Hugging herself, to combat the cold and the desolation she felt, Marjie willed the radio to signal a message coming through. When it did, sometime later, she jumped and nearly screamed with fright, because with the sun coming out at last, both girls had been warmed enough to be lulled into a light sleep.

Sibbie giggled as she turned the radio towards her and put on the headphones. The sound set Marjie off giggling, too. ‘The blooming thing always catches me unawares.’

‘Shush, Marjie.’

After a moment Sibbie said, ‘They’ve made contact with the Maquis!’ Then relief and something akin to joy lit her face. ‘We’re going to be picked up; we’ve to make our way to the road, keeping in a northerly direction. Once on the road, we’re to head east until we meet up with a farm truck. The driver will wave to us, and when we wave back, he will turn round and pick us up.’

Seeing Sibbie go into Paulo’s arms, once they arrived, gave Marjie a feeling of gladness, and yet longing swept over her that was never far away, as she wished with all her heart that she could feel her Wills’s arms around her. Papa’s arms didn’t compensate, though it was good to see him, and she soaked up the comfort he gave.

‘You did an excellent job, Sibbie and Marjella. A traitor taken out and an ambush thwarted. And all without being compromised.’

‘What about Jacques?’

‘It has been taken care of. Don’t worry yourself about it. Now, I have news, darling. I’ll be seeing Mama very soon.’

‘When, Papa? Oh, that’s wonderful.’

Marjie listened to details of how her father was going to be air-lifted out, smiling with happiness as she did so. ‘Oh, Papa, I’m so glad. I will miss you, but Mama needs you by her side; and to know that you will be working in HQ, and will have our backs, is very comforting.’

‘Marjella, I received other news, too.’

As Randie’s situation was explained to her, Marjie felt a mixture of feelings. Fear for her brother vied with relief that he was alive, and had escaped the prisoner-of-war camp that he must have been held in, but where was he now? Her father’s words didn’t bring much comfort, as everything Randie did would be fraught with danger.

‘We are sure he will make his way here. He knew of the Maquis before he left, and his regiment doesn’t exist any more, having been taken over by the Vichy government. So Randie would seek to join the Resistance or re-join the Allies. We’re playing a waiting game until HQ, or Randolph, contacts us.’