‘I trust her, André. Gisele has been very honest with me and has helped to reveal who is working against us. I want to wait for Arnie’s return. It is his decision as to what should be done. I’m going to contact HQ. I will tell them it is imperative that Arnie is contacted. They know we have been betrayed. I will tell them we think we know who by, and that we need Arnie to give us the way forward.’

Going to the tent containing the radio, Marjie pulled out Monty’s note.

Dearest Marjie,

By now you will know that I have escaped. Now I just want to fight this hateful regime that has occupied our country.

I’m amazed that you were able to make your way back, and bring a friend. You are so brave, dearest sister. And I cannot believe that Papa was here with the Resistance and was air-lifted out. This means that you are very organized now and have backing from Britain. With that in place, we must surely win through.

Please tell Paulo that I cannot wait to see him, and tell Uncle Arnie, too. I need to be with family, Marjie. Please make arrangements for me to come to you very soon.

Love, Monty x

Oh, Monty. Monty, I don’t know what to believe.

Setting up the radio, Marjie was about to make contact when she stopped. If they were compromised, someone could be waiting to detect radio activity and would track them down. They had to move camp – it was the only way. She could contact HQ once they were settled, and they would let Arnie know where they were.

Sitting back, she sighed. She’d hardly dared think about Sibbie and Paulo, holding on to the hope that Arnie would save them. Every part of her prayed that would be so.

Penning a quick note, she wrote:

Dearest Monty,

It did my heart good to hear from you, and to know that you are safe in our home. I will contact you soon. Just be patient, and before long you will be with us.

I love you, my brother. Paulo and Uncle Arnie send their love, and are making arrangements to fetch you in. Until we meet, dearest Monty.

Your loving sister, Marjie x

Swallowing hard to stop the tears, she called out to Gisele to come in to her. When she did so, Gisele looked even more fearful. ‘They are all very hostile towards me, Marjie. They may not let me leave.’

‘They will – don’t worry. Here, take this note for Monty. Hide it from the others. And, Gisele, do you have a relative – someone who lives far away from here – that you can go to?’

‘Yes, my aunt lives over the border near Girona in Spain – my uncle is a fisherman. Why must I go? Oh, Marjie, I don’t want to, please.’