Riverbend School for Girls - Vox Fluminis Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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? VT W 5 as On 9 DRIFTING silently downwards, they came in a long procession. Some were like fairy wings, thin as gossam- er, others, wisps of mist, with little pin-prick lights twinkling in them. Many were beautiful, with smooth shapes and soft colors. One was awhirl with murky mauves and moon- stones. Here, a wee elfin shape skip- ped in and out of the wierdly moving troop, there, a moon-beam goblin pranced in rhythm with its fellow monsters. Gruesome forms of green slime quiv- ered and shivered, under and through all the other beautiful, stately and mysterious beings. Some had red sequins glimmering in their backs, others, purple and green lights as if from nowhere. Many large, grotesque horrors with misshapen figures, and hollows deep as fiery fathoms flared around them. F , ' 1' no EW S .xi l S Ffh 6 QQ X Every once in a while one dropped out, floated up, up away, toward the back of the moon, and vanished. There seemed always to be a whispering of sweet violins, together with the distant droning of a million bees. This ghostly procession gave one the feeling of uncertainty and mystery. 011 and on they came, in a never-ending stream. Dawn was breaking and be- ginning to light the eastern sky. The mysterious dreams were fading, as stars do towards dawn. Suddenly the sun burst over the horizon. All that was left, a mist cling- ing to the pine needles on the floor of the wood, swaying to and fro with the breeze. Slowly it floated up, up and away into the firmament. So did the dreams go to other places to give more people visions of the mysteries of subconscious thought. June L. McCrae, Grade XII, Garry Hall. X . X a L5 X,

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Vox F luminis 23 here again. No violin would play here again. Du bist die Ruh! Half an hour. Half an hour!-then-retreat-- Retreat to what?-not to peace-but to battle-savage battle-cruelty-noise. . . . He shuddered. Half an hour. Something snapped in his brain-one hand grenade! He ran to the trap door -down the ladder-out into the night. Du bist die Ruiz! Hand grenate! HAND GRENADE! All sleeping. All silent. He crept over to a tank. Hand grenate! He snatched it and ran back. All crowded together-herded together like a bunch of animals. Perfect peace. He hum- med the song silently under his breath to give himself courage. Now! . . . pin out . . . he threw the grenade into their midst, and flung himself to the ground. The whole earth shook. There was a blinding light-one horrible, peace- rending explosion. Then silence - silence. I Kurt lay still. He was wounded un- bearably in the back. Von Rheimer in command, Sir, he mimicked. Von Rheimer in command - of perfect peace. He slowly raised himself, and then dragged his body almost back to the house. Exhausted-suffering-he lay there, under the stars. No, that peace would not b-e broken again. He smiled crookedly. Du bist die Ruhli' he breathed, and then lay still. . . . The last strains of an old violin whispered in the peace, and rose up to the stars through the night. Then all was silent. Pat Bernard, Grade XI, Douglas Hall. Clear light that on my soul doth shine, still let it shine for thee alone. - LITTLE BLACK SAMBO Little Black Sambo one day Went out in the forest to play, Mother Sambo said, What's gone to dat head? Youse father done said the best place for youse to be is right in dat bed. But Little Black Sambo no heed did he PHY, To what his mother was trying to say. Ise been all right, Little Sambo he said, If Mr. Bear gets youse wish youse was dead, And then you'll be happy to gets to dat bed. He walked for a while Maybe even a mile, Then sat down on a log, The trees were all round Some low on the ground As he dreamed there 'long a bog. In his dream it did seem He saw Mr. Bear look at him square As he dreamed his dream on the log. Then Little Black Sambo began to run Not even looking behind, Til he saw Mrs. Sambo sitting right in the sun That was he delighted to find, Oh Mamma Sambo I'se comin' back, 'Tll neve' go der no moh. But into bed he quickly did hop And stayed there you may be sure. June Baker, Grade VI, Nelson House. ...1..ll -11 A WISH I wish I was a sailor, And I'd sail to sea, 'When I came home again Oh, what a welcome then would be. I'd sail across the seven seas, And have a lot of fun, But I'd be back and safe abed, At the setting of the sun. Diane Johnson, Grade IV, York Hall. ,i....l SPRING The spring is coming, never fear, Bluebirds soon will be here, In spite of all the snow and cold, Spring is always so Very bold. Susanne Chester, Grade II, Douglas Hall.

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Vox Fluminis 25 A DANGEROUS TASK MISS Cathy, your father would like to see you in the library! Thank you, Pillingsf' As Cathy laid down her book she had a premoni- tion that the coming interview with her father was to be of great im- portance. The conferences in the library always were, but little did she know what this one had in store for her. She rapped lightly upon the library door. A deep, stern, but kindly voice answered, Come in! Cathy slowly opened the door to see her father pac- ing the rug before the large, open fire-place. Lord Mainwaring was a tall, elderly gentleman of stately physique. His stern, handsome face, now lined by the passing of time, was softened by the deep-set, dark blue eyes. This man, who could be so kind, yet so harsh, so friendly, yet so stern, whose appear- ance anywhere caused a commotion, was the intelligence of the House of Commons. Cathy knew and realized how impor- tant her father was to her country in such times of trouble and tribulations, when war was apt to be declared at any moment against a ruthless, cruel enemy. She did not begrudge her be- loved England the time he spent on state affairs, which should have been spent on her-a motherless, only child. Cathy could see that something was wrong. Her father's face was sterner than ever before, his eyebrows were closely knit, and his thin lips were set in a narrow, tight line. He motioned her to sit down. Cathy, he began, I have a very grave proposition to make to you. It is a favour I would ask of no mortal, if it were not for our country's sake. It is extremely dangerous and might possibly mean death. That is why I cannot ask another man's daughter. His voice trembled with emotion as he con- tinued, You have always wanted to be an actress. Now the time has come when you can act the most difficult, cunning, dangerous part ever given to player on stage or screen! You remember well, Baron von Shreck, his wife and his son, Kurt, with whom you spent the summer, at the age of ten? These people, I am afraid, we can no longer call our friends. He and all his family are now very power- ful members of Hitler's Nazi party. Our secret agents over in Germany have asked us to send someone over to keep a very close watch on him. This can only be done by establishing someone in his household. To send someone in as a servant is definitely out of the question, as the Baron makes sure they are all Nazi sympathizers before hiring them. The only way I could think of to solve this problem was to send you over as a guest. We are still quite good friends and keep in touch with one another occasionally. I have never told them that you recovered com- pletely from your illness. I shall write and tell him that you had a relapse and the doctor has ordered you to go to Southern Ger- many. He cannot very well refuse, since last time you improved so much after the visit at their place. It will be very dangerous, but you will have your own nurse who will help you. I wish to God I didn't have to ask you this, but if you feel that you are not capable of carrying out this mission, say so and I shall try and find some other solution. I have great confidence in you, Cathy, and feel that you can and will do it. Yes, father, I'll do it willingly. There is nothing I would not do for our country and especially for you? A tall, fair-haired young man stepped onto the platform and made his way through the milling crowd, as the toy- like train puffed its way into the over- crowded station of Rosenheim and jerked to a standstill. Distinguishable among the rest in his colourful sports jacket and riding togs, he carefully 'watched each person disembarking from the coaches. He rushed forward eagerly as a slim, pale, beautifully tailored figure, supported by a middle- aged woman, emerged from the train.