Francis

This story is for persons of eighteen years or over. All comments, good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

Part Twenty Eight

We stayed there two days, only seeing the odd despatch rider, and we began to wonder what we were supposed to be doing there.

I think we'd better try and find some transport,' Wesson said on our second day there. We aren't getting any information just sitting here on our butts. I'm going up to see the Colonel to say that us two are moving out on the first available vehicle that comes along.'

`As long as it's going north,' I called out to him. He came back about an hour later.

`Well he knows we are in intelligence and doesn't mind us pushing off. There's a couple of trucks coming up the road shortly, so his radio operator said, so we should be able to get a lift from them.' So we just lay in the sun until we saw a jeep and two trucks come along the road from the south. We got our gear together and waved down the jeep leading the trucks. In it were two Colonels, one British, the other French, apart from a driver and a radio man.

`We're in intelligence Colonel and wonder if you can give us a lift up to headquarters,' Wesson asked after saluting the two senior officers.

`Certainly Major, but it'll have to be in one of the trucks if you don't mind travelling with the men,' the British officer said.

`Not at all sir, thank you very much,' and saluted before we trotted back to the second truck and were helped aboard. We had to sit at the rear.

`Where are you going sir?' a squaddie asked as the truck moved off.

`Not the slightest idea. Where you're going?' Wesson countered.

Don't know either sir,' he grinned. We were just told to get aboard. This truck's all English and the other one's got Frenchies in it.'

`Where did the trucks come from?'

`Don't know sir, but it's a bone shaker. My arse is sore already and we've only been in it half an hour.' And he wasn't in it much longer. We were driving along at a steady speed and I looked at the dunes to our left because to our right, the ground sloped down towards the Canal. The dust being thrown up by the truck in front of us was all gritty and you could feel it settling on your skin and getting inside your clothing. It was because of this dust that we were lagging slightly behind the other one and it saved some of our lives.

All of a sudden there were two or three explosions and the sound of machine gun fire. The front of our truck heaved up with the force of the mine that had gone off underneath us.

Metal, blood and pieces of men flew past me as I was blown out of the back of the truck as it was blown over onto its side. I bounced on the side of the road and rolled into the ditch that ran alongside it on the Canal side.

Dazed, I sat up, my head level with the road and I saw the carnage that had just happened and was still going on. Our truck was on its side with bodies thrown about all over the road. The Frenchies truck was also on its side but burning fiercely and the road there was just a mass of blood. The jeep too was on its side and I could see bodies lying beside it, but my attention and thoughts were for Wesson, as I looked to see if I could see him in amongst the tangle of bodies on the road.

Some were moving, some were not. Machine gun bullets were being sprayed along the length of our small convoy and then a few of our men were starting to fire back towards the dunes on the opposite side of the road.

Then I saw Wesson and he was moving. He was dragging himself to shelter behind the overturned truck. Without a thought, I was up and grabbed him under the armpits and dragged him off the road, bullets zinging off the road's surface as I pulled him down into the ditch.

`Ye Gods! What hit us?' he asked, giving his head a shake before he groaned.

`Have you been hit?' I asked anxiously, because there was an awful lot of blood over his clothes.

In the leg,' he groaned, and I think I've broken my ankle.' I ran my hand down his leg until he moaned. I managed to tear the hole wider to see that he'd taken a bullet through the fleshy part of his left thigh, also, thank God, it had gone straight through.

Then I could see that his foot was at a funny angle so he was right in that also. I got a field dressing out of my pack and tore his trousers more and got the dressing on his wound. There was nothing I could do for his ankle though.

`Wesson, there's more wounded men out there. I've got to get them in and find a rifle. So I'm going to have to leave you here for a minute.' Before he could protest, I was up out of the ditch and flew to the overturned truck and found two wounded men, who I then dragged back to the ditch and left them to treat each other as I found another two and a couple of rifles. All the while, bullets kept ricocheting off the sides of the truck and road as I kept darting back and forth.

There were some rifles firing from our side of the road, not many, but it was keeping some heads down on the other side. But it was that machine gun that was keeping us pinned down. I then went along our ditch until I was level with the jeep. I could see that the driver and radio operator were dead, but both of the Colonels were wounded and just firing the odd pistol shot at whoever was the enemy, who I still had no idea if it was Egyptians or Israelis.

As I sprinted for the jeep, the machine gun opened fire again, most of the shots going wide or hitting the jeep as I slithered to a stop. There wasn't time for any words as I grabbed the first Colonel and dragged him to the ditch and went back for the other.

The second one was the British Colonel as just as we rolled into the ditch, one machine bullet clipped my shoulder knocking me over the Colonel's legs. I glanced down and saw that the bullet had torn my epaulette off and a small ragged part of the top of my shoulder.

Thanks,' the Colonel said, but you've been hit.'

Not for the first time,' I muttered. Is the radio still working?'

I don't know,' he answered, but we need some support somehow. We're getting murdered here.' So out I went again and quickly grabbed the dead radio operator by his straps and dragged him back to the ditch.

`I'll leave you to see if it's working sir. There's still more wounded men out there.' With that, I worked my way back along the ditch and stopped by the burning truck. The heat was fierce but I saw two men still moving near it. So out I went and each time came under fire from that bloody machine gun when they could see me through the smoke. That put off their aim, because they were well wide of the mark.

As I was getting the second man back, the truck then blew up, sending both of us bowling over the road and well past the ditch. I found out later that the back of my blouse was singed and some of the end of my pony tail.

Then it was back to where Wesson was lying. He and another soldier were on their stomachs, giving fire back across the road when I got to them.

`The two Colonels are wounded, but still alive. I only found two French alive, but don't know if they'll live.'

There are still some of ours out there wounded and firing back. I'm trying to stop the buggers from outflanking us.' He then took a quick sight and fired his rifle. See where that funny shaped dune is to the left of those three shrubs. They got to come past that to get to the road before they can cross to come alongside us,' he said as he took another shot at the dune.

`You keep their heads down for as long as you can. I'll go down that way to try and stop them.' With that, I grabbed a rifle and worked my way along the ditch until I judged that I'd gone past the point where they would try and cross the road. A quick glance told me that I'd come further than I thought, but I was in a better position to see behind the dune they were using for cover.

There were five of them preparing to gather to rush across and I managed to shoot three of them before they realised that they were themselves being outflanked. It was a good hundred yards and it was like being on the range back home, shooting at a moving target and easily picked off the last two men as they tried to make their way back.

Now it was my turn. I scuttled across the road and made it safely to the dune without being seen by those on that side of the road. I could see Wesson and I gave a wave and got one back before I moved off. Crouching low, I slithered through the soft sand of the dunes, getting slower and slower as I came closer to the sound of the machine gun.

Then I could see it. There were two men manning the gun and an officer behind them, directing the fire. They were only ten yards away and that meant I would only have one shot with the rifle, after that it would have to be the pistol if I was to take all three out

I sighted on the man firing the machine gun and killed him first. Then I was up and running at the remaining two. I missed with my first pistol shot, which gave the officer time to pull his gun from his holster and fire at me.

His first shot caught me high on my right side and made me stagger which threw off his second shot. My shot didn't miss this time and he was knocked over backwards, his second shot going up towards the sky. My chest was on fire as I stumbled further on, letting fly with another two shots which took out the loader of the machine gun.

I fell into the dugout they had made for their machine gun nest. I managed to turn it round to the side and get to fire off a couple of dozen rounds at those firing at my friends before it jammed. I couldn't feed the gun and fire it at the same time, so I now flopped down and used the rifle. I was able to take out two more of the opposing force before they retreated and fled to a carrier that I could now see parked further back behind the dunes.

I nearly passed out at the pain as I fired the rifle and then suddenly felt too weak and light headed to continue as the rest of them scrambled aboard the carrier, which roared off away into the desert. It took a great effort to keep myself together before I shouted across the road, being careful not to show myself.

`Cease fire! Cease fire!' and then waved my rifle up in the air before slumping down next to the jammed gun. A few minutes later, two soldiers came slithering over the top of the dune and came down to me.

Well done sir! Well done,' said one of them. You sure showed them what.'

`Hey! You've been wounded,' the other one said. I leaned my head back against the side of the dugout.

`I know, and it fucking hurts like hell.' The next minute, he was ripping off my battle blouse and tearing my shirt away and applying a dressing to my chest. Another fucking scar to add to the others I said to myself as I passed out.

When I came to, I found I was lying next to the British Colonel.

Well done Major, well done. Major Wesson here told me what you did.' He waved his hand and I turned and saw that Wesson was lying down a few feet away. He saw all that you did, and the two soldiers confirmed it. Taking out five flanking soldiers and then charging the machine gun, killing the officer and the two manning the gun. They also reckon you killed another two as they retreated. That was soldiering to the finest degree. You certainly saved the rest of us that's for sure. You'll be glad to know that the radio was still working and there's a relief force coming down to get us.'

`How many did we lose sir?' I asked weakly. He looked at me rather bleakly before he spoke.

With you and Major Wesson joining us, we were forty nine. Now we've five unwounded, sixteen wounded and thirty eight dead,' he said bitterly. I expected to patrol, not get ambushed.'

There was nothing I could say to this, but just look towards Wesson to let him know that I was still living and he raised his fist and shook it as he grinned. I grinned back and then sighed and let myself slide back into a welcome blackness that stopped the pain in my chest.

I was still unconscious, as Wesson told me later, when four trucks came and collected us. Two trucks of troops that instantly deployed to protect us as we were loaded aboard the empty trucks. Dead in one and the living and wounded in another.

Then it was to a field hospital that we were taken to be operated on and remove the bullet from my chest and see to Wesson's leg wound and put his ankle into a splint. They didn't have the facilities to set it right and put it in plaster, so it turned out that a plane arrived and used the long road that ran alongside the canal as a runway. This plane then took all of us wounded off to a proper hospital in Cyprus.

