smart and wore make-up. Would she recognize her now if she saw her?

‘Would you mind if I had a look?' asked Eve as Peg came to join them.

Clara stepped back and Eve went to the bed. She lifted the cover. A strong wave of alcohol fumes wafted up. It was so overwhelming that Eve had to turn away. But she had seen enough. Returning to Peg and Clara, she nodded. ‘It's Joan.'

Clara looked shocked.

‘As I said, Joan hasn't been well. Do you have any idea who brought her here?'

Clara shook her head.

Peg went over and also looked under the cover. She sat down on the side of the bed, her head bowed. Eve knew she would be trying to stop the tears.

‘Clara, we want to take her with us.'

Clara looked doubtful. ‘I could get her some soup to sustain her. Wait here and I'll see what I can do.'

When Clara had gone, Eve went to stand at the bedside. ‘I hope we can get her to walk.'

Peg nodded as she blinked red rimmed eyes. ‘Something 'ot in her stomach will help.'

‘It's only a small setback.'

‘That bloody Harold. I bet he gave her the booze. She would never have come here of her own accord.' Peg shook her sister. ‘Wake up, Joan.'

‘Go away!'

‘You're coming with us.'

Joan pulled the blanket over her head just as Clara arrived with the soup. ‘Mrs Slygo, you must eat this.'

There was no reply. Peg stood up and took off her coat. Determinedly she rolled up her cardigan sleeves. ‘We could do it the easy way, Joan, but you ain't getting the better of me.' She took hold of Joan's shoulders and forced her to sit up. Joan's bleary eyes bulged in her ashen face.

‘Now drink this, or I'll tip it down yer throat meself.'

Very soon the bowl was empty.

‘Right, gel, whether you like it or not, you're in for a spot of fresh air. Now let's get you on your feet.'

‘But it's a long way,' protested Clara as they helped Joan up the aisle.

‘We'll be all right,' Eve shouted over her shoulder, determined to attempt the long walk home.

They were half way home when Joan refused to walk another step. She slumped down on the cobbles, her dress stained from where she had been unable to control herself.

‘Just look at the state of you!' cried Peg, close to tears.