It was terribly hot.
The van body of the lorry had sides made of wood, which folded outwards to enlarge the floor space when the lathe was in use.
Little light entered round these wooden sides; it was dim and stuffy and very smelly in amongst the machinery.
The children did not seem to suffer much, but it was a trying journey for the old man.
In a short time he had a splitting headache, and was aching in every limb from the cramped positions he was constrained to take up.
The road was ominously clear to Pithiviers, and they made good speed.
From time to time an aeroplane flew low above the road, and once there was a sharp burst of machine-gun fire very near at hand.
Howard leaned over to the little window at the driver's elbow.
'Jerry bomber,' said the corporal.
One o' them Stukas, as they call them.'
'Was he firing at us?'
'Aye. Miles off, he was.'
The corporal did not seem especially perturbed.
In an hour they were near Pithiviers, five and twenty miles from Montargis.
They drew up by the roadside half a mile from the town and held a consultation.
The road stretched before them to the houses with no soul in sight.
There was no movement in the town.
It seemed to be deserted in the blazing sunlight of the afternoon.
They stared at it, irresolute.
'I dunno as I fancy it,' the corporal said.
'It don't look right to me.'
The driver said: Bloody funny nobody's about.
You don't think its full of Jerries, corp?
Hiding, like?'
'I dunno...'
Howard, leaning forward with his face to the trap in the partition, said over their shoulders:
'I don't mind walking in ahead to have a look, if you wait here.'
'Walk in ahead of us?'
'I don't see that there'd be much risk in that.
With all these refugees about I can't see that there'd be much risk in it.
I'd rather do that than drive in with you if there's any chance of being fired on.'
'Something in what he says,' the driver said.
'If the Jerries are there, we mightn't find another roundabout this time.'
They discussed it for a minute or two.
There was no road alternative to going through the town that did not mean a ten-mile journey back towards Montargis.
'An' that's not so bloody funny, either,' said the corporal.
'Meet the Jerries coming up behind us, like as not.'
He hesitated, irresolute. 'Okay,' he said at last. 'Nip in and have a look, mate.
Give us the wire if it's all okey-doke.
Wave something if it's all right to come on.'
The old man said: 'I'll have to take the children with me.'
'My muckin' Christ!
I don't want to sit here all the bloody day, mate.'
The old man said: 'I'm not going to be separated from the children.' He paused.
'You see, they're in my charge.
Just like your lathe.'
The driver burst out laughing.
'That's a good one, corp!
Just like your muckin' lathe,' he said.
The corporal said: 'Well, put a jerk in it, anyway.'