It was about a week later that a cease fire was called for. The Israelis drew back from their side of the Canal, and the Egyptians from the other, to let the U.N. Forces come in to police the Canal. But it hadn't stopped the Egyptians from closing the Canal by sinking several ships in it and dumping a number of concrete blocks to add to the confusion. The latter were a hazard for many years afterwards and only found when hit by a ship or two.

One example being the P. & O. liner, Himalaya as late as 1959, damaging one of its twin propellers that caused it to limp all the way to Australia before being able to dry dock.

For reasons that I didn't believe, they kept me longer in the hospital than Wesson. We both tried to argue the case, but we lost and he was flown home before me. The cease fire was in force and the U.N. were there, and all I could do was try and get better while reading about the aftermath of our debacle there.

There weren't any reports in the newspapers about our fighting alongside the Canal, or of any casualties on either side. But I did get a lovely letter from the French Colonel saying that he was glad that they had stopped and picked us up, and thanked me for my part in saving the convoy. I didn't realise how far he was to take this till later.

It was two weeks after our little action that I was even able to sit up and really start taking notice of what was going on around me. Wesson had been gone for a week and now I found out that my name and title were known by all those connected to the hospital.

Not being modest, I knew I was very good looking and in that hospital, I was like a candle to a horde of moths. The nurses seemed to come out of the woodwork to see to my comfort. I seemed to get bed baths on a more than frequent basis and it was surprising for the number of different nurses on the night shifts that wanted to help and put me at ease by putting their hands under the sheets and giving me an erection. Then they would ease the problem by giving me a blow job, letting me know their names and that they were always available if I needed anything more to make my stay more welcome.

If he hadn't been so painful in the chest area, I would have laughed at these attempts to seduce me, but I just smiled and gave myself up to the hot little mouths that took me in and the hands that induced the eventual result. Then I would be told I was a model patient as they straightened the bedcovers, and this was happening twice a night. Therefore it wasn't surprising when the doctor on his rounds the next day said that he couldn't understand why I wasn't regaining my strength.

But after two weeks of these nurses flirting with me and some of them taking the advantage, I was pleased when I was told I was to be shipped off to England. In a way I was glad to go to get away from the nurses that were expecting more than my little cock could give them, but more so to be going home where Wesson would be anxiously waiting for me. To my delight he was there, on the tarmac when we touched down. I was carried off in the stretcher and he came swinging himself along on a crutch. I suppose it was just as well that the bullet wound he'd got was on the same leg as the broken ankle, otherwise he would have been immobile too.

He had friends in such strange places, and that was why he knew where and when I would be landing so that he could be there. He was even allowed into the hospital that I was taken to, and had carte blanche to visit me whenever he felt like it. But then, I suddenly found friends that I didn't have before. Some of the wounded that I had dragged to safety came and visited me as well as some that didn't suffer that trauma. All of them echoed the words of the colonel that they were glad that I had been given a lift that day.

`Frobisher's mad at you for getting shot up. Well, me too if it comes to that. We didn't do a damn thing that he wanted, and it was all over before he could do anything about it. Ten bloody days and we caved in to pressure from the U.N. It makes my blood boil and wonder if it's worth doing any more fighting if our own government is going to give in like that.

We should have stayed there and taken the country back!' he was quite het up about it all. I'm not going to repeat the words here that he said about Anthony Eden who was now our Prime Minister. Though I didn't disagree with him.

Then a few days later came a surprise, Frobisher visited me! He wished me well and hoped that I would soon be up and about. He then passed on the plaudits for what one of his operatives had done to ensure the survival of those on that particular patrol. Even though Wesson had already given him a report of the incident, he wanted to hear my version of it. I gave him a watered down report that he pooh poohed when I'd finished, sadly, or so it seemed, to shake his head, but giving a wry smile as he did so.

`That's not how the two colonels saw it, or Wesson for that matter. Let me quote the official report of the action signed by both of the Colonels involved.

"On the 2nd of November, 1956, our small convoy of one jeep and two trucks were en route to headquarters alongside the Suez Canal. A total of two officers and forty five men of the British and French armies on holding duties in the area. We were flagged down and requested to offer a lift to two majors of a British contingent. This was agreed.

Thirty minutes later, we ran into a well planned ambush, and within seconds, both trucks and the jeep were destroyed by mines and machine gunfire as well as rifle fire. Twenty eight men were killed at the outset and many were wounded, including the authors of this report.

Major Sir Gervaise Lyon, one of the officers that had joined the convoy en route, showed exceptionally heroism under fire, by getting most of the wounded away from the deadly fire that rained upon the convoy, sustaining a wound himself.

He then halted an attempt by the enemy to outflank a vulnerable and almost indefensible position. Then single handedly, outflanked the enemy himself and charged the enemy's machine gun nest.

Outnumbered, he overcame and wiped out the enemy position, being wounded for the second time, still putting what was left of the attacking force to flight and holding the position until he was relieved. This was an act of heroism very seldom witnessed even in wartime."

This was then signed by both the British and French Colonels and copies sent on to the Ministry of Defence.

I didn't say anything because it was true, but I hadn't said that it happened like that. I had tried to play down my part, not from modesty, but because I didn't want to be in the limelight again, like I was with the Americans in Korea.

`We're all very proud of you Francis. The Prime Minister was delighted that out of this debacle, you at least salvaged some of our pride. I shouldn't be surprised if there wasn't another medal for you over this.' I stammered my thanks, wishing that they would all go away and leave me alone.

Not Wesson! He was what I needed. To steady me and tell me what a fool I had been to risk myself in what would appear to be a self seeking glorification, which was the least thing I desired. Even though I remonstrated with him about the report the Colonels had submitted, he stood by what they had written.

`We would have been wiped out if they had outflanked us. You know that, and that's why you went in there. You did what you had to do, so don't start saying anything different! Now let's hear no more about it and get well. We want you back home, damn it, I want you back home.'

But they kept me in hospital for another two weeks, because the bullet had penetrated my right lung, they wanted to make quite sure that I would be okay to release. Wesson, the darling, had constantly pressured for my release finally telling them that I had enough money to buy a bloody hospital let alone hire a twenty four hour private nursing routine.

It was this that I think eventually persuaded them to let me out of the hospital. So I was allowed out on the promise that I would hire a nurse to look after me while I convalesced. I think all of the hospital nurses would have volunteered for the job if they'd known that I would be going to the Caribbean.

Diane had come up to London and was staying at the house, much to the delight of the Perkins. They looked after the children while she visited me in the hospital, shocked at the sight of me when she first saw me. She couldn't stop crying on that visit. I had to be a bit hard on her by saying that if she was going to act like that every time she came, she shouldn't bother. I apologised the next time she came, saying that it was unfair of me to have acted that way, but she didn't cry this time.

It was just a wheel chair stop at the house to assure Palmer and the Perkins that I was still alive, collecting Diane and the children before being driven to London airport and helped aboard one of my planes to take me to the island. She was so excited to be coming with us and even little Francis was now old enough to be excited and thrilled at going in his own plane to his own island. He was quite proprietary already in what was ours. Leslie didn't seem to care one way or the other.

The irony of it struck me when the hired nurse tucked me into the bed on the plane, that the excuse I had put forward about buying the island and building the hotel, was for serving men to be able to recuperate from war in such surroundings.

Along with the nurse came Penny and Lou who still had work to do, even if I was confined to bed. Wesson was a great comfort and did his best to keep me occupied. He had been giving me the occasional blow job when we were alone which I promised to repay threefold when I was able to do it to him. I also gave him free range if he wanted to, to bang the nurse if he felt up to it, or even become the meat in the sandwich of Penny and Lou.

Whether he took this offer up, I don't know, and I didn't ask either. Diane also went down on me in the plane when we were alone in our bedroom, promising me that there would be more of them when we were on the island.

A big fuss was made of me on the plane and at the island when we arrived there. I made them take me round to the shrine as soon as we landed, and there, with assistance, placed the piece of lead that the surgeons had removed from my lung. I gave thanks to these Chinese gods that they had allowed me to live to be able to place the item that had nearly caused my death before them as a token of my respect.

The hotel itself was gaily decorated for Christmas, even finding a tree from somewhere. The girls went and scouted out some presents for me to give to Diane, the children and Wesson, in Nassau. I also had to send Wesson to get some for the girls and the nurse. Wesson had the Tiger suite and the girls, the Leopard. The nurse was found a room in one of the other houses. I kept the Panther suite free because I was inviting Stephen, Claire and Stephanie over for the Christmas as a thank you. It turned out to be a lovely Christmas too.

When I was able to move about, I made it a habit to get down to the beach in the afternoons and get stripped off to let the sun help me recover quicker. Diane wouldn't come down to the nudist beach, but stayed up by the pool to keep an eye on the children.

So with some assistance, I would go down with Wesson and the nurse, the girls being already down there, stripped off and getting the sun. It took a little persuasion to get the nurse to strip off also to enjoy this sun, and as well as being efficient, she was even better to look at when she was naked.

This arrangement upset the girls for a bit, but when they saw I paid them as much, or as little attention to them as I did the nurse, they got used to the idea. It was Wesson who turned out to be the shy one amongst us. Yes, he'd take his clothes off on the beach, but would cover himself if the nurse came too close.

I'm damn sure it was so that I couldn't see that he'd got a hard on when those luscious tits and fanny came into view. I constantly got an erection, but I don't think that the size of mine excited her very much.

We had our New Year's Eve party in the lounge as the sun set. I couldn't play my own favourite opener because I was here as Gervaise, but I did manage to play a couple of pieces before letting the regular entertainers take over, though we were able to coerce Diane to sing a few songs for us. I struggled to stay up till midnight to see the New Year in, tired as I was. I tired quite easily these days, but slowly getting stronger, but still needed help to move about.

