The mayor had finished speaking and there was movement at the end of the square. Suzie squirmed forward through the crowd to see what was happening. When she reached the front, she saw that a company of men had marched in and were now forming up in front of the war memorial beside the Mairie. An accordionist began to play the Marseillaise and at once all noise ceased. Everyone stood to attention.

When the anthem ended, three men detached themselves from the front rank of the maquisards and marched to the memorial. One of the three came forward and laid a wreath, saluted, turned. Suzie saw that it was Henri. Around her the emotion that had been generated by the reference to the deported reached a new level. To her astonishment she saw men weeping, tears unashamedly falling down their cheeks. The woman who had put her handkerchief to her eyes at the mayor’s speech was now crying openly, her face red and contorted. Another woman, also weeping, put her arms around her. The last post was played. The maquisards presented arms and marched out of the square, leaving an atmosphere of festival. This would have been the moment for the lunch that Sabine had longed for.

Suzie turned to look for Madame Ariane and spotted her talking to Henri and Monsieur Vernhes, the schoolmaster from Lepech Perdrissou. You could see that she was full of happiness, for she was smiling and put out her arm to Suzie, pulling her towards her in a sideways hug. Suzie allowed herself to respond. After all, Maman and Papa would soon be home and she would be safe for ever, and Sabine was not there to witness her defection.

Sabine joined them a few minutes later, pushing her bicycle, her face sparkling. Suzie saw the enthusiasm die out of her expression as she approached them. She knew that this was not due to Madame Ariane, who would have normally been entitled to an afternoon’s grace after a morning of such excitement. Monsieur Vernhes, the only person who made Sabine afraid, was responsible for the look of gloom. Suzie did not know what had happened during Sabine’s two years at the village school, but she had observed that Sabine always encountered her former teacher with wariness.

She and Sabine stood by while the adults talked. Sabine’s eyes were cast down and she tapped the edge of one foot against the other. Suzie was thinking how easy it was to tell someone’s mood from their actions. Henri and Monsieur Vernhes did not like one another; that too was very plain. They faced Madame Ariane and spoke to one another through her.

‘Are you satisfied with the demonstration?’ Monsieur Vernhes asked.

When Henri hesitated, Madame Ariane replied, ‘It was wonderful. Everyone was so moved.’

‘I’ll be pleased as long as there are no reprisals,’ Henri said at last.

‘That will be the moment to attack them.’

‘It would be an act of folly. If we ever faced them in a firefight we would be wiped out. Our duty is to protect the young people and wait until the Germans go, not to waste lives.’