‘We carry plastic explosives, but we will have to work out how much is needed, so as not to blow the whole train.’

‘I don’t think that is possible, Marjie. Is there a bridge we can blow up? We could do it when the train is in view of it, although it would need to be from a distance, so that the train can stop in time.’

‘Sibbie is right. I worked with explosives in the last war.’ Cyrus held their attention, ‘It is much better to create an obstruction that they know about, and have to halt. It is almost impossible to judge how to stop the train without causing a major derailment.’

‘André will know if there is a bridge. He is from that area. You remember him, Marjie, he was at school with you.’

‘Yes, I do of course. I haven’t seen him since then, but it will be good to see him again.’

Arnie took charge once more, stopping any further reminiscences. ‘Right, here is the plan. Paulo, you make contact with André. Find out where the best point is for us to disrupt the progress of the train. Also a good meeting point for all the Maquis who are willing to travel there and join in the attack. Each must make his or her own way. I will arrange for weapons and ammunition to be dispatched to that point. I will also make contact with the Resistance in the Troyes area – there is a good group there.’

‘Communists.’

‘Yes, communists, Paulo, but at the end of the day they want the same as us and are clever and ferocious fighters. We need them. We do not know how many guards will be on the train.’

Paulo nodded his head.

‘Good. Now, we must meet André tonight and I will arrange for him to be attached to this camp. We’ll meet at Monsieur Bijour’s farm. Sibbie, you and Marjella will come along with me and Cyrus. We are camped deep in the forest.’ Smiling now, he joked, ‘We have every modern convenience.’

Cyrus laughed. ‘Ha! A hole in the ground, he means. But don’t worry; we have prepared for you and have portioned off a bedroom space, with an en-suite hole.’

At this they all laughed. Paulo’s hand came into Sibbie’s. ‘I can walk a little way with you, then I will have to cut off up a different path, but we will meet up in Troyes.’ They had dropped back a little way when he spoke again. ‘How long have you known that you loved me, Sibbie?’