“Get the window open!” he shouted at Leni.

Lockhart unwound the jacket from his Luger, and put the pistol back in its holster. It felt hot, and it burned a little, but he ignored the pain. He put the badly scorched jacket back on, if only to cover the gun. He turned around to see Leni hauling herself up to the window ledge.

“How does it look out there?”

“It looks clear!”

“Good! Come on, get out, get out!”

Leni swung her legs over the ledge and leaped out. Lockhart stepped on the lavatory bowl and heaved himself onto the ledge. The window overlooked a narrow roofless corridor, into which Lockhart jumped. He landed heavily, feeling a slight twinge in his ankle.

“Shit!”

“Are you all right?” Leni asked.

“I’ll be fine!”

“Which way?”

“Let’s get back into the open, in amongst the crowds.”

They walked briskly toward a door that Lockhart guessed would take them into the main ticket hall. He listened out for any commotion in the lavatory, but so far there was none. As soon as the bodies were discovered, there would be one hell of a pandemonium. He opened the door slightly, and peered out.

The hall was busy, but as far as he could tell, there were no policemen. Lockhart opened the door, and stepped out.

“Take my arm!”

Leni held him tightly, very tightly. He could feel her trembling.

“Give me a kiss on the cheek.”

She kissed him hard.

“We’re dead,” she whispered.

“Not yet we’re not,” said Lockhart through gritted teeth, doing his utmost to present a picture of serene calm. “All we have to do is to walk to the exit and disappear into the crowds.”

“And then what?”

“And then we’ll have to find another way of getting back to Hildesheim.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t care, so long as it’s not a bloody train.”

They reached the exit and stepped out into the sun. The square was crowded with people sitting at cafés, taking in a beer and the heat, trying to forget about the air raids and the shortages.

It started after they had gone only a few steps. They heard the whistles first, and then the sounds of shouting.

“Just keep walking,” said Lockhart. “Don’t try and run. We’re just another couple, remember?”

He noticed that people were glancing up from their drinks, looking toward the station. He turned his head too. It would have looked strange, out of place, if he was the only person to ignore the gathering commotion.

“Please tell me,” he said to Leni, “that you’ve still got the newspaper.”

“It’s under my arm.”

“Whatever’s in it had better be worth it.”

“It will be.”

They were at the end of the square, about to duck down a side road. Lockhart couldn’t resist one look back. A couple of policemen were standing on the steps of the station, looking frantically around the crowded square, their guns at the ready. They were blowing their whistles with all their might, but to little effect, as the crowd did not know what to do. Lockhart allowed himself a quick smile, and then he and Leni peeled off from the square.