Alice began gathering the things they'd need as soon as she woke up. She took some bottles of lemonade from the kitchen, some of the rolls from the shed and even took some of the soup they had eaten for dinner to give to Alexander later. 

It was evening. Mrs Evans was reading the evening paper. "Ooh some soldier's gone missing from the army. Maybe he's a deserter." She said.

"Really?" George replied "what coward would do that?"

"Well you can't really blame them George I'm sure you wouldn't like to go around killing people."

"But we're killing the Germans, Mrs Evans. They killed my parents." Alice said.

"I know dear. But it's still human life isn't it. They're killing our people but we shouldn't be doing the same to them."

"I can't wait until November so I can go" George said, changing the subject.

"Oh George you can't be serious," Mrs Evans replied "it's killing innocent people. They're only shooting us because Hitler told them to."

"And the Prime Minister wants us to shoot the Germans" George replied.

"Does it say who the soldier was Mrs Evans?" Alice asked.

"No dear, it doesn't," Mrs Evans replied "it just says that they've either deserted or they're presumed to be dead or injured. Missing in action they call it. It's usually not a good sign."

Alice wondered whether it was someone Alexander knew. She decided she'd ask him that evening. She hoped it wasn't for his sake. How terrible it must be to know that someone you've fought alongside is dead.

When night came Alice snuck outside to give Alexander the soup and a bottle of lemonade. She opened the door and sure enough Alexander was waiting for her.

"I thought you weren't coming" he said.

"Of course I was," Alice replied "I had to wait for Mrs Evans and George to go to bed." She handed him the soup and the lemonade.

"Who are they?" Alexander asked as he opened the lemonade.

"Mrs Evans is Lord Thornby's cook. She's rather old and she sometimes gets things wrong but she's like a mother to me. And George is the footman, though he's in charge of the house as the butler, Mr Stephens has gone to fight in the war."

"Why has George not gone too?"

"He's not old enough yet. He's only 17."

"There were men in my regiment who were 17."

"What do you mean 'were'?" Alice asked.

Alexander had forgotten himself "oh we had two 17 year olds when I joined up. They were both killed in action." This was a lie. Infact, both of these men were alive and well. Alexander hated lying but he was certain Alice would never help a deserter. He would tell her the truth when he got back to Coventry.

"That's so sad," Alice replied "I couldn't imagine how their parents must've felt."

"No, neither could I," Alexander replied "but they died while fighting for their country."

"Speaking of soldiers dying," Alice said. Alexander tensed, he hoped she hadn't found him out. She continued "there's a soldier reported as missing in action. He was from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Perhaps you knew him?"

"No," Alexander lied "I'm not in that Regiment. I was in another. My mother only recently moved to Coventry. I'm in the Suffolk Regiment."

"Oh that's good. I'm glad it's no one you know."

Alexander did know who it was of course. It was him. But luckily Alice didn't know that yet.

"Can I ask how old you are Alex? Can I call you Alex?"

"Yes you can call me Alex," Alexander replied "I'm 19 and you are?"

"Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her age, Alex?"

"Fine I'll guess. 20?"

"WHAT NO. I don't look that old."

"Ok so less than 20...hmmm. 18?"

"Close."

"17."

"Yes. I'm 17. I'll be 18 next year."

"How long have you been working here?"

"4 years. I was a scullery maid for 6 months but then I got promoted after the war started."

"I was training to be a doctor before the war. That's what I've always wanted to do."

"Wow, that's incredible. You must be really clever."

"Not as clever as you I'm sure. You were able to make this soup after all."

"I didn't make it on my own. Mrs Evans did most of the work. I only chopped the vegetables."

"A cook is only as good as her kitchen maid."

"You've made that up. That's not a saying."

"No. It's not. But it's true. Come and have some of this bread."

Alexander passed her some of the bread. Alice slowly broke off some of it and began chewing it.

They sat in silence for a while. The silence was only broken when Alexander yawned.

"You need some sleep" Alice told him.

"I can't sleep" Alexander replied, "you have no idea what it's like being on the battlefield."

Alice was quiet for a moment. "Alex," she asked "have you ever killed anyone?"

Alexander was going to tell her the truth. About Hans and the nightmares. But he didn't want her to think he was being childish. "No," he replied "I haven't. I have a terrible aim."

"I couldn't imagine what it must feel like. To know that you've ended an innocent person's life. How can any of those soldiers who have killed people live with themselves? They must regret it after, mustn't they?"

"I couldn't say Alice," Alexander replied "I only hope that god will know they were doing it for a good cause."

Alice abruptly stood up. "HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT," she boomed "MY PARENTS WERE KILLED BY A GERMAN BOMB. WHOEVER DID IT SHOULD GO TO HELL. SO SHOULD ANYONE WHO HAS KILLED ANOTHER MAN IN THIS WAR."

Alice turned and left without another word. Alexander felt ashamed. He knew he deserved it. He hated himself too. He knew that there were people like Alice all over Britain and Germany. Daughters who would never see their fathers again. It was murder. He had never believed himself capable of such a thing. But he had done it.

Alice had said that any man who has killed another should go to hell. Alexander wasn't sure if he wanted to ever tell her about Hans now. She would hate him. He already hated himself enough. He hoped that he could say a few prayers of forgiveness and that god would allow him to go to heaven. If he didn't...well. He'd have to hope that hell was a nicer place than he thought.

Alice couldn't believe what Alex had said. She hated him. 'Doing it for a good cause' indeed. She couldn't understand why the Germans and the Britains couldn't put aside their differences and stop killing each other. She really did think that anyone who had killed another man deserved to be shot. They belonged in hell with serial killers and murderers. After all that's what they were doing, murdering innocent people.

Why did they think that all this death would solve anything? Why did killing people supposedly help? And why did Alex say this was a good cause? This was no cause to end someone's life. Because they were German? Alice wanted to give up on Alex right there and then. She wanted to march outside and tell him to make his own way to Coventry. But she also really wanted to help him go back to his family. It wasn't his fault that her parents were dead. It wasn't him saying that they were killing Germans for a good cause. The army had made him believe that. He was brainwashed. She shouldn't hate him. She was going to get him back to Coventry if it was the last thing she did. All they needed now was money.

She snuck into the hallway. Looking for the Lord's jacket. She only needed a small amount. The Lord already knew that she was leaving the next day. But the money he had given her wasn't enough. She finally found his wallet.

She opened it and took out two shillings. It was hard to see in the dark. She placed the coins in the front pocket of her apron and moved her hand to place the Lord's wallet back in the pocket. When it was safely back in she turned towards the stairs to go back to her room.

But when she turned a figure stood in her way. "Well Alice," George said menacingly "we have been a naughty girl haven't we?"