General Bruce rustled some papers. ‘Before we do anything, Sergeant Grimm, I need you to make sure the secret papers you put in the safe back in Amiens are locked away here. Do we have a safe in this office yet?’

‘Yes, sir, on the floor under the desk.’

‘Good. Make sure they stay inside and always post a guard outside the door. They have a secret that can win us the war... so long as the enemy never gets to know about it.’

‘You can trust me, sir.’

‘Good work, Sergeant, now carry on...’ the general said. Aimee heard the office door open then close as he left the room. Aimee wondered if she should step out of the cupboard now. But she heard a small bell ring and a click as Sergeant Grimm picked up the general’s telephone and began to speak.

Aimee held her breath and strained her ears.

Chapter Two: ‘A traitor does not look like a traitor’

Chapter Two

‘A traitor does not look like a traitor’

22 March 1918: Bray

‘Hello, operator?’ Sergeant Grimm said softly. ‘Can you put me through to Sector Eight in Cléry?’

There was a long pause while the call was connected and the soldier appeared to be shuffling papers as he waited. Aimee didn’t risk looking out. The air in the cupboard was filled with dust from the old books and she wanted to sniff but didn’t dare.

‘Hello?’ Grimm said finally. ‘Benedict? Yes, sorry I’ve been out of touch. It has been difficult to get to a phone. Do you have a pencil? This will have to be very quick.’ The sergeant began to speak in a low voice as rapid as the jabber of a machine gun. ‘This is a secret they’ll pay us a fortune for. The British have a new sort of gas... No, our German friends can’t keep it out with gas masks. It is sent over in shells and makes a smoke cloud. Gas masks are useless.’

Sergeant Grimm listened. Then he went on. ‘It gives the soldiers pains in the mouth, nose, eyes and throat, and pains in the chest. They struggle to breathe then they start throwing up. That’s right. They can’t fight on like that. But it’s not like the gases we use now. It wears off and it doesn’t kill the enemy. The British can take prisoners but don’t have to waste time treating them in hospitals.’

He listened again. ‘If our German friends get the formula for this secret gas before the British start to use it then they may be able to make new gas masks that can keep it out... or even make the gas themselves and use it against the Brits. They will give us our weight in gold for this. So, are you ready?’