Codebreakers

Martha smiled.

“Believe it or not, my hair clashes with the uniforms. Like I said, Jo, I’m the best and you lucked out!”

Jo sat back as Martha took her plate and cutlery.

“Tea or coffee, Jo?”

Something clicked in Jo’s fuzzy brain and she realized Martha called her Jo, twice.

“Coffee, please and it’s Mrs. Dardenne.”

“Nope, sorry, that doesn’t work for me. I’m a more laid-back type and since I may be helping you with pretty personal stuff, ‘Jo’ works better for the two of us.”

Jo wasn’t sure if she should be insulted by this presumptuous young woman or impressed by her bravado. If nothing else, her life for the next while would be interesting. She took the cup of coffee from Martha. Really, she was much too tired to argue with the impertinent girl.

“Jo, I need to give you your heparin injection now. Let’s do that before you drink your coffee.”

Jo watched as Martha carefully prepared an area on her stomach. Just before she inserted the needle, Martha looked Jo in the eyes and winked.

“You are one lucky lady. I am not only an awesome cook, but my needle work is the envy of my peers.”

Jo held her breath. What was Martha waiting for?

“You can open your eyes now Jo – all done.”

Jo could not believe it – she’d felt nothing but a slight pressure on her stomach.

Martha winked again.

“Told ya, Jo. Now drink your coffee. And we’ll talk about our schedule.”

When Jo was alone, she found herself again thinking of Fred. She’d met him after her first shift while she was taking an early evening walk to shake off the stiffness brought on by sitting for eight hours, listening intently through static to the high-pitched sounds of Morse Code. He’d offered her a cigarette, lit it, and gave it to her as they sat with their backs against a fence.

“Jo, is it?”

“Yes my friends call me Jo.”

Jo met charming young men before and she’d learned how to stand up for herself. Fred laughed and play-punched her in the shoulder.

“Ah then lass, I’ll call you Jo because we are going to become fast friends, don’t you know.”

Jo punched his shoulder – a real punch – and as he leapt up and hopped around, wailing like an infant, she decided they would be friends.

Neither asked the other what their jobs were – Jo remembered the lecture she’d received when she first arrived at the Farm.
“Anyone violating the Official Secrets Act will be subject to fines or incarceration. No one may reveal any information regarding their work here at Camp X to anyone. Is that understood?”