‘I told you before that I did – well, in a non-specific way – but I made a mistake. I should have told you. I just couldn’t handle it, and I wanted to wait for Arnie.’

‘He left you in charge, Marjie. Yes, you should have told us. You must tell us now, so that we can deal with the traitor.’

‘Oh, André . . . it’s—’

‘Marjie, you’re crying. Oh, Marjie darling. What is it? Do you know him well?’

The endearment, and André taking her hands, undid her completely. Her sobs racked her body as she thought of her mama and papa, of Freddy and Randie. How could she ever face them again, if she had to order the death of their son and brother – her own dear brother?

She didn’t resist when André pulled her to him, but clung to him for support. ‘Oh, André, help me. Help me!’

‘I will, my darling. I am here for you. We’ll work this out. Is it someone you love?’

Unable to reject André’s love, Marjie didn’t pull away from him. At this moment he was her rock. ‘Yes . . . more than life itself. I tended him when we were children, watched out for him, covered up his naughtiness, often taking a telling-off for him. I adored him, and still do. It – it’s . . . Oh, André, it’s my darling brother, Monty.’

‘Good God! Monty?’

‘Yes. He wrote to me. Gisele brought the letter to me yesterday. Oh, André, I think he traded all of us for his own freedom. He used Gisele. She’s always adored him and hung on his every word, and she is now in love with him. What happened tonight, she wouldn’t have wanted. I’m sure of that. She probably told Monty where she was going, and he got out of her when and how. Gisele wouldn’t have set an ambush – Monty would have done that.’

‘But for what purpose? I mean, if he wanted Gisele, he could have stopped her rendezvousing with us. Unless . . . Marjie, there could have been Germans waiting for us ahead. But Monty chickened out, where Gisele was concerned, and thought to get her off the truck before we reached the real ambush. Not good thinking on his part, as we were hardly going to go on without her.’