So with it being the start of 1957, the nurse and Wesson helped me up to bed one afternoon, Diane staying down by the pool. I asked Wesson to stay with me and the nurse left us alone.

`I didn't really say thank you for all that you've done for me over these last few weeks. Nor did I give you a decent Christmas present. Well I'd like to give a New Years one instead. Help me out of bed.'

`You don't have to give me anything,' he said, but got me sitting up on the edge of the bed.

`Now take your clothes off and sit on that chair.' I pointed at the hard back one at the desk.

`Why...?' he started to ask and then understood and grinned at me as he quickly took his clothes off. It was awkward getting the trousers off because his foot was still in a cast, but it didn't take long for him to be naked and dragging the chair closer to the bed. His body had already responded to the invitation and his cock was a hard piece of flesh jutting out in front of him. I was already naked and as he sat down, his erection pointing skyward, I got up from the bed and went to him and with him steadying me, straddled his knees.

`This is a present that both of us are going to enjoy,' and I slowly bent my knees and felt the tip of his cock touch my lower body and I gave a little shiver. Then with it ready in position, he put one hand on my hip and the other at my neck. Both my hands held his neck as I slowly lowered myself, relaxing and felt his blood engorged head force itself inside me, and we both gave out a sigh as I went lower, his thick length moving up into me as I sank lower till I was sitting on his thighs, his cock buried deep inside me.

`My God I love you Wesson. This is what I have missed most of all.'

`Me too,' his voice choked as his other hand came down to my waist. I leaned in and kissed him, getting a perfect response from him. Then we just sat there, looking at each other and I could feel his pulsating heat throbbing inside me in time to our heartbeats. He would give out a groan as I flexed my inside muscle and I would groan too as he twitched his own muscle. I then slowly began to move on him, slowly at first until I could move as fast as I could under the circumstances. He gave out another groan, louder than before as he gripped my waist to stop me moving so that he could do the bucking underneath me.

Finally, with shuddering heaves, he came, eyes closed, head thrown back, his hips gave their final thrusts and then he sighed and relaxed in the chair.

Darling,' I said, when he opened his eyes at last. Did you enjoy it?'

`Yesss,' he breathed out with another long sigh.

`So did I, and it was at this point that the nurse walked in with some fresh dressings.

It wasn't until she got quite close to us did she realise what we were doing.

Oh, excuse me,' she stammered, her face going a bright red, I...I'll come back in ten minutes,' and she fled the room.

Oh fuck! I said, `Help me off please, but I'm afraid you'll have to wash yourself.' He helped me to stand up, feeling him slide out of me and I gave a whimper as his prick fell free. I staggered to the bed while he hobbled off to the bathroom. Then a few minutes later came back and wiped me with a wet flannel before helping me back into bed.

When she returned, Wesson was up and dressed, and she saw to my dressings while I sipped at a drink, but her attitude was now to be more aloof than before and did her job without saying a word. When she'd finished, I took hold of her hand.

Carol,' for that was her name. Carol,' I said softly, `Greater love hath no man that he lay down his life for another. That's how it is when you face death, bullets flying around you, any one of which can kill you. We have both done this, and faced death to protect the other. That creates a certain bond between two men, but in my case it turned to love. That's all I'm going to say on the subject and hope that your professionalism will stop you from speaking out of what have seen here this morning.'

`You need have no fear on that score Sir Gervaise. I see and hear many things in my job, but what you have just said, makes sense. You have just given me another insight to human nature, one that tells me that love transcends all the rules.' I patted her hand as I released it, and she went off with the soiled dressings.

That was sweetly said,' Wesson said rather cynically. Do you believe it?'

`I have to. One man has already laid down his life for me. I would do the same for you, wouldn't you for me? No. Don't answer that. Now let's hobble out onto the veranda and get comfortable before Diane comes up.' I gathered up a wisp of material that I used as a sarong. It being the only piece of clothing I could put on by myself without straining the stitches in my chest. It was only a few minutes later that she came through the French windows with the children. I was surprised to see Carol following her.

`The manager, Mr. Pascall would like a word with you,' she said and I saw him hovering just inside the room. I waved him forward as Wendy came out of the sitting room French window to lay the table for our afternoon tea.

`Sorry to disturb you Sir Gervaise, but I've had a frantic message from your man Sam. It appears that there are quite a few newspaper reporters trying to get to the island. They tried to hire Mr. Stephen, but he refused. They tried to get the two boats but Sam stopped them, and is advising the other boat owners not to carrying them out here.'

`But why?' Wesson asked before I could.

`It appears that your exploits in Egypt have somehow appeared in a French newspaper and they want the full story. Mr. Stephen is getting some copies and will be out here very shortly with them.'

`Thank you very much for telling us Mr. Pascall. If any reporters do get to the island, have the guards refuse them landing permission. Just tell them that I'm not available for comment.' He gave a little bow and left, and Carol gave us a little half smile and followed him.

`Well, what do think of that bit of news?' Wesson said through a mouthful of sandwich.

`It's very worrying,' I replied, pushing my sandwich around on the plate before forcing myself to eat. We would just have to wait for Stephen to arrive to see what had been said, and then plan accordingly. So we continued with our tea and had finished when we heard it before we saw the seaplane arrive.

I asked Wesson to order a fresh pot of tea so that Stephen could have a cup when he arrived. Ten minutes later, I had a newspaper thrust in my hand, already turned to the page that had caused reporters to be almost on the doorstop. I thanked him and waved a hand at the tea pot for him to help himself whilst I read the article. It appeared that somebody within the French military had leaked a copy of the French Colonel's report, and here it was now plastered in print. It was the French Government's following comment that staggered me.

`This'll upset Frobisher,' I told them. Stephen looked puzzled but Wesson grinned.

Translate for us,' Wesson asked. I read it out in English, and he said, That's almost word for word what Frobisher said,' he commented.

`Yes, but he didn't know this last part, I quote, "This heroic act of a man who saved the lives of six Frenchmen. This man who once saved the life of the President and was awarded the Legion of Honour, should therefore be honoured once again. When he has recovered from the horrific wounds," their words, not mine. "When recovered," I continued, "is to be awarded the Medaille Militaire."

The Military Medal,' Wesson said. You've already got one.'

`Not a French one,' I said, feeling a warm glow start inside me.

`I see what you mean about it upsetting Frobisher. Not only him but also the British government, heh, heh,' he laughed.

What he said was true, because it was in the English papers the next day. It was quite embarrassing the headlines they used.

"Denied British Hero Acclaimed By the French." "British Hero Snubbed." And more in that vein. They too printed the same document, but I couldn't read it. Wesson was delighted to regale the girls and nurse Carol with his eye witness account to back up the report.

I squirmed in my chair in the lounge as he told them. What was worse, was that he was also telling all the other guests who crowded round to listen. I must have shaken every hand that was there that night. There were many apologies that, if they could have paid for the drinks, they would have bought me many.

I was glad when the evening was over to get away from them and seek the shelter of my own room. Carol saw to my dressings before she tucked me into bed with Diane hovering about as she did so. Then with the nurse gone, she got into bed and quickly roused me and relieved me with her mouth.

It was a few more days before I could really support myself on my arms and elbows and then got myself into Wesson's suite for him to really use his organ how I liked it. It was utter bliss to have him slide up into and fuck me again. They were long, slow sliding movements that were pleasing as he moved in and out of me, giving me a great satisfaction, the culmination being that he too was pleased when he finally came.

Over the next month, we three made pigs of ourselves with our love making. When we weren't sucking, we were fucking each other. My wound was healing and his cast finally came off, though he used a walking stick for quite a while afterwards. But neither wound, cast or walking stick stopped Wesson and I from getting the most pleasure that our bodies would allow from each other. It was intense because we both could have died there in Egypt, and this was one way of telling ourselves that we were still alive.

We still went down to the beach every afternoon, to strip off and go into the sea. Since the revelation of Wesson's and my relationship, Carol the nurse, was at first loathe to come into the water with me like she had done before she had known, but eventually did so. The salt water was good for me, and she would check it daily as the waters washed over us.

I still couldn't stop getting a hard on when her big tits brushed against me as she saw to my wound and told her quite frankly, that if Wesson and Diane hadn't been there, she would have been in great danger from me.

I think she was somewhat relieved when Wesson's cast came off and he could come into the water to take care of me. But as it was, she still had to see two erections when we came out and could see her naked body stretched out on the sand.

Both Penny and Lou had been amused by our antics and the chagrin of Carol of not being able to score with either of us, but kept out of the way and they didn't try anything on with her. They came down to the beach every day with us stripped off to sun bathe and swim in the nude. I'm pretty sure that they managed to score with a least one of the female guests of the hotel while we were there. The afternoons were their time off, because, even when I was confined to my bed, the many businesses still had to be looked after.

Like at Christmas. I got a mountain of mail and cards, wishing me well from lots of people I didn't even know. Each of these were sent a short note giving them my thanks, written by Lou and Penny of course.

Once a week, all our mail was sent by Palmer to the airport and then delivered, finally by Stephen, so they had a lot of work to do every morning to keep up with things at home. But the afternoons and evenings were theirs to do as they wished.

So January went into February. Wesson's leg wound was healed and he began walking okay on his now, unbroken ankle. My shoulder wound had healed very early, and I could now move about and breathe properly since the stitches had been removed from my chest.

As mail came out every Saturday, it was the 2nd that we found an engraved invitation to a formal dinner at the French Embassy for March the 14th. It gave my full name and title etc, and it named my guest that would accompany me

Major James Wesson?' I said incredulously to Wesson. Is that your name, James?' I asked of him.

`Yes,' he said tersely.

`After all these years, and I never knew your Christian name.'

`I can't ever recall being called that. I've always been called Wesson. From early childhood and throughout my army career that is all I've ever been called.'

