Marjie could see that the implications of this were very difficult for Arnie and all of the men to bear, as it was for her, when she thought of the time before she’d left for England, when Gisele had been a funny and special part of their lives.

‘Let’s sleep on it. Goodnight, everyone.’

The men took this as a command from Arnie, and all but those on lookout duty dispersed and went to their tents, or whatever they had put together to sleep under. Left alone with her uncle, Marjie kissed him goodnight, then whispered, ‘How am I going to cope without Sibbie?’

‘You will, Marjie. I need you to be strong. We’ll talk in the morning. But, Marjie, I need you to take over here. The men will accept you as their leader. You will need to guide them in the next mission. I have the details and it is to take place in three days’ time.’

‘I can do that, Uncle, and I know you will return with Sibbie and Paulo.’

Arnie held her in the kind of hug he’d always given her, and for a moment Marjie felt like a child again. Her heart so wished that she was, and that all of this had never happened.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

London

Flors

Flors stood in King’s Cross station. Her stomach nerves clutched tightly with excitement. Trains came in and went out, whistles blew, flags waved and crowds arrived or departed, all seeming to have a purpose. Most of the men were in uniform: someone’s son, husband, brother or boyfriend. Girls and older women saw them off or greeted them. The smell of fumes and the clouds of smoke puffed out from the trains rasped her throat, but somehow also added to the atmosphere of eager anticipation, although around her many tears were being shed.

Conscious of the officials waiting a few yards away from her, Flors thought of the moment when Wills had rung her to tell her that Randie was safe, and that Cyrus would bring him to her. Happiness had vied with anguish at being told he was well physically, but was mentally traumatized. Happiness had won over, because she’d seen this happen so often and she knew that, in time, there could be healing. But then Wills told her that he’d arranged for her to have a moment or two with Cyrus, before they took him for debriefing. A moment or two! I want more than that. I want my darling by my side, never to leave me again.

At last the announcement came that the train from Nottingham was about to arrive.