Their papers declared them to be man and wife. Their story was that they had visited an uncle, but that André was on duty as soon as he arrived home, so he had taken his uniform with him.

As it turned out, they didn’t need a cover story, because everyone they met either showed no interest in them or seemed afraid of André. The few officials saluted or made some gesture to recognize him as one of their own.

‘A useful disguise, I think, Marjie. We’ll keep these outfits in good condition, as they may come in handy again.’

Marjie didn’t answer; she couldn’t. Nor could she believe what she was seeing. Her brother Monty was sitting on a bench seat on the station platform! Her first reaction was one of joy. She wanted to push her way off the train and run to him before he disappeared. But then she remembered that if she did so, she would expose herself for who she really was.

As the train pulled into the station in Narbonne, they stood up and went to the door. Marjie looked through the window, along the platform. A group of gendarmes were a little way along it, scrutinizing intently all those getting off. Looking back at Monty, she saw that he was doing the same. It’s as if he is expecting someone . . . Me? Oh my God!

Turning to face André, she whispered, ‘Don’t question me, just turn around and go as fast as you can to the end of the train. Go into the guard’s van. I’ll be just behind you. Once there, jump and then run for all you’re worth – don’t look back.’

André did as she bade him. With her heart pounding, Marjie kept up with him. The part of the train they entered at the back had a kind of balcony-like structure. Thank God the guard had alighted, because sometimes, she knew, they would lean out from there to direct the train driver by waving their flag or blowing their whistle.

André jumped onto the railway line and took off. Marjie followed him. High walls prevented them from getting off the track. Running along it, Marjie prayed that another train wouldn’t appear, and the one they had just left wouldn’t move, exposing them to those who, she was certain, would try to capture them.

‘Marjie, there, in that siding – there’s an old engine. I’ll make for that. We’ll hide behind it and you can tell me what this is all about.’

Once out of sight, they leaned heavily on the engine wheels, gasping for breath. André recovered first. ‘What’s wrong, Marjie, what did you see?’

‘My youngest brother, who is meant to be doing forced labour in Germany—’