`James is Scottish, and Wesson is...?'

`Irish.'

No wonder you're a good fighter and lover with that mixture of blood in your veins,' I said with a smile. There's a hand written bit at the end asking for us to be in full uniform.'

`That means that's because they're going to give you that French medal before the dinner.' I then told Penny to send an acceptance note to the Embassy.

`So let's make the most of the sunshine and luxury because we will have to be home before that date.' With that being in our minds, the time simply flew by. Carol was now a confirmed nudist and thought nothing of stripping off on the beach and lying down between us on the sand, and even frolicking in the water naked. I was now able to get the sun on the body where the dressings had covered my skin, and I finished up with a lovely golden tan all over.

Then it was time to depart, and enough time had passed for the reporters to be no longer waiting for me. Goodbyes and thanks were said and it wasn't long before we were on our plane bound for England. It had been a tiring day, so, declining dinner, slept most of the journey to be awoken an hour before landing.

If I'd had been in better health, I think I would have been sitting in the co-pilot's seat for the landing. It was as smooth a landing as you could wish for, and I think with more practise myself, could emulate the expertise of these regular pilots.

Allen had been waiting at the airport, and he whisked Diane and the children off back to the village. A car, as usual, was waiting for us and took us off to London where Palmer and the Perkins, forewarned, were waiting to greet us. It was enthusiastic and most welcome, and it was also grand to be back in our own rooms again. I let the girls and Wesson tell all what happened during our convalescence and this took care of our first morning back. The afternoon was taken up with our correspondence in relation to all our enterprises, and many messages came via the telephone, welcoming us back.

An early dinner was served and we all went to bed rather early, and it was a relief to be undressed and in bed. I smiled at Wesson as he got into bed beside me and held me in his arms, kissing me and saying sweet nothings in my ear. It wasn't long, feeling his hardness against my thigh before I rolled over and presented myself to him. Back, between my legs, he slowly entered me and with his consideration and care, slowly and gently fucked me. Giving me immense pleasure of having him inside me in our own bed, feeling his hardness again, soothing and quelling the fire within me. Then, when he was all cleaned up, he moved down and took me into his mouth and released the pressure from my balls as he sucked and fondled me.

We spent the rest of the week and weekend in bed and didn't go into the office till the following Monday.

It was near lunchtime when we went, me dressed as Gervaise and Frobisher was most solicitous when we entered his office, getting us seated and even going and getting us both a drink from the sideboard.

`You don't know how pleased I am to see you both sitting here again. I think that your defence of that small convoy Francis, and the sound trouncing you gave them, saved many more lives while our troops were there. Because of their defeat in that action, they didn't mount any more ambushes, but left us alone. Then, as you know, the U.N. people moved in and took over. Your action was our face saver as we ignominiously took our leave of the Canal, which I fear, we will never have control of again.' He stopped for a moment to pour himself a sherry, and with a slight raise of his glass towards us, took a sip before continuing.

`We have tried to keep a low profile as far as the press is concerned, but they have somehow learnt that you are soon going to the French Embassy, and will be decorated on behalf of the French Government. So to appease them, you both have been invited to a lunch at Downing Street next week and then to give a press conference afterwards. All I ask is that you keep this department out of it. You were purely observers caught up in a minor action. Can I rely on you to keep to that story line?'

We agreed to that and then came the rider. `You will both be dressed in uniform for the luncheon and the conference afterwards. With the French trying to upstage us, you Francis will receive a bar to your Military Medal, and you Wesson, will receive a bar to your D.S.O.'

`But I was wounded at the very outset sir! I didn't have any part in what Francis achieved,' Wesson protested.

`This is politics Wesson. You'll be there and accept what you are given,' he answered.

`Yes sir,' Wesson replied.

`Now how about me taking you both to lunch?' Frobisher said. I didn't know the Foreign Office boasted a private executive dining room, but that was where we were taken for lunch. I'd never seen so many top officials all in one place at the same time. I think that if I hadn't gone to the office dressed as Gervaise, we wouldn't have got the invite. This became apparent with an off remark from Frobisher as we dined.

`You know Francis, or I should say, Sir Gervaise, that between us, I think I rather like seeing you gad about in a dress. It brings a bit of colour into our otherwise drab surroundings.' On looking round at the many grey and black suits, I could see what he meant. I smiled and thanked him and promised that after these fixed engagements, I would revert back to my normal mode of attire.

So on the designated day, Wesson and I dolled ourselves up in our uniforms and I was quite proud of the wings that sat above my four medal ribbon, the Korean medal being given out to me automatically for having seen service in that theatre. Below these I put the Legion of Honour and the honorary Congressional Medal of Honour.

Wesson was like a Christmas tree by comparison. He had two full bars of ribbons because of his service during the last war. There weren't many theatres of war that he didn't sometime participate in, hence the profusion of medals. When dressed and studying our appearance in front of a large mirror, I couldn't help but laugh.

Do you know,' I said to Wesson when I managed to stop laughing. I joined the Merchant Navy to avoid having to do National Service. Now look at me! Twenty six years old and I am a major in the Army with several decorations and about to receive another one. Isn't life strange? I would have gone in at eighteen as a private, and probably still been a private when demobbed two years later, or dead, buried somewhere in Korea.'

`But then you wouldn't have met me,' Wesson said.

`Are you sorry we did?' I asked.

No you sweet thing,' he said, turning me round and hugging me. I've never been happier,' and then we kissed, and it must have looked strange to see two soldiers kissing in an embrace if anyone had seen us who didn't know. Neither had I been happier as I kissed him back and gave him a squeeze down below as I felt him getting hard.

We duly presented ourselves at Downing Street and were ushered into a very formal lounge to be greeted by the Prime Minister and others of the cabinet, as well as some of the wives. Also present was Frobisher along with other senior officials, the most senior being Earl Mountbatten, head of the N.A.T.O. forces in the Mediterranean.

When everybody was present and had a drink, his aide called for everyone's attention and then read out the citations, and the Earl then pinned the medals to our chests. There was much clapping of hands as it was done and then we all went into lunch in the large dining room. We were made to sit either side of the Earl to give him our version of what had happened for us to merit the awards. I tried, as usual, to play down my role, but I couldn't stop Wesson or reach far enough under the table to kick him. He told a better story, which I think was the Irish coming out in him.

As for the Earl, I think he was one of the sweetest men I had ever met, notwithstanding that he was related to our Queen.

When lunch was over, I think I shook everybody's hand before we took our leave to give our attention to the press interview that had been promised. I was somewhat tongue-tied during the whole session, just saying that it just seemed to be the right thing to do to protect my friends.

Wesson took over most of the interviews because he was the observer for the whole episode, and I inwardly cringed as he relived the ambush and I was glad when the session was over.

Then we left, and I resisted Wesson's suggestion that we finish off the afternoon at the Army and Navy's Officers club. It would have been showing off, and that was the last thing I wanted to do, so it was back home and we had our celebration in private, inspecting and servicing the privates that we kept private.

Not before long, we were dressed again for the function at the French Embassy. Here there was much Gallic kissing of cheeks and the atmosphere less formal that that of the British reception. The citation was more flowery and embarrassing to me than I thought it would be, and even the Ambassador had tears in his eyes as he pinned the Medaille Mitilitare next to the Legion of Honour already on my breast.

After the obligatory kiss on each cheek, he led the applause before we went into dinner. I had to commiserate with them of the decline of their Foreign Legion at the fall of Dien Bien Phu a few years earlier. If I had been there with them, I was told, it wouldn't have happened. Christ, I was being elevated into a super being if they thought that I would be able to pull that chestnut out of the fire.

Thank God I was English! If I'd been French, I might have even been blamed for losing Indo-China, as that appeared to have been their attitude. I made a mental note to tell Frobisher that he was not to ever get Wesson or me into any debacle that involved the French in the future. It was with quite a lot of relief when we were finally able to make our departure from the Embassy, and giggled and chuckled at their overblown importance of themselves.

`I hereby endow you with the Grand Sword of Wesson,' he intoned in an atrocious parody of a French accent as he stuck his cock up my arse that night in bed.

I am grateful to receive such an award sir,' I gasped as he thrust himself vigorously into me. Just wait till I give you the Spear of the Lion,' gasping again at his powerful movements as he fucked me. `Then you'll know that you too have been well and truly fucked!'

`That'll be the day,' he laughed as he ploughed even deeper into me till he came in great heaving thrusts, making me cry out in both pain and pleasure.

I gave him the Spear of the Lion later, but it was not as strong as the Sword of Wesson and didn't give him cause to cry out. With our love again consummated, we slept in each other's arms. It was about this time that we became dinosaurs of the British Army from the pure fact that nothing for many years involved the forces of Her Britannic Majesty in any reasonable actions throughout the world.

Life settled down again to an almost humdrum existence. Office with Wesson reading through papers and notes from our agents throughout the world. Lots of small things were happening, but not big enough to affect us in our little world.

The odd party to try and liven things up, as well as visits to the theatre. Though I always welcomed the weekend when we could stay in bed longer and play with each other, of this, I never got tired of. I stopped doing my parachute jumps, but kept up with our shooting practice and my flying.

Late summer, I took one of the planes and flew us down to the airport closest to the chateau and we spent a lovely week there. It was now basically an hotel and the guests there were delighted to meet the owner, but respected the fact that it was a holiday too. I did enjoy doing the little cabaret I put on one night, going through one of my old routines, and was told by more than one guest that I should take up the stage as a profession. Little did they know.

With Marcel, we went and visited other wine growers and added another couple of wineries to our list of producers to market their produce in England. We now had a fleet of trucks doing regular runs collecting cases for our warehouse to which we added cheese to promote the cheese and wine parties that seemed to have sprouted up in our own country. Then we made a courtesy call on Frobisher's opposite number in Paris before returning home.

