They weren’t allowed out until later the following afternoon, once the milk had been collected and the farm labourer had left. While Friedrich had a bath, Wolfgang took Ulrich into the cowshed.

‘You know that this was the last place on earth I wanted Friedrich to come, don’t you?’

‘Yes, sir, you told me, but the priest worried me and I felt you’d be furious if anything happened to us, and to the money, of course, and—’

‘Very well. Just listen, Ulrich – listen carefully and calm down. I don’t want you to misunderstand me. I love Friedrich very much and I want to ensure that he’s safe, and that’s why he’s on the Kestrel Line and I’m doing what I can for him. But I also have to recognise that he’s prone to – how can I put it? – to irrational behaviour at times. He can be wayward and irresponsible. That’s why I didn’t want him here – I wanted him south of the Reich as soon as possible. And there’s a more important reason too.’ He paused and looked around him: they were alone in the cowshed, the cattle shuffling and snorting around them. ‘This farm… I have to ensure it is kept secure. You know who this place is for, Ulrich?’

Ulrich shook his head, and Wolfgang beckoned him closer. As they leaned on the rails, they were just inches from the head of a cow, which looked quizzically at them, surprised to have been allowed in on the secret.

‘The purpose of the Kestrel Line and this farm – and all the money – it’s for a special person. Helping you, Friedrich and the others, that’s a secondary part of it. Originally I found this place as a refuge for me, but it evolved: now the main aim is to help one man.’

‘Can I ask who it is?’

‘If you tell a soul, you’ll be killed. Friedrich in particular must never know. No one else must know. I’m telling you because I trust you and because you need to know why you have to move on from here. Put that cigarette out, you shouldn’t smoke in here… It’s the Reichsleiter.’

Ulrich stepped back in shock and gripped the rail. The cow nuzzled his hand.

‘He’s alive?’

‘I’m not sure, Ulrich, I’m really not sure… I’ve not heard anything for months, but we do know he hasn’t been captured, and no one has announced that he’s dead, so that must give us hope. My guess is he’s still alive and hiding in or around Berlin. He may have found somewhere safe and doesn’t want to risk putting his head above the parapet: that’s what I’m hoping anyway. If we can get him out of Berlin and down here, and then move him along the Kestrel Line… You do understand the importance of this, don’t you, Ulrich? If we can rescue him and get him somewhere safe, then who knows what the future holds. People would take heart that he is alive, and he would become our new Führer!’