Farewell To The East End

Shouldn’t be ’ere, I say.’
    The policemen looked at each other. They knew that the Port of London Authority was very strict on women entering the docks, especially since the previous year when a prostitute had slipped in the dark from a gangplank and drowned.
    ‘Which vessel?’ The policeman took out his notebook and pencil.
    ‘The Katrina . Swedish timber merchant.’
    ‘Did you see the women?’
    ‘Saw one of ’em. A nurse. Her bicycle’s over there. Don’t know what to do wiv it. An’ ’er coat an’ all. Don’t know what to do wiv it, neither.’
    ‘A nurse?’
    ‘Yes. Woman ill on the Katrina , so I calls ve Sisters, and a nurse comes.’
    ‘You had better tell us what happened.’
    ‘About eleven thirty. A deck hand, ’e comes to me, saying, “Woman, woman,” rollin’ his eyes an’ rubbin’ ’is stomach, an’ groanin’. So I calls a doctor, but ’e’s out, so I calls ve Sisters, an’ a big lanky nurse comes, an’ I takes her to the Katrina , South Quay. Right plucky girl, she was. Climbs up ve rope ladder an’ all.’
    ‘What! A nurse climbed the ship’s ladder in that wind?’
    ‘I’m tellin’ yer. Big plucky girl. Climbed up, she did. And a rung was missing near the top, an’ all. I saw it wiv me own eyes, I did.’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘Course I’m bleedin’ sure. Think I’m bloody daft?’ The nightwatchman was offended.
    ‘No, of course not. What happened next?’
    ‘Search me. She climbed on board, an’ she’s still there, for all I knows. Leastways she hasn’t collected ’er bike, nor ’er coat, neiver.’
    The two policemen conferred. This was a matter for the Port of London Police. The Metropolitan had no authority inside the ports. But was it true? Nightwatchmen, due perhaps to their solitary calling in the darkest hours, were known to fantasise.
    The man was fumbling with his key again. He turned and glanced down the quay. ‘There she is. That’s ’er. Told yer, didn’t I? Big lanky girl.’
    The two policemen saw a female figure wandering towards them. Her footsteps were uncertain, and she staggered rather than walked. The ordeal of climbing down the rope ladder had taken the last reserve of Chummy’s strength. One of the policemen stepped forward to meet her and took her arm. She leaned on him heavily, murmuring, ‘Thank you.’ He said, ‘Haven’t we met somewhere before?’ She looked at him vaguely.
    ‘I’m not sure. Have we?’
    He smiled. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
    She walked towards her bike. He said, ‘I don’t wish to be rude, nurse, but are you fit to ride a bike?’
    She looked round and slowly gathered her thoughts.
    ‘I’ll be all right. I must admit I feel a bit queer, but I’ll be all right.’
    The bike was a big, heavy Raleigh, iron framed and ancient.
    She took hold of the handlebars, but it felt so heavy she could barely move it. The policeman said ‘Nurse, I really do not think you should ride that cycle, especially down the East India Dock Road just as the ports are opening and the lorries are coming in. In fact, in the name of the Law, I am telling you not to ride it. I am going to call a taxi.’
    ‘What about my bike?’ she protested. ‘It can’t stay here.’
    ‘Don’t worry about that. I will ride it back for you. You are going to Nonnatus House, I think. I know where it is.’

    In the snug comfort of a London taxi Chummy fell sound asleep. She was confused and barely articulate on waking, so the driver had to help her out and then rang the bell for her. The Sisters were just leaving the chapel when it sounded. Novice Ruth opened the door to see a cab driver supporting Chummy and holding her bag. Her first reaction was to think that the nurse was drunk. ‘Sit down here,’ she said to Chummy. ‘I’ll fetch Sister Julienne.’
    Sister Julienne came quickly, paid the cab driver and turned her attention to Chummy, who seemed unable to move.
    ‘What is the matter, my dear?’ She did not smell of drink. ‘What has happened to you?’ Perhaps she had been beaten up.
    Chummy mumbled, ‘I’m all right. Just feel a bit funny, that’s all. Don’t worry about me.’
    ‘But what happened?’
    ‘A baby.’
    ‘But we deliver babies all the time. What else happened?’
    ‘On a ship.’
    ‘A ship! Where?’
    ‘In the docks.’
    ‘But we never go into the docks.’
    ‘I did. I had to.’
    ‘I don’t understand.’
    ‘The baby was born there.’
    ‘You mean that a baby was born on a merchant