Red Hawk Rising

dinner was an invitation affair by the English department of the Manchester University, celebrating works of Russian authors. The consul was the keynote speaker for the evening. Like Hamilton, Garasov was putting aside the worries of the week and planning to relax for the evening. Hopefully, there would be some stimulating conversation about Russian literature and perhaps some pleasant female company. On the morrow he would drive out to Todmorden to go hiking in the Pennines. No doubt he would have a ‘shadow’ from MI5 but that wouldn’t worry him. They would both get some much-needed exercise.
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After a leisurely Sunday (25th) breakfast, the three corporals changed into civilian clothes and headed out of the base in Lance’s car. They crossed to the old Military Road, built from stone taken from the Hadrian’s Wall, and travelled west towards Corbridge. It was also the main road to Carlisle. On the way there, Lance talked about the old Roman remains that had been excavated. The one he thought particularly impressive was Housesteads Fort and like Lance, the other two airmen were impressed with the underfloor heating of the barracks. They turned into the main street of Corbridge and drove through to the western end. A large old stone house was set back from the road and Lance turned into the driveway up to the house. The house was set in well-tended grounds and there was a sense of modest affluence about the place. By the time they pulled up, the front door opened and a tall man in a tweed sports-jacket came out to greet them. He was followed by an attractive lady with greying hair. John and Judith Walton were in their late forties. They had a comfortable, relaxed air about them and greeted the young airmen in a friendly, welcoming way. The lounge was adorned with paintings of the Tyne from different eras and an upright piano was against one wall. They were invited to sit and offered coffee. As they relaxed and exchanged pleasantries, two young women, aged twenty years, walked into the room. They were auburn-haired and younger versions of their mother. The three young men jumped to their feet, Lance grinning at the surprised faces of his fellow servicemen. John Walton introduced his twin daughters, Alice and Anne. They wore blouses and skirts that showed off their figures, to the interest of the young men. Judith suggested that they have a light lunch and then drive out to Housesteads as a group. The young men were invited to stay for dinner afterwards and they readily agreed. As they talked, the front door bell peeled and Anne ducked out of the room. She came back with another young woman of a similar age and introduced her as Margaret Muir. When it was known that three men were to visit, the twins had invited their friend to make up the group. Soon, Judith and the young women left the room to prepare the lunch and left the men to talk. John invited them to go out to the shed to see his pride and joy. It was a 1926 Sunbeam Special — a two-seat sports car with a long bonnet and a massive engine. It looked more like a racing car. The three airmen drooled over it and a lively discussion over its capabilities ensued. A call by Judith from the house brought them back for lunch. It was set on a table capable of seating ten persons. The table and chairs were made of oak and polished to show the grain. John and Judith sat at each end of the table with the young women on one side and the men on the other. It soon became clear that Lance and Anne were interested in each other as they immediately moved to sit facing each other. Dan was placed to face Margaret and Andy to face Alice. It would seem that the women had already made their choices. Dan and Andy were quite relaxed about it. There was a lively conversation over lunch that made everyone feel relaxed and when they headed out to the cars, Alice suggested that Andy travel with her and her parents. The other two young women would go with Lance and Dan. John drove a Rover 12 — a big comfortable car suited for country driving. They headed out to Housesteads and on the way John and Judith talked about their interest in the history of the region. Hadrian’s Wall was the instant ‘attention grabber’ but there was so much more to see and know. They talked of a second wall up in Scotland that was abandoned because it was so difficult to hold. Effectively, Northumberland had been outside of Roman control and the Wall was the northern-most point of the Roman Empire. They talked of Roman camps and villas that lay in the area. The cars pulled up alongside the main road and they walked across it and across a field to the Wall itself. It was clear that the young women shared the interest of John and Judith but not to the same extent. They were proud of the historical heritage of the area but had other interests also. Climbing up onto the Wall, it was impressive. They were told that the Romans used to drive a horse and chariot along the top. From the Wall they were led on a tour of the fort. Alice chatted with Andy as they walked and asked questions about him as she talked about herself. She said that she worked for her father’s firm in Hexham. He was a chartered accountant in practice there with two other accountants. Her sister, Anne, worked for a firm of solicitors, also in Hexham. Alice found out that Andy was from Alnwick and that his father was in legal practice there. She said that she loved hiking and was part of a group that went out on trips to the Pennines and the Cheviots for hikes. Andy