Birthdays came and went as well as Christmas. This I spent with Diane and the children and had a lovely time before being back with Wesson for the New Year. It was in April of 1958 that I had call to fly down to the chateau again, and this time I went alone.

There had been some cases of blight on the vines and Marcel wanted to talk over about the cleaning up of this pestilence which meant destroying some of those vines affected. At the same time, I managed to procure some more land for him to cultivate and extend our wine growing capacity.

With all this sorted out, I was driven to the airport where my single engine plane had been refuelled for my return to my home airfield. It was late morning when I took off having filed my flight plan.

Two hours later I crossed over Cherbourg for the cross channel section of my flight when I ran into trouble. I didn't see what happened, it was so quick. One minute I'm flying in clear air and sunshine when the cockpit shattered and I was covered in blood and feathers. The engine stalled, and I went into a dive. I'd been hit by a flock of birds. The mass of them had wrecked the Perspex canopy and bent the prop as well as blocking the engine and its air intake. I couldn't see a thing what with the howling wind, my head hurting and my eyes full of blood and gore. I was flying a blind dead aircraft and knew I was heading for the sea. I frantically groped and found my radio handset and triggered it.

`Mayday! Mayday! Going down north of Cherbourg. Water! Going down north of Cherbourg. Mayday! Mayday!' That was all I had time for. My eyes and head were hurting real bad now and through a red mist, by turning my head sideways, could see that I was very close to the water and pulled with all my strength to try and get the plane up level when we hit. That was the last thing I remember until I woke up in hospital.

My whole body ached and I couldn't see a thing. I started to panic and tried to move and I had just got a hand to my head and found that it was covered in bandages before my wrist was grasped and I heard a voice speaking in French to lie still as my hand was pushed back down to the bed. I still tried to fight that hand but it was much stronger than mine was and another hand came onto me to stop me thrashing about.

I'm blind!' I called out in panic, trying to fight a second pair of hands that now held me down, I'm blind,' I sobbed.

No you're not,' came a man's voice as a hand gently held my head. The bandages are to protect them, that's all. We managed to save your sight and you are very lucky to still be alive.'

`What happened?' I asked, his soft voice calming me down.

`You were in a plane crash. We had to do two operations on you, and were all very glad that you've pulled through.'

`Two operations?'

`Yes. One to remove the glass from your eye and the other to repair your face.'

`How long have I been here?' What he had said hadn't quite registered.

A week. It was touch and go at the beginning, but you managed to pull through.' He then gave out a chuckle. You gave us quite a shock at first. Covered in blood and feathers as well as soaking wet, and wearing woman's clothing. It wasn't until you were stripped for surgery that we found you were a man, strangely dressed as a woman.' Oh my God! My mind began whirling and I began to get a massive headache as my mind took in the import of his previous words.

Repair my face!

I wanted to scream! I started to struggle again, but the hands holding me were still as firm as when they first grasped me. I had to take many deep breaths before I could speak.

It was a joke,' I managed to get out. My sister and I would change clothes to confuse our friends. You know, play a trick on them. As identical twins, we would often do this and really they couldn't tell the difference. It was a great game.' My mind was racing ahead of my speech, wondering how to get out of this. Then I took a deep breath knowing there was only one way out for me.

`Where is my sister? Is she here too? She was dressed in my clothes and must be in a bad way too.' There was a sudden silence in the room. I couldn't see how many people were there with me, but I could hear some hurried whispering before the room became silent again. The hand was taken from my head and I felt it take hold of mine and gently squeeze it.

You were the only one taken from the sea,' the voice said quietly. Nobody else was found.' I forced myself to start shaking my head from side to side which hurt me and I gave out a sob for I knew now that I was losing Francis.

Not that I had a sister to lose, it was my life! My way of living that was being forced away from me with them knowing that I was a man, I was losing myself.

My dresses, my singing and dancing and all the little things that I had known and cherished whilst being a woman were being taken from me. I gave out a scream and I cried. Oh how I cried. The placating words I could hear did not help as I cried for the loss of myself. They mistook my anguish as being for a lost sister, when I was really crying for myself.

Such were my cries that a moment later a needle was pushed into my arm and I went off into the blackness of despair.

When I came round again, I felt a hand holding mine and as I stirred, I heard his voice.

`Francis, oh Francis, I'm glad you're alive,' came Wesson's whispered voice.

This is Gervaise under these bandages,' I said, my voice sounding as thick as my tongue felt, having to say this because I didn't know who else was in the room. I lost her! I killed her in the crash,' I sobbed, the bandages hiding my tears.

Francis,' and I could hear the sobs in his voice. There's only me here.'

Oh Wesson,' I cried, really crying now. I couldn't help it. They found out that I'm Gervaise when I was taken into surgery. I'm sorry, so very sorry.'

`Francis or Gervaise, it doesn't matter to me. You're alive and that's what counts darling. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you.'

`Wesson. I love you, please forgive me.'

`There's nothing to forgive you for. You're alive and that's what counts.'

`But I've lost Francis! I've lost our reason for being together,' I cried, my whole body starting to shake with the turmoil of emotions that coursed through my body.

We will still be together Francis,' he said, his own voice shaking with emotion. You survived the crash, now just get well and we'll survive whatever happens later. Just you get better. I couldn't bear to lose you.' I felt his tears burn as they landed on the hand of mine that he held. I lifted it and stroked his hair as he bowed his head.

`With you here, I'll get better, I promise you,' I said in a whisper as I felt myself drifting away again. When I woke again and started to move, a voice, female this time, asked if I wanted a drink. I croaked out that I did as I found I had a raging thirst. After the drink, which was through a straw pushed between my lips, I asked if my friend was still here.

`He hasn't left since he found you were here. He's outside. I'll bring him in now that you are awake.' I heard the rustle of her uniform, from that I assumed she was a nurse, as she got up and went out of the room. A few moments later, Wesson came in and sat down next to me, his hand taking mine.

`It's me, I'm back again,' I heard Wesson say.

`Are we alone?' I asked.

`Yes.'

`Oh darling, I'm sorry,' I said as I started to cry again beneath the bandages.

Francis, Francis,' he said as he squeezed my hand. It's done. That's all there is to it. We'll survive together if you will only snap out of this self pity and get better. Francis, as we knew her might be gone, but we still will have each other, that I promise you.' I gave his hand a squeeze back. `That's better. Now do you want to hear all that happened to you?'

`What do you mean?'

I found the people who found you and they told me the story. They witnessed the crash and everything.' I suddenly found my hand squeezing his very tightly. It was a young couple out on their boat and saw your plane flying overhead. Suddenly, there was a flock of birds that seemed to fly straight into you. They heard the engine cut out and begin to dive towards the sea. Then they saw that you must have been fighting the controls, because you came out of the dive and almost levelled out, but the wing tip caught the water and you went into a cartwheel, losing one wing before spinning to lose the other and then the tail fin.

They had their engine going as the fuselage landed in a huge spray of water. They were half a mile away and took twenty minutes to get to where the plane crashed. They launched a dinghy and found you floating in the water and managed to get you aboard. Then, before they could get back to their boat, a coastguard cutter arrived on the scene in answer to your Mayday. They took over and brought you into Cherbourg where an ambulance was waiting to bring you to this hospital.

They were surprised to find you dressed as a woman, which you have since explained, and then operated to remove a lot of the canopy from your head. The second operation was to save your sight, which I've been assured, was a success. You were on the danger list for several days, but then you started to pull through.'

Thank you Wesson,' I whispered, but how did you know where to look for me?'

`That was Frobisher's doing. The French coastguard saw your call sign on the tail fin before it sank and contacted our Air Ministry to report the crash. When they checked and found out it was from Lyon Field, the man doing the checking knew of the connection between the name and that of Frobisher's department. So he rang him, who straight away put out a news blanket on the crash, quoting that it was in the interest of national security for the news to be suppressed for the time being. He then contacted the airfield and spoke to the controller who was very worried at you being overdue. Frobisher laid down the law to him that not one word was to be said. The whole fact of your crash has not been mentioned in the press at all, that is, he didn't want anything said or written until he knew all of the facts. Was it an accident or sabotage.'

`Sabotage? Who would do that?' I asked feebly.

`Francis. We've made enemies over the years. Who knows what hit list we're on? That's what Frobisher was thinking of in putting out a news embargo on your crash. Then we found out where you had been taken to, here, and I came out straight away. And I was on tenterhooks for nearly a week, waiting for a straight answer from the doctor here. But thank God, it turned out alright.'

`So what happens now?' I croaked out.

`Well that is what is going to be a bit difficult. A woman took off for the flight, but it was a man that was rescued.' I mulled this over and could only come up with one answer.

`You'll have to say that after the flight plan had been filed, my brother suddenly turned up at the airfield. Rather than cause any problems by returning to change the paperwork, we took off together, and that's how there came to be two of us in the plane.'

Yesss...' He drawled out. It should work. Well, who's going to argue the fact?'

`So let that be the story, and let Frobisher know that's what is to be reported. Two of us took off and Francis was lost at sea because of the crash. I'm sorry Wesson, but that's the best I can come up with.'

`Don't you worry about it darling, it'll all turn out right in the end. All we've got to do is see that you get well again, as soon as possible.' I gave his hand another squeeze, wishing that I could see his face, but I'd been told that the bandages would stay for another week at least. Though they were changed daily, care was taken that my eyes were not subjected to light.

Oh Wesson,' I said as he made to leave. Find the people of the yacht that found me and give them my deepest thanks, and find out what they would desire most for their boat, and get it for them. Will you do that?

`Of course Francis. I'll do that, and I'll be back to see you again tomorrow.'

My name now became to be known to the hospital, and not only being a knighted Englishman, but also a holder of the Legion of honour and not so long ago, a recipient of the Medaille Militaire. The medical treatment didn't alter, but the subservience did, and that annoyed me.

