Flors tried to fight through the layers of what felt like spider’s webs clogging her head, but she couldn’t. She thought a sound came from her as she tried to say, ‘No, please don’t.’ But whether it had or not, the quickening of the German’s breath and his fumbling told her that she was to be raped for the second time, and this was surely the young man who had said that she was like his mother.

Somehow this disgusted her more than the older man doing what he’d done. This was like her sons carrying out this despicable act. Finding her voice, she shouted, ‘Non – nein!’ and twisted her body. But other hands came and held her, and a hateful voice in the background urged on her rapist. Once more she knew she was being violated, and the feel of this hurried, inexperienced German was even more repulsive to her, if that was possible.

His thrust was hard, and his feelings came out in more than the grunts the other one had used, as he loudly groaned his pleasure and called out something she didn’t understand. Nor did he last as long, for soon he was hollering and pressing down on her, and once more Flors felt the soldier pulsating his seed into her. With this, he slumped down on her, making it difficult for her to breathe. His senior pulled him off, laughing as he did so. The laugh mocked her, but congratulated him.

Flors didn’t move. Still in a half-conscious state, humiliated but unable to influence anything that happened around her, she tried to focus on listening out for Ella. But Ella’s cries had stopped. The sound of the back of the truck being banged shut made her jump. Peering through the haziness, she saw the Germans still standing over her, even though the engine of the truck roared into life. Why aren’t they taking me back to the truck? A gun was cocked. Flors froze. They’re going to kill me! Terror gripped her, making it impossible to breathe.

A shot rang out, and then another in quick succession. And yet – nothing. She hadn’t been hit! Confused, she forced her eyes open. No one was there. She heard the truck roar away. And then a sound to the side of her. Looking in that direction, she saw the bodies of the Germans slumped in a heap next to her.

Arms came around her, lifting her. ‘My darling – my Flors, my love.’ Tears that hadn’t come from her own eyes wet her face . . . Cyrus? ‘I’m here, my darling . . . I’m so sorry.’ His voice held his anguish. ‘I criss-crossed the forest, sometimes having you in my sight, sometimes losing you, but always finding a shorter route than the road takes until I caught up with you. I – I didn’t make it in time to save you . . . from . . . Oh, my darling, my love.’