‘I had no reason not to believe him. Monty is part of your family. I told him that I was part of the Maquis group and what I did, and that his father and you and Arnie were all in the camp. Oh, Marjie, I told Monty he would need to hurry if he wanted to see his father, as he was being air-lifted out. He wanted to know when. Then he . . . he told me he loved me. I went with Monty to your home, and we . . . Oh, Marjie, please don’t condemn me, I couldn’t help myself. I love Monty. I can’t bear anything to happen to him. Oh, Marjie.’

As Marjie looked at the distraught Gisele, she realized what it was that had made her suddenly appear so different. Gisele was truly a woman now, made so by Monty, the man she loved . . . a traitor!

Trembling, Marjie asked, ‘Did it not alarm you, when he wanted details? You must have told him when and where my father and brother were to be picked up.’

‘Your brother?’

‘Oh, I mean Randie escaped too and came here.’

‘And now he is in England? But that is wonderful.’

‘It is, Gisele, but tell me: do you know why Monty wanted the details?’

‘He said he had to know as he must go there, otherwise he might miss his father.’

‘Oh, Gisele, I can’t believe all this . . . I don’t want to. Not Monty. Oh God, make this go away!’

‘Marjie, don’t cry. I’m so sorry. I’m scared. What are we going to do?’

Marjie opened her arms to Gisele, who suddenly seemed so young, so vulnerable, and yet they owed her so much. ‘I don’t know what to do. I want to wait until Arnie comes back. Monty can’t know about Arnie’s mission, can he?’

‘What mission?’

‘I can’t tell you, Gisele. Not now. But as you don’t know, it is unlikely that Monty can know.’

‘Marjie, I had no idea what I was doing, by telling Monty what I did. I swear. I believed him. I had no reason not to. I would never have told him anything if I’d thought this would happen.’

‘I know. I’m not showing a lack of trust in you; it’s just that what you don’t know, well . . . sometimes it is better not to know. Oh, Gisele, we cannot trust anyone. But I understand. You haven’t had the benefit of the training I have had. Did Monty want to know anything else? Have you seen him since? Did you know he hadn’t made contact with us?’