Chapter Twenty-one

Two days later the girls were woken at dawn by the German trucks departing. Sabine flung open the window to watch them go, disappearing into the trees, swallowed up by the mist that hung in the valley.

‘They’re out on a big rampage,’ she said. ‘They’re taking Madame Ariane’s car; the major is getting into it now.’

At breakfast Madame Ariane announced that there would be no lessons today; they were going on an expedition. She would not say where.

‘We might be stopped on the road, so it would be better if you were able to say honestly that we were going for a picnic,’ she explained. ‘When – if – we get to where we’re going, I’ll tell you what’s happening.’

‘How far will we ride?’

‘About thirty kilometres, so we’ll set off as soon as possible.’

Their food was wrapped in napkins and stowed in the paniers of their bicycles with their water bottles. It was only eight o’clock when they cycled out of the farmyard and into the lane. Any diversion from routine excited Sabine and she was in high spirits, resentment and plotting put aside for the day. Suzie was in a fever of anxiety. Were they going to Longas, to be led into a trap? Where was Longas? Madame Ariane had not spoken willingly to the major. But it was not possible to tell whether she had spoken the truth, or whether she had lied to trick him. Suzie’s mind spun with the wheels of her bike. She had no doubts any longer about what would happen to her if she was caught by the major or the lieutenant. They would chase her and hunt her down, like the rabbit in the hayfield.

After two hours they reached their destination.

‘Where are we?’ Sabine called, as they cycled into the village.

‘It’s Lavallade.’

‘What’s happening? Why are we here?’

Suzie was gripping her handlebars, looking at the ever-changing patch of road in front of her. It wasn’t Longas. Madame Ariane wouldn’t enter the trap herself, that was obvious. Or would she? Would she be there when the Germans arrived, to make it look as if she had nothing to do with it? Then they would quietly let her go later, when they had taken everyone else they wanted.

Madame Ariane looked at her watch. ‘We’re going to be in time,’ she said.

‘What are we here for?’ Sabine demanded. ‘What’s going on?’

Her tone was marginally less abrupt than usual, because she really wanted to know the answer. People were gathering in the street as if it were market day, mothers holding children by the hand, women walking together, old men shuffling along on sticks. The doors of the houses were open and the occupants stood on their steps, watching the passers-by, as if uncertain whether to join them or not.

‘Do you know what day it is today?’

‘Friday,’ said Sabine.

‘The fourteenth,’ said Suzie.

‘Yes, the Fourteenth of July, our national day.’