The living room was large, and sparsely furnished. Marc felt a touch creepy as the dark boards creaked under his boots. He raised some of the dust sheets for a peek and discovered a radio, a collection of ornate vases in a glass cabinet and a bookcase filled with books. Some were French, but the majority were in English and Marc thought this was a good sign because it seemed highly unlikely that an Englishman would be returning to Paris any time soon.

With his skin and clothes filthy from the rain, Marc decided that his first priority was to have a wash. Then he’d put on the spare clothes he’d taken off the line at the orphanage and have a nap, because he was exhausted. When he woke up, he’d go out and buy some food, or perhaps even investigate the cinema he’d seen by the shops.

Everything felt better now that he had somewhere to stay. His problems weren’t all over, but the idea that he was free to walk the streets of Paris and see a real movie in a real cinema and come home to sleep in a proper bed seemed impossibly exciting.

The good times would only last until the Germans reached town, but that gave him a few days to make plans and learn some of the life skills he’d need if he was going to survive on his own for any length of time.

Marc unbuttoned his shirt as he walked out into the hallway. Before turning towards the bathroom, he noticed a few letters on the doormat and realised that they would tell him the name of the person whose house he had just broken into.

He picked up the most flamboyant letter – a mint-coloured envelope that contained something stiff, like a greeting card or a party invitation – and read the name out loud.

‘Mr Charles Henderson.’

Part Two

14 June 1940 – 15 June 1940

By 11 June the French Government had left Paris and German forces were within ten kilometres of the city. Fearing a bloodbath, citizens continued to pour out and less than half of the population remained.

On the night of the 13ththe French Military Command stated that it ‘aimed to spare Paris the devastation that defence of the city would involve. We cannot justify the sacrifice of our capital and, as a result, all French forces will withdraw to a new line south of Paris.’

The German Army announced that it would enter Paris from the north-west at noon the following day.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN