The snow was easing. No more than a fluttering, as he forged on. Half an hour later he reached a wide rock ledge. A little further on he spotted the radio, half buried in snow, along with a pack with C-rations, and a sleeping bag.

There were no weapons.

And no sign of Lieutenant Heck.

Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Julius Richard Boden was aware that his mother considered his love for Lilly Marais as some sort of aberration. ‘A French peasant girl!’ she had exclaimed when first he told her about her in the spring of 1944. ‘God in heaven, Julius, what are you thinking of?’

He silenced her with a finger to his lips. ‘When she comes here, Mother, you will welcome her with respect and warmth, for she is to be my bride. Is that clear?’

Ilse Boden hesitated for only a few moments, then nodded her head. ‘Yes, that is clear.’

‘You will take her by the hand and kiss her cheeks in the French manner and tell her how lovely she is. And that will not be difficult, for she is fair like you, and more beautiful than any film star.’

‘If you say so.’

That conversation had taken place two months before the Allied invasion. At that time, he had thought he would take her home in style, that she would be waved off by her fellow villagers in Ste-Estelle-sur-Seine and cheered into her new home of Schwarzenkirche.

The invasion changed all that. He had had to leave her without saying farewell, with no way of explaining himself. Now, at last, he could make amends.

But it was still obvious that his mother would not be won over easily.

While Lilly was up in the guest bedroom being prepared for the great welcome, Boden was downstairs with his mother.

‘I am disappointed in you, Mutti.’

‘I shook her hand, Julius. What more do you want me to do?’

‘You could have embraced her like a daughter. You could have smiled and made her feel welcome.’

‘But she is French. They are the enemy.’

‘You will make amends.’

Ilse Boden pulled back her shoulders and tilted her proud chin.

‘Do you understand?’

‘I always understand you, Julius. But not in this matter.’

‘Listen to me. Lilly has shown great courage in braving the wrath of her own people and has had to endure much hardship in making her way here unassisted in the wake of war. Courage and fortitude worthy of a German woman. You will be proud to call her daughter-in-law, and if ever you hear a word said against her, you will tell me and I will deal with it harshly.’

She did not argue, but he knew what she was thinking.