Doctor,' I said, when I was made aware that they now knew who I was. I cannot fault the treatment that you have given me as a patient in this hospital, but I must protest at being treated as though I was royalty. I can't see them, but I'm damn sure the nurses curtsey before speaking to me. Their attitude has changed and I don't like it.'

`That, Sir Gervaise, I'm afraid I have no control over. You are a cause celebre, and I'm having a difficult time as it is to keep them in line from all attending you at the same time. But judging from the movement of your bandages, you are smiling, so you are fully aware that there's nothing I can do about it. Now, all being well, we'll have those bandages off in a couple of day's time. Till then, suffer fools gladly,' he said as he patted my hand as he departed. As he left, Wesson came in.

`I just heard the good news Francis. They'll be taking the bandages off in a couple of days.'

Also that I'll have some facial scars,' I said bitterly. I once looked pretty and I'm sure that I'm going to look ugly and that you won't want to look at me.'

Don't you dare say such a thing,' he roared as I felt him stand up. Whatever scars you bear will be nothing as to what's inside you. You have been, and always will be, beautiful to me. So let's not hear anything more about this. I will be glad to look upon your face again instead of these bandages.' I could only weep behind the mask and hoped that I hadn't really destroyed my looks.

It was with a lot of trepidation that I sat up in bed as the doctor, attended by a nurse began to unreel the wraps from around my head. The light, as they started to come away, hurt my eyes, so I knew I could see, but had to keep them closed as they finished the uncovering of my face. Then, when they had finished, I felt them move back to watch me. I slowly unpeeled my eyes, squinting at the light that hurt my eyes even though the shades had been drawn.

A grand job,' the doctor said as he touched my cheeks in a couple of places. I can feel quite proud at what I've done.'

`It's my face,' I said, squinting and seeing him for the first time. It was a round, fleshy and smiling face that looked at me, and I liked it.

`It's almost Prussian,' he said as I felt his finger run down my cheek. I didn't get the connection until I was handed a mirror. I felt the tears come to my eyes when they were fully open and could see what had become of my beauty. There was a jagged scar at my left temple and one by my left eye, but the one that drew my eye was the one that ran down just below that eye to the side of my mouth.

That was what made me cry. My beautiful face had been destroyed, and I now had this sabre looking scar down one side of my face. Then the Prussian remark he'd made, I understood. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and watched as the tears flowed down my cheeks and I heard the doctor usher the nurses out of the room to cover my embarrassment.

Look!' I cried. Just look at me! They've even shaved my head.'

Gervaise!' the doctor said harshly, pulling the mirror down so that I had to look at him. His face was angry and suffused with blood. Gervaise! When you came here, you were at death's door and looked a damn sight worse then than you do now. We saved your life and did the best job we could, seeing as you were a wreck. The other doctors and nurses spent a lot of time fighting to save your life, let alone your looks. Be grateful that they succeeded. A scar or two is nothing compared to what you might have lost.'

As he said, I might have lost Wesson, Diane, little Francis, Leslie and all the others. My head went down and I cried and the doctor patted my shoulder.

Be glad that you're alive,' he said, that you're alive and can pick up the threads and begin again.' He didn't know how true he had spoken.

Please accept my apologies doctor, humbly,' I said. What you've just said has made me ashamed of myself, I'm sorry if I've said anything out of turn.'

`Apology accepted. Just remember that many people fought with you and will be glad that you survived. That is the most important thing, and the next important thing that you can give them in return, is to be happy that you are alive. The rest, well, I'll leave that up to you, but let me say that I'm glad that we saved your life.'

Doctor,' and I couldn't stop the tears that came from eyes, Thank you. I thank you and the team for what you've done. Believe me when I say that I'll never forget you all.' He gave a sniff as he shook my hand and left me to the tender care of the nurse who also had tears in her eyes.

Wesson!' I almost shouted out when I saw him without bandaged eyes, you are a sight for sore eyes, and that is literal,' and I held out my hands for him to take. There were tears in his eyes too as he grasped my hands in his.

`It's good to see you too,' he said, hiding his real emotion from the nurse who was still there, but his grip on my hands was enough. I just hoped that it was real love I saw as he looked at my scarred face and not one of sympathy.

`This scarred face is not putting you off of me?' I asked apprehensively.

`You know that's not what I see most of,' he laughed, and that bolstered me up no end and I joined in the laughter at the joke that the nurse didn't comprehend.

At least that's not scarred. Well I hope not,' as I continued laughing with him. They haven't given me a mirror to look at that!' We hugged as our laughter increased at the last remark. At a wave of my hand, the nurse left the room and my laughter died with her departure.

Wesson,' getting serious. Do I look as bad to you as I see myself? Be truthful now.'

`You look a fucking mess, but you're alive and I love the fact that you are. I don't care how you look, you're mine, and that's how it's going to stay. The bruises will go and I'm sure you'll look like a proper warrior that, but for the grace of God, should be in the halls of Valhalla. Darling, I don't mind how you look, it's what's inside you that makes people love you. Your heart, your generosity, your love for others. This is what has drawn everybody to love you, except that it is me that holds you at night and will continue to do so for as long as we both shall live.'

`Christ! You know you've just married me with those words,' I choked out. His head came down onto the bedspread, and though his words were muffled, I clearly heard what he went on to say.

`Even from that first day in the gym. When I first kissed you. When we first made love. I wanted you to love me as I loved you. When I heard that your plane was lost, I cried. How I cried, and now you are back and my prayers have been answered. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's not just your face or body that I love. It's the heart that's inside that I love. As long as that heart is beating, I'll love all that surrounds it.'

I then started to cry as I held his head in my lap at this declaration of his love. It was several minutes before we were able to compose ourselves.

Wesson,' I said, pulling his head up towards me. tell me the truth.' He raised his hands up and gently held both sides of my bruised face and gently kissed me on the mouth. Then he really pressed his lips to mine and turned it into a very passionate one.

If we weren't in a hospital,' he said breathlessly, I'd climb into bed with you right now. Then I would show you how much I love you.' I clung to him and snuffled into his shoulder. `Now get well, so we can take you home.' We clung to each other for quite awhile before we broke apart.

Tell me,' I said we had finally composed ourselves again, what about the couple who found me? Did you get to see them?'

`Yes. They were mighty glad that you survived and didn't want anything for their part, but I found out what they wanted. It's on its way as we speak. An echo sounder for their boat. It cropped up in a conversation, and that is what is being sent to them.'

Excellent,' I said. I would also like a couple of cases of wine to be sent to the coastguard cutter that brought me in and a few more for the hospital here.'

`I anticipated you there, and they have already been sent for.'

You are a dear Wesson,' I said taking his hand and kissing it. I suppose you better break the news to Frobisher.'

`He already knows, why else do you think I'm here?'

No, I mean about Francis. With this,' and I waved a hand towards my face, I can't go on being Francis any more. We can't have both been in the accident and got identical scars as well. That would be too much for people to swallow. No. It will have to be announced that Francis died in the accident and the body not recovered.'

I felt the tears begin to run down my cheeks as I said this. I just let them flow as my thoughts ranged over all that I was going to miss in my not being two people any more. Wesson pulled out a handkerchief and gently dabbed at my face and then my eyes. `I'm going to miss her,' I sniffed.

`Damn it, I'm going to miss her too,' he growled, his eyes I could see were holding tears and he too sniffed to hold them back. He stayed talking for a while longer before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

`I'll go to London and tell Frobisher. I'd rather talk to him face to face than over the phone. Besides, you'll need some clothes for when you leave here. I'll see you in a couple of days.' It was a long two days without seeing him. After nearly two weeks having my eyes bandaged and then seeing Wesson for one day only, left me desolate.

The doctor examined me twice a day and the nurses were so kind and caring that I didn't have the heart to pour out my real feelings over how I looked. My body was almost black and blue from the seat belt restraints that had bitten deeply into my flesh at the time of impact. Fortunately, no bones were broken otherwise I might not have been able to get myself out of the wreck before it sank. I avoided the mirror in the bathroom when I was able to get of bed for the toilet and trusted the doctor when he said that my face was healing nicely.

`I think we picked out half of the windscreen of that plane from your head and face. It's a miracle that you didn't lose your sight is all I can say.' The nurse then would redress the wounds and said that the bruising was fading fast and it wouldn't be long before they would let me leave the hospital.

Then Wesson returned with copies of some London newspapers that he dropped on the bed before sitting down next to me.

`Well Frobisher released the news and it made the front pages. The whole village is in mourning and Flora was inconsolable I've been told.'

`Oh dear. I didn't think about them back there. Oh what have I done?' I wailed. Wesson took my hand and squeezed it.

Francis,' he said softly. It had to happen sometime. Maybe this was the best way. Somehow, news did leak out because there were quite a few cards for you at home.'

`How did they take the news at home?' I asked.

`Well Palmer was concerned about you, but, well knowing the situation, it was okay, but the Perkins took it very hard. Diane went nearly frantic when I spoke to her on the phone, but calmed down when I explained what we had done. She sends her love and if it weren't for the baby, she'd have come over too. She wants you to see her as soon as we get you back to England. I spoke to the doctor before coming in, and he says that you could leave in the next few days, providing you have the dressings looked at every day.'

`That can be done if we get a nurse lined up.'

Already in hand,' Wesson grinned. We can't wait to get you home.' We talked for another hour before he left to let me read the news of my death. Not many people read their own obituaries and the one in the Telegraph was most flattering in listing my achievements. The picture they used was of my boarding the ship at Aden after the attempted assassination of Prince Hassan, the one where I was covered in blood.

