Jack really enjoyed it. For a time at least they were free from danger. The war seemed unreal and far away. It was as if they had left it behind forever, and he almost wished he had!
He thought of the folks at home, of his father working harder than ever because there was a war, of his mother doing her own work, helping the Red Cross and selling bonds in a booth on Saturdays. It was all very strange how a war started by a few very stupid men could change the lives of more than half the people in the world—strange and terrible.
“Look!” Mary exclaimed suddenly. “A star!”
“Where?” Jack looked up.
“Not up. Over there!” she pointed.
“You wouldn’t see a star through the mist in the daytime. You must be dreaming,” Jack protested.
“But look! Look closely! It’s rather faint, but quite real. A white star!” She was leaning forward, straining her eyes as if looking for a vision.
“Yes,” he agreed at last. “I see it.”
“Star of hope,” she murmured. “If you’d lived on that island for two years as I have, you’d know what that means.”
“Two years! You haven’t been there that long! It’s impossible!” He stared at her in unbelief.