“We came to help you. You’re at Gaston’s farm,” she said, using the code name for the location. “Uncle George sent us,” she added, which meant they’d been sent by the British. He tried to get up and found he couldn’t. Every part of him felt heavy and his wounds like they were on fire. “Try not to move. We’ll get you up later. You’ll be leaving tomorrow, you need to get your strength back tonight.” He nodded and went back to sleep for a while. She gave him another shot for pain, and he woke up two hours later. She offered him a sip of water, and he looked at her and frowned.

“They sent you?” She nodded. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Neither should you.” She smiled at him. “I’m a nurse.”

“It’s dangerous for you to be here, and to help me.” She nodded. He had spoken to her in English that time.

“I know. You needed help, badly. Your friends want you to live, and to get you out.” He shrugged as though it didn’t matter and was part of his job. He had been injured many times before, jailed by the Germans, and escaped. He had been underground for two years, moving around France.

“You’re not afraid?” He was intrigued by her as he lay on the mattress and looked up at her. She was very beautiful, and exotic-looking. She shook her head in answer to his question and he could see that she wasn’t afraid. She was very calm as she watched him. She checked his bandages and took his pulse from time to time. “They’ll kill you if they find you with me. You must be very careful when you leave here. You came alone?” She shook her head.

“There are five of us. The others are taking care of your men, and one of the women.” The young boy had been moved to the other room hours before, and he was doing better. The corpsman who came to check on her said that he was eating a meal, which was a good sign.

“How will you leave here?” He was concerned about her, and restless, as she sat beside him and gave him another drink.

“The same way we came. You don’t need to worry about it.”

He smiled as he looked at her. “You’re an angel, dropped from the skies to help us.”

“You have friends far away.” He nodded. He knew who they were. He had done many things for the British intelligence services, not just for those who remained faithful to France. He was a legend in the Resistance.