It was on the 12th May that I was released from the hospital. Wesson helped me get dressed and it was nearly an hour later, after saying goodbye and thanks to the hospital staff before we were in a car to take us to the airport where one of our planes was waiting for us. It was only forty minutes flying and we landed at London airport where another car was waiting to take us home. Palmer and the Perkins were waiting on the steps to greet me.

Welcome Sir Gervaise, welcome home,' said Palmer, shaking my hand. We are so pleased that you are safe.'

`Oh you poor dear, sir,' said Mrs Perkins as she dropped a curtsey, looking at the bandages around my head.

`We're glad you are safe sir, but also devastated at the loss of your sister. Please accept our condolences for she was a wonderful woman,' Mr Perkins said, and Mrs Perkins, tears running down her face nodded at her husband's words.

`Thank you all very much. It's a sad loss for all of us. Especially to you four as you spent more time with her than I did,' I said as I went up the steps and into the house. Penny and Lou were waiting upstairs in our sitting room. They both jumped up as we walked in and came rushing over to hug me.

`Oh it's so good to see you,' they both cried out, their arms around me.

`You don't know how glad I am to see you two too,' a bit overwhelmed at their greeting.

`Don't I get a greeting,' Wesson asked from behind me.

`Welcome home to you too,' Lou said over my shoulder, not letting go of me. Neither did Penny as she said hello to him as well.

`Okay, I get the message,' he growled.

`You didn't crash a plane and come out alive, but welcome home,' Lou said, disengaging herself from me and went and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

We're glad you're back,' Penny said, finally letting me go. It's been a madhouse here. The phone hasn't stopped ringing since the news broke and there's absolutely heaps and heaps of mail. Most are letters of condolence. We haven't reached the bottom of the pile in a week before more arrives.'

`What's that?' I asked, pointing to two sacks by the table.

`Today's post. See what I mean? Wesson can now help us to read them. It's going to take weeks to reply to them all,' Lou said.

`But how are you?' Penny asked, her eyes giving my bandaged head a closer scrutiny.

`A bit light headed at the moment,' I replied.

`They cut off her hair,' Wesson said.

`Oh no! Your crowning glory,' said Penny in dismay.

`It'll grow back, in time,' I said, giving her a wan smile.

`Oh Francis, I'm so sorry,' said Lou.

`Gervaise. Francis is dead. Remember that. It has to be Gervaise from now on,' I said sadly.

`I'm going to miss her,' said Penny, just as sadly.

Godammit! So am I,' I said fiercely. When you see what's underneath these coverings, you'll understand why,' I added bitterly, as I turned from them and went into the bedroom. I sat down on the bed and cried at what I had lost. Even more so when I looked at the wardrobe that held all my beautiful dresses that I could no longer go out in. I didn't hear Wesson come into the room, but I felt the bed move as he sat down and he took me into his arms and let me cry on his shoulder.

You can still wear them at home,' he said softly with an insight that I didn't know he possessed. In fact I will insist on it. You can then sing for me in the evenings and maybe have a dance or two with me. Then I will slowly pull you into the bedroom, to undress you before taking you into this bed where we can make beautiful love.' I kissed him very hard, ignoring the odd pain in my face as I pressed mine against his.

There was a knock at the door and Penny called out that the nurse had arrived. Wesson went and let her in and left her alone with me for the dressings to be changed. She was quick and efficient as she cleaned my face and head and put fresh ones on me.

`The surgeon did a good job sir, and you're healing nicely. I'll be in at ten tomorrow morning,' she said.

`Thank you nurse...?'

`Canning. Ruth Canning.'

`Thank you Ruth. See you tomorrow.'

Next morning, just as we were finishing breakfast, Palmer announced that there were about fifteen members of the press outside, wanting an interview, and wanted to know what to say to them.

`You'll have to talk to them sometime,' Wesson said.

You're right. Invite them into the downstairs drawing room,' I said to Palmer, and tell them I'll be down in a few minutes. Offer them tea or coffee if you would, please.' Palmer left and I glanced at the clock and saw that it was just after nine.

`I'll see them at half past and then you can break it up when the nurse arrives, okay,' I said to Wesson, so he went downstairs to tell them that I was just getting dressed and could give them half an hour.

I dressed carefully into a suit and then went down to meet them. I told them how the accident happened and that I was desolate at the loss of my sister who had joined me in the plane just before takeoff. That was why there was some confusion at the time I was picked up. They didn't know that there had been two of us in the aircraft. They asked about business arrangements, and I said that all would continue as usual as I knew as much as anybody about what that entailed.

Yes, there would be a memorial service in the village in a few weeks time when I was fit enough to attend. Then Wesson announced that the nurse had arrived and said that the meeting should break up. I posed for a few photographs and they thanked me for giving the interview, and then left.

Diane phoned nearly every day and I kept assuring her that I was okay, but I rather she didn't see me until I was better, it would be for the best I told her, putting her off from coming to London.

The nurse, after a few days, started to leave off the bandages and I just had a couple of dressings on my face. My hair had already started to grow again and covered most of my head scars. Another few days and the nurse said that she didn't need to call upon me anymore. I thanked her and insisted that she accept the envelope that I pressed into her hand as she left for the last time.

Now the girls had their first good look at the long scar that ran down my cheek, and as the doctor had said, it looked like a duelling scar and the girls agreed that it made me look rather dashing and not in the least distracting. The angry redness had gone on both of the scars, but I still bewailed the loss of my good looks in spite of what they said.

The 3rd of June it was decided upon for the memorial service to be held in the church of the village. The girls had seen to the arrangements and that refreshments would be in the village hall after the service. The four of us went down the day before to be greeted by a tearful Flora and Beatrice at the house, and we got caught up in the mood, so it was a rather sombre dinner that night. Diane was as bad as they were, even though she knew the truth. Little Francis had cried though Leslie was still too young to understand.

Next morning, the church was packed and many more stood outside as we made our way into the church and sat in the usual pew at the front. Peter Blake, the vicar, gave a very moving eulogy that even got me crying along with almost everybody else there, none more so than Penny and Lou.

It was one big sham, but only five of us on the front pew knew the truth and we couldn't tell them. I couldn't stop the tears as everybody outside shook my hand and told me how wonderful I had been. Then Peter took me down the side of the church and showed me a headstone that had been erected opposite the graves of my parents and aunts. Paid for by all the villagers, without exception, he added. It was surrounded by thousands of flowers and it was difficult to read the inscription through my tears, so Wesson read out the words.

"Erected to the loving memory of Francis Gervaise Lyon, born on 5th November, 1931 and was tragically lost at sea on the 10th April, 1958, Requiescant in Pace." It gives me the shivers,' he said quietly.

What do you think it does to me?' I answered in a whisper, Come, let's get the rest of this farce over with,' I said, wiping my face with my handkerchief. So we left the churchyard and led the procession up to the village hall and the refreshments. Many people kept stopping me on the way to shake my hand and offer their condolences, even people I'd never seen before. Dave, the publican met me outside the hall and said his piece before we went inside to eat and drink.

It was with some relief when I was able to say a few words to everybody there, thanking them for attending, and assured them that I wouldn't stop carrying on the good works that Francis had instigated for the future and happiness of the village.

Dinner wasn't as bad as the night before, at least we managed to have a few laughs during the meal. Flora and Beatrice left after serving dessert as usual, leaving the five of us alone together, using Diane's unconscious oxymoron.

`I wish as many people would be able to say about me what they said about you today Francis,' Lou said pensively as we sat in front of the fire. She was sitting next to Penny with Wesson in the middle on the sofa, while I was in the armchair with Diane sitting on the floor between my legs.

It was very moving,' I said, looking through the drink in my glass at the flickering flames. I just couldn't stop the tears.'

Neither could I,' said Penny, starting to sniff again. So many wonderful people saying such wonderful things.' We sat and talked for quite some time over what the future might bring in our new status till it was time for bed.

Diane, with much perspicacity, told me to go to bed with Wesson that night. We lay there talking for a long time over all what had been said that day. Then we made love to each other in our own way and didn't get to sleep till it was nearly dawn.

The next morning, after breakfast, I went and spoke to Harold to say that things were to be run the same way and that he just had a new partner instead. I also assured the airfield people that nothing would change there either. Then it was back to London, after kissing Diane and the children goodbye, being driven by Allen in the Rolls, which gave us comfort for the long ride.

I was glad to get back home, away from the inquisitive eyes, still very self conscious about the scars on my face. The one on my forehead was not that noticeable now because the eye was drawn to, what we now referred to, as my duelling scar.

I think you would make a very good pirate king in the Pirates of Penzance,' Wesson said when we were alone again. Or Rupert whatsisname in the Prisoner of Zenda.'

`Rupert of Hentzau,' I said abstractedly.

`Or Katisha in the Mikado. And she'll very well pass for forty three in the dusk with the light behind her,' he sang the last part badly. I threw a cushion at him as I laughed.

`You're mixing up your Gilbert and Sullivan.'

It's good to hear you laugh again Francis,' he said as he caught the cushion. Let me also hear you sing tonight. Say, "Poor Wandering One"?' I threw another cushion at him.

`I'd have to be castrated to get that high.'

`That could be arranged,' he grinned wickedly, making the motions of sharpening a knife.

`You beast,' I cried, and not having another cushion to throw, threw myself at him instead. We both laughed as we went rolling off the settee onto the floor until I finished up lying beneath him.

Francis, Gervaise or whatever you want to be called,' his face just a few inches above mine, I love you,' and he kissed me. I responded hungrily to his kisses and I felt him get hard as he lay on my stomach.

`Do you want to take me now, or after the show?' I asked breathlessly between kisses.

`Dammit woman, I want you all the time. Dress or suit, it doesn't matter to me.'

Then get off me you lout and let's see to that pressing urgency I can feel.' I rolled him off and had his fly open in a trice and his erection out, hot and throbbing in my hand. I took him in my mouth and sucked on him till he came, cleaning him up again as I normally did. Now,' I said as I came up off him to see his smiling face. `Which dress shall I put on for this Command Performance?'

