‘You must, it is the only way you will be safe. The Germans know about you now. They will watch you. And if Monty is the person we think he is, then once you don’t give him any information, he will turn you in.’

‘No! He would never do that. I can’t leave him, I can’t.’

‘Gisele, staying here will sign your own death warrant. I won’t be able to save you. You know too much about the Resistance: how they work, where they are, their missions. And, Gisele, if our organization doesn’t kill you, then the Germans will. But they won’t just shoot you – they will torture you and then, when you are of no further use, they will shoot you anyway.’

Gisele’s large eyes filled with terror as she stared at Marjie. Her voice was a shocked whisper. ‘I’ll go, I promise. But, Marjie, take care of Monty. He is your brother. Don’t let them kill him. I can only survive knowing that one day he and I will be together.’

‘I will do all I can. Yes, he is my brother, and I love him very much. Arnie will get him away somewhere, I’m sure.’

Back with the group, Marjie could feel the ugly mood that had descended. She told them of her decision not to use the radio, and of her plan to move camp. All agreed. But when Marjie told them that Gisele was to leave, and about her plans for her to disappear, they were not in agreement.

‘She has betrayed us. How do we know she won’t do so again?’

It was a usually quiet member of the group, called Louis, who had said this. Marjie told them all, ‘I cannot give you the details of what I know – you will have to trust me – but Gisele isn’t a traitor. What happened was a misjudgement on her part, but she poses no danger to us, and never has. She is going away so that nothing like this can happen again, and for her own safety.’

Ethan, a sullen man who was always disgruntled, spoke then. ‘If that is the way of it, then I think we need to escort her to where she is going. She needs our protection.’

Marjie was nervous about this. She looked over towards André. She could trust him. When he spoke, he put her mind at rest. ‘I agree, but I am going to be part of the party that escorts her. I agree with Marjie. Gisele, whatever she has done, deserves our protection.’

At this, Marjie agreed. She knew she could trust André. Gisele, too, relaxed as he told her, ‘Gisele, this will have to happen soon. We will make the arrangements. You need to get ready to go tonight. Be by the river in Laurens at midnight. Wait near the bridge, in the shadow of Monsieur Vandaise’s house.’