‘But how will I be able to write to her, if I don’t know what she is saying to me in her letters? I don’t understand.’

‘Before you go, you will write many letters – both of you will. They will be censored, so make them general. No talk of the war, just about your health; make up little things that you do together when you snatch an hour’s respite. Keep them reassuring, so that none of your families feel concerned about you. Your mother knows, Marjie, that she will only receive three or four letters a year at most, so write enough letters to cover two years and we will space them out accordingly, adding the date, and so on . . . Marjie, I am so very sorry, darling.’

‘Don’t call me that!’

‘Marjie, please. Let me report back that you dealt with this professionally, and in a manner that spoke well of your future conduct, when faced with difficult situations.’

‘Is that what this is: a final test?’

‘Yes, and no. Of course it is important how you react, and to that degree it is a test, but I haven’t been sent specifically to test you.’

‘Marjie, I feel terrible that this has happened, but at least you have news of your mother.’

‘But I don’t, Sibbie. All I know is that Mama is here. I know nothing of my father and Aunt Ella, or my brothers.’

They were all quiet for a moment. Sibbie didn’t know what to do or say, as this was something she could offer no comfort on; it had to be worked out by Marjie, and Marjie alone.

‘I can give you news about all of your family, but none of it is good. Oh, Marjie, I feel that I am losing you, and I have longed for your parachute training to be over, just to spend some time with you before you leave. I should have let someone else come and tell you, but I couldn’t bear that. I had to be the one, and now I want to support you.’

When Marjie was unbending in her reaction to Wills, Sibbie felt so sorry for him. She listened as he told them that much of what he would say was classified information, and that they must remember they had signed the Official Secrets Act.

Then the horrific tale unfolded: of Randie going missing; of Freddy fighting with the Allied forces; of Monty’s whereabouts being unknown; that Marjie’s father, Cyrus, was assumed to be with the Resistance, while Arnie was acting as a coordinator over the different factions in the area; of how Paulo was leading the Hérault Resistance group; and then of the terrible plight of Ella and Lonia.