‘I can’t bear this,’ Klara said quietly. ‘I hate the sea. I’m so cold and my clothes are all soaked through.’

‘I think the wind is dropping,’ Wilde said. ‘I really do.’

‘I’m going to die.’

‘No, you’re not, Klara. We promised your father we would look after you, and we will.’

The child sobbed. Dry, retching, tearless sobs.

‘Do you see land yet?’ Sunny said, her voice little more than a whispered breath.

‘No . . . Oh God . . .’

Hope had come too soon, only to be snatched away.

‘What is it? Tom?’

‘A ship – heading straight at us.’

The vessel had loomed out of the grey, heading on a steady course, hard at their stern. Wilde frantically switched all his energies to the starboard oar, trying to steer them to safety, but the ship was closing in, threatening to plough them into the depths. And then, like a miracle, it slowed as though its engines had suddenly cut out.

Wilde dropped the oars and waited.

After a minute, he heard the tinny sound of a loudhailer, then a voice in a language he didn’t understand; he threw a questioning look at Sunny.

She nodded. ‘Swedish.’

‘Thank God.’

The loudhailer message was then repeated, this time in German.

‘This is the maritime pilot. Do you need help?’

‘Yes!’ Wilde shouted, his voice thick with salt.

‘You wish to go to Sweden?’

‘Yes!’

‘Then let us help you aboard.’

Wilde leant forward and hugged Sunny and Klara.

‘Looks like you’re going to Sweden after all, Sunny.’

They were free of Nazi Germany. And even as the realisation dawned, he found himself looking at Klara Rieger and wondering what her future held.

What he didn’t know was that freedom came at a price.

And that their troubles were only just beginning.

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

Charlie Jung knew something was wrong. They definitely had the right boat, the Harald, but the calmness with which they accepted the order to return to Germany – without any argument – worried him more and more.

What if they had already dropped their passengers in Sweden? Perhaps they had landed briefly a little further south and were now heading north to some more abundant herring grounds. That would explain their direction of travel at the time they were located.

He stood on the bridge of the little warship, watching the trawler pitching and rolling through the weakening storm. After ninety minutes, he decided they had to be sure. The storm had eased considerably, so he ordered the captain of the E-boat to board the Harald.

‘Very well, Herr Jung. I think the wind has calmed enough.’

‘Then let us do it. I want every centimetre of that boat examined and every member of the crew interrogated.’

‘I’m sure they’ll be very relieved.’

‘Why do you say that?’