`Darling, you'll look beautiful in whatever you wear. Now go and get dressed, and I mean the word, in whatever takes your fancy. Then as I eat supper, you can serenade me,' he laughed as I rolled off him and went into the bedroom. I gaily sorted through my dresses and then got out my underwear and I didn't even stop for a bath. It was a pleasure to pull the silk stockings on again, attaching them to my suspender belt, getting an erection as I smoothed them up my legs. Next came the bra and then sat down at the dressing table to do my make-up.

Then I started to cry as I looked upon my ravaged features reflected in the mirror. My first time that I was trying to put make-up on since the accident, and here I was, crying. I finally dried my tears and delved deeper into a drawer and pulled out some stage make-up. With that, I was able to reduce the scar in its intensity, and was quite pleased at the end product when I had finished.

Being somewhat buoyed up by what I'd been able to do with the make-up, put my dress on and then my high heels before presenting myself to Wesson in the sitting room.

My word,' he breathed out as he stood up. You look wonderful,' he said as he came forward to take my hands. By God you do,' as he took me into his arms and kissed me. Supper's already here if you want to eat.'

Later. Let me sing a few songs first,' I said going over to the piano. A few songs and then I'll eat, but you can fix me a drink please.' I got carried away and sang quite a few before I stopped to eat. Then I sang some more and also did a dance before it was time to call it a day.

That was wonderful,' Wesson said as he came and sat down beside me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. You haven't lost your touch, and this,' his fingers gently ran down the scar,' wasn't noticeable a bit. Your poise and charm overcomes everything.'

Thank you Wesson,' I said softly, stroking the fingers that had stayed on my face. Now take me to bed and make love to me.'

`With pleasure,' he said, bending down and scooping me up in his arms to take me into the bedroom. There, he laid me down on the bed and I had the pleasure of seeing his pleasure as he slowly took every bit of clothing off me before kissing me and stripping off himself. Then he kissed me all over, taking some time over my small erection before returning to kiss me on the mouth. Then it was my turn to kiss him before rolling over to offer myself to his rampant cock. What a man! He really reamed me before he creamed me. He was magnificent and when he finally strained and jerked inside me, I knew I had been well and truly fucked.

Francis or Gervaise, Gervaise or Francis. It didn't matter to Wesson, or me. They were one and the same person, but Francis was dead, and that's where the story of Francis should finish.

AFTERWORD

Francis wanted to finish the story of her life at this point, but I protested. There was still so much more to her life. Though it wasn't as Francis, it was still her life though using her middle name of Gervaise. Even now, I still think of Francis as he wished to be known, as a woman, so please forgive me for continuing to refer to Francis or Gervaise in that gender.

They, Gervaise and Wesson, returned to London because there still were the many businesses to be run. Diane came up when the will of Francis was read out. It was only a formality because everything she owned was left to her brother Gervaise.

It was only there in London that she could let her hair down so to speak, to keep Francis alive in the privacy of their rooms. To dress as she wished so that she could sing and dance for Wesson. Only there could she put on the sexy underwear and put on make-up as she had done for many years now. Then she felt like a woman again, to play at seducing Wesson to take her to bed and make love to her as one.

Of course Gervaise couldn't return to work for Frobisher anymore, so it was only Wesson who regularly went to the office, but that was only for another year. Frobisher eventually, and reluctantly, finally accepted Wesson's resignation so that he could become the Managing Director of G.F.L. Holdings, both the London and Bahamas branches.

The way that all of Francis's various enterprises had developed had been through one or both of the named companies, so there wasn't any problems there in the respect of the death of Francis.

Everything automatically went to Gervaise. All her shares which included those of Kuoil and Transline. Of the latter, it was decided that they be sold. Out of courtesy, the other two major shareholders were approached first and told that Gervaise was going to sell her shares, giving them six months to buy her shares or part thereof before they went on the market.

That threw them into a panic, because if the one and a quarter million shares were suddenly put on the market, it would have a disastrous effect on the value of all their shares. In the end, a compromise was reached where they would buy half of the shares at a ten percent discount over one year if Gervaise would only release the rest over a staggered period of two years. It made sense because all being put on the market at once would have ruined the company, so that was what was agreed.

This money was then put into a fund that was called the Francis Lyon Trust Fund. This was created because the farm that lay on the other side of the lane of the village, the same side as the airfield, became vacant when the farmer died. His widow called upon Gervaise for help and a deal was struck. She sold him the farm in exchange for a certain sum of money and the vacant house in Moonfleet, where she moved to spend the remainder of her years in the house that Diane had once lived in.

Gervaise then, using his title and connections to approach the Ministry of Agriculture with a plan for the land. Basically, it was blackmail. If they didn't agree to his proposals, it would never ever again be used for agriculture, simple as that. As the plans were fairly simple, it was agreed that the land could be developed as Gervaise wished.

So the Francis Lyon Memorial Hospital came into being, along with a nursing home and a school. The latter also having its own playing fields. Houses also had to be built for the doctors and nurses and then some more for the teaching staff. Down at the far end of this farm, which backed onto the hangars of the airfield, were about fifteen acres split roughly between woodland and grass land.

As to the intentions for this, Sir Gervaise asked to meet with the Boy Scout Association and that of the Girl Guides and offered this land as summer camps for both associations. If they would form a committee to plan the camp, Gervaise would fund the construction of barracks or huts and let them use it for the education of the boy scouts, cubs and girl guides in the countryside and its wildlife.

This offer was immediately accepted and it wasn't long before, on a still night that you could hear camp fire songs and see the twinkling of a large camp fire in the summer evenings. The tuck shop, supplied and run by the new shop keeper of the village, made a steady profit from this enterprise, as did others in various other aspects.

The hospital was a Godsend as well as the nursing home, and the school was soon full of children from all the three villages of the small road that came off the Trowbridge road. All this was paid for out of the trust fund that Gervaise had set up. Not only that, but also any pupil that showed promise, was funded to attend university as long as it was either in medicine, nursing or ancillary studies or teaching. The one proviso to this was that they spent at least one year at the village hospital, nursing home or school during their training or probationary period.

It took some years for the effect of this to became apparent and it was a high percentage of children that passed through this school that became nurses, doctors, vets and teachers due to the foresight of Gervaise. Many people tried to buy homes in the village to give their children a future, but Gervaise would not sell one house or cottage. They were for the village people only.

As the children grew up and got married, they were allowed to take over the house or cottage of those who had passed on. The village was for the villagers and that's how it stayed. Eventually, Gervaise bought the other two farms on the other side of the village, but kept them as farms. Therefore, no new constructions or building of homes came into being and the village was kept as a country village, and this was, when polled, what the whole populace of the village wanted. To be kept as a small community with Sir Gervaise as their lord and champion. But this was not all.

Across the Atlantic in the Bahamas, because of the success of Lyon Island, some prime beach land was offered for sale to Gervaise to build a similar resort so that at least Nassau could benefit a bit more from the trade that the island was bringing in. So another hotel was built on the main island and another followed a few years later at Freeport. The airline doubled in size and was a major competitor then to British Overseas Airways Corporation.

Back in London, Clements was now a sign that was seen on many a construction site, or refurbishment of run down dwellings. Where a housing estate was demolished for the purpose of building new apartments, Clements invariably got the contract because they put in extras, like a crèche or a doctors surgery and small ancillary shops to serve those who would live there. That some of these shops would decline because of the huge supermarkets that sprung up later, was not the fault of the designers at the time.

The consumption of wine by the English drinking public boosted the wine trade and made the importing an important part of the growth of Lyon Enterprises, though this wasn't the name they traded under. The chateau in France was never empty of paying guests, especially when the wine produced from its own vineyards were freely dispensed to all who stayed there.

The small office that once rented out the houses where Francis lived, and other properties, had to diverse. The selling of holidays increased and it wasn't long before they became a serious rival to Thomas Cook and Sons.

All this came to result in 1978 of Sir Gervaise being made a Lord. For his achievements, not only in battle, but also in the field of industry. The promoting of country life, the advancement of setting children onto the path of medicine and education. There was more in this vein, but it was enough to satisfy Francis in what she had set out to do. So Francis, or rather Sir Gervaise became Lord Lyon and the village really celebrated when he took the name to his title.

A large kitchen was built into the school so Flora could become the domestics teacher and this she was happy to be able to pass on her country cooking skills to the children. She passed away in 1980 at the age of eighty and had kept at the school right up until she died. Palmer too died that year and that really hurt Gervaise to lose such a valued man servant. His extensive record collection was left to the school. It was not long after this that Penny and Lou reluctantly asked to be able to leave and set up a more permanent home for just the two of them, to be able to run a home, a refuge for single and married abused women.

Gervaise felt that all the people she loved, except Wesson and Diane were deserting her. He was her rock to keep her together until Leslie came into the firm. She had passed her university exams, getting straight A's in Economics and Business Studies and had worked for two firms previously to gain experience. She then came and took over the positions of both Penny and Lou. Little Francis, now a grown man, had studied business and corporate law and came in as the lawyer to support Leslie.

Between them for the next ten years, they effectively ran the whole show as their father and mother and Wesson spent six months of the year on the island. Gervaise had no desire to expand any further, and so left it to the children to control what was in fact their inheritance.

I had the pleasure of meeting Wesson when I was invited to write the story of Francis, but sadly, it was only for a year before he died of a heart attack. It was a sad day for Gervaise when he was buried in the village, next to Donald, and the heart went out of Gervaise with his passing. Francis, as Gervaise, retired from the business and spent the next two years living with Diane, full time in the village. But she wasn't strong enough to replace Wesson and Francis just pined away and died almost to the day, two years after Wesson. She was buried next to her parents and the two men that she had loved all her life.

The End

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