Grinning, the boy pushed his brown hair from his eyes, before taking her hand and shaking it gently. He apologised as Roz winced with the pain. ‘I’m Felix Ackerman.’

Roz glanced down at her forearm. ‘You said I was hit by a car, but if that’s true then where were my parents and why aren’t they here with me now?’

Felix looked shocked. He leaned closer and spoke in hushed tones. ‘You have parents?’

Surprised by his reaction, Roz became aware of the prying ears around them. Getting up she looked pointedly in the direction of the corridor, then back at Felix who nodded his comprehension. Something was wrong, very wrong indeed.

Closing the compartment door behind them, Roz leaned back against the carriage wall. ‘I know we’re talking in English but I daresay we aren’t the only ones who can speak or understand another language.’

Felix glanced over her shoulder to the children in the carriage, who had now turned their attentions elsewhere. ‘I’d like to say that you can speak freely amongst your own, but nothing’s certain any more.’ He eyed her curiously. ‘You mentioned your parents?’

Roz nodded. ‘My parents and I escaped the Nazis last night. We were in our car driving to Berlin when I fell asleep …’ Deep lines furrowed her brow as she tried to recall what had happened. ‘I remember lying on something cold and wet – I think it was snow – but that’s all I can recollect before waking up just now.’

Felix tapped his forefinger against his chin as he described the moment Roz had been brought into the railway station. ‘I was looking for the toilets when a woman brought you in. She said you’d been hit by a car which had crashed just outside … Someone else said they’d seen the crash, and that the driver had tried to avoid you, then spun out of control.’

Roz’s cheeks bloomed. ‘How dreadful! Is he alright?’

Felix shrugged. ‘No idea – apparently he fled the scene.’

Roz looked cross. ‘Oh, charming! He might have killed me, but he didn’t even stop to check if I was okay!’

‘They think he might have been on the run from the Nazis, and that’s why he legged it.’

‘Oh …’ said Roz quietly, ‘well, that’s a bit different. I know what it’s like to be on the run, because we were also running away, but it still doesn’t answer the question as to my parents’ whereabouts. Surely they must have witnessed the accident?’

Felix looked at her blankly. ‘I’m afraid I can’t help you. I was busting for the toilet, and I knew I didn’t have much time before the train left – in fact I only just made it back in time.’

‘They must be on the train,’ Roz concluded, but to her annoyance, Felix was shaking his head.

‘Not this train.’