‘Of course, Oberleutnant! I wouldn’t want to embarrass you like last time, would I? You were so kind to me then. My husband’s colleague Oberführer Hausser – he’s the senior SS officer in Greifswald, you know – has given me these travel papers.’

There was a pause.

‘These are general travel papers covering Mecklenburg, my lady. They are not for Usedom.’

‘But Usedom is in Mecklenburg.’

‘I know, my lady, but as I told you before, because of the sensitive nature of some of the activities in this area, we have to be very strict.’

‘I understand. I suppose I could always turn round. My husband the SS Brigadeführer will—’

‘My lady, please don’t misunderstand me. Where is it you’re proposing to visit on the island?’

‘Zempin.’

‘Very well: I can issue you papers for today only and on the very strict condition you don’t travel further north than Zempin. Do you understand that?’

‘Of course. I’m so grateful. Perhaps you would allow me to give you these cigarettes as a token of my gratitude.’

‘Juno? Thank you so much, my lady. Three packets, are you sure? I’ll just quickly check the car; it won’t take long.’

Prince became aware of the boot opening, but it was for no more than a few seconds. He recalled what she’d told him back at the villa.

I’ve checked it out three times now.

I’ll drive into Zempin and get as close as I can to the coast. Each time I’ve been there, groups of foreign workers have been moving up and down the coast road. They don’t seem to be guarded very closely. It’s not as if they’ve got anywhere to escape to.

If it seems safe, I’ll approach them.

Fifteen minutes after leaving the checkpoint and crossing onto the island, the car stopped again. He heard the door open and close. It was another few minutes before the boot opened and he heard Sophia’s voice. ‘We’re by the coast now. There are two groups of slave labourers nearby: one group seem to be Russians or Ukrainians and there are two guards with them. The group slightly nearer to us are French, and as far as I can see, they’re on their own at the moment.’

‘What are they doing?’

‘Repairing the defences on the beach, I think. You can come out from under there now, but stay inside the boot for the time being. You see this?’

She was standing in front of a large white-painted wooden post. A weather-beaten life belt was attached to it below a sign warning people not to go anywhere near the beach. Behind the post was an area covered in shale. She beckoned him forward and he crawled to the edge of the boot.