Chapter 23. Wish upon a star

Finn and Bish made plans to catch the same train back

to London. They stood in the carriage windows waving

until steam clouds blocked the view of the platform

as the train pulled away.

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.

''If you're that certain Bish - don't go. Get off the train 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.

"Do you remember those two brothers from school who

lived at the end of Swan Rd?"

Finn was glad for a change in the subject. "If they're on the

train we should all sit together."

''Unlikely." Bish said.

"They're both dead. Killed in separate actions in the first

few weeks of the War. I wonder if they thought they were

coming back."

Fate can go and fuck itself thought Finn.

*

After the train was out of sight, Bish's sisters walked

into town. Nain Joan and Vie walked back up the hill

together.

"You didn't want to go with the girls?" Nain Joan asked.

"To be truthful I find their company to be p-painfully dull.

They're a coven of dowagers in waiting."

Nain Joan laughed. "There's always room at our house

for you Vie. I could use some help in the garden."

Vie smiled. "Thank you Nain Joan. Do you think F-Finn's

Father would mind if I visited."

"He would be very pleased to meet you Vie."

Nain Joan saw that Vie was carrying something that

she clasped in both hands close to her chest.

"What have you got there?"

Vie opened her palms and Nain Joan saw that she

was holding the glass marble.

"Finn gave it to me. It's beautiful don't you think."

"It is." Nain Joan said.

"Its meant to keep you safe and bring you luck.

Finn said that if I looked through it I might even

see the future."

Vie held it to her chest again.

"The strangest thing happened. Last night when I

was lying in bed I looked through it and I thought

I saw a falling star."

Nain Joan saw the innocent longing on Vie's face.

"I made a wish on it. Does that sound silly?"

''It's not silly at all Vie." Nain Joan said. "I think that

falling star has a wish set aside - just for you."

*

This is Book One in a series. Any feedback or ideas

you care to share would be appreciated.

Book 1. Sleep now in the fire The near past

Book 2. Wake now in the fire The near past to the present

Book 3. Walk now in the fire The present

Book 4. Rage now in the fire The present to an off world future.

Thank you for reading what I have written so far.

Greetings from an Australia